Backdoor (free), which works with Facebook and Google+ sign-in, is a social-messaging app created by Daniel Singer, the teenage co-founder of YouTell. YouTell is an anonymous web service that allows you to invite friends to comment, without revealing their identity, on questions you present to them. The idea is that they can answer your questions truthfully while remaining anonymous. 

Backdoor provides a similarly anonymous messaging service that your friends can use to text you. The hook is the unknown identity of your texters, with in-app purchases required to unlock clues to their true identity. 

On one hand, I do not like IAPs, though the use is somewhat clever in this case. On the other, I can see this being both addictive and distractingly fun. 

Anonymous texting has benefits for those who, for various reasons, may not want their messages to be readily traceable to them. Of course, there really is no such thing as "untraceable" on the internet, but this could certainly be a fun way to mess with your friends. Who wouldn't spare 99 pennies to get a 9-pack of clues when you really can't tell who is sending you provocative texts, and it is driving you nuts (not that I get any or would know personally)?

Of course, for YouTell or Backdoor to catch on, you will have to convince your friends to join and use the service. The app could be a big hit or not so much, but of course someone probably figured Facebook wouldn't last either. According to Singer, YouTell has 2 million-plus users, so if that is any measure, the future for Backdoor looks promising. Either way, I commend the makers of the app for finding a niche in the Apple app and Internet eco-system. Whether Backdoor proves to be a hit or not, they deserve credit for the entrepreneurial spirit! For anonymous and free messaging that might keep your friends guessing, check out Backdoor and watch for an update with many surprise features coming soon.

MEELECTRONICS Air-Fi Matrix AF62 Stereo Bluetooth Wireless Headphones ($149.99) are lightweight, comfortable, and provide great sound quality.

I'm usually an earbud kind of music listener, but these headphones have changed my mind. I loved not having any cords to get tangled in, and the ear pads are soft and cushy. They also provide wonderful sound isolation, which is a luxury in my noisy household.

The Matrix is a full feature set, providing wireless Bluetooth connection for smartphones and tablets that includes multipoint, voice prompts, and NFC connectivity.

After I paired the Matrix with my iPhone, I made a call to my husband and asked him how I sounded. He said the call quality was good, and it didn't sound any different than talking into my iPhone.

I like to try out different genres of music when testing headphones because they each have their own sound. First, I listened to Lady Gaga's new single, Applause. I cranked it up and the Matrix provided a full, rich sound with sufficient bass, just the way I like it. Then I listened to John Williams and the London Symphony and was satisfied with the detailed sound of each instrument. Finally, I listened to little Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl. Each ear took in the individual stereo sound from that recording era.

The Matrix has onboard controls. The power button also works at the call button, you can change tracks on your playlist with forward and back arrows, play/pause a track, and has volume up and down controls.

If I had to pick a fault with these headphones (and they're hard to find), it would be with the volume control buttons, which I would have liked to have more space between the up and down switch. When I reached to change the volume, I would occasionally hit up instead of down.

The headphones are rechargeable and the user manual listed 3-6 hours for a first-time charge, though mine took less than an hour. I haven't had to recharge mine yet, but 2-3 hours is the time frame for subsequent charges.
The Matrix has a talk/playback time of up to 18 hours and a standby time of 250 hours.

The earphones come in a protective case, and the ear cups fold flat for storage. Also in the box are a USB charging cable and a stereo audio cable for if your device isn't Bluetooth enabled.

All in all, these headphones are well worth the price, and I'll likely be using the Matrix now more than my beloved earbuds. 

This weekend, the courts at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will roar with life as the US Open begins! If you can't make it out to Flushing Meadows, NY, no sweat! Here's a couple of handy apps for the die-hard tennis fan in you.

1) 2013 US Open Tennis Championships (free)

This standard bearer app from the USTA has received a few improvements this year. The most noteworthy of these improvements is the US Open TrendCast, which makes great use of social media to find the most-talked about topics of the tourney. You'll also get improved play-by-play via radio along with other features.

2) Tennis Channel Everywhere (free)

The cable network devoted to all things tennis offers up this app with behind the scenes interviews, as well as choice streaming video clips.

3) TennisTV Official (free, in-app subscription needed)

This is a brand new app for the iPad from the WTA and the ATP themselves. The main feature here is full, real-time video streaming of every one of each groups' tournaments. Bear in mind that while the app is free, there is an in-app purchase of a subscription that is necessary for live video. This is also compatible to stream to media players linked up with your television.

