Blyss With its slow, pleasant music, Blyss will compel you to kick back and swipe through tiles, clearing each level as you go along. As a board sits before you, you’ll swipe across tiles, reducing the dot count on each tile until eventually there are no tiles left on the board (you can...
Run Jump Die Review: A Better One-Handed Platformer
When platformers make their way to the App Store, they have a big question to answer: how will the user control the character? Some titles, like Nintendo’s Super Mario Run, offer tap-and-hold controls that assign a single task to the user; others, including the popular port Downwell, elect for software buttons simulating a console-type experience. The vast majority of platformers fall into one of these two categories, either limiting the control of the user or giving up simplicity in favor of pressing the screen in just the right place.
Run Jump Die is the best of both worlds, featuring one-touch controls that are intuitive and smart. It’s a platformer in the vein of retro classics, but with mobile and modern updates that make it feel like it belongs in 2017. The overall game, anchored by the unique control scheme, is a joy to play, showcasing just the right combination of challenge, exploration, and satisfaction.
Refunding AppleCare After Selling Your Products
For a couple of years, I’ve been trying to keep up with the latest Apple gear by selling my previous models and using the money to upgrade. A lot of the time, the products have AppleCare coverage, but buying or selling devices with AppleCare can be a bit tricky. Luckily, Apple provides the option...
Neo Angle Review: No Turning Back
You might be tempted to feel confident after the first few levels of Neo Angle, the follow-up game from Blyss developer Dropout Games. After all, you just have to move your triangle to a certain spot on the grid, occasionally picking up small fuel cells along the way. Early on, the most challenging part may be refraining from bobbing your head to the music.
iOS Apps with Helpful AI
Astro I’m a chronic email switcher, but I’ve been using Astro for a while and loving it. It’s got all that I want from a modern-day email client – snoozing, email read receipts, and more –but with the added benefit of its AI bot, Astrobot. By understanding how you organize, send, and receive...
iPad Pro to MacBook and Back Again
Last summer, I renounced the 12.9” iPad Pro. Although I had initially loved working solely on the iPad, the physical size and software limitations soured me, driving me back to macOS and the 12” MacBook. A better iPad, I thought, would feature a screen between the 9.7” and 12.9” iPads and would bridge the...
Apps for Students, Vol. 3
MyScript Nebo For students, a good note-taking app is indispensable. Although I’ve sworn by Notability for years, Nebo has me excited to get back in the classroom and take notes. Nebo boasts innovative handwritten OCR, converting your notes to text as you write them. Instead of changing your work, though, it leaves its...
Extras
In honor of World Emoji Day, which was celebrated earlier this week, we thought we would share some of our favorite emoji. 1. What are your ten most-used emoji?
RyanNothing too unusual in here I don’t think. The thumbs up is my single most-used emoji, which I think might be out of the ordinary....
Goofy but Fun Apps
WTHR When I first opened WTHR, I audibly laughed. It’s unlike any weather app you’ve ever seen before, a hand-drawn (if you can even call it that) way to show you the temperature and weather conditions around you. After you launch the app, you’ll see the temperature written as if a child had...