Judging The Cover

caddyshack-poopie So my 4-year old daughter constantly bugs me … “daddy, can I play with your iPhone” – “daddy, I want my iPhone” … I mean WTH? How is Apple marketing to young children? Did they take out a major media buy on Nickelodeon or something? Does Apple place subliminal messages in Yo Gabba Gabba!? Probably … but whatever. The other day I downloaded this app and thought of my annoying daughter … figured I’d let her try it to stop the bugging. So she’s sitting there all happy and giggling and stuff … then all of a sudden she let’s out a huge shreek … “DADDY, THERE IS POOPIE IN YOUR iPHONE!” Again, WTH? Did Apple stoop to another low and approve a poop app? Obviously wouldn’t be a surprise. So we checked it out  and dang, they did … Apple approved a poop app!

EDITORS NOTE: While the above story is purely fiction (it didn’t happen), we can easily see this scenario occurring … people – be careful out there in App Land!

SoftServeTweet Did Apple approve a KRAPPS cousin – a POOP app? Well sort of. The clever folks at Ziconic recently launched the SoftServe app. An innocent enough app where the user creates a soft serve ice cream … adjusting its curvature, length and thickness. SoftServe can create four flavors: French Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate and Chocolate Fudge. And there’s the problem … that darn Chocolate Fudge. Folks … this ain’t no ordinary soft serve iPhone app … this is really the iPoop app – where you can create poops of any thickness, curvature or length. EWWW! GROSS! LOL … exactly! Hey, Ziconic isn’t claiming the gold medal of app creations (just check out their Twitter tweet above) … but you got to give them credit for giving us another opportunity to laugh at Apple’s approval process. Or better yet, like the Japanese blogger below (translation courtesy of Google Translate), laughing at people who just totally missed the boat on this app thinking it has a defective Chocolate Fudge rendering.

JapansesSoftServe

And finally, for all those folks out there who thought there was poop floating in the swimming pool while really it was just a Baby Ruth … don’t judge an app by its cover!


FREE SoftServe App To KRAPPS Viewers!
The folks at Ziconic (follow on Twitter @ziconic) were kind enough to provide codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download SoftServe for FREE. Simply be one of the first 5 viewers to leave a comment at the end of this article and we will email you the code.

March 12, 2009 | Filed Under Entertainment | 22 Comments 

iNewz Tech App

iNewzREJECTJPG EDITORS NOTE: As a preamble to this article, yesterday, Apple made a bonehead move by rejecting the Twitter client, Tweetie, based on foul language in Twitter streams. Deja vu for iNewz developer John Gordon as his app was initially rejected due to one of the news sources displaying a profanity in the headline. Click the image to see the full-size rejected screenshot from Apple.

Title: iNewz Tech
Category: News
Guest Author: Dennis

Procrastination. Everyone does it. In fact, this review is the result of a week’s worth of procrastination – “oh the deadline for this review isn’t for another week? no problem, I can just whip something up a few days before the piece is due”. It’s now the night that the article is supposed to be submitted. What am I doing? Watching TV, surfing websites, playing around on Twitter, eating some Girl Scout cookies… everything but writing about this app.

If this type of situation sounds familiar to you at all, well then this app is perfect for you! iNewz Tech [App Store] compiles articles from the top technology websites and brings it all to you in one app. That’s 217 feeds from 80 different sources!

int1   int2

You’re now probably asking, “What?? How does that help me?”

Here at KRAPPS, we periodically recommend apps that help you become the very best you can be (ie. Touch Poet brings out the best Shakespeare in you). In this case, we’re just trying to help you become the very best procrastinator. iNewz Tech brings you up to date articles from the best tech sites. Browse from a selection of topics from Mobile to Home Theatre, to even Business IT. Don’t want to read about Microsoft? Look under the Apple section for all your Apple fanboy needs. The app sorts it all out for you! Simply touch the article headline that interests you and you’ll be immediately transferred via the integrated browser to the originating site where you can read the article in its entirety. iTech Newz supports landscape viewing as well as offline reading. So simple – So convenient.

int4

iNewz Tech also has two other sister apps: iNewz [App Store] and iNewz Green [App Store].

iNewz aggregates 600 feeds from 83 different domestic and foreign news sources including New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Toronto Sun, Asia Times and more. iNewz Green provides content from top eco-friendly news sources on the internet including Planet Green, TreeHugger, Popular Science and more. A total of 166 feeds from 96 different sources. Rumor has it … this app is solar powered so they practice what they preach.

Now you know when you find articles that are really funny (like KRAPPS articles) or super interesting (also like KRAPPS articles) and just HAVE to share it with everyone? Instead of jumping through hoops (find computer, located article url, etc.) just to spread the word … use your iPhone and directly send the article to Twitter, Del.icio.us, or even through email! With such a huge array of topics and the endless supply of articles, you can spend countless hours not writing your paper, studying, etc. and procrastinate instead.

So what are you waiting for? Be all that you can be! Get iNewz! Procrastinate!

antikrappssealv2gif3 EDITORS NOTE: We are big fans of Kiss – no, we’re not talking about the legendary rock ‘n roll face painter band – but the concept of Keep It Simple Stupid. The iNewz family is prefect for us – no need to mess with subscriptions or folders or waste hours discovering cool sites. The iNewz app family makes the entire process easy and convenient … giving us more time to do other things thus making us more productive human beings. Hmmm – more productive human beings … one of the many reasons why iNewz is 100% anti-KRAPPS Certified.

FREE iNewz Apps ($2.99 value) To KRAPPS Viewers!
Developer John Gordon was kind enough to provide codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download iNewz, iNewz Tech and iNewz Green for FREE. There are 3 codes available for each app. Simply leave a comment at the end of this review, indicating your preference (Newz, Tech or Green) and we will email you the download code.

March 11, 2009 | Filed Under anti-KRAPPS, Guest Authors, News | 30 Comments 

Underappreciated

There are many awesome things in life we simply take for granted … call ‘em underappreciated things. No, we’re not talking about your parents or the library or the mailman or public transportation … we’d like to focus on things even more subtle. Stuff like Astroturf .. Sneezing .. Pop Rocks .. a Hot Shower .. the Dual-Can Beer Drinking Hat. Ahh, now we got you thinking – things we totally take for granted, but play an integral role in life.

MonkeyTat To continue this thought, I’d like to share an excerpt that is the perfect sentiment to one of life’s most underappreciated things … the belly button.

For some reason, which is not so clear to me, the belly button is ignored by society and never regarded with the full respect it deserves. Not many words are written about it in history, science or fiction books. Not many movies deal with its unmeasurable sex-appeal and beauty, not many poems are written to praise and worship. Isn’t that a shame? – The Belly Button Encyclopedia

BellyButtonIcon Agreed! It is a shame – a travesty … for the belly button rocks! That’s why the developers at ch-apps are pure genius. Call ‘em strange, disturbed, eccentric or whack … but we consider these fine folks pathfinders … ahead of their time, beyond normal human comprehension. They recognized this void in life and filled it with the groundbreaking app, BellyButton. Funny how there are a million fart apps but only one belly button app … see our point … underappreciated.

And oh what an app it is – just grand! With BellyButton, first the user has their choice of 7 different belly buttons (or if you prefer the clinical term – umbilicus) … Innie, Outie, Six Pack, Hula Girl, Beer Belly, Navel Orange or the ever popular Hairy. Then the user chooses from 5 giggles … two different males, two different females and a toddler giggle. And finally the real tomfoolery begins … touch/tickle the belly button screen and your iPhone begins to vibrate and chuckle with laughter. But careful, too much tickling in Roulette Mode results in a fart (of course). Ahhh … now you understand the awesomeness of the BellyButton app. Hail ch-apps – Hiss the haters … because even though technically the belly button is a scar, it matters and is relevant. We <3 the BellyButton, it’s Krapptastic!

Belly Button 3  BellyButton2  iphone_bellybutton_hairy

FREE BellyButton App To KRAPPS Viewers!
The folks at ch-apps were kind enough to provide codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download BellyButton for FREE. Simply be one of the first 5 viewers to leave a comment with something you underappreciate in life and we will email you the download code.

March 11, 2009 | Filed Under Entertainment | 20 Comments 

Sneezies App & Sneak Peek

EDITORS NOTE: Before we dive into our Sneezies review, KRAPPS has learned that developer Antair Games will be releasing a new game based on the original Sneezies gameplay. This new version will be Easter-themed, with bunnyfied Sneezies characters, new backgrounds, graphics and color palette. Release is set for sometime this week at a price of 99 cents. Make sure you don’t miss Easter Sneezies for more Sneezies fun!

easter_preview

Title: Sneezies
Category: Games
Guest Author: Carolynn

I’m a girl and therefore I like cute things. At least that’s the stereotype. But in some cases I actually do fit into that group of girls who like cutesy things. There are even a few games out there I downloaded simply because of their cutey factor. The first iPhone game I purchased simply because it made me smile was Sneezies by Antair Games. I didn’t even read the game’s description, I just looked at the artwork and bought it. When I played the game the first time, I was very pleased that it wasn’t something that was just good to look at.

Sneezies1

Sneezies is a game that anyone can play. You start the game with the Sneezies floating around the screen trapped in bubbles. To release them, you have to give them sneezing powder. You release the powder by touching the screen. Then a chain reaction occurs (hopefully) as one by one the Sneezies sneeze themselves out of their bubbles. When they sneeze, they spread the powder throughout the group of Sneezies and continue popping until the powder can’t reach anymore bubbles. In Classic Mode, each level has a goal number of Sneezies to rescue. If you fail to meet that goal, you can try again. Trust me, in later levels you’ll be doing a lot of this as it gets harder to rescue the required number of Sneezies. Challenge mode is different as you are given 5 turns to rescue a larger number of Sneezies. 45 are levels included in Classic Mode and 15 in Challenge Mode.

Sneezies2

What’s great about Sneezies? Where should I start? The artwork and background images are stunning. It’s highly polished and super cute. Just when I thought the game couldn’t get any better, I plugged in my headphones. There is a nice, happy background track of course. But the best part is when the Sneezies are freed from their bubbles. The sound of them sneezing is simply adorable. You can’t help but smile or laugh when you hear it. The game play is amazingly simple, yet at higher levels you might find yourself wondering why you just can’t get past that level you’ve played 20 times. It’s super addictive and a pure joy to play. The game also includes a global scoreboard so you can compare your rescuing skills worldwide. There’s also an in-game scoreboard for comparing your own scores.

Sneezies4

Sneezies3

My impression of Sneezies: 5 out of 5 sneezes! You really can’t go wrong when you go pick up this game. It will entertain you for hours and make you laugh!  Click here to purchase Sneezies for $1.99 or try the free Lite version by clicking here.

Anti-Krapps-Seal-v2GIF EDITORS NOTE: Cute? Yeah right! Don’t let these little guys fool you. They are tough as nails and can be frequently spotted chain smoking Malboro Reds while swilling Jack & Coke. But since Sneezies appear on KRAPPS, we consider them family – so for better or worse … we love Sneezies and this game is
100% anti-KRAPPS Certified.

FREE Sneezies App To KRAPPS Viewers!
Antair Games was kind enough to provide codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download Sneezies for FREE. Through Wed, Mar 11 at 11:00am PST, tweet the message below on Twitter and be entered into the Sneezies drawing. Good luck!

got iPhone? read the Sneezies review on @KRAPPS – it’s 100% anti-KRAPPS Certified http://krapps.com/?p=1615

March 10, 2009 | Filed Under anti-KRAPPS, Games, Guest Authors | 10 Comments 

Brilliantly Disgusting

AiFC-Logo-v2REDGIF Last week we spotlighted Apple’s new fraternity … Appa iFonna Chi … home to only the finest (errr – grossest) of apps. Since then, the frat has been deluged with apps requesting to become part of the family. But due to their strict admission standards, Appa iFonna Chi has rejected most applications as they simply are not gross … errr … good enough for the brotherhood. But one shining star aligned perfectly with the brotherhood’s culture, values and philosophies …
Appa iFonna Chi’s newest member is the Zit Picker app.

ImAZit Was there ever a doubt to Zit Picker’s admission approval? No way … Zit Picker is the essence of Appa iFonna Chi. Perhaps still a bit of confusion why Zit Picker was approved? Well rewind to the year 1978 and check out the legendary frat movie Animal House. Who can ever forget the “I’m A Zit” scene where Bluto (John Belushi) demonstrates the human zit to a group of sorority girls.

Now you get it … Zits = Gross = Frats … whether it’s a human zit like Bluto or the iPhone Zit Picker app from the developers at Candywriter. It’s brilliantly disgusting … a game where the more zits you pop, the higher you score. ewwww!

ZitPickerScreen1    ZitPickerScreen2

Best part of Zit Picker … add custom faces using images from your iPhone’s photo album.

ZitPickerScreen3

How cool, errr, DISGUSTING! We can already hear chants from the Appa iFonna Chi house:

I’m a Zit Picker
I’m a Zit Picker
I’m a Zit Picker ‘til I die
But I’d rather be a Zit Picker
Than a gosh darn Sigma Chi

FREE Zit Picker App To KRAPPS Viewers!
The folks at Candywriter were kind enough to provide codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download Zit Picker for FREE. Simply be one of the first 10 viewers to leave a comment at the end of this review and we will email you the download code.

March 10, 2009 | Filed Under Entertainment | 31 Comments 

The Dumbing Of Apple

Apple … Apple … Apple … you all seriously need to have your heads examined. Every time we see those television commercials about the iPhone … how super cool it is – how many awesome things it does … well, to be honest, we just have to laugh of loud – because we know that’s only half the truth.

 

One of the great things about the iPhone is that …
if you want to look like an idiot – there is an app for that
if you want to be gross – there is an app for that
if you want to be a pervert – there is an app for that
if you want to be stupid – there is an app for that

Let’s take a look at a new KRAPPS that hit the App Store yesterday … the Nothing app, by NTP. No, we are not making this up … one of the great things about the iPhone is that it does nothing. No, we are not drunk … Apple really did approve an app about nothing. Still don’t believe us … read the app’s description below:

NothingDesc

So the Nothing app is essentially a joke … the user touches the Nothing Button and a series of different “nothing messages” appear:

“absolutely nothing”
“nothing else matter”
“nothing compares to you”
“nothing ventured, nothing gained”
“made you look” (little dev humor here)

Nothing1    Nothing2

AppleDunce Ha! Ha! Ha! … yeah we get it. The whole Seinfeld thing … a show about nothing – an app about nothing … poking fun (like we do) at KRAPPS. Excellent work NTP. A subtle poke at Apple for approving endless KRAPPS. Still need proof to The Dumbing Of Apple – the Nothing app is available for sale in the App Store for 99 cents.

March 9, 2009 | Filed Under Entertainment | 21 Comments 

Alternate Endings App

By demand, KRAPPS will periodically review “legit” apps thru a network of guest authors.

update: all ten Alternate Endings codes have been claimed – thank you

Title: Alternate Endings
Category: Entertainment
Author: Dean

ae-logo2 Recently, I came across an app called Alternate Endings. This app has been available for awhile, but after playing it I thought that it was just so great I had to review it. Imagine watching a movie and being able to control what happens. In Alternate Endings, you can do just that!

Take the role of Russell Bingham. A security guard in a typical movie studio, however, after a big-time movie director is murdered, its up to Russell and his trusty taser to find the culprit. Follow Russell’s adventure and control his path in his one and only shot to become a real cop and maybe get a little extra.

ae-choice2

During numerous parts of the game you will be prompted to make a decision. What you decide will be played in a movie-like style and based on your choices, you can actually change the outcome of the movie for better or worse. Try to solve the crime in the best way possible, but don’t get yourself or others killed in the process. If you don’t like the ending, play again and follow a different path in order to find a better and more rewarding finish.

ae-get-the-girl

Alternate Endings is simply an amazingly designed game and definitely one of my favorites. It is the world’s first murder-mystery-comedy interactive movie app that lets you solve the crime. It truly feels like you are watching a movie and directing it at the same time. It contains over an hour of recorded video with literally no flaws in this game. The acting is great, the script is superb, and the quality is amazing. Stuck and can’t decide what choice to make? Simply shake your iPhone (or iPod Touch) and a choice will randomly be selected. The app is fairly large in terms of storage, but that should not keep you from downloading.

ae-best-ending

Click here to purchase Alternate Endings for $1.99 via iTunes or visit the Alternate Endings web site for more in depth information and an AWESOME game trailer.

Anti-Krapps-Seal-v2GIF EDITORS NOTE: Wow! Talk about unique … Alternate Endings is a one of a kind app that is first class all the way. Obviously a lot of time, money and effort went into this app – it’s basically like shooting a movie and turning it into a game. Talk about cool and well worth the $1.99. Without a doubt, Alternate Endings is
100% anti-KRAPPS Certified.

FREE Alternate Endings App ($1.99 Value) To KRAPPS Viewers!
Alternate Endings writer/director, Greg Townsend, was kind enough to provide 10 codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download the app for FREE. Be one of the first 10 to tweet the message below on Twitter and win Alternate Endings.

follow @KRAPPS & read Alternate Endings interactive movie iPhone app review. 100% anti-KRAPPS Certified http://KRAPPS.com #followfriday

March 6, 2009 | Filed Under anti-KRAPPS, Entertainment, Games, Guest Authors | 6 Comments 

« Previous Page — Next Page »