Life with Wally

In my never ending quest to get more utility from my iOS devices I was perusing Kickstarter a few months ago, looking for something that would both spark my interest and offer some unique value other accessories don’t. While the entrepreneurs looking for financial backing for their idea are legion, the actual numbers of worthy campaigns have dwindled as of late. The world may not need yet another iPhone dock or sync cable, regardless of how clever the tweak may be. Thankfully, just before I gave up I stumbled across a gem from an organization I’d already supported in the past.

Distil Union has already coaxed my credit card from my CM4 case thanks to their (recently reviewed) Snooze bedside alarm clock accessory and accompanying app for the iPhone. They were seeking funding for yet another interesting take on a category of accessory that I find most useful: the iPhone wallet. The Wally was an intriguing product; instead of a case providing slots for your cards (as my CM4 and BookBook had) it acted as a piggyback wallet. Either use the case of your choice or be one of the brave ones to go without; the Wally would adhere to most surfaces via a ‘microsuction’ coating on the back of the vegitable-tanned leather. The description was enough to entice me to back the campaign (which not surprisingly had already reached their production goal). After a short wait for the campaign to end and production to begin, I was ready to see what Wally was like in a practical, every day setting.

As I’ve stated in older posts, I prefer an iPhone card case over a traditional wallet. My work scrubs have a profound pocket deficit, and with the other devices I’m asked to carry (VOIP phone, pager, pen, etc.) the more multi-use devices I can find the better. I’ve used several wallet/card cases to date with varying levels of satisfaction; ultimately the need for easy access to my iPhone’s screen and providing the slimmest profile possible have been the deciding factors (otherwise I’d opt for the newly redesigned BookBook; it’s absolutely gorgeous). The Wally seemed to offer just that- a slim, easily accessed card pouch that could be quickly removed and reattached should I wish to use/change cases.

Upon arrival I had a slight problem with the Wally. As with all leather goods, it had warped somewhat during the less than optimal conditions of shipping. The leather had curled a bit, making it form a shallow C shape and stretching the card pouch too much to snugly hold my three cards. After conferring with the organization (they suggested using a touch of water to shrink the leather) I ended up using heat in the form of a warm clothes iron to press/shrink the leather back to its original configuration. After the heat/pressure treatment the Wally’s pouch held my ID, debit, and credit cards as perfectly as I had envisioned. Apparently my experience was an outlier; few other backers/early adopters had such issues.

The second caveat was the ‘microsuction’ layer; while my iPhone was case-free and cleaned of even fingerprints, the adhesive just didn’t want to hold firmly. Thankfully the Kickstarter had been so successful that Distil Union had provided an extra adhesive product that really did the trick. After well over a month of use it’s still holding on like a champ.

The true value of the Wally has come from it’s unique construction. Unlike other cases Distil Union crafted a bright red ribbon inside the card slot that when pulled extrudes your cards from their repository. It may not seem like much, but after fighting to get a card past the silicone edge of my CM4 every time I needed it I was more than happy with this new product design. The Wally itself sports some high quality components; the leather is both durable and stylish. The bright red ribbon makes for an eye catching accent as well as being more functional than you’d think at first glance.

I had chosen to go case-free, and both enjoy and regret the decision. The lower profile and lack of a somewhat sticky silicone bumper edge has made my iPhone easier to remove from pockets, but during testing of the PanaVise PortaGRIP mounting bracket I was careless and let my iPhone fall, scuffing an aluminum corner (but thankfully not cracking the glass) of my handset. I’ve learned to be more observant, but I’d encourage others to at least use a bumper case for their rather expensive phones.

Ultimately, would I recommend the Wally? The answer lies in what the questioner is looking for. Should you be like me and want to eliminate carrying an everyday wallet while keeping your iPhone’s profile as slim as possible, then absolutely. The Wally is stylish and more configurable than any other product I’ve tested, especially considering that it can be used in conjunction with many (but not all) cases. It reflects my fascination with all things clever, coupled with my desire to get the most from my iOS devices.

