AppCraver » Misc Entertainment

Italian Video Recipes Vol. 1 Displays Step-by-Step Instructions for Authentic Cooking

Keith Lewis — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:05:19 +0000

For those that like to get their inner chef on, there is nothing like finding a new recipe or a book of recipes to inspire you to create that next memorable meal. When I first heard about the Italian Video Recipes Vol. 1 iPhone app by Andrea Vettori, I was ready to start sharpening my chef’s knife and reach for my bamboo cutting board.

Italian Video Recipes Vol. 1 offers nine recipes: four starters, four first courses, one second course and one dessert. Each recipe is designated with a preparation level of difficulty. Six are categorized as easy, the others as medium. Each recipe also lists a preparation time.

The app is very easy to use. Scroll to any recipe and tap on the ingredient tab. Each ingredient is listed along with the amount needed and a colorful photograph. Only two ingredients are listed per page so you’ll have to scroll through pages to see all of the required ingredients.

After you’ve got your list, return to the start page to select the Steps tab and read the instructions — one step per page then scroll to the next. While in the Steps section you can also click the show video tab and watch step-by-step video of the narrator completing each step.

Some of these video sections are very short, as little as 12 seconds to show you the ingredients needed for the recipe or to watch the instructor crack eggs into a bowl. After each step, you must tap again to get to the next step and then again to the next step. Step by step instructions are a good idea, but Italian Video Recipes just seems to have more “steps” than necessary.

Italian Video Recipes Vol. 1 is a good concept. The ability to watch a step-by-step video prep of a recipe is a good idea — especially for beginners. Another nice feature is that all the information is stored locally on your device, so you don’t need an Internet connection to get cooking. (This also means that you shouldn’t try to install the app over WiFi because it’s a 440MB download.)

Although, I’m sure some folks will find the slow pace and super simple instructions are a benefit when learning to cook a new recipe, I found that navigating through Italian Video Recipes seemed to take longer than necessary. And, I really would like to have the choice to watch the steps straight through so I can have an overview of the cooking process.

The photos look good enough to eat and, according to the developer, all the recipes are for traditional Italian meals handed down “through generations.” She’s actually from Italy, so we can be pretty sure the recipes are authentic.

rating: 7/10
app_name: Italian Video Recipes Vol 1

Family Guy is ‘Freakin’ Sweet’

Derek Walter — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:00:57 +0000

Family Guy will delight fans of the snarky television series with a steady flow of clips from the show and a few games. It will serve as a nice highlight reel for those who want a quick fix of Stewie’s antics.

The clips are organized into four categories, which are continually refreshed. Among recent examples are: New Today, Brian’s World, Life of Lois, Evening News, and Farting Fun (you had to know this last one was coming). Each of the clips end with the option of purchasing the entire episode through iTunes. There are also some mixes thrown in that have a compilation of other clips, though you may find that some of the earlier videos will repeat.

If you are feeling creative, there is a video mixer for blending together some of the Family Guy videos. Maybe you want a compilation of Stewie vomiting; or blend together a mix of Peter being Peter.

There are a couple of other games included. In one, you can mix and match Stewie’s outfit, which can be turned into a wallpaper for your iPhone. In another game Peter will appear either sitting on a toilet or some other awkward position and you flick him around the screen with your finger.

Family Guy allows for sharing the video clips, but it’s not really functional because the person who receives the video only get a link to purchase the app (described in the e-mail as “freakin’ sweet) in order to view it.

If you are a dedicated fan of Family Guy, it may be worth a download to have ongoing access to some of the better moments from the animated series. If you are a more casual fan, or not one at all, then probably better to pass – although Stewie will surely have something to say about it.

rating: 8/10
app_name: Family Guy

F-MyLife: On The Go Pick Me Up

Keith Lewis — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:30:06 +0000

F-MyLife – If you’re ever having one of those days that has you staring into space thinking your life sucks; You have a few options, either do something to improve your day or tap into the F-MyLife iPhone app by enormego and enjoy the dreadful accounts of people whose days are going far worse than yours.

F-MyLife iPhone app allows you to read the miserable, yet hilarious stories submitted to and posted on the popular website fmylife.com. For the uninitiated fmylife.com is a site that describes itself in their, What’s this site all about?, section as:

Fmylife.com contains a daily dose of short anecdotes, based on a simple recipe: in a few sentences, users can tell everyone the…moment which ruined their day. These short stories must begin with “Today” and end with “FML”. On top of being a huge release for the person telling their story, delightfully proving that “f- ups” happen to everybody every day, fmylife.com also aims to be funny for everyone involved, as well as a way to share your misfortunes with other unlucky individuals, bearing in mind that self deprecation and a sense of irony are essential!

F-MyLife iPhone app has many ways for you to enjoy others misfortune. View the most recent additions by choosing the Recents options. Utilize the Shuffle option, if you enjoy randomness and want to read past and present accounts. There are even more ways to narrow your selections by selecting tabs such as, Best FML’s, Worst FML’s, Today, Week, Month, All Time, Featured, and Categories. Using the Categories options narrows your choices even further by dividing posts into Love, Money, Kids, Work, Health, and Miscellaneous choices.

Wondering what types of stories make the grade? Here’s a recent post.

Today, a ’salesman’ came to my door wanting to tell me about the iPhone 3G. I told him I didn’t need to know about it because I had just bought the white iPhone 3G for myself. He asked if he could see it. So I held it up, not giving it to him. He grabbed it, ran, saying “thanks for the iPhone, bitch!” FML

Now that’s sad, funny and not real believable. Which is often the topic of discussion in the comment section of each post. As ridiculous as many of the posts are the comments and discussions regarding the truthfulness of the post are equally funny.

One problem with F-MyLife is the inability to leave a comment on a post. You’ll have to go to the website to comment. However you can select the vote option for a story and choose either I Agree or You Deserved It.

F-MyLife iPhone app allows you to enjoy the misfortune of others, and realize that your day is not that bad after all. Or, you might be inspired to log onto their site and chronicle your own miserable day.

app_name: F-MyLife
rating: 8/10

Tiny Violin- Sympathetic Strumming

Keith Lewis — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:30:23 +0000

Playing the world’s smallest violin using your thumb and forefinger is so old school now that the Tiny Violin iPhone app by Brian Gorby is available. Tiny Violin actually adds the sound to your snarky attempts of condolence or joy towards someone.

Tiny Violin has three choices in musical styles to choose from.

Despair provides a sappy melody played in sort of classical music style.

While, Brian Gorby describes the Joy setting as a light jig, I thought it had more of a Deliverance feel to it. Now I can’t get that picture of Ned Beatty squealing like a pig out of my head. Thanks Brian!

Using the Let’s Rock! setting transports you to a sound somewhere between Jean Luc Ponty and Slash. The three styles each have five different sounds giving you a total of 15 different sounds to hear.

The only other option on Tiny Violin is the shake to play option. Turn it on to allow yourself to play your violin by shaking your iPhone in addition to sliding the bow with your finger. It seems that regardless of which option you choose Tiny Violin plays at the same speed. It also seems to play on a loop. Continuing to shake it or strum it does not create continued play. It will stop for a moment and then begin playing another loop.

You’re all set. Now you can go out and conquer the world and provide the much-needed sarcastically sincere relief to all those somewhat uncomfortable situations that pop up daily. So, next time you’re sitting down for a few relaxing moments with your cup of coffee before work, and your co-worker plops down next to you and begins prattling on about the promotion they didn’t get, take out your Tiny Violin and play them a tune.

app_name: Tiny Violin
rating: 7/10

iFlush- Swoosh Those Troubles Down The Drain

Keith Lewis — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:30:16 +0000

iFlush – Ever walk away from someone thinking, that dude’s full of crap? Next time, whip out your iPhone and take a quick snapshot of him and let the iFlush iPhone app by Elimination Systems bring a smile back to your face. iFlush offers the ultimate relief from those people, places or things that have you emotionally constipated.

