CES 2012: Guitarlink Air Provides Axe to Amp or iOS Device Output without the Wires

Applications | Friday January 13 2012 10:45 am | Comments (1) Tags: , , , , , ,

Ion Audio is getting a ton of press over the new iCadesand my personal favorite theirGuitar Apprentice, but Guitarlink Air looks pretty cool too. Announcedat CES 2012, the system connects a guitar to Mac, PC, iPad or iPhone wirelessly.Guitarlink Airs uses what it calls high performance, low-latency technology.The transmitter, a lightweight clip-on to a guitar strap funnels a 2.4 GHz signal that is amplified by an amp or digital output source without the annoyance or constraints of a cables.

Rockers can also use Guitarlink Air and an iOS device to practice with headphones or in conjunction with apps like AmpliTubeand Garageband. and a free amp is included.The package, scheduled for a Q2 release, comes with Guitar Rig LE software that, according to Ions press release shapes guitar sound with emulations of classic amplifiers and effects pedals. No word yet on price, but its yet another one from Ion Audio for the wish list.

Apps mentioned in this post: AmpliTube, GarageBand


About: CES 2012: Guitarlink Air Provides Axe to Amp or iOS Device Output without the Wires is a post from 148Apps

Why Apple Needs an iPhone 5 not an iPhone 4S

Applications | Monday October 3 2011 12:37 pm | Comments (1) Tags: , ,

Is this the next iPhone? I hope so. (photo credit: This is my next…)

Earlier this week, Apple announced their next major media event entitled “Let’s Talk About the iPhone.” Nearly 18 months after the announcement of the iPhone 4, Apple is expected to unveil the successor. The rumors this time around have been all over the place. From speculation that the next iPhone will be a device very similar to the iPhone 4, simply a spec bump of the current version called and iPhone 4S, to a full blown larger screen iPhone 5, to even seeing both.

I believe that Apple needs an all new iPhone 5, failure to release that would imply, to many, a lack of innovation on a platform that they re-invented. And failure to see an iPhone 5 on Tuesday would look bad for the new Apple CEO and the stock price.

There have been rumors going around since the spring of an iPhone 5 with a larger screen, tapered back, and faster processor. First reported by This is my next, the device looks strikingly like the current iPod touch. But more recent rumors have pointed to that much less innovative iPhone 4S as the next iPhone.

Now let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment and think of how the lack of an all new design iPhone 5 being revealed on Tuesday would be received by the media and public. While the following can be seen as a bit overblown and even preposterous, I think we’re used to that from some segments, and I did say I was playing devil’s advocate.

For Apple to wait nearly 18 months to release an iPhone that is basically the same as the iPhone 4 would be thought of as a triple mistake. It would look bad for Tim Cook, new CEO of Apple, it would impact the stock price, and would give Android a further foothold in the smartphone market.

Tim Cook took over for Steve Jobs as CEO of Apple in August. This will be his first big product reveal and in the worlds eyes, his first big test. For Apple to continue to be thought of as a leader in the smartphone area, they need to continue to innovate. Without a new iPhone, it will appear, at least on the surface, that Apple has stopped innovating and that Tim Cook has failed in his new role. In other words, we waited 18 months for this?

Let’s end devil’s advocate mode for a moment. This is of course preposterous. A little truth that many won’t think about is that products like the iPhone are developed over a 24-36 month period. Meaning we won’t really see what Tim Cook is capable of for another two plus years. The iPhone that will be announced Tuesday has likely been in development since at least 2009, perhaps earlier.

Without a new iPhone, and the perceived lack of innovation in the smartphone market, Apple should be prepared to take a rather large stock hit. Though it will likely recover, it may take some time and a couple product launches to get back to it’s stellar highs.

In this same time period since the iPhone 4 launch, the high end segment of the Android market has been taken over by large screen, dual core processor, 8MP cameras, beasts of devices. The iPhone 4 is really closer to a small screen these days compared to the current crop of large candy bar phones with beefy processors, huge amounts of memory, and large lens cameras. And Android has already surpassed the iPhone in smartphone sales. I now see more Android handsets in use in San Francisco than I do iPhones. While the iPhone 4 is still the most common single device, the number of Android devices I see easily outnumber the iPhone two to one.

