The App Store takes delivery of hundreds of new apps per day. The overwhelming scene makes it possible to easily overlook an exciting game, valuable productivity suite, etc. However, we have a solution. Today’s Best Apps tackles this problem by providing you with a handpicked and tested list of apps that are truly worth your consideration each and everyday.
Remember: Even though in-app purchases typically require your iTunes Store password for processing, you can further prevent them and other unauthorized actions by enabling local restrictions using the passcode locked iOS parental controls.
Weathertron — Live Rain, Snow, Clouds & Temperatures by Keming Labs ($0.99, 4.5 MB): This wonderfully crafted weather app provides a beautifully simple display of all the standard outdoor details. The multi-layered flat UI contains text, images, along with bar and line graphs for easy visualization. At the top sits sky condition, temperature, and any advisories or warnings, plus a hidden sunrise and sunset information panel. Below that a nestled gradient-style bar graph indicating cloud cover and a regular bar graph showing precipitation. Taking over the bottom portion of the screen is a line graph showing temperature rise and fall, including very blatant high and low pins. To see conditions for other times of the day, just drag a finger left or right across the screen. For the week ahead forecast, which also contains an elegant graph, images, and text, tap the bar graph icon at the bottom-right. The app allows a single location, offers specific details for today and tomorrow, as well as supports metric and Imperial standard unit display.
Super Paper Pool by One Side Software ($1.99, 23.3 MB): Billiards mates with mini-golf to create one interesting puzzler. Even though the block-style and sharp edge courses, or tables, resemble both sports, the use of pool cue to shoot a ball into other objects is strictly billiards. If that weren't interesting enough, the tables appear from constellations, contain shapes to strike rather than just plain balls, and include hazards, such as spikes. The game features beautiful hand-drawn graphics, atmospheric soundtrack, 72 courses / tables spanning three charming sceneries with three time-based stages each, simple two step ball control process, golf-like scorecard with par indicator, and Game Center leaderboard.
Puzzah! by Keith Erickson (Free, 12.1 MB): This puzzler brings together match-3 and sliding to create a refreshingly addictive experience. For the majority of time, you'll be shuffling around colored tiles within the 8-by-8 grid board to align three or more of the same color vertically or horizontally. As you do so successfully, additional time and points will be awarded along with an increased score multiplier and temp. When "fever" temp is reached, solve the traditional sliding puzzle mini-game by reconstructing a picture to earn bonus points. If that weren't enough, there's greater assistance available in the form of power tiles, such as bombs and row or column clearing arrows, which activate once assembled. The game features a mixture of hand drawn and 2.5-D graphics, enjoyable commentary for all ages, an initial 3-minutes of play with the possibility of endless excitement, and a Game Center leaderboard. An ad banner does appear in the main menu.
Siegecraft TD by Crescent Moon Games ($2.99, 210.1 MB): Stop the lizardmen onslaught in this Siegecraft-themed tower defense game. As the scaly enemies approach in hopes of abducting your sheep along with other not very nice actions, erect siege engine-equipped towers to automatically spear, smash, blast, and otherwise annihilate the creatures before they reach your village. The game features 3-D graphics, solo campaign with two levels of difficulty and more than 30 stages, turn-based multiplayer, 15 towers, 18 units, video replay and screenshot sharing, plus Game Center integration. Multiplayer supports up to four total in ranked or unranked matches that involve both defending and attacking your human enemies as well as the lizardmen on multi-territory maps.
War of Words 2 by Everplay (Free, 44.3 MB): The enhanced Scrabble-style social game has gotten even better. Foremost, this sequel allows matches with up to three friends or strangers in a turn-based battle of lexicon skills. As before, these competitions include impressive power-ups and can take place during local gatherings through a pass-and-play experience or against anyone on the planet (with an iDevice) via Game Center. However, if we zoom out to see the big picture, the game also features an improved user interface, titles and avatars, Game Center leaderboards and achievements, plus two themed expansion packs that offer unique challenges in the form of new boards and action tiles. The expansion packs, ability to play more simultaneous matches, and removal of occasional ads requires in-app purchase. The Gladiator Bundle, which unlocks all features and bonus items, is available for the discounted price of $9.99.
At Last not Last by qbcode ($0.99, 40.4 MB): Fun for the whole family, this auto-runner stars several forest creatures who've become bored, or maybe just arrogant, enough to put all else on hold and compete in a race. From the speedy rabbits to the acrobatic Skippy the squirrel, every animal is out for victory and it won't be easy. Beyond the streak stopping cactus and problematic pits, there are strangely large mushrooms. Time the leaps from these fungus caps perfectly and you'll soar through the air without restriction of brush and danger of the other obstacles. The game features hand drawn illustration-style 2.5-D graphics, 18 side-scrolling courses, four differently skilled and adorable animals, four powers-ups, trophy ranking system, and coins to unlock power-ups and animals.
Colin McRae Rally by The Codemasters Software Company Limited ($4.99, 231.6 MB): Honoring the champion British and Scottish rally driver, this racing simulator doesn't hold back in realism. From slippery gravel paths and dangerous in-track jumps to off-track embankments and trees, there's plenty of difficulty around every corner and down each straightaway of the multi-surface courses. Enjoy a quick run through a single race, or even just a single stage, if you don't have a lot of time. Otherwise, go for the true gold, plus unlock new cars and tracks, by entering in the Championship tournament. The game features pixelated graphic menus and 3-D graphics during play, realistic physics and damage, six tracks, four cars, tilt or touch control, two camera angle and two camera position options, as well as Game Center leaderboards and achievements.
MetalStorm: Aces by Z2Live, Inc (Free, 336.1 MB): In this sequel to the already impressive aerial combat simulator, once again prove how much of a hotshot pilot you are by taking down swarms of intelligent enemies in action-packed dogfights. Along with the stamina challenging Survival mode and head-to-head real-time multiplayer that were available previously, your tour involves new mission to destroy various installations and even face-off against the dishonored Aces of the sky. The game features 3-D graphics, improved control and HUD, 15 multi-mission campaigns with boss-style battles, 13 fighter jets with five upgrade categories, plus Game Center leaderboards and achievements.
TouchCast by TouchCast (Free, 34.4 MB): Use this innovative social app to easily create interactive video content and in-app information displays for news reports, opinion pieces, reviews, how-tos and more. For example, you could embed, i.e., picture-in-picture, game trailers when doing a highlight of the best games this month or show Apple's falling stock price details for a news segment. Best of all, the construction is simple and these in-video widgets are interactive, viewers can tap to show PIP content fullscreen, vote on polls, and so forth. The app features a clean tabbed user interface, easy to view timeline overview, one basic and six themed title and frame templates, optional green screen effect and on-screen teleprompter, private storage and public publishing of projects through your personally titled and logoed TouchCast channel plus additional sharing support via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and email.
