Word Solitaire: Aurora

Price at time of writing 59p approx 99c

I like solitaire, as in the traditional card game, but I bore with it quite quickly.

Now solitaire with words is an addictive twist. And that's the aim here. On each level all you have to do is uncover all turned over cards and ensure that at the end you have a word in each column.

With limited lifelines (burn a few cards - on some levels even this is not available) you will be driven mad yet you will keep coming back for more. Longer words mean more points and your few spare cards in the bottom left hand corner will often be needed to complete words or simply to add to your score.

Campaign is fun with level after level available to proceed through with many challenges such as coping with many of  a given letter.

A global 'who can score the most?' daily challenge is also great fun.

This is so close to a 10/10 app but a couple of personal desires just hold it off.

The backgrounds are beautiful but the animation seems to make the battery drain a little too quickly for my liking for a word app.

Some form of Open Feint and/or Game Center functionality would be nice.

A global high score leaderboard would also be a good addition for Campaign mode. Especially when this has been implemented for the daily challenge.

These are minor quibbles though and such a small price for such an addictive card game with a word twist is outstanding.

9/10 Download from

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Doodle Jump app review

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Doodle Jump is a pick-up-and-play delight. Simple, yet effective, graphics yet a very unique game which requires little explanation.

The aim? You have a little "Doodle Man" who jumps from block to block up the screen. You have to guide your little doodle friend on and on up the screen. You will be hindered by brittle landing blocks, enemies and much more. You will be aided by power ups like springs, rockets and again much more - but only if you land on them. Miss a block and plunge back to earth and it's game over!

From the main menu screen, at the bottom, you can scroll through the "theme selections" which are available for the game. Themes change not only the background but also the helps and hindrances you will encounter in your game.

As you progress up your screen which resembles a sheet of graph paper you will pass lines together with a username indicating where others have failed. It is great to sail past the height others have achieved.

The app has both Facebook and Twitter integration allowing you to boast about your latest high score. Alternatively you can use the app to mail challenge to a friend.

I don't thing Doodle Jump is an app you will play for hours on end. It is, however, a app you will return to time and time again to try and beat your previous high score because it's so infuriating if you just miss it!

9/10 and extremely well priced here

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iFish Pond app review

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Let's get one thing straight with this app. It eats the power of your device for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Do not play this simulation if you have something more important to do later because you may find yourself literally powerless.

Battery drainage is the price you pay for a beautiful pond simulation though. The developer reckons he currently has the best water simulation in this type of app and he's probably right.

The fish, the pond, the pond backgrounds - they are all beautiful. The fish animation is lovely and realistic.

You can fish in your pond too. Cast with a simple flick of the device and tap the scren to add a little food in the area of your float. Then wait..................................... the good thing here is that unlike some fishing simulations you really will have to wait. Like in real fishing the fish don't literally throw themselves at you and they may refuse your juicy bait for quite a while.

When you do get a bite the "reeling in" is really well done and yes they can "get away". The number of catches are recorded together with your record weight., Catch enough fish and there's some surprises to unlock. Several "pond bottoms" are available at the outset all beautifully presented.

It's early days for this app at the time of writing and there is little room for improvement. I would like to see integrated on line high scores (Open Feint perhaps?) and perhaps a "brag to your friends option"? If anything could be done about the battery drainage it would be nice but I think the quality of the presentation would be compromised somewhere. Therefore it is perhaps an app best played either when you are attached to a charging source or saved for a time when running the battery flat doesn't matter.

Downloading this was a very pleasant surprise - iFish Pond looks gorgeous and I'd be surprised if it doesn't hit iTunes hot list in a very short time.

9/10 Download from

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iSeismometer app review

Price at time of writing FREE

For those with even the slightest interest in plate tectonics and the movement of the earth this app is quite fascinating.

This app works both on the latest iPhones and iPod Touch. Using the amazingly sensitive Apple accelerometer built into the devices this app picks up even the slightest earth movement.

