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eBoy FixPix: 25 New Levels

I love the iPhone and iPad game “FixPix” from the folks at eBoy. In fact, we’ve already covered the app a couple of times in the past here on MacStories. Don’t let the original release date fool you, though: eBoy is continually updating the game to make it one of the most impressive puzzle / pixel experiences for iOS.

The latest 2.1 update (guess what, approved right ahead of Christmas) introduces 25 new levels (they’re all great, and genius), a new app icon, new menus, a new start screen. The bad news? Your game progress will be reset after the update. Ouch.

Still, I can’t recommend eBoy FixPix more. It’s universal, gorgeous to look at and it’s only $0.99 in the App Store. Go get it.

Fast PDF 2.0 Offers A Solid Alternative To iBooks

When I reviewed the first version of Fast PDF (universal, $2.99) in late June, I called it “what iBooks for PDFs should be”. It was a few days after Apple released an updated version of iBooks with PDF support, which many – including us – didn’t really like. That version of iBooks (1.1) had poor PDF support as it didn’t let you highlight words, flip through pages or organize documents in collections. iBooks 1.2, released last week, still doesn’t let you highlight or flip through, but at least it’s got the long-requested collection feature. Plus, Apple optimized the engine to make opening large PDF files faster. I noticed that last week.

A few days ago the App Store saw the release of Fast PDF 2.0 as well. A major new version of the app I reviewed in June and used as the default PDF reader on my iPad for months. How does it compare to iBooks 1.2? What’s new? Read more

Backflip Games: 20 Million Monthly Active Users

Backflip Studios is a profitable game development team. In the past two years they pulled out hits like Paper Toss and NinJump, and they’re making half a million dollars per month through in-game advertising. That’s a remarkable result, especially considering that when the app’s free, most developers struggle to find a sustainable business model.

Clearly that’s not the case with Backflip which, according to a report from Mobile Ent, has now ninjumped to 20 million active users per month. Active users, not just people who open the App Store to download apps.

Mobile game developer Backflip Studios says it has now racked up more than 65 million downloads of its games across iOS and Android.

The company had more than 20 million monthly active users last month, and more than two million daily active users.

Backflip isn’t stopping anytime soon. The company has recently started porting its portfolio of iPhone games to Android devices, with NinJump already available in the Marketplace. Backflip released another game today, Backflip Slots, which is another take on the classic slot machine game with fancy graphics and the usual Backflip style.

Who’s going to buy Backflip Studios?

MacPaw Teases Ensoul For Mac App Store

You might know MacPaw as the genius band of Mac savvy gurus who develop CleanMyMac and MacHider. The well known developers have introduced a fantastic teaser website and video showcasing a special project for the Mac App Store that’s going to bring a little soul to your iPhone. Details are sparse, but we’re pretty stoked after watching that gorgeous video a few times over. Heads up though, MacPaw is giving away a free copy of the app to every 100th person who subscribes to receives updates on the status of this yet unknown application. Give it a shot, and let us know what you think Ensoul could be in the comments below.

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Jailbroken Apple TVs Get VNC Hack

As if Wiimote hacks, third-party browsers and a brand new jailbreak coming before Christmas weren’t enough, jailbroken Apple TV owners can now enable a VNC server on their black boxes with a new hack called Exposed.

VNC access to the Apple TV should, from my understand, allow you to control the device remotely using apps like Screens and iTeleport.

The hack, however, is still in its early stages:

It’s method for getting screen data isn’t great and lacks some effects and animation, but it does work without HDMI plugged in. So if you want to try it out, grab Exposed and place it in the Lowtide Appliances directory. I think it is also important to note that this does require a jailbroken AppleTV 2G running Dustin Howett’s beigelist. Crazy busy with work, but I’m hoping to finish my site redesign by the new year. Peace.

So, jailbreak required and lots of bugs to fix. I’ll give this one a try once it’s more stable. [via 9to5mac]