The Wally is available now via Distil Union’s website in either brown or black (in my opinion the only acceptable colors for leather items) for $49.99

Related articles

• Hello World! My Name is Wally – the Stick on Leather Wallet for iPhone (prweb.com)
• Fluent Ink Launches iBillfold2 Kickstarter Campaign for an iPhone Card Case & Attachable Wallet (prweb.com)
• Four Highly Anticipated iPhone 5 Cases [that I can't wait to get my hands on!] (epicagear.com)
• Review: Distil Union Wally for iPhone 5 (ilounge.com)

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Putting more i in your iPhone

The proliferation of iOS devices has allowed me to reduce my reliance on the first version of the family- the iPhone. While both the iPhone and the iPad can accomplish a majority of the same tasks, I find some just easier or more enjoyable on one or the other. For a good portion of my iOS adventure I’ve had both devices on hand; I carried my iPad with me to work every day and used it regularly at home for video, reading, and web surfing at home. One thing that both devices have in common is outstanding battery life; both have always lasted at least a full day on a charge no matter what I threw at them.

Then one day I deviated outside my normal routine. While waiting for a connecting flight on a business trip I noticed that the battery on my iPhone was dwindling far faster than it would during a typical workday. Hours of Angry Birds, Chuzzle, podcasts, and music while trapped in transit tend to eat away at even the iPhone’s impressive battery, leaving me to scramble for an available outlet to provide a few more precious minutes of charge (not to mention digging in my carry on bag for the charging cable and plug). While I’ve always enjoyed getting multiple uses out of my accessories as well as my devices (as in my CM4 card case) my issues with battery life left me rethinking my choice in cases. Should I have picked a different iPhone 5 case? Would a battery case have been a better option?

Thanks to my friends at MobileFun, I have a third choice: the PowerSkin PoP’n. While most manufacturers have attempted to augment the iPhone’s battery by including a backup inside a case, the PowerSkin is acts as a portable external recharge pack. The device attaches to the back of your iPhone (and is compatible with most existing cases) via rows of small suction cups, and uses a thick but flexible Lightning cable to add more life to your handset. The device is rated by the manufacturer to add an extra 70% of useful life to your iPhone, but in my entirely unscientific testing it seemed to double my charge during heavy use. While the focus of the accessory is additional power for  your device sans recharging via an outlet or USB slot, the innate value  of the PowerSkin comes from its flexibility afforded over the standard battery case. It is preferable over a run of the mill recharge pack because of its close form integration to the phone. When deployed it does add significant thickness to the phone, but surprisingly little additional weight- 86 grams according to PowerSkin, allowing you to use your iPhone normally.

Unlike battery cases, the PowerSkin isn’t a permanent fixture to your handset. Use it when you need it, then stow it away when it isn’t- and keep the case that suits your needs (or none at all if you’re one of those brave souls). Not having to handle the extra mass of a battery backup was welcome as my routine doesn’t require the additional juice, but it was a welcome addition when I did. It remained firmly in place during my testing even when using my iPhone for conversations and video, yet was easy to remove and stow in my iPad messenger bag. I don’t have a Lightning-equipped iPad, but I wouldn’t think the PowerSkin would be a viable option as they tend to require more current (1 amp and 5 watts for the iPhone versus 2.1 amps and 10 watts for the full sized iPad). The PowerSkin provides a series of LEDs on its back to show the amount of charge it has to offer, and is itself recharged by an included micro USB cable. For those with an older model iPhone (or an older iPod model) there is a standard 30 pin version as well.

The PowerSkin PoP’n is available now from MobileFun ($63.99) and MobileFun UK (£49.99). If your iPhone needs a boost but you’d rather not sacrifice your favorite case (or don’t need that boost all the time) consider the PowerSkin- I think you’ll be happy you did.

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Poppa’s got a brand new (laptop) bag

Now that I’ve had time to acclimate to my new MacBook Retina, it was time to do something to help carry and protect my new investment. While the Retina laptop is one of the lighter and sleeker I’ve owned, carrying it about made be a bit apprehensive. The unibody aluminum chassis is durable, but not immune to scratches and scuffs, and when you spend this kind of coin on a computer you want to keep it in mint condition.

While there is a plethora of bags and sleeves out there for the MacBook, I was looking for something specific- a bag that would be sleek, make the laptop easier to carry, protect it from minor bumps and scrapes, and most importantly offer some additional capacity to carry important additions like the power brick. Some of the most eye catching models (mainly sleeves) lacked the last but most important feature. I did find a few that looked promising like the Waterfield CitySlicker and Indy (or a few others, Waterfield has a very impressive lineup), or the Concrete Hook Case. While all of these selections fit what I was looking for and are visually impressive, they all had the same problem- price. After spending so much on the laptop itself, I was loathe to lay down another hundred or two on an accessory, regardless of how aesthetically pleasing it was. If you’re in the market act quickly before they are gone.

A trip to my local Apple Store came up empty. While they had a good selection of sleeves, I wasn’t in the market for one. The majority of their actual bags were backpacks- too bulky for what I needed. One of the associates saw me perusing their stock and suggested I try the Best Buy a block away, stating that they have enough shelf space to accommodate a wider range of products. While they didn’t have what I was looking for in their store, the associate manning the Apple section tipped me off to what led me to my eventual choice. He urged me to try Best Buy’s online selections, specifically the Brenthaven lineup. He assured me that Apple used Brenthaven’s bags exclusively in-house, and demonstrated the model he had been given years earlier (which still looked pristine after the seven years he had owned it). Encouraged, I went home to do a bit of shopping the way I preferred- online.

His advice was exactly what I needed (thank you nameless Best Buy/Apple associate!). After just a few minutes of perusing I found the ProStyle Plus Sleeve II. The nylon bag is slender but can accommodate the MacBook Pro and Retina version (the model I chose was specific for the 13 inch version) and has two pouches for additional storage: one large side pouch and a smaller pouch dubbed the iPhone pocket. The construction is top notch and includes both suitcase-style handles and a removable padded shoulder strap. The inner lining is of a silky synthetic material that will keep your laptop scuff-free and safe from minor bumps. Best of all the price was right- just over $30 including standard shipping. The ProStyle Plus Sleeve isn’t as eye-catching as what Waterfield has to offer, but the price makes up for any stylistic differences.

Sadly, this must be a closeout item for Best Buy because a search of Best Buy’s site during this post came up empty for the exact model I purchased. They do have a comparable 13 inch model in plum, and additional ones for 15 inch laptops (and a very nice satchel). While not the deal I managed to snag, the remaining bags are still very affordable and an excellent selection for the MacBook owner looking for something both stylish and practical.

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iOS for a better behaved pup

Time for a short story about the happy convergence of need and utility. As the owner of a perpetually puppy-ish old English Bulldog, I saw the early need for some training as soon as my furry baby came home. While I’ve had several big dogs, this would be the first that spent a majority of her time indoors (partially because of the extensive work schedule in my household, and partially because of the elemental intolerances of the breed- heavyset, short snouted breeds don’t take well to Florida’s summer temperatures). I opted for some professional help via our local PetSmart, and was very happy with the results (kudos to our trainer Katie; she taught me as much about how to communicate effectively as she did my pup). Emma excelled in her training, as we were merrily on our way. 

As time passed little Emma became not-so-little Emma (finally stopping at 70 lbs!) and while she still remembers important aspects of her training like sit and wait, some things have been lost due to a lack of repetition on my part. Rather than return for some additional one-on-one training at PetSmart I opted to explore the power of my iOS devices. After a quick read and a recommendation from a pet-centered blog I downloaded Positively Dog Training: The Better Path to a Well-Behaved Pup. While I had originally thought the only option was to explore the various digital bookstores I had access to (primarily iBooks and the Amazon Kindle library), the concept of a book-as-an-app was more appealing. Positively Dog Training could easily have been presented in regular ebook format, but the layout and interface freedom that the Betterbook app format from Open Air Publishing offered made it much more attractive as an effective tool.

