Wordflick App Review

Price at time of writing £1.19 (approx $2)

Scrabble is a classic word game made by Hasbro it's a superb game and I gave it 10/10.

Wordflick is less than half the price, made by a small, independent developer, Michael Thomason. It is equally as addictive (more so in some ways) and deserves to have considerable success in the difficult App Marketplace.

The concept is simple. Letters appear at the top. Just drag them within the allocated time limit to form words at the bottom of the screen. The more impressive the word - the more points are scored. You have a limited number of "letter refreshes" on each level.

Local and on-line high scores are available. The online high score not only recording the highest overall scorers but also the highest scoring words.

I love this app for so many reasons:

1. It's not hard to play but it is refreshingly hard to get a good score. Scrabble is a game which can easily go for over an hour. Wordflick? You'll be doing well if you survive over 9 minutes - and I'm not joking! Why so hard? Because as you figure out the words you are going to play the letters randomly change if you don't "go for it" quick enough. Seeing a 10 letter word only to lose letter 9 can drive you mad in a great way on this game. If you get to level 5 you almost feel like throwing a party and at the time of writing this I've only done that once!

2. I like the random bonus letters that pop up giving you things like bonus time and points.

3. It is very well presented with a colourful background.

4. The sounds are spot on for a game of this type

5. The difficulty is just right making this a great game to pick up and play safe in the knowledge that it is unlikely to consume more than 10 minutes of your life at a time.

6. I like the high score options (I have struggled to 34th - I won't be there for long!)

7. I like the fact if you wish you can have your own music while you play.

8. Most importantly I like the way this developer has incorporated a development blog into this app where he seeks feedback from users - how refreshing is that?

I have contacted the developer regarding this great app and I know further enhancements are still on the cards.

I have to admit to being a total Wordflick addict at the moment and for £1.19 ($2) that can't be bad!

If you like word games this has the potential to consume your life!

10/10 Get the app from

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The Apple Ipod touch TV video ouput wire

I am not as excited about my apple iPod touch as much as I use to be, but I do use it everyday. One of the functions I like to check out is the weather forecast of my city and other cities I like to visit. I never cared about the weather so much, but it is convenient to have this application on the front page.

I did order one of those TV wires that I blogged about in: Apple Ipod Touch has TV out capability.

It seems cool and I was able to buy it cheap online. I figured it would be worth trying and seeing if I could make good use of this. I was thinking more of a picture viewer than watching videos on it.

Watch iPhone/iPod Touch TV-Out (WaveWars GamePlay) in Gaming | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Another video of a mac nerd guy demonstrating the Ipod touch capability. The video he shows is of himself. Quite humorous but only nerds can appreciate this guy's wit. Doh!

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LiveCams EarthCam App Review

Price at time of writing FREE

EarthCam needs no long explanations. It is simply a collection of live webcams from around the world (granted the vast majority are in the USA & Canada).

The user is able to watch any of these feeds. Time lapse videos are available for many cams - the one in Trafalgar Square (London) I found fascinating.

You can add ANY still to your photo album.

This has received mixed reviews - one complained that there were only 2 in England (both in London) , a scattering in Europe and the vast majority from the USA.

True enough, but there are still a vast number of interesting cams to take a look at. I've pictured only a few but I found it incredible watching the Niagara Falls and then people wandering around the streets of New Orleans unaware people around the world are watching them.

Not all the countries in the menu (note I've only pictured part of the menu) currently have cams listed and there are some very noteworthy countries not listed including Australia and New Zealand.

I hope we see more countries added in due course as this app really has some potential.

It is more than worth it's FREE price tag and if cams can be added for more countries this could become one of the most popular apps ever. Watch out pickpockets and muggers you never know where in the world you may be being watched!

Excellent app 9/10 Download at

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Arcade Hoops Basketball App

Price at time of review £1.19 (approx $2)

Like NBA Hotshot this is a simulation of the basketball machines you get to play in arcades. This app is slightly more expensive but boy you get what you pay for and more.

Graphically amazing on the small screen with great animation of the moving basket. Spot-on sounds add to the experience.

I would have given this app 10/10 without the new mode  "3 point classic" which has just been added for all users completely free of charge - but it is a welcome addition - with the basket fixed in it's 3 point position and nice new balls.

The other modes are Classic (45 seconds of 2 point shooting) and Progressive (99 seconds of trying for 2 and 3 pointers). Both local and global high scores for each mode are available.

This is one gaming app which just feels right in all respects. It looks good, sounds good, even the variation in "flick" needed for the moving basket feels right.

The quality of this game for the price I am reviewing it at is outstanding. Skyworks have pitched the pricing well to ensure good sales and recommendation and adding a new mode for free will keep existing owners very happy.

A small amount of money very well spent!

10/10   Get it from

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NBA Hotshot App

Price at time of writing 59p (approx 99c)

A nice looking arcade basketball machine simulation with good sounds and graphics.

The objective is, as you may expect, to score as many points by tossing as many balls through the hoop as you can in the time limit.

Two modes are currently available to you Classic Play (time limit mode) and Three Strikes (as it sounds - three misses and your time's up).

A flashing ball indicates a ball which will give you bonus points. Personally I would have liked to have seen bonus ball as an additional mode as you won't find flashing balls in the arcades!

Multiplayer is also available if other players are within range of you.

In my view, there are other arcade basketball simulations out there which are better. But at the price quoted above this is superb value and you will get more than your money's worth by way of regular pick-up-and-play entertainment.
Local high scores apply and the Plus+ network provides a variety of achievements to aim for. You can also win virtual prizes as you accrue points.

NBA Hotshot by Freeverse is a really nice, recommended application.

