Insulting Monk for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Okay, before we all get too sappy in the holiday season, let's take a quick look at an app that reminds how cruel the world can be. I speak of Insulting Monk for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

While the monk has some (very) mildly amusing things to say, perhaps his biggest insult is managing to separate you from 99 of your hard-earned cents. The app looks nice, and has some pleasant sound  effects, but the monk himself doesn't have much to say, and when he does say something, it's usually not that funny. Unless curiosity has the best of you, you can probably pass on Insulting Monk.

(iTunes link)

Take a look:

Don't forget you can subscribe to all of our iPhone App Reviews through iTunes.

Relax Helper for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Well, the holiday season is upon us, and with it comes more than a little bit of stress for most of us. But it's technology to the rescue! Relax Helper for the iPhone and iPod Touch aims to put you in a relaxed mood, or maybe just to sleep, with a series of "white noise" sounds from rainfall to airplane noise. You can even build your own sounds and save it, although for most this is probably overkill.

The app also incorporates the ripple effect, so that as you run your finger over the screen, the image ripples as if you are dipping your finger in water. Unfortunately, the effect is underutilized since none of the included images are looking down into a body of water, so you're just playing with stock photos.

Still, with a timer, and options to quit the app when time expires (You know, that whole no background apps thing) Relax Helper is a decent option, even if its $2.99 pricetag is a little steep.

(iTunes link)

Take a look:

Don't forget you can subscribe to all of our iPhone App Reviews through iTunes.

Baby Care Pro for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

New parents seem to be suckers for any morsel of insight into raising their newborns. But even the most info-hungry moms and dads would be hard-pressed to find any info they need in Baby Care Pro. The app itself is a good idea: bring together facts and milestones for different stages of infant development, along with tests for parents to check their child's progress.

Unfortunately, the program suffers from poor translation to english. Advice includes gems like "Five months old babies can reach for the toy they want with one of their hands, and can also grasp it, but only not to a crumb, often repeat a movement for several times," or "you should broaden their eye shot, respect their individuality, and don't care about them overly. In this way, you can train them good psychology quality of braveness, confidence, uncloudedness..."

Additionally, weights and lengths are given in metric units which aren't quite the standard in the U.S. (there's always next year!) 

The app includes a decent journaling feature for you to track important moments in your child's life, but frankly that feature alone doesn't warrant buying the app.

(iTunes Link)

Here's a look:

Don't forget you can subscribe to our iPhone App Reviews in iTunes.

Dolphin Fun for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

The other day I saw what must have been a four year-old girl playing with an iPod Touch while her mother was shopping. What on earth would a four year-old want to play? Well, maybe today's app: Dolphin Fun. Essentially Dolphin Fun presents you with a blue background (customizable) in which you add dolphins, starfish, etc. You can then save your creation. You also get a few wallpapers (within the app, not to skin the phone) and a clock with an ocean background.

The problem with this app that would appeal to young users is a less than intuitive interface: You tap on the dolphins you want, then without any confirmation that they've been selected, you return to the main screen to place them upon the screen. It's easier to see in the video than explain (hey, that's why we make the videos!)

There's a very limited audience for this unless it takes off as a type of iPhone trinket, in which adults would customize and share their creations (sort of like the mobile phone charm phenomenon in some parts of the world.)

(iTunes link)

Here's a look:

Pet Sematary for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

We took a quick look at Pet Sematary in our first episode of DoubleTap, but here it is in official "reviewy" mode. It seemed like a perfect review to kick off the Halloween weekend. In short, you shoot zombie cats, birds, and dogs, by tapping on them, while also saving the humans. Bad concept? Well, we'll let you decide (in the comments, of course!) 

(iTunes Link)

Here's a look: