Sunday, July 31, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Car Locator

written by: Nick Kosmides


Car Locator can be downloaded for no cost to you through the Amazon Appstore for Android, exclusive to US customers only.

Today marks the day when all your lost parked car woes are history.  For Car Locator has you covered.  Or at least the GPS module it uses to utilize global positioning so that it can display directions for you to follow sort of like a treasure hunt.  In the end, you'll find your car faster.  That is the theory.

How accurate is the GPS in a modern cellular phone?  Good question, me.  And the answer is, approximately totally depends.  That's right folks.  It depends on a number of things.  Primarily the number of satellites in clear view allowing more precise global positioning with the help of triangulation.  That's fancy for three satellites work better than two or one.  But more than three obviously work even better.  Clear view as I mentioned here, means GPS is not very effective in an in door setting.  The satellites really only work when there are zero visual obstructions from point A (you) to point B (satellite).  This includes anything from a large tree to the lower level parking garage.

Another variable is the actual GPS module in your phone and its relative software.  As with any of today's modern technology, the hardware cannot survive alone without the software.  And as was the case with my Fascinate in its early days of Android 2.1, the GPS software was all sorts of messed up.  Samsung still gets dinged in all forms of their handsets for their common inability to lock on the GPS even in the most ideal settings.

What does all this spell?  Possible failure for apps like Car Locator.  Though the code is sound and the idea is something for nearly everyone that drives or parks cars for a living, there is still the factor we tend to forget and its the GPS signal.

None the less, grab the app, then run some tests.  See if you can mark your car on the Google Map view it provides and try to get lost, then find your car using only the app.

Car Locator - $3.99 FREE

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Golf Frontier GPS

written by: Nick Kosmides


Golf Frontier GPS is free today only from the Amazon Appstore for Android.

Download this app today to get GPS enabled views of over 15,000 downloadable golf courses.  Easily calculate the distance from any position on the course to any other point toward the hole.  And do this and more with a pretty cool skin selector.  Looks like the standard issue coat of pain is white, while they also offer a dark theme and my favorite, monochrome.  Makes it all look like a Gameboy.

Buttons on the UI are big and clear.  GPS functionality is non-obtrusive and customizable.

As the description states, "Does it make the actual shot simple? Hey, for $4.99 its not going to perform miracels, pal."  I guess the spelling error was intention, pal.

Golf Frontier GPS - $4.99 FREE

Friday, July 29, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Star Chart

written by: Nick Kosmides


Star Chart is exactly what it sounds like.  A chart of the stars.  Free today, it loads your Android Identity Disc with the power to read the stars, constellations, planets and whatever else might be out there in the astral abyss.


It has stellar looks, different from Google Sky because it actually looks like space, the final frontier.  Star Chart also overlaps the view of the constellations with the object they mean to represent.  Take it for a spin for free today.

Star Chart - $2.99 FREE

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Jamie Oliver 20 Minute Meals

written by: Nick Kosmides


An $8 cooking assistant featuring the famed tv chef Jamie Oliver.  Only the second male I've ever known of to carry the name Jamie.

This app features over 60 of chef Oliver's quickest meals, and they better be delicious.  Step by step instructions with full color (welcome to the 20th century) images for the reading impaired.  If its moving pictures you need to be able to cook, then Jamie has you covered there too.  There is an additional 80 MB of video to download to your device.  There are already some 21 videos all featuring Jamie telling us what to do in the kitchen and how he does it better than you.

And what famous chef could live without pushing their "favorite" cooking instruments onto their own loyal and adoring fans?  Not Jamie Oliver, he pushes them all over your face in this app.

As an added bonus to this cooking assistant you'll also have access to a shopping list where you can add needed ingredients and sort by recipe or store aisle.  This is a very nice addition for people who want both of these things.  Plus, its free today.  A huge savings for Android users.

Jamie Oliver 20 Minute Meals - $7.99 FREE

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Supermarket Scramble

written by: Nick Kosmides


Don't worry, don't hurry.  Today's free app of the day is a puzzle-ish game where you fill customer's orders from a grid of items stocked in the supermarket you are currently running, aptly named Supermarket Scramble.

