Cops and Robbers for the iPhone Review

If you just go by the iTunes reviews, this is one of those apps you might avoid. But if you try it, and see what its really all about, you might just like it. In Cops and Robbers, you play either a robber (two characters to choose from) or a cop. The main arc of the game though, is as a robber who has to make rent by gathering money, and more importantly jewels scattered around a city, while avoiding the cops. The graphics are quite nice, and give the game a unique feel. 

Some reviewers on iTunes have said "all you do is time jumps." That's true to an extent, but the same could be said of Mario Bros. to some degree. The gameplay isn't terribly complex, but again, if you know that going in, you shouldn't be disappointed. There's also a lite version available if you want to try before you buy:

Saucelifter for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Breaking news: It's rare we like an iPhone game (maybe its just cynicsm after hundreds of video reviews) and it's even more rare that a 99 cent app makes the cut. Saucelifter does. You could say Saucelifter is inspired by the old arcade/home classic Defender. It's definitely not a "clone" of the old game. The gameplay, graphics, and sound are unique enough for the game to stand on its own, while having a bit of nostalgic whimsy for those of us who gamed in the 80's.

In Saucelifter, you pilot a ufo, or flying saucer and must rescue, or lift people from the surface of a planet while tanks roam back and forth. The score/info graphics have a fun 8 bit feel, while the game play has what I can only describe as modern, yet retro.

Click here to check out Saucelifter in iTunes.

Take a look:

Type Drawing for the iPhone and iPod Touch

I know, I know, we're all waiting to hear what's new at WWDC today... (Live coverage here begins at 12:30PM ET, have we mentioned that?) but we still have to get down to the business of reviewing apps.

Today we're looking at Type Drawing, a fun, and (for once) appropriately priced app. Type Drawing allows you to, wait for it, draw with type. Select a paper background or use the camera to make your own, enter some text, then as you move your finger across the screen, you create a picture, by "painting" with the text and font you selected. It looks cool, and is just the kind of quick, but interesting app that there should be more of in the app store.

Take a look:

Pet First Aid for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Today we look at a useful app for pet owners: Pet First Aid. Pet First Aid combines tons of information on basic pet first aid with a focus on dogs and cats. But your dog never gets into trouble! Why would you need this app? Well the app also serves as a single place to keep all the information on your pet, from veterenarian info, to vaccinations, allergies, etc.

And of course, if you happen to have one of those accident-prone pets, the $4.99 app could quickly pay for itself.

Take a look:

Edibles for the iPhone and iPod Touch

There's dieting, and then there are the "data dieters" as I like to call them. These are the people who carefully track calories, fat intake, exercise, weight, etc. And this method may very well be the best to actually see results. Many more people though, take the approach of simply planning to do more exercise and "watch what they eat." Well, if you fall into the first category, you'll love Edibles for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Open the application, and you'll get an inspirational quote, then you're on your own. Edibles does a great job of acting as a diet journal (which is what its intended to do) allowing you to meticulously enter details of each food you eat in a day, including type, serving size, calories, etc. However, be aware that you need to enter this info for the program to work: there are no self-populating values for calories, etc. (a new beta feature does include access to a food info database.)

Edibles is great for what it is: a dieting journal for those who are committed enough already to keep track of every aspect of food/calories in their life. On its own, it might not be the best motivational program, but if you've already decided to take a number-crunching approach to healthier habits, you'll love Edibles.

Take a look: