A couple of days ago, I got an email from Robert Lloyd Lewis who introduced himself as the producer of Showtime’s Dexter series “in real life” – and here’s the awesome part, decided to dabble in iOS app development and in fact, recently released “VOWEL MOVEMENT” – a word game that’s a mix of Boggle and Scrabble with an interesting twist.

I couldn’t resist such a rare opportunity to interview Mr. Lewis, and here are his thoughts on wearing the newbie iOS developer hat:

Considering your busy schedule as the producer of Dexter, what got you interested in developing iOS apps?

I just can’t turn off my brain, and love to follow through when opportunities present themselves. When I come across a problem, I’m compelled to solve it. I have some other ventures in that vein. One is the very successful OpenX package opener, designed to open those impossible plastic packages. (http://www.myopenx.com) I couldn’t stand struggling to open those plastic clamshells, so I did something about it. We’ve sold millions of them.

Another example: I didn’t like having to use the dreaded, phony 555 phone number in TV shows I produced. So, I started a service called We’ve Got Your Number (www.wevegotyournumber.tv) to acquire actual legally cleared phone numbers for use in entertainment. In Dexter, you will never see a 555 phone number.

My friend Norm Epstein and I love word games. One day at lunch we kicked around an idea for a game, and when Norm proposed calling it Vowel Movement, I knew we had something. We mocked up the game using flash cards and a homemade board and refined the rules. We decided to take a shot at iOS development.

Do you have any prior programming background (not necessarily c++) or did you start from scratch?

I’m not a coder, and, as you implied above, don’t have the time to learn it. I know that a lot of people have had difficulties with coders delivering. Believe it or not, I found a great company to program Vowel Movement…a referral from my hair stylist. Very Hollywood, huh? She lead me to Chel Ramsey Productions in Brentwood Tennessee. Chel is an app producer who works with a programmer and an artist. Norm and I designed the game with crude drawings. We spent a lot of time thinking through and testing the rules. Then Chel (at a very reasonable cost) worked with us to turn it into the app you see now.

Why “Vowel Movement”? Is there a particular reason you chose to develop a word game?

I thought the name would set us apart from the myriad iOS games out there. I hope it’s intriguing enough to spark some attention. The day Vowel Movement was released, I was stunned to see there must have been a hundred other apps released that day. So, you need something to stand apart.

As I mentioned, we just love word games. Especially Norm, who is great at it. He regularly scores over 300 in Scrabble. If you look at the leader board in Vowel Movement, you’ll see that he is always at the top (his game name is “The Bomp”).

Any major snags encountered during the development process (e.g. Device compatibility, bugs, etc.)?

The development process was great. We did encounter bugs and compatibility issues, but Chel fixed those as we found them without much fuss.

What are your expectations about Vowel Movement’s performance, sales wise?

Hopefully we dwarf Zynga…or get bought by them. Actually, I have no clue. I don’t know how big the market is for word games that aren’t breakouts. I’m hoping we can make our investment back, and have some fun along the way. As Norm kept saying, if no one buys it, at least we’ll have a great game to play for ourselves.

Any other app development plans in the pipeline (if you’re at liberty to disclose, that is)?

At the moment, we have a lot that we’d like to do to improve Vowel Movement before we move on to others. It needs sound, and I’d like to offer a two player option. Right now, it’s a one person game, although you can challenge your friends to beat your score.

What do you think are the important factors to consider if you want to go into app development?

I know that in TV and film, the rule is always to make a product that you would personally want to see…don’t try to second guess what the audience wants. I apply that to app development. We made Vowel Movement because we found the game challenging, fun and addictive.

Any advice to other developers?

Apple has brought development to ordinary people at a reasonable cost. If you’re willing to put in the time and the energy, go for it.

Mr. Lewis’ experiences and insights should serve as inspiration to anyone who’s interested in app development. Please do check out Vowel Movement when you can and stay tuned for a full review in the coming weeks!

