iGarageSale for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

We previously told you about the iGarageSale app  in terms of Apple's decision that it needed to be rated as a 17+ plus app due to the inclusion of a search box.

Well, we put all of that silliness aside to look at the app with fresh eyes for today's app review. iGarageSale draws upon craigslist garage sale and yard sale listings, then overlays them on a map, showing location relative to you. A few years back, I went on a retrogame-buying frenzy, and countless hours (literally, unfortunately) were spent plotting sale locations on a map and then figuring out how to best plan my route.

If this app had been around then, it would have been a godsend for me. If you're an occasional sale-goer, the app might be overkill for you (try the lite version) and because the listings are pulled from online sources, it will have limited usability for those living in more remote locales, without vibant online sale postings

In short , iGarageSale is straightforward, and delivers on what it promises, provided you live in an area that takes advantage of online posting.

Take a look:

DrawRace for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

We've stated before that the "perfect" (at least to us) racing game for the iPhone/iPod Touch still doesn't exist. We have to give kudos to DrawRace for going in an entirely different direction, and creating a game that's fun to play, and has you hanging on to play "just on more time."

DrawRace features a simple overhead view of the race track. You then move your finger around the track to create the path and speed you'd like your car to go. Once you've completed the set number of laps, the race begins, and your car follows your path against a computer adversary, time trial, or network opponent.

The play is easy to catch on, but we just wish there were more laps in each race, as going around and around drawing your path gets more complicated with more laps.

(iTunes Link)

Here's a look:

Space Ace for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Space Ace, and its sibling game Dragon's Lair roared into arcades in the 80's, bringing with them a fantastic new look. Unfortunately, the gameplay, at least per quarter (and at least for me) was fast and unsatisfying. Rather than being a straight shoot-em-up action game, the lush animation, and timed moves played more like an animated comic book than an action arcade game. 

Today, games like Guitar Hero have seasoned a whole generation of entertainment based on hitting a button when it lights up.

The beauty of having Space Ace on the iPhone is first, the animation looks stunning. It's one of the best looking games on the iPhone, just as it was in the arcade. Of course, now that I don't have to pump the thing full of quarters, I can leisurely play through the whole game, which admittedly didn't take very long (at least on cadet, the easiest of three settings). It can still be frustrating when you miss one of the buttons, but it's not nearly as frustrating as playing the game for years without getting anywhere.

If you're looking for a little arcade nostalgia that still looks crisp today on a modern device, pick up Space Ace for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

ParkingLot for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

I don't have a lot of phobias, but parking might just be one of them. City parking makes me irritated and cranky. So reviewing an app called ParkingLot didn't sound like it would be a very good time. To my surprise, unlike real parking, ParkingLot offers a simple, straight-forward gaming experience that's fun and addictive.

If you like problem solving puzzles; the sort of little puzzles that drive you bonkers, but in a good way, then you'll like this one. With ParkingLot, you attempt to get one car out of the lot by moving other cars out of the way, but the amount of space, and the order in which you move the cars make it a real challenge. In the top left of the screen, you'll see a move counter. The real object of the game is to get the car out of the parking lot with as few moves as possible, For me, and probably for most, I was far more concerned with just getting the car out. Here's a look at ParkingLot:

ATM Hunter for iPhone Video Review

Ah, the simple things in life. The quiet bubbling of a mountain stream, the smile on a child's face, and... an iPhone app that does what it says it does.

ATM Hunter is a free offering from Mastercard, making it easy to find an ATM near you. More than just finding an ATM though, you can also filter the results by search criteria like "surcharge free" or "drive-up" etc. While the financial tips section is a bit lacking, (hey, this app isn't named Financial Tips) the ATM functionality is a great example of a way to use the location awareness of the iPhone to make life simpler.

You can send locations to others via SMS, but unfortunately, you can't currently email that information. The only other issue was a chain of local convenience stores with ATMs (Wawa, for the Philly folks!) was omitted from the list. I would expect more locations/refinements in future updates. Here's a look: