http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/features/reviews/ Daily news, opinions, editorials, reviews, tips, forums, comments, and podcasts all relating to the iPod, the iPhone, Apple, and the surrounding industry. en webmaster@ipodobserver.com Copyright 2009 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:47:06 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/pac-man_remix_needs_a_little_more_time_to_simmer/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/pac-man_remix_needs_a_little_more_time_to_simmer/ Pac-Man Remix continues the trend of Namco's Dig Dug Remix, Galaga Remix, and similar titles: Take a well-known arcade game recipe, spice it up with modern-day technologies and game development techniques, and serve it piping hot. Unfortunately, Pac-Man Remix is the victim of the same inferior ingredient as the others: a dodgy control scheme. In addition, the classic arcade game is missing from this one, despite the presence of the original versions in the other Remix games. iPO Reports, Games, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, Reviews, In-Depth Review Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:35:09 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/brain_training_unotan_a_nice_noggin_workout/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/brain_training_unotan_a_nice_noggin_workout/ SoftBank's Brain Training Unotan, published on the App Store by Softservice Corp., delivers what you expect from a brain "workout" game, with 15 exercises spread across the memory, concentration, and intuition areas. It's a solid effort with just a few shortcomings that can be easily addressed in an update. iPO Reports, Games, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, Reviews, In-Depth Review Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:45:29 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/npr_app_for_iphone_is_practically_perfect/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/npr_app_for_iphone_is_practically_perfect/ On August 15, National Public Radio (NPR) released its iPhone app, version 1.0. For a first version, the app is just about perfect. You can listen to NPR from any city, save as a favorite, catch up on recent programs, download the podcasts, and read the latest news as text.  The app is smooth, refined, and essential.  Best of all, it's free. Reviews, Quick Look Review Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:50:15 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/kensington_charging_dock_with_mini_battery_pack_for_iphone_and_ipod/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/kensington_charging_dock_with_mini_battery_pack_for_iphone_and_ipod/ Tired of running out of battery on your iPhone? Here is a solution that you can carry with you. Reviews, Quick Look Review Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:47:36 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/calc_zero_is_an_ultra-modern_scientific_calculator_for_iphone/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/calc_zero_is_an_ultra-modern_scientific_calculator_for_iphone/ There are calculators of all kinds for the iPhone.  Some merely compute tips, but only a few are designed for serious work by scientists and engineers. Calc Zero is one of those and not only includes an option for units associated with each number, but is a new breed of calculator designed to fully exploit the capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch. Reviews, In-Depth Review Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:59:34 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/four_apps_for_the_iphone_that_can_print_share_files/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/four_apps_for_the_iphone_that_can_print_share_files/ Sometimes it feels like the iPhone is a fortress in that native apps like Notes and Photos don't have a built in Print function. Also, getting files moved between an iPhone and local Mac is typically limited to e-mail.  Here are four apps that can solve some of those problems to a greater or lesser extent.  One app, Air Sharing Pro, stood out. Reviews, Quick Look Review Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:34:16 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/review_the_pogo_stylus/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/review_the_pogo_stylus/ The Pogo Stylus offers a solution to the problem of fingerprints on your iPhone or iPod touch as well as hitting the wrong keys when typing. iPO Reports, iPhone, Reviews, Quick Look Review Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:55:54 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/dig_dug_remix_the_devils_in_the_controls/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/dig_dug_remix_the_devils_in_the_controls/ When I reviewed Galaga Remix, I noted there were some issues with the control scheme, particularly in the arcade version, but they didn't completely ruin the experience. Unfortunately, those issues are magnified in Dig Dug Remix, and they persist in the arcade and Remix versions of the game. As a result, the playability suffers. iPO Reports, Games, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:15:57 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/galaga_remix_once_more_with_feeling/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/galaga_remix_once_more_with_feeling/ The classic version of Galaga is solid in all respects, except the control scheme, which doesn't offer a solution that feels right. On the remix side, however, that issue is fixed, and the action there is new and exciting enough, between the boss battles and nine power-ups, to offer fresh gameplay once the nostalgia value of the arcade original wears off. Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:00:27 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/chords_for_itunes_beta1/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/chords_for_itunes_beta1/ If you’ve read much of what I've written both here and elsewhere, you’re probably aware that I love music. I love listening to it and, while I’m not particularly talented, I love playing it. Which is why I find iPlayMusic's Chords for iTunes -- a unique new service that synchronizes chords and lyrics with songs in your iTunes library and displays them so you can play along in real time. Reviews, In-Depth Review Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:42:34 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/boxcar.io_video_overview/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/boxcar.io_video_overview/ Boxcar from appremix is an application for the iPhone and iPod touch that adds push notification support for several Twitter applications. David Gallant put the app through its paces and reported back with his findings in an easy to follow video. Reviews, Quick Look Review Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:51:18 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/istat/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/istat/ Describing iStat (an app for iPhone/iPod touch) is like blind men describing an elephant. One might say it's an iPhone app that magically frees up system memory. Another might say it shows you what's happening "under the hood" of your iPhone/iPod touch. A third describe it as a remote monitoring app for Mac, Linux, or Solaris machines. And a fourth might say it's a pair of useful network tools, namely ping and traceroute. Well it's all of those things and more. Reviews, In-Depth Review Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:22:50 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/skygazer_is_much_more_than_a_sky_simulator/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/skygazer_is_much_more_than_a_sky_simulator/ SkyGazer for the iPhone and iPod touch from Carina Software is a guide to the night sky and shows all the stars one can see with the naked eye plus all the planets and 220 of the best known star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. The strength of the app is the enormous amount of additional detail for major objects, including NASA spacecraft imagery. Reviews, Quick Look Review Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:11:53 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/hewlett-packard_hp-15c_implementation_on_iphone_is_solid/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/hewlett-packard_hp-15c_implementation_on_iphone_is_solid/ Hewlett-Packard is famous and revered for its line of scientific and financial calculators that launched with the HP-35 in February, 1972. After that, for over 35 years, HP has been producing great calculators.  Now, the famous HP-15C hand held calculator has been reincarnated, exactly, for the Apple iPhone, complete with a PDF of the original paper manual. Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:00:56 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/tiger_woods_pga_tour/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/tiger_woods_pga_tour/ I have been playing games on my iPhone for as long as there have been games for the iPhone and I have to say that Tiger Woods PGA Tour (TWPGAT hereafter) is one of my all-time favorites. And since I hold games priced at ten bucks*, like TWPGAT, to a much higher standard than games that cost a buck or two, that's saying a lot. Furthermore, even after many hours of enjoyable play, I haven't yet finished the entire tour. Reviews, In-Depth Review Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:45:06 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/cellranger_boosts_iphone_signal_bars_but_its_no_panacea/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/cellranger_boosts_iphone_signal_bars_but_its_no_panacea/ The CellRanger is a wireless signal enhancer that can boost the number of bars you see on your iPhone in poor reception areas.  However, simply increasing the number of bars isn't the whole story. Reviews, In-Depth Review Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:40:28 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/review_update_nextworth_buying_service_reconsiders_pays_up/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/review_update_nextworth_buying_service_reconsiders_pays_up/ On June 29, I wrote about my experience selling my one year old iPhone 3G to the electronics buying service, NextWorth. Their actual appraisal was much less than the original quote, but right after my review was published, I received a new quote, revised substantially upwards. Reviews, In-Depth Review Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:24:20 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/wings_earth_for_iphone_a_pleasant_flying_experience/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/wings_earth_for_iphone_a_pleasant_flying_experience/ There are flight simulators designed to develop proficiency, but this isn't one of them. It's basically a simul-game for iPhone and iPod touch that allows one to fly over various terrains with accompanying music. It's an ethereal experience, good for calming the nerves or an occasional diversion. Reviews, Quick Look Review Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:22:13 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/buyer_beware_of_iphone_buying_service_nextworth/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/buyer_beware_of_iphone_buying_service_nextworth/ Based on a recommendation from another writer, but still with trepidation, I sent my iPhone 3G into a service, NextWorth, that buys used electronics, including iPhones. What followed was a mildly depressing saga and a warning.  