PocketFullOfApps » $0.99 http://pocketfullofapps.com iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad News, Reviews, and Giveaways in your Pocket Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Tweak Week #9 http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/21/tweak-week-9.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/21/tweak-week-9.html#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:27 +0000 Drew Paulin http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=43580 Dashboard X. First let me say that I probably wet myself when I first installed this. I thought that this would be one of those tweaks that are faulty and break everything it could. I was completely wrong about that. Dashboard X from Ori is the tweak of the month for me. Now iPhones can still beat Androids because of this. It’s putting widgets on your homescreen. Widgets designed for Dashboard X and for the Notifcation Center! It’s a simple process. You hold ANYWHERE on the homescreen, and it’ll go into wiggle mode. Then you hold it again and something pops up. That something is the start of a whole new life for your device. It’s the place where you activate widgets. When you tap on one, you’ll have the choice of two options. 1 = Interaction & 2 = Auto Center. Interaction is if you want to be able to touch the widgets. Like if you are using the weather NC widget, you’ll be able to swipe on it and see the forecast if Interaction is turned on. Auto Center just adjusts the widget to the center. Though sometimes it’s off by the slightest much and it messes with you. (or at least me) Dashboard X is $1.99 in Cydia.
BatteryInfo from Chef, is the best Notification Center tweak out there that deals with the battery. It has plentiful to show you and it’s amazing! It shows you your capacity of the battery, (factory and the condition now), tells you the temperature of the battery which is again amazes me. Then it has your load cycles and a lot more in it. It used to be a huge widget, would take up half of the screen, but they shortened it into a half of that and it’s so awesome. If I were you, I would totally buy this now. BatteryInfo is $0.99 in Cydia.
Switchy. (from John Coates) The tweak that was imagined, has came to be. Switchy was originally from a blog someone has posted. (which if I can find, I’ll post) and this person thought that the multitasking tray could have been improved much more if Apple could aim for other things. Someone made that happen a few days after. I personally thought that this would not be a tweak to happen in a long time. But I was proven wrong. It pushes the multitasking tray up further for more space. The first section is basically settings with your Settings.app in there, Brightness bar, and a button for ending all apps. The next slide over is your music. It has the same buttons as before, even the sound bar. But now it shows you the songs name, artist and album name. Pretty neat. Slide over again and it’s an extended multitask tray. Instead of one coloumn, there are two. So that means you don’t need to slide as much to find that one app that is still running in the background. All in all, it’s an amazing tweak and I love it, oh so much. Switchy is $1 in Cydia.]]> Intro? No.

Dashboard X. First let me say that I probably wet myself when I first installed this. I thought that this would be one of those tweaks that are faulty and break everything it could. I was completely wrong about that. Dashboard X from Ori is the tweak of the month for me. Now iPhones can still beat Androids because of this. It’s putting widgets on your homescreen. Widgets designed for Dashboard X and for the Notifcation Center! It’s a simple process. You hold ANYWHERE on the homescreen, and it’ll go into wiggle mode. Then  you hold it again and something pops up. That something is the start of a whole new life for your device. It’s the place where you activate widgets. When you tap on one, you’ll have the choice of two options. 1 = Interaction & 2 = Auto Center. Interaction is if you want to be able to touch the widgets. Like if you are using the weather NC widget, you’ll be able to swipe on it and see the forecast if Interaction is turned on. Auto Center just adjusts the widget to the center. Though sometimes it’s off by the slightest much and it messes with you. (or at least me)

Dashboard X is $1.99 in Cydia.


BatteryInfo from Chef, is the best Notification Center tweak out there that deals with the battery. It has plentiful to show you and it’s amazing! It shows you your capacity of the battery, (factory and the condition now), tells you the temperature of the battery which is again amazes me. Then it has your load cycles and a lot more in it. It used to be a huge widget, would take up half of the screen, but they shortened it into a half of that and it’s so awesome. If I were you, I would totally buy this now.

BatteryInfo is $0.99 in Cydia.


Switchy. (from John Coates) The tweak that was imagined, has came to be.  Switchy was originally from a blog someone has posted. (which if I can find, I’ll post) and this person thought that the multitasking tray could have been improved much more if Apple could aim for other things. Someone made that happen a few days after. I personally thought that this would not be a tweak to happen in a long time. But I was proven wrong.  It pushes the multitasking tray up further for more space. The first section is basically settings with your Settings.app in there, Brightness bar, and a button for ending all apps. The next slide over is your music. It has the same buttons as before, even the sound bar. But now it shows you the songs name, artist and album name. Pretty neat. Slide over again and it’s an extended multitask tray. Instead of one coloumn, there are two. So that means you don’t need to slide as much to find that one app that is still running in the background. All in all, it’s an amazing tweak and I love it, oh so much.

