“Use finger-slide or accelerometer to steer kitten to jump from cloud to cloud. Clouds give you 1 point, and Butterflies double your score!”
-
Grocery iQ - $1.99 $.99 (LIMITED TIME)

“Grocery iQ includes all the features you expect from an intuitive and powerful shopping list application along with the convenience of a 130,000+ item database.”
-
Silkworm 3D - $1.99 Free (LIMITED TIME)

“Steer the silkworm using the iPhone’s fantastic accelerometer (gyro) so that it can eat the apples before the silkworm gets too long.”
-
SpyBugRadar - $.99 Free (JUST RELEASED)

“Innumerable wiretaps are set by evil secret agents for espionage! Don`t let them destroy your peaceful life! Find and destroy them immediately with iPhone/iPod touch!”

Viewing on your iPhone? Click here

Our first look at Classics by Andrew Kaz & Phill Ryu. Classics is an ebook reader that showcases natural digital reading experience with realistic 3D page flips. This application comes pre-loaded with 13 classics with the promise of more books to be added via future updates.

Photo Hunter v1.1 | Published by Eric Chen | Via App Store | $0.99 | Released: 11-07-08

Overview

What you’ve got here are two apps that are great fun for any age, at any time. They are essentially the digital age takeoff of the old “What’s Wrong in This Picture?” from the kids magazine Highlights. These magazines always were the most worn, dog-eared periodicals in the doctor’s office. Both of these apps will see their share of wear and tear as well. 

Functionality

Both apps essentially do the same thing. You’re presented with two nearly-identical pictures, and you’re given a time limit to identify the differences in the two pictures. These may be as obvious as someone having no ear to as subtle as the change of color on a wristband.

Both apps challenge you to find five differences between the two pictures. You tap on the part of the picture that’s different, and a highlighted circle appears around your selection if you got it right. Then you’re off to find the rest of the differences. 

Both apps allow you to “cheat” by using a certain number of chances. Cheats will also be used up if you make a mistake by tapping where there’s not a difference in the two images.

Comparison

First of all, Photo Hunter has a ton more categories to pick from, as seen from the image below:

Also, Photo Hunter displays the images in portrait mode (vertically) while ESPN Cameraman displays the images side by side in landscape mode. It feels like you have more room to maneuver in ESPN.

While PH may have more categories, for the sports nut, you’ll love the added features of ESPN. The ESPN theme song plays throughout the game, and each tap brings you nice sports sound effects. However, the theme song does get old after a while. In addition, on ESPN, you can tap the “i” at the bottom right and get more information about the picture that’s being shown.

Both games allow you to pause your existing game, exit the app and come right back where you left off - a very nice feature. PH gives you a “User Stat Feature,” which allows you to track multiple users and compare scores, age, etc. You can even add your profile image here and upload your stats and compare them to others in your country, gender, and age range.

ESPN lets you send your score to a friend via email and upload your score to the game server. It keeps track of worldwide scores and allows you to sync the scores to see who is currently in the lead.

Review

I was really pleased with both apps. They are great to play while you’re waiting on something or someone. My kids found it very easy to begin playing immediately, and both turn to one of these while we’re in the car. My son always plays ESPN Cameraman, and my daughter inevitably turns to Photo Hunter.

One nice feature for either app to consider adding is the ability to create your own photos. It would be a really fun feature to edit your photos and upload them into the app to play with.

I prefer the landscape orientation of ESPN. Photo Hunter, though it has an excellent options screen and back end, seems to be a little behind ESPN on aesthetics in how it displays the pictures. But that’s probably nitpicking. Once that timer starts in either game, you feel the immediate tension and rush of needing to find the differences as fast as you can.

Both apps are so intuitive and easy to use that I highly recommend them.

Summary

It comes down to whether you’re a sports fan or not, I suppose. ESPN Cameraman is free and gives you sports information about the pictures in the app. Photo Hunter has more categories, and it’s cheap. It’s well worth the dollar investment. They stack up nicely against each other, and each does a great job in its own way.

