Guessing the Apple

In the past few weeks, there have been several apps that have debuted with goals to help the user become more organized. Mailbox by Orchestra was the first, Sunrise a calendar app was second, and the third was Tempo.

I have been waiting for almost a week to use the app because like Mailbox, the app takes advantage of servers for faster and more reliable in app speeds. Because of this, I had to wait in line like thousands of others. But yesterday I was notified that I just got in. So if you download this app at the end of the review, you will have to wait for a little while.

One of the many reasons I am in love with Tempo is that the app is simple to use, great UI, and uses Facebook, your iOS Calendar, and emails to make a planner/Calendar of your day, week, and month. Unlike Sunset, which did some of this but relied on Google Calendar and Facebook (both requirements), Tempo does not require Facebook and does not force you to use a certain mail account or even calendar.

From the settings, you can add up to two email addresses that the app will manage. From your email, Tempo gathers names, addresses, phone numbers, and location if possible to make your planner smarter and keeps you more up to date. On the Calendar side, you can select any Calendar app you use as the default whether that be Sunset, Google Calendar, or the iOS iCloud Calendar.

Without a doubt this is the best productivity app that I have EVER used on my iPhone because while this is a stand alone app, if I add an event or meeting on Tempo, it goes to my iOS Calendar, Sunset Calendar, and Google Calendar. Furthermore, Tempo reminds me of birthdays and events on Facebook which is very important to me.

If you are in need of a better calendar or day planner app, Tempo is the app for you. Maybe you are happy with whatever calendar app you use and thats fine, but I highly encourage you to download this app and give it a shot. Tempo is worth every bit of the wait.

Shortly after the release of iOS 6, it didn't take long for complaints to fly in on how bad Apple Maps were and the severe flaws they had. With iOS 6, a lot of people realized how much they actually needed and relied on Google Maps. A solution was needed immediately for an alternative to Apple's Maps.

Among some of the recommended apps by Apple as great replacements for their own Maps app was a social maps app called Waze. One of the great things about Waze is that the user can interact with other drivers on the road by reporting accidents, road closures, and speed traps while you are on your journey. Also built into the app, you can have the app show on the map the best gas prices around your location and recommended places to eat as well.


This is a must have road trip app, not only does this app keep you up to date on the latest news on the road, the app can help you find the best gas prices and best restaurants in an unfamiliar place. The app has up to date maps, turn by turn directions, an voice commands. Another plus is that Waze is both for iPhone and iPad. So no matter if you are using an iPhone or an iPad on your next road trip, Waze has you covered!

The one downside to this is that its great for driving, but for users that need accurate maps for bus routes, subway info, walking directions, or street view for the bigger cites, this isn't the app you need. For that, I highly recommend Google Maps.

While this is not certainly a one stop app for navigation, its the best maps app for driving and is a small app that takes less than 100 megs on your device. So download Waze and Google Maps, with these two apps, you will never stress again on a road trip!

Head on over to the App Store and check out both Waze and Google Maps! You will thank me later! 

Early on Thursday morning, the highly anticipated Real Racing 3 hit the App Store. Without a doubt Real Racing 3 is the best racing game in the App Store. However, there is one thing that holds the game back from absolutely being a must have. 

A couple of months back, Firemonkeys and EA announced that the highly anticipated Real Racing 3 would be free. In previous editions, Real Racing had been among one of the more expensive game to play up front. However, after the initial payment, you didn't need to pay to buy cars, repairs, and extra in-game money to have a great experience. 

With Real Racing 3, instead of an up front cost, EA and Firemonkeys elected to go with a Freemium model where the user is more than encouraged to purchase tokens, in-game money, and better cars to rank up faster and win more games at a quicker rate than other players. After each race, your car shows levels for oil, tire wear, suspension, etc, and you have to pay your race earnings to service your car. After you service your car, you have to wait upwards of an hour before you can begin racing again unless you use tokens that you either earn through races or that you buy.  

Personally, I hate this. I hate the freemium model a lot when big games like Real Racing use models like this model to extract even more money from its players. Yes, ultimately it is a business and no one is making a user buy more in game content, but I feel used as a user. I feel like I am getting squeezed for every extra penny. But not everything is all negative.

All in all though, I love this game! Don't be too discouraged about the Freemium rant, the game is free after all and if you are patient enough for time to elapse for repairs, you won't have to pay a dime. Real Racing 3 has the best graphics and is the closest game to a console style game. Despite my hate towards the Freemium model, Real Racing 3 is definitely worth the download!  

You can download Real Racing 3 for the iPhone, iPod, and iPad here!