We’re going to go light on the banter this week, but we aren’t shorting you on any apps. For your iPhone we have an app that gives you local points of interest in your area. For the iPad we have an app that delivers content from a multitude of Apple news sites and podcasts. On the Mac we have a new App.Net client. On the web, we have TV Guide for the cord cutting set. Our game of the week is a creepy walk through haunted woods.
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iPhone/iPod Touch: Field Trip
Whether you’re touring around a strange city or just spending a bored afternoon in your neighborhood, finding interesting historic sites or current local events can be a bit of a crap shoot. Usually you have to track down some weekly rag, and hope that you’re getting the right issue. Google Field Trip solves this issue by giving you a list of upcoming events and points of interest in your vicinity. It’s got a nice interface that you can browse by text or maps. The historical stuff is the most detailed but you also get listings for upcoming concerts and local restaurants as well. You can grab it from the App Store for free.
iPad: MacHash
If your RSS feeds are bulging at the seams, you may want to use an app to round up all the Apple news for quick scanning without the looming unread count. MacHash is that app, and it includes a selection of popular Apple podcasts. You can mute various sites and podcasts to just your favorites. It is ad supported but you can remove the ads for $2.99. You can download it from the App Store for free.
Mac: Kiwi
Now that App.Net has limited free accounts, there is going to be a bigger market for clients. iOS has the excellent Netbot, which is a clone of the great Tweetbot, but on the Mac there isn’t such a clear choice. Kiwi is a nicely designed client that is pretty easy to use. You can cross-post to Twitter using the app as well, so if you’re still on both networks this is an easy choice. You can try the app for free, but to remove the nag banner it will be $9.99. You can download Kiwi here.
Web: CanIStream.it?
One of the most annoying things about trying to catch a show online is trying to find out where you can get the show from. Can I Stream It is a site that allows you to search for TV shows and movies by name and find out where they are available online and for how much. They include popular streaming services as well as rental and download services. If the show you want to watch is unavailable on your service of choice you can sign up to have them notify you when it is available. You can check out the site here.
Game of the Week: Year Walk
There hasn’t been a game since the original Silent Hill that managed to be as immersive and creepy as Year Walk. The game revolves around the myth that you can wander around the woods long enough to get a glimpse of the future. You find some rather creepy imagery in the woods, along with some intense jump scares. The puzzles themselves are pretty difficult; you’ll need to keep a notebook handy. (Or a walkthrough for the less scrupulous players.) This game has enough thought behind it that there’s a companion app of reading material available for free here. The game itself is $3.99 on the App Store.
