Apps That
Went Free on
2014-09-15

Astra is a beautifully simple arcade game. You’re put in control of a colorful space ship with four separate fuel tanks. The left side of your ship is powered by the green and blue fuel tanks, while the right is powered by the red and orange. Tap on either side of the screen to fire your engines and aim for more fuel points, because each tap will cost you. You must also try to dodge the fuel voids, as they will syphon fuel off of your tanks. Basically, the game requires you to strategically balance how and when you fire your engines to travel as deep as you can into space.

With ShopIt, there’s no need to waste time typing out item after item. It includes a large database of built-in items that you’re able to browse through with a vertical swipe. When you find something you want to add to your list, just swipe left to right. You’re also able to add a description to each item by tapping and holding your finger over it. If you can’t find an item in the built-in list, you’re able to add it by typing it out in the search field. Products in your list are categorized by location in the store to make things easier while shopping.

This word game is bigger and better than the competition in every way. The board takes up the entire screen, creating so much more room for you to place your tiles. Speaking of tiles, your tray is filled with a total of nine letter tiles at all times, allowing you to play longer words. But what really sets Smart Words apart is its scoring system. You’re not only rewarded for the creating longer words but also those with more syllables. Random board tiles will also provide you with up to 100 bonus points.

Abducted comes highly recommend due to its visual flare and unique environments. The game features dynamic lighting, shadows, volumetric fog, and other fantastic effects to provide you with a console-quality gaming experience. Explore the breathtaking 3-D alien environments with a tap and search for clues that will lead you home. You’re able to take on puzzles with brute force by hacking them or try to use your whit to solve them.

Character Pad Classic is dead simple. It includes 250 useful special character to choose from. All you have to do is tap on the one you want to copy to your clipboard. The character can then be used in any app that’s capable of basic text editing by pasting it in. The app includes letters from the Greek alphabet, letter-like symbols, math symbols, and much more.

YoWindow is all about watching the weather. You’re presented with a quick look at the current time, temperature, and conditions. Slide your finger from left to right across the screen to scroll time forward and watch as the scene changes to reflect what it’ll be like later on in the day. YoWindow also includes a seven-day forecast and five scenes to choose from.