Juice

Here is another battery app! This one does the exact same thing as the other battery app that I reviewed. This one is called Juice. This battery has the same features regarding how the battery is read where that it decreases in 5% increments becasue that is the only way developers are allowed to access the battery via a 3rd party app. Apple doesnt allow developers the exact statistics of the battery. A really cool thing about this app is that there are tons of choices as to what you want the battery to look like: whether it be different neon batteries, or a glass of soda or beer. Check it out in the App Store today. It's $0.99. It may seem a little steep, but if you want some choices in the style of the battery, then this app is right for you!

iPhone Stylus

These things came out shortly after the release of the original iPhone, and I have been dying to try once ever since. Silly silly me. These styluses boast that they function due to what they call "electron transfer". That's really it for their descriptions. Basically, it's magic. I wish I could offer more insight to how this works, and I am throwing around the word "works" very loosely, but alas, I cannot. The only reason I purchased one of these is because I found one cheap enough on Amazon that if it didn't function, it wouldn't hurt my feelings.

From the moment I tried to use this, I realized that this is far from being a real stylus. I tried sliding the unlock button using about as much pressure as I would with a regular stylus, but nothing. Several swipes later, I realized that I basically had to jab the stylus at the screen to

get it to work. Vince's first words when trying it were, "This crap doesn't work!". I couldn't agree more.

Using the agility of a master clock maker, I managed to unlock the phone using the stylus. Next came the issue of selecting an app. A simple tap was not sufficient enough, far from it. Then came the aimless stabbing at the phone, but still nothing. Finally, I realized that I had to "roll" the rubber end of the stylus over and app to get it to select it. Not very effective, but it "worked".

Using the keyboard was just as unnerving. More strange rolling to select a letter, and even then, it was not always accurate. The typing speed decreases by so much it physically hurt my body and mind.

Alas, here comes it's final flaw. The rubber tip leaves some kind of strange residue all over the screen. It's nothing that a little wipe across the shirt won't fix, but who really wants to use a product that leaves gunk on another device?

I will give the stylus this, it does look good. It actually looks like it might actually be manufactured with a legitimate design. It also functions pretty easily on my MacBook Pro's trackpad, albeit, it still leaves a gray residue.

To sum it up, just stay away from these products. If the iPhone was intended to be used with a stylus, and not our fingers, Apple would have made the phone that way. But it's not. The iPhone's screen is very intuitive and intelligent, even for those with big fingers. Just stick to the original. Believe me, you'd regret purchasing this with actual American dollars.

Chess with Friends

What could be better than playing chess with a friend? How about playing chess with a friend on the other side of the country? Well, that's exactly what Chess with Friends allows you to do. You can play with anyone in the world over the internet so long as they have an iPhone and this app. And you don't have to play all in one game. Through the game's settings, you can set it up so that you will receive a text message every time your opponent makes a move. So you can make a move, close the app, then several hours later, receive a message that says your opponent made a move and now you can just go back to the app and make your next move. The graphics for this game look pretty decent considering it is a free game in the AppStore. And you do not necessarily have to play with a friend. You can also play against anyone that the game pairs you up with. Overall, it's a really fun game and makes it really easy to connect with your friends.

AirCurve -- Acoustic Amplifier for iPhone

I have a pretty neat iPhone gadget for all you guys. Here is is, the AirCurve. It is an amplifier for the speaker on your iPhone. This little gadget has a curved "horn-like" shape built into the dock that projects sound/music/your blaring alarm clock into the room increasing the sound by 10 decibels. Another really cool feature is that the dock and body is clear/see through so that you can appreciate the beautiful design of the amplifier. Another thing this dock offers is a little port so that you can stick your existing iPhone charging cable through the dock in order to charger your phone while the iPhone is on the dock. FYI: THIS WILL NOT WORK WITH THE iPOD TOUCH
@mhelvey bought this device for me for my birthday and have used it ever since! I love it! It really does amplify your music and you can hear the difference. Its great for an alarm clock or music for a party...a quieter party. The only downside, this device will not work with any case on your iPhone. The only "case" it will work with is the ZAGG InvisibleShield. Keep in mind, this amplifier will not compete with or replace your current boombox. But it is a fun device to play with. Check it out here. It's $19.99.

Speck Features Us On Their Website!

Guys! Check this out! Speckproducts.com has featured mine and Zack's blog and our Speck case reviews on their website! :D Check them out, and buy some of their cases. Best in the business!