Supermarket Mania may be a lesser known time management (TM) game, but it does bring something new to the table that is different from your usual Dash type of game. Read on to learn more about its shinier sequel, Supermarket Mania 2 HD (Full).

The basic mechanics of Supermarket Mania are fairly simple and gradually build up into management mayhem. You start with stocking and refilling the supermarket shelves. Sounds simple so far? Well, stocking and refilling is just one aspect of your regular ‘day.’ You also need to keep an eye on your store’s cleanliness level, otherwise, customers may slip and hurt themselves from the dirt and debris piling up. At the same time, new customers wait in line for their shopping baskets and if there aren’t enough free ones, you’ll soon have an angry mob on your hands.

To a certain extent, customer preference affects what seem to be ‘routine’ stocking and filling since some items are restocked more frequently than others, depending on the kind of customers that walk into your store. For example, the single guys tend to load up on meat while elderly customers buy a lot of milk and fruits. Later on, you need to provide food and beverages that need machines and certain ingredients from your wares, such as fruits. Meanwhile, you have to keep an eye on rowdy kids, thieves and thugs that wander in and dirty the floors, wreck machines and generally disrupt the general peace.

Supermarket Mania 2 builds on the original gameplay but makes it more fun and challenging. You have more or less the same upgrades and power-ups to expect, and the same cast of characters. However, the graphics are shinier and prettier, the controls are tighter and overall, the game still feels fresh and fun. I also like the sound effects and background music, which are cheery and energetic and contributing to a sense of urgency.

Strategy-wise, you need to plan ahead when choosing which shelves to re-stock, especially when you have a lot of customers demanding coffee, milkshakes, and all the other stuff that you need to assemble. Of course, it depends on your goals. If you just want to pass the level, then you’ll find that meeting the basic goal is doable. However, if you are aiming for an excellent/expert score every level, then you’ll find the prospect quite challenging.

Currently I am replaying a level because I am unable tor each expert scores – a huge challenge for a TM aficionado such as myself! Thus, I tip my hat to the devs for making this particular TM game more challenging than usual. Of course, aspiring to unlock all the achievements is yet another incentive.

TM newbies and fans alike will find Supermarket Mania 2 HD a great TM fix. The price might be a bit on the steep side, but most Diner Dash games cost about the same and offer the same content, such as 50 levels. Supermarket Mania 2 HD has gorgeous art, content that’s a little different from your usual salon or cafe, and an experience quite challenging for the avid casual gamer.

Sail high on the perilous seas with Powder Monkeys a light and casual role playing game (RPG) with loads of that puts you at the helm of the Monkey Navy, sworn to take back the islands from your Bug foes.

In the far off future, namely the Second Ice Age, humans have been wiped out and evolution saw it fit for only the insects and monkeys to survive. In Powder Monkeys, bugs and chimps fight for supremacy on the open seas. You play the captain of the Monke Navy but when it comes to your avatar, you have a couple of characters and silly names to choose from (apart from your own).

Powder monkeys is apparently a term for crew in charge of carrying bags of gunpowder during sea battles, and I guess the game is a literal take on that!

The tutorial is on the vague side, but you can aimlessly explore, engage in battle and collect loot if you don’t feel like going on quests.

As far as RPGs go, Powder Monkeys offers a pretty extensive customization and leveling up process, and you feel your progress . You wide array of upgradable stuff for your ship and bullets. You either use silver coins or crystals as currency, the latter for more powerful weapons and power-ups. The “bullets” that you fire from your ship are cute and amusing, ranging from the default watermelons to cutlery.

There’s in-app purchase to buy special power ups but you can definitely enjoy the game without shelling out if you’re patient enough. For example, you can do side quests to earn some coins but the income-generating part there, really, is in the exploration of the environment to grab treasure chests which contain goodies. Luck is the name of the game here, and if you’re lucky, you might hit on massive loot.

In addition, you can attack bug-infested islands to capture them and earn some money.

Battles can be played on autopilot and the outcome depends on how beefed up your ship and weaponry are. However, the real fun is in direct engagement, where you race to fill up your slots taking care to strategically place them to maximize/minimize damage. At the end of the battle you earn some coins which you can use to upgrade your stuff.

