iPad App of the Day - Fluidity HD

Fluidity HD
Nebulus Design, 3.9 mb, Free (2.99 full version unlock)

A pleasant, yet trippy way to stare at something. This is the lava lamp that flows by your touch, controlling the flow of the ever changing HD vibrant colorful fluid. It's nice, calming, yet addictive. This is free, but with the $2.99 full unlock you can also add special audio or allow an outside projection through a special cable to your iPad. Perfect for that next freak out.

iPad App of the Day - Red Laser

RedLaser Barcode Scanner and QR Code Reader 
Occipital, 3.7 mb, Free

Actually, this app is built for the iPhone and iPod. However, RedLaser can be downloaded, perfectly used on the iPad 2 (using its camera).

I recently tried out RedLaser for my massive collection of books in storage. But, I was lacking decent WiFi and that is when I discovered the best features of this cool (and free!) app. RedLaser can scan and save the UPC barcode numbers while offline. Scanning is quick, simple and very responsive to the iPad 2. You can put the scanner on its "multiple" option, allowing faster scanning. Save the list and go online later to uncover the info from a variety of resources, including the going prices - great for online selling research. The list then can be exported to your email for easy sharing.

The RedLaser works on pretty much everything modern that has a barcode - toys, food, DVDs, whatever. Information can come from local places for price comparisons, or from the popular online markets. Its reliable, easy to use and fantastic for the iPad's long running battery, a necessity for all-day scanning  projects.

iPad App of the Day - My Writing Spot (for the iPad)

My Writing Spot (for the iPad)
PT Software Solutions, 1.1 mb, $4.99

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is almost upon again for the coming November. For those without an office and a heavy work schedule, consider something a bit more portable, easier to handle and useful in that writing endeavor. Consider My Writing Spot.

My Writing Spot is a personal favorite of mine. For several reasons, this app is great for NaNoWriMo and the iPad. The keyboard is customized for fiction, with that needed much needed tab key, some extra punctuation marks up top for quicker access and two keys for word skipping. Users can add chapters,each with word count and change the font style, size. The interface is simple, easy to use with an background that is light on the eyes and you can switch to a "night" mode. Also, the app is enabled for Bluetooth keyboards. And for added security, you may password protect your work.

Overall, My Writing Spot is a nice and worthwhile program for novel and short fiction writers, and perfect for NaNoWriMo.

Creating, coding games and simulations on the iPad with Codify

Codify
Two Lives Left, 10.5 mb, $7.99



Codify is now on the iPad, an amazing easy to use interface allowing users to make,code games and simulations (using Lua programming code). For those still learning, there are also handy examples and sprites available for use and study. Very interesting, as I feel suddenly inspired.

iPad App of the Day - Crazy Face

Crazy Face
Ezone.com, 4.3 mb, Free (Crazy Face Lite) $2.99 "Full" version.

Use Crazy Face to make small children laugh this Halloween weekend, especially in the dark. This app brings a full monster face to the screen as it recognizes your voice, or at least the noises you make. Then, mouth and brows quickly animate depending on the sound or tap of the iPad, so give it a good scare. Even better, put a hood on and find a way to strap the entire iPad in, for a fun kid-friendly surprise scare. Also, great for Trick or Treaters, if the user is creative enough...hmm!

Crazy Face is for the iPad and iPhone, but more practically on the iPad screen. There is the Crazy Face Lite edition, which gives you one free face with the option to pay for more face (many available.) And there is the "full" version that has four of its main monster faces for $2.99 with the option to buy more. I would advise the Lite version first, see if you or any kids present love the animated fun, then go for more faces ($0.99 each). Sure, the entertainment may not last as long as a game, but having this handy does lighten the mood, especially in the dark.

iPad App of the Day - PhotoLoader HD for Facebook

PhotoLoader HD for Facebook 
Yakamoz Internet Teknolojileri ve Danismanlik Ltd, 4.0 mb, $2.99

PhotoLoader HD is my highest recommendation for those who love posting pics on Facebook from the iPad. This, for several reasons: you can upload your pics in a bundle efficiently and quick. Reorder, crop and cut unwanted pics. Easy captioning, tagging and placing in albums. And, PhotoLoader HD rarely quits on you, which is more than I can say for the previous app I used for batch uploads - the iLoader, though it does have useful features PhotoLoader HD lacks, so I keep both handy.

