Apps That Went Free on 2014-09-27

iPhone

AURA - Camera Photo Editor

Lis Johannsen

Add everything from filters to frames to your photos with Aura.

It’s a one-stop shop for anyone looking to beautify their photos.

FREE ($0.99) For a limited time FREE ($0.99) For a limited time

Why we picked this?

We’re recommending Aura today because of the sheer amount of editing options it offers. After snapping or importing a photo, you’ll see a single toolbar across the bottom of the screen. This toolbar houses every option, and you can access them all with horizontal swipes. Aura allows you to crop and adjust your photo, apply filters, apply effects, add text, and add frames and borders. The best part is, each option is available the moment you download the app; there’s not a single in-app purchase to be found here.

If you’ve been looking for a do-everything photography app, you’ve found it in Aura. All of the filters, frames, and effects are unique in their own way and can be adjusted to fit your style.

The menu system may seem simple at first, but there is a lot of digging around in Aura, which is a product of having so many editing options. If you don’t want to spend the time searching for just the right editing option or filter, you may want to skip Aura today.

iPhone

Guest List Organizer

Denys Yevenko

This productivity app provides a simple way to organize events.

It’s great for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and every other type of big event that requires you to track attendees.

$1.99 $1.99

Why we picked this?

Guest List Organizer takes the pain out of organizing events and tracking guests. You’re able to import friends from Facebook and your Contacts to save precious time, or you can import guests from previous events. Guest List Organizer allows you to track every last detail about each guest thanks to pre-defined and customizable fields. You’re also able to manage relationships between guests and sort them by attendance, name, and RSVP status.

If you’re planning an event of any kind, you’ll want to download Gust List Organizer today. The ability to track specific details about guests make it indispensable, and your’e able to generate custom reports from all of the data.

If you only organize small events (20 people or less), Guest List Organizer will be overkill.

iPhone

iPad

Castle Raid 2

Arcticmill

Battle against your friends and foes in this strategy game. You must balance gathering resources, defending your castle, and attacking your opponent to come out on top.

Its unique mix of real-time strategy and castle defense elements make it perfect for anyone looking for a deep mobile gaming experience.

$2.99 $2.99

Why we picked this?

Castle Raid 2 takes classic gaming concepts and mashes them all together to provide you with something wholly unique. You’re tasked with sending peasants out to collect resources while somehow defending your territory and attacking your opponent at the same time. You’re never in direct control of your units; you simply must decide when and where to send them off. The story-based campaign mode will help you hone your skills before you decide to go head-to-head with a friend on the same device.

If you’re a fan of strategy games, there’s no reason not to give Castle Raid 2 a try. There’s a little bit of something for everyone here, and you won’t have to waste time trying to figure out how to play since the game borrows already established strategy game concepts.

If you’re looking for a casual game to play in a moment’s notice, this isn’t it. Castle Raid 2 requires good chunks of your time to enjoy.

iPhone

iPad

Dodge & Roll

Unnyhog FZ-LLC

Help a little snowball discover who he is in this adventure game.

Dodge and Roll is for anyone that likes solving dynamic puzzles in chaotic environments.

$0.99 $0.99

Why we picked this?

Dodge and Roll has it all: Challenging puzzles, gorgeous environments, and some magic! You’re able to guide the little snowball around the environments using a single on-screen joystick or a supported controller. The main goal is to collect all of the snowflakes and reach the end of the level as quickly as possible. That’s easier said than done since each level is littered with dangerous obstacles like fireballs and lasers that will melt you down, but you can teach your little snowball magical spells in order to survive.

If you like your puzzle games full of crazy visual effects, Dodge and Roll is your game. Half the challenge is taking your eyes off of the bright colors and moving objects long enough to figure out each puzzle.

The one thing holding Dodge and Roll back is the lack of customizable controls. We could live with just using an on-screen joystick if there was an option to tweak them, but alas, there isn’t. If you can’t stand on-screen joysticks and don’t have a supported third-party controller, you may want to avoid this one.

iPhone

PowerCam 7

Wondershare Software Co., Ltd

Turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a powerful, multi-use camera with this photography app.

PowerCam 7 was designed to give you more control over the photos and videos you take.

$1.99 $1.99

Why we picked this?

PowerCam 7’s live camera feed provides you with access to all of its features, making it easy to see exactly how your photo or video will turn out before you capture it. It offers four shooting modes, loads of live photo and video effects, and two format options. After you’ve captured your photo or video, you can continue to edit it before sharing it via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, and YouTube.

If you like to fiddle with your photos and videos, PowerCam 7 has all of the tools to help you out. The real-time effects and filters make it easy to always come out with the perfect shot, and the clean iOS 8-inspired designed ensures you won’t become overwhelmed.

If you like to simply point and shoot, PowerCam 7’s many options will just get in the way.