App Review: Draw Something for iPhone and iPad

One of the hottest social games right now has got to be Draw Something by OMGPOP. Anyone can play; whether you’re an artist or not, it’s fun, addictive, and quite easy!

What is Draw Something? As the name suggests, it’s a Pictionary-type game where you draw and try to guess your friend’s word. You and your friend are on the same team. Drawing and guessing a word correctly rewards both sides.

To start, search for your friend in the game. They can be found either by username or Facebook. Then you’ll be given a list of three words, each one having a different value. The easiest word is worth one coin. The next challenging word is worth two coins. And the most difficult-to-draw word is worth three coins. Select one of the words and draw it on the next screen.

Once you’re done drawing, submit and send it to your friend. A video recording of you drawing your masterpiece unfolds for your friend to watch. Below the screen are twelve letters. Some of these letters are in the word, and some are not. Once they figure out what the word is, they can start tapping on the letters to fill in the blanks. If they guess correctly, it’s their turn to draw something for you. When it’s your turn again, you will see a video of your drawing along with your friend’s guesses. And then you get to guess their drawing.

So what can you do with all these coins you collect? You can purchase more paint colors! The five default colors are nice, but having many shades of various colors to pick from is fun too.

So what happens if you’re stuck? If you can’t figure out what your friend drew, you can use the bomb and blast away some of the given letters that aren’t in the word. Only one blast per round is allowed. If you still can’t figure it out, you can just pass.

I think the drawing videos being played back to the users is what makes this game stand apart from other drawing games. It’s fun watching how the brain works, from drawing the first stroke, to the exact moment when the user figures out the word.

I highly recommend trying this game if you haven’t already. The game is on sale at an introductory price of 99 cents and comes with 400 coins and extra bombs. If you are unsure about the purchase, try the ad version for free.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 | Universal Full Version (99 cents) | Universal Add Version (Free)

Review: iLuv Smart Back Cover for iPad 2

Already own an Apple Smart Cover for your iPad 2? One of the best complement for it is the iLuv Smart Back Cover. It’s a hard shell case that is smooth to the touch, yet sturdy and rigid for everyday use. The texture on the case feels really soft and doesn’t scratch easily. This makes it a nice slim solution for those of us who like to toss our iPads in our bags.

The iPad 2 fits nicely in the iLuv Smart Back Cover. There are cutouts for all the ports and camera, and even a cutout for the speakers so your audio isn’t muffled. What I really like about this case is how smooth the cutouts are. There are no sharp corners that can leave you any scratches. The back case is lightweight and fully protects the back of your iPad from dust and bumps.

It’s available in colors that match and coordinate with your Apple Smart Cover. The iLuv Smart Back Cover also works best with an Apple Smart Cover, as this will cover all the edges of the iPad.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars · i-Luv.com · $ 39.99 · Amazon ($9.60+)

Disclosure: This product was sent by iLuv for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Review: Grablet for iPad

Why hide the beauty of your iPad behind a case? Instead enhance with the Grablet! Available in a variety of colors, this case will surely add a splash of color and fun to your iPad!

At first glance, the Grablet looks like some sporty rock climbing equipment for your iPad. With its sexy curves, it’ll surely get people’s attention.

This case has four grooves that holds each end of the iPad. The sleek X-shape design displays how elegant and beautiful your iPad is, rather than hide it. The corners are padded and raised to protect from bumps or drops. You can put the iPad face down without scratching the surface. It also works perfectly with the magnetic Apple&reg Smart Cover.

What makes this case stands apart from the rest are the handy quick release straps on the back. Simply push to easily snap them off. Switch with the additional accessories to allow infinite potential uses. You can hold your iPad comfortably in your hand with the Grablet. If you remove the hand pad or wrap, you can let one of the straps hang on a cabinet knob for easy kitchen viewing. Or wrap the straps around your leg for a secure fit. You can even wrap the straps around a car seat for easy movie viewing. The possibilities are endless. For more ideas, see the Grablet gallery.

Each package comes with:
1 Grablet novus g2
1 Grablet Hand Pad
1 Grablet Hand Wrap
2 x 13” Straps w/ 4 G clips
4 x Grablet Strap Retainers

Available in an array of bright and fun colors — Cadmium Yellow, Jungle Green, Ultra Pink, Slate Gray, Burst Orange, Cadet Blue, Fog Silver, Fuze Green, Glacier White, Onyx Black, Sonic Purple, and Lava Red for $39.99.

The Grablet also comes in two versions, one for the iPad 2 and one for the iPad 1.

4.5 out of 5 stars · TheGrablet.com · $39.99 · Amazon ($39.99)

Disclosure: This product was sent by The Grablet for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Review: Architect Stylus

Slick and beautiful, the Architect Stylus may have been created from a minimalist’s dream. Made of anodized aluminum, this stylus perfectly compliments the iPad.

The Architect Stylus is made up of two parts — a distinctive cap and an anodized aluminum body. The cap has a unique loop cutout in it that’s a perfect fit for a lanyard or keychain. This cap can also be screwed on either end of the stylus. When the stylus is in use, you can screw it on the top end. When not in use, you can screw it on the end with the nub, protecting it from any dust or scratches.

Using the stylus on your iPad (or any capacitive touch screen) is wonderful. Simply glide the stylus on the screen like you would with your finger. Write, draw, or browse with high accuracy. It feels ergonomically-correct in your hand with just the right weight and thickness. The Architect also comes with a small case to prevent any scratches on your stylus.

Overall, the architect is a beautiful stylus that’s both functional and enjoyable to see and use. My favorite part is how it compliments the iPad perfectly, as well as the unique design.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars · TheArcticStore.com · $22.95

Disclosure: This product was sent by The Arctic for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Review: iZon Remote Room Monitor

Enjoy some peace of mind with the new iZon Remote Room Monitor. It’s small, stylish, and has many features and functions you’ll enjoy.

The best feature of this room monitor is not the camera itself, but its ability to be connected to your iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or iPad! Stream video right on your iOS device with the free app. This means you can be anywhere and still access your camera. There’s no need to be just a few feet away. From the app, you can record 30 second videos to a private YouTube account, or instantly record with the push of a button. Currently, there is about a 20 second latency for video in the app.

You can find many uses for the iZon. Use it as a baby monitor, home security, or just a way to check on your love ones. Never miss a moment again!

Setup is easy with the iZon Remote Room Monitor. First you’ll need to download and install the free Stem:connect iOS app on your iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or iPad. Then connect your iOS device to the iZon “stem” Wi-fi network to configure the camera. This is a really clever way to setup the device.

One downside is that it doesn’t have low light capability. Other wi-fi cameras such as the D-Link DCS-932 have the infared feature for the same price. Another downside is that you can’t send audio to the room monitor. For example, if you’re using it as a baby monitor, you can hear everything happening in the room, but you can’t talk back to your baby to calm them down. But on the flip side, unlike most baby monitors, you can hear audio and record video remotely from anywhere. You don’t have to be a few feet away to view the baby or your house. That’s a big plus and outweighs the downside.

Enjoy the iZon Room Monitor for $129.95, a fair and competitive price. It’s only available in one color, white, and you can download the app for free. The app is universal, so it works all iOS devices, including both the iPhone and iPad.

Steminnovation.com · $129.95 · Purchase online, or at Apple retail stores, Target stores and select Best Buy locations.

Disclosure: This product was sent by Stem Innovation for review purposes. This is part of Beatweek Magazine’s coverage of iPad products. Opinions expressed in this article are my own.

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