“Smash Cops brings the excitement of high-speed car chases to your iPhone and iPad with top-notch graphics, high intensity game-play, and interesting (if challenging) controls.”

Smash Cops recently hit featured status in the App Store, and after playing it for a few days, I can see why. It’s a deceptively simple racing game that provides excellent controls, fluid graphics, and has some signature local evening news flair to it.

The premise is that you’re driving a cop car, and you have to chase down bad guys through a winding route, and ram into their vehicle often enough to make them crash. There’s a healthy amount of variation on this theme, including timed challenges, obstacle courses to test your finesse, and scenarios where you’re the one being chased. Whatever the goals of the level may be, you’re usually provided with helpful waypoints at intersections so you know which direction to go. There’s plenty of civilian traffic in the way, posing slight obstacles, but for the most part, they can be plowed through with little worry.

The default control scheme was fairly new to me. You press the screen behind your on-screen vehicle to adjust its steering, letting go to stop the gas, or tapping the screen with your other hand for a quick burst of speed. You can switch this up to a traditional virtual joystick, but the default is novel to play with, if nothing else. The controls are certainly intuitive, but I find they’re often more challenging than they should be. At times, you can turn a corner very sharply, while at other times, you drift and lose a lot of control. There may be a trick to this that I’m just not getting, but so far it has made nimble driving difficult, especially in the obstacle course stage. Having played a bunch of Need for Speed on the PlayBook, I think an option for accelerometer control would be really nice.

Knowing if you'll be able to make a turn sharply or if you'll need to accommodate for drift can be tricky.

The overall gameplay is still great. There’s a real solid “Channel 9 Evening News” angle, where the camera following you is accompanied by the sound of a news chopper. Many of the UI elements are fashioned after TV fly-ins. I would have liked to see a few more unlocks beyond the five cars you made available over the course of gameplay. Maybe some vehicle tweaks to increase boost regeneration, or bump speed up a notch. There are a few microtransactions available, but they feel forced. For $4.99, you can unlock all of the vehicles without having to play through the game. For $0.99, you can pick up 3 Super Cops. These are one-shot upgrades the make your cop car awesome and help you blast through tough levels. While I appreciate being able to earn these in the challenge missions, I doubt my frustration would ever reach the point of spending money to beat a level, especially if I’ve already shelled out $2.99 for the game. Now, if there was a free version of Smash Cops, maybe with ads and fewer cars and missions, microtransactions might be a more viable route. Personally, I find the gameplay is polished enough that Smash Cops would do very well as a free title.

Smash Cops features a wide variety of game modes

The graphics deserve top marks. The lighting is extremely realistic, the models are believable, the animation is fluid, and though the physics are a little exagerrated, it suits the gameplay. Fans of the Burnout series will definitely appreciate the scinematic slow-mo crash sequences. The only graphical problem I’ve had is that that after being flipped over, sometimes a robber’s car will disappear and respawn further down the road. This makes sense if the wreck lands in undrivable terrain, but sometimes it doesn’t, and the respawn screws up plans for follow-up attacks.

Smash Cops goes into a cinematic slow mo every time you flip a perp's car

The audio is decent, but I really wish there was some high-octane racing music while you play. The menu screen has some great music and gets me in the mood to race, but once the game is launched, you’re listening to a police siren and a chopper sound interspersed with the odd crinkle of smashed bumpers.

Overall, Smash Cops is a fast-paced, challenging racing game with polished gameplay and graphics. With a few control tweaks and increased depth for unlockables, I could see myself killing a lot of time with this game. For $2.99, you’ll get your money’s worth so long as losing a few times drives you to steely determination, rather than flipping over to another game.

$2.99 – Buy now

The good

• Excellent graphics
• Polished (though sometimes difficult) gameplay
• Good variety of game modes

The bad

• In-app purchases aren’t compelling
• Limited variety of unlocks
• Controls are often too difficult

The conclusion

Overall, Smash Cops is a fast-paced, challenging racing game with polished gameplay and graphics. With a few control tweaks and increased depth for unlockables, I could see myself killing a lot of time with this game. For $2.99, you’ll get your money’s worth so long as losing a few times drives you to steely determination, rather than flipping over to another game.

Zynga has released their newest iPhone and iPad game for animal lovers called Dream PetHouse. In this game, you are in charge of raising hundreds of adorable pets in a huge treehouse and making them has happy as can be.

As with all Zynga games, there is a social aspect to Dream PetHouse where you use Facebook Connect to visit your friends’ trees and help each other with various tasks.

• Do you love animals? Then here’s your chance to create the biggest, happiest home for hundreds of irresistibly cute pets in Dream PetHouse by Zynga! Collect the world’s cutest animals and care for them in your own unique tree, staffed by Chipper and his group of adorable chipmunk friends!

• Feed your pets and watch them grow up right before your eyes!

• Connect Pethouses using dynamic bridges and see your pets explore their new home!
• Capture fond memories of your pets’ childhood in family albums!
• Raise your pet families and collect all the Golden Frames!
• Visit your friends’ trees using Facebook and get their help raising your pets!
• Customize your Pethouse with wild-looking trees and unique habitats!

Dream PetHouse is available on the iPhone and iPad for free.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Paper Monsters is a new platformer game for iPhone and iPad. In the game’s world, everything is made out of paper and cardboard, including your character. It’s a classic 2d side-scrolling platformer placed in a 3d environment.

I am loving this game! Paper Monsters has great graphics that are also very fun. My favorite little feature of the graphics is that sometimes things like trees and bushes pop up in front of or behind you in the 3d atmosphere.

Dive into the world of Paper Monsters and watch a living world made out of paper, cardboard, and a few cotton balls unfold right before your eyes.

Paper Monsters takes all of the classic 2d platforming elements, combines them with cutting edge graphics and then packs it onto your iPhone or iPad.

• Classic 2d sidescrolling gameplay with gorgeous 3d environments.
• Original and adorable characters
• Awesome original soundtrack – headphones recommended!
• Fun under water and flying powerups.
• Two control types: “floating” Joystick or classic touchpad
• Game Center Leaderboards
• Adventure and Hunt for hidden Game Center Achievements
• 16 Large Levels across 4 unique worlds
• Tons of secret areas!
• High score dash mode for endless replay value!
• Airplay Mirroring
• Fun for all ages
• Universal for iPhone, iPod, and iPad

Giveaway

We’re a big fan of cute platformer games, here at iMore, so we’re giving away Paper Monsters to 5 lucky readers! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below! Must have a US iTunes account to win. Apple’s rule, not ours!

Paper Monsters is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

If Tetris were to wed a matching game, their resulting child may be something similar Revertis. The goal of this casual puzzle game is to draw 4 dots at a time in such a way that matches identical colors. The objective is simple, but execution may not always be.

I’m enjoying playing Revertis. It’s relaxing, has nice music, but isn’t mindless.

Are you on your way home from the work? May be in a subway or in a bus? Do you have 5 minutes? Would you like to shut down those thoughts in your head? Just for 5 minutes? Try Revertis! It is like meditation! It helps you to relax and trains your brain at the same time.

• 10 different game modes
• Competitive modes with limited time per turn
• Post your results on Facebook
• Game Center integrated
• Unique animation
• local leaderboards
• option for color-blind people
• soundtracks
• achievements
• German & Russian localizations

Giveaway

The makers of Revertis have given us promo codes to give away to 5 lucky readers! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below!

Revertis is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land

A turn-based strategy/role-playing game based on Call of Cthulhu RPG. Set in the midst of World War One, the game pits your team of investigators and soldiers against an ancient enemy, one older than humanity itself… Can your team of investigators keep their grip on sanity long enough to stop these diabolical plans? The fate of humanity is in your hands…

• $4.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Meeting Mapper

Documents all the important information in meetings and display a graphical depiction of your meetings. The information can be exported as a PDF and emailed and uploaded into your CRM application, SharePoint or just save it on your computer.

• $9.99 for iPad – App Store link

Tiny Review

Review stuff with just one photo and three lines of texts. Seriously, if they read how much we just wrote about them, they’d be pissed. (But now you can login with Twitter or email!)

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Ringtones & Alert Tones Maker

Personalize your iPhone by creating your own ringtones, text tones and other alert tones with Ringtones & Alert Tones Maker. Choose the song you want to use as your ringtone, specify the type of your alert, then choose the required segment from the audio track.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

The Very Cranky Bear

The award winning and much loved children’s book, The Very Cranky Bear* is now an animated, interactive app! Join Moose, Zebra, Lion and Sheep as they try to hide from the rain in a cave, but accidentally disturb a very cranky bear…

• $4.99 for iPhone and iPad -App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Voice Calendar: Create calendar items on your iPhone with your voice.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

flickr hd: Displays a new photo from your public flickr photostream, your flickr.com favourites, or a custom flickr search every minute. Currently on sale!

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Girlfriend 411: Store all the information you will ever need to know about your girlfriend in a time of need. Thinking about sending her flowers, but can’t remember her address? Forgot what her favorite type of flowers are? These are the types of issues that a lot of men run into quite often.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

TextVite: The hottest new way to invite your guests and friends to anything! Choose a background, plug in your details, add a few cool design elements, and in seconds your TextVitation is buzzing on all your guests’ phones.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

World Tree With Dragons: The first tree world simulation type game. You can build a fantastic world where you control almost everything! By combining 3 types of branches and 12 different patterns of leafs (more to come in future updates), you can grow your tree totally unique from any other one in this world! It’s the best game to show your creativity and art sense.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

While checking out the showroom floor at Macworld 2012, we encountered this cute little game called Bag It! The goal is to efficiently bag your groceries while optimizing space and not crushing items by, say, putting a watermelon on top of the bread.

These aren’t normal groceries, either. Each item is actually a character that has a personality. Bagging characters next to each other that get along well will help you achieve higher scores. For example, Sunshine the OJ and Spilt the Milk are sweethearts and bagging them next to each other awards an additional 300 points.

If organization isn’t your style or you need to blow off some steam, Bag It! also has a Rampage mode where your goal is to actually destroy as much groceries as possible.

Heavy, sturdy items on the bottom, light and fragile items on the top – seems simple, right? Think again!

• 50+ unique levels!
• Standard, Rampage, and Puzzle modes!
• Try to get 3 stars and both medals for each level! Master them all!
• 3 unique Endless Modes!
• Unique grocery combos – try to find them all!
• Custom tailored translations in 7 languages
• Game Center with Leaderboards

Bag It! is available on the iPhone and iPad for $2.99 or just the iPhone for $0.99.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link
• $2.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Smash Cops is an iPhone and iPad game where you get to be the police in wild car chases. You may be weaving through traffic going after runaway felons or even fleeing from a felon attack until backup arrives. The city you work is huge with just as huge graphics and includes over 20 missions and 5 vehicles.

Smash Cops is this week’s Games of the Week in the App Store.

PURSUE

• Take down runaway felons whilst avoiding civilian traffic and buddy police as you chase and weave through traffic.

ESCAPE

• Escape under time pressure from felon attack and get to a call out location as quickly as possible.

CHALLENGE

• 4 different mini games: smash a load of cars illegally parked in a car park, weave through a course laid out by cones, dodge traffic on a highway and collect evidence throughout the city.

GROUND BREAKING CONTROLS

• By placing your finger behind the car you can steer, weave, defend and attack runaway felons with full control of your vehicle, never before used in touch racing games.

LARGE DRIVABLE CITY

• Huge city with high quality visuals creates a fun and rich environment for different attack and escape routes spread over 20 missions and 5 vehicles.

CHAOS AND MAYHEM

-Smash, crush and flip felon vehicles. Obliterate the street scenery.

Smash Cops is available on the iPhone and iPad for $2.99.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Zombie : The Rescue: Get hooked by the dozens of challenging stages, each offering you the chance to be a hero! You’re not just here to blast these baddies into oblivion—you’ve got helpless civilians to rescue. Don’t worry, though, you’ll have plenty of chances to reduce the shambling hordes to quivering sludge, too.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

The Adventures of Robin Hood: Dive into the story of Robin Hood, Maid Marion and the Sheriff of Nottingham with full screen cartoons, karaoke-style reading, sound effects and mini-games that stimulate the imagination.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link
• $3.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

PicYou: With a simple photo you can connect with others from around the world and explore new things to do or see. See a sweet shot? Snap it with your iPhone and let PicYou do the rest with its awesome filters and frames.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

NewsFlash: One tap is all it takes to see what just happened… NewsFlash brings you all the latest news, as it breaks, from the major news sources in your country.

• Free for iPhone and iPad App Store link

Spirit of Wandering – The Legend: Sail the seas with a pirate captain in search of her missing love in this adventurous, hidden-object quest! After an attack by the Flying Dutchman, the crew of the Spirit of Wandering and captain’s companion, Jack, were imprisoned in the spirit world. Use powerful tools such as the Crystal Orb, a trusty compass and the help of fellow prisoners to find hidden objects that are drifting between the two worlds. Remove the lingering curse and save those stuck in the spirit world!

• Free for iPhone – App Store link
• Free for iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

“Classic arcade fighting game SoulCalibur has hacked and slashed its way onto the iPhone, with all of the vibrant characters and flashy moves you remember, but there are still a few gaps to fill.”

SoulCalibur recently launched for both iPhone and iPad, calling upon many nostalgic gamers to dive back into the classic 3D fighting title. The screenshots show many of the characters players will readily recognize, like the gruff samurai, Mitsurugi, the eccentric and mysterious Voldo, and the enlightened Kilik. There are 10 characters available from the get-go, with another 9 available through unlocks. All of ‘em have alternative costumes too, for those that are sensitive to combat fashion.

There are a ton of game modes, like the classic arcade style, where you plow through challengers one-by-one until reaching the final boss, a time trial where you try to get through them all as quickly as possible, and survival mode, to see how long you can play before being defeated. Practice mode is an essential and welcome addition for those that want to learn every little nuance of their favourite characters. Namco Bandai promises that even more game modes are on the way.

Unfortunately, SoulCalibur’s asking price at launch was a little on the high end: $12, and that’s with a 20%-off launch discount. That’s a hard pill to swallow when the game doesn’t offer multiplayer support, and sound quality is a little on the sketchy side…

SoulCalibur for iPhone has the traditional look, but with multitouch controls superimposed on top of the screen.

For the most part, the gameplay is fantastic and classic. You have an overlay of a joystick, and the four standard buttons – vertical attack, horizontal attack, kick, and guard. Control options let you customize button placement and opacity, as well as add a multi-button of your choice. This is particularly important, since a lot of SoulCalibur moves require you to hit two buttons at once, which is only really possible otherwise if you lay your device flat on a surface, so you’re playing with your fingers instead of thumbs. The extra button is helpful in that regard, but since you can only add one, a character’s full arsenal won’t be available to you when thumbing it out.

SoulCalibur's animations have been faithfully, beautifully reproduced

The animation is altogether great, and having played SoulCalibur plenty on the Xbox 360, I can say that all of the moves and animations have been faithfully recreated. The models themselves can be a little jagged at times, but given the speed and complexity of many of the animations, I’m happy enough that everything runs smoothly. Although the menus are laid out clearly, I occasionally had issues getting presses to register. Bigger buttons for each option would be really helpful.

Menu options are clearly laid out, though tap targets are small and can be hard to hit.

The one downer for SoulCalibur on the iPhone was the audio. The music was tinny and MIDI-style, the announcer’s audio files seemed low-quality compared to everything else, and the character taunts before and after each round are still in Japanese (even though the announcer and UI is in English). These are all things that could be fixed in a future patch, though, so I’m holding out for Namco Bandai to update the game sooner rather than later.

The lack of multiplayer is a a bit of a kick in the teeth, seeing as my favourite part of SoulCalibur, and really any fighting game, is beating the snot out of your buddies. There is Game Center support though, so at least your high scores are posted where your friends can see them and feel inadequate.

SoulCalibur supports Game Center leaderboards, but NOT multiplayer.

While SoulCalibur has buckets of nostalgia going for it, $11.99 is a lot to ask. While you won’t have as easy of a time playing on your iPhone or iPad as you would with a real console controller, you learn quickly and before long you’ll find your ass-kicking stride. There are some significant feature gaps, namely multiplayer support, but if Namco Bandai follows up with significant patches, SoulCalibur may very well merit this hefty pricetag.

SoulCalibur
$11.99 Buy now		The Good Combat animations recreated faithfully Gameplay and controls familiar and responsive Plenty of characters to unlock Universal app, works on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad The Bad Currently too expensive No multiplayer Voiceovers need improved quality and translation The Conclusion While SoulCalibur has buckets of nostalgia going for it, $11.99 is a lot to ask (and that’s the 20%-off release sale price). While you won’t have as easy of a time playing on your iPhone or iPad as you would with a real console controller, you learn quickly and before long you’ll find your ass-kicking stride. There are some significant feature gaps, namely multiplayer support, but if Namco Bandai follows up with significant patches, SoulCalibur may very well merit this hefty pricetag.

Breakout Boost: This arcade classic is now enhanced with improved graphics and deeper gameplay features such as power ups, unique brick types, and Boost Control! The faster your ball goes, the more points you’ll get!

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Worldictionary – Instant Translation & Search: Point your iPhone’s camera at any word and Worldictionary will instantly define and translate it. No need to manually type words or take pictures. This app will be your indispensable travel tool primed to give you translation on-the-go.

• $7.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Jump Out!: From now on, when you earn an achievement, you do not just get a medal and points – you also unlock a new game level with unique game mechanics that correspond to the achievement you received. Each bonus level lets you sacrifice everything to get a trophy. Therefore, from that point on, unlocking each new achievement becomes a key to getting even more fun from the game.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Peak Meetings HD: A powerful tool for capturing and organizing your thinking, and making meetings more efficient and effective. Update includes even more productivity enhancements including agenda view, copy, and actions.

• $12.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

The Wiggles’ Alphabet Adventure:

• $2.99 for iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Defense zone: Hold your defence with your turrets against the massive hordes of enemies. It is up to you, commander, how to spend the resources: restore and upgrade your veteran units or to purchase some new ones.

• $1.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Rewards – A reward tracker for parents: Add a reward when your child is helpful, does the dishes, helps put the trash out and many more! At-a-glance, you and your child can see how many rewards they have totalled up for the week.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

PDF Forms: A powerful software tool for work with PDF documents and forms which allows commenting on ready PDF documents, filling forms, signing legal documents such as contracts or notices and sharing processed PDF documents via email or Dropbox.

• $8.99 for iPad – App Store link

Favomatic: Provides you with an easy to use interface to create and manage launch-buttons for your favorites. Think of it as a to-do list that helps you in that daily routine. It not only reminds you to check out something you were about to forget but it also makes sure not to check it too often.

• Free for iPad – App Store link

Operation Math: Dr. Odd is on a global quest to eliminate the world’s even numbers. And it’s your job to stop him, by seeking out his secret bases, destroying his menacing mainframes and making the world a safer place for math. Complete each mission by solving the equations that lock the doors along your escape route in 60 seconds or less and earn all the uniforms and watches of a seasoned Base10 spy.

• $1.99 for iPhone – App Store link
• $2.99 for iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Kick’n Chick’nz: Medieval Karnival: A hilariously funny new game full of exciting carnival arcade style games, unique gameplay dynamics plus beautiful 3D graphics and animations. The story begins with a wee tyke named “Margie”, aye she’s a tuffy…and a spoiled one at that!

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

QR Pal – QR Code Scanner and Barcode Reader: The most advanced QR Code Scanner and Barcode Reader available which enables users to scan, store, share and pay. QR Pal is the only QR Code Scanner that rewards its users for scanning and sharing with monthly cash prizes. QR Pal also includes SafeScan giving you peace of mind that your scanning is always secure. You can even compare prices of products using the in-built Barcode Reader!

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Phase – Blinky’s Adventure: Built using the Unreal Development Kit from Epic Games, Phase – Blinky’s Adventure follows the voyage of Blinky, a robot sent to explore an unknown planet in search of a new home.

• $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Icon Craft: Create one-touch shortcut icons on your home screen for actions such as making a call or sending a message.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Baby Game: Cutie Frog/Cat/Crab: A simple app that lets your child pull on a fog, cat, or crab’s eyes and lips.

• Frog, $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Cat, $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Crab, $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every week a few of us from team iMore will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

TripAdvisor Hotels Flights Restaurants – @chrisoldroyd

I have just booked our family holiday for the summer and decided to have a nose around the App Store to see if I could find any apps that could recommend places to visit and where to eat. Luckily I stumbled upon an app called TripAdvisor Hotels Flights Restaurants. The app covers all sorts or areas and does cover Pollenca Mallorca where we are heading.

You can look at hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions, read reviews and ratings left by other visitors to the area too. It is very comprehensive, has links to Google Maps for guidance and he ability to leave your own reviews too. The app has been recently updated and is now optimized for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and is completely free. If you are planning vacation, check it out, it gives you some local knowledge right in your pocket.

