AlarmMon (Alarm Clock)

AlarmMon (Alarm Clock)
     Having trouble jump starting your brain in the morning?  Do you have a tendency of just slapping the snooze button and ignoring the alarm all together?  This alarm application finds a way to deal with that issue.

     I really like the concept behind the application which is an alarm that requires you to complete a mini game in order to shut it off.  In doing this you prove that you are at least awake enough to perform a simple task.  By getting your conscious mind working a bit, it makes it easier for you to wake up.  The app has potential, but only if you use it correctly.

     The app allows you to create multiple alarms for multiple times of the day or days of the week.  In creating a new alarm you can choose the mini game, the time of day, the day or days of the week it goes off (For reoccurring alarms), whether you want sound or vibration (or both), assign an MP3, choose whether to allow Snooze or not, choose a colour and add a memo.

     The app has tons of mini games to choose from and you can try them out before assigning them to an alarm.  You will need to download the mini games as there are only 2 installed with the basic app.  However, many of the mini games are free.  The ones that cost money are mostly the ones for pop music groups/celebrities.  These special celebrity mini games can be obtained either through in app purchase or saving up your points.  Users get points for every time they complete a mini game after an alarm goes off.  However, there is of course a daily limit for this (I believe it is 6 points a day).  Visiting the Shop allows you to see the mini games that cost points or money.  It also has a charging button to get free points (Though I found this does not work.  I followed the steps but no points were given).

     Different mini games may offer different sounds for the alarm.  Of course users can also assign their own MP3 sounds.  I found the sound without MP3 is just the same sound one might hear when they get a message on their phone.  it repeats over and over every few seconds, but it may be pretty easy to miss.  One MP3 I noticed was quite noisy and I feared using this might startle someone awake which isn't really good for your heart.  However, for those who sleep through alarms easily, this might be more practical.  For light sleepers like myself, it may just induce a heart attack.

     Once you unlock your phone (If it is locked) after the alarm goes off, the mini game begins.  The games are quite cute and simple and could easily be used for children or adults.  They feature simple tasks such as kissing someone until it wakes them up, dodging punches and punching back (Boxing style, not a street brawl), finding characters hidden in an area, repeating a pattern, etc.

     When you complete the mini game and the alarm turns off (It continues until the mini game is completed), you are taken to a page that gives you your local weather, an ad (Unless you remove the ads) and some recent news feed stuff.  however, for me, the weather did not work.  I had it turned on in the settings and gave it access in my phone settings.  I troubleshot this a lot turning settings on and off, looking up information, closing, opening the app, uninstalling, reinstalling...  It just would not work.  This is disappointing to me and certainly affects the point value I give to this application as far as rating it goes.

     The app also has a Quick Alarm function that will choose a random mini game for you.  it is a great way to set up an alarm for a short nap (Say an hour).

     There are other options the application gives you for further customisation as well.  The last icon tab on the bottom of the app (Circle with 3 dots) will take you to a place to customise your profile, check your point history, read the FAQ, check to see if you have coupons and most importantly, it gives you access to Alarm Functions.

     In the alarm functions are users can toggle notifications, delete alarms and alarm history, sync alarms, choose whether or not to display the weather in Fahrenheit, display time in 24 or 12 hours, manually set time, gradually increase sound (Dangerous, it gets loud very quickly), turn off alarms without playing mini games (Thus making the entire purpose of the application pointless), turn on Low Power Mode (uses device settings for sound volume, vibrate, etc), toggle the Snore Checker (uses your microphone to see if you snore... eats up battery) redownload previous purchases (Associated with your account) or turn on sleep inducing music to help you sleep.

     Users can click the calendar icon on the main area of the app to see what alarms they have previously had.  It tells them how long it took them to complete as well as when it went off and what game they chose.


     The app does have ads but users can choose to pay to turn them off.  The annoying part about this is that the ad removal is temporary, even though you pay for it.  You can pay to remove ads for 30 days (0.99USD) or one year (8.99USD).  The ads are a banner toward the bottom of the app that is always there, a large square ad on the weather/news screen after an alarm, and an occasional pop up ad after an alarm is completed.  It honestly seems like a lot of ads for an alarm app.  I also feel that a one time ad removal payment would be a better option.