Tylt came out strong at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, with eye-catching designs, packing NFC smart features into its gear. Hopefully, new iDevices will be able to take advantage of NFC technology, but even without it, smart products like the Capio ($34.99), let you easily attach any device to your dash or window using a clever adhesive.

This is the official announcement of the iPhone life Biweekly Giveaway! Be sure to enter the giveaway at iphoneLife.com/giveaways to win prizes, which we'll announce August 26th! We are raffling off tons of great apps and accessories for FREE.

Here's how it works: Every other Friday we will announce the prizes we're giving away through iphonelife.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. To enter the giveaway, go to iphoneLife.com/giveaways. On the following Monday morning, we will randomly select the winners. If you win an app, we will email you the promo code to redeem the app for free. If you win an accessory, send us your address we will mail it to you.

This week's featured items are:

1. iPad Reflex Series Case By Otterbox: Retail Price $69.95

Otterbox's engineers and industrial designers carefully considered every aspect of the iPad to create a simple, yet protective case. Inspired by the crumple zone of a car, the Reflex Series case for iPad 2, 3, and 4 features a unique combination of polycarbonate and silicone. Cushions of air in the corners allow the case to flex and absorb any impact force. This case not only takes a hit, it recoils and springs back, ready to protect again. If you're looking for strong yet sleek protection, look no further than the Reflex Series case for the iPad 2, 3 and 4. 

2. iPhone 5 Clearly Protected Screen Protector 360º By Otterbox: Retail Price $29.95

The iPhone 5 is a sexy, slim device that looks great all on its own. Enjoy its natural beauty, but also keep it protected with a Clearly Protected iPhone 5 screen protector. We know some folks don’t like to put a case on their iPhone and never will. As we like to say, they prefer to be “naked.” That’s why OtterBox developed the Clearly Protected line of iPhone 5 screen protectors. Unlike most screen protectors, the Clearly Protected screen protectors for the iPhone 5 use a 100% dry application and features a bubble-free installation for a perfect fit. Otterbox is so confident in their iPhone 5 screen shields that they threw in a lifetime warranty. 

3. iPhone 5 Reflex Series Case By Otterbox: Retail Price $34.95

Lifestyle and protection come together in this highly protective iPhone 5 cover. Providing innovative protection, the Reflex Series iPhone 5 cover is lightweight, easy-to-dock and portable—leaving you with a secure feeling of protection wherever and however you use your smartphone or tablet. I

Questions or comments? Email Brian@iphonelife.com. Good Luck and remember to visit iphonelife.com/giveaways to enter! The next contest drawing is August 26th!

Clay Jam(Free) is a game about clay. I'm really not sure what genre you'd classify the game under, but it's different, quirky, and most importantly, fun. There are times when the controls seem a bit unresponsive and some of the challenges definitely live up to the concept of a challenge, yet the overall demeanor of the game is lighthearted and whacky, and every gamer needs a selection or two like it to balance out the "serious" nature that so many modern games take. Games are supposed to help you escape from the real world, and Clay Jam does that quite well. 

Clay Jam has been destroyed by some evil creatures, and as a simple ball of clay it is up to you to rebuild the hills and put Clay Jam back to its former glory. In order to accomplish this, you must bring back the hills, one inhabitant and dwelling at a time, earning clay to do so by rolling over the inhabitants that already exist on a given hill. When you start out on a run, you can only crush the smallest creatures, but as you build yourself up with the clay from your victims you can start taking out bigger creatures and even some dwellings.

If you make it to the end of the run, you'll get a chance to knock that hill's main adversary around just a bit. You do need to be cautious, because all the time you're travelling, there's an avalanche of clay coming behind you, and if it catches up the run's over with no reward.  Each hill has a certain number of challenges, and you can say a hill is officially complete when you’ve rebuilt all its inhabitants and completed all the quests. Once you’ve completed a run, you also have the option of building new characters and dwellings if there are any left for the hill you’re on and if you have enough spare clay.  I suggest building new things as soon as you can, because the more you have to squash the more clay you can collect again.

There is also an endless mode on each hill where all creatures are fair game right from the beginning.  In this mode you cannot roll over dwellings, however. Creatures come in three different colors, and in endless mode, if you roll over one of each color in a row you get additional bonuses. The best part is that at the end of a run in endless mode you get to keep the clay you’ve collected, since endless mode always ends with you getting overrun by the clay avalanche.