More pragmatically, people crave new devices. They want the hot new thing in their hand to look cool, stylish. If you see someone with an iPhone 4S, one that looks just like the last model, you won’t know they have the cool new phone as it looks like the used to be cool old phone. So products like the iPhone need to look different frequently to cause people to want them and to sell.

Ok, enough of devil’s advocate, let me put the record straight. I think we will see the iPhone 5 on Tuesday. My sources say it is done and ready and is pretty much what we see above. But there are still possible hiccups. There could be production delays, supply problems, or any of a number of contractual and legal reasons that it won’t be announced on Tuesday. The chances of that at this point late in the game, are I believe fairly slim. I do believe those reasons are why we didn’t see the iPhone 5 in June, the usual iPhone launch timeframe.

So, bring on the iPhone 5!

[Image credit: This is my next...]


About: Why Apple Needs an iPhone 5 not an iPhone 4S is a post from 148Apps

Favorite Four: Trivia Games

Applications | Sunday September 18 2011 12:38 pm | Comments (1) Tags: , , ,

Trivia games are always crowd pleasers, and just about every game show has a iOS game counterpart. So do the biggest board games. But, while often top sellers, they dont always represent the best games. Weve collected our favortie four trivia games for you here. If we missed your favorite let us know.

Big Brain Quiz

For traditional trivia buffs looking for a broad range of subjects, we really like Big Brain Quiz. It’s free and the questions are all over the map from technology to music, sports to celebs. The animations are well done and there is Facebook integration with a decent-sized community. The game comes with over 3000 questions, and there are a lot of add-on packs available for purchase in-app. The developers add seasonal content for free and host periodic contests with deluxe question sets as prizes.


Big Brain Quiz

Universal App – Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2010-08-10 :: Category: Games


You Dont Know Jack

If genuine humor served up with anything from Shakespeare to flatulence is more appealing than straight trivia, You Dont Know Jack is a fantastic option. The game is done in a pseudo tv-show style, like something you might find on MTV – it did actually lead to a short lived broadcast. The game is clever and polished with real laugh-out-loud moments and integrated Facebook score posting. A free light version is also available.


YOU DON’T KNOW JACK

iPhone App – Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $2.99

Our Rating: ★★★★☆ :: WORTH GETTING TO KNOW
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-04-14 :: Category: Games




YOU DON’T KNOW JACK HD

iPad Only App – Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Released: 2011-04-14 :: Category: Games




YOU DON’T KNOW JACK LITE

iPhone App – Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2011-04-14 :: Category: Games




YOU DON’T KNOW JACK HD LITE

iPad Only App – Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2011-04-14 :: Category: Games


MovieCat!

MovieCat! may actually be funnier than You Dont Know Jack – at least it gives it a good run for the money. Its certainly the most original title of the bunch. Instead of clips from actual films players get movie trivia from scenes performed by the kitty cast of players and nine lives to beat five rounds of inventive puzzles and trivia challenges. There are additional puzzle packs for in-app purchase with extra cat scenes included and Facebook bragging is built in.


MovieCat!

iPhone App – Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $1.99

Our Rating: ★★★★☆ :: ADDICTIVE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-09-11 :: Category: Games


Animal Planet: Trivia Challenge

Ok, so we have to forgo Facebook with this one, but animal lovers can still show off their skills in Game Center with the trivia game brought to iOS by the cable television channel that bears the same name. As one would expect, the variety of animals and facts have outstanding breath and the app has a library of high-quality images of animals in their natural habitats from the channels archives. The game comes with 2000 questions and an additional 1000 for in-app purchase, has multiple difficulty settings to engage kids but challenge adults, and has great video.


Animal Planet: Trivia Challenge

iPhone App – Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $1.99
Released: 2011-03-14 :: Category: Games


Apps mentioned in this post: Animal Planet: Trivia Challenge, Big Brain Quiz, MovieCat!, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK HD, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK HD LITE, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK LITE


About: Favorite Four: Trivia Games is a post from 148Apps

Huge Labor Day Weekend Price Drop Round-Up!

Applications | Friday September 16 2011 12:30 pm | Comments (1) Tags: , , , , ,

Another holiday weekend in the US means one thing — apps on sale! This time around we are seeing good, but not best ever sales from Gameloft, EA, Namco, Big Fish, and many many more. Hit up the list below, we’ll try to update it a couple times this weekend — but I’ve got a grill to attend to as well!

And as always, you can keep track of the latest and greatest app price drops on the Price Drops page and RSS feed.

» The Secret of Chateau de Moreau – On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Time-Warp Camera – On Sale for $0.99 was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Early Bird HD – On Sale for $0.99 was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Bouncy Mouse HD – On Sale for $0.99 was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Zombie Minesweeper – price returned to $0.99, was on sale for FREE!
» Fossil Feast – On Sale for $0.99 was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Mahjong Towers Touch HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Reckless Getaway – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition for iPad – On Sale for $1.99 was: $9.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Empress of the Deep 2: Song of the Blue Whale HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON HD – On Sale for $1.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Papercut! – On Sale for FREE! was: $0.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Secrets of the Dragon Wheel HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» CoPilot Live Standard USA – On Sale for $3.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» TITUS – politics is not a game – On Sale for $0.99 was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Doors of the Mind – Inner Mysteries HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Doors of the Mind – Inner Mysteries (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard HD – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]

Hit the jump for the full list of Labor Day weekend price drops.


» BATTLESHIP for iPad – On Sale for $1.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» iDaTank – On Sale for FREE! was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Mooniacs – On Sale for $0.99 was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Dragons Lair 2: Time Warp – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Nick Chase & the Deadly Diamond HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Garmin N. America – On Sale for $39.99 was: $49.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Garmin U.S.A. – On Sale for $29.99 was: $39.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Draw Jump HD – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Hidden Wonders of the Depths 2 HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Coconut Dodge for iPad – On Sale for $0.99 was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Hospital Haste HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Time Mysteries: Inheritance HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Secret Mission – The Forgotten Island HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Secret Mission – The Forgotten Island (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» A Witch’s Curse: Princess Isabella HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $9.99 [ Buy Now ]
» BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2 for iPad – On Sale for $1.99 was: $9.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Empress of the Deep: The Darkest Secret HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Awakening – Moonfell Wood (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Awakening – Moonfell Wood HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Mystery Trackers: The Void HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Flux Family Secrets – The Ripple Effect (FULL) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Antique Road Trip: USA (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $1.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Antique Road Trip: USA HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Puppetshow: Mystery of Joyville HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Puppetshow: Mystery of Joyville (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 for iPad – On Sale for $1.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 – On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Haunted Manor: Lord of Mirrors (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $3.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Haunted Manor: Lord of Mirrors HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $9.99 [ Buy Now ]
» NBA JAM by EA SPORTS for iPad – On Sale for $1.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» SHIFT 2 Unleashed for iPad – On Sale for $1.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Sideways Racing – On Sale for $1.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Flux Family Secrets – The Ripple Effect HD (FULL) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» MLB.com At Bat 11 for iPad – On Sale for $6.99 was: $9.99 [ Buy Now ]
» MLB.com At Bat 11 – On Sale for $6.99 was: $9.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Fight Night Champion by EA Sports – On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Treasure Kai and the Lost Gold of Shark Island – Interactive Book App for Kids – On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for iPad – On Sale for $1.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Pirate’s Battle – On Sale for $1.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» SHIFT 2 Unleashed – On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» The Serpent of Isis HD (FULL) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Destructopus: Total Ramage! – On Sale for FREE! was: $0.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Resident Evil Mercenaries VS. – On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Big City Adventure: New York City HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Big City Adventure: New York City (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Max and the Magic Marker for iPad – On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Monster Trouble HD – On Sale for $1.99 was: $7.99 [ Buy Now ]
» FIFA 11 by EA SPORTS for iPad – On Sale for $1.99 was: $10.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Buckingham Palace: Hidden Mysteries HD (Full) – On Sale for $0.99 was: $6.99 [ Buy Now ]