Use Photoloader HD instead of the official Facebook app iPad update to upload pics. Yes, the official Facebook app is awesome for the iPad now, but still currently has its weaknesses - no choosing of album folders (it just sends it to the mobile album default, and you can't do batches). The PhotoLoader HD compensates for that and does it well in a simple, reliable manner. Also, you can also upload in high resolution, add simple effects and upload from your Dropbox account.

Well worth the $2.99.

iPad App of the Day - Frotz

Frotz
Craig Smith, 57.1 mb, FREE
(Also available for the iPhone)

Frotz is a fun gem from the oldest school of gaming. No fancy graphics, gimmicks or big explosions (at least visually). These are interactive stories involving just the text, where users read, and respond with text directing the continuation of the story. Part of the fun is goofing it all up, making the wrong decisions and the thrill of figuring out the right thing to type. Then, to attempt to guide the story to its conclusion.

That, was the very beginning of computer RPGs, with much elements carrying into our modern games. Choose from the pile already available or download new stories from the Interactive Fiction Database (IFDB.com). Check out the original 1979 classic, "Zork," download the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" or my personal favorite "Being Andrew Plotkin."

My three reviews of iPad available comics!

Head on over to All Day Comics, where I reviewed three new single-issue comics available via the ComiXology app for the iPad. The new Aquaman #1, Our Love is Real #1, and Brilliant #1.

Click here to read.

iPad App of the Day - Crackle - Movies & TV

Crackle - Movies & TV
Crackle Inc., 7.7 mb, FREE
(iPhone, iPod Touch versions available)

Hundreds of movies, thousands of TV episodes, all free! Crackle is probably Sony's answer to the video streaming content war. Through this simple app, users may steam full movies and television shows onto the iPad. Unlike Hulu and Netflix, there are no subscription costs. However, the ads and commercial breaks do happen, which is fair for the nice selection.

Most of its content are from the years gone by with some occasional surprises. Personal favorites of mine include Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon (Sho'nuff!), the complete Married with Children, the entire Jackie Chan Adventures cartoon. Recent additions that made me smile include Ghostbusters II, Black Gunn (classic blaxploitation), The Defendor (dark superhero movie starring Woody Harrelson).

There are some need for improvements upon its frustrating search feature and some occasional crashing. But otherwise, worth having on your iPad for some quick, fun video entertainment.

IN DEFENSE OF THE DIGITAL COMICS REVOLUTION

As a guest contributor, I wrote this amusing op-ed for All Day Comics on the sale and rise of digital comics downloading. Click here to read!

$0.99 App Sale - Let's Create! Pottery HD

Let's create! Pottery HD 
Infinite Dreams Inc., 74.9 mb, $4.99 $0.99

Strangely addictive and now on the cheap! Mold clay into amazing shapes using your iPad fingers. Use and unlock brushes, patterns, colors and ornaments to make your masterpiece. Then, you may sell on a virtual market for pretend cash and unlock more. In the real world, you may share your finished work via email or Facebook.

iPad App of the Day - Video Time Machine

Video Time Machine
Original Victories, 1.5 mb, $1.99
(iPhone version available)

Video Time Machine is an absolute gem for media history hounds and nostalgia fiends. With this app, users can go back throughout any year technologically possible and enjoy full motion videos. Over 10,000 videos featured in this app are embed from Youtube, and conveniently categorized by year and media type. Included are sports,video games, news, TV, advertisements and movies.

Some finds are well known but otherwise forgotten footnotes such as Micheal Jackson's Pepsi Ads, the second presidential Reagan-Mondale debate and Wendy's "Where's the Beef" video ads. Others are downright obscure like Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance on the Dating Game, Vectorbeam (1977 video game ahead of its time), and Captain Planet fighting Hitler. Some finds are too awesome for words, like Apple's first computer commercial and the original Star Wars trailer. Much of it, we would never know without the spin of Video Time Machine's fantastic wheel.
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The app itself is very easy to use but can be very addictive. From there, users can share the fun via Twitter or Facebook. Sadly there is no search function. But then again, would that spoil the fun of browsing by year and category? Either way, Video Time Machine is well worth the $1.99.

iPad App of the Day - Gorilla Workout

Gorilla Workout
Heckr LLC, 32.5 mb, $1.99

Gorilla Workout is an an app with a fun gimmick, and a fantastic guide for those needing push and better direction in their fitness routine. Gorilla Workout has a plan for anyone, as users can choose their level, based on fitness experience and able body. Next, goals are set for each day, and with success, mastery of each workout in the suggested time (Level 1 is 20 days), the user may proceed to the next level (featuring a bigger gorilla) . Many workouts are listed for each level, as all the necessary info and video (!) are available to the user.

