For those of us looking for that pinnacle action RPG for the iPhone, Ravensword: The Fallen King [$6.99 - iTunes]has been released. This game looks absolutely fantastic! I have only played this game for a few minutes (enough to leave the inn and wander the town. I will have a more thorough update later) but the controls are great and there are lots of options to tweak the performance based on your hardware.

The character and environment detail is some of the best I have seen on the iPhone. The game is similar to other games such as Oblivion in this genre. There are NPCs to interact with and several weapons and items to use. There has not been a game quite like this so far on the iPhone, so it will be exciting to see its reception in the App Store. I for one, know what I will be playing this weekend!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

FINALLY: Ravensword for iPhone Released!

Oh yeah — Looks like in the near future that OnLive thing might just take off and lucky iPhone users will be able to play along with their PC gaming friends. However, many roadblocks still exist. Steve Pearlman OnLive’s CEO Says:

I’m afraid we are not announcing a date for availability of OnLive on particular cell phones just yet. We have further development to do, and we need approvals from some cell phone makers before we can release OnLive to the public. So, for now, OnLive on a cell phone is only a technology demo. But, for those of you who have been asking about OnLive on cell phones, the answer is yes, it is coming. And, it is REALLY cool.

The OnLive service will begin in Winter 2009, however they are currently looking for beta testers. You can sign up here.

[via Engadget Mobile]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

OnLive to Bring PC Gaming to Your iPhone?

Today’s TiPb Top 5 will be directed towards our iPhone and iPod touch wielding readers who love racing games, and It’s a follow up to last years TiPb Grand Prix. Just like our other TiPb’s top 5 must-have posts, all of these applications are available in the App Store. For the full overview, follow us after the break!

Real Racing

I am biased, this is without a doubt, my favorite iPhone racing game. If you like simulation-style handling in your racing games, you will love this game. There are no real cars (other than the Volkswagon GTI) or courses. However, the attention to detail in-car and on the track is the best you will see on the iPhone. Now, with a new lower price [$4.99 - iTunes Link], you can’t go wrong with Real Racing!

• 4 classes
• 12 tracks
• Local Multiplayer
• Video replays on YouTube

Asphalt 5

Looking for a deep arcade racer on the iPhone? Look no further than Asphalt 5! There are plenty of “real” cars to choose from and lots of tracks. You can earn the ability to customize the look of your car too. The action is fast and pure arcade. The graphics have a “glow” to them, literally but are still good. Looking for an adrenalin rush, this is it! [$6.99 - iTunes Link]

• Over 30 real-world cars
• 12 tracks
• 8 different racing events
• Local Multiplayer

Rally Master Pro 3D

If you like the challenge of rally racing, then this is the only rally game to get in the app store! Plenty of cars and over 27 varied tracks! The controls seemed a little sluggish to be using the accelerometer, but I got used to them. Your car takes real-world damage as you drive (in one instance my hood flew off!) and you can repair your car in-between races. The weather simulation is great in the game too; rain and snow, and a voice navigator, it’s all there! [$4.99 - iTunes Link]

• Variety of game modes
• 27 varied tracks
• Weather enhancements
• Online leaderboards

Need for Speed Undercover

NFSU was one of the first games to have “next-gen”graphics on the iPhone. These graphics still hold true today! There are some fun innovations to like a slo-mo bullet time and auto-acceleration. You have some nice customization features for your car from spoilers to ground effects, not to mention color and vinyl. There is also a storyline to keep things interesting! $4.99 – [iTunes Link]

• 20 real cars
• 8 race modes
• Performance upgrades
• Slow-motion effects

2XL ATV Offroad

Looking for something different? ATV Offroad might be for you! smooth framerate and killer graphics make this one a keeper! The standout feature in this racing game is the ability to do tricks and achievements! Tricks can be done by tilting the device forward and backward while combining 6 preset stunt moves accessible on the screen. Couple this with some local Wi-Fi multiplayer and let the good times role! [$7.99 - iTunes Link]

• 16 tracks
• Career mode with achievements
• 8 opponents on screen
• Local Multiplayer

Conclusion

All of these game are great and well worth the price of admission. However, for what it has to offer, I have to go with Real Racing as my winner this year. I prefer the “real” style of racing. Though, it is not Gran Turismo, for a mobile game it is close enough for me. If this game was not available, second place would go to Asphalt 5. NFSU is close, but Asphalt ups the anti with its Burnout-like gameplay.