Apps mentioned in this post: A Witch’s Curse: Princess Isabella HD (Full), ACE COMBAT Xi Skies of Incursion, Amazon: Hidden Expedition, Ancient Spirits: Columbus’ Legacy, Antique Road Trip: USA (Full), Antique Road Trip: USA HD (Full), Atlantis Sky Patrol, Audubon Birds – A Field Guide to North American Birds, Awakening – Moonfell Wood (Full), Awakening – Moonfell Wood HD (Full), Awakening: The Dreamless Castle, Awakening: The Dreamless Castle HD, Azada, Azada HD, BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2, BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2 for iPad, BATTLESHIP for iPad, Big City Adventure – San Francisco, Big City Adventure – San Francisco HD, Big City Adventure: New York City (Full), Big City Adventure: New York City HD (Full), Bouncy Mouse HD, Buccaneer Blitz, Buckingham Palace: Hidden Mysteries, Buckingham Palace: Hidden Mysteries HD (Full), Civil War: Hidden Mysteries, CLUE: Secrets & Spies – A Hidden Object Game, Coconut Dodge for iPad, COMMAND & CONQUER RED ALERT for iPad, Cooking Academy, Cooking Quest, CoPilot Live Standard USA, Dead Space, Dead Space for iPad, Destructopus: Total Ramage!, Dig Dug REMIX, Doors of the Mind – Inner Mysteries (Full), Doors of the Mind – Inner Mysteries HD (Full), Dragons Lair 2: Time Warp, Draw Jump HD, Drawn: The Painted Tower HD (Full), Early Bird HD, Empress of the Deep 2: Song of the Blue Whale HD (Full), Empress of the Deep: The Darkest Secret HD (Full), Everest: Hidden Expedition (Full), Everest: Hidden Expedition HD (Full), FIFA 10 by EA SPORTS, FIFA 11 by EA SPORTS, FIFA 11 by EA SPORTS for iPad, Fight Night Champion by EA Sports, Flight Control HD, Flux Family Secrets – The Ripple Effect (FULL), Flux Family Secrets – The Ripple Effect HD (FULL), Fossil Feast, Galaga REMIX, Gameloft Action Pack, Gameloft Sports Pack, Garmin N. America, Garmin U.S.A., Geared, Geared 2!, Geared for iPad, Haunted Manor: Lord of Mirrors (Full), Haunted Manor: Lord of Mirrors HD (Full), Hidden in Time: Mirror Mirror, Hidden in Time: Mirror Mirror HD (Full), Hidden Wonders of the Depths 2 HD (Full), Hospital Haste HD (Full), iDaTank, Inspire – Paint, Draw & Sketch, Inspire Pro – Paint, Draw and Sketch, Isaac Newton’s Gravity, James Cameron’s Avatar, James Cameron’s Avatar for iPad, Jet Ball, Mahjong Towers Touch HD (Full), Mancala: FS5, Max and the Magic Marker for iPad, Megaplex Madness – Now Playing, Megaplex Madness – Now Playing HD, Mirror’s Edge for iPad, MLB.com At Bat 11, MLB.com At Bat 11 for iPad, MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition for iPad, Monster Melody Mash – Animated Monster Music, Monster Trouble HD, Mooniacs, More Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima, More Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima HD, Mr. Driller, Ms. PAC-MAN, Ms. PAC-MAN for iPad, Mystery Trackers: The Void HD (Full), NBA JAM by EA SPORTS for iPad, NCAA Football by EA SPORTS, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit for iPad, Need For Speed Undercover, Nick Chase & the Deadly Diamond HD (Full), Nick Chase: A Detective Story, Nick Chase: A Detective Story HD, Noteshelf, PAC-ATTACK, PAC-CHAIN, PAC-CHAIN Compact, PAC-MAN, PAC-MAN Championship Edition, PAC-MAN for iPad, PAC-MAN REMIX, PAC-MANIA, Papercut!, Pictureka! for iPad, Pirate’s Battle, Pole Position: Remix, Pool Pro Online 3, Pool Pro Online 3 for iPad, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within HD, Public Enemies : Bonnie & Clyde, Public Enemies : Bonnie & Clyde – HD, Puppetshow: Mystery of Joyville (Full), Puppetshow: Mystery of Joyville HD (Full), Puzzle Quest 2, Rainbow Web II, Real Racing, Real Racing HD, Reckless Getaway, Reckless Racing HD, reMovem, Resident Evil 4: PLATINUM, Resident Evil Mercenaries VS., RIDGE RACER ACCELERATED, RISK, RISK: The Official Game for iPad, Rogue Planet, SCRABBLE, SCRABBLE for iPad, Secret Mission – The Forgotten Island (Full), Secret Mission – The Forgotten Island HD (Full), Secrets of the Dragon Wheel HD (Full), Shadow Guardian, Shadow Guardian HD, SHIFT 2 Unleashed, SHIFT 2 Unleashed for iPad, Sideways Racing, SimCity Deluxe for iPad, SNOOD for iPad, Sonic Spinball, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I, SPLATTERHOUSE, Star Trigon, Tamagotchi: ‘Round the World, TETRIS, TETRIS for iPad, THE GAME OF LIFE Classic Edition, THE GAME OF LIFE for iPad, The Secret of Chateau de Moreau, The Serpent of Isis HD (FULL), The Sims 3, The Sims 3 Ambitions, The Sims 3 World Adventures, The Time Machine, The Time Machine HD, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 for iPad, TIME CRISIS 2ND STRIKE, Time Crisis Strike, Time Mysteries: Inheritance HD (Full), Time-Warp Camera, Titanic: Hidden Expedition, TITUS – politics is not a game, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard HD, TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON HD, Treasure Kai and the Lost Gold of Shark Island – Interactive Book App for Kids, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for iPad, Victory March, Virtual Villagers – A New Home, Writer’s Studio, YAHTZEE HD, Zombie Infection, Zombie Infection HD, Zombie Minesweeper


