Articles and Reviews by Derek Walter

Derek is a freelance writer whose work primarily covers technology. After writing for AppCraver, he founded The App Planet, a site dedicated to mobile apps from all platforms. He is also a regular contributor to RedOrbit.com.



Manage Voice Memos with Smart Recorder

Smart Recorder app icon

If the native Voice Memos app doesn't have enough features to satisfy your recording needs, then Smart Recorder may be a good option. There is greater depth, editing options, and a pretty cool method for transferring your recordings to a computer via a Wi-Fi network. Like Night Recorder, Smart Recorder has a long list of [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 4.0/5 | Category:


Awaken to More Alarm Clock Choices

Awaken app icon

If you miss  your old LCD alarm clock then Awaken can cure the nostalgia. Awaken packs a full set of features into your iPhone/iPod touch that may force you to ditch the standard clock app. It's strength is in the many features it offers to customize your alarm experience. For example, you can wake up [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 4.5/5 | Category: ,


Catchif Works for the Location Aware

Catchif app icon

Catchif joins the crowded field of apps competing to share your location and keep tabs on others. While Catchif works well, it may not be compelling enough to move you off of Loopt, Google Latitude, or any of the other more popular services that have developed a strong following. But who knows—as the booming popularity [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 3.5/5 | Category:


dizm SKATE has the Attitude, but is a Rough Ride

dizm SKATE app icon

dizm SKATE - Most skateboarding aficionados regard Touchgrind as the pinnacle of apps in this category. It has an innovative interface and captures the rough and uneven nature of pulling off tricks on a skateboard. dizm SKATE (clearly punctuation rules go out the window in the App Store) is the new kid on the block [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 3.5/5 | Category:


Jet Through Sky and Blast Aliens in Defendroid

The iPhone's accelerometer has made possible  many great aviation and racing games. It works again in Defendroid, a fun jet vs. aliens aerial combat game that has some fun, albeit simple, gameplay. The scenario is familiar: you take charge of a fighter jet that must blast aliens. By tilting the phone and tapping on the [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 3.5/5 | Category:


Night Recorder Useful as Sleep Aide, Spy Tool

Night Recorder app icon

There are plenty of apps that make voice recordings. But Night Recorder is a unique tool in its ability to record noises in the room not only while it is running but even if your iPhone/iPod touch is on standby. It is the perfect tool if you are trying to find out if you are [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 4.0/5 | Category: , ,


TwentyFour! a Great Workout for Your Brain

Combine 4! app icon

Some mind benching challenges await with TwentyFour! - a recent App Store release based on a mathematical card game. The object is to add, subtract, multiply, or divide a group of four numbers with each other in order to reach 24. Every set of four numbers has a solution, which may seem impossible when you [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 4.0/5 | Category: ,


Emoticons Galore with IMBooster

imbooster

IMBooster is no longer available in the App Store. Look for more emoticon apps or emoji apps. If you love to load up your e-mails with those goofy little icons known as emoticons, then IMBooster will be right up your alley. IMBooster, a port to iPhone of the instant messanger enhancement app of the same name, [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 4.0/5 | Category:


Control the Tower with ATC Pro

ATC Pro app icon

If being in charge at an air traffic control tower is anything like the game ATC Pro, I'm not interested. ATC Pro can be enjoyable to play, but it has a pretty steep learning curve. (If you want to check out a demo in action, watch the video after the jump.) The objective is to successfully [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 3.5/5 | Category:


iGift4U Offers Quotes, Gifts, and More for Social Media

iSocialTrial for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr app icon

Social media app iGift4U is a repository of quotations, photos, emoticons, and product shots that can enliven your Facebook or Twitter feed. The content is pretty extensive and should satisfy your desire for extra goodies to throw at your followers and friends. It's pretty convenient to have this many virtual gifts available in one app. [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 3.5/5 | Category:


Conquer Your RSS Feeds with my6sense

Ecademy my6sense app icon

News stream and social media app my6sense wants to make the deluge of information available on the web a bit more manageable for you — by reading your mind. Yes, this is another app that studies your tendencies, but my6sense is actually a pretty good tool at sorting through your RSS feeds and pulling up content that aligns [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 4.0/5 | Category:


Appitudez Financial Calculator is a Killer Tool

appitudez Financial Calculators app icon

Appitudez Financial Calculators is an excellent collection of consumer and business tools that should serve the needs of those shopping for a loan, car, or investment. Businesspeople who need to break down financial numbers while away from the computer are also likely to find it incredibly useful. While finding a financial calculator on the web [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 4.0/5 | Category:


The Inferno Challenges Mind and Soul

The Inferno app icon

The Inferno is an excellent puzzle game that may force you to touch up on your medieval history.  While the plot is closer to that of an action/adventure game, it plays more like a typical puzzle game with darker undertones. You play as Middle Ages poet Dante; who is aided by his friend Virgil (a [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 4.5/5 | Category: ,


MAKIBISHI COMIC has fun, but bizarre, gameplay

MAKIBISHI COMIC - If you ever had the desire to reach out with your finger and poke robot ninja comic book characters into action, then your favorite app ever has just arrived. MAKIBISHI COMIC has the loud and flashy illustrations of an Anime flick complete with awkward dialogue that reads like it was poorly translated [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 3.5/5 | Category:


Master SF transit schedule with iBART Live

Embark iBART - San Francisco BART app icon

Riding the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) trains are an essential part of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether you live there or plan to visit, iBART Live can help you get around a bit easier. Its best feature is real-time updates about train status that can make a difference in mauvering throughout the [...]


Derek Walter rated this app 5.0/5 | Category: ,


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