Skyrim Alchemy (free version) for iOS

You can find the app on iTunes store, or by following the link on the app's blog: http://skyrimalchemy.blogspot.ca/

This app lets you try new and different alchemy recipes without wasting your in game ingredients. Now this app has a very simple User Interface and trust me when it's this type of app the simpler the better!  You can select a single effect, then choose two ingredients from the filtered lists accessed by the silver buttons saying "Select Ingredient", and then one more ingredient whose effects match either or both of the first two ingredients.  It will also tell you what effects that potion will have if you were to make it in game.  I find it VERY handy when I'm trying to track down that one perfect potion, or just to avoid negative effects on positive potions by changing ingredients (I don't spend any perks in my alchemy constellation in game, even though I try to max out my alchemy skill).

Also there is a secondary function where you select two effects and it gives you a list of possible ingredient combinations to give you those two effects in a single potion.  Be warned though, cause the second effect list isn't filtered like the ingredient lists are in the primary screen.  I have found a few effects that would be nice to have together, but just won't go together.

I have one issue with it (and it's a minor issue): I want the buttons to be bigger!  It's not that I don't have any dexterity in my fingers, it's just that I like a little wiggle room and padding when the only UI shown is a few buttons.  I'm not saying the screen needs to be filled with them, but 5 to 10 extra pixels bigger each would be nice.

So does it pass mustard? yes
Should you buy the pay version? well if you have some money left over on your app store card it'd be nice to support the author, but there's no added incentive past "Disable ads" to go pay.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Official World Interactive Map (iPhone)

It's crap.  The visuals are cartoony, the free version only shows holds, the extra content (and there's a lot) costs $0.99 for every single unlock!  Are you kidding me?  15 unlocks, all $0.99 or you can buy the whole lot for $9.99, but I already downloaded the app for free, why do I have to pay!?? and the worst part is trying to add a pin to the map.  touch pins, touch add pin, touch map where you want the pin, see a big white box with only a done button on it, click done, oh where's the pin? zoom in all the way, oh, I think it's that little tiny red ball there... STUPID!!!   I'm guessing that the big white box is so you can type something in it, and pins do keep after you turn off the app, but it's just so unwieldy.  there's a button on the start screen that lets you download all the maps at once, taking up 970MB of space on your iPhone and easily that much bandwidth.  I've tried this app without an internet connection, and it works, but only up to a certain level of zoom, because for high zoom levels it has to download a new map from the internet.  Because of this.... let's call it a zoom threshold.... and many other things (like a lack of help or usage instructions) I'm going to say that Prima Guide's Skyrim Official World Interactive Map for iPhone does NOT pass mustard.

Breakdown:

• is it a map? yes
• So is it interactive? yes
• does it work on my iPhone 3GS? yes
• Does it show where you've been in skyrim? You can tell the app what places you've discovered, but only if you've payed for everything, the free one only gives you the different hold cities.
• Does it show dungeon placements etc.? yes if you pay for them
• does it make noise? yes, but you can turn that off
• is there a search funciton? yes but to find anything that's actually hard to find (i.e. not hold cities) you'll need to pay for content.

My final verdict is that if you want an interactive map that already has everything on it, there's a free one at UESP.net based on google's tech:  http://www.uesp.net/maps/srmap/srmap.shtml and it'll work on your iPhone's browser, so it's easily better than this app, even though you need an internet connection to use it.

The Simpsons Tapped Out

Electronic Arts. Okay now that you are done booing at the world's largest video game producer, check out this iPhone game: The Simpsons Tapped Out.  It's a village building game with a Simpsons twist.  It does have some connection issues when you use EA's Origin service to connect to your friends.  When I say some connection issues I mean if you like to play weekends and super late night you won't be able to, cause it won't connect after midnight or during a Saturday.  Works gorgeously every other time though.  I just love it.  All the most memorable landmarks from Springfield USA are in it.  Like the Kwik E Mart and Krusty Burger.  You get a whole bunch of characters too like Homer, Lisa, Ned, Apu, Krusty, and Milhouse (that's as far as I've gotten so far).  I'm currently working on getting enough moneys (in game currency) to buy the School.  There's also magic donuts that can speed any action up quickly.  They cost real money, so don't go spending all the free ones you get right away.

Passed Mustard.