-Speck Fitted case

-Speck Candyshell case Thanks Speck! :D Everybody! Please check out Speck Products at Speckproducts.com

Backgrounds

This is a very very simple app, with not much to say about it. It is pretty self explanatory. I think it is important to highlight in this blog though, because some people may not have heard of it yet. It is called Backgrounds. As you may have already guessed, this app has nothing but hundreds and hundreds of backgrounds specifically for your iPhone. Some include Artsy, Funny, Cars, Messages, Cute, Movies, Animals, For Guys, For Girls, Valentines Day, Other, Sports and more! It is definitely the best background app, especially because it is FREE. Check out Backgrounds in the App Store today! :D

iSkin Revo2

Ok guys, so I just got my new case for my iPhone. The iSkin Revo2. The whole case is made of premium silicone. It is like a big rubber glove that protects my phone really well. This paired with the InvisibleShield that @zjh90 already reviewed is what I have on my phone now. And that stuff people say about silicone being hard to get out of your pocket...what?! (Are you wearing silicone pants, or skinny jeans?) haha.

The Pros:
-Fits like a glove
-Protects all areas of the iPhone, including the silver bezel
-Washable
-I can easily put it in and take it out of my pocket
Sleek, I dont really notice it(im used to having a case on my phone, the Speck Candyshell)
-Covers all ports, with a little silicone flaps
-Grippy, won't fall out of your hand.

The Cons:
-Silicone (i prefer hard cases)
-Attracts a little bit of lint after being in my pocket, but it was nothing I couldnt handle easily
-May be harder for people with big thumbs to tap the space button in SMS.
-The hard removable screen protector seems pointless for any iPhone user who needs to access their phone quickly or is constantly on it.

Overall, this case is amazing for the iPhone, I truly do love it! (i think even more than my Speck Candyshells) The only downsides that I have encounterd is the little bit of pocket lint that sticks to the case and builds up around the screen. I really think you should check out this case though at www.iskin.com for $39.99 or any Apple Store. The only problem with the Apple Store is that none of the 4 stores were in stock and they didnt expect to be getting anymore soon...WEIRD.
And as a last resort, try eBay! Thats where I got mine. $24.99! :D

Speck Candyshell

The Speck Candyshell, the motherload of iPhone cases. This Speck shell is great! It has a hard outer shell with a soft inner coating. The cases hugs your phone in a really tight fit that makes it almost impossible to take out of the case. The $34.95 package comes with the Speck Candyshell case, a screen protector, a microfiber cloth, and a squeegie for applying the screen protector.
It protects your most prized electronic possession from anything. I have dropped my phone with this case on it from chest heighth and it hit the ground and bounced a couple times. The design of this case really allows any force applied to the case to be spread out. If you look at the sides and corners of the case you will see that the rubber-like material was also added here so that your phone can absorb any impact that it may see.
Although I love this case, there are a few downsides I have noticed while using it for the past 5 months. The case is incredibly difficult to remove from your iphone. You need to push one the top corners or the top back of the case to wedged it out. You may think this would destroy your case, but it will not. The Candyshell is very flexible.
Also, the rubber-like coloring tends to get discolored over time. My Lime and Gray case turned a nasty orange color on the outer rim near where the bezel of the iphone is. And the red on my Red and White case got darker. This is from normal use like putting the phone with the case on in and out of your pocket.
Lastly, the hold button and rocker buttons are not the easiest to press with the rubber-like material covering the buttons. This gets incredibly easy to use after a couple of times with the case on the phone, but it is a little bit of a bother at first. If you would like to check out the case and purchase one for $34.95, please visit. www.speckproducts.com or any Apple Store. Also, I suggest you check out eBay if you would like to find one cheaper. :D

Amateur Surgeon

WARNING: THIS GAME IS PROBABLY NOT FOR THE FEINT OF HEART (it did almost make Vince pass-out...hehe). Ahhh...What a fine specimen we have here. Have you ever woken up and and thought to yourself, "I think I want to see what it would be like to be a surgeon in conditions not at all suitable for even the poorest of countries!"? Well here is your chance! Amateur Surgeon allows you to perform surgeries on various patients with ailments ranging from bullet wounds to porcupine needles in the lungs. It somewhat resembles a bastardized "Operation" game by Hasbro. This game originate from an online version found on NewGrounds.com. While this game is fun and entertaining, many of the gestures required to play are just too difficult. The precision sometimes needed is much better suited for use with a physical mouse, and using one's finger becomes too difficult. Nonetheless, once you get the hang of some of the tools, this game is still good for passing the time. It's currently on sale for $2.99 or their is a lite version.

Rolando 2

By far, the best iPhone game available (next to the original Rolando). Rolando 2 uses all of the incredible features the iPhone has to offer. Most games found in the App Store are just plain awful because they are basically clones of horrible flash games that I could play on the internet for free. It has always been my belief that there should be another version of the App Store called the Crap Store where Apple could safely store all the garbage apps they receive without interfering with the good apps that are in the App Store. Back to Rolando 2, it is a really fun way to spend some time on the iPhone without wasting too much time. Albeit, it felt a little short, it was still extremely fun and exciting. It has a really nice combination of difficulty and fun. With it's gorgeous 3D game-play and fun user interface, you can't go wrong. The $10 price may seem a little steep (and it'll probably go down just like the first one), but this game is definitely worth taking a look at.