ESPN Cameraman

Usability: 4 / 5
Value: 5 / 5
Utility: 4 / 5
Aesthetics: 5 / 5

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

Photo Hunter

Usability: 4 / 5
Value: 4 / 5
Utility: 4 / 5
Aesthetics: 4 / 5

Overall Rating: 4 / 5

Last night while you were probably sleeping Apple released their latest iPhone upgrade.  Firmware 2.2 has been highly anticipated ever since developers leaked new features such as Google Street View and the ability to email locations.  

We have reported the new features as we discovered them, and here is Apple’s official list of what’s included in the latest and greatest:

Enhancements to Maps.app

• Google Street View
• public transit and walking diretions
• display address of dropped pins
• share location via email

Enhancements to Mail

• resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
• improved formatting of wide HTML email

Safari.app

• Improved stability and performance of Safari

iPod.app and iTunes.app

• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular)

Other Improvements 

• Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
• Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
• Preferences to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard settings

 
For those of you who still use your iPhone as a phone, the improved sound quality of voicemail and decreased drop calls will surely be welcomed features that we have not discussed before.  See our previous post for more details and screenshots of the new features, or just go download the thing yourself: It’s free!

Sadly some killer really basic features that iPhone users are waiting for are still missing: No copy and paste functionality, and no support for MMS.  Also not addressed in this update are audio over bluetooth and the now past due push-notification service promised at WWDC.

It’s still a great update which takes the iPhone to another level with new features that show it’s still Android proof.

“Provides convenient ways to help professionals and amateurs calculate some of the most needed camera settings.”
-
My Budget Money Management - $.99 Free (PRICE DROP)

“Simply enter your budget, setup recurring payments like rent, and enter new expenses as you go.”
-
CSI: Miami™ - $7.99 $5.99 (PRICE DROP)

“Discover the official game of CSI: Miami on the iPhone with an exclusive investigation written in collaboration with the creator of the TV show, Anthony E. Zuiker!”
-
Debt Clock - $.99 Free (PRICE DROP)

“Realtime view the US National Debt, complete with the latest Pork news and your share of the National Debt based on the US Population.”

Viewing on your iPhone? Click here
 

Our first look at Fake Calls by Magic Tap. Fake Calls lets you simulate calls when you find yourself in situations where you need the perfect excuse to step out. Check out the video to see this application in action.

First, when can we expect the update already? Well, according to MacRumors, we can expect its release on November 21st. The date has not been confirmed and seems rather random considering there are no planned events on that day. For something this huge and with so many new changes you’d think a planned event would be appropriate, but in true Apple style, they may just want to catch everyone off guard.

So far we have uncovered lots of gems hidden in the 2.2 beta 2 firmware, but even with all the discoveries, we found yet another rock that was left unturned.  Just discovered was new functionality of the iPhone’s home button.   Of course a single tap still exits any application and returns to the home screen, but what about a single tap when you are already on the home screen?  In iPhone firmware 2.2 a single tap returns the user back to the first page of the home screen. That’s right, if you are one of those people that have pages and pages of apps, one click brings you right back to see your SMS and other favorite apps, no more finger swipe mania! Double tapping the home button acts as it did before allowing you to choose to go to your phone favorites or iPod.  

Here’s a breakdown of everything that has been confirmed in the new firmware after the jump:

App Store

• New category icons:  An icon now appears next to each category name.  The icon is of an app that is currently in the store that represents that category.  The app icon Apple chooses to display next to the category also changes sporadically, surely in only a way that Apple can understand.
• Sorting within categories:  Now when a user enters a category, he will be able to sort the apps by “Top Paid,” “Top Free,” and “Release Date.”  Currently the apps only appear in order of release date, so this will be a nice change for users looking to find quality within a category.
• Multiple Screenshots:  Users will now be able to see all the screenshots of an application, just like they can on the desktop iTunes rather than being limited to just one picture in the app store.   
• Report a Problem:  Have a problem with an application?  Does it have a bug?  Is it offensive?  If so one click can send the note right to the developer.  

Podcasts

So what’s going on with Podcasts? well as previously reported , there is a sexy new button on the iTunes tab bar that gives users the ability to download podcasts directly from their iPhone.