• Free – App Store link

Idea Sketch – @Alli_Flowers

If you like graphic organizers, you’ll love Idea Sketch. We love stuff like this in education, from K-12, but mind mapping is a concept that can be used in any profession.

If you’re unfamiliar with the basic premise, you are literally mapping ideas. Drop your idea into a shape – round, square, oblong, diamond, and link it to other ideas. Expand your thoughts until you have filled in all those loose threads.

Idea Sketch allows you unlimited canvas space, so your ideas can’t be constrained. You can pinch and zoom to see whatever you want, and you can change the colors to suit your whim. You can view in a list format as well as the “idea” format, and you can share it all via email or via Box.

This is a must for students and educators, and a great idea for anyone just trying to organize his thoughts.

• Free – App Store link

Sonic 4 Episode 1 – @jorjLim

Ever since I was younger, I have been a huge fan of the Sonic franchise. I owned the 3 main games, Sonic 1, 2 and 3, on original megadrive cartridge (remember them?). When I learnt that Sonic 4 Episode 1 would be coming to iOS, I got really excited. I got so excited that I bought the game for its full £6.99 price at midnight the day it came out.

The one thing I could never achieve on the older games, was collecting all the Chaos Emeralds. Collecting all 7, would unlock Super Sonic, a invincible, faster, yellow version of Sonic.

So when I downloaded Sonic 4 Episode 1, my one goal was to unlock Super Sonic, for the first time, ever. After months of struggling, having to re-do each level to play the special stages over and over again. I finally collected the last Chaos Emeralds.

My 8 year old self would have been so proud of this moment, finally being able to play as Super Sonic that I unlocked myself, and to achieve this on a updated version of the game, made it ever better. I got to have the thrill of nostalgia, side by side with awesome modern 2.5D graphics, on my phone!

If you are a fan of the Sonic franchise, you should check out Sonic 4 Episode 1. Its packed full of homages, references and levels from the original games and really does bring back the franchise with a modern look.

• $3.99 for iPhone – App Store link
• $4.99 for iPad – App Store link

Jelly Defense – @skeetobite

My pick of the week is a new tower defense game called Jelly Defense. This is a fun, light hearted casual game to play. This game takes the traditional tower defense game and doesn’t change the formula too much. It does add a bit of an ongoing story, includes towers that are only effective against enemies of the same color (so blue towers can’t shoot against red enemies), and includes various aspects like needing to “learn” how to make new types of towers. Where it shines, however, is with the mix of background sounds/soundtrack, and the really nice, clean graphics. The stark color contrast (red and blue jelly towers and enemies, a grey background) really give the game some character, which is needed to stand out from all the other tower defense games out there. Best of all, this is a universal binary, so you can play it on any device you have!

• $2.99 – App Store link

Birdhouse – @sethclifford

I sometimes like to revisit apps that I haven’t used in a while by browsing my purchased apps on my iPhone. One that I recently rediscovered is Birdhouse. Now the thing about Birdhouse is that it hasn’t been updated in a long time. Like since the summer of 2010. But it runs fine on iOS 5 and does exactly what it’s supposed to. Which is to act as a notepad for your tweets. You can log in with multiple accounts, save drafts of your potential tweets, publish directly from the app, and back everything up via email. It’s not a Twitter client per se, as there’s no timeline to view, but it’s more of a partner to your favorite Twitter app. And yeah, lots of apps save drafts now, but the nice thing about Birdhouse is that sometimes you have an idea you want to capture quickly and don’t feel like opening up your main app and loading it, and then getting sidetracked and eating up time. It’s a single purpose app for a simpler time.

• $1.99 – App Store link

Delivery Status – @Bla1ze

Keeping track of packages for me is a big issue, not because I get a lot of them but because I live an apartment. For some reason, if I’m not watching my package delivery dates — I tend to miss a lot of packages that are scheduled to be delivered. To help keep my eye on things and ensure I get my deliveries I make use of Delivery Status Touch by JuneCloud. It supports a wide array of services such as Amazon, USPS, UPS and more importantly for me — Canada Post plus it includes Google Map integration. JuneCloud also offers a desktop solution for tracking so your iOS device is always in sync with your desktop and the cloud.

• $4.99 – App Store link

Kinotopic – @phishgirl3

I’m always looking for new ways to make pictures and videos into something more than they are, and this week stumbled on an app called Kinotopic. This simple to use app turns 3-4 second videos into a kino, or cinemagraph. If you haven’t heard of cinemagraph, it’s a photo with a small repeated movement usually confined to one detail in the image.

All you need to do to make your own kino is shoot a quick video or pick one from your library, choose your anchor frame, then highlight the portion of the image you want to show movement. The app processes it and sends your created kino to you via email. You can share on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr as well as publish your finished creation to the public stream or mark it as private. All in all it’s a fun app to use, and in my opinion worth the $1.99 price tag.

• $1.99 – App Store link

Big Lens – @reneritchie

Sometimes you just need to fake it to get it done. For all the multiple layers of glass, remarkable aperture, and overall image quality of the otherwise I-can’t-believe-it’s-a-phone camera on the iPhone 4S, it just can’t give you the depth of field — or bokeh if you’re fancy — of a fast 50 on a DSLR. Enter Big Lens, which attempts to do in post what Apple can’t — yet — do in camera. Like most post-process depth of field utilities, it’s a trick and there’s no getting around it. Just look for the tell-tale halo around the non-blurred portions — for example, around a webOS editor and his brief flirtation with a BlackBerry Playbook on a big-ass gold chain at CES 2012. But with automatic and manual modes, aperture, filter, lens, focus, and blur controls, Big Lens fakes it well. If you’re ever in one of those awkward moments where you just have to fake it to get it done, give Big Lens a go. It might just get you to good enough.

• $0.99 – App Store link

iBooks Author – @llofte

iBooks Author is the iBooks creation tool that was announced at Apple’s education event. I’ve done a little playing around with it and am really excited to start seriously using it. I’d be impressed if a simple book was easy to create, but so are books filled with animations and interactive material. I’m a college math instructor and hope to use iBooks Author to write short, supplementary books to offer to my students for free.

• Free – Mac App Store link

The Recipe Box – Jackie Wyan (Reader’s Choice Winner)

The Recipe Box is one of my favorite “hidden gem” finds. I had been looking for an app that I could easily transfer all of my old, greasy, hand-written index card recipes to, that didn’t cost me an arm and a leg, require me to ‘create an account’ online, or force me to show my admiration for an unknown cook and their favorite recipes. The Recipe Box is it. And they have a great app developer, as the thing just keeps on getting better and better. You can easil search through all your entries by all sorts of means – a search field, a ‘type’ field, an ingredient field, etc. Plus, with the use of Dropbox, I quickly copy and pasted all of my Text file recipes over to the app.

It does come with a couple of recipes to begin with, but not so many that cleaning them out is a task, and a few worth keeping to try out. Plus, as you cook your own recipes, you can easily add photos of the results to the app, resulting in a fully customized experience!

I could continue to gush on about this app, but it is definitely worth your time and the small expense. And if you have other kitchen-savvy friends, the app gives you an easy way to share with them as well!

• $3.99 – App Store link

Tell us your pick, enter to win a $10 iTunes gift certificate!

Those were our picks, iMore Nation, so now it’s your turn! Tell us your pick of the week below. Give us the name of your favorite app, site, or accessory, and tell us why it made your life more productive, more informed, more entertaining, or just plain more fun. We’ll pick one of you and send you a shiny $10 iTunes gift certificate so you can start stocking up for future picks! Contest starts now and ends next Friday, January 13 at 12pm PT.

So what are you waiting for? Jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

VicMan Visage Lab: A professional beauty laboratory for your facial photos. Remove pimples and wrinkles, outline the eyes and whiten the teeth in seconds, with all operations made automatically!

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Super Grouper for Contacts App Groups and List Management: Create groups of Contacts and send group SMS, emails or photos in a couple taps.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Charadium II: A fast & furious draw-and-guess multiplayer game that guarantees you’ll be drawn in. Your goal is to draw a given word, and other players have to guess that word.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link
• $2.99 for iPad – App Store link

DoReMi 1-2-3: Fun, musical ear training games challenge your children’s minds as they laugh, create, and play with moo-sical cows, boat-rowing pandas, and twinkling stars! Music lessons have never been this fun—brain-building never this effortless!

• $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Last Night…?: Ever woke up from a long night out without remembering what happened, or went to the coolest burger place and can’t remember where it was? Or just want to be able to monitor your daily movements if you’re a jogger or if you’re learning to drive? Then this app is made for you!

• $1.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Doozy: Doozy is to task management what a chalkboard or whiteboard is to brainstorming. By transforming tasks and events into interactive icons, Doozy literally shows you what you need to do. Big update includes Dropbox support.

• $2.99 for iPhone – App Store link

HUDY Pro: Revolutionize your driving experience! Harness your device’s technology to transform your windshield into a cutting-edge head’s up display. This streamlined utility puts your device’s LED backlit screen and GPS capability to use brilliantly, displaying your speed and direction of travel conveniently on your vehicle’s windshield.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Time of Heros: A game with great graphics, roleplaying elements, a groundbreaking combat system and easy accessibility. Players will find themselves immersed for hours in the fantasy world of “Altland“.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

HipGeo: Lets you record what you do where ever you go – a travel blog – and share that with anyone you want.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Puggy the Monster – the Fun Bite: Come test your reacting skills with Puggy the Monster ! Puggy, a little naughty monster with magic power, loves to bite everything put in its mouth. Stick your finger in Puggy’s wide-opened mouth and pull it off before he bites it hard.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

The popular arcade fighting game, SOULCALIBUR, has just hit the App Store! It is a universal app for iPhone and iPad and includes all 19 characters with all the original moves recreated as well as six games modes: arcade battle, time attack, survival, extra survival, museum, and practice.

• $11.99 – App Store link

“SOULCALIBUR” series is available on theiOS. Enjoythe memorable characters and non-stop action SOULCALIBUR is famed for with complete arcade fidelity in the comfort of your own home!

Relive the eternal tale of swords and souls transcending time and space.

• 19 characters in total!
• All character moves faithfully recreated!

Game Modes

• ARCADE BATTLE – The original battle mode from the arcade version of “Soul Calibur.” Defeat all enemies to make it to the end of the game.
• TIME ATTACK – How fast can you beat the game?
• SURVIVAL – With only a limited amount of life, how many opponents can you defeat?
• EXTRA SURVIVAL – How many opponents can you can defeat with single-hit kills?
• MUSEUM – Enjoy viewing a variety of artwork.
• PRACTICE – Learn the game’s basic system and techniques.

Giveaway

The folks here at iMore are just as excited about SOULCALIBUR as you, so in celebration of its release, we’re gifting the game to 5 lucky readers! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below! (Must have US iTunes account to win. Apple’s rule, not ours!)

SOULCALIBUR is available on the iPhone and iPad and is launching on sale for $11.99.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Weightless: Helps you reach your desired weight by providing the simplest possible solution to track your daily weight and view your progress.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Genius Scan – PDF Scanner: Turns your iPhone into a pocket scanner. It enables you to quickly scan documents on the go and email the scans as JPEG or PDF.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Facebook Cover Designer: Give your Facebook Timeline cover the unique and professional design it deserves.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Roads of Rome: Follow the romantic love story, take up challenging tasks set by the wise and cunning Caesar, explore barbarian lands, win recognition and achieve success in Roads of Rome, the fascinating blend of casual strategy, SIM and time management features!

• $2.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Draw War: Save Your Booty: Them filthy and dirty Vikings are trying to rob Captain Goodthrow’s booty, and it is your job to prevent those nasty sons of Odin from succeeding! You must fight the Vikings at all cost, and by using your trusty battle axe, kill them all by using your finger to draw a path on the screen to release the axe to bring’ em’ down!

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Updraft Jack: Get ready to run, jump and GLIDE through the jungle with Updraft Jack! You are a sugar glider fleeing from an owl in hot pursuit in this action-packed dash game.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

SoundHound: Unlimited music recognition! Featuring the world’s fastest, most accurate music identification, exclusive singing search, and now: free unlimited LiveLyrics* for over 1 million of your iTunes tracks in SoundHound Player.

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

PayBook: Allows you to easily track your worked hours, & see how much you’ve earned. You can choose to add multiple workplaces, & even use preset shifts

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

CheckIn+ HD: An all-in-one check-in app and local deal locator with augmented reality for iPad, supports Foursquare and Facebook Places. Discover the world around you and share your highlights at local bars, parks, venues, and more.

• Free for iPad – App Store link

The Little Plane – First Journey: Guide the little plane and avoid crashing into buildings. Also be wary of the mean birds – they are out to get you.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Sketch Up is a fun little game where you must guide and combine shapes to match up similar shapes in the designated areas. The complexity of a shape is determined by its number of sides and you must combine shapes in specific ways to change its level of complexity. The goal is to put the correct number of specific shapes in the designated areas.

I’ve been playing Sketch Up periodically throughout the day and have been having a lot of fun. Only a few levels were used to teach you about the game before adding more complexity and difficulty to the levels. The goal is easy to understand, but executing a plan can be quite challenging.

Sharpen those pencils and grab a piece of paper, it’s time for a drawing duel! It’s a battle to be center stage on the page, and these shapes just need a skilled artist’s hand. Match different shapes together to complete each equation, but make sure you have the right formula. Simple shape-shading can be difficult! So dust off that protractor and grab your sketch pad! If you can use these flying shapes to your advantage, you can be master of the geometric world!

• Use your Preview Hub to see what shapes will be created
• Watch out for sticky puddles that stop shapes in their tracks!
• Smash shapes together to make new ones
• Use Shape Changers and Stops to help you create the perfect sketch!

Sketch Up is available on the iPhone for free.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Document Manager: An all-in-one document management solution for your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. You can download documents from anywhere, store all your documents at one place and share or print documents easily and hassle-free.

• $2.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Boy Loves Girl: Unhappy with the myth that a woman is never happy, Boy embarks on an epic adventure across vast lands in search for the ultimate gift to express his love for the girl his heart desires.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

iQuick Tweet Free: A free (trial) version of the popular iQuick Tweeet!

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Crazy Survival: So imagine that the world has gone mad and crazy balls are falling from heaven. What should a poor Man caught in this insane weather do? Of course run and scream!

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

ComiXcape: This is the story of a little boy who loves comics and has no rivals in sling shooting. He is so keen on comics that every minute, when he is not getting into mischief, he drinks in each story of drawings. He is punished for being mischievous once, gets obsessed with a comics and turns into its character.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Snowboard Hero: An unrivalled snowboard experience with wicked tricks, insane air time and super fast downhill speed to your iPhone and iPad. Experience console-quality graphics, intuitive controls and top-notch sound in a stunning alpine setting and show the world that you are the undisputed Snowboard Hero.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Calendars – Google Calendar client: Lets you manage events both online and offline. Thanks to the unique interface you can move events simply with Drag & Drop, navigate quickly between dates, change event time, repeat schedule and reminders rapidly with custom keyboards.

• $6.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

iBookcreator: Innovative application to make books with iPhone/iPad! Produce various kinds of books, such as photo books, art books, fairy tales, cook books, PR books or manuals on your own.


• $3.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Star Marine: Infinite Ammo: The definitive Run n’ Gun experience! You play as Arc, a battle hardened drifter who is captured by an alien race in the depths of space. Arc’s capturers plan to enslave him and put his strength to work. But, Arc has other plans. He is a trained and elite Star Marine and in a fury of bullets he is going to take them all down!

• $1.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Cash Logistics: Cash Logistics is a currency calculator for estimating the physical dimensions of a given dollar amount if that amount was paid out in legal tender. It reports the number of bills required, the optimal strap division, the total weight, and the estimated space it will require. All you need to supply is a dollar amount and the specific denomination to use. It can also perform the reverse calculation if the only information known is the weight of a currency bundle, or the total number of straps.

• $1.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Vodio: Take video consumption on the go to the next level, by creating your very own personalized video streams from dozens of content services. Free up your time by watching the most talked about videos, instead of searching through hours of videos you might like.

• Free for iPad – App Store link

King Camera: Now with Instagram support!

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Cat-a-minute!: Cats, cats, and more cats! Seriously, if you love cats, this app is for you.

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Siegebreaker: The Brookelands are under siege! A mysterious evil has arrived, turning all the happy knights and peasants into vile monsters! Only the kings remain, but the undead armies are marching – who can save the kings?

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Puzzles ‘N Coloring – Sea Life: Jump into the water and explore the world of Puzzles N’ Coloring – Sea Life . A smiling crab, a wandering fish, a jumping dolphin and more await your child in this puzzle that doubles as a coloring book.

• $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Race Against Time: Collect colour CHROMOs, defeat ever-changing enemies and get really, really good at jumping between platforms as you speed through twelve unique, gorgeous and challenging levels.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Movies HD: Movies HD is a movie and TV series catalog application with stunning graphics. It allows you to quickly add, find and view movies in your library (with the ability to add new movies by seeking by title using lots of data sources – so all movie details are filled in for you!). It also allows to lend movies to friends, so you can easily keep track of who you gave that copy of “Quantum of Solace” to.

• $3.99 for iPad – App Store link

Prizma: This time around our little spherical friends need to send colored light beams across obstacle filled paths to reach their buddies. But the poor things aren’t very clever. They don’t know where to stand, which direction to face or even whom to send the light to! It’s up to you to lend them a hand and save the day!

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

MAGapp Pro: An interactive e-magazine reader that incorporates video, social media and web features into its varied publications. MAGapp’s range of e-magazines and e-books are exclusively published using this e-reader to make the most of its entertaining, interactive features. MAGapp takes mobile reading to a new level, don’t just read content, experience it!

• Free for iPad – App Store link

Pigeonholes: Unlike other content management and syncing apps, Pigeonholes is licensed with real-person help desk and email support and is supplied with a training session so you are assured that your administrator will understand how to use and maximize the app.

• Free for iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Triple Entendre is a riddle and puzzle game for iPhone and iPad. Each level is a combination of text, photos, and other clues that provide hints to the answer or even the question. Most questions are intended to require some research, so there’s a built-in browser that makes it easy to switch between the web and the game.

I’m a total sucker for riddles and totally addicted to Triple Entendre. It’s extremely challenging and half the time I’m cursing my iPad for my wrong answers, but boy does it feel good to pass a level.

If you’re looking for hints on the levels, we’ve got a thread in our forums dedicated to asking and giving hints for Triple Entendre.

If you’ve ever played an online riddle like notpr0n, godtower or qwyzzle, you’ll love this game. The first riddle game of its kind for your ios devices. Triple Entendre is a riddle, a puzzle, a quiz, and a trivia game all rolled into one. Each level includes a combination of clues and photos where you need to figure out not just what the answer is… but what the question is. Unlike traditional trivia games where a simple internet search will give you a correct answer, your problem solving skills will be needed to even start a web search. Web searching is encouraged in Triple Entendre and we have even taken advantage of your 3g or WiFi connection by building in an internal web search. We hope that your brain power and useless trivia knowledge will be truly tested.

Currently 50 puzzles long, but we have frequent updates planned with more puzzles. Triple Entendre supports Game Center with achievements and a leaderboard. Who will be the first to finish Triple Entendre?

Giveaway

The good folks at The Van Buren Boys have given us some promo codes to give away to 5 lucky readers! For a chance to win, just solve the following riddle and leave your answer in the comments below: Which two days in a week starts with “T” other than tuesday and thursday? Go!

Triple Entendre is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99. There is also a lite version available for free.

• Full version – App Store link
• Lite version – App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Silvester Adventure: A platformer puzzle game which gameplay is centered on shadow manipulation. Character’s Shadow must be ensured safe for all the time as not to leave the Shadow Range. And throughout the game you will gain new shadow manipulation abilities(Shadow Skills) which you must use to progress through the game.

• $1.99 for iPad – App Store link

4th Grade Math: Splash Math Worksheets: With 140+ adaptive worksheets with virtually infinite problems spanning across 10 chapters, Splash Math Grade 4 covers the entire 4th grade curriculum.

• $9.99 for iPad – App Store link

Tailgate Cornhole: The first cornhole game for iOS that is made with Sports Fans in mind! The toss system has been designed from the ground up to make it the most fun and easy to control cornhole game on iOS.

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

iLineup HD: Designed for all baseball and softball players, coaches, managers, and lovers of the game. It enables you to quickly create a player lineup, letting you enter position, batting order, player numbers, and substitutions.

• $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Grid Lens: You can take photos in each frame split by grid lines to create your own story. It allows you to capture every single moment you don’t want to miss.

• $0.99 for iPhone (sale) – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

GTA 3 – @chrisoldroyd

I don’t play many games on my iPad however the release of GTA 3 has got me hooked. I used to play this a few years back on my PS2 and PSP; so hearing it was now available for iOS, I just had to get it.

The game plays amazingly well, the graphics are true to the original PS2 version; which in my opinion is some feat on a 9.7″ handheld device. The key to the success with games like these on the iPad is the controls system. Rockstar appears to have this just right, even I can control things and that’s saying something. All in all this game is streets ahead of anything else that I have played on my iPad, it is utterly brilliant!