Winner: Real Racing

There you have it, TiPb’s Top 5 Racing Games and our 2009 Grand Prix Winner. Did we miss any of your favorites? Overlook any killer racers? Drop us a comment and let us know your list, and your winner!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb’s Top 5 iPhone Racing Games — Second Annual Grand Prix!

Do you use a Bluetooth headset while driving? A lot of us do. How would you like to do the same thing, but hands free with nothing in your ear? Now you can! The Blueant S1 stereo Bluetooth headset is awesome for the iPhone! you can get it in the TiPb accessory store for $59.95. Now, why would you want to do that? Because this hands-free headset rocks!

I have been using the Blueant S1 for a while now and I have to tell you it is great for so many reasons. First of all the speaker is really lightweight and small. It has a detachable clip that allows you to slip it on to a window visor in your car. if you don’t want the clip, it easily pops right off. There are only three buttons on the Blueant S1; Green for power on/off as well as activating the iPhone’s Voice Control. Green also answers your calls. Red ends a call and if you hold it down, it will dial the last phone number from the phone app.

Using Voice Control with the iPhone could not be simpler; press the green button and wait for the Voice Control prompt from the iPhone. this works like a charm. You can call anyone or play music all from the press of the green button.

Speaking of music, you can use the Blueant S1 as a standalone speaker in your car. You can use the Blueant S1 for making calla but plug in your iPhone to your csr stereo and enjoy the freedom of Apple’s Voice Control.

Outside of using the Blueant S1 as a car-based hands-free device, you can also just slip it in your bag and use it as a desktop Bluetooth speaker, or as I have, use it as a portable speakerphone! During the last month I have been away from my desk at work and have been working in random meeting rooms across campus. Not all of these rooms had phones and some of the rooms were quite large. As an iPhone owner we all know our speaker phones are not very loud, problem solved with the Blueant S1! This little guy came in handy in many of my meetings!

Personally I could not be happier with the Blueant S1. The only improvement I could suggest is a more robust speaker. The audio when playing music is tinty, but sounds great with spoken words. This device has come in handy on many occasions and I know it will for you too!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Blueant S1 Sun Visor Bluetooth Car Kit for iPhone 3GS- Reality Review

I’m a big Facebook user, and I’m guessing many of you are as well, given the interest in our Facebook for iPhone posts. Well, I was able to spend a little time with the Droid in a Verizon store on launch day, and while I wouldn’t call this a full-blown comparison, it is a quick overview of some of the similarities and differences I noticed between their Facebook applications.

The setup is a little different than the iPhone. For starters, it was reminiscent of the Palm Pre; the Droid will sync your contacts to your address book. After the initial setup, I was eager to get started using the app.

At first facebook for droid looks like its iPhone cousin; very familiar news feed page. After that however, is where the similarities start to diverge. Let us take it back a step. The facebook app has a “launcher’ page with News Feed, Friends, etc. The Droid app is missing Inbox.Yup. You read right. There is no Inbox on the Droid app. Ok, moving on…

So, like on the iPhone, the Droid shows links in posts and status updates. So, I went to click on a link one of my friend’s posted web links and it took me directly to their profile. Odd. I then tried to click on the post again and it created a vicious circle. Conclusion with links? It appears you cannot launch them from the Droid app. Hard to believe, I am sure.

I was also unable to switch between News Feed, Pages, Status Updates and custom groups I created. I am not saying there is not a way to do this, but I could not figure it out and the Verizon representative was less than helpful. It displayed News Feed in the top-right corner, but it was tiny and I could not find a way to switch with the brief amount of time I had with the device.

