Contest + Recent Articles
Update: Winners Announced! TMA Forums Giveaway: Win an iPod Touch + iTunes Gift Cards
Since our Forums launched 3 weeks ago, we have given away over $1,500 in prizes, such as iSkin gear, a bundle of promo codes for some awesome Apps ‘n Games and more. So what do we have in store now for our next (grand) giveaway? An iPod Touch 8G and four iTunes Gift Cards (1x $50 and 3x $15) of course! Rather than simply selecting winners randomly from a pool of eligible participants, the iPod giveaway will be much more competitive in nature and involve a bit more work. Are you ready to win the big one? Full contest details after the break!
The places to watch for apps and games set FREE for a day
One of the most noteworthy iPhone-related events last Christmas was the Appvent Calendar – an initiative started by several developers where a game was made free for a day. I have admired their devotion and grabbed a few titles myself. Apparently, this has been quite profitable for the developers involved as well – only a month had passed before the 3 original founders of the Appvent Calendar teamed up with Openfeint and started the FreeAppADay.com website that followed a similar path. But it seems they are not the only to do so.
Paypal app gets Bump feature in 2.0 update
PayPal has just released a great update to their iPhone app, one with plenty of new features and a completely new interface. If you thought the old version looked a bit too drab, this 2.0 update should make sending money a whole lot easier on the eyes. Aside from the aesthetics, PayPal has also introduced the “bump” feature to initiate money transfer (mimicking the popular Bump app). Here’s whats new:
- Brand new look and feel!
- Bump: Easily start by bumping iPhones.
- Withdraw funds from your PayPal balance.
- Request Money: Get paid faster, it’s the easy way to ask for the money you are owed.
- Split the Check: Instantly split the bill, calculate tip, and request everyone’s share.
- Collect Money: Ask for contributions from a group for an event, gift, or cause.
- Set Reminders: Never miss rent or a bill.
- Refer the app to a friend
For those who use PayPal regularly (or once in a blue moon), the new update makes the app even more useful. Be sure to check out the excellent video trailer highlighting some of the new additions after the break.
PayPal, an eBay Company, PayPal – Free
WritePad in Review – Nothing to Write Home About
WritePad for the iPhone or iPod Touch is a text editing software App which allows you to ‘write’ using your finger or a stylus on your touchscreen, and it’s converted to text. To be honest, I’m not 100% sure why anyone would want to buy or use this App. It’s not responsive enough for use for notetaking in meetings, as you have only so much space on your screen to write and you must wait for that to be recognised and entered into your document before you continue.
Thumpies in Review – Likably Offbeat
The name “Thumpies” evokes cotton candy clouds and fluffy balls of fun. When I was asked to review it, I imagined a procession of cute little creatures (bunnies, emoticons, you name it) drenched in the colours of the rainbow, and musical notes floating around them. When I finally got my hands on Thumpies, however, what caught my attention is the opening hysterical little laugh that you’ll hear all through out the game. It’s the kind of insane little laugh that burrows itself in the back of your head, and worse, invade your nightmares. That’s not all, though: the Thumpies I had in mind were not the creepy little bouncing heads that look like they were part of a head hunter’s collection. Feel free to discuss this review of Thumpies in our forums.
Goodreads in Review – Be A Bookworm, Any Time, Any Place!
For book lovers reading this, chances are you already know what Goodreads is. If not, it’s basically a social network for readers. According to their website, it’s the largest of its kind in the world, with in excess of 3 million members.
The website allows you to become friends with people, recommend books, get recommendations, see reviews and scores and add books to your ’shelves.’ Your virtual shelves are read, currently reading and to-read. It’s free to join, and the iPhone/iPod Touch App is also free to download and use. Feel free to discuss this review of Goodreads in our forums.
The Hero in Review – My name is Mr. Superhero! Tights – mandatory!
Have you ever thought how great it would be to have super-powers? But, as they say, “with great power comes great responsibility”. So it’s time to get off your *** and go get those bad guys. With Chillingo’s recent release, The Hero, follow the daily life of the flying and punching hunk of a superhero. Goofy police chief and busty reporter included! Feel free to discuss this review of The Hero in our forums.
TrendsAudio Combo One Hi-Fi Systems – headphones and speakers, oh my!!!
Like the excellent (and tiny) Travagan’s Red headphone amp/pre-amp, TrendsAudio’s Combo One HI-Fi system is a do-it-all workhorse for both headphones and sensitive speakers and includes 3 units: TA-10.2P Class T power amp, PA-10 tube headphone amp, and PW-10 power supply unit. The Combo One Hi-Fi also comes in an iPod-friendly version complete with high quality line out docking cable.
The PA-10 headphone amp can roll tubes for minute sound enchancement. You’ve met up with op-amp rolling in our headphone amp reviews before: now it is taken back a few warm years into the tepid and heady days of tube audio. TouchMyApps will be looking at a number of tube-powered headphone amps including the Woo Audio 3 and the affordable USB DAC/amp: Head Direct EF2A.
Pic and more after the gap:
Airstrike Defense in Review – Pearl harbour all over again
The line drawing genre is exalting with a second coming: a wave of new entries at the App Store. These holy droves strive to fall away from the basic (and often copied) gameplay of Flight Control (TMA Review). And one of such innovative games is Airstrike Defense – a cross between an old-school top-down bombing game and an equally old-school attack evasion with line-drawing controls replacing the outdated Virtual D-Pad. Feel free to discuss this review of Airstrike Defense in our forums.
Gyrotate in Review – Finger Flicking Fun
Gyrotate is a puzzle game where you must match shapes – similar to PopCap’s Bejeweled 2. You still have a grid where you swap shapes around to match them, but in Gyrotate the clue is in the name. To match, you must rotate sections of the board so the pieces line up. For this reason, the gameplay mechanic isn’t quite as fast-paced and you must be more accurate with your moves in order to get the tiles where you need them to be. Unlike Bejeweled though, you must match four or more tiles in Gyrotate. Feel free to discuss this review of Gyrotate in our forums.
Win an iPad with Doodle Run
eBattalion, developers of FLIP and Nanoids, are now running a contest where one lucky (and skilled) winner will take home an iPad. The rules are pretty straight forward: play their latest game Doodle Run and obtain the high score by surviving longer than your competitors. The longer you’re able to stay alive, the higher your score.
Run through multiple doodle themes, including Rain, Snow, Day, and Night. Grab a bazooka and mow down zombies and other dangerous obstacles. Jump into an oversized bullet and destroy everything in your path. Doodle Run is a pickup-and-play game that will have you coming back for more and more.
The iPad up for grabs will be the 16GB WiFi model and all scores must be posted before April 30th. If you’re not sick of doodle type games yet and buying the iPad come launch date is out of the question, picking up a copy of Doodle Run for $0.99 and trying your luck/skill could well be your ticket to owning one. Full contest rules after the break.
eBattalion, Doodle Run – $0.99
Update: Soma Games is also running an iPad contest with their game G: Into the Rain. Contest details can be found here
