Mike Riley is a frequent contributor to several technical publications and specializes in emerging technologies and new development trends. Mike was previously employed by RR Donnelley as the company’s Chief Scientist, responsible for determining innovative technical approaches to improve the company’s internal and external content services. Mike also co-hosted Computer Connection, a technology enthusiast show broadcast on Tribune Media's CLTV.
By Mike Riley
Based on a popular board game by the same name, Lanterns: The Harvest Festival ($4.99) (Lanterns for short) is a beautifully realized digital conversion of this domino-style color matching game. The presentation of the game is an artful expression of matching patterns of Japanese lanterns in a pond. How well does this serene setting translate into a compelling contest against AI and online players alike? Read on to find out.
By Mike Riley
Just Mobile offers an ever-expanding line of premium iOS accessories. In this roundup I take a look at three items that help reduce the inevitable clutter experienced by anyone who loves accumulating tech gear. The Xtand Vent helps keep driving hands free by holding your iPhone for you. The AluCharge provides four power-perfect USB ports ready to supply your growing inventory of electronics, and the HeadStand Avant is a new, lighter weight take on Just Mobile's older headphone stand. Do these products meet the level of quality and pragmatic use that Just Mobile's reputation demands? Read on to find out.
By Mike Riley
TreasureHunter ($4.99) is a iOS board game conversion of the identically named, mildly popular board game released in 2015. This card game was created by legendary game designer Richard Garfield (the creator of the wildly popular Magic the Gathering trading card game). The conversion to iPad board game app was done by the game's Germany-based publisher Queen Games, a company that has had a somewhat mediocre track record digitally converting its other physical board games such as Alhambra and Kingdom Builder to iOS board games. Does TreasureHunter rise above those previous efforts? Read on to find out.
iPhone and iPad word processors are nearly as plentiful on the App Store as flashlight apps. In order to stand out from the crowded selection, developers need to offer products that meet a specific need. In the case of prose composition, one word processing app that enables the narrative (e.g. story and screenwriting) and article construction and evolution process is Scrivener ($19.99). Originally available only for the Mac, Scrivener has recently made the leap to the iOS platform. How does it fare on both? Read on to find out.
By Mike Riley
Game makers are converting board games to the digital realm at an ever-increasing rate. 1775: Rebellion ($9.99) is another example of this trend. The key to these conversions is how faithfully they capture the gameplay mechanics, physical components, and overall entertainment value that the source material delivers. How does 1775:Rebellion rate on these key aspects? Read on to find out.
By Mike Riley
The original console-based version of Jade Empire scored an 89 on Metacritic, a remarkably high score for a game. The follow-up Special Edition for PC released a few years later scored an 81 which is still admirable. Since the actual game's story, interface, and gameplay mechanics in this iOS version of Jade Empire: Special Edition ($9.99) are identical to original game, I won't spend much time on going into those aspects of this conversion. For those interested in a review of the core gameplay experience, there are a number of reviews for the game already on the web such as this one from Gamespot.
Ready to face the Cold War years in the digital conversion of Twilight Struggle, one of the highest-rated board games of all times? Playdeck, best known for its Ascension deck-building game, has released for the iPad its interpretation of this phenomenally popular board game title. Does it provide the same depth and tension that the original board game does? Read on to find out.
By Mike Riley
The calculator app that comes bundled in iOS is adequate for basic, quick calculations, but it lacks even a simple memory function or running history of operations. Hundreds of alternative calculator apps, both free and paid, are available from the App Store. But when you want the best, the absolute top of the category, PCalc ($9.99) from TLA Systems claims that it's the one to beat. Let's find out if that's the case.
By Mike Riley
If you have an iMac 21.5" or older 27" screen edition and want to declutter your desk, then the addition of Prism Design's Float Shelf may be of interest to you.
By Mike Riley
Continuing along the theme of revisiting apps that have been essential since the early days of iOS, Reeder 3 ($4.99, iOS, $9.99, macOS) by Silvio Rizzi is a feature-rich RSS reader for iPhone currently in its third incarnation. The RSS feed reader app has greatly expanded its support for a variety of third-party services and kept up to date in the modern era of iOS devices. Do these enhancements offer enough value to continue using it above other RSS feed apps? Read on to find out.
Withings has created award-winning body-composition scales in the past, but Body+ is their most popular choice. In fact, it is the #1 best selling smart scale in the USA! This high precision smart scale doesn’t just focus on weight; it also offers measurements of your body fat, muscle mass, total body water, and bone density. With more metrics to track, making lifestyle changes and seeing results becomes so much easier. With Body+ you’ll know if your weight gain or loss is due to a change in fat, muscle, or intake of water, helping you stay motivated on days when a regular scale might discourage you.
Wireless keyboards are great because they leave your desk tangle-free! The Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard looks and feels like Apple made it, but more stylishly. Unlike the real thing, this keyboard boasts a one-year battery life and it comes in silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold. It works seamlessly with your Mac, but you can also use it for iPad, iPhone, Android, and even your Windows laptop or computer! Better yet, pair it with up to four Bluetooth devices to save time navigating between them. Enjoy simple luxuries at an affordable price with the Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard.
