Lynda app brings you training on the go

I have long been a fan of Lynda.com's all-you-can-watch training subscriptions. Whether you're just looking to brush up skills on a piece of software you know by heart, or you want to conquer a whole new program, there's bound to be a training video for you.

With the Lynda.com iPhone app, you can now watch those same trainings on the go, with generally good success. The only major issue stems from the size of the iPhone screen: Most lynda trainings consist of screen captures/casts which are nearly indecipherable on the iPhone screen. However, often you can learn simply from the audio of the lesson, and video in short doses is fine. The app is also great for watching Lynda's short profile movies on creative individuals.

The app is free (you'll need a lynda subscription though) and is a great way to extend your ability to learn from the vast Lynda library.

Here's a look:

Lynda.com app in the app store.

Tower defense meets the Old West in Guns'n'Glory

Kudos to the developers of Guns'n'Glory for bringing a fresh twist to the tower defense game genre. Guns'n'Glory is set in the Old West, with you and your henchmen trying to keep wave after wave of settlers from making through the canyon, and safely off screen.

The game is also unusual in that you can move your defenses while the game is going on: Once the settlers have made it through your first wave of defenses, move your defenses to the end of the screen to shoot 'em up again. It takes a little getting used to the fact that the entire game level isn't on the screen at the same time, but it is easy to adjust and start swiping and pinching your way to Old West fun in this clever tower defense game.

Here's a look:

Guns'n'Glory in the app store. Lite Version.

Super Marble Roll ignites my Marble Madness youth

The year: 1986/87. The place: The Jamesway department store. The event: Marble Madness joins the pinball machine near the exit, and I fall in love. While I'm still waiting patiently for the official version of that game to come to the iPhone, Super Marble Roll gives you a taste of those glory days.

The objective: Move your marble from point A to point B without running out of time. Along the way, there are plenty of bonuses, moving platforms, and tricky jumps. Super Marble Roll uses several short levels, rather than the frustrating, long levels of Marble Madness. Of course the original was designed to eat quarters, and Super Marble Roll is free to focus on entertainment from your $1.99 cent app purchase. (There's also a lite version.)

For me, it brings back a classic gameplay style, while eliminating some of the frustration with the original.

Here's a look:

Super Marble Roll in the app store.

Dinosaur app brings t-rex history to the masses

Previously we took a look at Cosmic Discoveries, an app from the Amercian Muesum of Natural History, focused on space exploration. Well the museum is back with a similar app, this time giving us all a refresher on our dinosaur history with the aptly named Dinosaurs. 

The app starts with a large dinosaur photo-mosaic. Each panel represents a discovery or factoid related to paleontology. While the photos are interesting, and in many cases rare, the app doesn't delve very deep into each discovery. As we noted with its sister app, you will need to do your own fact-digging online to learn more about these pivotal moments in our understanding of dinosaurs. Still as a free app, it serves as a decent starting point for those looking to rekindle, or begin their knowledge of T-Rex and the gang:

Here's a look:

Dinosaurs in the App Store.

Zombie Crisis 3D Review

Quick tip: Anytime there are zombies, it's a crisis. With that said, Zombie Crisis 3D does a darn good job of re-creating a crisis, and with zombies, your only hope is to shoot them, preferably in the head.

Speaking of shooting rather than taking time to tedious line up a shot with a virtual pad on the screen, in Zombie Crisis you merely tap where you want to shoot. While it may seem like that would take all the fun out of a shooter, it actually serves to keep the game moving and immerse you more deeply into the mood of the game. Unfortunately, just about the time you're getting into a good rhythm, the level comes to a halt. Short levels interrupt what would otherwise be a top-of-class zombie game. 

The graphics and gameplay are solid though, and there's still a ton of entertainment packed in this $2.99 game. If you're not sure about shelling out three bucks, there's a free version as well.

Here's a look:

Zombie Crisis 3D in the App Store.