For iPad and iPhone users, the Gorilla Workout is the perfect plan at a very affordable price. It's also very easy to use, as the IOS devices are more practical than laptops for carry to the local gym or park. Over 40 exercises are available so far. Also, users may proudly announce their progress via Twitter or Facebook. Hopefully, more updates to the Gorilla Workout will be added, including eating and natural supplement suggestions. For now, this iPad Captain has much modified push-ups to do.

iPad App of the Day - Ruler for the iPad

Ruler for iPad or iPhone
Jonathan Walz, 7.4 mb, FREE
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Just a simple, free ruler for the iPad. Measure real things and stuff on it or with it. This app has the inches and centimeters switching option, a grid, line plotting, six different visual styles. Not bad for the price of free. There are ads, of which you can pay within the app to remove. You can also save and email (!) your measurements. The Ruler is a handy, low space solution for school and posting descriptions for selling eBay items or whatever else online.

Yeah, today's app is short and simple. It's the end of the work week; go out and enjoy some fresh air.

iPad App of the Day - Flixster

Movies by Flixster, with Rotten Tomatoes (for the iPad)
Flixster, 10.7 mb, FREE
(iPhone and Android version also available)

Flixster is the best, most useful app for current movie theater attendees. See all needed information on the latest flicks. Even better, find the nearest movie theater and showtimes using the iPad's location service. Flixster also shows the Rotten Tomatoes calculated score and top reviews, though I try to ignore that (never trust Internet mob rule when factored into ratings unless extremely low or high). Love the connected preview trailers, which is most helpful with the indie movies. As for the nearest movie info; times, upcoming showtimes, map info and more is available to the quick touch. In all, that puts an end to the frustration of making phone calls and shuffling through newspapers.

Flixster is free, but supported by ads. Sometimes the ads pop up after the app opens, a small price but worthwhile price to pay for this excellent service.

iPad App of the Day - Celtx Script

Celtx Script (for the iPad)
Greyfirst Corp, 1.0 mb, $9.99 $4.99 for a limited time!
(iPhone version also available)

The Celtx Script app is a must have for iPad users engaged in script writing. Such writing on this app is not just for film screenwriting, but includes theater staged, audio dramas, and comic books. Users can create professional scripts, ready to transfer, print, share and use. The mechanics and convenience of the iPad makes script writing easy on the go, as creation and editing is quick and simple.

The wonderfulness of the Celtx app stems from its many touch-friendly features. First is the format choice, of which the user chooses between five. While there are other movie script apps, Celtx is perhaps the only option for those looking to make professional scripts for comic books, stage plays, audio dramas. Another fantastic feature is the sync option with your desktop Celtx application, as whatever you change and add is instantly done to duplicate files on other systems. Overall, the easy interface allows automatic formatting as you type, and simple touch based controls for quick changes. The app also remembers characters and other elements, so your brain flows more with the content you create, not the format mechanics. Also fantastuc is the altered app keyboard, which contains extra hot keys allowing quicker editing and writing on the go.

Celtx is currently on sale and worthwhile, even at the full price. Also, Celtx is a win for its minimal space needed, just 1 mb!. Don't hesitate if you love scriptwriting, or considering a new hobby.

iPad App of the Day - Jetpack Joyride

Jetpack Joyride
Halfbrick Studios, 16MB, $0.99
A new, addictive classic arcade style game of skill.

Jetpack Joyride is the latest thrilling video game app, just released today for current IOS devices. There is so much to love for its mere 99 cent price. You fly, with the control determined by the finger as you boost up or let down (letting go of finger) through traps or "zappers" while collecting coins and power ups. The jetpack gatling exhaust hails bullets down over scattering "scientists," as the distance gathered add to your prowess and bragging rights. With continued gameplay, collected coins can be used to change your appearance and purchase upgrades.

Much like Robot Unicorn Attack, Jetpack Joyride is a seemingly never-ending right-scroller with an addictive yet fitting music tune. But through slot machine tokens, crazy power ups and constant new challenges including "Missions," this game is kept fun and fresh for experienced gamers and the interactive impaired. I personally appreciate the appearance of colorful sprites and repeating backgrounds, maintaining that old-school feel of the fabulous 16-bit Super Nintendo era.

Give this game a go if you love games like Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja and other casual fun. Much like our jetpacked protagonist, you may never want to stop. The gameplay time can be short and sweet, perfect for lunch breaks and long waits.