Kaleidoscope Painter

Kaleidoscope Painter (iPad)

While I have experienced some great sketching & painting apps on my iPad, Kaleidoscope Painter caught my attention with its truly unique and fresh approach as a creative application. All you have to do is simply move your finger around the screen to start creating your kaleidoscope images, the control sensitivity is so delicate & works really well.

A clever, yet simple idea that works impressively on the iPad’s screen. Certainly an app that can appeal to all ages and ability.

Santa’s Big Helper: 9 Christmas Apps in 1

Santa’s Big Helper: 9 Christmas Apps in 1

Christmas for children is a time for fun & excitement. There are lots of great Christmas themed apps currently available on the App Store but I particularly found this one very suitable for parents, as it offers great potential for parents & children to share some Christmas magic.

So the Santa’s Big Helper app comes with many features: Santa Tracker, Elf Cam, Christmas Countdown, Elf Updates, Nice/Naughty List, Letters to Santa, Ask an Elf, Magic Compass & Christmas Soundboard. As you can probably tell from the list of features, there is so much you can do with this app – my favorite feature has to be the Elf Cam, where you’ll be able to see Santa enter your home delivering those much deserved gifts! This alone makes this app very unique with the ability to add that extra magical feel to a child’s Christmas.

Disaster Radar

Disaster Radar

Disaster Radar is a virtual world map that pin-points all the latest natural disasters and emergencies around the globe. Why the App Store has this application placed in the entertainment category is beyond my understanding, but in general this is an app that many will find interesting & of use – best of all it’s free. Whether its Earthquake updates, Biohazards, Avalanches & so on, you can get a swift update using this useful app. Those of you who like to travel around the globe will most likely find this of good use.

Talking Santa for iPhone

Talking Santa for iPhone

Who would of ever thought that you could have your own pocket-sized Santa! Be prepared for some great festive humour, as you have the option to do lots of interaction with your Santa, this includes: talking to Santa & he will repeat your words, slapping the bearded oaf across the face!, poking or tickling him, giving him milk & cookies & running him over with a giant snowball! In addition to this you can tap Santa’s gift bag for him to present you with a gift (unless you have previously annoyed him). This app also allows you send customized Christmas cards via email, MMS or Facebook – an option that many will find very useful. Last but certainly not least you can record your own videos of Santa, these will then be saved to your library & you can upload them onto YouTube/Facebook or send them by email. iPod Touch generation 1-3 users will need an external microphone to get the full value out of this app. A very funny app suitable for all ages.

My Virtual Girlfriend

My Virtual Girlfriend

For all you guys out there who are struggling to find “Mrs Right”, fear not! – you can now have a virtual girlfriend right in the palm of your hand! I have a “friend” who has tested this app out & they said it was very humorous and entertaining. There are hundreds of virtual girls available, each with a unique personality, outfits and lingerie (!). The aim of this app is to progress through the levels with the aim of falling in love (lets hope that’s not really your motivation for using this app), you’ll be able to interact with your virtual girlfriend using touch, talk, gestures, actions & gifts. Great light-hearted entertainment that will give you lots of fun & laughter – but don’t take it too seriously ;o)

Talking Larry the Bird

Talking Larry the Bird

Every now & then it doesn’t do any harm in having some mindless/childish fun, since I got this app I have been doing exactly this! Larry is a multi-talented bird who can sing, listen & repeat what you say and bow to his audience. He does come accross as quite an adorable little character & will be very popular with the children. However, for those hardcore mean people out there – fear not as this app gives you the option to strike poor Larry with a bolt of lightning (I must confess in doing this a number of times!). A great app to get family & friends involved in. iPod Touch users will need an external microphone to get the full use of this app.

FaceGoo

FaceGoo

I was addicted to the FaceGoo app as soon as I started using it. Not that I get too much pleasure out of stretching and distorting peoples faces, but it does make me laugh! You can either use pictures from your library or iPhone users can also take a picture of themselves or others – then the fun begins with the distorting & other goo themed techniques. You can even add & re-size a trendy looking moustache & beard, if you fancy yourself as a keen artist try drawing some interesting decoration on or around your image.

Crazy Teeth

Crazy Teeth

There comes a time when we all need to wind down & act a little more childish than usual and with the Crazy Teeth app we can all do this! Choose from a variety of different themed teeth, including vampire, werewolf, decaying, horse, smoker and hillbilly as just a few examples. This is one of those silly-but-funny apps that has a time & place for where it should be used, while the more gory teeth sets would not be the most suitable to show young children, this app is suitable for most age ranges & probably best in use with family and friends.

FatBooth

FatBooth

First of all, this app is just purely for light hearted laughter & is not meant to be offensive in any way to anyone who has weight problems of any kind. This is a simple to use app, iPhone users will get the full benefit with the ability to take your picture when using the app (or select an existing face photo from your iPod Touch or iPhone gallery). You will then need to align eyes, chin & mouth to the apps template – then be prepared to see yourself become hilariously “expanded” in the face. A silly but very funny app, great fun to use with friends and family!

Pocket Creatures

Pocket Creatures

This is certainly am interesting and addictive app! Not another pet sim I hear you say? Well, Pocket creatures certainly is a pet sim & one of the best that you’ll find on the iPhone/iTouch & iPad. You’ll initially start off with an un-hatched egg, once the egg has hatched you’ll be presented with your very own virtual pet. You are now responsible to raise your pet the way that you feel necessary (!), whether it will be a kind and gentle approach or whether you decide you give it a good slap every now & then! (lets hope not). On top of all the exciting stuff you can do in looking after your pet, you can also explore the mystical island where he/she is based.