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Because We May App Sale May 24 - June 1, 2012
A number of game developers are holding a simultaneous sale across several platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows/Mac/Linux, and Steam. The sale is organized by Because We May and runs from May 24 to June 1, 2012. The Because We May website includes a listing of all participating games across the various platforms, for example, iOS. I decided to join in on the sale and have discounted the following games.
Potions & Poisons for iPhone
Free until June 1! (regular $0.99)
Coordination for iPad
Free until June 1! (regular $0.99)
MooOOoo00!
Photo Explorer for iPhone
$0.99 until June 1! (regular $1.99)
Play Photo Explorer for iPhone.
Photo Explorer for iPad
$0.99 until June 1! (regular $1.99)
On the App Store
You can always find all of my apps on the Apple App Store.
- apps,
- iOS,
- ipad,
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Genuine User Experience
There’s something magical about three simple words in Apple’s Mac OS X. On the rare occasion that I need to retrieve an archived file from my backup disk, I am called on an adventure. Or perhaps I’m mysteriously beckoned to follow along on a journey. Or maybe the time has come for me to fulfill my destiny. The feeling lasts for just a moment and is spurred on by merely three words. Enter Time Machine.
Sure, Mac OS X tries to build on this theme and literally take me there by warping me into a space supernova where my files await. However, these aesthetics don’t actually make the experience and occur after the feeling has already worn off. As it stands, Time Machine launches quite slowly and then takes even a bit longer to load my archives. By the time this happens, I’m firmly snapped back into reality and waiting impatiently to browse my files. It’s the upfront command alone, the call to Enter Time Machine, that creates the wonder.
This all makes me wonder how such a seemingly arbitrary and insignificant line of text can have such an emotional and experiential impact. Perhaps an Apple designer has some unique insight, although the text could have just as easily been placed as a joke or by chance. Nevertheless, I’m interested in how such a simple thing can have such a large impact on the user experience. Especially amidst the overwhelming talk of gamification, where the world is boiled down into hollow stimuli and reward systems, it seems that genuine experience and emotion comes from exciting a user’s imagination. This connection requires nothing tangible, yet powerfully engages the user’s mind. I feel that this sort of experience (not experiencification) could be created plainly and effectively, without any need for superficial systems, and would hold tremendous beneficial power.
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Unplug: Personal Relaxation Assistant for iPhone
My latest iPhone app, Unplug: Personal Relaxation Assistant, has been released and you can download Unplug from the Apple App Store.
Description
Unplug is your Personal Relaxation Assistant. It is designed to help you improve your relaxation and meditation skills while you work towards your goals of stress relief, improved health and fitness, enhanced mental health, and inner peace.
Unplug is free to download and use. Once you begin a session, you are challenged to remain still and silent in your environment. This allows you to relax and reenergize your mind and body. You can set a personal goal and work towards improving your relaxation skills each session.
Technology
Unplug makes use of the iPhone’s accelerometer and microphone. Using the accelerometer, Unplug measures how much you move. With the microphone, the iPhone listens for any noise from you and your relaxing environment. A calibration feature can be found on the Settings tab. Through calibration, you can cancel out the effects of gravity and ambient noise, so you know that you are only measuring the movement and sound that you create. For the most accurate measurements, you should calibrate when starting a session in a new environment. It is recommended that you hold your iPhone in your hand(s), set it on your lap, or somewhere similar during a session. Your goal is to relax while being as still and quiet as possible. Relax in consistent ways so you can better track your improvement over time.
Additional Features
The in-app store contains additional personalization features to enhance your relaxation experience. At release, two items are available: the Settings Pack and Stat Tracking. Additional features for these packs are planned for future releases and new items will be added to the store over time.
Settings Pack
With the Settings Pack, you can personalize your assistant. At release, you can upload your own relaxing images to use during your sessions. You can also show or hide the session timer and set the text color for the session interface. You also have the option to hide advertisements. These options should help you to make your relaxation experience more enjoyable and personal.
Stat Tracking
With Stat Tracking, you can record your session data over time. Each session, you can receive up to 10 points for Motion (how much you moved during the session), Sound (how much noise you made during the session), and Time Bonus (the seconds added to your next session as you progress towards your overall goal). This information is visualized over time on an interactive line chart.
Time to Unplug
You can find Unplug: Personal Relaxation Assistant in the Apple App Store for the iPhone. I always appreciate feedback, ratings, and reviews from users, so do not hesitate to contact me. Relax…
- apps,
- ios,
John M. Quick