About: Huge Labor Day Weekend Price Drop Round-Up! is a post from 148Apps

Async Corp. Review

Applications | Tuesday July 5 2011 12:34 pm | Comments (0) Tags: , ,

Async Corp. Review

By Rob Rich on July 4th, 2011
Our Rating: ★★★★½ :: GREAT CLEAN FUN
iPhone App – Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Basic colors and a few smiley faces belie what may just be the most addicting block puzzle game to come out of the App Store in quite some time.

 

Developer: Powerhead games
Price: $0.99
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone 3GS
Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
User Interface Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.63 out of 5 stars

There’s no shortage of puzzle games on any electronic device that has the ability to play video games. The genre is practically more ingrained than loading screens at this point. This inundation of head-scratchers is hardly a bad thing, however, as a good many of these titles are very enjoyable. Of course, this also means that a puzzle game that’s merely “good” or even “great” can easily get lost in the shuffle. So what’s the best way to decide if one of these things is special enough to stand out? I simply ask myself: “Do I see more of these puzzles when I close my eyes or when I’m drifting off to sleep?

I asked myself this very question after my first ten minutes with Async Corp. became two hours, and the answer was definitely in the affirmative.

It may look like a dull piece of office paperwork, but that’s because it’s supposed to. Async Corp.‘s presentation is intended to make players feel somewhat like a cross between an office worker and a digital postal employee as they view emails, send “packets” and gain promotions. It’s a concept that’s been used before, but it fits quite well with the style and concept here. Gameplay is split between the left and right sides of the screen, requiring players to swap tiles from one side to the other. When four or more like-colored tiles are arranged properly (i.e. two-by-two, two-by-three, etc… boxes) they’ll merge to create a packet. Tapping a packet will send it off, but depending on the game type it might be better to try and increase its size (via adding another row or column) first.

A warning to potential purchasers regarding Async Corp.: it’s horrifically addictive. I’m not sure if it’s the crisp visuals, the simple joys of packet wrangling or the super-perky music that won’t get out of my head. No matter the reason, it’s incredibly tough to put down once a game is started. Heck, even when I’m not playing it I’m usually thinking about playing it. With four game types (the timed Quota, the leisurely Async, speed-based Zoning and relaxing Free Play modes) there’s bound to be something for everyone to enjoy. And while many games limit progression to just one or two modes, gaining ranks is tracked by the total amount of packets sent, so even messing around in the less hectic modes will eventually earn promotions and new skins to use.

The only complaint I can really make (aside from an inconsequential one about disproportionately loud music) is that it doesn’t support multitasking. The current game mode will be remembered, but the actual placement is random each time. It can be “put to sleep” successfully as long as the Home button isn’t pressed, but it’s an unfortunate oversight nonetheless.

Make no mistake, Async Corp. is a top-quality puzzle game. It nails everything a fantastic puzzler should: simplicity, addictiveness, catchy music and overall polish. Aside from the lack of proper multitasking the only other serious issue with it is the whole “devouring free time” thing. And I’ve yet to meet a developer, publisher or even gamer who’s ever seen that as a bad thing.


Async Corp.

iPhone App – Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: ★★★★½ :: GREAT CLEAN FUN
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-06-28 :: Category: Games


Apps mentioned in this post: Async Corp.


About: Async Corp. Review is a post from 148Apps

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