The difference is immediately evident. Rather than the typical ebook layout, the app presents an illustrated and annotated chapters accessed via a single icon tap. Selecting a chapter revealed a second column to the right further breaking down the contents of that chapter. The app makes the information a more visually engaging experience, and the writing style coupled with the presentation makes what could have been dry and hard to absorb material a great deal more accessible. The book itself is cleverly and humorously segmented in an appropriately doggy theme starting with the nose, then head, body, and tail; all corresponding to different aspects of training. The actual content of the material is in a very similar format to the professional training we had received at PetSmart; positive, reward-centered training that encourages desired behavior rather than punishing the unwanted. Anecdotally, I can affirm that this is not only a more successful means of training it’s the only method I, as a devout animal lover, could endorse. While I chose Positively Dog Training as a reference guide and reinforcement for what I and Emma had already learned, for some it could serve as a primary resource. It is intelligently and concisely written, covering not only the basics of training but building the necessary foundation for long term success, tools, and advice on how to go forward. Of particular use was the chapter on addressing common roadblocks like jumping (not a good idea when your overenthusiastic pup is built like a cinderblock) and door dashing (she doesn’t hate the Fed Ex man, she just really wants to greet him in her own overly-affectinate way).

Tools like Positively Dog Training aren’t a magical solution for better behavior, but they are a very valuable resource. Learning how to communicate  with your pup is as much about your education as it is the dog’s, and given the right tools such as this app and the love and patience that all pet owners should have I have faith that you’ll be well on your way to a more harmonious household. Positively Dog Training is a comprehensive and well-written book masquerading in the iTunes App Store; and as an extra incentive it’s marked down to just $4.99 for the Easter Holiday.

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Waking up to iOS

In an attempt to both further the uses I have for my favorite multitaskers (my iPhone and iPad) and de-clutter my nightstand I chose to ditch my old iHome dock/alarm clock for an app-focused solution.

While the iHome IP9SR served me well as both a recharging station for my iPhone, an alarm clock, and a means of enjoying audio on my iPhone it had a larger footprint that I had expected when I ordered it from Amazon. My nightstand isn’t that large, and when you consider the space the lamp takes up there isn’t much room left for the iPad dock and any other random things (paperback books, graphic novels, the random late night aperitif) I might want to place there. The clock function built into iOS worked adequately for a travel alarm, but it was hardly elegant enough to make it  my first choice for a home solution considering the hardware I wanted to replace.

So after a good bit of evaluation I chose Thomas Huntington’s Nightstand Central as my physical alarm clock replacement. The app is impressive; when coupled with my iPad’s Apple dock (I chose the iPad over the iPhone as my clock replacement due to the larger screen size- my eyes are so bad they are almost square) it offers a robust and customizable set of tools that can’t be matched by any of the bedside clock radio docks. The biggest factor that drew me was the ability to program the alarm to my work schedule; I was able to set it to only go off on weekdays, allowing me to sleep in on my all-too-short weekends without having to remember to turn off the alarm. The interface is simply beautiful, providing a digital time display even my poor eyesight can decipher without fumbling for my glasses while including temperature, weather, and a time and weather influenced background image. The app comes with additional functions I never used, such as the ability to activate a flashlight mode by shaking your device or use existing photos in your device as wallpapers. Nightstand Central also has a sleep timer that will pause whatever audio you’d like to listen to after a preprogrammed time, allowing you to choose your background noise to help you drift off. You can program in multiple alarms with a variety of sounds that will work even if your device is locked or muted.

Nightstand Central was a very good solution to my crowded bedside table, but with the purchase of my current iPhone 5 the clean aesthetic was disrupted. My 30 pin iPhone dock was now useless, and for some reason I loathe just plugging the lightning cable into my handset and leaving it just lying there (yeah, I know- first world problem). Coupled with that I had some issues with Nightstand Central that took time to bother me. While the screen brightness is easily dimmed by swiping the screen, the iPad has a large enough screen that even dimmed it can be a bit bright when turned so you can see the time display. To counter this I developed the habit of tapping the sleep button on the top of my iPad when I was ready to sleep, but this led to me sleepily fumbling to unlock my iPad’s screen when the alarm rousted me from slumber so I could hit the snooze button on the screen (or turn it off like a responsible adult).

