Reviews

E-lectricity by Miklas Manneke

E-lectricity directed by Miklas Manneke is a quirky short film taking place in a Monahanong, a small township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is there where a shortage of paraffin is threatening the town with a complete darkness; if no one will come up with a great new invention that will brighten up any night, that is. The film is filled with bright colors that take over the village, more than just lovely narration, and great camera work.

Wise Children: Absence & Reunion EP

If you have a soft spot for quiet, acoustic indie folk, it'll be hard to pass up on Wise Children's second release, Absence & Reunion EP. It's about a year old but definitely worth checking out especially for fans of songs that exude a folkish, indie vibe. Wise Children is actually a one-man band led by Robin Warren-Adamson. Hailing from the South Coast of England; he plays dreamy, melodic indie folk that's reminiscent of Iron & Wine and a slightly less somber, Damien Rice.

Photosynth by Microsoft

Always loved the professionalism associated with the premier Adobe Photoshop suite? Having a powerful iOS device within your reach, but the image manipulation suites available on the App Store just do not do justice to your creative poweress or are just downright there to make a hole-in-your-pocket? Whatever the reason might be, Photosynth by Microsoft is the answer to your prayers. Developed by Microsoft Corp, there is not much needed to say or tell. Microsoft in itself is a huge name and quality is assured as well as guaranteed. This is one app that every image manipulator on iOS should own.

iStunt 2 – Insane Hills

It is time for the adrenaline fans to hit the slopes for some freestyle action. Yes, iOS houses one of the best physic based games called and this one is called iStunt 2-Insane Hill. The sequel to the original iStunt game, this one takes the gameplay to an all new level. Developed by Miniclip.com, the game is really great and does much more than the original version. Offering a vast game-play and some very tricky obstacles, this one will surely become a casual gaming fans delight.

Grand Child: My Head Is In The Clouds

My Head Is In The Clouds is the second release from Texas native, Grand Child. Composed of one man behind the scenes, namely Andy Lane; the album is a gorgeous mix of folk, psychedelia and acoustic indie pop. Lane originally played for punk/ska band, Driver F. This is his solo project and it's nowhere near the music he plays with his band. His sound instead focuses on acoustic folk while incorporating psychedelia, and some catchy pop tunes here and there. It's a nice little record worth exploring if you want an album that's laid-back yet a little different to keep you company.

AutoCAD WS

Anyone designing DWG files knows AutoCAD. This is one of the best DWG file creators with visuals that can only be sought in powerful, hungry and monster-spec rigs. The availability of AutoCAD WS for iOS takes mobility of this powerful graphic solution to the next level. Developed by Autodesk Inc. this is one app whose quality and tool integration cannot be questioned. AutoCAD WS really brings power of accessibility into the hands of the users.

The Please & Thank Yous: Mind Yr P’s & Q’s

These Chicago natives describe their journey on their Facebook as "a bunch of wimps started practicing in a basement. Some left, others joined, and a couple managed to remain constant. They are playing shows, touring, and recording their sophomore slump." Well, those basement practices sure did pay off. The Please & Thank Yous sound is jolly punk pop, reminiscent of Goldfinger from the 90s and the many punk bands that never took themselves too seriously. It's this carefree and honesty that makes them interesting to listen to. Mind Yr P's & Q's is the band's full length debut. It's a mix of both old and new songs; narrating the bands personal take on the various happenings of life.

Handcent

There are several other apps available on the market that allow users for a free SMS and MMS messaging; and as any good competition goes there are some that are better than others. Hence, here is another feather in the hat with Handcent. The Handcent app gives a very interesting twist to the whole User-Interface of the device without any hiccups. Developed by Handcent themselves, the app is ultra-responsive and lag-free with no glitches (at least nothing I have ever noticed). Yes, it is safe to say, this truly is one-of-the-best apps on the Android Market.

Emily Baker: House of Cards

Emily Baker might just be the next acoustic country folk singer to watch out for. After winning the 2009 Arts Foundation Fellowship in Songwriting award, Emily's star has been shining more than ever. House of Cards is the debut album for the singer and with the amount of attention it has received, there's bound to be plenty more to follow. The album itself is simple in delivery yet it comes armed with solid songwriting. Emily plays much of the instruments as well including the acoustic guitar, ukulele, glockenspiel, percussion and of course, her melodic vocals.