iFlush iPhone app allows you to select whoever made your list today, boss, ex-lover, jerk in the car ahead of you that just cut you off, and send them to the wastewater treatment plant. As long as you have a photo of them to insert, or you can utilize one of the nine default photos and just flush them down the toilet. With an array of sounds to choose from your experience is, shall we say, one sense shy of the real thing.

iFlush provides no expectations of greatness it is exactly what you expect it to be, basic toilet humor at a sophomoric level. If the parents of the folks over at Elimination Systems ever told them, we don’t care what you do just do your best, then they took that advice to heart. Much like the episode of Seinfeld when George and Jerry pitch a show about nothing and the studio signed on, iFlush has made an app about nothing and made it work.

Providing you with a number of options to personalize and share your experience, iFlush gives you the feeling of becoming the next great poop artist. Select your preferred toilet style, either Western Standard, Power Flush or Outhouse. Add your choice of sounds, including a number of farts or water splashing to choose from. Pick your picture, size, center, and rotate it until it is exactly like you want it. Then flush said creature down the sewer.

Did you get a kick out of that and want to see it over and over again? Simply hit the rotate icon and replay it instantly. Was that too much fun to keep to yourself? Tap the forward icon and email it to a friend. If that’s not enough, and you need to savor that great moment, save it to your Flush Log.

If you’re a highbrow pseudo-intellectual that only finds humor in jokes with punch lines like, Of course not, because one more proton and it wouldn’t be a deuteron!, iFlush iPhone app is not for you. But if you can’t get enough of South Park or Family Guy you’ll find unlimited fun with iFlush.

rating: 8/10
app_name: iFlush

Oh My Girl Offers Fake Calls for a (Mood) Swingin’ Good Time

Keith Lewis — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Oh My Girl – I’ve had my share of crazy messages left on my voicemail by girlfriends over the years, some I wished I would have saved and some so scary I was almost afraid to delete for fear that pressing the delete option would cause some sort of nuclear disaster. Apparently the people over at Mac Killer Apps have more intestinal fortitude than I do. Oh My Girl iPhone app has taken all of those uncomfortable calls and messages and packaged them into what they term Your personal relationship trainer.

It’s easy to get started with Oh My Girl iPhone app. You can start in the default configuration or personalize it by uploading a picture, naming your girl and selecting a ringtone. Next select which mood you want your caller to be in; finally select the frequency of calls (every 3 seconds by default). Now you’re set. Hit the call me button and let the fun begin.

Oh My Girl iPhone app allows you to “treat yourself” to a litany of phone calls from your sexy girl presenting one of four different moods — Affectionate, Annoyed, Crazy, or Philosophical. I prefer to leave them all turned on. Seems a bit more realistic to receive a call telling you what a wonderful time she had and how perfect you are together, followed up with one saying her therapist told her she’s too good for you. Good times!

I’m not sure Oh My Girl iPhone app really trains you for the rigors of a long-term relationship, as the developer suggests. Sir Francis Drake probably had an easier time circumnavigating the world than trying to navigate the relationship landscape. Of course, he wasn’t receiving any crazy calls asking him why he hasn’t updated his Facebook status.

With more than 70 different calls available, Oh My Girl iPhone app can create hours of fun for anyone. One word of caution, the calls always play aloud through your speaker unless you’re wearing your headset. The upside is they can be played almost anywhere because there is no porn, nudity, or obscenities. Which makes it all the more fun. Stuck talking to someone and need to get away? Hit the call me button and receive that important call from Oh My Girl telling you to “come home and warm me up.”

app_name: Oh My Girl
rating: 8/10

Flower Garden’s A Satisfying Alternative to the Real Thing

Tracy Rodgers — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:00:45 +0000

I always joke that I can’t have kids, because I can barely keep a plant alive. Well, with Flower Garden by Snappy Touch, my virtual green thumb is put to the test. Luckily, the results are worth the effort, and even if i kill a plant or two, at least I’m not left with a dried-out, messy pot of dirt. Let’s call it a win-win.