With 50 levels and a couple of modes, this game really doesn't pose a dethroning threat to any of the top 3 big dog developers.  Angry Birds developer Rovio is happy perched high in the tree of success.  PopCap, the makers of the outdated Bejeweled 2 for Android and Peggle, are sitting pretty.  And Gamevil wants to say high to all the people playing their new Zenonia 3 for free and make sure they are buying up all the in-game purchases they can afford, and then some.

See you tomorrow with another great free app from the Amazon Appstore for Android.  For now, go grab Supermarket Scramble for some frantic time killing puzzle action.

Supermarket Scramble - $1.99 FREE

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - GRave Defense HD

written by: Nick Kosmides


Tower Defense can't look much better than this.  Grave Defense HD is free today care of Amazon and their fantastic Appstore.

Mmm, tastes like chicken.  Well that's zombie bat flesh actually.  This tower defense game for Android takes a dark zombie approach and throws it at your screen with vibrant colors and sharp graphics, hence the "HD" in the title.  Every detail in the game is rendered in high definition, though they don't mention how high.

The HD version also includes a new multi-screen level on top of all the Grave Defense Gold levels.  These levels are not a cake walk and if you are a beginner to this genre you may be at it for a while just to figure out where to place your first two turrets.  Quickly in the campaign you'll discover the maps have multiple routes.  This adds to the overwhelming challenge for beginner and intermediate players.  Though, to counter this gameplay design, you may choose between four difficulties, from Easy to Insane.

Having played the game for around an hour already, I like what I've seen and hope to unlock more weapons as the levels progress.  I'm looking forward to the Survival mode.  It will be interesting what that'll do to my battery.

GRave Defense HD - $2.00 FREE

Monday, July 25, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Lingrove

written by: Nick Kosmides


Lingrove, a unique word puzzle game, is your free app of the day from the Amazon Appstore for Android.

Simple in design, though not without a challenge. If your guessing skills are up to the task, then this is your game. You get five chances to guess all the letters of an unknown five-letter word. If the letter is correct and in the right spot, then it will be surrounded by a square and automatically carried down to the next line. If the letter is correct and not in the right spot, then it will be surrounded by a circle and you must find the correct placement of that letter.

The Secrets button at the top of the screen takes you to a sort of Lingrove tree with a broken heart in the middle. Haven't gotten far enough to know what this is all about, but the instructions say "Unlock a secret fruit for every 15XP". You will earn XP for guessing the five-letter word correctly. Keep guessing correctly and earning XP to unlock all the hidden fruit on the Secrets screen to check this game off your bucket list.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Silly Dinosaur Riddles: Seymour Simon

written by: Nick Kosmides


Silly Dinosaur Riddles: Seymour Simon is free today on the Amazon Appstore for kids.  Ha, see what I did there?  A children's app made by Franklin Jr. Apps, this book of riddles about dinosaurs appears to be a product of Silicon Valley, Ca.  You'd think we Californians were funnier than this.

While I have a child or two of my own, I respect the fact that kids are not looking at this world the same as us and see things from a different angle, literally.  With this app and a simple understanding of dinosaur facts, your child may actually enjoy this app, while you will loathe it.  Its nonsensical humor clearly not written by comedians.  In this situation I would be bold enough to say that I could potential write better jokes than this, no promises.  That should be enough vagueness to kill a medium rhino with a small Sprite.

The reviews are still coming in and its very precisely 2:1 in favor of 1-star reviews that this app is not working out on Android.  Some say its a shallow app that just doesn't have enough content, some say it doesn't install or freezes on the very first screen, others say the only good thing about it are the drawings.  While initial 5-star reviews were dramatic and scripted to clearly sell the product, not typical of a consumer writing a layman review of an app but more typical of a developer or someone related to the app's development.

If you'd like to test all these theories on your child, or your phone yourself, hit the market link below.

Silly Dinosaur Riddles: Seymour Simon - $1.99 FREE

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Farkle Dice Deluxe

written by: Nick Kosmides


Farkle Dice Deluxe is today's free app of the day on the Amazon Appstore.

