About Paul

All around gamer, app junkie, and stand-up guy. Editor on AppSlappy. Co-hosting for the Anhourofsleep and Time-Travelling Robots in Space podcasts.

AppSlappy 114: All in on the iPad 3

(Snatch)

Each of the big three return to us and deliver another wonderful AppSlappy episode. And, guess what, each one of the actually going to purchase an iPad 3 knowing absolutely nothing about it! Okay… maybe I will too. The current rumor is an official announcement in the beginning of March.

Scott’s Reviews
Raid Leader - $0.99 Universal on iPhone and iPad –  
Robokill 2 - Free Universal on iPhone and iPad - 
(Swick interpretation of Scottspeak)
Clear - $0.99 on iPhone and iPad - 

Eric’s Reviews
Scramble with Friends - Free on iPhone and iPad - 
Beat Sneak Bandit - $2.99 Universal iPhone and iPad - 

Eileen’s Reviews
Grid Lens - $0.99 Universal on iPhone and iPad - 
(Swick interpretation of Eileenspeak)
Kinotopic - Free on iPhone and iPad - 
(Swick interpretation of Eileenspeak)

Hero Academy is officially out today, and no one from AppSlappy will accept your invite, except me… because I can.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Direct MP3 Download
iTunes Subscription
RSS Feed
The Frogpants ULTRA Feed

Sell your iPad 2, now

Researchers at Gazelle and NextWorth are suggesting that now would be a pretty good time to sell your iPad 2 if you’re planning on upgrading to the iPad 3. They’ve compiled a chart for the average eBay price of the original iPad leading up to the announcement and release of the iPad 2. As one would probably expect, the longer people waited to sell their iPad during the months leading up to the iPad 2 release, the cheaper it became.

Many are speculating for a March announcement and, as a result, many are trying to unload their iPad 2 in lieu of this. So, unless you’re planning handing down your iPad 2 to someone, get it out there now.

Dwarves are welcomed to the Hero Academy

As most of you are probably aware, people around here like Hero Academy. In a bit of good news for the fans, and bad news for our time, Robot Entertainment announced that the Dwarven race will be added in an update on February 22nd, and available for $1.99 as an in-app purchase.

 Here’s some information they’ve listed:

The dwarves hail from distant fortresses of stone, seeking wealth and glory through victory at the Hero Academy. Dwarves are extremely crafty and gain improved bonuses from the playfield’s premium squares. They are masters of area attacks.

PALADIN

(Class: Fighter) – Holy warrior who can heal and revive allies, healing herself in the process.

GUNNER

(Class: Shooter) – Shooter who deals high damage to a nearby enemy. AOE damage at range.

GRENADIER

(Class: Caster) – Lobs molotovs over enemies for AOE damage. Weak melee attack.

ENGINEER

(Class: Support) – Shields a single ally/crystal. Higher bonus from premium squares.

ANNIHILATOR

(Class: Super Unit) – Deals heavy damage with AOE knockback. Direct hits weaken physical defenses.

Apple Exploiting Whitney Houston’s Death?

So, Whitney Houston dies in Los Angeles of an apparent drug overdose on Saturday. Then, about 30 minutes after the news hit main stream media, the price of her Ultimate Collection album in the UK went from  £3 ($4.70) to £7.99 ($12.60).

At least according to Digital Spy, Apple itself is the culprit. The claim being the Apple is attempting to cash in the singer’s death with the only real evidence being the end price. However, it should noted that prices are not set only by Apple, but by the music label. It is equally possible, and seemingly ignored my news outlets, that the music label (Sony Music) asked that the album prices be raised. And so far neither party has commented on the matter.

At the very least, someone wanted her album prices be raised shortly after her death in what is a very obvious attempt to make more money. Exactly who those entities might be is unclear. And (so far) no official comment has been made from Apple or Sony.

