Lily And Stella App

By popular demand, KRAPPS will periodically review “legit” apps.

update: all Lily And Stella codes have been claimed – thank you

iPhone-Baby Got iPhone? Got Kids? … well then you better be using your iPhone with your children. Take a break from playing BurnBall or screwing around with iVomit. Spend some quality time with your kids before they get older and think you are a big-time dork – and of course, include your iPhone!

There are so many amazing children’s apps available … baby monitors, arts & crafts, books and more. The iPhone has become an integral device in one’s life, so why not use it with your children (even like the Annoy Your Teenager app).

4Square Labs has produced a very cool children’s book app called The Adventures Of Lily And Stella – We’re Home! (yeah, long app name – it’s one of those artsy fartsy things). The story is about a little girl named Lily and her pug named Stella. Lily and Stella run away from a cult and end up on the mean streets of New York City, desperately trying to survive … just kidding! Nah, it’s a cute little tale and BEAUTIFULLY illustrated … your kids will love it.

Lily-And-Stella-Screen-1   Lily-And-Stella-Screen-2

The fun part for your kids is the interactivity they’ll have with your iPhone – you read them a screen and then ask junior to turn the page by touching the screen – basic stuff, but it keeps children involved and totally loving it. Now the problem with kids is that they can get totally annoying. They will ask you to read Lily And Stella over and over and over again – annoying! But not worries, the developer has you covered and gives an option to hit the “Narrate On” button – and voila, the iPhone will read your kid the book. Too cool … parenting on auto-pilot … sweet, now go take a nap or catch some baseball on TV.

Lily-And-Stella-Screen-3

Very interesting is the behind the scenes story of Lily and Stella. Author and illustrator, Tracie King, first wrote Lily And Stella years ago but never actually pursued publishing the tale. Then in 2006, she decided to publish the  book via the self-publishing web site Lulu.com. She uploaded pdf’s to the site and her book was born via the Internet. Three years later, Lily And Stella now star on the iPhone. When not busy with her job as a full time mom (yes, Lily and Stella are real – Lily is Tracie’s daughter and Stella is Tracie’s husband … ooops, sorry – her pug dog) and art director for Pregnancy Magazine, Tracie plans to expand the Lily and Stella series taking inspiration from the real Lily and Stella.

So all in all … this is a really feel-good app (yeah KRAPPS does have a sensitive side): cool tale, cool behind the scenes story (learn more – click here for video) and cool to interact with your kids. So purchase Lily And Stella – it’ll make you a better parent.

FREE Lily And Stella App To KRAPPS Viewers!
4Square Labs, developers of Lily And Stella, were kind enough to provide codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download Lily And Stella for FREE. Simply be one of the first 9 viewers to leave a comment at the end of this review. Please leave a review in iTunes.

March 3, 2009 | Filed Under anti-KRAPPS, Books | 26 Comments 

Multiple Personality Disorder

sleep As we peruse the App Store, we continue to be convinced that geeks slept through the core college class of Business 101. Of course there are a few exceptions to this rule … like DiSTI’s dBeer app and its clever marketing/tradeshow tie-in, impressive stuff from the leading provider of advanced graphical user interface software (aka geek company). So for the most part, while geeks can code, they cannot execute any one of the Four Marketing Ps. The smartest investment a geek company can make = hire a non-geek Marketing professional.

Take for example this poor app named BoxMan … or is it Sokoban? … or is it PushBox? … or is it Warehouse Keeper? … actually its real name is BoxMan (or Named Sokoban, PushBox, warehouse keeper) … WTH?!?

BoxManDesc2

This poor app cannot make up its mind, perhaps suffering from multiple personality disorder. The fourth Marketing P is Promotion – part of this P is the name – which then leads to brand, design, identity, etc. – very important stuff. One should not be drunk when choosing a name. Or if one markets to English speaking consumers and does not speak mpd English, it would behoove them to consult with an English speaking Marketing professional to create a name that is marketable and makes sense in English. Not rocket science, but evidently clear by this and many other apps that the geeks have overlooked the importance of an app’s name in favor of sleep.

BoxMan? Sokoban? PushBox? Warehouse Keeper? … here’s an idea, simply call the damn thing SYBIL.

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March 3, 2009 | Filed Under Games | 14 Comments 

Dapple App

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

free Dapple app giveaway – see end of article for details

Title: Dapple
Category: Games
Guest Author: Andy

I’m pretty sick of color matching games in the App Store, but Dapple has revived my feelings for them. Dapple, from Streaming Colour Studios, is a color matching game with an excellent twist. You make matches by mixing paints around you to form new colors. For example if you have the color yellow by a green, the yellow color will mix into a green and form a match. In order to make a match you have to get a match of four or more.

Dapple-1    Dapple-2

At first you might not know how to play Dapple, but there are many tips and hints so you’ll learn quickly. Once you know how to play Dapple, it can be very fun and addicting.

There are a variety of modes in Dapple. If you want to relax you should choose the “Classic” mode. If you want a little challenge try “Timed”. Or if you have a friend both of you should try the 2 player mode. If you’re colorblind, no fear as you can change the colors to more suitable ones in the options menu.

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The thing you have to watch out in Dapple is the brown paint. If you have too much brown, it can quickly end your game. But the good thing is that you can use other colors to take out the brown paint. There are also powerups in Dapple. If you see a raindrop on the board, you can use it to eliminate large groups of colors. To use the raindrop you simply have to match it with another color. The other special item is a diamond. If you match it up, it will eliminate all the paint squares of the same color.

The soundtrack in Dapple is one of the best I’ve ever heard. It’s very soothing and would make anyone fall asleep (literally). The graphics are sharp, colorful and easy on the eyes. Another great thing about Dapple is that it will keep track of your personal high scores.

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Overall Dapple is one of the best color matching games on the App Store. I know the price ($4.99) might seem a bit steep, but you won’t regret Dapple’s purchase. If you have questions about Dapple, tweet @OwenGoss or email  info@streamingcolour.com.

rated 4.5 stars out of 5***** Click here to purchase Dapple from iTunes.

Anti-Krapps-Seal-v2GIF EDITORS NOTE:  Yeah … what Andy said! We also love Dapple, but are wasting away precious time from our life playing this darn game – but hey, Dapple is all good! As such, we are thrilled to announce that Dapple is 100% anti-KRAPPS Certified!

FREE Dapple To KRAPPS Viewers!
Dapple developer, Owen Goss, was kind enough to provide codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download Dapple for FREE. Through Tue, Mar 3 at 11:00am PST, tweet the message below on Twitter and be entered into the Dapple drawing. Good luck!

got iPhone? read the Dapple app review on @KRAPPS – it’s 100% anti-KRAPPS Certified http://is.gd/ltaD 

March 2, 2009 | Filed Under anti-KRAPPS, Games, Guest Authors | 5 Comments 

A Masterpiece

Today we’d like to talk about one of the most fascinating things in life and the iPhone app dedicated to this magnificent thing. Basically this thing should be included as one of the 7 Wonders Of The World – it really is that HUGE. Heck, we get chills just thinking it … it’s big, really big. Like First Man On The Moon BIG! We know you’ll be equally as excited, drop everything and download this app. Ohhh, this is going to be SO good!

AlmondEmulator-Icon Ok – ok – ok … what is this awesome thing we are talking about? … wait for it … ALMONDS! Yes sirree … ALMONDS. Screw that trendy bacon krap, almonds are awesome! And boy is the world in luck because Trevis Rothwell has released a one-of-a-kind, dedicated almond app … AlmondEmulator. This is the sole almond app you’ll find in the App Store – go figure. Can’t believe our boy Trevis was the only one bright enough to recognize the brilliancy of almonds and release AlmondEmulator.

AlmondEmulator is too cool. When you touch the almond, its spits out various almond facts: “almonds are not true nuts, but are drupes” – “the almond is native to India, Syria and Turkey” – “almonds are a good source of Vitamin E”. I know – pretty exciting stuff. But wait, it gets even better. There are four buttons which you can press to 1) Taste, 2) Smell, 3) Feel and 4) Listen to the almond. And get this, when you press the “Taste” button, the following text appears: It tastes just like an almond. Press the “Smell” button = It smells just like an almond. “Feel” button = It feels just like an almond. “Listen” = It sounds just like an almond. Whoa … slow down there sparky … this is simply too amazing.

AlmondEmulator-Screen-2    AlmondEmulator-Screen-3

Yup, the AlmondEmulator is simply Un-Freaking-Believable! Huge of Apple for approving this app … and even more genius of Trevis for developing this masterpiece – just an amazing talent! So stop what your doing and download AlmondEmulator now! I know you’d pay upwards of $9.99 for this gem … but can you believe it’s FREE?!? And pay no attention to the user reviews below. These folks are just haters. The heck with them. Download now!

Waste of space. Deleted.
Not even worth the free download.
Shamelessly stupid app.
Absolute Uselessness. Why would such an app be allowed in the store?

March 2, 2009 | Filed Under Entertainment | 14 Comments 

Touch Poet App

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

update: all 10 Touch Poet apps have been claimed – thank you

Title: Touch Poet
Category: Entertainment
Guest Author: Dennis

Still in the doghouse because you forgot to do something nice for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day? Don’t actually have a sweetie and just want to woo the girl of your dreams? Some dude wrote a lame poem and stole your girlfriend from you?

Touch-Poet-Icon While you may feel like moaning and whining about it (or even blaming us why KRAPPS didn’t remind you it was Valentine’s Day or give our recommendation for the best pick-up line app), it would be more productive to quickly finish reading this little blurb and pick up the Touch Poet app to end your miseries. With Touch Poet, you can quickly generate a poem that Shakespeare or Edgar Allen Poe would be proud of. Using the actual words that these great men have left us, you can piece together a masterpiece of your own using Touch Poet. If these classics authors will leave them asking you “WTH??” go the “hip” route and generate words from DIGG articles and recent news. Once you have completed your work of art, Touch Poet allows you to tweet it on Twitter (it’s like broadcasting an ad … all the girls will come flocking to you) or just directly email it to the person. It’s just that easy with Touch Poet!

touchpoet_003  touchpoet_004

So what are you waiting for? Make your belated-Valentine’s Day gift now! Go win your woman back now! Go meet chicks! … all with the help of Touch Poet.

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antikrappssealv2gif EDITORS NOTE: With all the KRAPPS and redundant apps (how many pickup line apps are there now?) in the App Store, Touch Poet is a breath of fresh air. It is an innovative and unique app that fuels your creativity – this is a good thing – we all need creativity fuel! Touch Poet is 100% anti-KRAPPS certified.

FREE Touch Poet App ($2.99 value) To KRAPPS Viewers!
Morgan Brown Consultancy, makers of Touch Poet, were kind enough to provide codes which will allow KRAPPS viewers to download Touch Poet for FREE. Simply be one of the first 10 viewers to leave a comment at the end of this review. PLZ leave a review in iTunes.

February 28, 2009 | Filed Under anti-KRAPPS, Entertainment, Guest Authors | 29 Comments 

A New King Of KRAPPS

It all started so innocently about 2 months ago. KRAPPS launched on Christmas Day 2008 and began spotlighting such KRAPPS as Amulet (wear your iPhone as a necklace app), Ringr Roulette (app that encourages drunk dialing) and Hold The Button (objective is to press a button and never let go, ever). Ha! – Ha! It was all fun and games way back then. They were lame apps – we laughed at them – pointed out their stupidity – and moved on.

stinkyphone But then certain Benchmark Apps arrived – historic apps that changed the landscape of the App Store forever. Groundbreaking apps we guess, which left us scratching our heads in disbelief. It started with the granddaddy of KRAPPS, Fart apps. Then the bar was raised with Boobie Jiggling apps. Next up were the magnificent Peeing apps. And just this week, we reached a new  pinnacle with Spanking apps. Uhhh, so we thought …

Yesterday an app so krapptastic appeared it immediately made us forget about spanking apps. We’ve moved on to something bigger and better … introducing the new King Of KRAPPS … Peep Show. Say it again … Peep Show. One more time … PEEP SHOW.

PeepShowScreen1     PeepShowScreen2

ahhh, Peep Show. Mister Jobs – seriously – WTF?!?! We are now totally convinced that someone at Apple has a screw loose. Steeeeeve! Duuuuude! This is getting  embarrassing … come on Apple, is this really what you want to sell … an app where you  stick a coin in the slot, have the curtain go up and reveal scantily clad women? Nothing against scantily clad women – we love them too – but offering this as a product from Apple? madonna-2 Are you guys thinking straight? Do we really need to come up to the Mothership and explain why approving this app is an epic FAIL?!?! And to classify it as a game suitable for 9+ year olds … Steeeeeve! Duuuuude! … trust me, no decent parent on Earth would want their 9-year old (4th graders) playing with the Peep Show app (well if they did, we’d bitch slap them with the iFight app). And more … just look at the app’s description filled with terms like “hotties”, “many women to oogle” and “hot women” (it will not surprise us if some group applies pressure on Apple to pull this KRAPPS – where are the #MotrinMoms):

PeepShowDesc

Finally, for even more Peep Show amusement – click here to check out the Peep Show discussion thread on touchArcade. We’ll conclude with a few excerpts:

Seriously? Apple rejected the South Park app but allowed peep show!

 

When I saw this app, I threw up in my mouth a little.

 

This game is an epic phail! And a crapp.

 

This is a new low really.

February 27, 2009 | Filed Under Games | 22 Comments 

Clearly Obnoxious

obnoxious_rosie-after Long names are obnoxious. The guy with 14 letters in his last name … not his fault, but clearly obnoxious! Major League Baseball team “The Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim” … sorry Arte Morino, totally obnoxious! Long movie titles … “Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines Or How I Flew From London To Paris In 25 Hours 11 Minutes” … also obnoxious! Longest url …

 www.thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/wearejust
doingthistobestupidnowsincethiscangoonforeverandeverandeverbutitstilllookskindaneatin
thebrowsereventhoughitsabigwasteoftimeandenergyandhasnorealpointbutwehadtodoit
anyways.html

… waaaaaay obnoxious, but kinda cool.

Same goes with iPhone apps. The HiCalc Winner Of Best Calculator In The 2007 PPC Magazine Awards app. Just called the damn thing HiCalc and be done with it. No need to throw your marketing spin into the title … NOT a clever tactic at all. We are all very proud of developer PPCLINK and their award from PPC Magazine, but based on the obnoxious factor of your app, I’m turning the page … even if you win the 2008 award. <yawn>

HiCalcDesc1

February 26, 2009 | Filed Under Utilities | Leave a Comment 

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