Chicago-based Untame released Mushroom 11 on iOS this week as part of Apple’s Celebrating Indie Games promotion. Mushroom 11 started as a PC game, but its unique gameplay works especially well in a touch environment. You play as a green blob of goo in a post-apocalyptic world populated by mushrooms, glowing jellyfish-like creatures, and the ruins of the present world. To get around you erase behind the blob, which regenerates on the opposite side. It’s a novel mechanic that forces you to approach the game’s challenges in a different way. The result is perplexing and fun.
Q&A
Question: When you are working with login credentials or API keys, do you store those in your workflows or do you store them in text files which you then use Get File/Get Text From Input on? What’s the best option from a security standpoint? (Brent, @brentacPrime)
FedericoFor the past couple of months, I’ve been...
App Debuts
Cortana Microsoft’s digital assistant has received a fresh coat of paint in version 2.0, which also includes a redesigned experience for calling, texting, and saving reminders. In addition, the new design has brought faster transitions between pages and immersive full-screen answers that put the spotlight on Cortana’s abilities. Supersonic An experiment of Google’s Area...
Rename iMessage Conversations
This tip comes courtesy of of Myke Hurley who reminded me of it this week when he renamed an iMessage thread between us and Federico where we’ve been talking about the new Nintendo Switch and Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which we love. Now, instead of being titled ‘Federico & Myke,’ when I open...
Album
Stickershift These new car-themed stickers by Tapbots’ Mark Jardine are perfect for any auto enthusiast. There are parts and gears, tools, and even signs and symbols. 12 stickers are included for free, but you can unlock over 60 more with a $1.99 In-App Purchase. As always, I love Mark’s style and attention to detail....
Game Day: Cosmic Express
The first game review I ever wrote on MacStories was for a delightful puzzle game called A Good Snowman is Hard to Build. The team behind Snowman is back with a new game called Cosmic Express that brings toy-like charm to this challenging puzzle game through playful animation, bright colors, and sound design that perfectly complements the artwork.
Game Day: Euclidean Lands
Every so often the mashup of familiar game styles results in something unexpected and delightful, which is precisely what Vienna-based Miro Straka and kunabi brother have created with Euclidean Lands. The game has been compared favorably to Monument Valley and Square Enix’s Hitman GO from a design and gameplay perspective. The comparison is apt but doesn’t capture the uniqueness of Euclidean Lands.
Spark for macOS Adds Email Management Features
The hallmark feature of Readdle’s Spark email client for macOS is its Smart Inbox, which is designed to surface important email messages intelligently. That feature, along with a unified inbox and swipe gestures for common actions, goes a long way to simplifying email management. Nonetheless, email is one of those areas where personal preferences matter a lot. People are particular about how their email is organized, an area that was underserved by Spark. With version 1.2 for macOS, Readdle has begun to tackle email organization, which should make Spark a more attractive option for people who like Spark’s approach to email but want a little more control over how their messages are managed.
Apple Promotes Sticker Packs with New Video
Apple released another installment in its iPhone 7 ‘practically magic’ video series today that celebrates stickers. The spot, called ‘Sticker Fight’ pulls sticker packs out of the Messages app and into the physical world. Set to a single by The Monks called ‘Boys are Boys and Girls are Choice,’ which has a fantastic 60s-style beat, the video features a sticker fight that breaks out across a city with people slapping stickers on each other and practically everything else in the landscape.