Newly released iPhone apps include some that embody typical summertime activities, and work wonderfully on your iPod touch. With these ten apps, you can appreciate music, read a good book, plant a garden and play games.
10. Bookworm
Google Books is now available in app-form with Bookworm ($1.99). Thousands of public domain books are available, and for that reason Bookworm is useful. The downside is some don’t work correctly on the mobile platform, and cannot be read page-by-page.
9. Instruments 360
Enjoy listening to and seeing some instruments you know, and learn about some that you do not. Out of Instrument 360’s four sections, the Photo section is the most enjoyable because it has three images of each instrument accompanied by a short audio clip. The Quiz section needs an update to fix some bugs in this free app.
8. Ween
Fans of this Pennsylvania band will enjoy the group’s new, free app because – in addition to the expected discography and merchandise store – there are other features including a map with upcoming shows marked and a music stream called Ween Radio. A wi-fi connection is required for the Ween app to work.
7. Zap a Minion
This whack-a-mole type game based on the movie includes a short description of the storyline, a movie trailer and the game itself. The Zap a Minion app has three environments, three weapons and three skill levels.
6. Vegetable Garden Guides
This growing guide includes specific information about veggies including how deep to plant them (and how far apart), ideal soil type, when to harvest and storage options. Mark what you plant as “favorites” and the Vegetable Garden Guides app ($1.99) saves them in a customized reference list called “Your Garden Vegetables.”
5. BeatBox (BtBx)
BeatBox is a fun little music app that allows you to place drum beats, synthesizer and other sounds into an original sequence. You can add distortion, delays and save your rhythmic creations with this free app.
4. Wordflick
What words can you form out of a grid of random letters? Swipe them together in the free Wordflick app.
3. instructables
Crafty and creative types will enjoy instructables, an app version of a website where users share fun projects and ideas. One user created a red astronomy flashlight for reading star maps without losing night vision, another made a comfortable rocking chair for his iPad.
2. SimCity Deluxe
You’ve been elected mayor and hired as the city manager of a new town in SimCity Deluxe ($6.99).Now you can pave roads, construct buildings and lay railroad track. But watch out because disasters will happen, and it takes sound strategy and diligent work to create a city where Sim residents will be happy, healthy and productive.
1. Star Wars: Battle for Hoth
The Star Wars: Battle for Hoth app ($2.99) puts you in charge of defending the Rebel base on the ice-covered planet with Infantry, Gun Towers and Snowspeeders. Imperial Stormtroopers and AT-ATs attack in this tower-defense type game. May the force be with you.
