Some big-name classic games hit the iTunes iPad App Store this week, including a beautiful recipe app just in time for your holiday baking needs and a classic board game.
POLITICO FOR iPAD (FREE)
One of my favorite news sites is POLITICO, and now I can read this great political news source via POLITICO for iPad. This is a no-frills app—headlines and beginnings of stories are displayed on three front pages. Tap to open the full article, and share via email, Twitter or Facebook. You can also easily change font size from any page. No videos, no complicated category listing—just the news.
JENGA HD ($4.99)
Jenga is a great game for all ages to play, and it’s been faithfully reproduced on the iPad as Jenga HD. Gently tap and drag blocks to extract them from the tower and place them on top. The tower reacts to touch, so be patient and wait for the tower to be stable, and adjust your tapping so you don’t topple the tower. Sign into your Game Center account to compare tower heights with friends. Play by yourself, or pass ‘n’ play with friends. This iPad game is beautifully presented in HD, with many different backgrounds becoming available as you progress.
MONOPOLY FOR iPAD ($9.99)
Rarely a game of Monopoly was played in my house growing up that didn’t end by my very competitive brother upending the board and stomping off in a huff. The Monopoly iPad game allows you to compete against either three human or AI players. You can also connect other devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and a “teacher mode” has pop-up tips and tricks that help you hone your strategy. In “tabletop mode,” the board automatically shifts to face you when it’s your turn, and you can customize some House Rules to add a little twist. You can even add your own iTunes playlist as background music.
THE PHOTO COOKBOOK — BAKING ($4.99)
I love to cook and bake, and my favorite cookbooks and recipes feature photos that show me what the food is supposed to look like. The Photo Cookbook – Baking includes 60 delicious-looking recipes that include photos for every step. Open the app, and see a photo grid filled with delectable baked goods, categorized by “cakes & traybakes,” “pastries,” “small cakes & cookies” and “breads.” Scroll up to see all recipes in the category, tap the one you want to make, and the recipe opens in all of its full-page glory. Not just limited to sweets, The Photo Cookbook – Baking also includes recipes for savory treats like asparagus prosciutto wraps and feta & olive biscuits. The scallion & parmesan cornbread and I have a date with a pot of chili.
CNBC REAL TIME FOR iPAD (FREE)
I know nothing about stocks, except that mine are not turning me into a millionaire. So I showed CNBC Real Time for iPad to a trader friend of mine (who happens to be, to put it delicately, computer-illiterate) — I think he fell in love. The app opens to indexes in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and a ticker scrolls along the bottom. Tap to view what’s going on with commodities, currencies, bonds and more. Access CNBC news and videos, and track your own stocks with “My Stocks.” This app is an invaluable tool for people who like to play with real money (as opposed to those of us who only have the guts to play Monopoly).