• $4.99 – App Store link

Action Movie FX – @Alli_Flowers

JJ Abrams is nothing short of brilliant. I love his movies and tv shows, and now his iPhone app – Action Movie FX. Meant to highlight the explosive effects used in his latest endeavor, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, it gives you the ability to…well…blow things up.

Action Movie FX leverages the camera in your iPhone (or iPad 2), and allows you to take live footage and then apply an explosive effect. The app comes with a missile and a car roll. I’m not crazy about the car effect as it has limited use. The missile, on the other hand, is very practical, and kept me incredibly entertained on Christmas eve as we drove around the neighborhood looking at all the festively decorated yards. “Stop here!” I would shout, and my brother would pull over. “I want to blow up that yard!” I’m sure the neighbors were tickled to death that we were spending so much time admiring and photgraphing their displays. If they only knew….

You can purchase two additional effects packages, one of which I got for $.99 that includes a fire (gun) fight and an air strike. If you ever wanted to direct expensive movies with huge special effects (or just wanted to blow things up), I highly recommend Action Movie FX.

• Free – App Store link

Batman: Arkham City Lockdown – @reneritchie

I’m not a huge fan of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins and Dark Knight movies. He simply doesn’t understand the core of the character (nor is he capable of producing good endings.) Bruce Wayne doesn’t dress up as Batman. Batman isn’t his secret identity. He is Batman. It’s Bruce Wayne that he dresses up as; that’s his secret identity. And it’s his job to save everyone, from the citizens of Gotham to the Joker to Ras Al Ghul. It’s his job to make sure no one ever dies the way his parents died, not ever again. It’s those simple, essential truths that Frank Miller nailed so transformative-ly in Dark Knight Returns in the 1980s and Paul Dini and Bruce Timm realized perhaps best of all, detective and all, in Batman: The Animated in the 1990s, that Tim Burton touched on though ultimately stumbled all over in his attempt at the Batman franchise, and that Nolan missed completely, despite the great acting and production values of his soon-to-be completed trilogy.

There’s nothing wrong with Gotham that Batman can’t fix with his brains and his fists. Which brings me, circuitously, to Batman: Arkham City Lockdown, the latest attempt to bring the Batman franchise to video games and the first to hit the iPhone and iPad.

It looks great. It uses the same Epic Unreal 3 engine that powers Infinity Blade, and the designs are modern but true to the spirit of the characters involved. Control is good given the limitations of multitouch, and Batman: Arkham City Lockdown takes pains to walk you through them from the get go. Gameplay is a tad repetitive — you go from area to fairly similar area and box your way from bad guy to fairly similar bad guy. Early hyper-swiping (is that the multitouch equivalent of button mashing?) quickly stops working, however, as badder guys require more precise counters and attacks, and you need to build your skills if you want to make it past anything other than the early stages.

In general the Arkham series is an extreme take on the Batman — ultra-violent, with female characters whose, to quote Bill Watterson, powers seem to primarily consist of keeping their costumes from falling completely off. But it’s well executed (no doubt thanks to having Paul Dini involved with the franchise), with good atmosphere, and has more than enough to please both longtime Batman fans and those who just want some gritty gaming fun over the holidays.

• $5.99 – App Store link

Golden Axe – @skeetobite

It’s retro day as we enter the last day of 2011. My choice for the pick of the week is Golden Axe, by Sega. This is an import of the classic arcade game from the late 1980′s. You are a mighty adventurer, trying to save the King and his daughter from the evil Death Adder. Just like the arcade version, you can play as a Gilus Thunderhead, a dwarf; Tyrus Flare, an amazonian; or Ax Battler, a sword wielding barbarian. Pick up food and potions, ride dragons, and of course fight enemies along the way to the main battle to defeat Death Adder. Just like the arcade version, you can play mutliplayer here as well, using bluetooth. There are sequels (Golden Axe II and III) but this game is the real thing from the arcade. For anyone who played this game in the arcade, you MUST pick this game up asap and give it a try.

• $0.99 – App Store link

Bejeweled – @iMuggle

The new version of Bejeweled adds not only more awesome graphics but new game play modes. I’ve always been hugely addicted to Bejeweled Blitz so I already knew this was a purchase I wasn’t going to regret.

The newer version has a Zen mode as well as a diamond mine mode. While one is timed and you have to attempt to blast away the earth and dig deeper, Zen mode is not timed and is just endless gameplay.

If you’re a Bejeweled fan, make sure you pick up the new version.

• $0.99 – App Store Link

1Password – @sethclifford

I’m not much of a believer in the usefulness of New Year’s Resolutions since many people make grandiose claims they’ll never complete and end up feeling terrible about it, but if you make even one this January, make it to be more secure and efficient in your computing life and know outright that you can do it. 1Password is the key to unlocking success with this resolution. I chose it as one of my most-used apps of 2011 this past week (as did many of the TiPb staff), and I can’t say enough about it.

It is simply put, my single most valued application on both the Mac and iOS. We’ve talked about it at least a zillion times on TiPb, so I won’t go into everything again. But understand this: I couldn’t manage my life, our office, and the feeling of control over the myriad bits of information we all interact with on a daily basis without it. You might look at the prices of the apps and balk, but to me, there’s no price I can put on either security or knowing that all the important data I need to access is always at my fingertips. You can always make more money, but you can’t get more time, and an app this good is worth your time.

Ok, I’ll dial down the hyperbole now. But seriously, if you’re not using it, why not? Don’t you like making your life easier? Isn’t it worth a few bucks to support fantastic software development and simplify things for yourself in the process? I think you know the answer to that. Go forth and learn a new way of living with your tech. Seriously. Go. Now.

• $14.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• $14.99 for Mac – Mac App Store link

Navigon — andrewwray

Doing a lot of holiday traveling, and want to make sure you arrive at your destination on time? Or maybe you’re going out of town for the New Year, and want to make sure you don’t get lost along the way?

I’ve been using Navigon as my main GPS app all year, and then some. It’s one of the best GPS navigation apps available for the iPhone and can even run on the iPad 3G. Navigon provides quick access to Google search, subsequently making it a breeze to search for your desired location (restaurant, gym, grocery store, gas station, whatever) and it also offers in-app purchases for things like 3D terrain mapping in a panoramic view, live traffic and even police radar location information. I’m sure some of you have personal prefecences for other GPS apps, or maybe even prefer a standalone device, but for me, Navigon does the job perfectly.

• $38.99 (North America Only) – App Store Link

Your pick?

You’re part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on twitter or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

Don 2: The Game: Play the role of Don in this spine tingling action adventure Lite game inspired from the sequel to the mega-hit Bollywood Movie Don, starring Shahrukh Khan!

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Phraseology: An app for writers. Part text editor, part word processor, Phraseology is a simple environment focused on making it enjoyable and productive to write on the iPad.

• $0.99 for iPad – App Store link

PocketAlg: A full-featured application for students learning algebra. Simply touch the symbols in an expression to simplify and solve algebraic problems.

• $2.99 for iPhone App Store link

Quips: Instantly add your real voice to the social conversation by voice-tagging photos, Tweets, emails, Facebook posts — anything!

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Hip Hop To Heaven: The challenging yet highly addictive Hip Hop Trivia game . You play the role of an MC who decided to sell his soul for the money and fame, turning his back on the true ethics and morals of Hip Hop. You now must climb up to the gates of Heaven, and attempt to reclaim your soul, or your Hip Hop career as an MC is finished forever.

• $1.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

PhotoCalendar HD: Are you looking for a perfect iPhone wallpaper. Whats better than set a calendar photo of your family and friends?

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Curio: There’s only one way out of the mental asylum, and it’s not going to be easy. Help Ron Templeton III blaze his path to freedom, but make sure he takes his pills, or else you’ll lose your mind!

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

MyiStory: Your story of a day, a week, a life. Record your story day by day in words, pictures, videos, audio and music.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

CheckIn+ HD: Brought to you by the developer of IM+, a check-in app and deal locator with augmented reality for iPad! Supports Foursquare and Facebook Places.

• $1.99 for iPad – App Store link

Vegas Party Stops: A Las Vegas App that guides you as you party up and down the Las Vegas Strip! This app is like having a good friend telling you which lounges are cool, what clubs are hot, what drinks are recommended and much more.

• $1.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Trufflehead: A cooking app that works for you. Whether you’re a good cook already or about to become one, you decide when and how much input you need to prepare healthy food that looks and tastes great. It’s all at your fingertips—from ingredient IDs and reference guides, to smart shopping lists, and how-to demos packed into 260+ recipes.

• $3.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Blocks Hurt!: Freaky creatures are coming for you… Stop them! Unchain your deadly blocks, match them, stack them or HURL THEM against this parade of bizarre monsters!

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

vokul: A siri alternative – vokul is a handsfree app for your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad that allows you to DJ music and podcasts, dictate text messages, and call contacts in your address book, without pressing any buttons!

• $2.99 for iPhone – App Store link

CONEMAN: A simple, fun and casual classic platform game. Jump, shoot and collect bonus objects on your way through the 48 levels, 4 boss fights and an EPIC final fight.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

intelli-Diet App: The app takes the foods you have, and then creates a well-balanced diet of whole, natural foods. And… your diet’s customized by your gender, weight, activity level, and more. It’s like having a Dietician in your pocket!

• $3.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Easy Spending Expense Tracker: An easy to use expense tracker for iPhone. It comes with a beautiful and clutter free user interface.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

New Year Motivation 2012: Every day for a month New Year Motivation will bring you specially selected motivational and inspirational wisdom from some of the most admired individuals on earth – Dale Carnegie, Anthony Robbins, Norman Vincent Peale, and more.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Vroom!: Drive your big blue truck around three zombie-infested tracks, boosting up half-pipes, catching mad air, and revelling in your extermination of the loathsome undead.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Cartoonizeme: Lets you add funny elements such as glasses, hats, mustaches and many more theme-based elements to your photos.

• App Store link

Hungry Turtle: The cute little turtle is always hungry. And its favorite food is apples! On its journey our adventurous little turtle finds itself in the strangest of places where apples are really tricky to reach. Can you help the Hungry Turtle get to its delicious apples?

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

SlingPlayer for iPad – @chrisoldroyd

Sling released its iPad app earlier this year and if I said it was a disgrace I wouldn’t be exaggerating one bit. I paid quite a lot for it and it just did not deliver any sort of good experience for watching your SlingBox on the iPad. It was jerky and unwatchable.

For the past few months, I have been using the SlingPlayer for iPhone app on my iPad in 2X mode and that delivered a way superior viewing experience for me in comparison. Thankfully though Sling has seen fit to update its iPad offering and this time they have got it right. It works, its very sharp, its smooth, I love it. Its only taken them about six months which is a little long to have to wait but at least its working now. I watched a full soccer match on it last night and it didn’t drop a frame, perfect!

• $29.99 – App Store link

Skitch for iPad – @Alli_Flowers

The only thing missing from Evernote was the ability to add in drawings. And while it would be better if this were simply a tab inside the Evernote app, Skitch is a great start.

Skitch reminds me a little of early versions of Corel Draw. It gives you free-style drawing, basic shapes, text, and the ability to move what you’ve done. Not much editing, but I’m willing to let it go since this is a first release.

You can create a “skitch” from scratch, or you can notate on top of a photo from your album, a new photo taken directly from your camera, a web page, or a map from Google maps.

Using your Evernote account allows you to save your Skitch note right to your account. Or you can tweet your creation, email it, or just save it to your camera role. The possibilities are endless.

• Free – App Store link

Die Hard (and other holiday classics) – @reneritchie

If there’s one thing the holidays are for, beyond time with family and friends, beyond turkey and latkas and gelt and eggnog, beyond presents and general debauched merriment, it’s movies. No, not the sanitized, commercial cut, pre-programmed network fare traditional TV foists on us, but the originals, in as good a quality as possible, presented on demand, where we want them and when.

With the iPhone or iPod touch, that can be on the go, in interstitial moments. With iPad, that can be curled up in almost any corner. With Apple TV, that can be in your living room or bedroom, up on the big screen. Whether it’s courtesy of iTunes or Netflix or Air Video any of a handful of other apps, if escapist action, if seasonal romance, if holiday fable, if festive laughs, if decades of stories well told are what you’re looking for, grab your iOS device of choice and tap play — you’ve hit the Santa-sacked gold mine.

I started last night with Elf. Next up is my favorite Christmas classic of all — Die Hard.

“Now I have a machine gun. Ho. Ho. Ho.”

• iTunes holiday movies
• Netflix

Launch Center – @sethclifford

Since my original pick this week was unceremoniously pulled from the App Store (as I expected, but I had hoped to at least get the pick out beforehand), my follow-up pick has been moved up by a week. Launch Center is the latest in a series of very useful little apps by App Cubby, makers of Tweet Speaker and Gas Cubby among others. Its premise is pretty simple. Hit the icon, see a list of quick actions you can perform and jump right to them.

With the addition of Siri to the iPhone 4S, a lot of these kinds of things are taken care of, however I still believe that apps like this are very useful, simply because I can’t always talk to Siri when I would need to do something. You can configure a few useful shortcuts like email, speed dial, message, tweet, post to Facebook and launch URL, and there’s a few other tools thrown in (activate flashlight and google clipboard contents).

Naturally, as with all App Cubby apps, the design is clean and lovely, and it’s easy to configure and use. Despite rumors of Apple removing the ability to configure URL schemes to launch apps in the next OS update, this is still a nice little addition to your home screen, and it’d be cool to see shortcuts added in the future if functions become available.

• $0.99 – App Store link

RadioAlarm – @andrewwray

Need to find a good app for helping you wake up at a decent hour on Christmas morning? Maybe you want to get up so early that you might get lucky enough get to catch Santa in the act? I’ve recently set a goal of waking up a couple of hours earlier than normal each morning to help get more things done before the day actually begins, and RadioAlarm is truly a godsend in that respect.

With RadioAlarm you have the options of waking up to the sound of your favorite songs from the iPod music library, soothing or motivational music from a long list of online radio stations and even ambient nature sounds for a more natural escalation to consciousness from a deep sleep. In addition, the app comes with a unique feature called “Shake to Wake Up”, so you’ll be wide awake in no-time from having to shake your iPhone before the alarm shuts off.

A sleep timer also helps for those who have trouble getting to sleep but also enjoy listening to music in bed before they fall into a deep slumber, and the sleep timer helps make it so you won’t wake up in the middle of the night if a harder or louder song happens to be next in line on your favorite online radio station.

It’s a really great tool at a really great price, and I highly recommend it to anyone who hates waking up to jarring alarm sounds like the ones used by the built-in Clock app in iOS. Trust me, you’ll never wake up grumpy again with RadioAlarm!

• $1.99 – App Store Link

Find My Friends – @llofte

My family and I just spent the last few days moving from Denver, CO to the central coast of CA. Well, what I actually mean is that my daughter and I hopped on a plane while my husband and brother-in-law drove halfway across the country.

I always get nervous when someone I love is driving long distances. I get even more nervous when there are winter weather advisories for all the areas that said loved ones will be driving through. Find My Friends helped put my mind at ease.

It was so awesome to be able to check my husband’s location whenever I wanted – which was every couple of hours. It was also awesome for when he was almost home, because I was able to get some beers chilled for the boys in time for their arrival.

Not to mention, if I didn’t have Find My Friends, I would’ve been calling my husband every few hours, instead: “where are you?” It was a win-win solution for both of us.

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Your pick?

You’re part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on twitter or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

The Holidays are right around the corner, which means Apple has shut down iTunes Connect until December 29 and many developers have put their apps on sale for the week. We know how much you love sales, so follow along for a round-up of some of our favorites:

• A Charlie Brown Christmas: $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Grand Theft Auto 3: $2.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars: $5.99 for iPhone – App Store link
• ActionNotes: $1.99 for iPad – App Store link
• flickr hd: $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• SignaturePad: $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• W.E.L.D.E.R.: $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Companions: $0.99 for iPad – App Store link
• Where’s My Water?: $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Dungeon Raid: $1.99 for iPhone – App Store link
• Geo Walk HD: $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• djay for iPhone: $0.99 – App Store link
• King of Dragon Pass: – $7.99 for iPhone – App Store link
• SPY mouse:
  • $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link
  • $0.99 for iPad – App Store link
• PopOut! The Night Before Christmas: $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Real Racing 2:
  • $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link
  • $0.99 for iPad – App Store link
• Jetpack Joyride: Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• BugMe! Stickies Pro: $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Photo Table: $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link
• Scribblenauts Remix: $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

This is just a small list of all the iPhone and iPad apps and games on sale this Holiday season. If you come across any other good ones, let us know and we’ll add them to the list!

Slacker Radio: Now has compatibility with Ford SYNC AppLink vehicles including the Ford Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Fiesta, Mustang, F-150, and Expedition.

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Paint War: An action-strategy fun-looking cartoon-like 2D game with plenty of laughs and excitement. Players will control painters and try their best to paint as much of the surface as possible. Besides painting mission, there are many cool toys, dangerous enemies and traps that spice up the game even more.

• $2.99 for iPad – App Store link

Unstoppaball DX: Use your skills in this Unity-Award-nominate & tranquil physics-puzzler to navigate a fragile ball through dangerous environments, all whilst avoiding enemies and searching for hidden fragments.

• $2.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Critter Chaos: While living their blissful lives, playful woodland critters are thrown into chaos when their prized possessions are mercilessly stolen by a menacing machine. In order to return to their happy way of life, the critters must do battle against the mechanical monstrosity and get their jewels back!!

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Office² HD: Update to 5.0 brings adorning new document editing tools to iPad Office suite.

• $7.99 for iPad – App Store link

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

The popular platform/adventure game from WiiWare, LostWinds, is now available on the iPhone and iPad.

LostWinds has fantastic graphics and very intuitive controls – this is how platformers should be done on iOS. Fun. Beautiful. Intuitive. Addicting.

An innovative, fresh platform-adventure bursting with gameplay ideas – wield the awesome elemental powers of Enril the Wind Spirit, from raging tornados to the subtlest breeze, in a stunningly presented combination of combat, exploration and puzzle solving.

Guide and protect Toku, a young boy and the only one who can help you release the curse placed upon the enchanting world of Mistralis and its people by evil Balasar.

• Power Toku’s jumps and glides through Mistralis’ different regions
• Buffet and smash enemies
• Solve puzzles as you journey to a dramatic showdown
• Richly interactive: Mistralis rewards experimentation and bursts to life with your every action and exploration
• Includes Game Centre integration and Achievements
• The ‘Snapshot’ feature lets you add game characters to your own photos and share with friends

Giveaway

We know you love a great game, so TiPb is giving away LostWinds to 5 lucky readers! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below!

LostWinds is available on the iPhone and iPad for $3.99.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Curious how to get more game ROMs on the iMame emulator for iPhone and iPad? iMame hit the App Store yesterday but didn’t exactly wow anyone with the built in content. Luckily, it’s fairly simple to add more ROMs to the emulator, including a lot of classic games if you have them handy.

1. Download iMame – App Store link
4. Download Mac or Windows PC desktop iExplorer client – Web link
5. Connect your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to your computer via USB dock cable.
6. Start iExplorer on your PC
6. Navigate to apps/imame/documents.
7. Drag and drop zipped ROMs from your PC into iExplorer in the apps/imame/documents.

Note that only ROMs from certain ROM sets will work. Rumor has it that you need ROM set 37b5, but older sets can work. It’s hit or miss at this point.

It also supports iCade if you have one, and I found the support from the open source community was already better than Atari’s iCade support. It detects changes better, and when it connects to iCade, the on screen controls disappear. You can also customize the controls.

UPDATE: As noted in the comments, you don’t need iExplorer app on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. You just need the Mac or Windows client. I’ve updated the steps to remove that reference.

Daily Tips range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com.

Cut the Rope has been updated with a new Buzz Box and support for iCloud syncing. There is also a new hidden Om Nom drawing for you to collect.

I am so excited about iCloud support! I have both the iPhone and iPad version of Cut the Rope, but only play the iPhone version because I don’t want to redo all the levels on my iPad. With this update, both devices with stay in sync!

• New Buzz Box featuring the rope moving Bees
• New hidden Om Nom drawing to collect
• Optimized for iOS 5 – including iCloud support to save game data across all iOS devices
• Reordered level boxes – to ensure better playing experience
• Various optimizations and fixes

Cut the Rope is available on the iPhone for $0.99 and on the iPad for $1.99.

• iPhone – App Store link

• iPad – App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Modern Combat raised the bar on first-person shooters. Dead Space brought equal parts atmosphere and awesome.

Rage HD showed what Carmak could do on iOS. Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies kept the walking dead and amped up the action.

Zombie Gunship took slaying to the skies. Grand Theft Auto III showed Liberty City hadn’t changed much in 10 years.