Optimized for both Android phones and Android tablets, Farkle Dice Deluxe is the ad-free version.  Nearly identical to the ad-supported version also available on the Amazon Appstore and the Android Market.

Basic gameplay is to roll the dice in an effort to accumulate a score of 10,000.  Described by the developers as "Yatzee on steriods".  Play against 2-3 of your friends or play against the computer.  A lot of customizable scores and stat tracking add to the post-gameplay experience.  Unfortunately, no Open Feint support and no online multiplayer.  This is local only and no in-game trophies either.  You'll have to play the old fashioned way, like you want to play this game, not need to.

Farkle Dice Deluxe - $0.99 FREE

Friday, July 22, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Delicious: Emily's Taste of Fame

written by: Nick Kosmides


Here's an app for all the Emily's out there, Delicious: Emily's Taste of Fame.

Another time management game for Android.  One of the most popular genre on the platform apparently.  This time you play a girl named Emily propelled into an awkward situation when her car breaks down and she doesn't have the money to fix it.  Her and her friend are offered a job at a local cafe to earn the money, but it quickly becomes a challenge for Emily as her friend conveniently gets sick.  Now Emily is working on her own in this busy cafe.

Play through 50 levels and earn all 18 in-game trophies.  No Open Feint support, though that isn't the most common appendage when speaking of time management apps.  The finally goal appears to be the possibility of being a TV star.  The plot thickens.

Pick up the game before midnight to save yourself $3.

Delicious: Emily's Taste of Fame - $2.99 FREE

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Swiftkey X

written by: Nick Kosmides


Swiftkey X is available for download on the Amazon Appstore for Android starting today, and free no less.

Predictably one of the best keyboards for any smartphone and fortunately for us is on Android only.  Though Swype held the crow for long enough, Swiftkey has been an option for a long while.  Offering its users a traditional interface experience requiring the tapping of virtual keys.  What sets it apart from the stock Android keyboard is that it will predict what you are attempting to type and what you want to type next, even without beginning to type the next word.

I have used the old Swiftkey keyboard for some time now and been extremely pleased with its ability to learn what I am most likely about to type.  It has been excellent at helping to correct my spelling errors with suggestions as I type.  But this new version, with all its new engines and tools underneath the hood, is now capable of auto correction and text prediction like never before.  It not only learns what words you use to form sentences most often, but how you use the keys on its keyboard.  Swiftkey X will adjust the sensitivity of its own keys based on your unknowing input.

Swiftkey X supports simultaneous multiple language prediction, up to three languages at one time.  Download any of the nine languages currently supported through the app.  The description states the English language will be a 3MB download.

This free download may turn out to have perfect scores by the end of today.  Only thing I can think of that would ding it is if someone doesn't read the whole description and downloads it to a tablet to discover it doesn't work or look right.  There is a separate tablet (larger screens) version.

Swiftkey X - $3.99 FREE

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Deluxe Ultra Voice Changer

written by: Nick Kosmides


Utter crap seems to be the way to follow up on one of the best utilities every released for Android.  Deluxe Ultra Voice Changer is a dollar off today, making it the shittiest free app of the day in the Amazon Appstore.

There isn't much to say positively about this app.  Its an ugly looking UI and the app hard functions.  Though this 'paid' version has no ads and 23 different voice effects.  Atrix users are outta luck as the developers knows about a bad bug preventing quality recordings.

Deluxe Ultra Voice Changer - $1.00 FREE

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Folder Organizer

written by: Nick Kosmides

Folder Organizer can be had for free today.  New to the Amazon Appstore for Android and bringing forward an interesting concept for newbies to Android.  Especially those familiar only with such narrow minded devices as the iPhone or Blackberry, Folder Organizer brings total control over the complete organization of your phone.

What does this mean?  In short, the app has tools in it that allow you to first sort all your apps, contacts, bookmarks, and ANYTHING else you can think of.  After this leg of the customization is complete, which can take seconds or even hours depending on how thorough you wanna be, you can use the widgets to bring this organization forward to your Home screens.  Widgets of the most important kind and sizes are here, and you can choose to display any of the content you have on your phone in any of the many ways you chose to organize it.

