All posts by Tucker »
[Mac OS X] Screen Utility is a 3-in-1 app that finds dead pixels and helps easily hide desktop icons
I have kind of a love-hate relationship with multipurpose apps. I’ve yet to find a 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 or 8-in-1 app package that is truly useful. This “Swiss army knife” approach to apps sounds good in theory, but in practice, the execution leaves a little something to be desired. That [...]
[iPhone] Scan and analyze your WiFi network with Fing
Don’t you hate it when your Internet is slow? There are tons of reasons that this can happen, but sometimes the culprit is an annoying neighbor who is hogging all your bandwidth. If you have an unsecured Wi-Fi connection, or if someone has figured out your password, this can explain [...]
[iPhone] Blendoku offers color-based puzzles that are captivating and frustrating all at once
I’m going to say something that will probably make you hate me: I despise Sudoku. Sure, it’s a great way to keep your brain active and youthful as you begin to age, but as a game…it’s not much of a diversion. I like a good puzzle as much as the [...]
[iPhone] See if sparks fly with the people around you using Tinder social networking
There’s a reason most relationships begin when two people are introduced to each other by a mutual friend. For whatever reason, human beings are more comfortable around people that have been given a “Seal of Approval” from a trusted source. But what do you do if you’re in a new [...]
[iPhone] Indie App Pack comes with games, HD wallpapers, sounds, and more
Someone recently asked me what I found most rewarding about reviewing apps and iOS games. In any given month, I review dozens of iOS titles, and I do it because it is lots of fun. One thing I like the best is how the App Store is a great way [...]
[iPhone] Weave is a tool for project management, to-do lists, and other business tasks
As modern people, we’re all just busy, busy, busy. Whether you’re a housewife or a CEO, you have some project you’re working on. From launching a new product to picking out the perfect decorations for a graduation party, there is a simple project management and to-do list app that can [...]
[iOS] Camp Myth is a charming visual novel with a mythological twist
Not too long ago, we reviewed Juniper’s Knot, a haunting and atmospheric visual novel app. With gorgeously rendered characters, an intriguing story, and an intuitive design, this visual novel definitely whet my appetite for more apps in this underappreciated genre. So when I heard about Camp Myth, I jumped [...]
[iPhone] Attach notes to your photos using SnapAndGo
My parents and my grandparents have stacks of photo albums. They’re not really into scrapbooking, so they just write notes in ballpoint pen on the back of each photograph as a way of recording when the picture was taken, where, and who is in the shot. If you want an [...]
[Mac OS X] Type2Phone turns your Mac into a wireless keyboard for your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV
While there are some people out there who are masters of the virtual smartphone keyboard, most of us type at our fastest when we’re plopped down in front of a Qwerty keyboard. However, not all of our iOS and Apple devices play nice with the keyboards on our Mac desktops [...]
[iPhone] Send audio messages to Facebook friends with Jumvo
Different countries have different habits and etiquette when it comes to communicating. For example, it is common practice in some parts of Scandinavia to first text a person before calling them, to ensure that now is a good time to talk. In our digital age, there are dozens of ways [...]
[Mac OS X] Brainstorm and build mind maps with SimpleMind Free
I think a lot of people miss the point of brainstorming. Sure, it’s great to have a free-for-all where you share ideas. But it’s never enough to simply list all of your ideas in a row: you need to take your brainstormed ideas and make them actionable. A great next [...]
[iPhone] Distant Suns Lite helps novices and pros alike to navigate the night sky
Unless you live in a big city, you can probably look up in wonder at the night sky. There are few natural wonders as majestic, or as beautiful. But if you’re like me, you wish you knew more about what you were looking at. Whether you’re interested in the constellations [...]
[Mac OS X] xTeamView lets you access team member schedules from xTeam [iPhone, iPad]
When you’re working as part of a collaborative team, one of the hardest things to accomplish is finding blocks of time where everyone can get together and meet. One great tool for building your schedule (or reviewing the schedules of other team members) is xTeamView, an app that is [...]
[iPhone] ‘Snap, Snap, Go!’ is a fun game where you must take funny pictures based on challenges
Every generation has its own “must play” card game. In generations past, that game has been whist, or poker, or baccarat. In more recent years, card games like Apples to Apples, Magic, and Cards Against Humanity have been incredibly popular. If you’ve played C.A.H. and loved its cynical, often risque [...]
[iPhone] Check out 1800, an addictively simple game that tests your reaction time
I’m not sure how many of you were able to regularly visit an arcade growing up, but I absolutely loved our local arcade. There were a ton of different amusements, from classic arcade games to skee-ball to first person shooters with light guns. But as cool as all of these [...]
[iPhone] Get detailed public transportation info for the world’s major cities using HopStop
Moving to a new city is exhilarating, but it can also be really stressful. Finding your way around a new city is always tough, especially if you come from some place that didn’t have much in the way of a transit system. Whether you are traveling for business or trying [...]
[Windows] Eliminate distractions while you write with FocusWriter [Mac OS X, Linux]
This time last week I was checking out Obtract, an app that helps you resist and eliminate distractions to your workflow. That got me thinking about other distraction-free apps, and I thought it was high time to try a few more distraction-free apps. Whether you’re trying to focus on getting [...]
[iPhone] Score hotels and last-minute travel deals with Jetsetter for iOS
We’ve become a nation of armchair travelers. Unless you’re lucky enough to travel for work, you probably do most of your “traveling” via the Travel Channel, or by gazing at photos on some travel blog. It’s rare to find a travel app that actually inspires you to get up and [...]
[iPhone] CoverMe provides security and privacy for messages, call logs, contacts, photos, and videos
Security is a primary concern for anyone who uses the Internet, but most of us don’t do enough to protect ourselves. Most of us choose convenience over security precautions, favoring speed and ease of access to our devices at the expense of guarding our personal information. What most iOS users [...]
[iPhone] Create and share 30-second videos using Viddy
Sharing videos with friends is a great way to stay in touch, say “wish you were here,” or make a big announcement. Unfortunately, the App Store marketplace is so crowded that it can often seem impossible to separate the good apps from the bad ones. Viddy just dropped a big [...]
[iPhone] Errands To-Do List may be free, but it’s definitely not “lite” on features
Free apps are often Lite apps…and that means they lack a ton of basic features. It’s nice to find that some developers are committed to making Free apps that are still full-featured, useful tools. One such free app is Errands To-Do List, a free app with tons of features developed [...]
[Mac OS X] Battery Guard is an enhanced replacement for the native Mac battery tray icon
My significant other has been raving about Battery Guard, and so I decided to give it a try. When my S.O. says something is good, he is always right…except about how good “Stargate SG-1″ is….sorry, babe, but that show is just plain booooring about 90 percent of the time. [...]
[iPhone] Clever Clues is like a crossword puzzle game but without the grids
Countless studies have shown that people who keep their brains active have lower incidences of dementia and other age-related mental problems. Whether it’s learning a second language, taking up sudoku, or doing a daily crossword puzzle, keeping your brain at work is the best way to make sure you continue [...]
[iPhone] Spray Can is a community for virtual tag artists, painters, and graffiti fans
Here’s your fun fact of the day: graffiti is a plural noun. That means if you are referring to just one work of spray-painted art, you should use the singular form of the noun: “graffito.” But no matter what you call it, the fact remains that graffiti has a special [...]
[iPhone] Done Not Done helps you make a to-do list for pop culture experiences
The majority of to-do list apps I review are designed to be used for business, productivity, or organizational purposes. However, I recently came across a to-do list app that’s a bit different in its goals. The app is called Done Not Done, and it was developed by Betaworks Como.[...]
[iPhone] Ketchup lets you turn tentative plans into confirmed plans with your flaky friends
Keeping in touch with friends via Twitter and Facebook is easy. But it’s far more fun to hang out in real life! The problem is simple: with so much going on in our lives, it can be hard to make fast plans. If you’re tired of your friends saying “Oh, [...]
[Mac OS X] Reduce your digital distractions with Obtract, a part productivity, part game app
There are all kinds of apps the aim to reduce distraction. Lots of writers gravitate towards these apps, where a word processor will take up the entirety of your screen to keep you focused. But what do you do if you do most of your work in a browser window, [...]
[iPhone] Add effects, text, frames, and filters to photos with BeFunky Photo Editor
Have you ever been to one of those fro-yo bars with the unlimited toppings? No matter how old you are, it’s always fun to go in there and pile topping after topping on top of your cup of frozen yogurt. BeFunky Photo Editor is like the camera app equivalent of [...]
[Mac OS X] Nap is an app that helps you remember to take a break
When I was a teenager, I worked in a grocery store. Every 2 hours, a senior employee would get on the PA and lead our whole store’s team in a stretch. It really did go a long way towards refreshing our minds and our bodies. Sitting in front of a [...]
[iPhone] The Jim and Frank Mysteries features tons of puzzles and interesting characters
Hi, my name is Tucker, and I’m a puzzle-holic. (Hi, Tucker!) Seriously, you guys…I just can’t get enough puzzles. I devour them my the dozens each month: they make great timekillers, and they’re a fun way to refresh my tired brain during a case of the mid-afternoon blahs. My love [...]
[iPhone] ‘Do! – The Best Simple To Do List’ offers quick sorting and organization
I’ve checked out a ton of different to-do apps recently. I’m still trying to find the app that’s perfect for me. I’m picky, I guess. The most recent productivity app I decided to check out is called Do! – The Best Simple To Do List, developed by Su Won Shin.[...]
[Mac OS X] Monitor RAM and CPU usage, battery health, network speed, and more with MagicanPaster
Have you ever blindly accepted a recommendation from a friend, and later wondered if it was the right call? My current Mac system monitor is a program a friend recommended to me way back in 2008, and I haven’t switched since. I like it just fine. But lately, I’ve been [...]
[iPhone] How to Tie a Tie provides instructions to tie neckties, bowties, pocket squares, and more
We’ve all heard the expression, “The clothes make the man.” The full version is a bit funnier: Mark Twain allegedly said, “The clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” The bottom line is simple: if you look good, people will treat you well. And [...]
[iPhone] Now What is a productivity and scheduling app for ADHD folks (or anyone who feels disorganized)
We’ve all heard people joke that they are “a little ADD today” when they can’t seem to focus on their work. But for people who have ADD or ADHD, it’s no laughing matter. For those with attention disorders and those who are just easily distracted, there is a productivity and [...]
[iPhone] Use simple Scheduler to quickly store and access schedules for public transportation
The best apps are almost always the most simple ones. That being said, I wonder if it’s possible for an app to be too simple. When an app only has one function, it needs to be an important function. Otherwise, users will try it out, and think “What’s the point?” [...]