Built just for iPad or iPhone, or ported from your favorite consoles, 2011 had a lot of great hardcore games hitting iOS. Your next achievements comes from picking the one you like best. Vote up top and tell us why you voted they way you did in the comments! These are your awards, so get to it!

QuickShot with Dropbox: Simplifies the process of uploading photos and videos to Dropbox. Everything you capture in the app is immediately uploaded without the need for any additional actions.

• $1.99 for iPhone and iPad- App Store link

Blast Aliens!: Battle friends and become a legend in the Outworld Colonies in this action packed, real-time multi-player dueling game in vivid 3D!

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Bongiorno – Good Morning!: Helps you to get daily updates. It includes news, weather, tweets, and alarm. The application will display different background images as per your weather and time conditions on home screen.

• Free for iPad – App Store link

IM+ Pro: Introducing Beep: merge your Address Book with instant messaging and save on SMS!

• $1.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

SampleTank: Hundreds of world-class instrument and patterns included – piano, organ, drums, bass, guitar, strings, synths, percussion, vocals and many more!

• Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Breaking down the best, most must-have first-person shooter (FPS) games to blast and brawl your way through on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

First person shooters, affectionally initialized as FPS, are some of the most popular games on any platform and iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad are no exception. While control was, and remains and issue — glass multitouch doesn’t provide the same options as a PC keyboard or dedicated gamepad — the graphics, animation, ambiance, music, and intimacy of iOS makes for an incredibly exhilarating experience. From World Wars to space hulks, soldiers to monsters to the walking dead, hand-to-knife combat to blasters, ballistics, and beam weapons there are a plethora of choices available to the hardcore FPS gamer. Here are some of our favorites.

Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation

The latest in a series of games so good you can scarcely believe they’re on your phone, Modern Combat 3 has 13 missions, excellent gameplay, and a truly immersive experience. While an iPhone can never replace a full-on PC, Xbox 360, or Playstation 3 console shooter with all the bells, buttons, and whistles, the gap is definitely closing. And this one you can carry around in your pocket. Universal app – works on both iPhone and iPad.

• $6.99 – App Store link

Dead Space

If you couldn’t guess from the title it’s a space survival/horror shooter with absolutely gorgeous graphics and even better sound and atmosphere. The mood is just perfect and transitions from casual, almost monotonous getting-to-know-the-controls early missions to OMFG-what’s-eating-my-face action with heart-stopping abruptness. Dead Space isn’t on rails; you walk where you want to walk, blast what you want to blast. You do have a guidance mechanism to show you the way, however, which minimizes the frustration of truly open environments.

• $6.99 – iPhone App Store link
• $9.99 – iPad App Store link

N.O.V.A. 2

N.O.V.A was the closest thing to getting HALO on the iPhone and iPad, and N.O.V.A 2 takes all that was great about the original and shoots it into orbit and ads even better graphics, creatures, vehicles, maps, and game play. The visual are simply stunning, the controls about as good as you can expect from multitouch, and the action frenetic. Career mode, multiplayer, leader boards — hawt.

• $6.99 – iPhone App Store link
• $6.99 – iPad App Store

RAGE HD

From the mind of the legendary John Carmack and the labs of ID Software, RAGE HD is a post-apolocalyptic world-scorcher of an FPS. On the down side, it’s on rails so you can’t move about freely. On the plus side, it’s got gruesomely gorgeous graphics, Game Center support, crazy extras like Mirror Mode, and is a great way to raise some hell and work out some aggression on your iPhone or iPad. Universal app — works on both iPhone and iPad

• $1.99 – App Store link

Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies

It’s CoD, it’s zombies, what more really needs be said? Following up on the original Call of Duty: Zombies, this all new, all better sequel pits you and up to three of your friends against the walking dead with an all new interface, in-game chat, and more achievements than you can toss a grenade at. Also includes a top-down arcade bonus. Universal app — works on both iPhone and iPad

• $6.99 App Store link

Your top FPS shooter?

So there you have them, our top 5 best FPS games for iPhone and iPad. Be sure to check out our other Top 5 picks, our Picks of the Week, and iPhone App and Games Forum for more recommendations, and if we missed any of your favorites leave them in the comments below!

Tiny Wings showed that greats looks, simple gameplay, and killer concept still make for the best iOS games. Tiny Tower showed that new time-management games could still grab attention if done with attention to detail.

SPY Mouse brought some Firemint flare to the platform puzzler. DragonVale took the farming genre back to the days of legend.

Cut the Rope: Experiments showed last year’s great new games could be this years great new sequels. Minecraft meanwhile finally showed up on iOS, and while limited, it’s still Minecraft on iOS.

That’s a half-dozen choices across almost as many genres, but you can only pick one. Vote up top and tell us why you voted they way you did in the comments! These are your awards, so get to it!

Magic Guitar is Smule’s newest music app, similar to Magic Piano. To play the guitar, hold your iPhone like it’s the neck of a guitar, and tap or slide the beams of light that pass across the screen. Just as with Magic Piano, you can listen live to others around the world while they play their music. The song selection includes many legendary artists including The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Tom Petty, and Lynard Skynyrd.

• Free – App Store link

Check out Smule’s cofounder Ge Wang playing Scarborough Fair with Magic Guitar in the video below!

Get ready to rock! Unleash your inner rocker with Magic Guitar, and you’ll be shredding like a legend in no time. Simply hold your phone like a guitar neck, and beams of light help you play the greatest guitar songs your own way. You control the notes, speed, guitar type, pitch and vibrato. Play it once, play it a hundred times, each time is a unique experience that won’t get old.

• Simply touch the lights to play all styles of music, from soulful jams to scorching shred.
• Express your creativity and shake your phone to create vibrato, or drag your fingers to bend the pitch.
• Choose from different guitar sounds and speeds to make each song your own.

Magic Guitar’s songbook includes a huge catalog of legendary artists including:

• The Rolling Stones
• KISS
• Daughtry
• Nirvana
• Sublime
• Bruno Mars
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• Goo Goo Dolls
• Incubus
• Coldplay
• Lynard Skynyrd
• Evanescence
• Styx
• Poison
• Credence Clearwater Revival
• Blue Oyster Cult
• Jason Mraz
• Santana
• …and many more!

Magic Guitar is available on the iPhone for free.

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

GoodReader for iPad: Now with AFP connections + AFP Auto Sync to connect to shared folders on a Mac, to Apple Time Capsule, and to other AFP-enabled NAS drives.

• $4.99 for iPad – App Store link

Wind-up Knight: Guide your Wind-up Knight through devilish levels–over 50 in all–to rescue the Princess from the clutches of the evil Black Knight. Run, jump, roll, and slash your way to victory. Wind-up Knight is the type of challenging game you have been waiting for.

• $0.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Hugo Retro Mania: Hugo is on the mission of his life. He is out to find gold, diamonds and rubies whilst battling the evil witch Scylla, the dangerous crocodile Don Croco and huge nasty spiders. With your help Hugo must avoid discarded dynamite, running into errant mine wagons, getting caught by sudden rock falls, and avoid falling into dangerous pits and other surprises.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

TapShot: Tap anywhere and shoot a photo! Or let TapShot detect a face and shoot the picture for you! That’s all you really need to know about TapShot to start taking better photos, but there is much, much more.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

mGifts – Gift List Manager: Helps you to plan and track your gift giving needs for any holiday or special event.

• $2.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Grand Theft Auto III: 10th Anniversary Edition has hit the App Store. Aside from the menus and loading screens, that have been updated for the ’10th Anniversary’, the game stays very true to the original. Its a must buy for anyone who wants some good nostalgia.

• Visually stunning updated graphics, character and vehicle models
• HD quality resolution
• Gameplay optimized for touch screen devices
• Custom controls for the mobile platform
• Countless hours of gameplay

It’s also a universal app, so it plays well on both iPhone and iPoud touch, as well as iPad.

• $4.99 – iTunes Link

Santa’s Grounded: This Christmas, Santa’s reindeer have gone missing. There have been reports of reindeer sightings in the Crystal Caverns, the shores of Beach Break and deep within the Candy-cane Forest. Find them all and help Santa get back into the sky. Collect jingle bells, climb ladders and squash enemies as you make your way through eight fantastic levels.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

iDashboard: Don’t just charge your iPad, transform your docking time into a one-stop multi-media information center – Keep an eye on your calendar, listen to your favorite playlist, and watch breaking news and sports. Your iDashboard is completely customizable for your social profiles, favorite blogs, family photos, and more.

• $1.99 for iPad – App Store link

St John Ambulance First Aid: Includes the latest first aid advice and protocols for dealing with emergency situations. It is simple to follow with illustrated guides and voiced instructions.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

ScolioTrack: Allows the user to track the progress of the abnormal spinal curves that occur in scoliosis. With the touch of an iPhone the user is easily able to track their month to month progression.

• $7.99 for iPhone – App Store link

LetterSchool: Is your child caught up in the mystery of letters and numbers? LetterSchool makes handwriting incredibly easy to unravel. Young players practice each letter or number in four steps combining different learning approaches: Intro, Tap, Trace, Write.

• $2.99 for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Family Feud (& Friends) – @Alli_Flowers

If you’re a fan of the tv game show, you’ll probably enjoy this version on your iPhone or iPad. The sound and colors are just beautiful.

Game play is fast, and proceeds pretty much like it does on tv – without the kissing host. Some of the answers are pretty dumb, but then you have to remind yourself that of 100 people surveyed, some of them are bound to be pretty dumb.

You are matched against random people on Facebook – not necessarily your own Facebook friends. It just brings a feeling of competition. The hook into Facebook also means that when you go for the “Lightning round” you can request assistance from one of your actual Facebook contacts. Unfortunately, there is really no way of knowing which of your friends play.

• Free – App Store link

Cleartune – @sethclifford

This week’s pick isn’t going to be a very long one, but it’s a good one, especially if you play an instrument. I’ve used many iOS app tuners through the years, but the one I’m using now is likely to be the last, simply because it is so good and so well-designed, my eyes are forever blinded to other tuner apps.

Cleartune is a chromatic tuner that comes as a gorgeous universal app with a range of options for different settings and instruments. It’s both visually striking and shockingly accurate, compared to some of the other apps I’ve used. To tune, you can use the built-in mic on most iOS devices, or an external one on devices like the 2nd and 3rd gen iPod touch. The interface is clean and easy to understand, and what’s really nice is that you can launch and instantly tune using the most standard setting, or make any number of adjustments to modify the tuning to suit your needs. It supports some very advanced pro-level options, but you don’t need to use them to get value out of the app.

Since I got my Apogee Jam a few weeks ago, I’ve been trying out a lot of music apps, and this is one that’s earned a permanent slot on my iPhone and iPad. I only fire it up for short periods of time before I jump into other apps, but every time I do, I really enjoy its elegant design and simplicity.

• $3.99 – App Store link

IntelliscreenX (Jailbreak) – @andrewwray

IntelliscreenX brings unique enhancements to Facebook, Twitter, RSS, enhanced Mail and the iOS 5 Notification Center/Lock Screen. The app requires you to jailbreak your iPhone in order to get the additional functionality into your Lock Screen and Notification Center, but the added value is totally worth the effort.

IntelliscreenX is extremely powerful, letting users instantly access useful information on-the-go without having to jump into individual apps to retrieve information and perform tasks and status updates. As an example of some of the awesome things you can do, imagine pulling your iPhone out of your pocket and quickly [read: instantly] glancing at your Facebook newsfeed, sending a quick update and then making a passing comment on a friend’s post — all without even opening the Facebook for iPhone app. You can view inline comments on your friends Facebook status updates, as well as ‘Like’ anything you see on-the-fly with no delay whatsoever.

Same goes for Twitter, where IntelliscreenX lets you tweet, retweet and even @ reply someone without having to jump into any of the many Twitter clients available in the App Store. For Twitter, you can either view your regular timeline or drill down to only mentions of you, so you’re never left lacking on what’s currently going on with your Twitter friends and followers. The great thing about the Twitter integration is that you can set it to refresh every few minutes, so you’re never left waiting for your stream to update.

Adding RSS feeds is a breeze, and checking/clearing unread email items is extremely handy when you’re not able to take the time to check individual emails outside of the Mail app itself. One of the best features of IntelliscreenX, however, is the ability to collapse sections in Notification Center. Far too often am I left with an endless list of notifications in Notification Center, and the ability to collapse individual sections is a life saver for organizational freaks like myself.

In addition to the things I’ve mentioned above, IntelliscreenX also comes with a handy Notification Center widget called ISX QuickSettings — similar to SbSettings — that gives you instant access to toggles like Bluetooth, WiFi, Data, Orientation Lock, Respring, Brightness and more.

The app is $9.99 in Cydia, but trust me when I say it’s well worth the money. If you’ve been looking for a way to customize your Notification Center and Lockscreen, look no further than IntelliscreenX in Cydia — it’s hands-down the best option currently out there.

• $9.99 – Cydia Link

PhotoStudio – @jdipane

Taking pictures is a ton of fun on a device that has a great camera, and what I find to be even more fun at times is editing them in various ways. I don’t always want to have to break out my computer to edit a photo, or make a change, and that is why I like PhotoStudio. Sure, there are a lot of applications that allow you to change the image, some allow black & white, some with other affects, but this seems to put them all in one easy to access place.

With 194 different affects to add along with text labels and much more, this application is great for those of us who love to take a photo and make it look completely different. Integrated right with most of your favorite social networks like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and more the application makes sharing your new creations a breeze. Give it a shot, I bet you like it!

• $1.99 – App Store link

Twittelator Neue – @reneritchie

I use a lot of Twitter apps because a) I use Twitter a lot and b) I run an iPhone website so I have to, but I tended to always go back to Twitter for iPhone because it was simple, elegant and it fit the way I use Twitter and how my brain works. That’s an important consideration. For an end user, the user interface (UI) is the app. You can change a lot of things behind the scenes and as long as the UI remains pretty much the same, the app stays pretty much the same for the end user. Change the UI, however, and even if everything else stays the same behind it, it might as well be a whole new app.

So it was that when Twitter for iPhone went 4.0 and the interface changed significantly, it felt like I was no longer using Twitter for iPhone, and if I’m no longer using that app, I might as well check out a bunch of others. As I said, I’m familiar with a lot of them, have spent a great deal of time with some, but hadn’t touched others since they launched.

Twittelator Neue was one of those and in trying it out again this week, I was reminded how delightful it was. Pure eye candy. There’s a new wave of apps that are trying out new layering effects and physics, new animations and interactions. Twittelator Neue is one of those leading the way. This is not Apple’s Twitter client. It’s not flat an utilitarian like Mail or overly skeumorphic like Find my Friends. It’s glossy, it’s polished, it’s fresh, and it’s refreshing.

It doesn’t have the functionality of some other clients. It picks and chooses its battles carefully. More functionality will likely follow in future updates but I hope they keep curating it, keep it simple.

Either way, if you’re testing out new Twitter clients and you want to give your eyes a treat and your face a chance to smile, check out Twittelator Neue.

• $1.99 – App Store link

Save the Pencil -@llofte

One thing you may not know about me – I love puzzle games. I love all range of puzzle games, from the easy, relaxing games to the extremely difficult, brain-stretching ones. Save the Pencil is right in the middle. It’s fun, cute, a bit stress-inducing, and challenging.

The point of the game is to help the pencil, HB, draw lines between all the dots. Easy enough, right? Well, you must go through every blue dot once, and only once. The yellows dots must also be connected to, but can be used as many times as you want. The red dot? This is the dot that you must end on. That’s not all, though! You must also stay clear of the slew of enemies trying to break your lead, including paper clips, rulers, and erasers. As if that wasn’t enough, for those of with OCD, there are up to 3 stars you can collect along the way.

Seriously, this game is great. Oh, and did I mention? TiPb is giving away 5 promo codes! So go enter, or better yet, grab it now!

• $0.99 – App Store link

Diptic – @andy_mellor (Reader’s Choice)

Diptic is a really cool, simple app for creating photo montages.

The thing I love most about it is the simplicity! Choose from a pre-built layout (or amend one to suit) choose your pictures from your camera, library, Flickr or Facebook. Zoom and move it to fit the box and move onto the next pic. Theres a few effects you can use, like rotating and mirroring, change the borders etc. too. Then just export to your favourite social network or just save to your library.

I mainly use it for twitter to get more pics in one tweet and give a much better feel for what is going on. I recently went to see Coldplay and by the time I left the arena I’d tweeted this pic, gives such a good impression of the variety that was in the gig, much better than just one photo.

• $0.99 – App Store link

Your pick?

You’re part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on twitter or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

EA is running a series of Daily Deals that includes discounts on many of their popular titles for iPhone and iPad. Many of these discounts are even offering the games for free! Now, we know how much our readers love a good deal, so we’ve gathered them all up for you – here they are!

• Flight Control for iPhone, Free – App Store link
• Dead Space for iPad, 50% off ($4.99) – App Store link
• Mirror’s Edge for iPad, Free – App Store link
• Scrabble for iPhone, $0.99 – App Store link
• TETRIS for iPhone, 30% off select in-game content – App Store link
• Flight Control HD, Free – App Store link
• Mirror’s Edge for iPhone, Free – App Store link
• Scrabble for iPad, 50% off ($4.99) – App Store link
• TETRIS for iPad, 60% off ($2.99) – App Store link

I’m going to be honest and say I’m a little confused about how EA is running these deals. They’ve implied that it’s one app per day, but all of these deals are available now! So go grab them all!

Source: EA Mobile

Save the Pencil is a new, fun, little iPhone game. The goal is to guide HB, the pencil, through all the dots while collecting stars and avoiding the mean paper clips, rulers, and erasers.

This is a fantastic little puzzle game! You can only pass through the blue dots once, and the yellow dots as many time as you wish, but you must pass through them all before landing on the red dot. Throw in the obsessional part of you that insists on collecting all the stars and the stress of being chased by paper clips, and you have a real challenge on your hands! Not to mention, the graphics are just adorable.

You are HB; young, sharp and full of lead. A pencil on a mission to join the dots but there’s a rebellion in the stationery cupboard! The paper clips, rulers, erasers and their friends are angry, and they’ll do anything to stop you. Guide HB to safety and collect the bonus stars to unlock more challenging levels!

• Fun, addictive gameplay with plenty of variety. Tap the dots to move HB safely through each level.
• 60 challenging puzzles across 4 chapters will keep you tapping away.
• Full Game Center integration, with chapter leaderboards and over 20 achievements to earn.
• Collect three stars on every level. Some may be simple, but others are perplexing!
• Regular updates providing new levels and new enemies.
• End of chapter bosses offer a unique challenge.
• Different enemies interact with gameplay in different ways. Dodge paperclips, avoid spinning rulers, race erasers, and more!
• All your favourite stationery characters in one game!
• Full Retina Display support.

Giveaway

The good folks at Perfect Dimension have given us promo codes to give away to 5 lucky winners. For a chance to win, just leave a comment below!

Save the Pencil is available on the iPhone for $0.99.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

• Courage Wolf Jump: A new generation Jump games comes to the App Store, complete with weapons, cash, specials abilities, multiple worlds, extra lives and bosses! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Demolition Dash: Take control of the tiny monster Zilla and annihilate everything in sight on your way through eight famous cities. Avoid dangerous obstacles by jumping, and destroy all objects and enemies around you with Zilla’s mighty roar. Free for a limited time! [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Christmas Puzzle: Move the puzzle pieces with your fingers to put together the various Christmas images as fast as possible! The fun and festive atmosphere are guaranteed! [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Princesses Learn Spanish: Features a story-based approach, with games and songs, to expose children to Spanish. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Doodle Grub Christmas Edition: Enjoy the two new winter based themes for Christmas Holidays with tons of fearsome enemies and unexpected events! [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

• Printer Pro: Print directly to many Wi-Fi printers and to any printer attached to your Mac or PC via helper application installed on your computer. [$4.99 for iPhone - App Store link] [$6.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Tank Recon 3D: Piloting your new advanced tank, code named Alpha, you will be shooting it out with various units such as tanks, planes, helicopters, anti-tank guns and more. Fire your main cannon and watch as the enemy explodes into pieces. Use your guided missiles to bring down enemy planes or anything else that needs blowing up! [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• App Switcher: Create a quick launch list of your top tasks, as well as access them quickly via the OS 5 Notification Center. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Pop Bubble Pop: Takes the art of popping the bubble to a whole new level! Pop the bubble pigs! Pop the bubble cows! Pop the bubble sheep! Pop the bubble bubbles!? Pop whatever your bubbling heart desires… Just don’t pop the toxic bubbles! [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• A Snappy Christmas 3D: Live an exciting Christmas story with our two cute beloved heroes, Meline the girl and Snappy the little dragon. [$3.99 for iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Apple has once again released their annual iTunes Rewind listings, highlighting the best and top-selling iPhone and iPad apps and games of 2011.

