Special Features of Galaxy on Fire 2 HD include:

• Exclusive HD version specifically optimized for iPhone 4S and iPad 2.
• All 3D models rebuilt from scratch for console-quality visuals.
• Assets, such as jump gates and asteroids, feature even more textures and up to four-times the original resolution.
• Individual texture sets for all 30 spaceships including diffuse, normal, and specular maps in High Definition.
• Enhanced background images and resolution on space environments and planets for a crystal-clear gaming experience on iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.
• Additional light sources for atmosphere and breathtaking realism.
• Additional OpenGL shaders and post effects as well as heavily revised explosion, engine flare and muzzle flash special effects.
• Native support for HD resolutions of 1024 by 768 pixel (iPad 2) or 960 by 640 pixel (iPhone 4S).
• Synchronisation of save games via iCloud and Open Feint.

You can download Galaxy on Fire 2 HD from the App Store right here for $4.99.

Galaxy on Fire 2™ HD
Developer: FISHLABS

Rated: 12+

Price: $4.99 Download

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iPhonso

Gekko is now available for $4.99 in the U.S. App Store and is similarly priced in other regions.

About iPhonso

iPhonso.com is a mobile development studio based in Zurich, Switzerland. It was founded in 2010 by mobile technology veterans Vikram Kriplaney and Sebastian Vieira for the purpose of creating fun, innovative and easy to use applications for mobile devices.

Gekko
Developer: iPhonso GmbH

Rated: 4+

Price: $4.99 Download

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1. Freelance Classifieds. Those that love ODesk will be sadly disappointed by their app, which pretty much redirects users to the browser to search jobs, but this brand new freebie could provide a solution for any consultant that could use a few more clients. It lets you browse listings on multiple freelance sites, enter a laundry list of search criteria, and then wait for the app to deliver results. The app is still in beta (aren’t they all?), but it’s definitely worth a look while it’s still being offered for free.
2. SG Project Pro. This app is by no means cheap, but user reviews claim that the $39.99 price tag ($4.99 for the iPhone counterpart) is worth every penny (and as a consultant, you can write it off!). Gantt aficionados will find themselves at home in this app and although there are a slew of tools at your disposal, the user-friendly nature of the program will have you creating and editing timelines, prioritizing task schedules, setting risk levels, and communicating with multiple groups in no time. As a bonus, the app now links up to Dropbox for easy access to and sharing of project files. This is a must-have for any serious consultant.
3. Dropbox. This well-loved freebie is essential for anyone working in multiple locations. All you have to do is install the software on your computer and your iPhone to start uploading files (docs, pics, videos, etc.) that you want access to wherever you are. Sounds simple? It is! And as mentioned above, coordination with SG Project Pro means you can add applicable files to your saved projects and easily share them with clients.
4. QuickVoice2Text Email. At $2.99, this useful app is a bargain, especially in states with hands-free cell phone laws. With clear voice recording you can easily send audio messages or save “notes to self”, but the talk2text feature is what really wows. According to users, it delivers word-for-word accuracy, something that other apps promise but ultimately fail to deliver, so you can be sure that the message your record translates perfectly into the text that clients receive via email.
5. GetPaid!. Anyone offering contractor services has likely faced a problem or three when it comes to getting paid for work. Whether your issue has to do with managing a timesheet, ensuring that invoices are accurate and complete, or tracking payments over the course of a project (or from multiple clients), this app will help you to keep all of your expenses, payments, and accounts-owing under control so that you never lose a penny (and all for just $4.99).

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.

There has been a lot of hype recently about a 4S ‘Battery Fix’ – DHowett found that all it does is replace /System/Library/CoreServes/powerd.bundle/com.apple.SystemPowerProfileDefaults.plist

I looked for any possible impact of this

While this sounds good… we’re changing the power settings right? The reality is that it does absolutely nothing.

I hate to bring the bad news to those who wasted $4.99 on tweak, but there you have it.

