The iPhone isn't the greatest thing ever but I like mine
About Me
Commenting on apps, apps and apps. Perhaps some other geek related interesting stuff.
Sharing with the world great iPhone and iPod Touch apps with in depth reviews, screenshot galleries, user interfaces, App Store Trends and of course, some freebies and giveaways every now and then.
Add yourself to the iPhone gaming lists and play against other Plus+, OpenFeint, Agon and Scoreloop players.
If there was something more controversial that Apple skipping Flash on the iPhone, I'm sure you found the iBooks application too familiar. Is not about ripping off the Apple Design Award shelf from Delicious Monster or the turning page UI from "As seen on TV" Classics. It's about not even doing it well.
It turns out that Classics (recently dropped to free) has an alternative mode to turning pages.
Andrew Kaw and Phill Ryu did think about this one. For a reading app, turning pages should be less intrusive. Most of the users that use Classics to read on a daily basis probably now the trick. Do you mean that the innovative Apple didn't actually check the app Settings?
Well, the app gives you the option to disable the eye candy page flick effect and replace it with a "stack of cards" animation. To turn the pages just tap or slide as you would normally do. The alternative way is much faster and less intrusive than the standards. I wonder why Apple decided not to include this option, since they got inspired in Classics. I prefer the stack of cards movement, let me know with your comments which one is your favorite.
To wrap it up, lets remember the criticism about the Delicious Generation got a couple of years ago about their software. It seems the way Mac software has to progress is this one, in between iPhone and Mac OS.
Now that everyone in the editorial business is speculating with Apple's pricing for the iBooks on the iPad I can't stop thinking of the other iTunes stores. The AppStore must be a successful model because it's cheaper than other platforms. Add the fact that it has the most varied selection of apps and games and you get iPhone and iPod Touch happy.
Is this situation ideal? Taking for granted that Apple will be always 30% happy, the AppStore economy is questioned once again, this time it's price. London and Malmo based studio ustwo™ want to raise their voice hoping that developers will join the cause. Their idea: To stop using the minimum price point set by Apple in the AppStore: $0.99 / 59p
For co-founder mills™ defends that selling apps for 59p won't be profitable for anyone except for big corporations. "The emergence of the 59p price point 100% kick-started the app store phenomenon as we know it today, but the bottom line is that it’s impossible to make money at the 59p price point for 99% of studios. I'm talking about enough money to actually allow you to survive on app sales alone."
"If people are not making money then clearly there is no market, just the illusion of one created by the hope of hitting the jackpot."
What interests me most what iPhone users might think of it. I remember the introduction of the 59p price mark being devastating for some developers and the suggestion of some of raising the bar with a premium store to separate them from fart and boob apps. For iPhone users having an AppStore is like buying a pack of crisps from the newsagent every day. It's cheap, they taste awful but you love them because you're used to them. When you're done you chuck it and forget. Tomorrow another 59p for the same crap.
"I’m hinting at the future of the app store as it stands today with developers from all walks of life having a go and creating great apps. "
It makes sense for a developer that sells apps like positionapp to other developers to make such bold statements. ustwo™ is not a two man team, it's a successful company with a team of 50 with some experience (good and bad). I bet they can say something about it. Would you mind the 59p? For mills™ "If we don’t address the price point issue and the realities of what’s going on at the moment, then we may see in the future a purely corporate, branded led app store with no individuality shining through. We say R.I.59P"
The iPhone platform has been welcoming gaming genres popularised in other platforms. The strategy department was among the first to make the iPhone a gaming platform with titles based on franchises, ports and games inspired in Flash games. Spanish developer Small Wonders makes justice to its name to release a "Defend the Castle" game with a new twist.
Battle of Puppets [iTunes Link] is an strategy micromanagement game based on the popular Defend the Castle mechanics. Two players at each side of the screen fighting for the enemy's territory. In this case, the battle is based on theatres and your soldiers are puppets.
In homage to Dune, you can create units and plan production with a queuing system. You can upgrade buildings to be able to build more advanced (and dangerous) puppets. There isa basic credit system that will limit your income if you don't kill enemy troops.
In addition to the unusual game setting, the armies are themed with opera names. As you hear it. Carmen will be formed by Spanish bullfighters, while Aida will include Egyptian god Anubis the sphinx. Salome is a Roman legion with a catapult, Valkiria is formed by Vikings and Madama Butterfly a Japanese army with ninjas and shogun. The format gives more variety to the game and expands its replay value. All troop types are different and the player will need to adapt the strategies that suit them most.
As a puppeteer, you can also influence the course of the battle using magic, in the game called professions. Double tapping will bring some sparks to the area that indicate that you need to input a gesture to perform the trick. This of Pocket God with StarWars Unleashed gestures.
The gameplay is as it promises. Simple and straight forward. A couple of handy tips: There is no need to scroll on the game screen (as in Trenches), the bottom menubar acts as a scrollbar, saving you loads of swiping. This is crucial to get back to your home base fast to control your production.
Flags can be upgraded to small structures that allow you to produce basic units. Use them wisely and protect them from the enemy. These constructions can be repaired and are a good cover for basic puppet warriors against projectiles.
In the graphic department, the game boasts of style and personality with great design, textures used and animation. The game theme is supported in a fair way by the illustration in the game. Characters, menus, introduction vide, backgrounds,... They are all spot on.
For such a theatrical game I was disappointed to see no opera music during the battles. While being adequate and with some classic music touches in the menus, I would expect that every army would embrace their opera. I don't know, it would just make sense.
Battle of Puppets is a truly an indie hidden gem that will satisfy those who look for refinement, casual fun and strategy games junkies. While not being groundbreaking in the gameplay, Battle of Puppets is a surreal well thought game that prove once again that simple concepts with refinement and eye candy work very well on the iPhone platform.
For the incredulous, yes, there is shorter way to sync your iPhone. It is as simple as having a short USB cable for the iPhone. It is just like the original 30 pin connector but the cable measures only 8cm. I needed an extra cable to sync or charge mi iPhone and bumped into this little beauty on eBay. For a fraction of what Apple charges, £3 in my case, now I have an extra cable that doesn't add to the clutter.
I'm considering getting a second short cable to leave it inside the neoprene sleeve I use when I carry my macbook. I think I can wait until I get home to sync my iPhone, but better than this, it is really handy to charge your iPhone if you are taking your laptop with you. When I find a power socket, I plug my laptop and have my iPhone charging with the mini iPhone cable.
I suspect the one I got from eBay is a hack from an original one. It looks very similar to the other two official ones I have.I'm very happy with it and recommend it's purchase fot the price of an iPhone app. I don't endorse any shop, there are many on eBay easy to find.
Skype calls over 3G on your iPhone "It's coming real soon" - David Ponsford
I have been waiting for this for a while, I can't believe this is happening. I use Skype over Wifi, but what's the point if when I'm at home I can use Skype video on the desktop.