Here’s the list:

iPhone Apps and Games

• Instagram [Free - App Store Link] iPhone App of the Year
• Angry Birds [$.99 - App Store Link] top-selling iPhone App of the Year
• Tiny Tower [Free - App Store Link] iPhone Game of the Year
• VidRythm [$1.99 - App Store Link] runner-up for App of the Year
• Tiny Wings [$.99 - App Store Link] runner-up for Game of the Year

iPad Apps and Games

• Snapseed [$4.99 - App Store Link] iPad App of the Year
• Angry Birds HD [$4.99 - App Store Link] top-selling iPad App of the Year
• Dead Space [$4.99 - App Store Link] iPad Game of the Year
• djay [$9.99 - App Store Link] runner-up for iPad App of the Year
• Contre Jour HD [$2.99 - App Store Link] runner-up for iPad Game of the Year

Hit the source for the full breakdown of the best and top-selling iPhone and iPad apps and games for 2011. Notice any of your favorite apps or games that you think Apple left out this year? Let us know in the comments!

Source: iTunes Rewind

• Diamond Dash: Join your friends and compete in weekly tournaments. Connect with Facebook to unlock special features and play with your friends! [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Calculus Auditus – Calc’n'Speak: Solve mental arithmetic tasks by speaking out loud your result. Because of the integrated voice recognition your iPhone is able to understand it. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Bleat: Makes it easier to post updates on Twitter and Facebook: there’s no typing required; simply say what you want and share it – audio-based status updates are finally here. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Twosift: Opens a new way of finding Internet content based on recommendations from celebrities. [Free for iPad - App Store link]

• Tick Tock Time to Stop: A child activity timer – set the timer and then let your kids play. When the time runs out they need to bring the iPad or iPhone back to you in order to enter the password. [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Batman: Arkham City Lockdown, a spin off of the hugely popular Batman: Arkham City console franchise optimized for iPhone and iPad, has begun hitting the iTunes App Store.

It’s live in Australia/New Zealand already and should become available in the US later today.

The inmates have escaped and Batman has his hands full defeating an army of henchmen and some of his most iconic villains. Scour the rooftops and the seedy underbelly of Gotham City through a series of one-on-one battles with the Joker, Two-Face and more, as well as the Batman: Arkham City Lockdown exclusive – Deathstroke. Choose from several Batman skins and power-ups as you punch, kick and combo your way to cleaning up Gotham City.

UPDATE: It’s live in the U.S. App Store now!

• $5.99 – App Store link

Giveaway

As you can see from the picture up top, we’re huge Batman fans here so, while we’re all waiting for Batman: Arkham City Lockdown to hit the U.S. App Store, we figured… why not gift it away to the TiPb Nation? We’ll gift Batman: Arkham City Lockdown to 5 lucky readers, all you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling us which was your favorite Batman story ever. One of the recent Christopher Nolan movies? The older Tim Burton franchise? One of the Batman: The Animated series? A Frank Miller, Alan Moore, or Grant Morrison comic perhaps? One of the Adam West camp shows? Which one?

Must have a U.S. iTunes account to win. Apple’s rule, not ours!

• Egg Punch: Ack! Your feathers have been stolen by rascally rabbits! Put on your trusty old egg shell and roll out in pursuit of your feathers! [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• The noisy book Games: A free adaptation of the famous international best-seller The noisy book. Created to entertain children between 2 and 5 years old… and a little bit more (and also for their parents of course!). [$3.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Intro Designer: Make beautiful HD intro movies, openers, end credits and more, using professional and stunning templates. [$3.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• iQuick Tweet: Now you can quickly tweet a photo! [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Spherical: A game that gives you power over a Black Hole. Use this power in this addictive arcade game to clear your territory of the ever-invading Spheres. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

• Danny Boy: Guide Danny Boy through 32 high quality levels collecting coins while avoiding obstacles and killing birds. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Weight Controller: an application that will allow you control your weight in an easy and simple way, giving you all the information you need to control how you lose or gain weight in an efficient and professional fashion. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Nature Sounds(sleep and relax): Do you wish to get close to the nature and feel free from the problems that surround you? Do you feel that the stress of everyday life deprives you of your ability to focus, relax, sleep – in short, affects your overall well being? Then this app is the best one for you! All pictures and sounds in this app are professionally mastered! [$1.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Photo Wallpapers: Put your Facebook, Instagram and personal photos in exclusively designed, custom wallpapers. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• My Life In Numbers: Lets you measure and celebrate events in your life in unusual and different ways. Find out when you will be one billion seconds old, how far the earth has travelled today, how much the richest man in the world has earned since you started work. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

Giveaway

The good folks at Reapptive LTD have given us four promo codes for Danny Boy to give away to our readers! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below!

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Where’s My Water? – @chrisoldroyd

I don’t play that many game on my iPhone but this little gem has me addicted. Where’s My Water? is a physics type game where you have to guide water past loads of different obsticals. The idea is to fill Swampy the alligators bath by guiding the water through the pipes into his bathroom.

The game has literally hundreds of levels with many different challenges along the way. From algae, toxic ooze, triggers and traps. The graphics are crisp and designed for the retina display and the soundtrack isn’t bad either. Where’s My Water? is a universal binary and works great with the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

[$0.99 – App Store link]

Path – @iMuggle

I had never been a user of Path before it got its recent update. I’d actually never even heard about it. Boy am I hooked now. Path is an absolutely gorgeous social networking app. I think most of the reason for this is that it’s only developed for mobile. There’s no website to log in to from a computer, just download the app to your iPhone or Android and start creating your path.

The overall feel and interface of the app is what makes it so enjoyable to use. They also include filters for your pictures within the app with additional ones you can purchase. I like that I can edit and filter a picture without having to jump into another app. I’m also enjoying that I can share something on Path and it will automatically share it to Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare for me. I’ll take any chance I can to get away from the disaster that is the Facebook for iPhone app.

And quite honestly, I’m really enjoying Path more than I’ve enjoyed any social networking site. So come on, everyone get on it so I don’t have to check Facebook at all anymore.

[Free - App Store Link]

Notica – @sethclifford

We all know and love apps like Evernote that allow you to document almost everything in your world, and there’s no shortage of productivity criteria that they strive to meet, but I think there’s still a place for more refined app experiences with a different kind of style. Notica is one of those apps. Instead of trying to do everything, it does a few things nicely and in a concise way, opting for a different visual metaphor than you might be used to on the iPhone.

The basis of the app is notecards, which consist of a few pieces of information; a date/time stamp, location, picture or video, and some text. When you capture these pieces of info, the app creates a nice little card for you, which you can then file in different piles of your choosing. The main focus of the app experience is quickly capturing a small moment contextually that you’d like to remember for any reason. For instance, if you’re an artist, you may have seen a color or texture that you want to revisit at a later time, or perhaps you just want to make a note about a restaurant you want to try. You could snap a picture, stamp a location, and just write “try this place”. Notica creates a little card, you stick it in your “Places to Eat” pile, and you’re done. Lovely. If (and I’m showing my age) you’ve ever taken a Polaroid instant picture and written on the bottom white piece of the photo, you get the idea. Of course, you can’t geo-tag those, but it was a simpler time… so zip it.

Naturally, me being the kind of guy I am, I’m thinking about export and backup options. Currently for sharing, you can email and post to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. To save the note for yourself, you can save it out to your camera roll. With Photo Stream, this may be enough for most people, providing you open up iPhoto and make sure you’re saving into an album there. You can also create a backup file within the app that can be synced through iTunes (and restored the same way), but let’s be honest, that’s not a terrific experience. I reached out earlier this week to ask the developers about sync possibilities in the future, and while they do not have any immediate plans for Dropbox integration (sad Seth) they are working on integrating iCloud in a future release and told me they will be posting about it shortly. So hopefully we’ll have a nice, easy way to both backup and sync or share the notecards soon enough.

I realize that for a lot of people, this app may fall short because it doesn’t do all the things something like Evernote can. But I think it’s still a great app for a very focused task, and it’s stylish to boot. With iCloud additions, it will definitely earn a place on my phone in the long term.

[$1.99 - iTunes link]

Naturespace – @andrewwray

Ever needed to clear your mind and just relax? Or maybe you’re trying to get some work done and need some nice ambient sound to help you focus. Enter Naturespace: Relax Meditate Escape Sleep. Naturespace provides ambient sounds and touts “Holographic Audio” to provide the listener with cyristal-clear 3D sound through your headphones or Apple earbuds.

I’ve been using Naturespace for a few weeks to help with a few different activities, namely meditation and writing. Whenever I feel like I’m not in an adequate mood or environment for writing my thoughts down in my journal or for TiPb, I just whip out Naturespace and within minutes I’m focused, honed and ready to go.

Naturespace utilizes Apple’s In-App Purchases feature to offer up a number of additional sounds outside of the six default options for you to relax to. My personal favorite is the ‘Summer Mountain Valley’. So whether you need a five-minute escape from the stresses of life, or just want to put on some background sound to ease the atmosphere, Naturespace is a great pick!

[Free -- App Store Link]

Tiny Tower – @JorjLim

I’m normally not a fan of freemium games. I don’t like playing one and then getting to a certain part of the game where you can’t continue without forking out lots of real money. Tiny Tower, is a freemium game, that sports classic 8bit graphics, and doesn’t require you to pay any real world money to progress, and above all, its extremely difficult to put down. The main objective of Tiny Tower is to build more floors and make lots of money. Simple objectives, but painfully addictive.

Each floor (creative, services, food, retail and recreation) can stock 3 types of items that take various amounts of real world time, from 2 minutes to many many hours! Each item, makes you money for sales, to help progress your tower. The last type of floor you can build is residential, which houses the staff for the other floors.

The freemium part of this game is through “Tower Bux” which you can buy with actual money, however, while you play the game you will find you’ll actually make more ‘tower bux’ than you expect. You get one everytime you build a new floor, occasionally for stocking a full shop, and for finding certain guests in your tower.

There are lots of real world references in the game as well, like certain guests who are dressed as red and green italian plumbers, and a retail store called “The Mapple Store”.

The game uses Apple’s GameCenter to connect you with your friends, who’s towers you can visit, and compete with. It also uses GameCenter to save your progress, and redownload it if you ever choose to delete the game.

Its an extremely fun and addictive game and because its free, you’ve really got nothing to lose, just give it ago. Tiny Tower is available for iPhone and iPad for free.

[Free - App Store link]

Flick Homerun – @skeetobite

Flick Homerun is your chance to participate in your own home run derby. Starting off in the minor leagues, using your finger as the bat, you simply try to hit the ball over the wall. As you progress can can increase your batting eye, contact ability, or power. You also unlock additional pitches type, including things like fast balls, balls that slow down, move up and down, and even things like ninja balls! You can also unlock other game modes – including the major leagues, game center or local multiplay, and moonshot mode. I have been addicted to this game for about two weeks now, and it doesn’t show any signs of letting up! It’s a great casual game that you can sit and play for 5 minutes or (in my case) an hour or so at a time.

[$0.99 - App Store link]

Best Buy – @jdipane

When looking to make a new purchase I tend to over research, I look at all the competition, and usually change my mind about 80 times. Doing this in the store can be a pain with sales people breathing down your neck, so I like to research from home, and only venture out once it is time to make the purchase. Recently the Best Buy app got a pretty large upgrade, and it made the application so much better. Now showcasing open box items from various stores, a much cleaner layout, the ability to set custom notifications and more, this is a must have application, especially going into the holiday season!

[Free - App Store link]

Infinity Blade II – @reneritchie

A predictable choice and a necessary one — Infinity Blade II takes what was already the best looking game on iPhone and iPad and raises the bar. Considerably. Phenomenally. Yes, I wish they took some of that time and attention devoted to ray renders and leaf physics, and spent a little of it on removing the rails. That restriction, that repetitiveness aside, Infinity Blade II is quite literally candy for your eyes.

Part II is much like the original, and how you feel about that will depend on how you felt about the original. If you loved it and wanted more of the same but better, you’ll be extremely happy. Extremely. If you didn’t like the original, you’ll think this is even more sizzle, still not enough steak.

For me, Infinity Blade fantastic enough looking and easy enough playing that I can break it out, hack the slash out of a bad guy for a few minutes, and then go back about my business. And if anyone asks me about gaming on iOS, all I have to do is show them Infinity Blade — the new one now — and then wait for their jaw to close again.

Universal app, so you can buy once and play on both iPhone and iPad.

[$6.99 - App Store link]

Gift Plan – @llofte

Shopping for Christmas gifts is a huge and daunting task that I both love and hate doing each year. I love it because shopping is fun and buying things for loved ones is rewarding. I hate it because I always wait until the last minute, forgot who I’m buying gifts for, lose track of how much money I’ve spent, and walk into the mall with no plan of action. Not this year. This year, I’ve got Gift Plan in my pocket.

Gift Plan is a fantastic little iPhone app made by the UI geniuses over at Glasshouse Apps. It allows you to create a list of people you buy gifts for and create occasions for them like birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, or graduations. When the occasion is approaching, Gift Plan will send you a reminder notification so that you don’t forget to buy them a gift.

For each person on your list, you can record their sizing information, their likes and dislikes, and create a list of gift ideas and the prices for said gifts. Purchase something off the list? Mark it off and Gift Plan will keep a running total of how much you’ve spent on that person.

This is a just small taste of what Gift Plan does and the best part part is that the UI is amazingly beautiful. Even if you’re not one to keep explicit lists like these, Gift Plan will make you want to.

Happy shopping!

[$2.99 - App Store link]

Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by MyFitnessPal – @jeremyeguzman (Reader’s Choice)

My Fitness Pal, by MyFitnessPal LLC, is a Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker. In between the two biggest feasting holiday’s of the year, is an excellent time to check out this intuitive app. The downfall of most of these apps is they are difficult to input your daily intake and don’t offer enough flexibility to adapt to your life style. MFP does all of this and more, including cloud synchronization to their servers, weigh-in’s with graph, social integration allowing you to friend and message those people that keep you motivated, and a diary that shows you a breakdown of your daily nutrition intake. Did I mention that you can also scan the barcode of your food for quick and easy input? But what’s the best part? IT’S FREE! No ads, no trimmed down features requiring an upgrade… its just plain ole’ free! Keep track of what you eat daily and be amazed at how quickly you’ll lose weight or reach your fitness goals.

[Free - App Store link]

Your pick?

You’re part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on twitter or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

• PDF Connoisseur – Kdan Enterprise iPad Edition: A versatile, top-notch file reader from Kdan Mobile’s PDF product series that includes the following features: Save to PDF, Text to Speech, annotations, file transfer, and more. [$9.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• iDownloader Pro: Easily download anything from the web to your device and then view/play the downloaded files or transfer them to your computer. Now with a multi-tab browser, private browsing, and Wi-Fi sharing! [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Safari Party: Safari Party is a new genre of match-4 action puzzle game where you become a photographer travelling around the globe: Safari, Ocean, North Pole, Forest and Metropole. Take as many photos as you can of more than four animals of the same kind. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Apple Life i: Swap an apple with an adjacent apple to form a horizontal or vertical chain of apples. The chain should contain 3 or more apples to get eliminated. Bonus points are also given if the chain contains more than 3 apples or if it forms 2 separate chains in a single swap. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Kick the Buddy Episodes: Meet a cheerful Santa Claus on your roof in the new Santa Stops Here episode. Hit the Buddy with a Christmas tree or blow him up with fireworks! And you can do a lot more in this “truly Christmassy game”. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Infinity Blade II has hit the App Store and what a better way to celebrate than with a giveaway!

Follow along for the details.

Powered by Epic’s cutting-edge Unreal Engine 3 technology, Infinity Blade II takes handheld gaming to even greater heights with stunning visuals, new combat styles, and advanced character customization in a beautiful, fully 3D world.

The Award-Winning Infinity Blade Story Continues!

• The God King has been defeated, an unlikely hero has emerged and now you must discover the truth behind the secrets of the Infinity Blade. The continuing journey of young Siris unfolds as you delve deeper into the world of the Deathless tyrants and their legion of Titans. Can you unlock all the mysteries and successfully wield the power of the Infinity Blade in this timeless sword fighting adventure of champions and villains?

A Robust & Dynamic 3D World:

• Explore beautiful and immersive environments that dynamically change over time during your travels and venture to exotic locations such as the Asian themed Saydhi’s Estate or the medieval inspired Vault of Tears featuring multiple paths to explore.

Featuring 3 All-New Styles of Combat:

• Now you can choose from multiple classes of weapons, armor and spells, each with specialized capabilities such as Dual Wielding, Two-Handed and the standard Weapon & Shield class. Learn each discipline by using Infinity Blade II’s intuitive pick-up and play game play style that is easy to use, yet difficult to master!

Infinity Blade’s Trademark Character Customization Evolved:

• Create and forge even more powerful weapons with mystical objects you discover and collect along your journey, expanding your overall arsenal with all-new elemental powers & capabilities! The Secrets of Your Past Revealed: Delve deeper into the fantastical story of Infinity Blade as your journey leads you to the realm of the mysterious Deathless Saydhi and discover the truth about the Worker of Secrets and the powers he holds.

The Latest in iOS features Powered by Unreal Technology:

• The definitive visual experience in mobile gaming, complete with all-new iCloud support and HDMI output.

Universal App:

• Play Infinity Blade on iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad, iPad 2, iPod Touch 3 (16 GB and above), or iPod Touch 4 for a single low price.

Optimized for iPhone 4S and iPad 2:

• Includes high-resolution graphics and lighting that utilize the enhanced visual capabilities of the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

Giveaway

TiPb has been a fan of Infinity Blade since the original was first announced and we know you have been too. So, we’re giving away Infinity Blade II to 5 lucky readers! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below! Must have a US iTunes account to win. Apple’s rule, not ours!

Infinity Blade II is available on the iPhone and iPad for $6.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

• SPY Mouse: World 1 is now holiday themed! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link] [$2.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Fling a Thing HD: A game where the player stretches and flings cute little characters into the air to collect bubbles. When the player has cleared away all the bubbles they move on to the next level, climb higher, and interact with some really bizarre objects. [$2.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• iTap & Go: A fake call app that allows you to discreetly generate a call on demand. Whether your iPhone is in your pocket, bag or even your grass skirt, a simple double-tap is all that’s required to make that suave and dignified exit. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Compass Eye: A Professional Bearing Compass for marine navigation – with overlaid augmented reality camera view and up to 8x real-time zoom. [$4.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Conceptis Fill-a-Pix: Find which neighboring squares must be painted and create a beautiful picture. Each puzzle consists of a grid containing clues in various places. The object is to reveal a hidden picture by painting the squares around each clue so that the number of painted squares, including the square with the clue, matches the value of the clue. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Shape Fun is an app to help toddlers and young children learn shapes. It makes the learning fun with exciting scenes, animations, and music incorporated into games with a reward system.

“Shape Fun” is a shape learning software for toddlers and preschool kids, including three attractive games and reward systems. The funny attractive scenes, animations and musics make kids deep inside the joys of exploring various basic shapes: circle, square, rectangle, triangle, oval, trapezoid, fan-shape, pentagon and hexagon. So let kids learn through play now!

• 3 different type of attractive games with various scenes and cute animations that help kids explore shapes from triangles to octagons stage by stage.
• Dozens of lovely sounds and voice recordings of shape names, praises and more.
• Different lovable animated animals guides kids through the game play with animated celebrations for correct answers and gentle redirection for incorrect ones.
• Interactive mysterious aquarium! Kids will get a cute fish reward when they make progress.
• Designed for kids with easy user interfaces.

Shape Fun is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99 each.

[iPhone App Store link] [iPad App Store link

Have an app you'd love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we'll take a look.

• Path: A Smart Journal that helps you share life with the ones you love — your thoughts, the music you’re listening to, where you are, who you’re with, when you wake and when you sleep, and beautiful high quality photos and videos. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• The Adventures of Peter Pan: Peter Pan, who lives in Neverland, is a boy who refuses to grow up. With the help of the fairy, Tinkerbell, he’ll introduce his new friends, Wendy and John Darling, to this imaginary world. Throughout their adventures, they’ll meet the Lost Boys and scary Captain Hook. [$3.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• TubeHero: Turn your iTunes songs into a colorful rhythm game, blasting your way through 3 difficulty levels. The game supports 6000+ different tracks, with more being added on a weekly basis. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Weathermob: It’s the friendly, easy way to get forecasts and share your weather with friends – and the world – through videos, photos, words and icons. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Legendary Outlaw: Enter the world of Kaufman – an immersive FPS action-shooter. As Colt Kaufman, you are destined to become the ultimate Legendary Outlaw, but only if you successfully go guns-blazing and use the environments to lure and assassinate enemies by stealth, without being seen or heard! [$2.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

• Pinball City NY: Crooked cops. Gangsters everywhere. A beautiful dame. A dead body. Welcome to New York. [$1.99 for iPhone - App Store link] [$3.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• AR Pho.to Cartoonizer: Just picture yourself pointing your camera at a friend and getting a cartoonized caricature with an animated broad smile or a cute wink! Wouldn’t that be hilarious? [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Media Safe – KYMS – Keep Your Media Safe (and secret): Keep your photos and videos secret by hiding them behind a harmless calculator. Only knowing the password you’ll be able to access the private library. Now with a new panic gesture: cover the screen with your hand to hide your media immediately! [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• iMommy: A game for kids to play mommy. They can change baby’s outfit, hair, eye color, and diaper. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Tapfolio for Stocks: A new breed of stock app, truly optimized for iPad: swipe, pinch and zoom graphs with ease. Compare stocks with a single tap. Build and visualize your portfolio like never before. Easy and addictive – a great way to feel connected to your portfolio. [$2.99 for iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Etsy – @andrewwray

A lot of you are probably already familiar with Etsy, the online e-commerce website that focuses on buying and selling handmade and vintage items, and they’ve recently released a really great looking iPhone app to help you browse the service on the go. Etsy for iPhone lets you browse and purchase one of a kind accessory items and clothing directly from independent sellers.