     One more issue is that if anything interferes with the alarm, it will not go off.  This means if a phone call, message, notification, etc happens at exactly when the alarm is meant to go off, the alarm does not go off.  Also opening the app at precisely the time the alarm is meant to go off can override the alarm.

     Due to the ads and lack of some functionality the app is supposed to have that simply does not work, I can't give this full marks.  It is a cute application though.  If users make sure to use the sound (not just vibrate), remove the snooze option and choose to sit up to play the mini game (This makes it easier to wake up.  Playing while continuing to lay comfortably can make you simply fall back asleep), I believe this app could be a very helpful tool for waking up in the morning.
Rating: 3/5

• Free
• Seller: Malang Studio Co. Ltd
• Category: Lifestyle
• Size: 68.1 MB
• Languages: English, Arabic, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish
• Copyright: © malang studio

Rated 4+

Sherlock: The Network

Sherlock: The Network
     If you're a big fan of BBC's Sherlock, or just the actors in general (Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, etc), you are going to love this app.  It allows you to be part of Sherlock's homeless network.  You have the opportunity to help Sherlock Holmes solve his latest mysteries!
     The app is free to download.  It has video and audio scenes filmed and recorded by the original cast specifically for this app.  However, some of the cases need to be purchased.  If you wan to unlock them all, you will need to put down a little cash.  You will only get 2 for free, with your download.  This is a downside.
     A while back, when I got the app (2014), there was a promo special that allowed you to get all of the cases for free (The ones available at that time).  This is how I was able to play so much of this.  I certainly wouldn't have had the cash to spend to unlock the cases.  Which is why I am not covering screen shots from the newest case release.  Because I do not have it.
     Let's talk about game play.  Once you start your first case you go straight in and get to meet Sherlock himself.  You are part of his secret network of homeless people.  He will comment on your failings in basic hygiene, give you a phone, some money, and give you a task.  Each case requires you to solve various puzzles.  Even traveling about the city often required simple puzzle solving.  Not to mention you have to balance your time (You do not have unlimited time) and your money (Taking the train or a car will cost you).
     Your main screen (While playing a case) is going to be the city map.  You can find money while traversing the map.  But be weary of going too far out of your way.  The extra time could cost you the case.  You can also find fun little bits of information about the filming shot at specific locations (TV Trivia).
     The train is faster than walking (Obviously).  The cab is the fastest way of travelling, but costs the most.  As you get further into the cases, you'll find you have a lot of money saved up.  However, you can choose to spend this money on items that may better assist you.  Such as a nice pair of shoes that will cause you to walk faster.
     Sherlock will call you on your phone from time to time.  You will hear an audio message from the actor when you check your voicemail.  He will keep you updated on new information and new places to visit.  Check these messages as soon as you can.
     The puzzles in each case vary.  Some are as simple as lining up various images to get a complete picture, to decoding an audio recording.  Speeding it up, slowing it down, reversing it, etc.  You also have to look around rooms and find clues.  Not everything you find will be relevant, of course.
     Once you get to the end of the case, you have solved all of your puzzles and gathered your clues, you will need to solve the case.  You will see Sherlock's clue cloud (His mind palace via floating text).  You will need to choose the correct clues that result in the answer to the mystery.  If you get it correct, you finish the case, and sometimes you get a nice praising from Mr Holmes.  Well, as much praise as you could expect from him.
     The puzzles are fun and can be challenging.  The game play is fun... But, let's be honest, it's the footage that really makes this app amazing.  Being able to interact with the cast of Sherlock is so much fun.  I will post some screen shots from some of the video footage in the app, below.  Click the images to see them larger.