Flower Garden is a lovely little application which lets you plant a variety of seeds, nurture your plants into full bloom, and then create bouquets from your garden that can be emailed. The more flowers you grow, the more types of seeds are unlocked. You begin with seeds for a yellow-and-white Mountain Daisy, a purple Spring Morning and an orange Tiger Bell — and I’d barely gotten my first bouquet of those assembled when I discovered I’d unlocked a new seed for the vibrant pink Starburst.

Flower Garden is really quite beautifully put together. The graphics are lovely and serene, and the flowers waft gently in the breeze beneath a gorgeous blue sky. Once you’ve clipped some blossoms for a bouquet, you can choose from a number of different backgrounds on which to present the flowers. For someone like me who’s unlikely to nurture a real garden, Flower Garden makes for a rather satisfying substitute.

And in terrific news, in case those virtual flowers just aren’t cutting it for you, Flower Garden is offering a giveaway — the sender of the 50,000th virtual bouquet will win a real bouquet, courtesy of Flower Garden, to be delivered anywhere in the continental United States.

In addition, Flower Garden is offering something special for AppCraver.com readers. After a few seeds have been unlocked, you’ll see a button allowing you to enter in codes for more seeds. Type in “appcraver” and enjoy the Moon Craver flower, created especially for you by Flower Garden.

Flower Garden is on sale until Mother’s Day for $1.99.

Watch the Flower Garden video demo:

app_name: Flower Garden
rating: 9/10

iTalk Keeps the Conversation Alive

Tracy Rodgers — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:00:42 +0000

iTalk - So, you know how sometimes you’re hanging out with people, or you’re at some party, or, god forbid, on a first date, and the conversation just kind of…stops? If you fear awkward silences (and really, who doesn’t?), iTalk by Bitix may be just the application for you. iTalk offers more than 150 conversation starters so you’ll never find yourself sitting around going “um, wow, can you even believe how hot it is today?” Because nobody wants to do that.

iTalk is incredibly easy to operate. Choose the categories in which you want to be given conversation starters. The options are Experience, Personality, Preferences and Opinion, which cover a wide array of topics, from “What embarrasses you?” to “Which is more important: the individual or society?” to “In your opinion, what are the real seven wonders of the world?” (Coffee, chocolate, the iPhone, David Cook, the ocean, the Internet and AppCraver.com, of course.)

In order to move iTalk to the next topic of conversation, simply shake your iPhone to get a new question, or just touch the “Talk Now” button on the screen. Helpful hint: If you’re trying to be subtle and hide the fact that these questions aren’t coming from your own imagination, shaking your phone like a maniac may not be the best option. (You’re welcome!)

While I can certainly see how iTalk might come in handy, and how it could be fun in a relaxed social setting, I’m not necessarily convinced it’s worth $1.99. Most of the questions are ones anyone could come up with on their own, and I can’t help but think that while iTalk has a cute interface and all, you could easily create a similar list of questions and just store it in the “notes” feature on your phone, if you’re that worried about running out of conversational ideas.

All things considered, iTalk certainly achieves its stated goals and it works great, so if it’s something you think you would find useful, I recommend it. However, if iTalk is something that you think you can live without it…then, you probably can.

app_name: iTalk
rating: 7/10

In Ant Hill App the Ants Go Marching More by More

Jennifer Beam — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:00:10 +0000

Ant Hill is an entertainment app that puts a simulated ant hill on your iPhone/iPod touch screen and — much like Pocket God — lets you interact with the ants in a sadistic sort of way. Ant Hill was developed by Concrete Software, a company that is no stranger to the App Store and that has several other releases in various categories including Nintaii, Fast Food Calorie Counter, and Spell Checker under their belt. In the case of Ant Hill, what they have achieved is hard to describe in a word, but let’s just say it’s unique.