To control your ball of clay, you simply drag tracks in the ground where you want the ball to go. There are times where it doesn’t seem to turn quite as quickly as you’d expect, but I suppose that’s just a combination of impatience on my part and the fact that you are dealing with clay—albeit in a simulated sense. The biggest real problem with the game is the challenges. I’m glad there’s a decent variety of them, and I’m glad they aren’t so easy that you’ll earn them all on the first try, but sometimes they just become tedious. For example, if you have a challenge where you can only crush blue monsters, you’re missing two thirds of your potential targets. In a game where you can roll over just about anything, I like to roll over just about anything!

While the game as a whole is entertaining, the standout feature has to be the graphics. Clay visuals, whether derived from real clay or just really well simulated, have a certain look that just can’t be beat. I’m pretty sure everything was done with real clay models in Clay Jam. There’s also the fact that the character designs are just silly and fun. The sound effects help add character to some really colorful creatures. Each one has their own special noise, and it also clues you in on what’s coming next. The music is nice for background music, but is ultimately forgettable.

Clay Jam is a fun game. It might take a bit to get into because you’ll have to slowly build that first hill, but once you get the hang of things you’ll be rolling and squashing with the best of them. Some of the challenges get a bit tedious, and you will get frustrated at times when the ball doesn’t turn the way you want it. In the end, though, there’s plenty to like about this game and more than enough to keep you busy. Plus, it’s clean and basically violence free, so you can share it with your kids as well.  You can’t go wrong with that.

Overall Score: 9/10

I just received an interesting package. It was a box in the shape of a cube. I had no idea what it was. It just said MeCam. I opened it up to reveal a round plastic object about two inches in diameter with a semicircle of small holes. What could it be?

It turned out to be MeCam ($49), a wearable mini camera that takes videos, records sound, and takes still shots. That’s pretty cool, I thought. You could really have some fun with it in parks and parties, walking down the street, riding a bike, and shopping at Walmart. It could revolutionize Facebook and Instagram.

Once I got it fully charged, which took a couple of hours, I took it out for a spin on my bike. You get about 70 minutes of video recording time on a full charge.

There are two ways to wear it. It has an actual safety pin on the back that you can pin on your shirt, hat, pack, or whatever. It also has two posts with holes for the lanyard that comes with it so you can wear it around your neck too.

It will capture 720p HD quality video and take 5 Mps still pictures by depressing a small button, one for each function. There is a third button that serves as a power switch. The operative term here is “small button,” and therein lies the rub: These buttons are so small you practically need a magnifying glass to figure them out. There is not a lot of tactile feedback either.

I mentioned the holes in the front of the device. Some are camera lenses and some are LED Infrared lights for low light situations.

I road along on my recumbent bike passing other bikers on the trail, waving at them and saying hello so there would be something recorded. I went to a park and surreptitiously recorded people unbeknownst to them, which is probably a felony.

I couldn’t wait to get home to inspect the fruits of my labors. There are a couple of ways to do this. You can use the USB charging cable and connect it to your computer. The camera behaves like a removable drive, and you can access its files. It also comes with a micro SD card, which you can insert into a card reader to view your handicraft on your computer.

My results were garden variety at best. The resolution was less-than exciting. As you might expect, the scenes bounced up and down. People’s heads were chopped off. The sound was static ridden. You just can’t expect satisfactory results from a camera that is bouncing up and down, which isn’t the camera’s fault. But it’s just uncontrollable, and so are the results for the most part.

Perhaps it would be better to mount the camera in a non-moving position and let it do its thing. But there is no way to focus it either, so you can’t tell what you’re filming until you watch it on your computer.

I have to say I was disappointed with the results, but when you think about it for a second, it’s not surprising. I will just have to use it in a different way. I’m thinking it would be fun to put by my bird feeder or over a bird’s nest.

September should be fun. We'll get new iPhones, new iOS software, and the new iTunes Radio service. According to an article on Ad Age Digital, things are all set for the launch of iTunes Radio next month, with Apple having signed advertising deals with McDonald's, Nissan, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, and others. The article says the streaming music service, which will be similar to Pandora, will have an audio ad every 15 minutes and a video ad every hour. The video ads will only appear, though, if the service thinks you happen to be looking at your device; for instance, if you've just chosen to skip a track.

The article also says that in addition to audio and video ads, iTunes Radio will also have "slate ads," which they describe as interactive ads that take over the screen of whatever device you're using.

The service will be free, supported by advertising. However, an ad-free option is available to you if you sign up for iTunes Match, Apple's $25/year service that lets you store your music in iCloud.

According to Apple's website, iTunes Radio will offer Featured Stations that are based on the type of music you tend to listen to, as well as over 200 genre-oriented stations. Interestingly, your stations will evolve based on your preferences, so the more you use the service, the better it will meet your listening needs.

