Mac News: Reviews

iPhone OS 3.0: The Delight Is in the Details

Tuesday - June 30, 2009

As most iPhone owners already know, the iPhone rocks. More importantly, what makes it come alive isn't so much the svelte touchscreen form factor but the software. The great thing about the iPhone is Apple's dedication to improving it, and Apple's third major version of its iPhone operating system is definitely an improvement. Like millions of other iPhone owners, I downloaded and installed it almost immediately -- though I did it later in the day, so I didn't run into any of the traffic jams that slowed Apple's servers. [More...]

'Star Defense' Brings New Dimension to Classic Strategy Game

Thursday - June 18, 2009

Just about every "tower defense"-style game ever made can be described like this: You've got a base you need to protect. Wave after wave of bad guys keep on attacking it, running down a long and winding path before, I don't know, running face-first into the front door, or something. Point is, when they reach the gate, they do damage, and it's your job to strategically set up a bunch of defensive towers along that path. [More...]

TwitterFon Pro: Tweet Harder, Tweet Smarter

Thursday - June 11, 2009

Twitter was made for the mobile device. If it was confined to a desktop browser, the question "What are you doing right now?" wouldn't have much of an answer, other than something like "Looking at this Web page -- here's a link." Access Twitter on your cellphone, though, and you can tweet from almost anywhere and probably say something at least marginally more interesting. [More...]

'The Sims 3' for iPhone: How Large Can You Live on a Small Screen?

Thursday - June 4, 2009

"SimCity," originally released by Maxis 20 years ago, was the matriarch of a gaming dynasty, giving rise to an impressive sprawl of spinoffs and sequels. The main series hit its true stride with "SimCity 3000," and related "Sim" titles like "SimAnt," "SimEarth," and "SimTower" achieved varying degrees of success. [More...]

AAA iPhone App Is a Handy Road-Trippin' Resource

Thursday - May 28, 2009

An organization rooted in 20th century car culture is joining 21st century smartphone culture. AAA has introduced a free iPhone application, AAA Discounts, which uses GPS technology to instantly identify nearby businesses offering deals for AAA members. AAA, which has more than 51 million members, is best-known for providing roadside help when your car breaks down. [More...]

FreeShipping.org App: I Shopped, but I Soon Dropped

Thursday - May 21, 2009

Two things that online shopping has going for it: You can probably find just about anything for sale online, and you don't even have to get dressed to buy it. Working against it are having to wait for it to get shipped to you, and the fact that shipping sometimes adds a few bucks to the price you pay. [More...]

Chordmaster Gets Pickers Grinnin', Strummers Smilin'

Thursday - May 14, 2009

Learning to play the guitar can be extremely easy if all you really want to do is knock out power chords and make some loud noise. There's nothing wrong with that -- some musicians really have won fame and glory with little more than three working fingers and an overpowered amp. [More...]

Multiple Choice Makes 'Trivial Pursuit' for iPhone Easy as Pie

Thursday - May 7, 2009

Depending on who you're playing with -- and what deck of questions you're playing with -- a game of real, in-the-flesh "Trivial Pursuit" can be many things: a relaxing way to spend a night in with friends, perhaps, or an abject lesson in intellectual humility. It can also be a fine way to drift into a coma if you're playing with someone who clearly doesn't know the answer but just won't give up pondering the question. [More...]

Birdhouse: For Those Who Take Their Tweets Seriously

Thursday - April 30, 2009

Alright, tweeters, you all heard the guy at Nielsen Online -- you're nothing but a bunch of fad-hopping slackers. You only got into Twitter because of Oprah, or Ashton, or that guy claiming to be the Pope. You tweeted for four days or so, then you packed it in and left, tired of doing your part to keep the Almighty Conversation alive and fresh. [More...]

DirecTV App: Convenient, Intuitive, Light on Power

Thursday - April 23, 2009

I don't really know how to watch regular TV anymore. It's become difficult to take in any sort of home entertainment that won't pause at my will. What if I want to grab a snack, settle a spontaneous spasm of curiosity by looking something up on the Web, or just go do something else and finish this later? [More...]

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