When you launch Ant Hill, a literal ant hill will materialize on screen and ants start to crawl out of it at an alarming rate that borders on infestation. Frankly, it grosses me out, but then I have actually had a real life ant infestation and I have a very, very strong aversion to insects of most any variety, but hey, at least it isn’t cockroaches. Actually, I think an aversion, or at least indifference, to insects, specifically ants, is what they were going for with Ant Hill.

Ant Hill gives you a couple of different options to interact with the materialized ants, plus you can control the ant population with the sidebar Ant-o-meter. You can activate the accelerometer function and tilt and shake the colony, causing the ants to scatter and their hill to disappear and reappear elsewhere on the screen, or you can drop rocks on them and burn them to a crisp with a magnifying glass. If you are feeling a bit more kind, you can give them a strawberry for their dining pleasure. There is also a race function that pits black ants against red ants in a race to move a rock or finish off their fruit. Finally, you can use the path function to draw a line and watch them march to your direction — hurrah, hurrah.

While Ant Hill is merely a time waster, it is somewhat unique in its own rite. Though I personally would never, ever spend my time observing real ants, let alone simulated ones, I have no doubt there’s an audience for Ant Hill. The graphics are nice and the ants are pretty realistic. I even briefly feel sorry for the black ones that scream in anguish when the random red ants start to chase and attack them. Then I remember what it’s like to have ants crawling all over the bathroom and kitchen and I’m pretty much over it.

It’s easy to see the similarities between Ant Hill and Pocket God — except that there isn’t near the interaction with the ants in Ant Hill as the islanders in Pocket God and the ants have no personality traits and don’t really do anything, after all they’re just ants. However, it would appear that the developer has plans for updates that they intend to base on user feed back, so that may be an interesting development to watch.

As it is right now, Ant Hill is available for a sale price of .99 and that is pretty on target. If you are interested in having a uniquely random app featuring an ant population you can control, then grab it now and begin your own sadistic revenge against the ants.

app_name: Ant Hill
rating: 7/10

Prepubescent Boys Rejoice… Bikini Times Are Here!

Shawn Leonard — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:00:00 +0000

The team over at Golden Plum collectively has a big pair by moving forward with their audacious new application. Bikini Alarm Clock is the fruit of their labor that’s intended to get a rise out of their audience. It’s a glorified alarm clock that features scantily clad women in a variety of fantasy backdrops.

Anyone interested in buying Bikini Alarm Clock would probably be most interested in the fact you have 10 different female models to select from. Now I’m happily married and I like my peaceful household, so I’ll refrain from getting into too much detail on how “hot” the women are. One thing I will say is that the girls have a redundant look to them. I think a more diverse representation of women from all backgrounds and sizes would have been a better move to appease the preferences of men everywhere. Lastly, the option to upload a picture to be used within Bikini Alarm Clock seems like a bonehead omission.

Bikini Alarm Clock features a solid amount of options to modify the alarm clock to your standards. There are options to change everything from the style and color of the numerical digits to the date formats. Snooze and dimming options are two other great components that can be modified. The user interface to control all of this stuff is easy enough through tapping and sliding to your heart’s content. No issues in this respect at all.

You know what you’re getting with Bikini Alarm Clock. It’s an alarm clock that features backdrops of women. While it isn’t something of interest to me, I can see it being useful to guys that walk around with their favorite actress, model or pornstar as a wallpaper on their iPhone. Outside of that scenario, it’s hard to see Bikini Alarm Clock finding a big and receptive audience.

My main issue with Bikini Alarm Clock is that it addresses a problem that doesn’t exist. The iPhone already has a great native alarm clock without the battery drain that comes with Bikini Alarm Clock. If the premise of this application speaks to you, I’m happy to say that you’ll likely find it satisfying. Otherwise, there’s nothing to see here folks!

app_name: Bikini Alarm Clock
rating: 6/10