In this week’s installment, we have a heavy-hitting Kung Fu Panda e-book and an app that makes Google maps beautiful. Also, a big brand name app in Best Buy Gaming and an app from a smaller brand, Intelligentsia Coffee, that will not only locate where to buy their product but how to make special caffeinated drinks.
Kung Fu Panda Holiday Storybook (iPhone, iPad) $2.99
Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman reprise their roles from Kung Fu Panda in this holiday-themed story app, based on Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special.
This e-book app lets kids read along with the story, with full audio from the characters, and a bit of an I Spy-type game mixed in on each of the pages. The app will lead readers through the story, or let them flip pages on their own, giving kids the ability to play with it at their own pace — plus Kung Fu Panda maintains the comedy and feel of the films.
Live Nation (iPhone) Free
Concert-goers can tap into Live Nation’s list of upcoming shows in its new free app, with the ability to search through upcoming concerts by artist and venue to stay up on shows before they happen — and buy the tickets to attend them.
Beyond just knowing what tickets you want and snagging them while mobile, Live Nation funnels the scoop on presale deals and last-minute ticket sales, plus information like seating charts and ticket details so you know exactly what you’re getting. You can also see setlists for concerts, as well as videos and photos, and get information on past and upcoming shows.
Intelligentsia Coffee (iPhone) Free
In addition to telling you about what kind of coffee you can get at Intelligentsia coffee houses, or where to find one — which, let’s be honest, is not that big of a deal — this app goes above and beyond to make itself extra-useful, by teaching you how to make various kinds of coffee using various kinds of brewing machines.
You’ll get step-by-step instructions on how to prepare your coffee from the beginning, and the app also includes a brew timer that works even while you’re using a different app, to make sure your coffee comes out perfect every time. And if you don’t feel like making it yourself, you can always rely on Intelligentsia on your iPhone to help you find an Intelligentsia in your neighborhood.
Best Buy Gaming (iPhone) Free
Best Buy’s video game-centered shopping app was already pretty cool — you could view trailers, check prices, search for games and read about their features. Now the app has been updated to add something really useful: a trade-in evaluator that lets you search for the games you own and find out how much they would be worth if you traded them in at a Best Buy.
Trade-in values are the same whether online or in-store, and you can use the app to find a nearby Best Buy to convert your old games into credit toward new ones. Plus, you can increase the discounts by checking for deals and keeping track of your Reward Zone membership points as well.
The Cartographer (iPhone) $1.99
Google’s My Maps just aren’t handy with The Cartographer — they’re downright pretty.
The app creates a vintage, worn look for the maps it displays that looks great on retina displays. It’s functional, too: you can edit trips in your maps either in the app or on a desktop computer, and use them online or offline to track your location and plan just about any journey. It functions with all the same features as the iPhone’s native map app, but with a few extra ones — plus it’s nice to look at.