Oh, and one more thing: the app seems to cache really well, but also does not seem to refresh on launch; there is no refresh button and shake to refresh does not work like on the iPhone. So, I walked away unimpressed, but I can’t believe the Droid suffers from all of these short comings. I am looking forward to clarification and inquiries in the comments!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Facebook App: An iPhone vs. Droid Quick Comparison

In these tumultuous times you need some sort of protector; the kind that will prevent your iPhone from flying off the seat to who knows where. What kind of protector is here to save the day? The iGrip cigarette lighter mount of course! [$19.95 - TiPb store link]

This handy mount plugs right into your existing A/C power or cigarette lighter plug. The iGrip does not charge your iPhone, rather it is a holder so you can keep the iPhone at hands-reach easily (base don car model). For me, the iGrip has worked really well. I always have my iPhone a hands-reach away, and the iGrip makes it that much easier.

The holder does an excellent job of keeping the iPhone in place while not making it difficult to remove. Say, you get a call on the road. The last thing you want to do is have a challenge removing the iPhone from the mount. Instead iGrip has developed a way in which the iPhone simply slides, or rests in place and is kept from moving by a flexible “hook” on the top left of the device. This hook is made from soft plastic and moves out of the way when you remove the iPhone. This works really well as there is no where for the iPhone to snap into place, it “rests” in place instead.

In my trials of using the iGrip mount,  I only came across two issues: 1) The mount’s close proximity to my gear shifter made it difficult shifting (yes, even in an automatic). This is not the holder’s fault, but something to keep in mind before purchase- where are you going to place this thing and will it work in the location that you find? And 2) Once the mount is in place, it really, really does not want to come out. You have to exert a sizable amount to remove the iGrip from the clutches of the cigarette adapter.

Overall I could not be happier with the iGrip 3G mount. Of course, part of me would like the same setup with power, but it would ruin the simplicity of this configuration as you would not be able to quickly remove the iPhone like you can now. If you are looking for a simple but effective iPhone holder for your car, take a look at the iGrip.

For more information, check out the TiPb iPhone Accessory store…

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iGrip Custom Fit Cigarette Lighter Mount Reality Review

We have all been there. You know, our iPhone is about to die from a drained battery and no charge cable in sight. Well, the Seidio 3-in-1 Retractable Charger [$29.99 - TiPb Store link] is here to change that. The Seidio charger gives you everything you need for any portable situation. You get a USB cable that actually snaps into place (I love that. Most cables I see these days don’t actually snap in place, they just fit, but not securely) and the always capable wall charger and large grip-friendly car charger.

What really sets this charger apart from the competition is the retractability of the cable. Just like with other retractable cords, you pull on both ends and it expands. Of course, it is convenient if you have your iPhone charging on your Mac or PC to just let is sit right next to your computer without any extra cable mess.

I use my cable on the time. My day starts off with getting in the car for work (yeah, don’t use it at home, I have a cradle for that) and plugging it into the car adapter. I have a good 45 minute commute to work, so this buys me time to charge and listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks. Once I am work, I take the cable with me and charge at my desk as need. Yes, I am one of those people that if the iPhone 3GS tells me I have 96% battery, I must make it 100%.

As the day winds down, I repeat the morning process. Now you are probably thinking to yourself, “Why is this guy telling me how he carries his cable around all day?” Well, that is the point isn’t it? The fact that the cable retracts makes it super easy to pull out of my bag and stow it away. I have a separate cable I stash in my bag too, the one that came with the iPhone. Using that cable is annoying as I have to “stuff” it in my bag, where the Seidio cable retracts beautifully with no mess. I know, it is the little things. Because of its portability, this has quickly become my main cable. On the ever-so-small downside, there is not an airplane adapter. That would make this the ultimate in charger cables, but for now, Seidio will have to do with a “fav” rating from this reviewer.

If you are looking for a functional cable such as this, you can pick it up in the TiPb store for $29.95.

Check out more in the gallery below!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Seidio 3-in-1 Retractable Charger Reality Review

I love Facebook and this is a preview of the hotly anticipated  Facebook for iPhone 3.0, coming soon to the iTunes App Store for iPhone and iPod touch.

