This has been a great week for new and updated apps and games. We’ve seen major changes to Skype, the Amazon Prime Music streaming service, and new titles from some popular game developers. You’re going to be busy this weekend. Looks like that HoneyDo list is going back on the fridge.
This week’s list of apps and games are sure to occupy your brain and your fingertips. Call in sick to the visit with the in-laws because after you read our list, you won’t want to leave the house…
Unread for iPad
Well, since Feedly took a dive earlier this week, some of us were without a good RSS reader when we needed it. I would never recommend dumping your favorite reader just because it got hacked into. However, if you don’t already have a favorite, Unread may be worth checking out. It features full-screen reading with attractive fonts, gesture based controls for convenient access to the things you want, and multiple themes for day or night. If you find an article you like, you can easily share it through a wide variety of social networks. Background refresh ensures that your blog posts are up to date. The user interface is specifically designed for catching up on your RSS feeds while letting you continue browsing the Internet. This app is available for $4.99.
Broken Age
This week’s iPad Editor’s Choice goes to an indie game that took crowdfunding to get off of the ground. Services like Kickstarter are turning indie developers into super stars. Way to go. This is a point-and-click adventure game where players control the lives of two seemingly non-connected characters. Explore their worlds, discover the secrets they need, and help them find their way in an unknown world. Solve complex puzzles to find out what to do next. The game includes the first act with Act 2 available as an in-app purchase in the future. This game is available for $9.99.
Learn Languages with Babbel
Lesson Nine already has a list of Babbel apps available for learning new languages. This one is special for its multilingual abilities. Instead of having a separate app for German, French, and Italian, you can get your language lessons from the same, convenient place. It features an extensive selection of interactive courses in 13 different languages. Each lesson takes only a few minutes and helps you learn themes and topics that you choose. It includes voice recognition software that actually corrects your pronunciation. The Review Manager helps you retain new words. This app is available for free.
These Lumps
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m a sucker for anything related to Adventure Time. It’s mathematical. This rhythm game features characters from the Ice King’s version of Adventure Time like Lumpy Space Prince. Oh my glob! You’ll be cutting the rug with the likes of Fionna, Cake, Marshall Lee, Prince Gumball, the Ice Queen, and more. The goal is to bump everyone else off of the dance floor so that LSP can have the spotlight. Win the show, party after party, by making sure no one else gets a chance to dance. This game is available for free.
Fluid SE
If you are looking for a new twist on the Pac-Man chomping dots game, then you are in for a real treat with Fluid Special Edition. Players soar across the game screen, picking up dots and leaving a trail of poisonous red dust in their wake. Use the virtual joystick to move around on the screen. Gobble the glowing yellow dots, but stay away from the red cloud that follows close behind. Pick up special items along the way that will turn your shadowed surfer into something bigger, stronger, or faster. Run over the speed bumps for a boost of energy. This game is available for $1.99.
Damn Little Town
If that gingerbread man style game piece looks vaguely familiar, it’s because you’ve seen it before in the empire building board game Carcassonne. This fun little game mixes the town building aspect of Carcassonne with the survival tactics of Arkham Horror. The game consists of two phases. In the first phase, players build their happy, tranquil town by constructing roads, buildings, and fields by laying down terrain tiles that are drawn from a random stack. Add settlers to the tiles to populate your town. As the first half of the game progresses, holes will start to appear in the town’s surface. As the corruption builds, escape becomes the priority. If you’ve built your town correctly, you’ll have plenty of escape temples to survive the corruption. If not, well, you’ll be dinner for the demons. This game is available for free.
Angry Birds Epic
This week, Rovio finally launched their much-anticipated role-playing game (RPG). This is my kind of Angry Birds. In fact, I’ve never really played any of the other franchise games for more than a few levels. However, I plan on spending quite a few evenings on this epic journey. Players head out on a mission to save friends, defeat foes, and earn loot by bashing in the bad guys. Hit the dusty trail with Red and Chuck to fight off enemy piggies. Touch your bird and drag your finger to the attack target. Fight off the fat ones in a turn-based game of strength. Tap your hero to activate the shield. Use the mage to send a rain of lightening down on groups of enemies. Rescue friends and bring them with you on your epic adventure. This game is available for free.
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These apps have been updated
- This is Skype’s upcoming iPhone facelift
- Apple clamping down on music downloading apps, ones incentivizing ad watching and social sharing
- Amazon updates Kindle for iOS with in-app support for Audible content
- Screens VNC app now supports Dropbox, in addition to iCloud
- Skype 5.0 now available on the App Store
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- Google Shopping Express expands to new places, adds recommendations, new items and more
- FIFA issues second update to iOS app ahead of 2014 World Cup Brazil
- Automation favorite Launch Center Pro 2.3 released with IFTTT integration & more
- Google Search iOS app receives 2014 FIFA World Cup Google Now cards
- Flickr app updated with new sharing and tagging options
- Scanbot 2.0 brings iPad support and smart QR code scanner
- Skitch gains swipable design, better sharing, deeper Evernote integration and more