As a buyer, you can browse by category and set your own filters to narrow down your search results (there are a lot of things on Etsy!) and check out your shopping cart right from within the app. As a seller, you have most of the Etsy merchant tools readily available whenever you need to access your listings or manage your business without having to jump onto your computer. It’s a great way to sell and shop! If you’re into vintage items, Etsy has always been one of the best places to shop, and they’ve just made it that much easier by making the service accessible anywhere you are — check it out!

[Free - App Store Link]

Type2Phone – @sethclifford

Since the very first time I jailbroke my iPhone 3G a million years ago, I’ve wanted a way to control it without taking it out of the dock. I’ve used Veency to run a VNC server on the phone and then screen share into it, but it’s really overkill for what I need, which is essentially just text entry. I can manage to hit the home button and swipe around a little just fine while the phone is docked, it’s the typing that becomes laborious if I’m answering a text message or if I want to quickly paste some text into a field.

Enter Type2Phone. I’m sure you can figure out what it does, but it’s actually fairly slick in how it does it. You use Bluetooth to pair your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad with your Mac, and activate the app on the computer. Tap into a text field and start blasting away. You’re using your Mac’s BT connection in lieu of a BT keyboard, but it works in exactly the same way.

Aaaaand… that’s pretty much it. Which isn’t a bad thing, because I’m sure if you tried to bolt a bunch of other unnecessary stuff onto an app like this, somehow it would stop working. The only thing I’d like to see would be a way to actually hit say, the “Send” button from the keyboard. Just hitting enter drops you down a line, but a Cmd-Enter would be a fine way to get that done. Then you could basically slide to reply to a text, fire off a response and not touch your phone at all. I can also see someone perhaps wanting to keep an iPad on as a secondary display for something like Twitter, away from his/her main workspace really finding this functionality pretty useful.

And for everyone who’s thinking “Why don’t you just use Siri to answer your messages? DUH!”, well, when other people are on a conference call or working around me, I like to embrace basic social courtesies and respect their needs. Otherwise, yeah, you’re totally right. In the meantime, Type2Phone is a cool little utility that makes life at least a little easier. I’m all for that.

[$4.99 - Mac App Store link]

Beauty and the Beast: Storybook Deluxe – @chrisoldroyd

My little girl adores the Disney Movie Beauty and the Beast. Now that Disney has released this app, she has completely taken over ownership of my iPad 2. Beauty and the Beast: Storybook Deluxe is based on the Disney movie and includes games, movie clips, puzzles, coloring pages and even sing-along songs from the film.

The animation, as expected is superb and the whole app is really well put together. It tells the story in an interactive way and offers a read along mode or the story can be read out to you. This one should keep any little princess happy for quite some time!

[$6.99 – App Store link]

Word Tumble – @Alli_Flowers

A familiar theme, this word game is great on either iPad and iPhone. Find a word inside the box of letters. You can go forwards, backwards, up, down, or diagonally. The longer the word, the more points you get. So far, so similar to a dozen other games, right?

Here’s the catch. When you find a word, the letters disappear from the playing field, just like Bejeweled or Tetris.

There are several versions you can play, although the basic game play is the same. I like the one minute game. The one minute game can stretch out and last for quite some time, because the more you score, the more time you get back.

The only negative to this game is the background music, which is either on or off. I’d like to be able to lower it because it also lets you know when your time is running out. The music is less than great.

But the game is addictive! I even found a fun way to play with a partner, and maybe keep the game going extra long. My nephew and I play together – he finds words on the left side of the board, and I find them on the right. (Hooray for capacitive screens!)

[$0.99 - App Store link]

Instagram – @iMuggle

This week i’m going back to an app that I’ve used for quite a long time but just recently started “really using” again. I have always loved Instagram and the ease of which you can share pictures and add cool effects.

Ever since picking up my iPhone 4S I’ve been blown away by the quality of photos it produces considering it’s a phone. I’ve found myself snapping more pictures than ever. Instagram makes is easy to share them not only with my Instagram followers but all my followers and friends on Twitter and Facebook. If I just want to share something quickly, this is the app I choose 99.9% of the time.

[Free - App Store Link]

Instacast HD – @reneritchie

My grand take-away from the original iPad launch was that it was the iPhone gone IMAX, and experiencing Instacast HD shows that, more than 18 months later, that take-away still holds true. Here’s why: Instacast on iPhone is all about quickly getting, streaming, and/or caching your favorite podcasts so you can listen to them feet down on the go. Instacast HD on IPad is a different experience entirely. It’s feet up, at pause, relaxed and ready to enjoy.

If that type of usage pattern sounds like it favors video podcasts, you’re not wrong. Settling back in the recliner, a tasty beverage to the side, a soft light in the back, a light rain-turned-snow-turned-back-rain outside, in just a few taps I was watching Georgia kick off the last iPad Live. A few more and I was watching TED. A few more and Steve Jobs was walking out on stage to introduce the iPad 2.

The interface took a bit of getting used to. Global tools like add podcast, refresh, favorites, AirPlay, volume, and action live along the thin left edge. Album art for your shows lives beside it for easy scrolling and selection. Episode-specific controls like mark, favorite, download, action, and play/stream live at the top, while mark all, the scrubber, and the show list live at the bottom.

Show notes get the rest of the screen, with a built in web view to handle links. You can swipe the browser away to get back to show notes, and you can swipe horizontally between shows.

Video shows go full screen with controls top and bottom and there’s even an embedded brightness control so you can make it look just so.

The one big bit of friction I hope gets addresses in an update is, while in video mode, tapping the “exit full screen” button takes you back to show notes while leaving the audio playing, there’s no equal and opposite “go full screen button” to return to the video. I should be able to toggle back and forth without moving my finger or having to figure out I need to cross back to the play/stream button to get the video back. Also, while they deserve a lot of credit for jumping on iCloud sync quickly, it’s still early days and some glitches will hopefully be worked out, by by Apple and developers.

Overall, Instacast HD makes fantastic use of the bigger iPad screen. It’s all the podcasts I want, right where I want them.

[$4.99 - App Store link]

Real Racing 2 -@llofte

This Black Friday, I picked up an Apple TV (finally!) and Real Racing 2 on my iPhone and iPad. One of the really cool features about this combo is that with AirPlay, you can play multiplier on your TV with a split screen. Firemint calls this Party Play. All that’s required is to have an iPhone 4S or iPad 2 work as a host. My husband and I had a lot of fun racing against each other, last night, which is saying a lot because my husband typically hates anything related to Apple.

I will say that playing with the iPad is a little awkward because of how big it is. By the end of the race, it actually begins to a feel a little heavy.

If you have an Apple TV and an iPhone 4S or iPad 2, and do not have Real Racing 2 – what are you waiting for? It’s actually still on sale for Black Friday weekend, so now is the perfect time to pick it up!

[$2.99 for iPhone - App Store link] [$4.99 for iPad - App Store link]

Your pick?

You’re part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on twitter or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

It’s Black Friday and there may be one little store you forgot to include in your shopping plans – the App Store! A plethora of apps are having huge sales this weekend, and we have gathered a few of our favorites that you do not want to miss.

• Noteshelf for iPad – $0.99 [App Store link]
• FX Photo Studio for iPhone – $0.99 [App Store link]
• Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles
  • iPhone – $0.99 [App Store link]
  • iPad – $0.99 [App Store link]
• Real Racing 2
  • iPhone – $2.99 [App Store link]
  • iPad – $4.99 [App Store link]
• Flight Control HD for iPad – $1.99 [App Store link]
• Mirror’s Edge for iPad – $1.99 [App Store link]
• Garmin N. America – $29.99 [App Store link]
• Infinity Blade – $2.99 [App Store link]
• A Charlie Brown Christmas – $4.99 [App Store link]
• Checkbook HD – $0.99 [App Store link]
• procreate for iPad – $0.99 [App Store link]
• Navigon
  • North America – $39.99 [App Store link]
  • USA – $29.99 [App Store link]
  • Canada – $29.99 [App Store link]
  • US East – $19.99 [App Store link]
  • US Central – $19.99 [App Store link]
  • US West – $19.99 [App Store link]
• IM+ Pro – $4.99 [App Store link]
• Business Card Reader – $2.99 [App Store link]
• RDM+ Remote Desktop for Mac and Windows – $4.99 [App Store link]
• Flickr HD – $0.99 [App Store link]

Additionally, check out touchArcade for a great list of all of Gameloft’s sales. Also, EA [iTunes link] and Disney [iTunes link] have most of their titles on sale.

This is a just small portion of which apps are having Black Friday deals, so if you find any other good ones, please share them in the comments below!

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Juice It: Manipulate the falling blocks of fruits by moving, rotating and swapping with the aim of matching three or more fruits of the same kind (horizontally or vertically). [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Mobypicture: Post photos, video and audio snippets of your life to Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, all with one click. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Koto Go Silence: An animated book about Koto – a faithful young dog, who deals with mysterious noises during his night watch. [$2.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• NFB PixStop: Shoot and score your very own stop-motion animation film. Capture as many as 10,000 images to create mini masterpieces up to 13 minutes long. [Free for iPad - App Store link]

• Bowmaster Lite: A free version of the popular archery game, Bowmaster. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Worms Party: Larry, the worm, was at the party and decided to take a nap. However, his friends decided to pull a daring prank. They tied a turbo engine to their sleeping friend’s back and fired it up. In the blink of an eye their friend burst through the wall and was outside the house, flying through the dark of the night, on a great adventure! Wish him luck! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• JabMe 3.0: Now you can jab your Twitter, Game Center and Facebook friends in one app. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Tumblox: Who would have thought that a simple box full of boxes can be such a brain-twister? By just using buttons or the gravity itself, you can let cubes fall onto their destinations in over 80 carefully handcrafted puzzles. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Orb Zone: Steady hands required: Route your orb through 48 tricky levels in this challenging game of skill. Collect enough energy crystals to get to the next stage, while avoiding nasty obstacles. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Spark: Automatically let the people who matter know where you are when your battery is about to die. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Did you or someone you know just get a brand new iPhone or iPod touch, and are wondering which are the top 10 very best, most must-have apps and games you absolutely need to jump into the App Store and download now, now, now? Well, you’re in luck — whether you want to show off the beautiful Retina display, test the power of the dual-core Apple A5 processor, need to get things done, or just want to have some fun, TiPb’s top 10 have got your back! As part of our ongoing iPhone new users guide, here are our top 10 favorite, most highly recommended iPhone apps to get you started!

Note: App prices are current as of the time of this writing but can and do change frequently over time, including going up, down, and going on sale. Some free apps also sell additional content via in-app-purchase, or require a subscription. Always read app descriptions thoroughly before purchasing or downloading.

Social apps: Facebook for iPhone

Facebook is one of the most popular sites on the web, and not surprisingly, it’s also one of the most popular apps on iPhone. While Facebook for iPhone has a well earned reputation for general bugginess, it’s also been steadily improving as of late. Sure, you can visit Facebook.com on Safari, but the app gives you much, much more functionality, not the least of which is photo uploads. You also get Places, Messages, Chat, and many of your other favorite Facebook features.

• Free – App Store link

Also check out:

• Facebook Messenger is for those who want a fast, focused way to stay in instant touch with friends. Free – App Store link
• LinkedIn for iPhone has a brand new, way more distinctive interface for all your business networking. Free – App Store link
• Tweetbot is a great, highly stylized alternative to the official Twitter client. $2.99 – App Store link
• Find my Friends is Apple’s answer to keeping track of who’s where, either all the time or just for special events. Free – App Store link

Casual games: Angry Birds

Angry Birds is like the Mario or Sonic of iPhone and iPod touch gaming — so synonymous with iOS that even though it’s not made by Apple, even though it’s on other platforms now, it’s still the most famous, and still one of the most fun games ever to grace the App Store. While the idea of slingshotting variously powered birds at the variously fashioned fortifications and popping variously evil green pigs might seem thin at first, excellent gameplay and a constant stream of updates keep it fresh — and continuously at or near the top of the charts. Give it a fling… and prepare to lose many an hour chasing those elusive three star ratings.

• $0.99 – App Store link

Also check out:

• Cut the Rope is just as simple, just as enjoyable, and just as addictive. $0.99 – App Store link
• Plants vs. Zombies is a charming, horrifically funny take on tower defense. $2.99 – App Store link
• Tiny Wings shows that birds don’t have to be angry to be fun; they don’t even need to fly… much. $0.99 – App Store link
• Seigecraft is a beautifully done tower defense style game… with trebuchets! $2.99 – App Store link

Communications/IM apps: Skype

The iPhone is a phone, so it makes voice calls, it has FaceTime so it makes video calls, and it has iMessage, so it can do IM. What place is there, then, for Skype for iPhone? Turns out, a lot. FaceTime and iMessage are Apple-only technologies, so they don’t play nicely with other devices and platforms, and phone calls — especially international phone calls cost a lot of money. Microsoft’s Skype runs on almost every device and operating system, is free to call other Skype users, and cheap to call phones.

• Free – App Store link link

Also check out:

• BeeJiveIM supports AIM/MobileMe, MSN/Windows Live, Yahoo!, GoogleTalk, Facebook, MySpace and Jabber for flexible, full featured chat. $9.99 – iTunes link
• Google Voice for iPhone lets you access your GV calls, texts, and voice mail. Free – iTunes link
• WhatsApp is probably the closest thing to a cross-platform BBM (BlackBerry Messenger)-style instant messenger available. $0.99 – App Store link
• Verbs doesn’t support as many protocols but for GTalk, Facebook, AIM, and Me.com, nothing looks nicer. $0.99 + in-app purchase – App Store link

Productivity apps: Numbers, Pages, and Keynote

Apple’s iWork suite, which consists of Keynote for presentations, Numbers for spreadsheets, and Pages for word processing has recently been updated to work with iCloud, so all your documents get stored and synced between your devices (including, eventually, iWork for Mac when Apple updates it). Keynote was built for Steve Jobs so it’s absolutely best in class, while Numbers and Pages are easy to use and produce great looking docs.

• $9.99 – Keynote in App Store link
• $9.99 – Numbers in App Store link
• $9.99 – Pages in App Store link

Also check out:

• Good Reader is a powerhouse for PDF annotating and file management. [$2.99 - App Store link]
• Evernote stores text, images, and audio for easy reference later. [Free - App Store link]
• Elements is a text editor that syncs with Dropbox and has Markdown support. ‘Nuff said. $4.99 – App Store link
• Todo takes task management to the next level, with sync to Dropbox or iCloud among others. $4.99 – App Store link

Action/arcade games: Infinity Blade II

Epic’s Unreal 3 engine exploded onto iPhone with Infinity Blade, an on-rails sword fighting extravaganza with some of the best visuals we’ve ever seen. Infinity Blade II takes all of that to a whole new level. You literally will not believe a game that looks this good is running on your phone.

Infinity Blade II picks up where the first left off, with you locked in a battle with the Deathless, only this time the stakes are higher, the enemies badder, and the weapons more powerful than ever. It’s still a tad repetitive at times, but it quickly becomes as addictive as it is gorgeous, and ChAIR typically has regular updates so there’s always new gear, new enemies, and new aspects to enjoy.

• $6.99 – App Store link

Also check out:

• Real Racing 2 for amazing cars, online action, and AirPlay. $9.99 – App Store link
• Street Fighter IV Volt puts the classic fighter in the palm of your hands. $0.99 – App Store link
• Extraction: Project Outbreak is a fresh take on the top-down 3D shooter. $0.99 – App Store Link
• Atari’s Greatest Hits brings the oldest of old school to your brand new advice. Free – App Store link

Music apps: Rdio

While Pandora, Slacker, and Spotify get a lot of attention, Rdio’s focus on social networking means it really excels at music discovery — you get to see what the people you’re following are listening to. You can cache music for offline listening, so you can load up on Wi-Fi and save your data, and the available selection of music is great for mainstream and alternative music lovers alike. Give it a try with the free 7-day trial.

Also check out:

• GarageBand is Apple’s iLife music making app brought to iPhone. $4.99 – App Store link
• DJay will make you the mixing star of your next party. $0.99 – App Store link
• MadPad lets you remix and make music out of all the sounds around you. $0.99 – App Store link
• Shows lets you know when and where your favorite artists are in concert. $2.99 – App Store link

Photo apps: Instagram

Instagram is the current king of iPhone photography apps, and it took the crown through a brilliant combination of easy-to-apply filters and super simple social sharing. The latest version not only adds even more filters, but all tilt-shift effects. Whether you want to quickly share great looking snap shots to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare, or Posterous, Instagram has you covered. In style.

• Free – App Store link

Also check out:

• Photogene2 is a photography powerhouse, with full featured editing, sharing, and much more. $1.99 – App Store link
• Camera+ is jam packed with features and filters to make your photos shine. $0.99 – App Store link
• Hipstamatic to bring that terrific toy camera look to your shots. [$0.99 – App Store link
• Flickr for iPhone lets you store and share all the shots you take. [Free – App Store link

Video apps: Air Video

Air Video automagically transcodes on the the fly and streams your videos — almost any videos, in almost any format — from your Windows or Mac PC to your iPhone. If you have an Apple TV, you can also beam them straight to your big screen television as well. If you’ve got a ton of content on your computer and you want to watch it on your iPhone, this is the app for you.

• $2.99 – App Store link

Also check out:

• iMovie is Apple’s iLife video editor, gloriously brought to iPhone. $4.99 – App Store link
• Netflix gives you access to tons of streaming catalog titles, right on your iPhone. Free – App Store link
• IMDb includes all the movie and TV details and showtimes in handy app form. Free – App Store link
• Slingplayer Mobile works with your Slingbox to put anything from your TV on your iPhone. $29.99 – App Store link

Internet apps: Dropbox

Dropbox is an amazing cloud sync solution not just for iPhone but for iPad, Mac, Windows, Linux, and basically everything you can imagine (several of us store almost our entire home directories in Dropbox). Not only does it give you access to any and all files in your Dropbox folder — along with easy links for sharing and the ability to store favorites locally — but many, many other apps use Dropbox to handle their sync as well, from password apps to writing apps to note taking apps. You get 2GB for free and can buy more if you need it. It’s different than Apple’s iCloud, but it’s just as awesome.

• Free – App Store link

Also check out:

• 1Password lets you have security and convenience with all your logins, credit cards, and accounts available on your iPhone. $14.99 – App Store link
• Skyfire is a web browser that lets you watch some Flash videos on your iPhone. $2.99 – App Store link
• Screens is a VNC client that lets you remote desktop to your Windows, Mac, and Linux machines. $19.99 – App Store link
• Articles wraps up Wikipedia into a great looking, easy to use app. $2.99 – App Store link

Location/GPS apps: NAVIGON

Get full fledged turn-by-turn driving directions on your iPhone so you can keep your eyes where they belong — on the road. NAVIGON provides on-board maps which means it keeps working in areas where there’s no data coverage. You can buy regional, country, or continents at a time, and there are also options for live traffic updates, parking directions, and enhanced panoramic views of the surroundings.

• Varies – App Store link

Also check out:

• Foursquare lets you “check in” to locations, keep track of your and your friends’ locations, and earn points for being there. Free – App Store link
• Yelp provides restaurant, gas station, bar, and pretty much any type of business location and recommendations. Free – App Store link
• Find my iPhone is Apple’s way for iCloud to help you locate, lock, and even wipe a missing or stolen iPhone. Free – App Store link
• Waze is a free, crowd-sourced, and highly social travel and nav app. Free – App Store link

Your top apps?

So there you have them, our top 10 best iPhone apps to get you started. Be sure to check out our Picks of the Week and iPhone App and Games Forum for more recommendations, and if we missed any of your favorites leave them in the comments below!