So one day while perusing one of my new fascinations Bite My Apple (focusing on Kickstarter campaigns for Apple products) I found a new solution- the Snooze by Distil Union. The simple accessory turns your iPhone into a fumble-free alarm clock and recharging station via a free app developed for the product. Your iPhone 4, 4s, or 5 slides into the Snooze’s maple wood and silicone housing in portrait mode, with a passthrough opening allowing you to connect the appropriate charging cable should you wish to. The Snooze has a no-slip bottom preventing it from ending up on the floor (barring a hearty backhand), and a catch to keep the charging cable secure in the accessory.

The charm of the Snooze comes from its construction. The top panel is made of silicone, allowing the entire panel to act as a snooze button. When pressed it triggers the volume buttons on the side of your phone, suspending the alarm for whatever period of time you’ve preset. Just as with Nightstand Central, the Snooze app can be easily dimmed by sliding a finger across the display. Unlike my iPad use of Nightstand Central, the amount of light generated by the minimalistic Snooze (and the smaller screen of the iPhone) isn’t enough to be bothersome when dimmed. Up to ten alarms can be programmed, as well as five distinct tones for the alarm. Distil Union’s page mentions a possible future paid version that would offer features to rival more powerful competitors like sleep timers, choosing existing audio on your device as alarm sounds, and a gradual wake function that would slowly increase the volume of your alarm as so to wake you gently; but there’s no release date given for the more powerful version.

So far the Snooze has been a very good choice for me. While the numerical display isn’t as large as that of Nightstand Central’s on my iPad, it is still legible to my weak eyes. While I’d happily buy a version of the Snooze clock app that provided more functions,the minimalistic version gets the job done. The Snooze stand is very easy to employ; my iPhone 5 fits comfortably even while in the CM4 card case I’m currently using (although Distil Union does warn that some cases are not compatible). It’s taken me longer (and with considerably more sleepy fumbling) to detach the lightning cable from my iPhone than it did to remove it from the Snooze to answer an unexpected late night call. Should it happen again I may opt for the speakerphone function and bypass the fumbling entirely.

The Snooze is available now from Distil Union’s webpage or via Bite My Apple for $39.99.

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The benefits of perseverance

Not too long ago I had attempted (with a surprising lack of success) to test one of the latest shining stars of the iTunes App Store, Winston. The concept behind the app is a fantastic one: choose the news and social media sources you’re interested in, and Winston reads your updates to you in a refined-sounding synthetic British voice. The enticement of eyes-free information was a strong one; while my morning and evening drive isn’t as long as it once was I still have some downtime that I’d like to fill with something a bit more topical than my favorite podcasts.

Thankfully my perseverance with Winston has been rewarded. I was able to circumvent the issue I was having with the app’s installation routine by limiting the number of default categories chosen. Rather than five I limited my selection to two (headlines and technology), apparently allowing the app to complete its preliminary setup.

Now (like the Death Star) fully operational, Winston has demonstrated that it is well deserving of the praise it has garnered. The app gathers new information quickly over LTE or wifi, and offers a tiled photo image of categories for you to choose from (as well as the logos of Facebook and Twitter). By default Winston only dictates a summary of news stories with an accompanying background musical score. The voice simulation falls short of what I’ve heard via Siri and other apps; the speech can be somewhat clipped at times and mispronounces names (even considering the British accent). That admitted, it does a fluid job of reading your selections for you, and can easily be configured to cover entire articles instead of summaries. Should you prefer complete stories (as I do) but not wish to hear the entire article Winston is on, just swipe the screen to change to the next article. Additional sources of information can be added after the initial setup, so limiting your sources doesn’t impact the long term usefulness of Winston.

The app had a surprisingly broad range of sources to choose from, and adding new feeds was very easy. After my initial issues the app has been rock stable and very easy to use. Coupled with my car’s Bluetooth streaming it’s been enjoyable to have my own Winston-dictated customized news and updates radio station every morning. If you’re a news addict or a social media junkie, if you’d like to stay informed without having to commit your entire attention to  your device Winston offers the perfect way to sate your appetites. Best of all, Winston is completely free via the iTunes App Store.

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Let’s kill some (more) zombies!