Even if you live far from the nearest area associated with earthquakes you will be amazed at how much movement there is in the earth at every location on the planet. Rest assured the slightest movement will be shown.

This app offers more though.

You can use it to report an earthquake if you detect one, although I am sure that any report will have to be backed up by official data.

You can even set an alarm to sound at a movement level you set. I guess if you live in an area prone to severe earthquakes this could be very useful. Although I wonder how hard it is to choose the right alarm level?

You don't want to be awoken by every tremor yet you don't want your alarm to go off only after the rest of the house has crashed on top of you (that's if you wake up).

The main part of this app is, of course, the seismograph and it really is just that. Your own portable seismograph capable of picking up the slightest movement in any direction.

The only thing I would like to see added to such an app is the ability to record data for a timescale you set. It would be great to leave it running for 24 hours for example and to watch a time lapse video played back.

I guess the only issue there is the memory needed to store the data?

A really good app and best of all it free (at the time of writing this).

9/10 download now at

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Fling app review

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Fling is a strangely simple game that actually turns out to get infuriatingly difficult as you progress through the levels. Yet it remains an app that keeps you going back for another try as your progress is saved after every complete stage.

Just like Chuzzle you are confronted by a varying number of cute coloured fluffy balls. On each level these are laid out. The colour of the balls has no relevance - just makes it look nice.

All you do is fling (by flicking) one ball along it's row or column towards  another ball to force it off the screen. If there is more than one opposing ball it will be a chain reaction forcing the last ball off. You continue doing this until you have just one remaining ball on each stage.

Each level consists of a number of stages and each level increases in difficulty.

Gameplay sounds easy - and for the first 5 levels or so you will probably think it is fairly simple. But gradually more balls and more complicated arrangements of balls appear. With the hardest stages having just one unique solution many levels will have you stumped and trying over and over until you get it right.

But it's these stages which make Fling such an attractive purchase. Who wants a game you can complete in an hour? I certainly don't. I like the fact that if you get stumped you can take a break and go back to it any time you like.

Yes, for those who give in easy, there is a hint (cheat) feature but I'm one of those people who won't let a game get the better of me - I'd rather persevere and get there eventually than  cheat.

For such a low price Fling is a lovely gaming app to keep on your Apple device

9/10 and available from

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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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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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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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Lottery Results app review

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

iTunes and you will be rewarded with almost as many apps as the odds of winning a lottery. OK a slight exaggeration but there are a heck of a lot.
Well as far as the UK Lottery goes I looked for an officially licenced app but not finding one I gave this one a go. It's a popular app but receives widely ranging reviews.

I don't know why- what it should do it does - and it does so well.

After the lottery draw results are regularly published quicker that on the National Lottery website. You can check many previous results in case you've been on holiday. Euromillions, Daily Play and all the regular UK National Lottery draws are included - even the "Millionaire's Raffle (the Euromillions extra draw).

For fun there's even a number generator if you would like your Apple hand held to choose your numbers for you.

For the price it's terrific - I'll award it 9/10. Perhaps the random number generator could be made a little more interesting by simulating a lotto machine or something rather than the numbers just appearing?

A nice app which sdoes what "it says on the box"

Click to buy

                    9/10

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Open Maps

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

Using the maps of OpenStreetMap.Org you literally have the word at your fingertips.

The current price is very reasonable for such an application.

You can easily search for any location in the world and the software will quickly locate similar locations (my screenshots show a search for "Venice")

From world view it is easy to scroll in to street level.

You need an online connection to initially search for your desired area but you can then download as many map tiles you wish for your specified area as the amount of memory it will use is clearly shown.

Actually Venice was probably a good example as the Italian city is so easy to get lost in. Such an app could be invaluable if you were planning a trip.

Route planning and many different display options are available and there is little to moan about.

I will however mention that it seems you can only display in portrait rather than landscape which I find a little odd for a map. I don't think the coding for having horizontal orientation is that complicated and I hope this is planned as a future update.

Until that happens Open Maps gets awarded a very reasonable

9/10

Buy at

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