Sanity Breaks: iPhone Diversions

08. Mar, 2010 | by Amanda Dellario 0 Comments

Come on, we all need ‘em from time to time. You know, those completely simple diversions that bring a little clarity back into an otherwise insane day. I used to feel guilty popping one of these apps open when there was so much “work” to be done around me. If I was going to play a game, shouldn’t I at least be exercising my mind a bit — learning while tapping? Nah! Remember play? When you were a kid it was OK to do something just because you wanted to. I have come recently to rediscover play, and see a real value in just letting go of the need to work and self-improve every minute of every day. This is my meditation. It really works for me on many levels, not the least of which is that I don’t have to chant or close my eyes, drawing stares in busy places, just to get a little Zen.

(clicking on links lauches iTunes)

Paper Toss

Ever sit at your desk and just crumple, toss, crumple, toss — SCORE? Now you can do it and not one tree has to suffer for your efforts. There’s even a pesky fan blowing to add a challenge to this simple but addictive app. Between cases at work one day, we had quite the competition going passing around a friend’s iPod Touch.

iBowl

There’s a little bowler in every one of us dying to get out, right? OK, maybe not, but you really don’t even need to be a bowler to enjoy the physics and electrifyingly appealing colors of iBowl. You even get to choose your own alley style. Kind of makes you want to get one of those polyester shirts with your name on it, doesn’t it?

Bejeweled 2

I debated adding my (and my 8-year-old daughter’s) favorite to this list because there is a certain amount of strategy involved in playing. But since I have whiled away many a line wait or stressful situation with Bejeweled at my finger tips, I thought it deserved inclusion. And honestly, isn’t there something really satisfying about the clicks, blings, and voice commentary in this game, folks? Its like crack for my neurocortex. Can’t explain it, just love it.

Topple 2

Fun with physics! But not in a Michio Kaku, or even Carl Sagan kind of way. You don’t have to know diddley about “f=ma” to become completely hooked on this block-balancing blast! Try to take the iPhone away from my 5-year-old when he’s playing, and you’ve got a fight on your hands. Plus the blocks’ “faces” and “expressions” are fantastic.

FingerPiano

Get in touch with your inner Elton John. The colored bars above the keys let you know which ones to hit and for how long. There is actually a decently long and diverse song list that comes with this app, too. But please use ear buds while playing with it on public transport, friends — I don’t want hate mail.

MazeFinger Plus

Just crazy, fast, maze fun. It sounds simple enough — try to following the maze pattern on the phone with your finger as quickly as you can, and you’ll receive a rating at the end of each one. Just try it. It’s really NOT as easy as it sounds.

Marble Mash

Did you ever have one of those wooden maze games that needed careful tilting to get the silver marble into home spot without falling into one of the holes? Here’s the electronic version, and you need a surgeon’s hand to pull it off. Check it out and see how solid your fine motor skills are.

While each one of these games may be simple to learn and play, lets not forget to give credit to the app developers who make brilliant use of the iPhone’s accelerometer and positional sensing in these apps. These were surely not that simple to create, but offer simple fun for users like me and my kids.

Do you have your own diversion app you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you. I am always looking for a good diversion!