AppSlappy #113: The path to hell

(South Park)

Eileen returns to the show from the paradise known as Hawaii, or the hell known as CES, once reuniting the Three Amigos, El Guapo as interpreted by Eric Van Skyhawk. In this episode, Path gets some AppSlappy treatment… and not the good kind.

Scott’s Reviews
Blot - $0.99 Universal on iPhone and iPad –  
(Swick interpretation of Scottspeak)
Draw Pad Pro - $1.99 Universal on iPhone and iPad - 
Puzzlejuice$1.99 Universal on iPhone and iPad - 

Eric’s Reviews
Game your Video - $0.99 on iPhone and iPad - 
TaxCaster - Free Universal iPhone and iPad - 

Eileen’s Reviews
Evernote Food - Free on iPhone and iPad - 
(Swick interpretation of Eileenspeak)
PinterestFree on iPhone and iPad - 
(Swick interpretation of Eileenspeak)

Follow the show at @appslappyshow on Twitter to snag some game codes this week. Oh, and by the way, there are lyrics in the AppSlappy opening song! I didn’t know this…

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Direct MP3 Download
iTunes Subscription
RSS Feed
The Frogpants ULTRA Feed

Best Buy customer survey asks if you would buy an AppleTV

It seem fairly likely that Apple is building a proper TV, it’s a question of what it can do and how much it costs. Rumors have been flying about what an AppleTV would be for well over a year and now Best Buy has added a bit of fuel to the fire with a customer survey that gives people a hypothetical scenario of a 42-inch HDTV for $1,499.

It should be noted that a ‘normal’ 42-inch TV goes for about $499. Most people are saying that this survey has very little to do with what Apple is actually doing, due to use of the term  ”iSight.” For the most, Apple has been referring to this technology as “Facetime cameras.” Calling this overpriced is fairly safe statement, though I’d imagine that if they ran this through the Apple machine it would end in people wanting one…

New Samsung Superbowl commercial pokes a bit of fun at Apple users

Superbowl commercials are generally some of the best entertainment people get in between programming all year, and this year appears to be no exception. Among them is a new Samsung commercial that makes some fun at the Apple user’s expense. It’s a bit of a tease, but it’s for the new Samsung Galaxy Note LTE. The full 90 second commercial is scheduled to air in the fourth quarter. And, in case you were curious, it was directed by Bobby Farrelly, best known for some movies like Dumb and Dumber, Fever Pitch, and There’s Something About Mary.

Apple gains some Microsoft space points with new marketing exec

Apple has recently hired Robin Burrowes, a former Xbox executive, to run marketing for it’s App Store in Europe. According to his LinkedIn profile, Burrowes had started at Microsoft in 2005 as a manager, then promoted in 2008. He is only the latest in a long line of former gaming professionals recruited by Apple. In just this past year, people from Nintendo, EA, Activision and Microsoft have gone the way of iOS.

At the very least Apple would seem to know where their bread is buttered, especially considering that Apple made roughly 4 billion in revenue to date through the app store. I, for one, find it heartening that such a successful company would look into the throws of gaming to make their products stronger. On the other hand, I wish Apple would leave some of the talent alone. You watch, after Kingdoms of Amalur becomes a massive hit Curt Schilling will become Apple’s new VP of Awesome.

AppSlappy #112: Hero Obsession!


Scott and Eric are here once again to give us App **COUGH** **COUGH**slapp AppSlappy! Hero Academy dominates the discussion again as an early contender for game of the year.

Scott’s Reviews
Commit - $0.99 on iPhone and iPad -  (Swick’s interpretation of Scottspeak)
Order Up - Free Universal on iPhone and iPad - 
Paper Monsters$0.99 Universal on iPhone and iPad - 

Eric’s Reviews
Fresh Push Play Pro - $3.99 on iPhone and iPad - 
Square Card Case  - Free Universal on iPhone and iPad – More info coming next week!

Also, Android users like more fecal matter and life seems to happen in only five moves for our AppSlappy hosts.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Direct MP3 Download
iTunes Subscription
RSS Feed
The Frogpants ULTRA Feed