For example, lets say you go through all your apps and told Folder Organizer which ones are Games, then put those into a folder entitled 'Games'.  Simple, and easily done from the phone without Folder Organizer too.  Except now you can use a widget, scrollable even for custom Home launchers only, to display this entire folder in anything from an icon all the way to a 4x4 widget.  The visible games in the widget function normally as a shortcut would, and there is an expand icon that allows you to go into the large scrollable folder view.  This was done all in one app.  Normally you'd have to manually fill your screen with games, and save 1x1 for a folder to hold the remaining games.

Folder Organizer lets you keep everything organized as it should be and display it when you want to, and how you want to.

I highly recommend this app for anyone, newbies to hardcore Android neat freaks. The highest rated FAAD on the Amazon Appstore to date.

Folder Organizer - $1.49 FREE

Monday, July 18, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - JogTracker Pro

written by: Nick Kosmides


It doesn't take long for the GPS-enabled exercise apps to flood the market places.  Enter JogTracker Pro, an unlock key for the JogTracker.  Pro gets you ad-free live GPS tracking abilities and enough charts to impress even Ross Perot.

With some heavy weight contenders out there even on the Android Market like Endomondo, CardioTrainer, and Google MyTracks, JogTracker Pro would need to bring something unique to the table.  And that's where it falls flat.  There is just nothing outside of storing your runs/bikes/skates/etc on the developer's own website that makes any difference.  In fact, the other apps bring a ton more options to the table.  Posting to Facebook is one thing, but challenging friends to your best lap time is another.

If you're looking for a no frills simplistic GPS tracker then look no further than JogTracker Pro, only because its free today.  Otherwise, hit up Google MyTracks for Google integration and many other goodies.

JogTracker Pro - $3.99 FREE

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Archipelago

written by: Nick Kosmides


Archipelago is free today.  What is it?  A real time strategy game where you are tasked with capturing islands.  Said to be a knock off of an iOS game called Galcon as far as gameplay is concerned, many players state that the AI (artificial intelligence) opponents gang up on them and pose an unfair gameplay scenario making winning difficult.

I'm having too much fun playing actual Risk on PS3 this week to want to dampen that experience with other meek contenders, no matter the platform, though especially mobile.

Hit the link below to give this strategy game a chance.

Archipelago - $2.99 FREE

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Sinister Planet

written by: Nick Kosmides


Sinister Planet for Android is free today from the Amazon Appstore.

If interstellar planetary shooters are your thing, then you will be pleased to know that Sinister Planet is there for you.  25 waves of aliens, two modes of play and some fairly funky controls.

Left virtual thumb stick controls the ship, sort of, and is positioned at the bottom left corner of the screen.  The right virtual fire button is placed at the top right of the screen.  This diagonal control orientation may be disorienting to some.  On top of the sideways controls, the left stick functions to not only control the direction the ship is facing, it also controls the ships thrusters or velocity.  The center of the virtual stick is the zero position and the further away from the center increases the speed the ship travels.  Very frustrating scenarios play out due to this awkward combination of controls.  If only the ships thrusters were fixed to a separate virtual button, the controls would be top notch.

And having the virtual fire button on the top right may mean for some that they are holding the Android device at an angle or covering a portion of the right side of the screen by their own thumb.  This is why I am an advocate for custom controls a la the id games on iOS like Wolfenstein.  Total custom control layout and sensitivity.  This is the way to create memorable user interfaces on a touch screen.

Moving forward, hopefully the developer will update the game to include customized controls settings, though for now you're stuck with funkiness.

Sinister Planet - $2.00 FREE

Friday, July 15, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Dashboard Assist PRO: In-Car Dashboard, Hands-Free Answering, and Journey Logger

written by: Nick Kosmides


Most definitely the longest app name in all the app markets ever invented, Dashboard Assist PRO: In-Car Dashboard, Hands-Free Answering, and Journey Logger is free today in the Amazon Appstore for Android.

And in this case, the title definitely says it all.  If you happen to have a car that has no dash board display, than this app is for you!  It will track all the necessary elements of your car in motion as well as do it from the comfort of your devices background.  With additional features like pausing to conserve the battery and recording everything for the graph to display, Dashboard Assist PRO does the job.