Reviews, In-Depth Review Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:05:38 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/twittelator_pro_the_best_so_far_in_iphone_twitterdom/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/twittelator_pro_the_best_so_far_in_iphone_twitterdom/ Twittelator Pro 3.0 is a full-featured Twitter client for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's an amazing iPhone app, and if you haven't started using Twitter yet, this app is so cool, you'll want to start. Version 3 requires iPhone OS 3.0 and has some special features, like tweet links to videos which are supported on the iPhone 3GS.  Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:00:41 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/the_nitty-gritty_review_of_iphone_os_3.0/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/the_nitty-gritty_review_of_iphone_os_3.0/ iPhone OS 3.0 is a seminal release. The list of enhancements is amazing, and one can get lost in the sheer tonnage of text surrounding it. The proper approach, however, pays dividends, namely, moving from an amazed, casual, frustrated user to an experienced iPhone user. That requires some nitty-gritty experimentation and digging.  Reviews, In-Depth Review Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:30:12 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/first_few_days_with_the_iphone_3gs/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/first_few_days_with_the_iphone_3gs/ Dave Hamilton received his iPhone 3GS on Friday morning and shares his thoughts after using it in "real life" for a few days. Reviews, Quick Look Review Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:20:47 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/radtech_bezel_blaster/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/radtech_bezel_blaster/ Bezel Blaster from RadTech is a bezel and bright metal restoration kit you can use on your iPhone, iPods, Sony PSPs, as well as jewelry, watches, and other bright metals. This review will be very short -- the product does exactly what it is supposed to do, does it quickly and easily, and I've got the photos to prove it. Reviews, In-Depth Review Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:17:51 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/eos_wireless_speaker_system/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/eos_wireless_speaker_system/ The EOC Wireless Speaker System lets you listen through walls without wires. Nancy Gravley lets us know if the sound quality holds up, even without wires.  Reviews, Quick Look Review Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:06:04 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/reqall/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/reqall/ reQall is an iPhone/iPod touch application is a self-described "voice-enabled memory aid," but while that depiction is totally accurate, I prefer to think of it as the ultimate reminder generator and, perhaps, the greatest thing since mother's milk. You see, not only does reQall help me remember anything and everything, it does so in an extremely intelligent fashion using a combination of technologies I use every day, such as my iPhone, email, iCal, the Web, instant messages, and RSS. Reviews, In-Depth Review Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:08:47 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/genium_ghp-05_live_3d_surround_premium_headphones/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/genium_ghp-05_live_3d_surround_premium_headphones/ The Genius GHP-05 headphones claim to offer 3D surround sound and great audio quality at an affordable price. Nancy Gravely tested them out with her favorite albums and reported back to let us know if they hold up to the promise. Reviews, Quick Look Review Thu, 28 May 2009 15:00:24 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/recorder_for_iphone_is_a_low_cost_digital_voice_recorder/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/recorder_for_iphone_is_a_low_cost_digital_voice_recorder/ Recorder 7.1 from Retronyms is an inexpensive but capable digital voice recorder for iPhone and iPod touch (2G only). It can record an interview or personal notes, save them as AIFFs, create a named label, sort, and then e-mail the file. The app is amazing and worth far more than the asking price.  Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 28 May 2009 13:00:50 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/scosche_showtime_a_v_cable_for_ipod_iphone/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/scosche_showtime_a_v_cable_for_ipod_iphone/ I've often wished I could plug my iPod or iPhone into a TV and watch video content that way instead of on the device's small screen. Then I discovered ShowTIME by Scosche, which does just that. Yes, it's a one-trick pony, but its trick is a good one -- it lets you watch video from your iPod or iPhone on any TV with composite video/audio inputs. Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 28 May 2009 10:10:29 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/tna_wrestling/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/tna_wrestling/ TNA Wrestling is a game for the iPhone and iPod touch based on the world of TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Wrestling. I have to admit I didn't know anything about TNA before this game came along, but I thought a game based on pro wrestling sounded like fun and I was right. Reviews, In-Depth Review Tue, 26 May 2009 16:46:10 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/griffin_elan_form_and_elan_form_graphite_hard-shell_textured_cases/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/griffin_elan_form_and_elan_form_graphite_hard-shell_textured_cases/ Griffin says their elan Form two part cases allow for easy docking for your iPhone or iPod Touch without completely removing the case. Nancy Gravely put both to the test. Reviews, Quick Look Review Fri, 22 May 2009 16:20:35 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/alesis_protrack_handheld_stereo_recorder_for_ipod/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/alesis_protrack_handheld_stereo_recorder_for_ipod/ The Alesis ProTrack is a handheld stereo recording device that uses your iPod* to store its recordings. Why might you need such a device? Well, its forte is recording live audio in stereo directly to your iPod without a cable and with one hand free. Reviews, In-Depth Review Fri, 22 May 2009 12:38:45 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/zoltar_will_reveal_your_future/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/zoltar_will_reveal_your_future/ Zoltar is an iPhone/iPod touch game that is fun for all ages. The psychic Zoltar sits in his ornamental box and answers questions about love, friends, work, money and health. In addition to great graphics, its has some nice surprises as well. Reviews, Quick Look Review Tue, 19 May 2009 13:20:16 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/bento_for_iphone_ipod_touch/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/bento_for_iphone_ipod_touch/ Bento for iPhone is a new personal database application based on the terrific Bento 2 personal database ($49 for Mac OS X.) While you can use Bento for iPhone as a standalone database on your iPhone or iPod touch, I find it an order of magnitude more useful when I sync wirelessly with Bento 2 on my Mac. When used together, Bento 2 on a Mac and Bento for iPhone and iPod touch let you carry searchable, sortable database libraries containing almost any type of data including e-mail messages, images, audio files, video files, and all sorts of other document types with you wherever you go. Furthermore, while you're on the go you can add new items to existing databases and create new databases from scratch quickly and easily. Reviews Tue, 12 May 2009 14:27:59 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/izel_is_a_light_portable_stand_for_ipods_smartphones/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/izel_is_a_light_portable_stand_for_ipods_smartphones/ The Moviac iZel is a portable, lightweight, durable and adjustable stand for most any small electronic device such as an MP3 player, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, BlackBerry, etc. It's made from a durable, slip resistant elastomer material and can be adjusted for portrait or landscape viewing as well as tilt angle.  Reviews, Quick Look Review Tue, 12 May 2009 15:00:51 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/starwalk_1.5_gains_features_usability/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/starwalk_1.5_gains_features_usability/ Starwalk for iPhone and iPod touch is a miniature planetarium in your hand that can guide you through the night sky. Have you ever wondered what that bright object is in the evening sky? Or seen a vaguely familiar constellation and can't quite remember the name? Starwalk 1.5, with its added features and usability, is a great companion for the casual observer of the heavens.  Reviews, Quick Look Review Mon, 11 May 2009 16:00:28 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/richardsolo_iphone_ipod_dual_charging_station/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/richardsolo_iphone_ipod_dual_charging_station/ This is going to be a very short review. The RichardSolo iPhone/iPod Dual Charging Station does exactly what its name implies -- it's a charging dock for two Apple devices with dock connectors (i.e. iPods and iPhones), and looks pretty while doing it! Reviews, In-Depth Review Tue, 05 May 2009 11:04:46 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/papers_for_iphone_like_itunes_for_your_research_pdfs/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/papers_for_iphone_like_itunes_for_your_research_pdfs/ If you never need to read peer-reviewed or other academic articles, then this product will be of little interest to you. If you do, it will rock your world. Papers for iPhone and iPod touch lets you easily take your research library on the road. We haven't seen any other product like it. Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:30:46 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/iclear_for_iphone_3g/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/iclear_for_iphone_3g/ I wanted a case I could wear strapped to my arm when I was active, but one that also let me remove the strap and clip quickly and easily. It also needed to be sleek, smooth, and protective enough to suit me when its strap and clip were removed. It was a tall order but I finally found a case that suited my needs completely: iClear for iPhone 3G from Griffin Technology. Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:07:02 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/cell_minute_tracker_displays_iphone_usage_graphically/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/cell_minute_tracker_displays_iphone_usage_graphically/ Cell Minute Tracker from Pageonce collects and displays usage and billing information for your iPhone. It uses encrypted communication to extract information from your AT&T account. It displays progress bars for your Anytime Minutes, Night/Weekend minutes, Rollover minutes and Text Message usage. Reviews, Quick Look Review Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:45:12 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/lloyd_microphone_adapter_for_ipod_nano_4g/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/lloyd_microphone_adapter_for_ipod_nano_4g/ Lloyd by Incipio is a sleek, slick, and reasonably-priced microphone adapter that enables Voice Memo recording on a 4th Generation iPod nano. Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:33:14 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/skype_for_iphone_initial_reactions_and_tips/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/skype_for_iphone_initial_reactions_and_tips/ Late Monday night, the initial release of Skype for the iPhone was made available in the App Store. We've had the opportunity to test it and have some comments to make for those of you diving in. iPO Reports, iPhone, Reviews, Quick Look Review Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:54:03 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/firecores_atv_flash_brings_internet_more_to_apple_tv/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/firecores_atv_flash_brings_internet_more_to_apple_tv/ There are several ways to open up the capabilities of the Apple TV to play DVDs, access the Internet, and enable the USB port for external storage or a keyboard. Fire Core, LLC has developed the aTV Flash, and it does a lot of the geeky, heavy lifting so the user can engage exciting new prospects on the Apple TV. It does so without violating the Apple TV Warranty. Reviews, In-Depth Review Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:00:24 -0400 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/first_thoughts_on_kindle_app_for_iphone/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/first_thoughts_on_kindle_app_for_iphone/ When my Twitter followers started telling me last night that Kindle for iPhone was out, I downloaded the free App immediately. I have been using a Kindle for months, and absolutely love the experience and flexibility it provides. Having the ability to access all that content with the device that's almost always in my pocket sounded fantastic, and I had to find out more for myself. Reviews, Quick Look Review Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:29:13 -0500 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/discfolio/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/discfolio/ Jason Leal's Discfolio not only stores your CDs and DVDs in a handy format at home, but with a couple of folds and zips, it turns into something you can slip under your arm and carry along with you when you leave the house. Not only that, it is made from recycled materials. Reviews, In-Depth Review Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:25:48 -0500 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/tv.com_for_iphone_focuses_on_snack_videos/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/tv.com_for_iphone_focuses_on_snack_videos/ CBS Interactive released its TV.com application for iPhone and iPod touch on Thursday. The app focuses on snack videos, most less than a few minutes, and offers a smattering of selected full episodes from the CSI series, NCIS, Berverly Hills 90210, Star Trek: The Original Series, and MacGyver. Reviews, Quick Look Review Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:50:51 -0500 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/star_walk_a_planetarium_for_the_iphone/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/star_walk_a_planetarium_for_the_iphone/ Star Walk 1.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch is a guide to the night sky, very similar to the traditional programs such as TheSkyX and Starry Night.  It has great graphics, the ability to go forward and back in time, and has an informative catalog of deep sky objects. Reviews, Quick Look Review Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:30:50 -0500 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/iphone_game_review_spore_origins/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/iphone_game_review_spore_origins/ Spore Origins is the kind of game the iPhone was built for: simple, engaging gameplay that takes advantage of the handheld's advanced technology. You get what you paid for: a game whose production values stand head-and-shoulders above the versions produced for all other platforms, including other cell phones. The long-term value isn't there, but not all games are designed for that. Reviews, In-Depth Review Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:45:14 -0500 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/msecure_protects_iphone_passwords_data/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/msecure_protects_iphone_passwords_data/ mSecure from mSeven Software is a full-featured iPhone/iPod touch app that that uses strong encryption to protect passwords, account numbers, prescription IDs, notes and other personal, sensitive information. It works as a stand-alone app with no external connections and costs $2.99. Reviews, In-Depth Review Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:10:20 -0500 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/Scosche_passPORT/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/Scosche_passPORT/ If you have a iPhone 3G, fourth generation iPod nano, or second generation iPod touch and any accessories that now tell you, "Charging is not supported by this accessory," you're going to love the Scosche passPORT. Reviews, In-Depth Review Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/guitar_rock_tour/ http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/review/guitar_rock_tour/ Given the raging success of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises, I'm not surprised by the appearance of a game called Guitar Rock Tour. While it sounds like a lame rip-off in the vein of Puck-Man, however, it's actually an enjoyable game that kept me entertained. iPO Reports, Games, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, Reviews, In-Depth Review Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:20:00 -0500