• Both video and audio podcasts will be available for download 
• Over-the-Air downloads on AT&T’s Edge and 3G networks (limit of 10MB)
• No file size limit when downloading over WiFi 

Safari

It’s hard to improve on a good thing, so Safari will see very few changes.  The only confirmed change worth noting is the new newly designed user interface to it’s address bar.

• The address bar on the top of the screen has been split into two sections.  Most of the space displays the URL, while the new section contains room for a google search.  When either area is clicked, the view expands to the full size while the keyboard is displayed.  It matches the style Safari uses on the desktop, and makes the Google search much more visible.  

Maps

• Street View:  Google street view is most likely the most highly reported feature coming to the new firmware. iPhone users will now be able to get the same view that was highly publicized for Android Phones.  



• Walking Directions:  No car, no problem.  Users will be able to choose to get walking directions,the time estimates even change to accommodate the slower mode of transportation.   This is really handy in crowded cities with one-way roads that don’t impact the walkers.  



• Public Transportation:  Find your way using only public transit!  Maps now offers directions and combines different means of public transportation to get you to your destination.  A true treat to someone in a new city and with no rental car.  



• Location Sharing:  Maps now makes it a snap to send your current location, or any other location to anyone you want via email.  Launch maps, drop a pin and simply email anyone you choose.  If you receive a location it launches your maps application and lets you directions directly.  So what’s the point of Loopt again?

Other Improvements

• Support for Audio Line-in:  The headphone jack will be able to take accessories that will allow users to record anything they wish, including real instruments.
• Auto-Correction settings:  This feature can now be turned off for those of us who have mastered the iPhone keypad.    
• Support for new languages
• Rating System:  Also, as previously reported, the new rating system will be implemented in 2.2. The rating system will prompt app users to give a rating upon deleting an app, a questionable system. It’s hard to image any user giving anything other than a 1 star rating after DELETING an app.

Now, don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the emoticons, however, it’s still unclear if they will actually be included in the update and we cannot confirm they will be there as of this time. Something almost not worth mentioning is that now when you forget your voicemail password, you will be prompted to call AT&T… I recommend skipping this process and using the Direct Line app to get through.

Possibilities about jail-breaking are still unclear, but the iPhone Dev Team says, don’t update to the new firmware right away, so we’ll just have to see what kind of tricks they have coming.

[Images via The Boy Genius Report , AppleInsider, iPhoneYap]

Viewing on your iPhone? Click here

Our first look at iStylist Makeover by Styler Design. iStylist Makeover is a fun and easy way to create new looks right on your iPhone / iPod Touch. Use an existing photo or take one with the built-in camera to try over a hundred different hair styles for both men and women.

“Set in beautiful beach surroundings with crashing waves and palm trees Beach Volleyball is the first volleyball game for iPhone.”
-
Tank Ace 1944 - $1.99 $.99 (PRICE DROP)

“In Tank Ace 1944 you command a World War II tank charging to occupy the enemy capitol.”
-
Outer Space - $9.99 $5.99 (PRICE DROP)

There are cool space-battles to be seen, foreign planets to be discovered or lost astronauts to be rescued.
-
XpenseTracker - $12.99 $9.99 (LIMITED TIME)

“XpenseTracker is an all inclusive expense tracking and reporting application for the business traveler.”

If you like the Wii then you will love love iFun. SGN has just released iFun, which turns your iPhone into an accelerometer driven game controller, just like the remote used on the Wii gaming system.

Swing your iPhone around to hit some golf balls, sink some hoops or even knock down some pins. iFun was designed for gamers to use their iPhone as a controller, and not as the main screen, rather you use a desktop computer or laptop to display the gameplay. This application is great for those of you who are sick of being refined to the small screen on your iPhone.

iFun actually turns your iPhone into a larger gaming unit, and just like most other large gaming units, you have the ability to play other gamers over the internet. Invite your Facebook friends to play online or even invite friends with emails from your address book.

To start the fun you must obviously first download the free app at the App Store and second register at their website. This application is available for both the iPhone and the iPod Touch, and the developers say to look out for more sports games coming soon.

Check out the video above to get a first look at how the app works.