Where to begin? When I first installed the app, I was frozen with anticipation. I have seen some sneak peeks on Facebook’s app page, but that was it. Now with it in my hands… Let’s begin by looking at the basics.

Home Screen

Facebook 3.0 has a brand-new redesigned home screen (see above). From here, you have access your fundamental Facebook actions such as your News Feed, Profile, Friends, Inbox, Chat, Requests, Events, Photos, Notes and Search. Notifications have been relocated to a very accessible location on the bottom of the screen that tells you the last notification you have received and the total number of new notifications. Tapping this bar brings up a notification list that is practically identical to the notifications list you have on the Web Browser. You can also tap the title bar at the top of the page to return home any time. For example, if you are commenting on a post and you are done, you can tap the word “Comments” at the top of the page and it will return you to the home screen. Tap again, and it takes you back to your comment. Nice.

New Feed

If you separate your friends and paged into different lists, these have also carried over into Facebook 3.0. You can easily and quick access your News Feed, Links, Pages and more from one spot.

Profile

Friends

Inbox

Chat

Requests

Events

Photos

Notes

Search

Posting

Add a Favorite

Issues and Conclusion

I have also encountered the infamous ”Error, Your comment could not be posted at this time” message. I had thought this was resolved in the last version of Facebook. I have not seen this error for quite some time.

Overall, I could not be happier. This version of Facebook is leaps and bounds better then version 2.0. The developer, Joe Hewitt, deserves kudos for his work her. Joe has also promised push notifications and other enhancements for 3.1 to be released later this year.

The promise of the iPhone is to have a mobile computer in your pocket. The iPhone is able to deliver on this promise because there are developers out there like Joe Hewitt that keep making apps better and better. Thank you Joe.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

App Preview: Facebook 3.0 for iPhone

UniWar is quite the little gem of a strategy game. You have four modes of play: Online, Campaign, Solo and Vs. and three species to choose from: Sapiens, Titans and Khraleans. The variety of  units is very diverse. You have units that can bury them selves underground and move a space at a time to units that can teleport across the screen. One of the great things I enjoy about this game is the plethora of maps you have to play; 50+!!! That is plenty to keep me busy. As of this writing, I have only played about 10 maps, so I have a long way to go!

This game is very polished and I have lost many hours playing it. If you like StarCraft, this is an excellent diversion to keep you busy. The developers are quite active in delivering updates (they are up to 1.0.4 already). They have also added the little extra touches that can make a difference such as the ability to play in portrait or landscape in real-time; just rotate your iPhone. Nice.

When you play online you register on the UniWar website and it keeps track of your stats and even has a ladder to see your ranking. You also have the ability to save multiple active games and resume them at your leisure.

If I were to mention some areas of improvement it would be the AI’s time to play; it can be lengthy at times (I once waited 20 seconds). Though trivial, I think with the modern hardware of the iPhone, that the AI can be sped up a bit for mobile gaming. Also, though the graphics are good, the animation appeared to be a bit jerky. Perhaps this could be improved with more animations per unit. If i had to guess, there are only a few frames of animation each. The fluidity of movements would make the play that much more immersive.

Overall, if you like Sci-Fi turn-based stragatey games, this is a steal at $4.99! Check it out now! Sreenshots after the break!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Quick App: UniWar Turn-Based Strategy Game

Design

Daily Use

The felt-like interior of the case is soft to the touch and does not scratch the iPhone at all; the parts of the iPhone that touch the case are fully protected. The edges are exposed to give you access to the miscellaneous iPhone ports such as speaker and the headphone jack.

A really nice option for this case is the multiple colors it comes in. I am reviewing the Cocoa Brandy color, but I am also partial to the Cream Brandy color too.

Conclusion

Pros:

• Attractive with multiple colors
• Lightweight
• Solid belt clip
• Great price!

Cons:

• Rigidity over time might be an issue

TiPb’s Rating

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Smartphone Experts SidePouch for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G