I love zombies. I mean I really love them- the concept, the movies (most of them, at least), the TV shows (huzzah for Walking Dead on iTunes- the HD downloads are a godsend for cable cutters!), the implied social commentary, and of course the GAMES. When I want to fire up Steam for some non-casual gaming nothing else is as enjoyable as Valve’s Left 4 Dead franchise. Even iOS plays a role for me, thanks to some App Store heavy hitters like Plants Versus Zombies (still marked down to FREE as of the writing of this post!) and the previously reviewed Into the Dead (also listed as free in the iTunes App Store). While that’s a whole lot of undead goodness, eventually even I need something new to keep my attention.

Thanks to Randy O’Connor I’ve had just that via Dead End HD. The game is a good blend of the familiar and the innovative starring everyone’s animated corpses. The idea is a common one in zombie games- survival of your beleaguered character Harold facing waves of zombies. The controls are both simple and vexing: your character runs in the direction he faces, only stopping when you change his direction via right or left buttons at the bottom corners of the screen. You fire your weapon while turning, allowing you to spray destruction around you but leaving you vulnerable to the ever-denser hordes that creep up . When coupled with the top-down view of the game it creates a Smash TV-like feel (for those of you that can remember that far back). Power ups are picked up from the field of play; the weapons range from simple pistols to heavier fare like machine guns and flame throwers (with additional weapons unlocked by achievement). To make matters more difficult, as you progress the playing field is cluttered by obstacles like lamp posts and benches that your character bounces off of. For those skilled and/or brave enough, you can switch to a single button control.

The game is an excellent casual-style time waster. The gameplay is very engaging, accentuated by some perfectly rendered cartoonish graphics, music, and sound effects reminiscent of another favorite: Zombies Ate My Neighbors. The waves of zombies quickly become challenging, but never so much so that the game loses its charm. While Dead End HD is compatible with any iOS device, I enjoyed the game on the iPad more thanks to the additional screen real estate.

Dead End HD is Game Center compatible for those of you that like to run some high-score smack talk with your friends. It is available now via the iTunes App Store for $1.99.

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When good ideas go awry

The real world has yet again put a damper on my ability to write, but I have attempted to keep up with new apps and accessories for the Apple ecosystem. One in particular that piqued my interest was the outbreak of rave reviews for a new Siri-like news app dubbed Winston. The app acts as a nonvisual portal to your news and social media, reading articles and posts to you via a synthetic voice sporting a British accent. While the concept sounded intriguing, the demo video was even moreso:

I was immediately sold. My aforementioned limited time impacts my ability to keep up with current news and trends, and this app coupled with my car’s ability to stream from my synched iPhone over Bluetooth seemed like a perfect commute-friendly way to do so. As with any of the other dozens of apps I’ve picked up from iTunes the download and installation was quick and hassle-free.

When first activated Winston goes through a personalization routine, asking for permission to access location services and querying you on the types of information you’re interested in, from headlines to sports. After identifying the prerequisite categories, it then attempts to download final information to act as your new eyes-free portal to information. Or it would, if the app could perform the task it claims to be attempting.

On my first attempt the app hung up in its final download phase for about a half an hour, forever at about 90% complete. The app states that for fastest downloading your iPhone should be connected to a wifi network, which mine was. Hoping that perhaps my wifi was the issue, I disconnected and used my device’s LTE connection (often just as fast as my home cable ISP) but the change had the same result. Thinking there was some sort of glitch in the app, I exited and force quit it from the background app switcher to insure that I could start fresh. When relaunched the app went through the same preliminary stages, only to hang up on the same final page with a fraction of the claimed necessary download complete.

Rather than just give up I took the iOS nuclear option of deleting the app, rebooting my iPhone, and reinstalling Winston. Sadly, nothing changed; I remained stuck on the final download screen as before. On a lark I let my iPhone run it in the background for two days, checking periodically to see if the app ever finished its Sisyphean task but if there was an progress it wasn’t perceptible on the download status bar.

While I’d love to add Winston to my must-have app list, I can’t review much less endorse an app that simply won’t run. The user reviews on its iTunes App Store page range between two poles- those that have used and love the app, and those like me that randomly can’t get it to even start.