Switchy is $1 in Cydia.

]]> http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/21/tweak-week-9.html/feed 0 G5 Entertainment Mother’s Day Sale — Get Supermarket Mania series at 50% off! http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/12/g5-entertainment-mothers-day-sale.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/12/g5-entertainment-mothers-day-sale.html#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 00:28:18 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=43285 In celebration of Mother's Day, G5 Entertainment is putting two of their best, award-winning, obsessive strategy games on sale. Starting yesterday through May 14, 2012, Supermarket Mania and Supermarket Mania 2 for iOS and Mac, are available for half price. Don't miss out this terrific offer and get two highly engrossing games at price of one. In Supermarket Mania [iPad], play as Nikki, who runs a successful and busy supermarket. Restock shelves of a grocery store to satisfy finicky customers. Some guests simply mosey through the shops, while others are testy and quick, and you have to cater them both! You tap a shelf and Nikki does the rest. You click on the stock house, and your cart fills up accordingly. The game throws curve balls – introducing new types of shoppers as you progress through the levels. Upgrades and shopper variety help keep the experience fresh throughout the game. Eventually, you will run five distinct stores through 50 manic yet fun-filled stock-'til-you-drop levels. Stock over a dozen products, serve seven types of hard-to-please customers, and earn enough money to purchase over 20 accessories and upgrades that will help you turn your enterprise into success. Supermarket Mania is fun and the challenge of keeping all of the customers happy is frantic and engaging. Continue this addictive adventurous strategy game in Supermarket Mania 2 [iPad]. Move to Tinseltown with Nikki and her friends to run a Supermarket. You'll be busy stocking shelves, making milkshakes, brewing coffee, baking croissants, squeezing fresh juice, serving fresh pizza, checking out customers, and keeping the store clean. The customers are also quite diverse in their needs and desires. The most important customers are the celebrities. Every other customer freezes in their tracks, taking snapshots while the celebrity zooms around the store demanding to be serviced now. This is where the power-ups come in handy. Energy drinks help you move faster as everything around you slows down, a cookie plate makes everyone in the store happy and the cleaning solution makes your store shine in an instant. Utilizing these items at the correct time is crucial, if you're shooting for the high score. Join Nikki once again for hours of fun...just remember to keep an eye on Mr. Torg's dirty tricks!]]>
In celebration of Mother’s Day, G5 Entertainment is putting two of their best, award-winning, obsessive strategy games on sale. Starting yesterday through May 14, 2012, Supermarket Mania and Supermarket Mania 2 for iOS and Mac, are available for half price. Don’t miss out this terrific offer and get two highly engrossing games at price of one.

In Supermarket Mania [iPad], play as Nikki, who runs a successful and busy supermarket. Restock shelves of a grocery store to satisfy finicky customers. Some guests simply mosey through the shops, while others are testy and quick, and you have to cater them both! You tap a shelf and Nikki does the rest. You click on the stock house, and your cart fills up accordingly.

The game throws curve balls – introducing new types of shoppers as you progress through the levels. Upgrades and shopper variety help keep the experience fresh throughout the game. Eventually, you will run five distinct stores through 50 manic yet fun-filled stock-’til-you-drop levels. Stock over a dozen products, serve seven types of hard-to-please customers, and earn enough money to purchase over 20 accessories and upgrades that will help you turn your enterprise into success. Supermarket Mania is fun and the challenge of keeping all of the customers happy is frantic and engaging.

Continue this addictive adventurous strategy game in Supermarket Mania 2 [iPad]. Move to Tinseltown with Nikki and her friends to run a Supermarket. You’ll be busy stocking shelves, making milkshakes, brewing coffee, baking croissants, squeezing fresh juice, serving fresh pizza, checking out customers, and keeping the store clean. The customers are also quite diverse in their needs and desires. The most important customers are the celebrities. Every other customer freezes in their tracks, taking snapshots while the celebrity zooms around the store demanding to be serviced now. This is where the power-ups come in handy. Energy drinks help you move faster as everything around you slows down, a cookie plate makes everyone in the store happy and the cleaning solution makes your store shine in an instant. Utilizing these items at the correct time is crucial, if you’re shooting for the high score. Join Nikki once again for hours of fun…just remember to keep an eye on Mr. Torg’s dirty tricks!

