Image by Rob Schultz/Macworld
This week’s roundup features live TV, another new Zen app, beautiful games, and more. Read on!
Image by Plex
Plex (free, iPhone and iPad) has long let you access your videos, music, and photos from nearly any device. Now, the app has added a live tv option—starting at $5 a month—allowing you to watch and record high definition, over-the-air television broadcasts using a digital tuner and antenna. It’s good for your mobile iOS devices or Apple TV.
Image by Clarity
Clarity (free, iPhone) is a wallpaper editor, letting you create homescreens and lock screens with a little more flair. The app helps you edit your pics so that time, date, and icons are legible, depending on the screen you’re viewing. You can add frosted glass effects, or pick from 200 color gradients to get just the effect you like.
Image by Farming Simulator 18
Farming Simulator 18 ($5, iPhone and iPad) lets you simulate farm life—planting crops, breeding pigs, hauling wood, and more. If you hit hard times, though, there’s no Virtual Willie Nelson to run a cyber-benefit concert to save your farm.
Image by Meditapes
Here’s the latest in the crowded category of Zen apps: Meditapes (free with in-app purchases, iPhone) lets you create relaxing audio loops using “sound packs” of sounds made by musicians using real instruments. Need five minutes? How about an hour? You can customize your Meditapes to run however long it takes you to achieve bliss.
Image by Monument Valley 2
Monument Valley 2 ($5, iPhone and iPad) is getting a real push from Apple in the App Store. “Guide a mother and her child as they embark on a journey through magical architecture, discovering illusionary pathways and delightful puzzles as you learn the secrets of the Sacred Geometry.” And yes, it’s pretty to look at.
Image by Slicing
Slicing (free, in-app purchases, iPhone and iPad) is one of the simplest iOS games that can exist: When a white square appears, you tap on the screen to try and slice it. When a black square appears, you let it go. Speed, reflexes, and nerves of steel will help you accumulate points.
Image by TidBit
TidBit (free, iPhone) is basically a social network for foodies. You create a network of like-minded family and friends to pick and share your favorite dishes and restaurants, helping you to discover new wonders and stay in touch with old favorites.
Image by Watchlist
Watchlist ($3, iPhone) lets you make a (natch) watchlist of the movies on iTunes, Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix—making one list to rule all your Saturday-night entertainment options instead of a separate one for each. You can save from movie pages in Safari directly to the app, then double-tap a movie to mark it “watched” when done.
Image by Tiny Trees
Yoga Studio has updated with new meditations—and a new subscription pricing plan … Tiny Trees (pictured) teaches your children to care for alien plant life … Crazy Taxi Gazillionaire is a game about a wealthy, but wacky, cab driver.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.