App of the Week: DiamondDash

March 15, 2012 10:26:41 PM CDT

App of the Week: DiamondDash

Cost: Free (add ons are available)

 

This is a fun puzzle type game where you touch 3 or more same color jewels as quickly as you can. You have 60 seconds, and every time you touch gems of the same color they disappear and are replaced with other jewels. 

 

If you consistently find 3 or more of a kind (and don’t press on places that don’t have at least 3 matching colors), you will eventually get “jewel bombs” (different from purchased bombs below). When you tap these shining jewels, they will take out a row and column, and quickly increase your score. Another thing to boost your score is finding big groupings of same color jewels. The score increases exponentially with each additional jewel grouped together. 

 

I can honestly say this game is quickly addicting. It has Facebook integration as well so you can post your score and you can compare your score among friends (you do have to let it access your profile info and do all that other stuff that you have to do to let third party software on your Facebook page, much like Farmville, etc). Also, there is tournament ranking so you can see your score compared to that of your friends. 

 

You are given 5 “hearts”, which are basically 5 times you can play. Once you are out of hearts you have to buy more or wait a few minutes for them to replenish. If you link it to Facebook you get 10 extra hearts, and some Facebook friends can even send you more hearts. 

 

The nice thing is you can’t keep playing forever. So, as addicting as it is, you can’t waste too much time playing. Once your hearts are out, you are forced to do something else (like play another game...but it might be good to actually pay attention to a loved one or something now and then...just a thought). 

 

Also, the more you play you get silver coins that you can eventually use to buy “bombs” and “hourglasses.” The bombs cost 300 silver coins for one game use. If you buy them, at random times through the game you can tap them and they will take out a bunch of jewels, giving you a bigger score. If you buy the hour glasses, they will come up at random times, and if you tap them, they will add a few seconds to your game play. You can even save up coins and buy both of them. 

 

The more you play the more experience points you get, which multiplies your score, as well as eventually will unlock the bomb and the hourglass. 

 

It’s a really fun, fast-paced game that will keep you on your toes and give your brain a bit of a workout! 

Sincerely,
Nick Andrus
Jedi Master
0 Comments | Posted in Blog By Shawn Wilson

Skech Hard Rubber Case for iPhone 4/4S

March 15, 2012 10:20:45 PM CDT

The Pros: 

I like this case because it combines protection while keeping the sleekness of the iPhone 4/4S. 

The hard rubber gives it a rubber feel while still allowing easy sliding into your pocket (not sticking like a rubber otterbox or a silicone case). Ladies might also like it because it won’t stick to their hair while they are on the phone. 

The inside has a felt covering that will keep the glass back of the phone from scratching.  If the case is just plastic or even silicone going up against the glass back, you are at risk of rubbing grooves or scratches, or getting dust/sand in the back that can also scratch the back. So, the felt on the back is a good thing to keep it safe. 

Best of all, there is a space between the case and the phone--almost like a “buffer zone.” It’s made similar to a football helmet, so if there is a shock or an impact, the force of the impact spreads around the case rather than going right to the phone. 

Is it as protective as, say, an Otter or a Trident case? No. It’s not a “tank” to use “the Guru’s” terminology. Now, if you are a paratrooper going behind enemy lines into Afghanistan, this case might not be for you. If you are a parent in the habit of giving your $500+ dollar device to a 3 year old to keep them busy, this case probably isn’t for you (and maybe an iPhone in general isn’t a good idea for you). Anyway, I digress...

If you are a reasonably careful person, this case works fine. I have even dropped mine several times. Two times while running to my car my phone fell out of my pocket and landed face down then bounced around the asphalt about 4 times.

 

Scratched the case, but the phone itself was not damaged. One time my phone landed facedown and slid across the sidewalk--the entire slide it was face down. Still, no damage to the screen. 

The Cons: 

The bad thing about the skech case is that much like most quality cases, there is limited selection on styles. There are no graphics or logos available. I have found that most cases with some of the cooler graphics and logos seem to spend more time and effort on the look of the case rather than on the functionality and protection of the case. So, unfortunately, you have to choose if you want your case to combine protection with simplicity and sleekness, or if you want a graphic or logo on your case with cheap plastic/rubber. 

It is a two-piece case, so the bottom does come off. That could mean disaster, and usually does for most cases. The bottom just pops off. I do notice that the skech don't come off as easily as others. The case itself seems to fit on the entire phone, rather than just snapping together. So, the bottom doesn’t seem to come off easily, even after months of use. Two-piece cases that do have a snap seem to come off more easily with time because the snap wears out. 