ADDENDUM: After one last attempt I finally got Winston working. Apparently the issue was selecting too many of the Interests options during installation. After only selecting Headlines the app was up and running after a short installation download. A full review is forthcoming.

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Cut your way to victory

When the iPad was labeled as a media consumption device, it was meant as a derogatory description by the labelers. Over time users have developed and discovered a staggering number of non-consumption uses for Apple’s versatile tablet; I myself use it on a fairly regular basis for administration tasks from schedule creation to communication to document review and editing. I’ve patronized many vendors that have used iPads as transaction terminals, whether for convenience (as the case at a local farmer’s market) or cost savings and versatility in small independent stores.

Even with the proven business and work related uses of the iPad, I have to admit the original naysayers weren’t entirely wrong- the iPad excels in entertainment. Case in point: a new release from Romanian indie developers Catavani (represented by Bandello), Cut the Parachute: Enemy Invasion.

Like most good indie titles, Cut the Parachute: Enemy Invasion is an uncomplicated and straightforward affair. You man the last line of defense for your country against an unnamed invading force. Enemy planes patrol the skies, dropping soldiers and gear to overrun your position. Rather than waiting for them to land and finish the war, your task is to swipe the screen to cut the cords on their parachutes, causing them to plummet to the ground. Loot can be gained by allowing valuable gear and first aid kits to land safely, while game-ending death awaits if you cut the parachute of a slow-falling bomb causing it to detonate on impact instead of allowing it to land harmlessly. The loot you collect can be used to purchase various powerups such as cannons to make your task easier. 

The game was immediately reminiscent of Fruit Ninja due to the game interface, although the slashing is a bit more purposeful and rewarding that butchering produce. The gameplay is fluid and ramps up quickly from extremely easy to surprisingly challenging (should you attempt to salvage gear instead of slashing everything but bombs from the sky as I did on my first couple of test plays). The graphics and animation are a bit cartoonish, but it meshes well with the gameplay. While not in the category of iOS gaming titans like Batman: Arkham City Lockdown or Real Racing, this casual game managed to devour a good 20 minutes before I realized how much time had passed.

Cut the Parachute: Enemy Invasion is a solid game on it’s own, but the creators at Catavani have hinted at possible multi-level system expansion as well as other in-app purchases. The game is Game Center compatible available for all iOS devices via the iTunes App Store for just 99 Cents.

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iOS gaming for the (very) young

The good folks at Bandello brought news of a new app garnering praise at the recent Nordic Game Jam that, to be honest, falls outside my usual realm of focus. Bandello has offered a consistent mix of gaming, small (sometimes individual) developers, and pure innovation, so I always check out their latest and greatest. Their latest may be a game, but it’s unlike any other I’ve reviewed because of the target audience- the very young (5 and under) and their parents.

Jones – Change the World is the first iPad-specific game from Redgrim. The app is based off of the original Flash-based edition (available at Redgrim’s website). The game is at heart a simple puzzle; the player has to find the object that is different from a group of similar things while the Flavor Flav-esque Jones displays his breakdancing prowess. Bouncing birds, leaping gorillas, spinning cars, and so on are displayed in bright colors as the hero of the game Jones dances, offering encouragement each time the correct item is picked. As described by Bandello Jones – Change the World is “…an experiment in unprogressive gameplay…” focusing on bright colors, whimsical art, and an engaging soundtrack to keep the attention of your little one. Unlike most games, Jones doesn’t increase in complexity or difficulty as it progresses- a deal breaker for a mature player, but a necessity for the very young. Some pages may be harder than others due to the number of objects or minor differences, but the actual game mechanic remains constant. 

Most friends with children I’ve spoken to rely on movies to keep their children entertained during car rides (or whenever you may need them quiet and distracted), but I think that apps like Jones would be a great addition to your repertoire thanks to the added element of interactivity. A parent properly armed with video, interactive ebooks, and simple games like Jones – Change the World would be more than able to keep their prodigy from the grip of boredom when playing outside isn’t an option. The only criticism I could offer is that the game needs a simple animated cut scene to instruct the player how to play and to offer some sort of backstory or introduction to encourage engagement and longer-term interest.

The app is available now via the iTunes App Store for $2.99.

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