Lory Gil

Writer of all things app related, traveler of the space-time continuum, baker of really great cookies. Follow me @appaholik

TimeCube sends you on a time traveling adventure

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

Most arcade games put you behind the controls of a ship or object that you must maneuver around to avoid being hit by some obstacle. It is a game mechanic that we are so familiar with that it is difficult to imagine any other way to do it.

TimeCube takes those rules and tosses them out into the infinite universe. Instead of controlling your ship, you control the environment around it. You don’t have the ability to move obstacles out of the way, but you can slow down or speed up time to avoid being hit.

Jump looks retro like Pong, but plays like a 21st century arcade game

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 4, 2018

Pong may be have been created 42 years ago, but its legacy lives on in the hearts of gamers everywhere. It also lives on in the design aesthetic of game developers. Its minimalist visage may have been a necessity of the times, but it got the job done with very little visual details and still made for an excellent video game.

Jump has a similar artistic appeal. It is made up of dashes and dots. However, don’t let the looks fool you. This is nothing like Pong when it comes to game mechanics. You might think it is more fun, depending on your opinion of arcade games.

The best Games of 2014

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 5, 2018

For me, when it comes to games, there are so many amazing ones that it is difficult to decide which gets top billing. When Sebastien asked for my pick, I almost had an anxiety attack just thinking about it.

Luckily, the pick for best apps and games is a collaborative effort and the weight of this list did not rest solely on my shoulders. The writing team at iDB submitted their favorites for this year’s best game and the entries were put to a vote. The winner, runner-ups, and the game we think is the best ever, are listed for you below.

The best Health & Fitness apps of 2014

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

Even if you are not big on exercising, you have to admit that, with the launch of HealthKit and the Health app, people got a little more excited about their morning jog than they used to. Plus, with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus M8 motion coprocessor barometer feature, you can now track your stair climbing, too.

We tracked down the best health and fitness apps to launch on iOS in 2014 so you don’t have to do as much work. Then, we drew straws to see who got to choose the winner. The resulting top health and fitness app, plus the runner-ups, and the best fitness app of all time, are listed for your reading enjoyment below.

Space-themed board game Galaxy Trucker comes to iPhone with pocket edition

Lory Gil ∙ December 23, 2014

A few months ago, Galaxy Trucker launched in the App Store exclusively on the iPad. Fans of the original board game were subject to tablet playing, or not playing at all. Luckily, the game’s developer realized that iPhone owners are board game players too and reacted accordingly.

Galaxy Trucker Pocket is the iPhone version of the popular space ship building card game. Players connect different cards to their ship’s engine in order to build the most epic space racer in the galaxy. If you don’t place cards in ideal locations, you may see your ship crumble to pieces.

The Hit List will help you organize your life in time for the New Year

Lory Gil ∙ December 23, 2014

Around this time of year, I start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. I’ll admit that I only keep about half of my resolutions, but half is better than none, right? One goal that is always on my list is to get more organized. It is also one that I fail to meet nearly every year.

The Hit List is a complex organizer for the iPhone that lets you make multiple lists, make project cards with due dates, and organize tasks by categories. Plus, sync with The Hit List for Mac to always be on top of your daily, weekly, and long-term projects.

Docking Sequence is a retro graphics shuttle-landing simulation game

Lory Gil ∙ December 22, 2014

There are loads of simulation games out there. You can take flight in complex military plane cockpits, ride the rails as a train conductor, and even build an entire city as mayor. How about a docking simulation game that takes place in outer space?

Docking Sequence is such a game. Players navigate a shuttlecraft through treacherous environments in an attempt to safely land on a space station. Think Gravity mixed with Interstellar, only in 8-bit.

Stair: Slide the Blocks to Ascend review – the name says it all

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

I love it when a completely new type of game comes out. It’s not that often that we, as game reviewers, get to play around with something that has not yet been done to death in one form or another, even in our most favorite genres.

Stair: Slide the Blocks to Ascend is different than most types of games I’ve played, yet its simplicity makes it so easy to get engrossed in that it seems like I’d been playing it for years. It is technically an endless jumper, but not like Knightmare Tower or Ninja Up. We’ve got a hands-on game review of Stair for your reading enjoyment today.

The best Music apps of 2014

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Music is my specialty. If I’m not playing it, I’m listening to it. Admittedly, I’m a bigger fan of analog than digital, but there are times when playing music on my iPhone or iPad is just more convenient. In those cases, a good music player, or a great streaming service is important.

The writing team at iDB put their heads together to come up with a list of the best music apps to come out in 2014. We then fought each other in a mud pit to be the one who gets to decide the best. Below is the resulting winner and runner-ups for best music app in 2014. We’ve also included the music app we think is the all-time best.

Apps of the Week: Duet Display, Shift, Emoji Type, and more

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

It’s the weekend before Christmas and I’m still not finished with my handmade gifts. Around this time each year, I begin to realize I set my goals too high. I just run out of time before I run out of crafts. Luckily, I have a backup plan that involves last minute gifts in the form of apps.

If you can’t think of the perfect gift for that friend who has everything, an app or game may be just right. Whether you are looking for last minute gift ideas or just want to fill your iPhone with new stuff, we’ve got a list of apps and games for you to check out this weekend.

iDB holiday gift guide: Lory’s picks

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

It’s that time of year again for the writers at iDB to tell you all what to do with your money this holiday season. We all have different tastes, but we share a love of gadgets, especially Apple ones. This is the third year for our gift guide. Hopefully, we’ve given our readers some inspiration for the perfect gift for that special someone. Below is my list of great holiday gifts that I think fans of gadgets and gizmos will find worth checking out. My list is made up of gift ideas for fans of music, gaming, and mobile accessories in general.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director’s Cut review

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Fans of tactical military turn-based strategy games can step into a future where humans merge with technology to become superhuman. Sprinkle a little magic into the equation and you’ve got a tactical game for every walk of life.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director’s Cut is such a game and features a dystopian future where tech and magic collide, creating the kinds of criminal element you would never wish to encounter in real life. We’ve got a full game review of Shadowrun: Dragonfall for you right now.