In a recent App Smart column on children’s book apps, I lauded The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore, which doesn’t struggle to follow the metaphor of traditional books. Instead, it’s part film, part written narrative, part oral tale, and, as a whole, something that eludes easy description. For adults, it might be the best glimpse yet into what iPads can deliver to the storytelling experience. The latest of the series, “This Too Shall Pass,” is a good lens through which to view the entire set. The story is a retelling of a traditional tale about a king’s transition through emotional hardship. You could move through the app and be done with it in 20 minutes. But if you’re anything like me, you will return to it repeatedly. The animation, directed by Matthew Talbot-Kelly, is frequently arresting and consistently interesting. The writing, by Jacqueline O Rogers, is strong enough to warrant Read More

...ipad ebooks that are changing the way we interact with "books": Pedlar Lady http://ow.ly/30FAD and Dracula http://ow.ly/30FBe... Read More

Recently we've been exploring how the book industry is adjusting to electronic books. There are pros and cons to eBooks, but regardless the industry is moving to digital formats fast - even to the point of the Oxford English Dictionary considering not publishing another print edition. Some book publishers aren't just adjusting to eBooks, they're embracing them with open arms. Moving Tales is one such publisher. It recently released a book as an iPad app, called The Pedlar Lady of Gushing Cross. Moving Tales, as the name implies, is a producer of animated books. It's a mix of movies and books, but does it work? Moving Tales aims to "bring stories to life," through multimedia features such as 3D animation, music, voice overs, sound effects, alternate views and animation of text "using the iPad's accelerometer." The company also makes use of features native to a tablet-like device, such as page swipe Read More

Browsing the App Store this weekend?  Here are fourteen new or updated apps for the iPhone and iPad worth taking a closer look at if you are: The official board game comes to the iPhone!  Play against the game or with up to four friends over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, earn achievements, attack the enemy and win!  $4.99/£2.99. An arcade/action/RPG with cute cartoon-like graphics and addictive gameplay.  This weekend, you can pick this up for 50% off its regular price.  $0.99/£0.59. A pool simulation exclusively for the iPhone 4.  It features 9-ball and both UK and US versions of 8-ball, 3 difficultly levels and has a one or two-player mode.  The graphics look absolutely stunning in the screenshots!  $2.99/£1.79. As you would expect, you can set many different timers for varying durations.  Free. Available for both the iPhone and the iPad, this is an action game with 36 levels and great graphics.  Read More

...I recently did the score and sound design for an iPad app; it's a lovely book/animation/film hybrid: http://tinyurl.com/2u6aaf9 it's €4... Read More

...@stevefanagan: So, I recently did the score and sound design for an iPad app; it's a lovely book/animation/film hybrid: http://tinyurl.com/2u6aaf9 i... Read More