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Nimbus Littling & the Flu from Nebtune 2, HD: Share the epic adventures of Nimbus Littling with your loved ones, as she embarks on a quest to uncover three secret messages hidden deep within the walls of the Ancient Obelisk. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• GENESIA for iPad – The 7 gems of NEORT: A Strategy and Management turn based game in a living world. Several crafts are at your disposal to build this New World : farmers, lumberjacks, blacksmiths, carpenters, soldiers… But all of this won’t be done easily for other Governors are striving just as you, on other territories. [$6.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Dream Zoo: Ever seen a pink giraffe with chocolate swirls? What about a blue polka-dot elephant? Raise these adorable animals and more in Dream Zoo by Zynga! [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Nutty Sam: Swing, Slide & Soar to Survive: Meet Sam, an inflatable half Chameleon, half Blowfish who is absolutely nuts for nuts. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• dabball: dabball features more than 400 original artworks by 43 international artists that you can play games with, download as digital wallpaper, and hang on your wall as museum-quality posters. If you love illustration, photography, and artfully addictive games, you’ve gotta dabball. [Free for iPhone and iPad – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Pod Odyssey is a new iPhone and iPad app by Coffee Pot Labs. The goal of the game is to guide a lost space POD though the levels while completing missions and avoiding danger.

I’ve enjoyed my short time playing Pod Odyssey. The tilt controls are difficult to master, but with time and practice, I believe they would be the best choice. I don’t that have kind of patience, however, so I chose one of the many different touch controls options and was able to instantly enjoy the game.

Check out the trailer for Pod Odyssey below.

Use your galactic pilot skills to guide a lost space POD through a series of jagged cosmic mazes, evil missile-shooting robots and homing space spiders.

• 27 unlockable levels
• Addictive & Challenging game play
• Tilt controls
• Touch controls (several alternatives)
• Dual mission goals
• Easy controls (a 6 year-old can play)
• Unique Sci-Fi graphics and artwork
• Custom soundtrack & SFX
• EMP to knock out enemies
• Power Shield

Giveaway

The gold folks at Coffee Pot Labs have given us 5 promo codes for Pod Odyssey to give away to you, our awesome readers! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below!

Pod Odyssey is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Infinity Blade 2 looks great. Can’t wait for December 1.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• AdventCalendar: Get ready for Christmas! During this busy period of the year people tend to forget about the importance and the meaning of that time. Let the app be the reminder and the sign of the upcoming holiday. [$0.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• HeadFinder – Don’t Lose Your Head! The ability of an iPhone app to save its owner’s brain from the routine is highly valued in the market! It is proved by high rate of HeadFinder’s growth in Productivity category. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Quicky: (Claims to be) the fastest and easiest shopping list app out there! Especially designed for people that find it hard to type on the iPhone. The icon-based interface provides an excellent overview and makes it very easy to add shopping items, without having to type even a single word! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• FMA Battle: Prepare to enter the world of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood! This is Fullmetal Battle, the only game that lets you lead your own team of State Alchemists into combat. Train alongside Edward and Alphonse Elric, while taking commands from Roy Mustang. Gain the tactical advantage over your opponents by collecting weapons, new types of Alchemy, special attacks – and even the coveted Philosopher’s Stone! [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Sea Animals + Numbers: A fun and educational application for pre-school age range, designed with parents and childhood experts in order to introduce your children into the numbers world through the knowledge of sea animals. [$2.99 for Phone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift has been updated with a new greeting card feature that lets you add Cut the Rope clip art to your photos – including Om Nom himself!

Om Nom and I are best friends.

ZeptoLab wants to thank all you Om Nom fans out there by giving you this all new Holiday Gift featuring a great new stocking feature that magically shoots the Candy round the box. You guys rock, Happy Holidays! Oh, and shake your iPhone for a special surprise!

• New feature: Create a Photo Greeting Card with Om Nom
• The final level now has ROCKETS!
• New Om Nom animations
• Improvements for iOS5, including iCloud support
• Other minor bug fixes and optimizations

Cut the Rope: Experiments for iPhone has also been updated with new levels and iCloud support.

• 25 new levels
• New gameplay element – the Rocket
• New voice commentary from the Professor
• New photo of Om Nom in the Professor’s Album
• New achievements and leaderboard – including “perfect” mark for fully completed level packs
• Optimized for iOS 5 – including iCloud support to save game data across all iOS devices

Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift is available on the iPhone and iPad for free. Cut the Rope: Experiments is available on the iPhone for $0.99.

[Holiday Gift App Store link] [Experiments for iPhone App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Kick the Buddy Episodes: Buddy did not waste time either and prepared a surprise. Meet a cheerful Santa Claus on your roof in the new Santa Stops Here episode. Hit the Buddy with a Christmas tree or blow him up with fireworks! And you can do a lot more in this “truly Christmassy game”. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• JabMe: Now you can jab your Game Center and Facebook friends. Send jab messages with awesome sounds to your friends. It’s the world’s first app to let you message your Game Center friends. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Frosty Camera: Lets you take frosty photos of your family, friends and even yourself. Apply our special photo effects and frosty frames in Real Time.Watch as Frosty Camera transforms the world around you into ICE AGE. [Free - App Store link]

• Love Injections: “Love Injections” are extraordinary ways to surprise the one you love. It stirs your creativity, to think outside the box when surprising someone. With more than 200 images and text it’s full of original ideas to express your emotions. [$1.99 for iPhone - App Store link] [$3.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Shiny Treasure: Become the richest and most feared pirate of the seven seas in Shiny Treasure! Build guard towers and use the powers of the mysterious green pearl to protect your valuable treasure chest from evil pirate looters! A tower defense game. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

The popular computer game Minecraft is now available on the iPhone and iPad. As of right now, Minecraft – Pocket Edition only includes Creative Mode, but there are plans to include Survival Mode in the future.

Imagine it, build it. Create worlds on the go with Minecraft – Pocket Edition

Minecraft – Pocket Edition allows you to build on the go. Use blocks to create masterpieces as you travel, hangout with friends, sit at the park, the possibilities are endless. Move beyond the limits of your computer and play Minecraft everywhere you go.

• Randomized worlds
• Build anything you can imagine
• Build with 36 different kinds of blocks
• Invite and play with friends to your world (local wireless network)
• Save multi-player worlds on your own phone

Minecraft – Pocket Edition is available on the iPhone and iPad for $6.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• See It Now: Taps into the power of the camera of the iPhone 4/4S to augment your world and give you vision, no matter where you are. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Templates for Keynote Pro: Features now 36 different templates, each of which provides slides for graphics, pictures, tables, diagrams, charts, quotes, and more. [$4.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Ripple HD: Based on Zen meditation principles, this app utilizes advanced augmented reality technology to deliver an unbelievably simple and effective mechanism to help you calm your mind. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• There’s No Place Like Space!: All About Our Solar System: Children can follow along as the Cat in the Hat takes Sally and Dick on a trip though the solar system, visiting each planet and learning fun facts along the way. [$3.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• MyNumber Math: The player chooses numbers from random generator and his task is to combine these numbers and basic math operators to form an equation which results in the target number before the time runs out. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

BallAHolic is a new game for the iPhone and iPad that claims to have the “biggest balls in the App Store”. In this game, you must guide Uberhero through a 3D world with a lazor beam. He’s stuck in this world filled with balls, keys, and monsters, and you’re the only one who can help him.

I am having so much fun playing BallAholic! The graphics are great and the gameplay is really fun. The game opens up with an fun intro that tells the story about who Uberhero is and how he got stuck in this strange world. BallAHolic is a game that I can technically pick up and play for just a few minutes, but end up playing for much longer.

Check out the video trailer below!

BallAHolic – the game with the biggest balls in the App Store introduces:

UBERHERO – beloved friend, attractive, admired by millions, made out of steel, loves frozen peperoni pizza, women want him, men want to be like him and some men even want him too… long story short, THE role model of our generation finally arrived on iOS.

Unfortunately, a small accident – nothing serious – has brought him into an uncomfortable situation. Uberscientists have worked hard to find a way to communicate with UBERHERO and bring him back to our world.

Now it’s your turn! Get up! Prepare for an incredible journey! Leave your lousy life behind and become a hero yourself. Of course not an UBERHERO, that would be beyond your capabilities. But if it makes you happier consider yourself as the chosen one… alone at home… when nobody’s watching. Well, back to the topic.

YOU are UBERHERO’s last chance to guide him out of this mess!

On your journey you will discover

• 59 stunning balls make you wanna scream
• true 3D GRAPHICS you have never seen before
• brand new AMBIENT OCCLUSION lighting system
• mean monsters whose sole purpose is making your life very hard down there

Get ready for a new gaming experience!

• 3 different game controls using every single feature an iPhone/iPod touch provides
• AWESOME GYROSCOPIC game controls – move around in 360 degrees for a totally new way to play
• TILT your device or SWIPE on the multitouch display to experience the 3D world
• PORTRAIT or LANDSCAPE – worry about other things! Play in your preferred orientation or change it while playing
• use your brain to solve tricky puzzles and complete strategic levels
• destroy everything that stands in your way back from this hell!

BallAHolic provides

• highly varying level structures unifying different genres into one game
• amazing 3D menu with real time lighting for a new way of navigating
• Meteors, snowflakes, bubbles – the 3D particle system will make you wonder ‘how the hell did they do that?’

Giveaway

The good folks at A Local Chaos Project have given us promo codes for BallAHolic to giveaway to 5 lucky winners! For a chance to win, just leave comment below and let us know which version you would prefer to win – iPhone or iPad?

BallAHolic is available on the iPhone for $1.99 and on the iPad for $2.99.

[iPhone App Store link] [iPad App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Virus War Game: A real time strategy, that demands immediate decisions, cold foresight, accurate and well co-ordinated actions. This is the world, where every action determines the fate of the battle. Head the colony and lead it to the victory. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• KILLMAG: A free interactive visual arts magazine on the iPad. ocusing on emergent phenomena, a spirit of refinement and qualitative excellence, KILLMAG isolates, catalogs, and excels in emergent digital culture [Free for iPad - App Store link]

• Audium: By stripping away often over used features such as the playlist or track listing and putting the album front and centre, Audium encourages the listener to appreciate the album as a whole and rediscover all those forgotten tracks. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• PufferPops: Kids find it a delight to pop little fat puffer fish with their fingertips. You can capture as many puffers as your heart desires! The pleasure of seeing them pleasantly pop like fire works while being fathoms deep under the ocean floor makes a heart gitty with the joy of conquest. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Gumi Bounce: Holy Cats! The shady villain King Nibblekins has stolen all of the magic gems. Gumi ate a magic gem which allows him to fly in any direction and now it’s up to him to get all of the magic gems back… or just search for food. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Tippers Mission: Catch a hope Travel the galaxy and help Max & Louisa battle against an alien invasion and recover the hopes of humanity. Trippers features 6 unique levels, from the first planet Farm Zone, that require bravery, logic, and skill to complete ball-tossing, physics-based puzzles. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Math Master for kids: Helps kids to sharpen their mathematics skills. Supports from 1st through 6th grade. At the end of the test it provides a detailed report by which you can decide which topic you need to sharpen further. All the questions have multiple-choice answers. [$9.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Hiding Hannah Nothing could stop Hannah from hiding. Whether she’s hiding herself or household items, she always has a blast. And your child will have a blast as well looking for whatever Hannah hides. With 12 fun-filled pages and hiding places that change each time, it will be a different experience every time your child reads it! Narrated by Tom Kenny (voice of TV’s Spongebob Squarepants), and illustrated by Sesame Workshop digital media artist Melanie McCall. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Zack Splat: Apprentice magician Zack animated some creatures to help him out, but anything the creatures touch gets splatted. Zack doesn’t know how to stop them – help him run away and avoid getting splatted! [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Coaxion: Mobile Collaboration for SharePoint and Dropbox: Access, view, present, discuss and share all your documents from a single application. Coaxion allows you to easily access documents stored on SharePoint or in Dropbox, save documents to your iPad for offline access, view and present documents in full screen mode, and share documents with others through email or a real-time discussion. When discussions are closed, files are removed from devices while leaving the originals on SharePoint and Dropbox intact. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

The popular FPS series, Modern Combat, has brought a new addition – Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation. It brings more intensity, better graphics, and a battle for freedom of the United States.

The best, most realistic smartphone FPS series returns with even higher intensity and an apocalyptic battle for the freedom of the United States, for one or more players.

BE THE HERO OF AN EXPLOSIVE SOLO CAMPAIGN

• Fight through a 13-mission campaign from Los Angeles to Pakistan.
• Witness multiple memorable moments thanks to AAA scenario-scripting.
• Experience different types of gameplay: escort, destroy, helicopter, 4×4 chase…

LIVE THE MOST IMMERSIVE REAL WAR EXPERIENCE

• The deepest and most intuitive FPS gameplay on smartphones improved once again, now with a sprint and slide feature.
• Gaze-upon next-gen GFX that allow for an unprecedented rendering of environments.
• Improved SFX and voice acting will immerse you in an apocalyptic scenario.

ENJOY WHAT IS SIMPLY THE BEST MULTIPLAYER ON SMARTPHONES

• Enter battles for up to 12 players in 6 exclusive maps and 7 different modes.
• Use your customized weapons to move up an addictive leaderboard with more than just ranks.

Giveaway

TiPb knows how much our readers love Modern Combat 3, so we’re gifting copies to 5 of you! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below! Must provided a valid email address and have a valid US or Canadian iTunes account to win – Apple’s rule, not ours!

Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation is available on the iPhone and iPad for $6.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Qwizful is an iPhone educational app for kids ages 4-7. It is filled with questions on key topics that are taught in school so as to prepare your child for the classroom. Qwizful aims to make the quiz and learning environment fun and enjoyable so that the process feels more like a game.

Qwizful is an enriching and entertaining educational tool that is designed to engage 4-7 years old in effective learning.

• Practice extensive quizzes targeting key topics, including:

  • analogies
  • sequencing
  • pictorial and verbal reasoning
  • geometry
  • math
  • vocabulary
  • time telling

• Track your progress and try to achieve the best results in the shortest time

• Benefit from an abundance of fun stimulating exercises that incorporate carefully formulated educational contents.

• Qwizful was developed by loving parents in close consultation with education and media experts.

• Each quiz has been tested by children and experts to achieve effective practice, offer fun interaction and build confidence. In this vein, Qwizful combines meticulously crafted content, colorful inventive illustrations and dynamic sound that children enjoy and appreciate.

Qwizful is available on the iPhone for free and includes the first 40 questions.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Jump and Splash is a new iPhone and iPad game available in the App Store. In Jump and Splash, you control Pilu, a little fish who’s lost his mom, by jumping through the side-scrolling levels picking up coins and destroying crabs along the way.

I’ve played a few rounds of Jump and Splash and find it to be pretty fun. It’s extremely similar to Whale Trail, so if you like that game, you’ll like Jump and Splash.

A beach should be a dream place… But when a tiny fish looks for his mom, a new adventure begins! Hurry up Pilu! The water is going away! Swim, jump and fly for your life before it’s too late!

• Simple but addictive one touch game
• Incredible speed and mega jumps
• Horrible crabs and creatures to explose
• Dozens of colourful levels
• Thousands of coins to collect
• Extra-powers to get and manage
• Beautiful procedural graphics for a different look every day
• Game Center enabled to share your progress
• … and much more to discover!

Jump and Splash is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Hotspot Shield VPN: Functions as a bandwidth compression service for iOS devices, allowing users to more than double the amount of Web content they can use under their mobile data plans and save money. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Cat Catch: Christmas Toy: A toy for your cat! Delight your cats this Christmas with an unforgettable toy! The whole family will remember this entertaining gift for years to come! [$0.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Chuggington Terrific Trainee!: Now your little trainees can ride the rails with their favorite Chuggington characters, Wilson, Koko, Brewster and Action Chugger! There are sixteen action-packed missions as you follow Vee’s instructions to make deliveries, patrol the rails and race against time. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Smoovie: A stop motion animation app. Makes it child’s play for budding animators to bring their toys to life. And more seasoned enthusiasts will feel equally at home with Smoovie’s simple, fast, yet surprisingly powerful editing tools. [$4.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Today In History: As soon as you open the application you are shown all the major events that happened on that day. Created for history, trivia, and knowledge lovers and also for fans of On This Day, This Day In, Today In pages. [$1.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Snappy Dragons: The Snappy Dragons had their yellow-babies kidnapped by awful red-wizards that trapped them in cages around the world. They decide to fight for their survival and rescue all their little ones. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link] [1.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Treasure Seekers 3: Follow the Ghosts: Use your Hidden Object skills to explore a mysterious world, and discover valuable clues. In Treasure Seekers 3: Follow the Ghosts you will help Nelly and Tom release unlucky ghosts trapped by an evil alchemist! [$2.99 for iPhone - App Store link] [$4.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Doodlcast for Kids: Records as you talk and draw, to create short videos that you can share with friends and family. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• iTap & Prank: Discreetly generate a prank sound spontaneously! Select your prank, put your iPhone in your pocket or bag, wait for the right moment, double-tap your iPhone and watch your prank unfold. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Guardians: The Last Day of the Citadel – Lite Edition: A demo version of Guardians: The Last Day of the Citadel. If you like the game, you can purchase the full version as an in-app purchase. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

LinkDots is a new puzzle game that is similar to the classic Dots game. The goal is to drop your dots on the grid in a manner that will result in more connections. Two adjacent dots will give 1 connection, 3 dots placed as a triangle will give 3 connections, and 4 dots placed as a square will give 6 connections.

I’ve played several rounds of LinkDots on the iPhone and I’m really enjoying it! I love puzzle games, especially when they are relatively challenging like LinkDots. It took a few games before I was able to win a match against one opponent, and the game only gets more challenging against more opponents. You must strike the perfect balance between playing offensively and defensively.

Connect Dots has never been so fun … Your mind will never rest on such an addictive deployment of shapes and strategies, while blocking your opponent’s efforts to win.

• 1-4 players
• 10 Different Backgrounds
• Openfeint enabled
• Share your scores on Facebook and Twitter
• 3 Difficulty levels
• Easy (Against one Computer)
• Medium (Against 2 computers)
• Hard (Against 3 Computers)

LinkDots is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99 each.

[iPhone App Store link] [iPad App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Easy Spending Expense Tracker: Track your expenses. Now with bill reminder, multiple account summary, and nice reports. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Flourish: A music-maker designed for anyone creative. With the perfect blend of exploration and control, Flourish makes it easy to produce impressive musical compositions. [$2.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• My Very Own Name: Entertaining animals bring letters one by one to spell out your child’s first and last name in rhyme in this pesonalized, educational storybook! [$4.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• SuperNimbus: It’s been a hard season for Farmer Cow, the drought has left the farm dry and in need of rain! Wake up SuperNimbus and water Farmer Cow’s crops! Gather helper clouds, avoid airplanes and balloons, and bring the rain! (Try and avoid raining on weddings, though. They hate that.) [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Word Finder for Scrabble, Word With Friends, etc: Allows you to find and check valid words in crossword games such as Scrabble® and Words With Friends. [$1.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Bubble Birds HD 2.0: Match three or more birds of the same color to remove them from the field and score as many points as possible. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• WorldCard Mobile: Uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to instantly transfer information from business cards to the user’s native contacts. With a simple click of the camera, you no longer have to manually input contact info from business cards or email signatures. [$5.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Xytrox: Join the fight against the aggressive real players from around the world in a multiplayer first-person combat. Your mission is simple: put the most advanced battle spaceships to the ultimate test against real player combatants. [$1.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Apps For Execs: All about solving the app discovery challenge for business people, by featuring only relevant apps for the target audience — the busy business person. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Meme Generator Pro: Ready to make memes? You’re gonna ROFL making memes in a few seconds! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Brodit car mount – @chrisoldroyd

This week I decided to source a car mount for my iPhone 4S. Having previously used Brodit mounts, I was happy to look at them again and boy was I not disappointed.

Brodit mounts are quite simply the best car mounts you can get for any device, they make them for all the popular phones but who cares about that, only the iPhone matters anyway! There are two parts to the mounting system. The first part is called a Proclip and this part is car specific. The clips are all designed to fix in some way to your car’s interior without the need for any fixings and there is never any damage when they are removed.

Once you have your Proclip chosen, you then select your iPhone holder; they come in loads of different configurations, some with chargers and some with simple pass through connectors and others without anything. These holders then screw into the Proclip and that’s it done!

The iPhone slots in perfectly and they are solid as a rock, a perfect way to mount your iPhone in your car, I cannot praise these mounts highly enough, they are simply the best!

[Brodit]

CatPaint – @sethclifford

“CatPaint is the premier cat-based image editor for the iPhone and iPod Touch.”

And with that, my life was forever changed. Cats… and LASERS. That’s all you need to know.

I’m having a busy, stressful week and this app makes me smile every time I look at it. Also, the icon is so epic, I want to weep at its awesomeness.

[CatPaint - $0.99 - iTunes link]

AssistiveTouch – @JorjLim

My iPhone 4′s Sleep/Wake Button decided to stop working. It doesn’t click in and doesn’t turn the screen off.

After the Apple Store told me I’d have to pay £120 for an out of warranty repair, I sought other options.

