Microsoft takes the lead on today’s Fresh iPhone Apps list with OneNote, a new version of its note-taking software designed specifically for the iPad. It’s followed by literary social networking app Opuss, which is best described as an Instagram for words. In games, a port of the 1991 adventure game Dizzy Prince of the Yolkfolk just hit the App Store, along with the fast-paced Mr. Oops, a swipe-controlled game that’s all about quick reflexes and keeping poor Mr. Oops alive.
Microsoft OneNote for iPad Free
Microsoft’s popular note-taking software has been available on the iPhone for some time, but the company has finally put together a version solely for use on the iPad. You’ll need a Windows Live ID so you can sync OneNote with your PC or Mac, but once you’re set up, you’ll be able to make notes, create to-do lists, save pictures and make all of them searchable within the app.
OneNote saves everything to the cloud, so you’ll be able to access all your notes from multiple locations and devices using an Internet connection. The free app gives you the ability to make and save 500 notes; once you hit that quota, you can still view and delete notes, but you’ll need to upgrade to the unlimited version of OneNote with an in-app purchase of $14.99.
Opuss (iPhone, iPad) Free
Opuss is a social network for words. Not status updates, like you might see on Facebook or Twitter, but a sort of Instagram for words. On it, users share everything from random thoughts to anecdotes and bits of stories, jokes and recipes. It’s short bursts of literature in some form or another, coming from both users you follow and from the public at large.
The app is organized into tabs, showing you what your friends and the people you follow are sharing, the top Opuss posts of the day, and allowing you to search for specific content or specific people. You can also share your own little opusses, which tend to be longer than Tweets but shorter than some of the content that makes it on Facebook. If you’re a literary-minded person or enjoy reading, Opuss might be the social network for you.
Dizzy Prince of Yolkfolk (iPhone, iPad) $1.99
Part point-and-click adventure, part side-scrolling platformer, Dizzy is a game that’s mostly about solving puzzles. You’ll gather lots of objects, like dry leaves and matches, pickaxes and all kinds of other stuff to use along the way. Dizzy has you jumping on platforms, burning down doors and helping other characters in order to advance and save your friends.
Dizzy is a port of a Commodore 64 game originally released way back in 1991, but it does pretty well with touch controls and iOS optimization. It also includes Open Feint support, which provides players with friends lists, achievements and leaderboards.
Mr. Oops!! (iPhone, iPad) $0.99
The premise of Mr. Oops!! is pretty simple. Your stick figure character, Mr. Oops, pops up on a level divided into a grid, and immediately, stuff starts trying to kill him. Rolling boulders, cannon balls, lasers – they all appear on the grid on certain columns and rows, and you have to swipe away at the touch controls to keep Mr. Oops intact.
Each level has you surviving 20 waves of attacks in order to move up. Survive three levels and you can take on an endless mode that really takes some skill. The game packs simple flick controls, which makes playing the simple, fast-paced game a snap, and it includes Game Center support for achievements and leaderboards.
