Live in a fire-prone area? Check out FireWhat, today’s leading fresh app. It’ll keep you up-to-date on wildfires in your area and even provide maps showing their perimeters. For a less dangerous bit of information, check out Affogato, an app that’ll educate you on the ins and outs of coffee while simultaneously teaching you how to make new blends. And while you’re waiting for Apple to announce a new iPhone today, why not waste some time with our games selections? Gyro13 is an Unreal Engine 3 arcade game in which you pilot a steampunk helicopter – underground – while FlipShip is a top-down sci-fi shooter with tilt controls and lots of enemies to blast.
FireWhat (iPhone, iPad) $8.99
For iOS device owners who live in areas prone to wildfire, FireWhat could be indispensible. The app keeps users up-to-date about fire activity in the U.S. and includes tracking capabilities that can let you know when there’s a fire in your area, how it’s being contained or spreading, and other crucial information to help you keep you and your loved ones safe.
FireWhat packs wildland fire information provided by FireWhat.com, and it also has the ability to show you up-to-date maps of the perimeters of fires. There are also quick reference guides to help you with safety and weather information that can help keep you informed on fire information. Taken together, the app can do well to keep you apprised of information about wildfires in your area.
Affogato (iPhone, iPad) $1.99
Coffee fans, you might want to check out Affogato. Filled with information about all kinds of coffee, Affogato brings you up to speed with what you need to know about 30 different coffee varieties, as well as information on how to brew each one and even the language you’ll need to sound like you know what you’re talking about when you order next time you’re in a coffee bar.
The app will teach you how to brew each kind of coffee and prepare each drink in addition to educating you about what you’re consuming. If you’re in the mood to try new coffees, Affogato can help steer you in the right direction and help you with making it yourself.
Gyro13 – Steam Copter Arcade HD (iPhone, iPad) $0.99
Miners need rescuing in a massive underground steampunk cave of some kind, and that’s where you come in. You pilot a gyro copter, a simple device that allows you to float around the cave, rescuing miners in this side-scrolling arcade title. Gryo13 is easy to play but it takes some getting used to and packs quite a bit of challenge. It’s also an Unreal Engine 3 game, so it looks great on your iOS devices.
In each level of Gyro13, you’re tasked with navigating by pressing one button on the screen that makes you ascend, and using a slider on the other side to go forward or back. Careful flight is key to avoid dashing yourself against the rock walls and stalagtites that litter the cave, but there’s also time to consider – take too long and all the miners will be gassed before you can save them.
FlipShip (iPhone, iPad) $0.99
Fans of the popular iOS game Tilt to Live will find a lot of familiarity, and a lot to enjoy, in FlipShip. Taking a page from similar top-down sci-fi shooters in the App Store, the game is all about survival as waves of enemies attempt to destroy you. You’ll dodge them as long as you can manage by tilting your iOS device to steer around the screen, and taking them out with your own weapons and power-ups.
The trouble in FlipShip is, your enemies come in two varieties. Your weapons can only take down those of a color matching your own, so you’ll need to flip your color by tapping the screen to take out enemies of the other variety. But you can only ever target one kind of enemy at a time, so you’ll need to be quick and strategic to keep yourself alive and rack up a high score.