The story-based quests hardly differ from the side quests since there is no real story to speak of other than the general concept of fighting and plundering your way to the top. This is my chief complaint about the game which is mostly about doing the same thing over and over (grinding, that is) to level up and earn more money. The lack of a story is not a deal breaker but with no defined goals to accomplish, there’s not much to look forward to after completing the story quests.

The graphics are cute and cartoony, matched by the equally cute and cheerful music and effects. The dialogue is a bit on the corny side but a game attempt to make trash talk between chimps and bugs interesting.

All in all, Powder Monkeys is a lot of fun to play and jump into if you’re looking for a quick fix. It’s an RPG adventure casual enough for the newbie player, has loads of personality and plenty to keep you hooked.

App: Powder Monkeys ( Universal )
Price: FREE with in-app purchases
Copy: Provided by the developer
Developer/Publisher: XMG Studios
Ver: 1.1
Rating: 4 out of 5

Hungribles are hopelessly hungry creatures (one of them reminds me of pikachu!) you need to feed with orbs by manipulating a mushroom shaped slingshot. (The fewer orbs used, the better your score) These orbs travel along a rainbow trajectory where they bounce off objects and disappear in empty spaces.

You can make all sorts of crazy angles since the rainbow can curve and bend. The art is quirky and cute, combining cartoon drawings with watercolor-like backgrounds. The music is pleasant but closer to the generic side. The sound effects are funny and cute, however.

The fluidity of the controls is critical in this kind of game and this is where Hungribles needs further improvement. While you can turn your slingshot 360 degrees or bend the angles to your liking, it’s easier said than done.

The help section (unfortunately the comic book style instructions are difficult to understand) recommends that you use two fingers for greater accuracy, but the exercise is often futile and frustrating. It’s difficult to aim and release properly, resulting in unintended errors and tangled fingers. Out of so many tries (and limited orbs!) I only get my aim right once or twice. I cannot tell if the controls are making the otherwise easy puzzles difficult to beat. For this reason, I am hard pressed to recommend Hungribles if the controls are not significantly improved, despite the promising content it offers.

The bewildering phenomenon that is Angry Birds accelerated the growth of the physics puzzler, a previously underrated genre, and spawned hundreds of copycats.  While I am not a fan of Angry Birds, I do see its imprint on many similar games out in the App Store today. In some ways, Hungribles is one of these aspirants and appears to come from the Angry Birds school of physics puzzlers with a bit of Cut the Rope, another popular physics puzzle game. Where the similarity ends and its own identity begins is up to you to decide.

App: Hungibles ( Full / Lite )
Price: $0.99 [ON SALE]
Copy: Provided by the developer
Developer/Publisher: Futuremark Games
Ver: 1.1.3.7
Rating: 3 out of 5

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and people are: (a) hooking up; (b) making up; or (c) breaking up. Whether you’re on your way in, out or just looking around, here are some fun and games and apps to keep you occupied on one of the busiest days of the year.

Instant Poetry Universal for iPhone and iPad (1.99)

You might want to give Instant Poetry a spin if you’re looking for ways to express your love this Valentine’s Day. Choose from pre-selected words and arrange them into a poem to your liking. Note that if you’re not too keen on love, the app as different themes that may adequately express your emotions.

CupidStrikes for iPhone ($0.99)

CupidStrikes is your ultimate dose of all that’s fun, pleasant and cute on Valentine’s Day. It also makes for a nice quick arcade game that tests your skills and reflexes, all while looking to kill a few minutes.

BarStar for iPhone ($0.99) and BarStar HD for iPad ($4.99)

Single and ready to mingle? Check out BarStar for some fun and fast bartending action. Serve drinks and a variety of crazy customers (including zombies!), in an endless party like no other! You’ll find that halfway into the game, you have gained significant knowledge about the different drinks out there, and you might want to go out with your girlfriends to celebrate.