 

One positive in the midst of the apparent downside of a two-piece case is that if you need to put your phone in a dock to charge and/or play music, you can take only the bottom off rather than having to take the entire case off. However, if you tend to wear more skinny jeans and you put your phone in your back pocket, there can be a chance that when you take the phone off the bottom part of the case might stay in your pocket. Not that my jeans are that skinny...but I have seen it happen with others...just saying...

 

In general, I like this case better than most. Again, I don’t like the bulky cases. I try to not put my phone through lots of turmoil. I like the look and the feel of an iphone without anything on it. If I could have no case I would. This is the best option if you are looking for good protection and keeping the sleek style of an iPhone 4/4S. 

 

Sincerely,

Nick Andrus

Jedi Master



















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0 Comments | Posted in Reviews By Shawn Wilson

The Best Traffic App for Android

March 12, 2012 7:51:23 PM CDT

Call me crazy, but I hate being stuck in traffic. I absolutely hate being stuck in traffic. The thought of being in a motor vehicle while staring at the back of another motor vehicle in the middle of my commute home sends chills down my spine.

Now I’ve tried dialing my FM radio in to one of the local stations to get the traffic reports, but after the 3rd Aflac, 4th diet program, and 2nd vote for me commercial, my nerves can’t stand it. Traffic + radio noise just drives me nuts.

Enter, Beat the Traffic. This little app is a divine Godsend. It’s design: simple. Its interface: easy to use. Its purpose: single fold. That is, to inform you of any traffic related issues and update on a regular basis.

Granted, there are other apps out there that provide you with traffic reports. There are even a ton of GPS devices that provide "alternate routes" based on traffic flow, but I like having a simple app that visualizes the flow of traffic for me so that I can make my own decisions about which route would be best for me to take.

When you first load the app, it begins to find your location via traditional location means: GPS, wifi, or cell tower. Once it finds your general location, it shows a Google map with a traffic overlay. Green for smooth flowing. Yellow for sluggish traffic. Red for "Holy crap this is going to take a while" traffic. It also has a handy "Report" button that allows you to report accidents, construction zones, and road hazards, which does count as doing a good deed for the day, should you run into anything that hasn't been reported.

All in all, it's a great app. Download it from the Android Market.

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0 Comments | Posted in Reviews By Matt Frey

Goofing off in the Office

March 6, 2012 12:01:32 PM CST

0 Comments | Posted in Blog By Shawn Wilson

Updates from ZellaTek

March 6, 2012 11:59:08 AM CST

What's up zealots, I wanted to update you on a few things taking place with Zellatek. We are working on getting our Reviews system down so that we can bring you the best in reviews for phones, apps, and of course accessories. We have run into a few bumps in the road but we are working through them. We hope to have our review system totally operational by the end of this week. Thank you for your patience and be looking for some great reviews from the ZellaTek team!! Until next time, Shawn Wilson "The Boss"
0 Comments | Posted in Blog By Shawn Wilson

Seven awesome weather apps for Android

February 16, 2012 12:55:22 PM CST

With so many to choose from, here's a collection of seven weather apps for Android that are definitely worth checking out.

Weather is one of those things you pay attention to during the more extreme climate seasons like summer and winter. You'll want to see if it's going to be cold in the morning when you wake up or really hot in the afternoon so you can dress appropriately for your day. You may find one of these apps suitable by itself, or you can try combining a couple of them to get the most information.

 

The Weather Channel

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)

One of the most popular weather apps by far. The daily information is excellent in this app because it includes what the temperature feels like, the humidity, and UV index. The hourly forecast is superior to that of other apps, showing you the temperature, precipitation chance, and wind. No artsy line graphs, just numbers to let you know what temperatures to expect.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)

You'll also find 36-hour and even 10-day forecasts in The Weather Channel's app. Radar maps are nicely marked with respect to the severity of weather conditions. Also, severe alerts are marked on the map with pop-up place pins that make it supereasy to read. Tweets, videos, and first-hand encounters are also included if you just can't get enough info about the weather.

WeatherBug

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)

WeatherBug is more traditionally used as a day-to-day forecast and weather app, but it does have useful features that can help you track hurricanes and other severe weather conditions. The app comes with a built-in alert system for weather warnings issued in your region or even nearby regions. There is also a weather map that displays a playable radar image of the forecast, so you can see where the weather is coming from and the direction it is moving.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)

This app has one of the best radar features, but doesn't serve up m1Weatheruch detail on individual storms. The radar map, while handy for short-term planning, only has a range of about 40 minutes. Also, the warning system will only alert you if you're actively tracking that region.

 

Want to read more?  Check out the rest of the post at cnet.com.

0 Comments | Posted in Blog By j g

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