Supermarket Mania® (AppStore Link) Supermarket Mania®
Developer: G5 Entertainment AB
Rated: 4+
Price: $2.99 Download
Supermarket Mania® 2 (Full) (AppStore Link) Supermarket Mania® 2 (Full)
Developer: G5 Entertainment AB
Rated: 4+
Price: $4.99 Download
]]> http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/12/g5-entertainment-mothers-day-sale.html/feed 0 Go Intergalactic with New Updates to ‘Flight Control Rocket’! http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/09/go-intergalactic-with-new-updates-to-flight-control-rocket.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/09/go-intergalactic-with-new-updates-to-flight-control-rocket.html#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:49 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=42983 Fan favorite Flight Control Rocket receives a fresh update with ten brand new motherships that have been discovered in space, an awesome Rescue mode, and four exciting new bots to help players boost their score. There’s never been a better time to become a flight commander. Relish in compelling yet intuitive touch screen controls that defined a genre. Complete with a cast of quirky robots that will help fans boost their score plus more of the retro-hip music and animations that made the original game so beloved, Flight Control Rocket promises a new galaxy of adventure, action, and addictive path-drawing gameplay. New features include:
  • New Motherships: Safely guide ships to some incredible locations including the stellar ‘Valkyrie’, curious ‘Deep-Space Angler’ as well the familiar ‘Hawaii’ and ‘Outback’ Motherships.
  • New Rescue Game Mode: Help save adrift astronauts by using similarly colored ships. Watch Out- the wrong ship can knock players off course!
  • New Bots
    • Swift Swarm- Speeds up green swarm ships when they are on target.
    • Resurrection- Gives players a chance to gain a life after losing their last lifeline.
    • Dropper- Dropper ship drones can sometimes land on the green runway.
    • Personal Trainer- Boost the XP gained by each active bot.
You can download this update for free right now or buy the game for a mere $0.99. Enjoy!]]> Fan favorite Flight Control Rocket receives a fresh update with ten brand new motherships that have been discovered in space, an awesome Rescue mode, and four exciting new bots to help players boost their score. There’s never been a better time to become a flight commander. Relish in compelling yet intuitive touch screen controls that defined a genre. Complete with a cast of quirky robots that will help fans boost their score plus more of the retro-hip music and animations that made the original game so beloved, Flight Control Rocket promises a new galaxy of adventure, action, and addictive path-drawing gameplay. New features include:

  • New Motherships: Safely guide ships to some incredible locations including the stellar ‘Valkyrie’, curious ‘Deep-Space Angler’ as well the familiar ‘Hawaii’ and ‘Outback’ Motherships.
  • New Rescue Game Mode: Help save adrift astronauts by using similarly colored ships. Watch Out- the wrong ship can knock players off course!
  • New Bots
    • Swift Swarm- Speeds up green swarm ships when they are on target.
    • Resurrection- Gives players a chance to gain a life after losing their last lifeline.
    • Dropper- Dropper ship drones can sometimes land on the green runway.
    • Personal Trainer- Boost the XP gained by each active bot.

You can download this update for free right now or buy the game for a mere $0.99. Enjoy!

Flight Control Rocket (AppStore Link) Flight Control Rocket
Developer: Electronic Arts Inc.
Rated: 4+
Price: $0.99 Download
]]> http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/09/go-intergalactic-with-new-updates-to-flight-control-rocket.html/feed 0 Big Update for ‘Mini Motor Racing’ now Available! http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/05/big-update-for-mini-motor-racing-now-available.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/05/big-update-for-mini-motor-racing-now-available.html#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 19:14:14 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=42985 Heads up! Mini Motor Racing has just gotten a huge update now adding the number one requested feature by fans: full online multiplayer for up to four including 3G through GameCenter, or random match-ups with waiting competitors! The update also includes a completely new Championship circuit with four new tracks, along with 12 new cars that can be unlocked through the in-game reward system, bringing the total to 30 tracks (plus unique reverse angles) with a total of 18 varied vehicles available in the game. There's also a number of re-mastered tracks from the original version, new cars to win, a “shake-to-nitro” feature, options for gamers to play their own music while racing, and more! The enhanced graphics have been tuned and optimized specifically for the powerful new iPads, including native retina resolution support. All in all, hours of new gameplay! This update is free to download if you already own Mini Motor Racing. If you don't though, you're missing out on a lot of fun. You can download the game on the App Store via this link. ]]> Heads up! Mini Motor Racing has just gotten a huge update now adding the number one requested feature by fans: full online multiplayer for up to four including 3G through GameCenter, or random match-ups with waiting competitors!  The update also includes a completely new Championship circuit with four new tracks, along with 12 new cars that can be unlocked through the in-game reward system, bringing the total to 30 tracks (plus unique reverse angles) with a total of 18 varied vehicles available in the game. There’s also a number of re-mastered tracks from the original version, new cars to win, a “shake-to-nitro” feature, options for gamers to play their own music while racing, and more!  The enhanced graphics have been tuned and optimized specifically for the powerful new iPads, including native retina resolution support. All in all, hours of new gameplay! This update is free to download if you already own Mini Motor Racing. If you don’t though, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. You can download the game on the App Store via this link.