New York Nights: Success in the City for iPhone ($4.99)

If you’re a hopeless romantic or you just want to know if you have what it takes to conquer the Big Apple, then you might want to check out New York Nights: Success in the City where your goal is to become fabulous and successful, and win over a celebrity hottie.

The Creeps: Holiday Edition Universal for iPhone and iPad ($0.99)

Looking for something a little offbeat? I heartily recommend the Valentine megapack (available via in-app purchase) of The Creeps. Here’s your chance to shoot down all that makes Valentine’s Day special. With funny, hand drawn art and equally funny sound effects, The Creeps makes for a good companion on what many see as the loneliest day of the year.

Wedding Dash Deluxe for iPhone ($2.99) Wedding Dash 4-ever for iPad (Free with In app purchase)

Wedding Dash might set off warning bells in your head – or that of your significant other, but before you end up arguing about commitment issues, please remember that Wedding Dash is just a game. It’s not a “dash” to the altar, nor is it a subliminal hint for your man to take it to the next level. One of my personal favorites and one of the best Dash games ever to come out, this game will help scratch that commitment itch, complete with all the drama of wedding organizing, and a totally risk free endeavor.

iKamaSutra HD for iPad (Free)

If you’re looking for some excitement in that department, Kama Sutra XL is more than just about trying out new positions, it’s also about understanding an ancient text that doubles as a guide to merging love and pleasure. Free, instructive and plain fun, here’s your chance to do something a little different this year.

Last but not the least, tons of apps are on sale. Let me point you to Alawar, one of my favorite publishers for time management and other casual games. Most of their apps are on sale and free, so don’t forget to check them out!

H(app)y shopping!

Match three puzzle meets strategy in the in Treasures of Montezuma (TOM), now out with two more sequels: Treasures of Montezuma 2  and Treasures of Montezuma 3. Read on to learn more about this explosive match three series.

One Sunday afternoon, I found my Mom glued to her iPad, totally engrossed in Treasures of Montezuma (the first). A few days later, my sister was hogging it, then her husband, who’d been playing all day.  ”I can’t stop playing it!” all three invariably told me, pausing only to glance at me briefly.

Alawar Games has every reason to be proud of their Montezuma series, a richly detailed world where you race against time to collect jeweled tiles by swapping and forming chains of at least three tokens and eliminating them. The catch here is that you can’t just remove any token to beat the level – you need to eliminate those with a gleaming jewel in the center before time runs out. As levels progress you get to unlock special powers to aid you, such as those extending your time, increasing your bonuses and the like.

The game is pretty easy to figure out and consists mainly of swapping tiles to form chains to eliminate them. The beautiful part is in scoring satisfying chain combos and hitting the ultimate Score Frenzy mode. You then earn magic stars to spend on power ups (a mix of color-specific totem idols, board gems and score, time and combo boosts) that you activate in-game by scoring successive combos of chains of the same color. You can vary these power ups at any given time before starting a level to maximize your score. Thus, you can play and replay a level depending on your power ups of choice in many different ways to maximize your score. The power ups upgrade system may seem a bit confusing at first but you’ll figure it out eventually. 

How you beat a level is ultimately up to you and the strategy you employ – which power up to use and which tiles to prioritize. The strategy element makes Treasures of Montezuma more than just a match three puzzle game – it is more challenging and exciting thanks to its clever twists (read the original review).

The graphics are simply gorgeous and a visual feast that pays homage to the famed conquistador and his fabled riches. The tokens are colorful, richly detailed and a sheer pleasure to look at. The vibrant visuals and animation are enhanced by the sound effects and music, making a triumphant, satisfying sound for each tile chain formed, and each power up used.

TOM sets the standard for its sequels, and boasts of beautiful tokens and larger than life power ups. TOM 2 is more of an in-betweener in terms of graphics, with the biggest tokens of the three but which appear scaled up on the screen.  TOM 3 is the most beautiful yet, with the smallest but the most detailed and gorgeous tokens and scenery all around.

You’ll also notice that in TOM, the default orientation of the board is portrait mode so you have more tokens to eliminate. TOM 2 and TOM 3 are in landscape mode and appear to have fewer tokens on the board as a result.

Content wise, you have plenty of reasons to collect all three. TOM is focused on sheer match three pleasure. TOM 2 offers adventure, endless and puzzle modes and even a special mini-game at the end of each chapter.

Of the three, TOM 2 has the most content. TOM 3, on the other hand, focuses on eliminating as many tokens as you can in order to unlock Montezuma’s treasure chests, with eliminating jeweled tokens as a bonus. The puzzle aspect is built in, instead of a separate game mode as in TOM 2. On top of these, you can also play the game in hard or expert mode after finishing normal mode.

The Treasures of Montezuma series proves that you can offer up new and exciting sequels different enough from each other and the original, and don’t just capitalize on the success of the first game. At the same time, the original is good enough to stand the test of time and should not be skipped.

You can’t go wrong with this series. Newbies and match three veterans ought to have at least one Montezuma game in their collection.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Download the TOM series by following the links below:

I. Treasures of Montezuma (FULL VERSION: iPhone / iPad)

Price: $1.99 (iPhone), $1.99 (iPad)

 

II. Treasures of Montezuma 2 (FULL VERSION: Universal)

Price: $1.99

 

III. Treasures of Montezuma 3 (FULL VERSION: iPhone / iPad)

Price: $1.99 (iPhone), $4.99 (iPad)

]]> http://appsized.com/2012/02/10/the-treasures-of-montezuma-series-in-review-for-ipad-and-iphone/feed/ 0 appsized Treasures of Montezuma Treasures of Montezuma Treasures of Montezuma http://appsized.com/2012/02/08/ios-app-review-roads-of-rome-hd/ http://appsized.com/2012/02/08/ios-app-review-roads-of-rome-hd/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:38:42 +0000 appsized http://appsized.com/?p=760 Continue reading →]]>

Fend off wolves, mine for crystals and meet a whole bunch of other goals in Roads of Rome HD, a sim-building game that prizes efficiency and strategy in order to win.

 

How do I love thee? Let me count the (path)ways. This is the premise of Roads of Rome HD, a sim-building game from the same guys behind the Island Tribe series (read the review), where Caesar sends you off to a perpetual infrastructure building mission to keep you and your beloved apart. Other than the fairly interesting premise, is Roads of Rome HD traversing the well-traveled path of similar sim building games?

Roads of Rome HD, in terms of gameplay and structure, operates like most sim-building games such as My Kingdom for the Princess. Your basic goals are mainly to build roads and meet other goals that crop up, such as to gather crystals. You have a limited number of workers and resources to work with, facilities to upgrade, and goals to meet. The tutorial walks you through most of the basics of the gameplay, and for handy reference, reminds you gently if you, say, need to remove a wolf that’s scaring your workers.

The rather short time given to you to complete a level makes all the difference. If you just stick to meeting the level goals without aspiring for best time, you’ll find the game quite challenging. If you’re a time management fiend, like I am, you will find yourself replaying a level several times just to finish it as fast as you can and get expert time.

This particular aspect of Roads of Rome HD is one that I find truly engaging. While in terms of gameplay and mechanics, it’s all been done before, Roads of Rome HD is not just about tapping here and there to build roads. For example, your workers need a certain number of units of food to be able to build roads, However, at the start of each level, you only have a few food units to allocate according to your tasks and how you prioritize your building needs determines the outcome. If you use up all your food, and you rely on the occasional berry bush to pop up, it could happen (and it has happened to me), that you get stuck in the middle of the game because you don’t have enough food for your workers to proceed.

Graphics are lovely and detailed. Roads of Rome is one of the best-looking sim-building games I’ve seen so far. I also like the little touches in animation, such as the My Valley menu, which incidentally gives you an overview of your progress in the game and the level of upgrades currently available to you.

Entertainment value is high, and for 40 levels at $3.99, you get loads of value for your money.

Roads of Rome HD is an effortless recommendation and one of my favorite sim building games, to date. If you only plan to buy one or two representative games of the genre, this game should definitely be on your list.

App: Roads of Rome HD (Full / Lite)

Price: $3.99

Copy: Provided by the developer

Developer/Publisher: Realore

Ver: 1.0.4

Rating: 5 out of 5

Magic Academy 2 HD is a Harry Potter-esque approach to hidden object games – look for ingredients, potions and spells and uncover the mystery behind a missing magical treatise that threatens to destroy the wizarding world.

 

If you’re into hidden object games, then the mechanics of Magic Academy 2 HD will no doubt be familiar. It is but a variation on so many hidden object/adventure games that available in the App Store. The tutorial is easy to understand and walks you through the important and new aspects of the game. If you’re new to hidden object games, this game is the perfect start for you.

Content wise, we’ve seen it all before, but in Magic Academy 2 HD there’s a healthy mix of object hunting, spot the difference and puzzle solving. The most inportant part is that because of the story, there is a purpose to your object-hunting, which helps break the monotony a little. A limited foray into spell casting is a nice twist that should be developed in future sequels.

Here’s a bit of spot the difference:

The game, broken up into chapters, lets you focus on the objective at hand without getting lost in the complicated storyline. The structured approach might not be for everyone though, but for those who play in quick bursts, the chapter by chapter approach works nicely.

Graphics are a-okay, mixing up animated photos of actual people (well, wizards) and adding a bit of animation to the hidden object scenes. The animation for the speaking parts is terrible and the voice acting is borderline hokey. I find myself skipping the dialogue for a number of reasons – the “script” is too verbose and takes quite a bit of time to finish, the animation is awkward and puppet-like, and the voices are just irritating. Ideally, the cut scenes provide the backbone of the adventure part of the game so it’s a shame to skip them. An option to mute the voice part and leaving the subtitles in would be nice.

 

Ulimately, who can resist a story about magic? While magic academy may not be the groundbreaking, magical hidden object adventure you’re looking for, it’s fun, charming and solidly executed. You get 50 levels for $4.99, and a smooth gaming experience overall. This game is quite cheaper compared to its equally glossy counterparts, and offers a decent storyline for those who are looking for something more substantial than just object hunting.

App: Magic Academy 2 HD (Full/Lite)
Price: $4.99
Copy: Provided by the developer
Developer/Publisher: Nevosoft
Ver: 1.0.1

Total rating : 4/5

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://appsized.com/2012/02/06/ios-app-review-magic-academy-2-hd/feed/ 1 appsized Magic Academy 2 on appSIZED Magic Academy 2 HD http://appsized.com/2012/01/31/ios-app-review-say-hello-to-the-new-appsized-report-card/ http://appsized.com/2012/01/31/ios-app-review-say-hello-to-the-new-appsized-report-card/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:11:13 +0000 appsized https://appsized.wordpress.com/?p=741 Continue reading →]]>

 It took a lot of thinking, but finally, appSIZED now has an official review rating system to make app shopping a little easier for you, dear reader.

The appSIZED report card summarizes what an app is all about and if you should get it. The criteria is pretty easy to understand, and I believe it covers what we all look for in an app.

You’ll see how the report card works in upcoming app reviews, so please stay tuned!

Steve Jobs believed that all you need are your fingers to take notes on your iPad, but experience will tell you otherwise. 

When I got my very first iPad, I immediately looked for a stylus to pair it with and I have been looking ever since. Here are some of my lessons learned. The first part of this series is about my search for a stylus that works for me, and some lessons I can impart from the experience. Just a disclaimer, I have not tried all of the major brands in the market (e.g. Pogo, Dagi, et al.), just the ones that are locally available or given to me as a gift.

The stylus is nothing new. I have seen it since the Jurassic era of computing – when toting a personal digital assistant was the height of mobile tech. Back then, the original stylus wasn’t really effective as a writing instrument, and was really just for tapping on tiny items on a tiny screen. On a larger capacitative touch screen device such as the iPad, however, using one’s own digits isn’t going to cut it especially for lengthy jottings and scribbles.

1) The First Cut is the Deepest: The Search Begins

My first stylus, Maclove missile, was short but extendible, with two different tips to choose from (hard and soft rubber), the first thing I learned was to look for a stylus that looks and feels closest to a regular pen. Trying to write was incredibly frustrating, even while using the softer, more pliable tip. I ended up with cramped fingers and stilted penmanship. I passed it on to my boss for testing on his iPhone 4. Unfortunately I don’t have a writing sample to show.

Image courtesy of this site

2) Butterfingers: The rubber tip dilemma

Your run of the mill stylus usually comes with a round and soft rubber tip. My second stylus, Targus, is the basic black model close to the length of a regular pen, lightweight and easy to use, which served me well for over a year until a friend of mine told me to test it against a newer Targus stylus. He shared his experience that Targus, works well for basic jotting and writing, but its rubber tip tends to deteriorate quite quickly and his was a lot less responsive down the road. I also tested a similar lightweight stylus by Belkin (which came out a few months ago in our local stores), and so far I haven’t been able to tell the difference between the two in terms of quality and responsiveness. If there are any differences between the two, they are just negligible.

My friend got me a more expensive Ozaki stylus pen, which is slightly heavier and hence, takes some getting used to if you’ve been using a lightweight stylus. The rubber tip is also slightly firmer than my Targus. The handy part is being able to use the pen (though the ink isn’t of a high quality type) when needed especially when you’re only armed with an iPad. According to my friend who used both Targus and Ozaki, the Ozaki stylus lasts longer and its rubber tip remains intact even with considerable wear and tear of everyday scribbling.

Lesson learned: If you’re going to go rubber-tipped, you have two things to consider: price and durability. The cheaper and more lightweight stylus might be more comfortable for writing, but be prepared to replace it sooner than later.

3) Happily Ever After? It’s Like Having a Real Pen in Your Hand

Last Christmas, I received an unexpected (but welcome) Christmas present from my brother-in-law. He had mentioned it to me several times after learning I was on the lookout for a stylus that is best for me. When I opened my gift, it was a beautiful metallic stylus that looked like an expensive Apple product thanks to its fine craftsmanship. Adonit’s Jot stylus looks like a pen, but you’ll see right away that there is a small plastic disc attached to the tip. Called a precision disc, it moves around when you write and allows you greater flexibility to write at an angle – a maximum of 45 degrees, I believe. It’s not as fragile as it sounds, however, and feels pretty sturdy – in any case, the stylus comes with a cap to protect the tip that you can screw onto the other end when in use.

Jot stylus belongs to a particular specie of styli, a cousin of the likes of Dagi, which offer a unique approach to writing on the iPad. Jot and Dagi both employ the use of a plastic disc for greater writing flexibility. Some reviews of the Jot stylus, however, weigh favorably on the greater flexibility of the Jot compared to Dagi. Some also take issue with small scratches on their iPad screen after using Dagi; in my case, since I use a screen protector, I haven’t experienced this using iStroke.

I am using Jot Pro which offers a rubber grip for easier writing. It also has its own magnet which allows it to latch on to the iPad’s magnetic side. Jot Pro is more expensive so if you want to save on money you can buy the regular Jot stylus  instead, which incidentally comes in bright, gorgeous colors. Jot can only be bought online so far. (UPDATE: Jot will be available in the Philippines in  two weeks’ time – thank you Digital Walker!)

Compared to a rubber tip stylus, it takes a lot less effort to write and feels more precise in most instances. However, your appreciation or enjoyment of this type of stylus also depends on your writing style and preference. By the way, the Jot stylus,  according to my brother-in-law, is preferred by his friends who draw and sketch on the iPad.

Lesson learned: If you want a greater degree of precision over what you write, look for a different kind of tip.

Of course, finding the stylus that best suits you is just half of it. Stay tuned for the next installments, which will cover some tips on how to maximize your stylus and integrate it into your school and work needs, including a comprehensive survey of note taking apps.

Your tips on other brands that I can check out would be most welcome!