Readers’ App Reviews – April 2014
Check out apps made by fellow readers in April 2014! By Ryan Poolos.
April is finally here, and boy have you all been busy. There were more than 60 submissions since last month’s review article!
It was very hard to narrow them down this month, and I encourage everyone to check the Honorable Mentions at the end of the article. There were tons of great games I just didn’t have time to review this month.
Here are the highlights of the month:
- An awesome iPad app that lets you make music with chips
- A game mixing physics and color theory
- A word game from your steampunk dreams
So stop what you’re doing now: it’s app time!
Chiptunes Pro
Chiptunes is an amazing app that lets you make music the old fashioned way. No, not with instruments silly – with circuits!
Drag and drop any circuits you need to make an awesome tune. You’ve got tuners, multipliers, filters, splitters, and more. Everything you need to build awesome digital music.
Chiptunes even packs audiobus support so you can stream anything you make into other audio apps for recording, tracking, and manipulation.
- Author: Simon Booth @chiptunesapp
- Most useful tutorial: How to Import and Export App Data via Email in your iOS App
- App Store Link: Check it out!
FreeDum
Dum needs your help, he’s been trapped by an evil teenager with cruel intentions!
Help guide Dum through obstacles of all kinds from pencils to razor blades. Fly over sharp objects and head for that exit sign. Dum also has to help lead baby lady bugs to safety along the way.
Won’t you free poor Dum from these mazes of doom?! Freedom is only a few hops away!
- Author: Martin Walsh
- Most useful tutorial: Introduction to In-App Purchases in iOS 6
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Mahjong Cards
Mahjong Cards is a spin on Mahjon using regular playing cards.
Mahjong Cards has beautiful retina graphics that look awesome on the iPad. There are over 70 cool layouts to choose from.
Its a very simple, well made game thats relaxing to play. No scores or time limits. Simple sound effects that won’t interupt your own music. This is a great game to sit and play while watching Netflix to unwind.
- Author: Matthijs Hollemans
- Most useful tutorial: How to Make a Simple Mac App
- App Store Link: Check it out!
No-Hitter Alerts
No-Hitter Alerts is a must have for baseball fans.
No-Hitter Alerts will send you a notification anytime a no-hitter is in progress. You can set up custom alerts for your favorite teams or to be notified anytime 5 innings of no-hitters are pitched.
No-Hitter Alerts has live streaming updates and a season leaderboard for the most no-hitter innings by pitcher.
No-Hitter Alerts will also suggest TV and Radio stations to get in on the action along with weblinks to pitch by pitch coverage.
- Author: Ben Packard @benpackard
- Most useful tutorial: Apple Push Notification Services Tutorial: Part 1/2
- App Store Link: Check it out!
SnoreCatcher
Measure your own snores or even better, prove once and for all that your Grandmother snores!
SnoreCatcher listens while you sleep and records your snores automatically. It grades them and offers replays so you can relieve the lost sleep.
SnoreCatcher will hold on to all your sleep sessions so you can compare over time.
- Author: Gasper Cvenkel
- Most useful tutorial: Beginning Auto Layout Tutorial in iOS 7: Part 1
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Kitty Pig
Kitty and Pig have banded together to catch butterflies.
Pig just needs to bounce Kitty in the right angle to get the most butterlies. Easy! except pig doesn’t seem to have figured out the bouncing on his own. So its up to you to steer Pig and make sure Kitty hits all the butterflies.
Its fun to watch Kitty bounce, but you won’t be getting any blue ribbons unless you keep your bounce count to a minimum.
- Author: Josh Roberts @kittypiggame
- Most useful tutorial: How to Make a Game Like Jetpack Joyride using LevelHelper and SpriteHelper [Cocos2D Edition] – Part 4
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Design Shots
Sit back and enjoy some Dribbble on the go with Design Shots: your new goto mobile Dribbble viewer.
Check out the latest popular shots or a few of the debuts for the day. Keep an eye on your following list. Share your favorite shots right from the app or add them to your reading list for a closer look later.
- Author: Rounak Jain @r0unak
- Most useful tutorial: How to use UIView Animation Tutorial
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Mix It Up!
Mix It Up takes the liquid puzzle game to a new level.
Mix it Up has you combine multiple color liquids to beat each level. But you’ve got to get the mixtures just right. Too much blue in your purple and you’re ruined.
Mix it Up has awesome phyics and simple swipe to cut controls that let you guide falling water to its proper place.
- Author: Joshua Wilde @liquidsunlabs
- Most useful tutorial: Intermediate Box2D: Physics, Forces, Ray Casts, and Sensors
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Aurobot
Do you have a Roomba? Autobot is like that, but way more fun!
Aurobot is on a mission and you’re driving! Simple taps left and right decide which direction Aurobot points himself. Tons of obstacles stand between you and victory.
As it progresses Autobot gets faster and the spaces get tighter. You’ll have to have your reflexes ready for hairpin turns at maximum speed to get out of this one alive.
- Author: Kamlesh Vadnere @VadnereInfotech
- Most useful tutorial: iOS 7 Multitasking Tech Talk Video
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Smash The Bird
Tired of Flappy Bird clones? Me too! Smash the Bird saves the day.
Smash the Bird gives you the chance to obliterate as many flappy birds as you can before the time runs out. Not smashing enough birds? You can get a triple fire powerup!
With tilt to aim and tap to fire, this game makes getting Flappy Bird in your crosshairs the best release you’ve had all day.
- Author: Julio Montoya @jecht83
- Most useful tutorial: iOS Games by Tutorials Print Version Now Available!
- App Store Link: Check it out!