Cruise on over to the Amazon Appstore using the link below to drive away with another app for free.

Dashboard Assist PRO - $3.99 FREE

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - iCookbook

written by: Nick Kosmides



iCookbook The Complete Cooking Solution is free today and is creating quite the stir in the Amazon Appstore.  With a 19.1MB download pushing people to test whether this app is worth the space or not.

This is ultimately what it comes down to for most people.  How do I want to use the space and could it be used by something better than this?  I cannot answer this for you, but for a little while longer you can at least grab this full featured cooking app for free.

iCookbook - $4.99 FREE

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Safari! HD

written by: Nick Kosmides



Safari! HD is free today in the Amazon Appstore for Android.

Oh how I love Open Feint and its marvelous achievement system.  A system this great should be in every mobile game worth selling.  Its a cross-platform, online multiplayer, achievement collecting, socialization tool at its finest.  And Safari! HD has it, though I nearly got all the achievements in one 10 minute Endless game.  Only about six left to go, only because I ended the Endless game a little before getting the "Collect 2500 animals in one round" achievement worth 50 points.

Gameplay is solid, smooth and fast paced.  Draw a line across adjacent hexagons connected three or more to cause a chain reaction.  Try to get big chains for big points.  Pretty straight forward.  Would be nice to see some unique modes.  The three modes on board are essentially the same gameplay just with or without timers.

Head on over to Amazon and download Safari! HD.  But watch out, its a jungle in there!

Safari! HD - $1.29 FREE

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Cozi Family Organizer Premium

written by: Nick Kosmides


With a name like Cozi Family Organizer Premium, makes you wonder what they'd call it if they added features in the future.  Free today, CFOP is a calendar, to-do list, shopping list, and family journal all rolled up into one 1.3MB Android app.

Hmm you say?  That file size IS rather small for it to contain anything of benefit over what offerings Google gives for free.  If this is what you thought or said aloud you'd be inline with many others who have tried CFOP out free today.  A person/family getting this app would need to use all the features for it to be worth while.  As there are already excellent to-do/grocery list apps available that serve the one purpose and serve it very well.  And there is good ol' Google Calendar, amongst other third party calendar apps that focus on the calendars and reminders and schedules stuff.

Call it CFOP, call it a swiss army knife app, today you can call it free.

Cozi Family Organizer Premium - $5.99 FREE

Monday, July 11, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - 180 Ultra

written by: Nick Kosmides



The oddly named puzzle game 180 Ultra is suspiciously missing as the headline on Amazon's Appstore for Android.  Typically, you'd be greeted by a large promo for the free app of the day.  That is missing completely as of this writing.

Though I could have written this earlier in the day and not had this to report, I feel better having something new to say.  If you scroll down to the section headed "Most Recent Free Apps of the Day" you will find 180 Ultra roosting with the price of $0.00.  Hopefully until at least midnight tonight for it to fulfill the free-app-of-the-day title.


The game plays like most any shoots-from-the-bottom match 3 puzzle game, except you are allowed to flip the pieces over to reveal another color.  This doesn't not make a match, instead it can be be used to create larger potential matches or even create combo opportunities. Combos play out like Super Puzzle Fighter II except upward not downward.

A quality title from a new developer to Amazon's Appstore, show them some love and nab this excellent puzzler for free today.

180 Ultra - $1.99 FREE

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Paper Glider

written by: Nick Kosmides



Brand new to the Amazon Appstore for Android and weighing in around 10MB, Paper Glider glides its way into our phones free of charge today.

I wouldn't call this game premium though, as Amazon calls all apps that aren't free all the time 'premium'.  With reviewers agreeing that while the app seems to work with nearly all Android devices, despite the disclaimer informing that the app does not work on older devices, its just a boring game.

Toss the plane and watch it drift toward the right side of the screen.  The challenge comes from staying awake while giving the screen a tap every once in a while to keep the plane afloat.  Earn coins by going the distance and spend them on boost modifiers or designer planes.

Download this gem today for free.

