Two social networks in the App Store received some big updates to lead today’s Fresh iPhone Apps list. Google+, Google’s answer to Facebook, has increased capabilities in its iPhone app (mostly related to viewing big photos), and Instagram rival EyeEm has added new capabilities for users snapping and uploading photos to its service, too. In games, Electronic Arts has put out a new version of the classic Tetris – with more social features. Meanwhile, Act of Fury: Kraine’s Revenge reimagines the classic top-down shooter by turning players into hurricanes.
Google+ update (iPhone, iPad) Free
Google’s social network, Google+, has just had a pretty significant update go through to its iOS app that adds capabilities users enjoy on the web-based version of the network. The app now has the capability of searching for users, hangouts and the like, allowing people not to just browse their profiles and those of the people to whom they’re connected, but to find users to add quickly and easily while on the go.
Other changes to the network include the ability to use Google’s “plus 1” feature on photos, allowing you to show users photos you particularly like or recommend. And speaking of photos, you can now upload photos to the service at full resolution using your iOS device, and see bigger photos using your devices.
Eye’Em update (iPhone, iPad) Free
Another updated social network is EyeEm, a rival of the popular Instagram. It allows users to quickly take and share photos when they’re out and about using any Internet connection, and it packs 12 photo filters so you can spiff up your shots before you upload them. The app also allows you to tag your shots with places and actions to give others an idea of what you’re up to.
EyeEm’s update makes more use of your device’s GPS capabilities, using your location data to organize photos appearing on your feed from your friends by what’s newest and what’s nearest you. Profiles have been to allow more customization, and users can view photos endlessly on their feeds, should they so choose. EyeEm has also added photo albums for better organization of your shots when you upload them, too.
Tetris (iPhone, iPad) $0.99
Publisher Electronic Arts has reworked Tetris, the class falling block puzzle game, with a number of new modes and features that make it more social. The game is still about arranging interlocking blocks on the screen in order to make complete lines from one side to the other in order to score points, but it has a number of new tweaks this time around.
The biggest change to Tetris is its one-touch mode, which makes playing a little easier on the go. The game uses a timer rather than falling blocks, and presents you with a number of options for where you want to put each block. you can change the choices and “hold” pieces, but anything you don’t place in the time limit will get placed automatically. The longer you go, the faster the game moves. Throw in a bunch of new social capabilities, like linking to EA’s online portal Origin, and you’ve got an addictive new way to play.
Act of Fury: Kraine’s Revenge (iPhone, iPad) $1.99
You’ve probably played “bullet hell” shooters like Act of Fury: Kraine’s Revenge before. It puts you in top-down in which tanks, helicopters and tons of other enemies are blasting away at you and you have to defend yourself while dodging all that flying, glowing death. In Act of Fury, you don’t have a gun of your own, though – you’ve got the superpower of turning yourself into a hurricane, and you can use the storm to destroy enemies and buildings in your path.
Act of Fury still maintains the shooter elements that have you dodging attacks and streaking around the screen using its touch controls, but you’ll need to close in on enemies to do damage to them. You’ll also be able to gather power-ups to give you even more storm-themed fury, and the game includes achievements and leaderboards care of Game Center.