Mini Motor Racing (AppStore Link) Mini Motor Racing
Developer: NextGen Reality Pty. Ltd.
Rated: 4+
Price: free Download
]]> http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/05/big-update-for-mini-motor-racing-now-available.html/feed 0 The Four Best Weather Apps for the iPhone http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/04/the-four-best-weather-apps-for-the-iphone.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/04/the-four-best-weather-apps-for-the-iphone.html#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 20:12:35 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=42989
  • The Weather Channel
    • The first app on our list is The Weather Channel. One of the most popular and useful apps available, it provides you with access to a wide range of information about the weather including the temperature, wind speed, humidity, the UV index, the dew point, and more for a given area. It also provides you with the hourly, 36-hour, and 10-day forecast so that you can plan the upcoming days well in advance. Other useful features include an interactive map with animated radar, the Social feature that enables you to read and post tweets about weather in your area, and the iWitness feature where users can view and upload images and videos of the local weather conditions. US users also receive notifications about severe weather alerts. Best of all, the app is completely free. The one complaint that users often report is that it has large, distracting advertisements, but dealing with such ads is worth it to keep such a useful app free of charge. Weather HD is next on our list due to its absolutely stunning visuals. Weather HD goes beyond giving you the basic information such as the current temperature, highs and lows, humidity, chance of rain, and wind speed. In addition to providing all of that, it takes advantage of the iPhone's high-tech screen to present you with vibrant, high-definition videos that represent what the weather currently looks like in your area. If it currently storming outside in your area, the background of the app will be an HD video of a thunderstorm; if it is sunny and slightly cloudy, sunlight and clouds is exactly what you will see on your screen. In fact, these video representations are so accurate that they even represent the current time of day so that the graphics are lighter during the day and darker at night. The utter eye candy that this app will provide you is well worth the $0.99 you will spend on Weather HD. The next app on our list, AccuWeather for iPhone, is another free app that is very similar to The Weather Channel app. With AccuWeather, you can view the 15-day forecast for your area or an area to which you are traveling so that you can plan the next two weeks ahead of time. AccuWeather offers an enormous database of weather data with information on over 2.7 million locations throughout the world. Useful features include severe weather alerts, calendar integration, social sharing options that enable you to effortlessly share weather updates with your loved ones, interactive maps, and contact location viewing so that you can see the weather where any of your contacts live. In addition, AccuWeather is a must-have if you suffer from weather-related health issues such as allergies since it gives health-related forecasts. It will even let you know how suitable the current weather conditions are for outdoor activities such as walking your dog or mowing your lawn. The only issue that many users have reported is that the latest version, 5.0.1, has a somewhat cluttered interface. Finally, the last app on our list, PocketWeather, is notable, not only for its extensive feature set, but also because it is available in a lengthy list of languages. Whether you speak English, Spanish, Swedish, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, German, Hebrew, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese, Greek, Italian, or Danish, PocketWeather will satisfy your weather-information needs. The app is able to provide you extremely accurate information about the predicted temperatures, highs and lows, humidity, hourly forecast dawn, sunrise, sunset, zenith, precipitation, and dusk times for the upcoming ten days. Moreover, it comes with useful features including earthquake maps, temperature graphs, coverage of the sun and moon, and an up-to-date summary of the weather conditions in your area at the moment. PocketWeather is another free app that provides you with much more information than the iPhone's built-in weather tool. The App Store is loaded with weather apps, and we have picked out four of the best for your convenience. After reading our review simplify your life by heading over to the App Store to download the one that best suits your needs.]]>     The weather plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. It tells us what activities we can safely and comfortably partake in on any given day at any given hour. It lets us know whether we should carry along our raincoats or our sunscreen, and it helps us decide how to dress when we wake up in the morning. Knowing the weather can even be life-saving in the event that a severe tornado or hurricane is approaching your area, requiring that you take cover or evacuate. It is, therefore, extremely important that you have easy access to accurate information about the weather so that you can plan your days accordingly. With your iPhone at your side, there is no longer any need to turn on the weather channel or check on your computer to receive up-to-date information about the weather. Although the iPhone comes equipped with a built-in weather tool, it can only offer the basics such as the predicted high and low temperatures for the day. For that reason, we have put together a review of the best weather apps available in the Apple App Store.

    The first app on our list is The Weather Channel. One of the most popular and useful apps available, it provides you with access to a wide range of information about the weather including the temperature, wind speed, humidity, the UV index, the dew point, and more for a given area. It also provides you with the hourly, 36-hour, and 10-day forecast so that you can plan the upcoming days well in advance. Other useful features include an interactive map with animated radar, the Social feature that enables you to read and post tweets about weather in your area, and the iWitness feature where users can view and upload images and videos of the local weather conditions. US users also receive notifications about severe weather alerts. Best of all, the app is completely free. The one complaint that users often report is that it has large, distracting advertisements, but dealing with such ads is worth it to keep such a useful app free of charge.

    Weather HD is next on our list due to its absolutely stunning visuals. Weather HD goes beyond giving you the basic information such as the current temperature, highs and lows, humidity, chance of rain, and wind speed. In addition to providing all of that, it takes advantage of the iPhone’s high-tech screen to present you with vibrant, high-definition videos that represent what the weather currently looks like in your area. If it currently storming outside in your area, the background of the app will be an HD video of a thunderstorm; if it is sunny and slightly cloudy, sunlight and clouds is exactly what you will see on your screen. In fact, these video representations are so accurate that they even represent the current time of day so that the graphics are lighter during the day and darker at night. The utter eye candy that this app will provide you is well worth the $0.99 you will spend on Weather HD.

    The next app on our list, AccuWeather for iPhone, is another free app that is very similar to The Weather Channel app. With AccuWeather, you can view the 15-day forecast for your area or an area to which you are traveling so that you can plan the next two weeks ahead of time. AccuWeather offers an enormous database of weather data with information on over 2.7 million locations throughout the world. Useful features include severe weather alerts, calendar integration, social sharing options that enable you to effortlessly share weather updates with your loved ones, interactive maps, and contact location viewing so that you can see the weather where any of your contacts live. In addition, AccuWeather is a must-have if you suffer from weather-related health issues such as allergies since it gives health-related forecasts. It will even let you know how suitable the current weather conditions are for outdoor activities such as walking your dog or mowing your lawn. The only issue that many users have reported is that the latest version, 5.0.1, has a somewhat cluttered interface.

    Finally, the last app on our list, PocketWeather, is notable, not only for its extensive feature set, but also because it is available in a lengthy list of languages. Whether you speak English, Spanish, Swedish, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, German, Hebrew, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese, Greek, Italian, or Danish, PocketWeather will satisfy your weather-information needs. The app is able to provide you extremely accurate information about the predicted temperatures, highs and lows, humidity, hourly forecast dawn, sunrise, sunset, zenith, precipitation, and dusk times for the upcoming ten days. Moreover, it comes with useful features including earthquake maps, temperature graphs, coverage of the sun and moon, and an up-to-date summary of the weather conditions in your area at the moment. PocketWeather is another free app that provides you with much more information than the iPhone’s built-in weather tool.

    The App Store is loaded with weather apps, and we have picked out four of the best for your convenience. After reading our review simplify your life by heading over to the App Store to download the one that best suits your needs.

    Thanks to John Page for this guest post. E-mail him.

    Read more:

    ]]>     http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/04/the-four-best-weather-apps-for-the-iphone.html/feed 0     The ‘Ugly Meter’ iPhone App Measures Beauty http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/04/the-ugly-meter-iphone-app-measures-beauty.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/04/the-ugly-meter-iphone-app-measures-beauty.html#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 12:00:24 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=42993 Beauty is no longer in the eye of the beholder, but instead, in the eye of an iPhone. The newest app to top the best-seller list, second only to Angry Birds in iTunes, called the Ugly Meter measures a person's beauty. Boasting a tagline of "When your friends won't tell you the truth, the Ugly Meter will", the app has been in existence since 2010. Only gaining such popularity with an updated version, Ugly Meter Pro, the app has recently been featured on Jay Leno, Howard Stern, and the Today show. It was the top selling app in China for weeks, too. The app takes your picture and then scans it for the level of beauty. It takes into account your face's contours, proportions, and symmetry and rates it on a scale of 1 to 10. The higher your score, the uglier you are. If you receive a low score, you'll be extolled for your beauty and how your hotness even makes the sun jealous. If you receive a higher score, you're chided for being "ugly" with quips about being so ugly you'd even make a glass eye cry. Parents worry about the app hurting children's already fragile self-esteem and that it could lead to more instances of cyber bullying. Created by Jo Overline and Ryan Allen from Arizona, the app feeds our obsession with vanity, according to Overline. Whether we admit it or not, we're all worried about how we rank physically. Costing $5 for the pro version, the app has earned nearly half a million dollars since being featured on Howard Stern. Creators combat accusations that this app will lead to more cyber-bullying and body image issues in teens by saying it's meant to be used for fun and in good spirit. We don't need this app to prove that we, as a society, are overly worried about physical appearances. With every new fad diet on the market, the millions of products created to improve appearances, and the rate of cosmetic procedures being performed each day, it's obvious we put a lot of value in our looks. Not to harp on cosmetic procedures as with the right person, they really can lead to a better body image and higher sense of self worth. If you were considering a cosmetic procedure, or have now started considering one to improve your Ugly Meter rating, start by looking into less invasive procedures. Instead of diving in headfirst with implants, liposuction, or a surgical facelift, look into a thread lift, laser resurfacing, or a few Botox injections to help you lose few years from your face. These will all make a world of difference without the same post-surgery side effects. The app bases its rankings on predetermined and standardized definitions of what beauty is. Reportedly, when Brad Pitt was entered into the app, he received a score of 8. What does that mean for the rest of us? As long as the app really is used in good spirits and isn't taken seriously, then it's really not a big deal. But all the worried parents may just have something to worry about with their insecure teens if Brad Pitt is only two points away from the ugliest a person could be.]]> Beauty is no longer in the eye of the beholder, but instead, in the eye of an iPhone. The newest app to top the best-seller list, second only to Angry Birds in iTunes, called the Ugly Meter measures a person’s beauty.

    Boasting a tagline of “When your friends won’t tell you the truth, the Ugly Meter will”, the app has been in existence since 2010. Only gaining such popularity with an updated version, Ugly Meter Pro, the app has recently been featured on Jay Leno, Howard Stern, and the Today show. It was the top selling app in China for weeks, too. The app takes your picture and then scans it for the level of beauty. It takes into account your face’s contours, proportions, and symmetry and rates it on a scale of 1 to 10.

    The higher your score, the uglier you are. If you receive a low score, you’ll be extolled for your beauty and how your hotness even makes the sun jealous. If you receive a higher score, you’re chided for being “ugly” with quips about being so ugly you’d even make a glass eye cry. Parents worry about the app hurting children’s already fragile self-esteem and that it could lead to more instances of cyber bullying.

    Created by Jo Overline and Ryan Allen from Arizona, the app feeds our obsession with vanity, according to Overline. Whether we admit it or not, we’re all worried about how we rank physically. Costing $5 for the pro version, the app has earned nearly half a million dollars since being featured on Howard Stern. Creators combat accusations that this app will lead to more cyber-bullying and body image issues in teens by saying it’s meant to be used for fun and in good spirit.

    We don’t need this app to prove that we, as a society, are overly worried about physical appearances. With every new fad diet on the market, the millions of products created to improve appearances, and the rate of cosmetic procedures being performed each day, it’s obvious we put a lot of value in our looks.

    Not to harp on cosmetic procedures as with the right person, they really can lead to a better body image and higher sense of self worth. If you were considering a cosmetic procedure, or have now started considering one to improve your Ugly Meter rating, start by looking into less invasive procedures. Instead of diving in headfirst with implants, liposuction, or a surgical facelift, look into a thread lift, laser resurfacing, or a few Botox injections to help you lose few years from your face. These will all make a world of difference without the same post-surgery side effects.

    The app bases its rankings on predetermined and standardized definitions of what beauty is. Reportedly, when Brad Pitt was entered into the app, he received a score of 8. What does that mean for the rest of us? As long as the app really is used in good spirits and isn’t taken seriously, then it’s really not a big deal. But all the worried parents may just have something to worry about with their insecure teens if Brad Pitt is only two points away from the ugliest a person could be.

    Editor’s Note

    Thanks to Evan Fischer for this quest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

    Ugly Meter™ (AppStore Link) Ugly Meter™
    Developer: Dapper Gentlemen
    Rated: 9+
    Price: $0.99 Download
    ]]>     http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/05/04/the-ugly-meter-iphone-app-measures-beauty.html/feed 1     ‘Cut the Rope’ gets updated with DJ Levels! http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/30/cut-the-rope-gets-updated-with-dj-levels.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/30/cut-the-rope-gets-updated-with-dj-levels.html#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:02 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=42703 Cut the Rope fans rejoice! Chillingo has just released an update featuring 25 new DJ-themed levels for you to cut and slice your way to victory. Along with that, the update also features a new hidden Om Nom drawing to collect. Here's the full details in this new update:
    New DJ Box with 25 levels featuring spinning vinyl records. New hidden Om Nom drawing to collect. New leaderboard and achievements. Various optimizations and improvements.
    The update is free to download if you already have Cut the Rope. If you don't though, Cut the Rope isn't that shabby of a game and is pretty fun plus considering it's only a buck, the money spent is well worth it. You can download Cut the Rope on the App Store via this link.]]>     Cut the Rope fans rejoice! Chillingo has just released an update featuring 25 new DJ-themed levels for you to cut and slice your way to victory. Along with that, the update also features a new hidden Om Nom drawing to collect. Here’s the full details in this new update:

    New DJ Box with 25 levels featuring spinning vinyl records.
    New hidden Om Nom drawing to collect.
    New leaderboard and achievements.
    Various optimizations and improvements.

    The update is free to download if you already have Cut the Rope. If you don’t though, Cut the Rope isn’t that shabby of a game and is pretty fun plus considering it’s only a buck, the money spent is well worth it. You can download Cut the Rope on the App Store via this link.

    ]]>     http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/30/cut-the-rope-gets-updated-with-dj-levels.html/feed 0     ‘Professional Darts Championship’ on Sale Again! http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/26/professional-darts-championship-on-sale-again.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/26/professional-darts-championship-on-sale-again.html#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:11 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=42624 Professional Darts Championship, the most celebrated darts app on the iPhone and iPad is now priced at just $0.99 to coincide with the hugely successful Premier League Darts roadshow. Normally priced at $1.99, Professional Darts Championship will remain at less than half price for the entirety of the Premier League Darts season, the offer ends the day after the tournament comes to its conclusion at London’s O2 Arena on May 17th.Tournament darts has never been so realistic on your mobile phone. With almost 600 reviews on the iTunes store and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5, Professional Darts Championship really hits the bullseye. The latest update features Bluetooth head-to-head functionality for local match-ups and now includes an invite a friend option within Game Center. If you can’t find a friend to play against then there is a challenging line-up of AI opponents ready and waiting to take you to the limit. You can download Professional Darts Championship on the App Store via this link.]]> Professional Darts Championship, the most celebrated darts app on the iPhone and iPad is now priced at just $0.99 to coincide with the hugely successful Premier League Darts roadshow.

    Normally priced at $1.99, Professional Darts Championship will remain at less than half price for the entirety of the Premier League Darts season, the offer ends the day after the tournament comes to its conclusion at London’s O2 Arena on May 17th.Tournament darts has never been so realistic on your mobile phone. With almost 600 reviews on the iTunes store and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5, Professional Darts Championship really hits the bullseye.

    The latest update features Bluetooth head-to-head functionality for local match-ups and now includes an invite a friend option within Game Center. If you can’t find a friend to play against then there is a challenging line-up of AI opponents ready and waiting to take you to the limit. You can download Professional Darts Championship on the App Store via this link.

    Professional Darts Championship (AppStore Link) Professional Darts Championship
    Developer: Appshen Limited
    Rated: 4+
    Price: $1.99 Download
    ]]>     http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/26/professional-darts-championship-on-sale-again.html/feed 0     ‘Shark Dash’ Climbs to the Top of the App Store http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/24/shark-dash-climbs-to-the-top-of-the-app-store.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/24/shark-dash-climbs-to-the-top-of-the-app-store.html#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:00:17 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=42538 Shark Dash, a new hit franchise from Gameloft, has climbed into the Top 5 paying games on the App Store since its release on April 19, 2012, receiving exceptional consumer ratings in the United States (4.5/5), France (4.5/5), the United Kingdom (4.5/5), Germany (4.5/5), Mexico (4.5/5) and Canada (4.5/5). Shark Dash is a highly addictive game that takes physics puzzle games to new heights with a fun and unique cartoon style design starring lovable little bath toys!
    "We are very proud to offer such a novel gaming experience for our fans to enjoy," states Julien Fournials, Gameloft Senior Vice President of Production. The extremely accessible gameplay, the never-seen use of water at the heart of the game system, and the quality of its graphics make Shark Dash one of the most polished arcade games on the App Store right now. We invested a lot of resources in the creation of a unique world and an original storyline starring irresistible characters"
    Shark Dash has been available since April 19, 2012, for $0.99 on the App Store. You can pick up Shark Dash via this link.]]>     Shark Dash, a new hit franchise from Gameloft, has climbed into the Top 5 paying games on the App Store since its release on April 19, 2012, receiving exceptional consumer ratings in the United States (4.5/5), France (4.5/5), the United Kingdom (4.5/5), Germany (4.5/5), Mexico (4.5/5) and Canada (4.5/5).