Paper Glider - $0.99 FREE

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Days Left Widget Pro

written by: Nick Kosmides


Days Left Widget Pro is a calendar widget that, as the name suggests, will place a widget on your Home screen showing the count down to an important date or event.  You choose the event and date, it will tell you how many days remain.

This widget is a real treat because its a different kind of widget than we typically see coming out for Android.  Most widgets are simply facsimiles or addendums to system functions.  Take a custom skin, slap a system function to it and suddenly you have a widget app.  But Days Left Widget Pro does something the Android system doesn't do.  Count downs are fun.  And to do it, it makes no ties with Google Calendars.

The developer has recently included Catch Notes support which adds another layer to this handy onion.  That is definitely not a good metaphor.

Constantly remind your friends how many days until your birthday, be better prepared for your anniversary, keep track of the days left until your important dates.  Hit the market link below to snag this pretty useable widget for free today.

Days Left Widget Pro - $0.99 FREE

Friday, July 8, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Age of Zombies (WiFi Only)

written by: Nick Kosmides



Age of Zombies is today's free app from the makers of Fruit Ninja, one of my most played Android games.

Previously on PS3/PSP as a Mini, receiving this game for free is an awesome achievement to any PlayStation gamer.  Being a port from a console you can expect a console gameplay experience as well as a console lasting playthrough.  Meaning that the typical game made for Android and iOS is not one you'd find yourself playing for hours on end.  Several factors play into this, the physical size and comfort level of the device being wielded, the quality of the title, the playthrough time and replayability.  Adversely, dual stick shooter is a challenge on any system with only one analog stick.  But touchscreen devices don't share that dilema.  And Barry Steakfries will be a bit more popular because of Android.


If you have a data plan, and especially if you are a super new Verizon customer who wasn't allowed to grandfather into the now defunct unlimited data of yore, no worries.  Amazon requires you use a WiFi connection to get your 20MB or greater app downloads, and Age of Zombies will come in just above that with 22.6MB.

So grab your phone and get to killin them zombies.  The boss T-rex is waiting.

Age of Zombies - $2.99 FREE

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Fieldrunners HD

written by: Nick Kosmides



If you have an Android phone sporting 2.2 or higher, no tablets, than you may take advantage of today's free app called Fieldrunners HD.  Made popular when debuted on the App Store for iOS, this is one of the many games that has given Apple its leg up over Android in the gaming scene.

While it is currently available for free on the Amazon Appstore in the US, everyone can play Fieldrunners HD by means of the Android Market as well.  Fieldrunners HD on the Android Market is currently priced at $1.00.  Not sure if this is the long term price or an introductory price, but others seem to know.

I've played the game now and have changed my stance on tower defense games.  With this one being one of the best I've played thus far, after being wowed by another great Amazon FAAD tower defense game called HexDefense, the genre is looking up on Android.  Let us not forget the efforts of PopCap Games and their td offering Plants vs Zombies.


Fieldrunners HD features very good looking graphics and a smooth gameplay interface.  Touch and drag the turret type of your choosing to a position on the battlefield.  Don't just place them anywhere, most powerful weapons should be aligned along the middle while snaking the enemies along the battlefield.  Once you build up enough funds you will have created an elaborate course filled with powerful guns and rocket launchers to fend of the enemies across the 400 levels in four different backgrounds.

Check it out for yourself free today, don't delay, or else you may, take a walk by the bay, maybe eat some clay, wha-do-ya say?

Fieldrunners HD - $2.99 FREE

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Convertr

written by: Nick Kosmides


Convertr is a converter app for Android that everyone needs, err maybe not.  Its good at what it does, though what it does is doesn't do alone.  Google search is good at doing just that and then some. Also Wolfram/Alpha has an app and the website which is free.

So if you're into getting your figures converted for free, add Convertr to your collection of methods available on Android through the Amazon Appstore.

Convertr - $0.99 FREE

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Pocket Yoga

written by: Nick Kosmides


Pocket Yoga is free today on the Amazon Appstore for Android.

Featuring detailed voice and visual instructions atop 145 beautifully illustrated pose images.  Can you tell that was pretty much from the Product Description?  For an exercise app targeting Yoga, this app has virtually everything you'd want and maybe more.