Plus, like Pandora, you'll be able to create your own stations. You simply identify your favorite artists, songs, or genres. While you listen, you can educate iTunes Radio on what music suits you by tapping Play More Like This or Never Play This Song. You also have the opportunity to control the balance between established hits and discovering new songs.

You'll be able to use Siri to access iTunes Radio simply by asking Siri to play your favorite genres or stations. You'll also be able to ask Siri to pause or skip to the next song. If you're listening to a song that you like, you'll be able to simply ask Siri, "Play more like this." You'll also be able to ask Siri who the artist is. And unsurprisingly, if you hear something you really like, you can ask Siri to add it to your Wish List for later downloading. You can then buy it with a tap of your screen. You can even purchase songs as they're playing.

I think this will be a popular service, especially since it will immediately have a large base of users due to the fact it will be built into iOS 7 and the Mac OS and conveniently accessible. It just feels like Apple got things right, as it so often does.

For our family vacation next year we've decided to take a trip to Costa Rica. I know it's still 10 months away, but I'm already dreaming of gorgeous beaches and zip lining through the jungles.

The problem is, most of our vacations have been to English-speaking destinations. So I've decided to learn Spanish.

Besides a one-year course in high school (which was a long time ago) and words I've picked up here and there by living in the Southwestern United States, I am not even close to communicating with someone whose only language is Spanish.

I know there will be some people who speak English in Costa Rica, especially in the touristy parts of the country, but I want to be able to communicate with ease. I'm looking at several free apps to help me learn Spanish. Although, it's said nothing in life is free...

1. Rosetta Stone Travel Spanish (free)

Rosetta Stone is probably the most well-known language study system. That's why I looked up this one first.

In the app, there are three free lessons that can help me learn the basics of getting around Costa Rica, such as: using transportation, telling time, or dining out.

The thing I didn't like about this app is that it made me log in with Facebook or my email before I could even get started.

After completing the three lessons, I was given one option for purchase: Shopping Phrases, for $4.99. I guess that was because when I logged in I listed myself as an adult female.

2. Learn Spanish 24/7 (free)

This app is also specifically designed for travel and that's what I'm needing. 

It gives phrases to study, including important ones such as: "I'm allergic to __" or "I don't feel well." Or when I'm out to eat, "The check please." There are multiple choice tests, puzzles, or write-in answers. The priority mode allows you to focus on those items not well learned yet.

After learning the free phrases, I could purchase an in-depth version for $5.99.

3. Living Language — Spanish for iPhone (free)

This app was featured in Apple's Essential Apps for Learning Foreign Languages in 2011 and 2012.

There are six lessons in the free version. Lesson one included many basic words I already knew (like buenos dias). Lesson two introduces more formal greetings. The words and phrases are first given in Spanish then you flip the card for the English version. You can also press Play for the spoken translation.

The complete app includes 45 lessons for $14.99. There are three levels: essential, intermediate, and advanced. Each lesson gives you grammar, dialogs, vocabulary, and interactive games.

4. Speak Spanish — for Survival and Travel (free)

This is not an app for introducing Spanish, but it gives you the 200 most essential Spanish words and phrases.

This app is not described as "fun," but rather provides audio flashcards in patterned algorithms that are supposed to help with quicker memorization. The core phrases are supposed to teach you everything you need to know to "survive the streets" of any Spanish-speaking country.

The full app is $19.99 and boasts the equivalent of two years' worth of high school Spanish classes.

5.iTranslate (free)

If I'm not fluent in Spanish by the time we leave for Costa Rica, (which could happen, unless I actually finish one of my great ideas!) I can always use iTranslate. This app translates words and phrases from English to Spanish.

Just type in what you want to say in English and it translates to Spanish. I used the phrase "How do I get there?" and iTranslate gave me the written answer. I also pressed the speaker button to get an audio version. The thing I didn't like about this was that the audio version is spoken so quickly I could barely understand it. Spanish is a rapidly spoken language, but I'm not there yet. If the audio version were slowed down it would be much better.

This app is a good deal as it also includes 19 other languages, including French, German, Japanese, and others.

If you upgrade to the premium version for $1.99 for three months or the better value of $4.99 for a year, you get added features. You can speak the phrase or word instead of typing it, translate and listen to long texts, and there are no ads.

All these apps are labeled as free, but for my purpose I will need to shell out some dough in order to learn what I want to for my trip. Desearme suerte—Wish me luck!

