PumpUpTheCow [App Review]

And we're back!  Sorry for the longer than expected absence.  I've been constantly on the go since arriving home on Sunday.  But enough about me.  Let's kick off the new year with a brand new and extremely addictive app for your Android device.

PumpUpTheCow is as strange as it is fun.  Floating livestock (and random cats) fill your screen, zooming from one corner to another.  You only have one chance to click and expand one cow on the screen, so that the maximum number of surrounding cows will land on it, begin to expand and grab more and more cows. 

Each level has a set number of cows that must be "pumped up" in order to progress to the next level.  With each new level, your minimum cow number increases.

Pros: Very simple concept that provides a lot of fun

Cons: The game progresses fairly evenly until you hit level 13. The minimum number of cows is set at 64, but I've had a lot of trouble hitting that number. 

If you want to give PumpUpTheCow a chance, just click here.

App Score: 4/5

Lull in Activity

Hello Everyone,

I must apologize for the inconsistency in posts this week.  The holidays have me traveling quite a bit which eats away at my free time.  That being said, I plan on hitting the app reviews hard as soon as I get back home on Sunday.

Happy New Year to each and every one of you and thanks again for the great comments and support.

All the beset,

-Billy

Animated Widget Contact Launch [App Review]

As great as an Android-equipped device may be, there are a few stock features that are far from perfect.  One of my least favorite is contact accessibility.  It just feels clunky and not as efficient as many of the other amazing functions of my phone.  The Animated Widget Contact Launch by Mobility Publishing offers a solution to improve accessibility to your contacts.  This app creates icons for your contacts, each with pop-up options for text, voice, and email. 

Pros: Animated icons that provide an interesting alternative to the current stock features.

Cons:  Any app with animated features serves as a resource hog.  I doubt this is any different. 

You can download this app here.

TuneIn Radio [Essential App Series]

Continuing our weekly series highlighting the must-have apps for every Android user is TuneIn Radio. This multimedia app can access nearly any live radio stream in the world and play it real time through your Android device. As long as it streams online, TuneIn Radio can find it. Browse the continuously updating list of stations or use your GPS location to find what’s local. This app can also access thousands of podcasts, categorized by genre. Expose yourself to a world of news, opinion, sports and entertainment. From Aljazeera to Country Top 40, there’s definitely something for everybody.

You can download TuneIn Radio here.

Shake Them All [Live Wallpaper Review]

Turn your phone into an Android snow globe with this nifty live wallpaper. The size-adjustable androids react to phone direction and gravity, touching, and shaking of your phone. Stay mesmerized for hours.

Pros: The motion for each of the individual androids is remarkably fluid

Cons: As with most live wallpapers, this extension hogs memory resources and quickly drains your battery.

App Score: 4/5

You can download this live wallpaper here.

Bit [App Review]

Who needs the cryptic answers of a Magic 8 Ball when a simple yes or no will suffice? This app pays homage to the original 2-function “Bit” character in 1982’s Tron. Never be left in the dark again. Simply open the app, speak your question and press the screen for your answer. It’s MAGIC!!!!!!11!1one

Pros: Simplistic perfection in intended functionality.

Cons: Keeps telling me no whenever I ask about finding true love.

App Score: 4/5

You can download Bit here.

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Geo Diary [App Review]

Think of Geo Diary as a way to locate your pants after a wild night in Vegas. This app allows you to document the events of the evening by including journal entries, memos, incriminating photos and geo tags. Just open the app, click the map function and see all the interesting locations, drinks, and hookers you encountered during your blackout. Geo Diary also offers social media connectivity. Now your mom can really regret getting on Facebook as she follows your night of debauchery.

Pros: Geo Diary has great potential as is it panders to our need to share every aspect of our mundane lives.

Cons: Sometimes the app freezes when taking photos. Also has a tendency to default to a map of Korea (unsure if North or South).

App Score: 2.5/5

Geo Diary can be downloaded here.