While showing you how to do it, it will allow you to play music from your own local phone library instead of the soundtrack default to Pocket Yoga.  Keep up the good work by tracking your yoga sessions and maintaining your balance throughout the week, also from within the app.

Most importantly, at 19MB this hefty app is for the novice and the elite.  Just be prepared to pay the piper (your carrier) for the data unless you are on WiFi or an unlimited plan, as this is just under the max before Amazon requires you to use WiFi.  Yoga fire!

Pocket Yoga - $2.99 FREE

Monday, July 4, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Fireworks (Live Wallpaper)

written by: Nick Kosmides


Another change of pace and a rarity among all the free apps of all our days, a live wallpaper is available for download for free today.

Fireworks fills your background with colorful fireworks and particle effects.  With a bit of battery drain sprinkled on the side which is standard fare when it comes to live wallpapers.  If you bring Fireworks to your home screen don't expect too much in regards to options.  The configuration screen includes but one setting, and I don't want to be the one to spoil the surprise.

So go hit up the Amazon Appstore link below before time runs out.  Oh, and hope you all had a swell Independence Day celebration.  I'm topping it off with a bit of Battle: Los Angeles.

Fireworks - $1.99 FREE

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Sign

written by: Nick Kosmides



For what I would call a change of pace, Amazon has released Sign, a speed dial alternative, for free on the Amazon Appstore for Android today.

Though this isn't a new concept as Google itself has a free app called Gesture Search that applies the same concept but with additional applications.  Sign allows you to create a custom gesture to apply to a contact.  Successfully draw the image and the contact will be automatically dialed.  I wouldn't consider this a time saver, maybe a safety feature for use while driving if you can't simply use voice recognition with your headset.

Sign - $1.99 FREE

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - aTilt 3D Labyrinth

written by: Nick Kosmides


aTilt 3D Labyrinth is free this fine Saturday, a decent game to start off an Independence Day weekend.  Many users of the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 are complaining about the app force closing and not even starting.

Seemingly, it works great on my Samsung Fascinate and the HTC Thunderbolt, Xoom, and Epic 4G.  Having played this game in the free version flavor featuring ads care of the Android Market, I can say its a fairly decent representation of the classic wood and marble game of my childhood.

Add to the nostalgia factor, the game supports Open Feint for achievements and also has a website whereby users can create their own levels and upload them using a unique device ID.  Play your own uploaded levels or share them with the aTilt community.

Get the silver ball to the goal hole without falling victim to the non-goal holes.  Don't read too much into this possible epitome of human sexual desire.  Just play the game.

aTilt 3D Labyrinth - $3.99 FREE

Friday, July 1, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - PBA Bowling 2

written by: Nick Kosmides



PBA Bowling 2 is a great game for Android now available for free on the Amazon Appstore for Android.  Regularly $3, the savings can now go toward things like rent or your car payment.

Bowling games are usually very shallow and don't feel like they have to staying power of nearly all other sports.  Though, for a mobile sports game, PBA Bowling 2 brings enough to the table lane to compete with that statement.

For devices that can handle this game, you'll see some pretty sweet graphics, superb ball and pin physics, maybe even some unlocks.  Everyone loves unlockables.  Complete several in-game tasks like two gutter balls in a row to unlock the Bumper Bowling special.  Use the specials you unlock on a custom bowling balls.

Aside from standard bowling modes, I noticed some very nice features that others may not have noticed.  PBA Bowling 2 has on-the-fly saves so you can hit the Home button on your Android and find Resume Game on the Main Menu when you return later.  Another is if you select New Game, the menu will remind you "There is already a game in progress. Abandon the current game and start a new one?", so you don't unintentionally lose your previous game for whatever reason.  Even the "Feedback & More" button on the Main Menu has quite the extensive list of options including Facebook and Twitter links.

The one problem I have is in the unlocks.  There is no place in the whole menu system where you can view all the unlocked and locked achievements.  It would be nice if Open Feint was used as well, maybe for online achievement tracking and multiplayer.  Other than this minor gripe, PBA Bowling 2 is a great game and I hope it receives updates.

PBA Bowling 2 - $2.99 FREE