      Once you complete your cases, you can go back to play them again, if you like.  Though, once you know the answers to all of the puzzles, they are a lot less fun.  Why play again?  Because there is a leader board.  If you want to get the highest scores, you'll have to play as quickly and efficiently as possible.  This could take many tries.  Personally, I only played the cases once.  I'm not really one for leader boards.
     You can look through all of the TV trivia from the menu as well.  You can browse cases, leader board scores.  You can also change your profile image.
     If you are wondering about pricing for additional cases:
8 Case multi-pack 3-10: 2.99USD
A Race & A Case (One case): 0.99USD (This is the new one)
     If you get cases for free with promos (As I did), note that they do not count as purchases.  This is important to know, because it means that if you remove the app from your phone (or iPad), and add it back later, you will not get the free cases back.  You will only have the first 2 cases, and any cases you actually paid for.  If I remove this app from my phone, I lose all my cases (Besides the first 2).  So it has been on my phone for a year now.
      My end opinion?  An amazing app.  Well made.  Challenging, fun, interactive...  I wish you didn't have to pay 99 cents per case (Or the 2.99 for cases 3-10).  However, I can understand why they did it that way.  After all, they have to pay the actors, cameramen, etc.  They also use the same sets as the television program.

      If you're a big Sherlock fan, you can't pass this up.  Even if you only play the first 2 cases, it's worth the download.  I recommend it.

 Rating: 4.5/5

• Free
• Category: Entertainment
• Updated: Mar 04, 2015
• Version: 1.9.1
• Size: 283 MB
• Language: English
• Seller: The Digital Development Factory Pty Ltd
• © 2015

Rated 12+ for the following:

• Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes
• Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References
• Infrequent/Mild Realistic Violence

LINE Play 101: Accessing Hidden Gacha

LINE Play
     This is part of the LINE Play 101 series of updates.  Each update covers a specific section of the LINE Play app.  Please read the LINE Play review for more information about this app, before reading this post.

     If you are accessing LINE Play from the US, Australia, UK, etc, you probably have your app set to "English".  However, this could be keeping you from accessing every gacha available.
     In fact, some gacha are only available if you change the app language setting to Japanese.  So let's take a look at what gacha you can try out if you change this setting, how to change the setting, and how to change it back.  Yes, the items will still be in your inventory, and usable, even after you switch back.
     Currently there are 173 Gacha in the English version of LINE Play.  That's a lot of variety.    However, the Japanese version has 203 active gacha right now (These numbers are subject to change).
     Before I show you how to access these gacha, allow me to show you some of the gacha that are only available in the Japanese language version of this application.

     That isn't even all of the gacha that are eluding you.  So let's move on to the steps to take to switch from English to Japanese, access the gacha, then switch back to English.
     First you'll need to go to your settings panel.  Scrolling down you will see the words "Language Settings" (You can view the image on the left.  You can click it to view the larger image).  This is where you want to go.
     Now you'll want to choose "Japanese".  Once you choose that language the app will prompt you (Still in English) asking if you want to restart the application.  The application needs to restart in order to switch everything from English to Japanese.  If you aren't sure what the different languages mean, view the screen shot to the right.
     The top option is English, of course.  The next option is Korean.  Option three is Japanese.  That is the one you will want to click.  If you are curious about the other options, the fourth is simplified Chinese (Mandarin).  The fifth is traditional Chinese (Cantonese).  Finally, the last option is Thai.
     Once you agree to restart the application will go back to the loading screen and you will start on the main landing page.  It looks just like the English version, so you should be able to navigate it easily.
     Just click on the gacha building to view the new gacha!  It will have the same ones available in the English version with other ones mixed in.  A lot of the new gacha will be at the bottom of the list if you click the "New" tab.
     Once you have purchased all of your new special items, you will want to switch your app back to English mode.  To do this, from the landing page click the More button.  Remember, that is the button on the bottom to the far right.
     Now you'll want to click the settings button.  This is on the top right of the screen.  You can view the screen shot on the right of this text to verify.
     Now, scroll down to the Language Settings again.  Of course, it wont be in English this time.  So if you can't read Japanese, it is the one under the toggle switch.  You can view the image on the left to verify.
     Now click the top option which says English.  It says it in English, so it should be obvious.  You will again get promoted for a restart to change the language settings.  Again, choose yes.
     Once the application restarts you will be returned to your regular English settings.  Your new purchases will be available to use in your closet (Or home deco page) for you to use with your other items.  Enjoy your new variety!