I came across ‘AssistiveTouch’ in the Accessibility settings. When you turn it on, a little ‘floating’ dot appears on the screen which opens a new menu. This menu allows you to perform hardware actions, without having the press any physical buttons.

Some of the options include, rotating the device, simulating a shake, pressing the home button and of course, pressing the sleep button.

While pressing the on-screen sleep button isn’t as easy as just pressing the physical sleep button, its definitely better than spending £120 on the repair.

Weather Alert USA – @azeis

This past week in the Northeast we had a bit of an unexpected snow storm blow through. It’s the first time in all my years I’ve ever seen such a huge snow storm come through New Jersey in October, and I tried my best to be prepared. I knew I would be out of the house running errands since it was the weekend and wanted to keep up with the latest conditions as best I could, for which I’d obviously turn to my phone. While the stock weather app on iOS is decent for the most part, I knew I’d need something that went above and beyond to keep me updated on the go — for that I discovered Weather Alert USA.

Weather Alert USA is a great app for weather geeks. Not only does it provide current temperatures and conditions, but it also has amazing depth when it comes to severe weather alerts which is just what I needed. It allows you to easily setup alerts by location and will notify you (with a rather annoying alert tone) of any weather alerts in your area. Push alerts are available for nearly everything you can think of, from hurricanes to winter storm warnings to dust advisories and more.

Day to day weather reports are a breeze as well as Weather Alert USA gives you easy access to weekly and hourly conditions, radars and warnings, detailed weather maps, sunrise/sunset times and much more. Truly one of the best weather apps I had found and more than adequate to keep even the biggest weather buff in the know. Of all the weather apps available to iPhone users, Weather Alert USA definitely gets my pick as number one.

[$3.99 - App Store Link]

Sonos – @jdipane

Music is a huge part of my daily routine, and recently I picked up a Sonos system for my house, and the Sonos controller for iOS makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable. If you have not heard of Sonos it is a wireless speaker system for your house or office which you can use your favorite music channels like Pandora, MOG, Spotify and many others. Being able to control the two different zones in my house, what is playing, and how loud it is all from the comfort of any place I can take my iPhone with me. If you have a Sonos system be sure to check the controller out, and if you don’t have a Sonos system yet, check out our reviews.

[Free - App Store link]

Instapaper 4 – @reneritchie

Seth picked Instapaper a couple of weeks ago. Good for him. He got first crack at explaining why he likes it so much, and his reasons are probably much more lucid and reasoned than mine. But I’m taking my shot anyway:

Instapaper lets me read stuff. That’s it.

And that’s much more than I’d otherwise manage to do. The sad truth is the more I write the less I have time to read. When I come across a fascinating, insightful, provocative, or otherwise interesting article on the web, I almost never have time to read it then and there. And that means, without a way to triage and save them for later, like Kaizer Soze’s devil, with a puff — or in this case a tap — they’d be gone.

Instapaper is that way to triage and save. If an article grabs me, I knock it over to Instapaper and then later, when I’m waiting for something, when I’m between states, when I finally get to take a break, they’re waiting for me.

Everything I want to read, all in my pocket.

That’s Instapaper.

[$4.99 - App Store link]

Siegecraft – @GeorgiaTiPb

I love Tower Defense games. It’s my passion. Siegecraft is my current Tower Defense of choice. It has gorgeous graphics and cool weapons, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a little more interactive than most, and you have to aim so that adds to the challenge. Plus, can I say trebuchets and catapults? It’s universal, It’s adorable, it’s enjoyable, and best of all — right now it’s only a buck!

[$0.99 - App Store Link]

Newsstand – @Alli_Flowers

I admit I was one of those laughing loudest when iOS 5 was first introduced with Newsstand. It seemed especially silly on the iPhone. So I never gave it a second look – until yesterday when I got my iPad 2.

I started looking through it to see if they offered anything of any interest whatsoever, and lo-and-behold, there was Wired magazine. I love Wired and already subscribe. Sometimes I don’t read it because I’ll throw it down with a pile of other mail and just never get back to it. Or it’s one more thing I don’t want to stuff in my purse. I have a ton of excuses. But I love e-reading, so I linked my account and was up and running in no time.

Newsstand actually makes reading a magazine a pleasant experience, and it’s definitely easier to carry around a bunch of magazines on your iPad than in your purse, briefcase, or hands. Side to side scrolling goes page to page, with up/down to read an entire article. I got a kick out of some of the ads and some of the headlines being animated. It’s more than just an e-magazine. It should be like this!

The selection is still minimal – there aren’t any other magazines that I either already subscribe to, or have any interest in, but that should come with time. If you haven’t already done so, take a look and see some of the samples they give you just so you can get a feel for the product. Then just wait for your favorite publication!

WordPress – @llofte

I used to hate blogging from my iPhone or iPad, but the WordPress app for iOS has come a long way since then. Now, I can make a lot of formatting edits and insert pics at the exact size I want – this was a biggie for me.

Combined with Photo Stream, blogging photos of my daughter with my iPad is quick, painless, and can be done while relaxing on the couch. WordPress on my iPhone is great for blogging on the go or for correcting a typo that I notice on a TiPb post.

I used to strictly blog from my laptop or desktop, but about 80% of my personal blogging is now done mobile thanks to the WordPress app for iOS. I’ll admit that most of TiPb writing is still done on the desktop, but that’s because it involves much more and it’s just faster and more productive to do it on my iMac or MacBook.

[Free - App Store link]

W.E.L.D.E.R. – @iMuggle

I haven’t been playing too many games these days but this one has me hooked. It’s currently featured in the App Store and on sale for 50% off regular price. I am definitely glad I stumbled upon it while simply browsing.

If you enjoy games like Words With Friends or Scrabble this is definitely a game you’ll want to pick up. It’s somewhat of a fusion between Scrabble, Tetris, and the old school slider puzzles. You know, the ones you’d have to slide the pieces around to make a picture with only one free space. You simply swap letters either left, right, up, down, or diagonal to make words. You only get so many swaps though and for every 250 points you score you’ll earn an additional 5 swaps. When you run out of swaps the game ends.

It’s definitely a great time killer if you need something that isn’t fact paced and you can pick up and leave off at your leisure. It also features GameCenter integration where you can unlock achievements as well.

$1.99 – App Store Link

The Great Jitters: Pudding Panic – @mgmiller8693 (Reader’s Choice)

Playing this game reminds me of the great funhouse rides at the amusement park when I was growing up, where creepy and sometimes scary characters jump out at you from out of nowhere. I’ve only played the first few levels so far, but I love the game’s music, the fun and challenging gameplay, its sharp graphics, and the amazing sound/visual effects.

As per the game’s description in the App Store, your goal in the game is to lead a fearful blob of pudding through a spooky haunted house and scary monsters with freakish weapons and get to the exit as fast as you can.

It’s of course a very fitting game for the Halloween season that just passed, but it’s so likeable and addictive that I can definitely see myself playing it all year long. It has Game Center built-in, which is nice. I found the first 3 or 4 levels to be fairly easy, but beyond that, it definitely gets more challenging.

[$1.99 - App Store link]

Your pick?

You’re part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on Twitter or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Patchworld: In the heart of a Drag and Drop game, help Lexie Cut to create her world and her journey by cutting and assembling a mix of textures. Through a touching story and colorful animations, your goal is to have as much followers as possible. For this, the creation will be your only mode of play. Let your hand and your imagination guide you. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• PlayUp – Where Sport Gets Social: Featuring live scores for more than 20,000 games a year it connects all of the live action to you and your friends, allowing you to message one another in Real Time – all for Free! [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Alphabet Assassin: Swipe letters to complete target words. The faster you complete words, the more time you get on the clock. The more letters you slash at once, the higher your combo scores will be. Be on the lookout for Special Letters that slow down time, double your score, and give you only the letters you need to complete your word. Act fast, because they don’t stick around for long! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Klip Video Sharing: Klips are short mobile videos that are fun to preview and quick to watch. With Klip you can capture and store videos of unlimited length on your device and enjoy unlimited uploads for free. And Klip features a super easy video editor to grab your best one minute or less segment. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Dink: Gives you the essential tools to create amazing animations on your iPhone. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

Firemint’s popular game, SPY mouse, has been updated with global leaderboards and 5 new challenges. Additionally, you only need 1 Squeak friend to get started on challenges and Kiska can now be used once per hour (up from once per day).

For operatives brave enough to pit their wits against the world’s best, this update delivers global leaderboards! All you need to do is sign up to Origin, and a world of competition with the best cheese procurers in the business is all yours.

Here’s the extended update notes.

• Global leaderboards! Just sign into Origin and put your stealthy cheese recovery skills to the test against the world’s best
• 5 new challenges have been added to Agent Squeak’s Backpack Get bonus Backpack content sooner! You need just 1 Squeak friend to get started.
• Kiska has perfected her cat-clonking abilities and can now be used once per hour, up from once per day
• Various tweaks, bug fixes and crumb sweeping

SPY mouse is available on the iPhone for $0.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• IntoNow: Makes watching TV more engaging, social, and fun – using a little bit of magic. Just tap the green button when you’re watching TV- whether live or recorded – and IntoNow will identify the show and reward you with related content, personalized recommendations, and discussions to connect with friends. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• My Town 2: Create the city of your dreams filled with your favorite places from the real-world! Get your town thriving as you buy, customize & upgrade real businesses. Earn coins to beautify your town with awesome decorative items. Grow your population & expand with tons of cool buildings, houses + rare & unique Wonders. [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• TuneIne: A new way to listen to the world through live local and global radio from wherever you are. Whether you want music, sports, news or current events, TuneIn offers over 50,000 stations and 120,000 shows for you to choose from. Now with iOS 5 Twitter support! [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Print Agent PRO: View, print and share documents. [$5.99 for iPad - App Store link] [$1.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Patchy: Patchy, a little patch doll, has been left behind in an abandoned house. So he sits by himself, and watches the world outside through the window in front of him. One day all of that changes. Patchy hears a little girl cry one rainy evening. He decides to cheer her up, and does the most wonderful thing a Patch doll could ever do. [$2.99 for iPad - App Store link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

Ghostie is a new side-scrolling iPhone game that has got me hooked. In this game, you must help the little square-shaped ghost, Ghostie, get past various obstacles and pits to complete each level. The screen is constantly scrolling and you have only one control – jump.

I am experiencing both an intense amount of fun and frustration with Ghostie! The concept is so simple, but the gameplay is actually rather challenging. It is possible that I suck more than the average person, but the first level took me 25 attempts to pass.

The first level is free to play, so go pick this one up and see if you can do better than me. I was convinced I had a better grasp on the game, unlocked the next levels, and took 37 attempts to beat the second level. Man, that’s embarrassing.

Resting in peace is hard work! For Ghostie, it’s one thing after another – literally – as he dodges obstacles, leaps over pitfalls and avoids other spooky surprises on his path. Customize your Ghostie and help him safely cross to the other side of each hauntingly addictive level. And frequent updates will provide new challenges, obstacles and surprises sure to keep your spirits up! It’s the most fun you can have without a pulse.

• Chilling graphics
• Challenging obstacles
• Addictive gameplay
• Amazing music
• And much more!

Ghostie is available on the iPhone for free.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• iLaugh: The seriousness of life needs to be broken up often by the ultimate health benefits found in iLaugh. The application iLaugh is the app needed when life gets you down. The app iLaugh is healthy, pleasurable, and available when a timely and positive new mind frame is needed. So when the chips are down, just say “iLaugh”! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Spotter 3D – Kids Army: Welcome to 3D world of the “Spot the Difference” game! Your mission is to find the differences between two amazing military scenes. Six differences are hidden carefully – so you should explore everything to find them all! Magic binocular may help you in a difficult moment. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Last Night…? The app works in the background and records your location and speed at regular intervals. You can then access your location, get precise details on each recorded location event, display where you were on a map, or even have a look at the route you followed that day directly in the app! [$1.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Ultimate Shuffleboard: Brings the classic tabletop experience to your iPhone. Start your game by connecting 2+ iPhones over WiFi or Bluetooth. Then unleash your wicked shuffleboard skills! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• TriviaTogether: Play trivia against your friends! Every game consists of 10 questions answered in turns. You and your opponent have 30 seconds to answer each question. But be quick! [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

Now you can play Beer Pong – with virtual beer! Not only does Beer Pong HD follow the official rules of the World Series of Beer Pong, it uses realistic physics algorithms and also uses the camera to simulate being drunk. Oh, and you better watch out if you play against the AI, as they will trash-talk you throughout the game in an effort to throw you off your game.

Although this is a virtual game with virtual beer, no one says you can’t be drinking a real frosty beverage while you play! Drink responsibly.

Be sure to check out the promo video below!

“Beer Pong HD” is the long awaited sequel to the only officially licensed Beer Pong game on the App Store: Beer Pong. It has improved graphics, more realistic physics, it uses the OFFICIAL rules as used in the World Series of Beer Pong, and best of all it is totally FREE! Throwing balls has been made very easy; it uses a similar mechanic as seen in Angry Birds : Pull the ball back, aim and shoot. So you”ll still be able to pick this game up if even when you had a few beers yourself. You can also play the game with your friends ONLINE or offline and share your highscores through OpenFeint and Game Center. You’ve messed with the rest – now try the best! And why not, it’s FREE!

• Best looking visuals and most realistic physics of any beer pong on the market!
• Easy to pick up throwing mechanism similar to Angry Birds
• Beer Pong HD features the OFFICIAL BPONG.COM rules, used in every single match of every single World Series of Beer Pong
• ONLINE multiplayer makes for the cleanest, most mess-free game of Beer Pong you’ve ever played with your friends in your life!
• Over 15 different tables and cups to choose from
• Online leaderboards and achievements through OpenFeint & Game Center, for the best social gaming experience
• Prepare your ego as both male and female AIs will verbally assault you with a barrage of voice-over trash talking zingers!
• See if you can hold on to your phone while the camera simulates you being drunk
• The game has a counter for the number of cups scored globally!

Beer Pong HD is available on the iPhone and iPad for free.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Orchestra To-Do: The to-do list that’s connected to everyone you work with. It not only helps you organize what needs doing, it also helps you communicate with others to get things done. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Mad Rush: Once upon a time, there lived a little rabbit. He grew up without his father, who disappeared many years ago in a galactic racing tournament. But despite the rabbit’s small size and the absence of a father, he was born with a powerful force beating within his heart! Little did he know that when they are most needed, his powers would awaken from deep inside, helping him defend his home from the evil Mr. Storm, who has his sights set on destruction! [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Howdy: Choose an e-card, snap a photo or video with your iPhone, type your message and have Howdy send it over. Easy as can be! [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Buildo Rescue Sticker Book: Features 103 hand designed, full-color stickers themed around the Emergency & Rescue Services. There are boats, police cars, ambulances, helicopters, jet skis, scuba divers, doctors, nurses and loads more to choose between! Simply drag a sticker into one of four panoramic soundscapes and watch as an imaginary world comes to life! [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Ringtones Complete: If you’re looking for normal, elegant, and professional ringtones – without the annoying cartoon sound effects or pop songs – then you’re looking for RCP Ringtones. We design the smartest and best sounding normal tones available. [$4.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Check out the promo video for Mad Rush below!

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an App Store link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Pocket God: Journey To Uranus: An interactive universe that you can explore, discover your godly powers, and play games. Feed the volcano god on Earth! Fight a war on Uranus! Ward off robots from another universe! Navigate the high-tech highways of Mercury! And more! Some games are inspired by your favorite classic video games. Now with EPISODE 6: DECAPITHON! [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Knight vs. Zombies A quick, action-packed arcade zombie capture game that will have you craving for more brains than the undead on all hollows eve! [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• GoodReader for iPad: Now with Text Lookup for PDF files. Select a text in a PDF file and use the magnifying glass button on the popup menu to find this text in Dictionary, Google, and Wikipedia. [$4.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• iCheat: The perfect student toolbox, providing a bundle of school oriented features. Getting your maths done or glancing at your class notes has never been easier! [$3.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Print Utility: View, print and share documents on your iPad. Print Utility is easiest way for you to store files, read documents and print anything your want, including email attachments, right from the iPad. [$3.99 for iPad - App Store link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

Check out the promo video of Pocket God’s update below!

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Robots Activity Cards: It’s time for your little ones to explore the world of ROBOTS. Kids can enjoy this cool world using their creativity and skills. [$1.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Aces Hearts: “Shoot the Moon” with this classic card game that is popular around the world. Aces Hearts brings the timeless game to iPhone with some extra flare. Play characters like Elouise, Vladmimir, and Drucilla. [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Dark Incursion: A side scrolling, hack and slash game that combines the old school pixel art with the stereoscopic 3D experience. It takes place in an alternate reality in the late 1800’s, amidst an industrial revolution and a world war. [$2.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• BA DA BUMP: Destroy the fireballs and discover the dragon’s secrets. 100% fun for everyone! Start a new adventure for our little dragon, an adventure filled with balls to blow up, secrets to discover and goals to reach. [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Fuzzball: A multiplayer game that combines billiards and soccer elements into an intense mind-wrenching experience. The instant multiplayer action will hook you up to other people so that every game will be a new thrill. Fight your way into the top rankings by out-smarting all the other Fuzzballs! [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Movie Remote Kids: Control playback of your movies on one device and remote control it with another. Now with TV Out using a composite or HDMI connection cable on supported hardware. On sale! [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Lil Painter: An interactive coloring book which offers gorgeous illustrations that are simple to paint and it’s meant to increase children’s imagination. [$0.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• WEB To PDF for iPad: Convert web pages into PDFs. Don’t want a bunch of single paged PDFs? WEB to PDF allows you to convert several web pages into a single PDF! [$1.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Disassembly 3D: Ultimate Stereoscopic Destruction: Simulates the experience of taking everyday objects apart. Remove screws, bolts, nuts and every single part with your bare hands. All with realistic disassembly physics! [Free for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• LifeTopix: Lets you capture, track, connect, know and act upon all the information in your life! Get things done – everything – your own way! [$4.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Ray Marching: You are the Sun to control the ray. Your army, photons will march along the ray. Flowers are waiting to be saved from the threat of darkness. Can you rescue them? [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• imo instant messenger: Stay in touch with friends on your existing IM accounts: Facebook Chat, Google Talk, Skype, MSN, ICQ/AIM, Yahoo, Jabber, Hyves, VKontakte, Myspace, and now Steam! [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

• Powder Monkeys: Ready yer cannons and set sail on a high seas adventure as you lead the Powder Monkeys in their quest to rid the world of the evil bugs plaguing all monkey-kind. [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• LinkDots: It is not tic tac toe, connect four or Minesweeper, the old time classic games that have granted us such great moments. LINKDOTS goes further than that. You earn points depending on the complexity of your figures. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Wake N Shake: Experience what it feels like to wake up with a sudden jolt of energy. The intense physical motion required to shut off the alarm raises your heart rate, and wakes you up instantly. No more dragging yourself out of bed. Jump out of bed and get your day started! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Rope Rescue HD is a new puzzle game by Chillingo. The goal is to drag your rope through gears and to the bird cage to release the birds from captivity. The ideal route may be blocked by enemies and fire, however.

I love puzzles, and Rope Rescue is no exception. The levels are short, making it a great time-killer game to squeeze in betweens meetings or classes, but it’s also addicting and can keep you entertained for longer lengths of time.

Rescue caged birds in this award-winning puzzle game! Drag a length of rope through a series of gears, and then finally attach it to the cage to release your friends. Pesky enemies, fire, and other rope-wrecking obstacles threaten feathered freedom. Collect butterflies on the way for special bonuses, and try use as little rope as possible for maximum points.

• Over 60 puzzling levels will keep you wrapped up for hours.
• Addictive gameplay with multiple solutions for each level will have you playing for hours.
• Avoid flying knives, fire cannons and of course the evil bats.
• Collect or purchase butterflies to unlock later levels or provide hints to help you on your adventure.
• Visit the bird sanctuary to see the cute baby birds you have rescued.
• Challenge your friends to beat your best scores using fully integrated Crystal leaderboards.

Rope Rescue HD is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Whale Trail is a new iPhone and iPad game where you help Willow the Whale flight through a colorful rainbow world collecting bubbles, dodging angry thunderclouds along the way.

This game is great! It has a very simple controls and is fun to play. Kids and adults alike have the potential of getting hooked to this little gem.

Help Willow the Whale fly high through a magical rainbow world, dodge the angry Thunder Bros and escape the clutches of the evil Baron Von Barry.

• Simple & intuitive one finger flight gameplay
• Amazing Whale Trail soundtrack by Gruff Rhys of the ‘Super Furry Animals’
• Beautiful & colourful Retina graphics
• Kill Thunder Bros at will in Frenzy mode
• Hit speed boosts to reach secret heights
• Challenge your friends on Game Center leaderboards
• 43 Game Center achievements to challenge your flying skills to the MAX
• New gameplay modes coming soon

Whale Trail is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.