Review

Review: Fantastical 2 for Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 25, 2015

The sequel to the popular language-parsing calendar utility for the Mac has arrived and it's everything you've been hoping for! Much more than a major new update, Fantastical 2 for Mac is a whole new app that feels instantly familiar while offering productivity-boosting improvements.

In addition to the revamped appearance optimized for OS X Yosemite's look and feel, Fantastical 2 is now a proper replacement for Apple's stock Calendar and Reminders apps.

Fantastical 2 has its own full-blown window and gorgeous full-screen mode while its menu bar thing can now be detached and dragged anywhere on the screen. The software is packed to the gills with a bevy of new features like iCloud Reminders and time zone support, light/dark theme, birthday reminders, a more powerful and friendlier natural language parser and more.

As a whole, the app feels tighter and more streamlined. Developer Flexibits was kind enough to put me on its limited list of beta testers, this is what I was able to gather from my weeklong hands-on time with the software.

Review: Twelve South SurfacePad, a stylish jacket for your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

In the market for a smartphone case that offers reasonable protection and doesn't bulk up your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus? Look no further than the SurfacePad, a stylish, ultra-slim protection for your precious pocket computer by Twelve South, the premium maker of Apple-exclusive accessories.

Unveiled in November 2014, the SurfacePad is a leather jacket that doesn't conceal key design elements of Apple's gorgeous new iPhones. It's going to appeal to fashion conscious types like yours truly who like their iPhones naked.

But how does it hold up in everyday life and, more crucially, over longer periods of use? Having used the SurfacePad exclusively as my iPhone 6 Plus case for the past four months, here's what I was able to gather from my hands-on experience with it.

rop: will this unforgiving puzzle game rope you in?

Josh Gallagher ∙ March 23, 2015

There is no shortage of puzzle games available on the App Store, and it is becoming harder and harder for them to distinguish themselves from the pack. MildMania’s rop seeks to do so with a stark design philosophy and some of the most difficult and satisfying puzzles I have seen on an Apple device. This game isn’t an instant recommendation though, as those silky smooth puzzles come with some very rough edges.

Magenta Arcade review: tap to destroy everything in this mobile vertical shooter

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Vertical shooters are a lot of fun and some of my favorite types of games. The Raiden series is always in my iPad games folder. I enjoy the fast-paced action and all out attack from the top of the screen.

Magenta Arcade is a vertical shooter that takes place in a fantasy world where you are a god granting wishes to your people. When disaster strikes, you must retaliate with an unceasing blast of firepower on the enemy. We’ve got a game review of Magenta Arcade for you right now.

Review: Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

I've been using the Das Keyboard Professional Model S for the last two years, and I've thoroughly enjoyed typing on this mechanical keyboard. If you do any sort of long form typing on a regular basis, then having a mechanical keyboard can make a huge difference in your life.

After typing on my MacBook's chiclet keyboard for years, I began to develop problems with severe wrist pain. Although it was never officially diagnosed, I'm pretty sure that I suffered from some sort of repetitive stress injury, which made it excruciatingly painful to type for extended periods of time. Needless to say, having a mechanical keyboard has alleviated 99% of these issues, and I can never see myself going back to using the MacBook's chiclet keyboard full time.

Earlier this month, Das Keyboard released an updated keyboard for Mac with new features and functionality. The Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac, as it is called, brings a similar typing experience to the table. Is it something you should consider if you're in the market for a new keyboard? Should previous Das Keyboard owners upgrade? Have a look at our video review and walkthrough for the answer.

Blokshot Revolution review: swing and smash your way to a high score

Josh Gallagher ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

Foxhole Games' debut title is a highly stylized round of target practice with a heavy focus on combos and high scores. At its core, Blokshot Revolution depends on its interesting control scheme and creative shooting mechanic to differentiate itself from the pack of score attack games populating the App Store. Learning the basics takes only a moment, but this game is certainly worth a second glance.

Review: create iTunes affiliate links with Blink for iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Whenever you click or tap on a link which leads to an iPhone/iPad/Mac app in the App Store/Mac App Store, or a movie, TV show episode or electronic book carried on iTunes, we earn a very small commission fee on each sale coming from that link.

Though not much, these things add up and anything that helps us run the site and keep the lights on for you guys is worth the effort from our standpoint.

For those not in the know, anyone can sign up to become an iTunes affiliate partner. Too bad Apple's web application for generating affiliate links is so tedious and a pain in the you-know-what.

Introducing Blink (or Better Affiliate Links) from Squibner, a nifty little iPhone and iPad application which eliminates the hassle of manually creating iTunes affiliate links with your own tokens and campaign tags.

Card Crawl review: battle your way through a dangerous deck

Josh Gallagher ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

In Card Crawl, developer Arnold Rauers has created an eclectic mix of games that don’t immediately sound like they would fit well together. With the bones of a simple game of solitaire and some heavy inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons, Card Crawl is just strange enough to warrant a closer look.

Prison Life RPG review: survive, escape, or die in prison

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

There are simulators for all kinds of life experiences, including running a theme park, building a bustling metropolis, and owning the airlines. There is a darker side to life, though. Now, anyone can be a part of it.

Prison Life RPG is a lot more creative than its name implies. It is a prison life simulator where players must make friends, join gangs, and stab people in the shower in order to survive. We’ve got a hands-on game review of Prison Life RPG for your reading pleasure.

Rocket Joust review: unseat your opponents on a rocket-propelled mount

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

I’ve tried a couple of jousting games in the App Store. They look cool and have great graphics, but similar to golfing video games, I’m not a big fan of the type of games where you have to time the swing, or attack, with precision. I prefer to run amok and swing wild.

Rocket Joust is a competitive arena game where players try to knock their opponent off of their mount with a good solid stab. Timing is less important than attacking your foes with unrestraint. We’ve got a game review of Rocket Joust for you today.

Crescent Moon Games launches Paper Monsters Recut on iOS

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Nearly everyone with an iPhone has heard of Paper Monsters. The adorable 2-D platformer won our hearts three years ago for being one of the best in the genre at the time.

Crescent Moon Games pulled their beloved title from the App Store earlier this week and has replaced it with the PC and Wii U version, Paper Monsters Recut. One of the best aspects of this new title is that it does not feature in-app purchases. We’ve got a game review of Paper Monsters Recut for you today.

Review: Nokia’s new HERE for iPhone mapping app gives Apple and Google a run for their money

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 17, 2015

After launching its HERE mapping service on iOS only to pull it in December 2013 over unfavorable reception (it was based on HTML5, had limited features and wasn't optimized for iOS), Nokia last September and again in December promised to deliver a mapping experience the iPhone deserves.

Today, the company has made good on that promise and released a sleek new navigation and mapping software for the iPhone with the features and the polished feel that you'd rightly expect from a mapping app.

Nokia HERE features a nicely done user interface that honors iOS aesthetics while delivering a set of advanced features like turn-by-turn directions, rich database of points of interest and perks which cannot be found in Apple Maps, Google Maps and many other competing products, such as offline navigation and maps.

I've had a few days to play with the app ahead of its launch, this is what I was able to glean from my hands-on time with HERE.