8/10

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CableJive intros duaLink sync cable for iPod & iPhone

CableJive has launched a new duaLink sync and charge splitter cable for the iPod and iPhone. The duaLink sync and charge splitter cable lets you sync and charge two devices from a single USB port at the same time.

This 9 inch cables also features a durable black housing, heavy duty wire, and is compatibility with all iPhone and iPod models except the iPod shuffle.

iTunes users will find that syncing multiple devices at one time is very useful. iTunes will register both devices at one time, allowing you to select either device to make changes to preferences or change music or videos to sync to the iPod or iPhone.

CableJive's duaLink sync and charge splitter cable for the iPod & iPhone is now available for $26 and is backed by CableJive's lifetime warranty.

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ITN News app review

Price at time of writing FREE

Obviously having reviewed the Sky News app I have to compare the two.

There's 4 tabs at the bottom giving you a choice of news stories from News Headlines, Sport, Business and Fun. This selection gives a good variety of content.

There's a good number of stories and a number carry video footage.

I love the fact there is no advertising but it is a little odd that there is no option to get the latest weather - not even as a video on the news page.

However on balance as far as usefulness goes I think that at the moment it's on a par with Sky's new offering.

And who can complain as long as it stays free?

9/10 Download from

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Arcade Bowling app review

Price at time of writing 59p (approx 99c)

You may wish to compare this with my review for Skee-Ball - the link can be found in the label list to the right.

There isn't much to say on this worthwhile application as it is remarkably similar to Skee-Ball primarily because it's based on the same game. Graphically there isn't much to choose between them - down to personal preference I guess.

Sound wise I think Skee Ball has the edge but I really like the progressive game mode on this one. This is as it sounds you are given a points target and you need to achieve it with your 9 balls - do it and you get a higher target - and so on.

With online high scores on both the Classic and Progressive modes you can see how good you are compared to others.

Which should you go for Skee Ball or Arcade Bowling? Oh come on at the prices I am quoting at the time of this review it would be a little silly not to have both. They are both great little games to pick up and play when you have a minute or two to spare.

9/10        Click to buy at

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Peggle App Review

Price at time of writing £1.79 (approx $3)

Peggle is a delightful, addictive, game which has seen the light of day on so many consoles and systyems - from the PC to a mobile phone and from a Nintendo DS to an XBox360. It has a huge fan base across all versions.

For those who are unfamiliar with the game the format is simple - launch a limited number of balls in the right direction to clear all orange pegs which appear randomly on each level. There are various obstacles to hinder, and power ups to aid you. As you would expect bonus points and extra balls arise from skillful ball launches.

The multi level adventure mode is huge and a challenge mode (achieve set targets for each level), quick play (select a level) , duel mode (against another player taking turns or against AI opponent) just add to a great game.

At the price I mention above it is superb value in fact if the game was as "polished " as it's versions on other consoles I am sure this would warrant a higher price.

However whilst the gameplay is as wonderful as ever there are a few ways this version of Peggle falls behind very slightly in quality.

1. Sound - One of Peggles highlights is it's sound - the app version has a distinctly tinny sound to it both in sound effects and music.

2. Background graphics - Again another console highlight for Peggle is the crisp colourful background on each level. Whilst the backgrounds are the same here they don't have the same sharp definition. Indeed I'd go as far as to say the graphics are good rather than great.

3. The button to launch your ball is at the top right of the screen? Why? I just can't see why anybody thought this a good idea. The fine positioning "wheel" at the right is a nice, useful touch so why nobody thought it a good idea to put this above the launch button is anybody's guess. This may seem trivial but it just seems odd that the decision was made to put the launch button in a position where a large hand could potentially obscure the on screen action as the ball is launched.

It does seem that a few corners were cut when this version was created and perhaps Pop Cap Games were aware this didn't quite match up in looks and sounds to other versions and priced accordingly?

So why the heck am I still giving it 10/10 given the factors above?

Purely because it's still a superb hand-held game and the price above represents an extremely fair price for such entertainment - it still has the capacity to consume many hours of your life.

Just bear in mind the factors mentioned above if te price does increase in due course. For example if this had been a £3.99 ($7 approx app) I would have given 8/10.

10/10 (at a price of £1.79 approx £3)

Buy and download at

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Daily Star app review

Price at time of writing FREE

The Daily Star is the first of the UK tabloid newspapers who have created a mobile app featuring their actual news reports.

For FREE which it is at the time of this review it's certainly worth having for a bit of gossip.

Obviously a web connection is needed to get the latest stories. The category headings are currently News, Gossip, Babes and Sport in line with the content of the actual newspaper.

The amount of content is fair, especially for free. After all if they allowed any more to go online there would be little point in buying the actual newspaper which wouldn't be too good for profits.

The Babes section includes a gallery of celebrities and page 3 girls. In accordance with Apple's no nudity policy in apps this is a nippless-app.

For the current price of NOTHING this is a nice little piece of light entertainment to keep up to date with national gossip and sport.

8/10                    Download from

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Sky News App Review

Price at time of writing FREE

As I write this Sky News tops the charts for free news apps. The Guradian app tops the paid apps.

Obviously this app relies on a web connection as it is mainly provided to give you up to date news.

It's a simple but useful little app for bringing you up to date with the latest headlines (world news, UK news, sport & politics), together with video bulletins. Other features include access to the blogs of the Sky News team and the opportunity to send your own news report (with a photo) to the sky news team using a simple to use form.

For free there isn't much to moan about apart from the fact I have to agree with the criticism from some users that an irritating banner ad at the bottom of each news page has to be one of the most irritating page-obstructing ads ever. Hopefully somebody at Sky may eventually agree this reduces the enjoyment of this app.

9/10                                      Download app from 

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