[iDownloadBlog]

Although a frequent complaint concerning tablets of any stripe has been that they aren’t exactly conducive to creative design (since they’re really meant to act more as a mobile entertainment center than a work station). But thanks to the widespread availability of useful apps on the iTunes store, the iPad may actually be ahead of the pack in this regard (despite Apple’s notoriety for strict control of their products and what they produce). So if you’re a graphic designer looking for ways to make your life easier through the use of mobile technology, here are a few apps that you’ll definitely want to look into downloading.

1. Adobe Ideas. Just about everyone who ends up in the field of graphic design these days (be it in an amateur or professional capacity) started out by messing around with Adobe products (Photoshop, Illustrator, or even After Effects if you dabble in motion graphics). This is not surprising considering how user-friendly (and yet comprehensive) the company’s product lineup is. And thankfully, they have expanded into mobile space with this virtual sketchpad that will help busy graphic designers to lay out ideas wherever they are and cart them between home, office, and meetings with clients. Plus, a bevy of tools, options for layers, and easy handling make this app a must-have.
2. Phaidon Design Classics. This is one app that serious graphic designers (or those that want to go pro) simply can’t live without. It features 1,000 carefully selected product designs that have stood the test of time, and while many were the work of famous designers, you’ll be surprised to discover that some of the ingenious objects we use every day were created anonymously (like the corkscrew, for example). You can search via timeline, category, designer, or keyword to instantly access the designs that won awards, made history, and even changed our lives for the better. Anyone in search of inspiration or education will get both out of this app.
3. iFontMaker. Tired of trolling the internet for free fonts, or worse, paying to get the best fonts for your clients? Thanks to this handy addition to the iVerse you can now create your own unique fonts specifically geared towards the needs of individual clients, and keep them on hand for reference or reuse down the road.
4. iDesign. Regardless of the type of graphics you create, it couldn’t hurt to start your process in 2D before expanding into another plane. The toolbar offers one-touch access to helpful functions, multiples layers let you separate your design into individual elements (for easy revision), and you can literally control every aspect of your graphics, from line width to font size to the unit of measurement. While it may be a bit overwhelming for those unfamiliar with graphics design, professionals will delight in the many options this program provides.
5. iThoughtsHD. Not all graphics designers are busy creating logos or designing websites (and even if they are, they could be doing website design Fargo, Fairbanks, or Fort Worth style, which is to say, without much hope of becoming a web sensation). However, there are a lot of corporate gigs out there for designers that are not at all averse to earning a big paycheck for helping execs put presentations together. It can be used to create visual representations of patterns because it showcases a series of interconnected items. So while anyone can use it during a brainstorming session, for example, corporate designers will find a myriad of uses for this app’s unique capabilities.

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.

SRRN Games was founded by three graduate students with a passion for game development: Aujang Abadi, Tyler Carbone and Nathaniel Givens. Starting as a small startup incubated within the Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia, SRRN was quick to move from the pentatonic beauty of music puzzler Chimes to the retro aesthetic of Ash.

“SRRN has grown well-beyond Ash at this point, but the game’s universe and characters will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s very important for everyone at the studio to give the series the conclusion it deserves,” says Tyler Carbone, co-founder, SRRN Games. “With Ash II: Shadows, we tried to maintain the level of narrative quality that fans have come to expect from SRRN. We also improved the gameplay and gave the graphics a major overhaul in order to make Ash II a proper sequel, something RPG fans can really sink their teeth into.”

Ash II: Shadows features:

• New story, quests, and characters that expand on the world of Aghaus
• Classic JRPG gameplay designed from the ground up for touchscreens
• Dozens of skills and hundreds of potential equipment combinations
• Beautifully re-drawn HD graphics optimized for iPhone and iPad
• Heart-pounding orchestral score

Ash II: Shadows will be released as two separate tiers. Gold ($4.99) includes all six chapters, and Silver ($2.99) includes the first two chapters — with chapters 3-6 available for $0.99. All versions can be enhanced with boosts via in-app purchases. For launch, only the first chapter will be available; new chapters will be added every two weeks via title updates. The game is being published by Konami and is compatible with all iOS devices.

ASH II: Shadows (GOLD Edition)
Developer: Konami Digital Entertainment

Rated: 9+

Price: $2.99 Download

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▶ Game Description

Combat Arms: Zombies is a survival FPS game for iOS devices.
Combat Arms: Zombies takes the popular Fireteam Mode from Nexon’s popular free-to-play online FPS, Combat Arms, and combines it with an immersive arena-based survival campaign.
Combat Arms Online has over 8,000,000 registered users worldwide, and remains a staple in online gaming for North America, South America, and the European nations.

▶ Features

☞ One-Time Purchase
A single purchase of Combat Arms: Zombies will allow you free access to the game on your other iOS devices without making an additional purchase. Supported devices include: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad, iPad 2, iPod Touch 3, and iPod Touch 4.

☞ Connects to Combat Arms
Your purchase of Combat Arms: Zombies also comes with a bonus code usable in Combat Arms Online that will allow you to buy cash shop items for free! ( ONLY available in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico )

☞ Unreal Graphics
Combat Arms: Zombies is a creeping adrenaline-fest, with realistic graphics built on the Unreal Engine3. Experience the intensity of FPS zombie blasting carnage on your mobile device!

☞ The Combat Arms Arsenal
Combat Arms Online has been lauded for having a selection of over 300 authentic real-world guns to blast through your opponents. Combat Arms: Zombies utilizes a hand-picked selection of weaponry from this arsenal to give you the excitement of lighting up your infected enemies with real firearms!

☞ Customizable Weapons
Suit up and tinker to your heart’s content with a host of options for each weapon you acquire.

☞ Controls
With five different control schemes to choose from, you won’t have a hard time getting a handle on the infected.

Combat Arms: Zombies costs $4.99 and weighs in at 111 MB.

Combat Arms: Zombies
Developer: NEXON MOBILE

Rated: 12+

Price: $6.99 Download

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• Spy Cam $9.99 ->$5.99
• Security Camera $4.99 -> $2.99
• Memory Cleaner $5.99 -> $3.99
• Handy Calculator $1.99 -> $0.99
• Lines $1.99 -> $0.99

The Treasures of Montezuma 3 is a visually stunning match 3 adventure in which success depends on the player’s ability to trigger Power Totems by matching groups of similar artifacts. With over 160 arcade levels, 42 puzzle levels and two difficulty modes, there is plenty of action to go around. The Treasures of Montezuma series currently includes three games.

The Treasures of Montezuma series is one of the most successful line of apps to date for Alawar‘s mobile games department. With over one million units sold and over 60 million downloads, the games, which are localized to over 20 languages, continue to resonate with players. The colorful graphics, appealing sound effects and lively game play are what keep the players coming back for more, year after year.

The Treasures of Montezuma series is also currently available for iPad, Mac, Android, J2ME and Nintendo DS.
Check out Alawar’s site and the Apple App Store for more regarding The Treasures of Montezuma 3. This is one game that you will not want to miss!

About Alawar Entertainment

Founded in 1999, Alawar Entertainment specializes in the development, publication and distribution of casual games, reaching players in over 60 countries. The company is the leading distributor of casual titles in Eastern Europe and has published more than 200 casual PC games globally, including leading downloadable brands like Farm Frenzy, Stray Souls and The Treasures of Montezuma. Alawar games are now available for the Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, bada, BlackBerry and other platforms. The company also releases entertainment products for social networks and MMO audiences. For more information, visit www.alawar.com

Fishlabs Entertainment celebrates the German Game Developer Award for the “Best Studio of 2011″ with a special sale. The Hamburg-based studio’s award-winning sci-fi saga Galaxy on Fire 2 will be available for purchase on the App Store at 50% discount this weekend only. From Friday, December 16th to Monday, December 19th, the action-packed outer space adventure will be sold for $4.99 only. Enjoy this awesome sale!

Galaxy on Fire 2™
Developer: FISHLABS

Rated: 12+

Price: $9.99 Download

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