20 best iPhone and iPad apps this week
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http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/08/best-iphone-ipad-apps-stampy-wire-bean-dreams Version 0 of 1. It’s time for this week’s roundup of the best new iPhone and iPad apps and games released on Apple’s App Store. As ever, the prices provided in brackets are for the initial download only: when an app uses in-app purchases, this will be listed as (Free + IAP). No, it’s not changing to “get” just yet. More interested in Android apps? They’re covered in a separate weekly Best Android Apps roundup. But if it’s iOS you’re after, read on for this week’s selection. This week, there’s a bonus 21st app. And the reason for that is it’s an app from the Guardian, and I didn’t want an external developer to lose out to an in-house release. APPS Stampy Cat (Free)If you’re not a parent of a Minecraft-obsessed child, Stampy may well be news to you. He’s the orange, feline alter ego of YouTuber Joseph Garrett, who makes Let’s Play videos for kids using Minecraft (and a few other games). This is his official app, and his young fans will love it. iPhone / iPad Wire (Free)Wire is the latest buzzy communications app for iOS, combining text messaging with voice calls, and a very slinky interface. Backed by Skype co-founder Janus Friis, it’s shaping up nicely. Read this interview for the full story.iPhone / iPad The Meaning of Liff (£1.99)An essential purchase for fans of the late Douglas Adams: this is the official app of “the legendary dictionary of things there should be words for”, including all the entries from the three books in the Meaning of Liff series, and the ability to submit your own ideas.iPhone Rufus Wainwright (Free + IAP)Obviously, this will be of most interest for fans of singer/songwriter Rufus, but it’s also interesting in a wider sense: the latest attempt at a subscription-based app for an individual artist. Pay £2.49 a month, and you get exclusive livestreams, video clips and unreleased tracks, along with the usual news updates.iPhone Learner Mosaic (Free)One for parents, this: an app by developer Kidaptive that helps you understand how your (preschool) children are learning, with recommendations of activities to help them. It also ties in to the same company’s Leo’s Pad Enrichment Program app, which blends stories and mini-games.iPhone 7 Minute Superhero Workout (£1.99)Developer Six to Start made the inventive Zombies, Run! fitness app. Now it’s turned its attention to superheroes for a similar game, as you punch to blast aliens and crunch to recharge your exosuit. A fun take on fitness at home.iPhone / iPad Addŗ (Free)Looking for a Kindle alternative? Addŗ has the makings of something interesting: a well-designed iPad app with an emphasis on sharing annotations with friends, and clever integration with Dropbox and email. Obviously more interesting if you can get a group of friends using it.iPad Yellofier Electrified (£1.49)Another music app, this time from electronica pioneers Yello, following their original Yellofier app. Both focus on making music of your own, but the draw here is a bank of samples from other musicians, including Orbital, Carl Craig and The Orb.iPhone / iPad LumiKids Park by Lumosity (Free)More learning games for children, this time from brain-training firm Lumosity. It’s a collection of games created with education, not just entertainment, in mind. They’re simple, colourful and fun to play.iPad Runtastic Butt Trainer (Free + IAP)This should really be renamed Runtastic Bum Trainer for the UK market, but never mind. It’s the latest app from the fitness developer, focusing on bottom and leg workouts, using video tutorials to show you what, when and how to stretch.iPhone / iPad BONUS APP Happy for Life (Free)That bonus app I mentioned: this comes from the Guardian, and is billed as “an easy way to be happier everyday”. The idea being that it’ll suggest daily activities that should make you happier, with features to track whether they do, and (if you want) to share the results with friends.iPhone GAMES Bean Dreams (£1.99)If anyone ever tells you platform games can’t work well purely on a touchscreen, make them buy Bean Dreams. Honing the interface down to simple tapping enables you to focus on timing and exploration of the eight beautifully-crafted worlds.iPhone / iPad Game of Thrones (£2.99 + IAP)If you’ve ever played Telltale Games’ Walking Dead games, you’ll know why so many people are excited about the company applying its episodic adventure skills to Game of Thrones. And better still, you’re playing within the world of the TV show, but not simply rehashing its plot.iPhone / iPad Etherlords (Free + IAP)Well, this is certainly the first game I’ve seen where feeding “entire worlds” to your monsters is the way to level them up. But this is an innovative spin on the collecting/evolving/battling genre, with short and sharp battles and plenty of strategic depth.iPhone / iPad Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath (£3.99)A famous old games franchise reappears on iOS here: an upgraded-for-modern-devices version of the shooter-cum-platformer that originally appeared on console in 2005. It’s a fine combination of wild west themes with monstery action.iPhone / iPad Penguins of Madagascar: Dibble Dash (Free + IAP)The Despicable Me endless-runner game was a massive hit on mobile, so it’s no surprise to see other animated movies following the format. This, for Penguins of Madagascar, sees you scurrying through the streets. The twist: you’re controlling all four penguins, not just one. Plus, there are educational features built in to test children’s maths skills.iPhone / iPad Proun+ (£2.49)This is the latest endless-roller (a genre I may have just made up) game for iOS – if you played and loved Impossible Road, it may float your boat. You have to balance a ball racing along a pipe through eye-catching levels apparently based on paintings.iPhone / iPad Peggle Blast (Free + IAP)This game’s going to spark a debate, it’s fair to say: Peggle was a widely-loved paid game, and taking it freemium will inevitably put some backs up. So, it’s the same ball-shooting peg-popping action, which is great, but with more mechanics around it nudging you to buy power-ups.iPhone / iPad Oh My Giraffe (£1.49)“Features: really long necks,” explains the App Store listing for this quirky, but rather marvellous game. You play the titular giraffe, as you gobble fruits while dropping the odd one on a lion to avoid being eaten. Lovely stuff.iPhone / iPad Rescue Quest (Free + IAP)There is still time in 2014 to squeeze in a few more match-three freemium puzzlers. Like Rescue Quest, with its wizard’s apprentice theme as you match gems and battle monsters.iPhone / iPad Wicked Lair (Free + IAP)Finally, another really characterful indie game – one that sees you building and defending a downwards tower (yes, a dungeon) then stocking it with monsters to fight off attackers. The IAP here is for “mystical” and “sinister” expansions.iPhone / iPad That’s this week’s recommendations, but what iOS apps have you been using? The comments section is open for your thoughts. |