    Shark Dash is a highly addictive game that takes physics puzzle games to new heights with a fun  and unique cartoon style design starring lovable little bath toys!

    “We are very proud to offer such a novel gaming experience for our fans to enjoy,” states Julien Fournials, Gameloft Senior Vice President of Production. The extremely accessible gameplay, the never-seen use of water at the heart of the game system, and the quality of its graphics make Shark Dash one of the most polished arcade games on the App Store right now. We invested a lot of resources in the creation of a unique world and an original storyline starring irresistible characters”

    Shark Dash has been available since April 19, 2012, for $0.99 on the App Store. You can pick up Shark Dash via this link.

    ]]>     http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/24/shark-dash-climbs-to-the-top-of-the-app-store.html/feed 0     Apps That Help You Find Cheap Gas http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/23/apps-that-help-you-find-cheap-gas.html http://pocketfullofapps.com/2012/04/23/apps-that-help-you-find-cheap-gas.html#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000 Aaron Whitfield http://pocketfullofapps.com/?p=42368 It's sort of unbelievable just how many apps are out there these days. With Apple's iTunes store recently hitting the gargantuan number of 25 billion downloads, you can get some idea of just how many people are making the most of the content available for their mobile devices. But quantity does not always equal quality; in fact, that is rarely the case. And while there are certainly plenty of useful apps out there to help you do just about anything, from finding a restaurant to managing work projects to losing weight to decorating your home like a pro, there are so many duds that it can be difficult for the average Joe to weed out the time-wasters and get to the good stuff. So if you're looking for an app that can help you find the cheapest gas in your area (at a time when prices keep rising), here are a few good options to help you on the go...]]>
    It’s sort of unbelievable just how many apps are out there these days. With Apple’s iTunes store recently hitting the gargantuan number of 25 billion downloads, you can get some idea of just how many people are making the most of the content available for their mobile devices. But quantity does not always equal quality; in fact, that is rarely the case. And while there are certainly plenty of useful apps out there to help you do just about anything, from finding a restaurant to managing work projects to losing weight to decorating your home like a pro, there are so many duds that it can be difficult for the average Joe to weed out the time-wasters and get to the good stuff. So if you’re looking for an app that can help you find the cheapest gas in your area (at a time when prices keep rising), here are a few good options to help you on the go.

    1. Gas Buddy. This is one of those rare apps that pretty much everyone seems to love. It not only has a five-star average rating by users (with nearly 11,000 user ratings listed), but not a single person gave it a one- or two-star rating. As app reviews go, that’s pretty incredible. So what does this free app have that makes it so great? Everything you need to find cheap gas, as it turns out. With one click you will have access to a list of nearby gas stations (ordered by price or proximity) and you can even choose the type of fuel you’re seeking (regular, premium, diesel, etc.). And although the list prices are based on user input, the program encourages users to chime in frequently by offering weekly giveaways of $250 gas cards (users earn points towards giveaways every time they input data). It’s no surprise that this handy app comes in at the top of the list.
    2. Cheap Gas! For the average driver, this free app will work great. All you do is open it to find gas prices near your current location so that you can choose the cheapest option. However, it does not provide prices for premium fuel (it is, after all, for cheap gas) and it doesn’t offer a map function to get you to the station of your choice. For those seeking simplicity, this app is a virtual one-trick pony.
    3. SmartFuel. Another freebie, this handy app populates a map with locations and prices pinned to it (rather than a list to scroll through). And it differs from its competitors in that prices are based on database information rather than user input. However, the free download is actually only a 1-month trial; after that you’re on the hook for $2.99 if you want to keep using it. The numerous extra features may just make the price worthwhile, though.
    4. Fuel Finder. This app will cost you $2.99, but considering that it promises to save you $300 a year, you may be willing to risk it. Like most such apps, it relies on user input to set prices. But it offers quite a bit of added value, including directions and drive time, info on additional amenities offered at stations (car wash, ATM, etc.), customized savings based on your car (tank size, average MPG, and so on), roadside assistance connection , and sharing options when you find great prices.
    5. YP Local Search & Gas Prices. This free app won’t just help you find cheap gas; it can also lead you to restaurants, entertainment, or even car hire services if you break down on the road. With reviews, coupons, and other extras, it could just be the best all-around “finder” app out there for anyone seeking services on the go.

    Editor’s Note

    Thanks to Evan Fischer for this quest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

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