Sometimes a parent just has too many pictures of his children. And although the dominant photo-print services deliver beautiful hardcopy books, they don’t really help people organize their images. At the end of a long day of work, diaper changing, back-and-forth on swings, and handing out snacks, sitting down at a computer to organize pictures isn’t high on most people's priority list.

So here are two companies with very different approaches to help busy parents organize and share images.

The Tapsbook Solution

Sherwood Yao and his wife know the circumstances described above all too well. Their 6- and 3-year-old sons keep them plenty busy. But unlike most people, Sherwood has a background in Big Data from a large technology company. Enter Tapsbook(Free), built from the ground up with the iPad in mind.

Since most of the pictures taken for personal use come from mobile devices, and an overwhelming number of those are iOS devices, Yao decided to mine the information attached to personal images to create instant organization. (This mining is for the benefit of the image owners and is not shared with anyone.) Once the organized images are tucked away into an automatic Tapsbook, the fun begins.

Tapsbook users can like images from their existing collections to promote them to a “best of the year” collection. Dragging pictures of a special occasion into a personal story creates a new Tapsbook just for those images.

Unlike solutions that require upload, Tapsbook “taps” into photo feeds from iOS (Camera Roll and PhotoSteam), Facebook, Dropbox, and other sources. So no matter how you get your images to the web, Tapsbook knows about them and incorporates them into its books. A few taps in those moments of quiet and you have instantly updated memories of the kids playing, while the picture you accidentally took of the kitchen floor is out of the mix forever.

And when your book is ready, you can easily share it with others through the Tapsbook social interface.

Yao wants Tapsbook to become an easy way for busy people to organize their photo stories and to share them with others. He also sees business applications, such as making the creation of photo-centric catalogs easier to manage. We’ll be keeping an eye on Yao and the future of Tapsbook.

Printic and the Personal Touch

Stories told in pictures haven’t always been virtual, and there is some movement toward meeting the need for more tangible artifacts of our existence. When the mail arrives, people cherish those now very occasional personalized notes, postcards, invitations, and other mail intended just for them.

Like Yao, the team at Printic(free) saw the desire for personalized mail as an opportunity, but mail is physical, and mail needs infrastructure, and it needs things like pretty envelopes and clever ways to seal them.

So the Printic team designed a retro-looking, Polaroid-like image generated from photos in Camera Rolls and Photostreams. And they made the strategic decision to deliver their images in about 3 days.

But first they had to get the images from iPhones and iPads into a place where they could be printed. And they didn’t just want a digital print, they wanted a quality image that would last. So they went to one of the top photo labs in Paris (did I mention that Printic started in Europe?) and negotiated their first production deal. They now have a partner facility in San Francisco with more opening soon in other parts of the world.

Like Tapsbook, Printic wanted simple. Simple for them, simple for the user. A very basic application and credits model allows customers to select photos to send to themselves or others. It's simple for Printic because they constrain the output: One size only, with a line of text printed below. Prints run $0.99 with a three print minimum and no shipping costs or other fees.

Images arrive quickly and they deliver on the promise of quality. At least on the day of the photos' arrival, the mail will once again be something that leads to a conversation, a story, or a recalled memory rather than just recycling and bill paying. And hopefully the lovely prints will help those stories return for years to come.

The Business of Telling Stories

Humans are a story-telling species. We learn through stories, we entertain through stories, and we stay connected through stories. The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words reminds us how powerful images convey our stories.

If you are looking for a better way to tell your stories through digital memories, look to Tapsbook and Printic as two very different apps and businesses with one common goal: to help people share their memories with loved ones through images.

This is a quick note for you MTV fans with an iPhone. Now you can combine your interests with the new MTV iPhone Case ($29.99) from Griffin Technology.

The review case I received is a white plastic case that snaps on the phone. On the back there are three columns of seven rows of small MTV logos in varying colors. Naturally, there are cut outs in the appropriate places to allow access to ports and buttons. The case is available as a hard case for iPhone 5 or iPhone 4, or as a silicone-lined, layered shell for iPhone 4. 

This case is a member of Griffin’s designer series. Some of the designs are created by well-known artists and can be quite attractive, but the MTV case is on the boring side in my humble opinion. It is interesting to note that the artists participate in the profits as compensation when cases bearing their design are sold.

Welcome to my latest workflow, which will cover step-by-step photo editing with my photo "Don't Forget about Me." This week I used Pro Camera ($4.99) instead of my usual shooting app, Camera+ ($1.99).

The other day my wife Kristen and I decided to take the kids to the park. While the kids were playing, we took a little walk. There were many beautiful sights to see in the park, but it was this little dandelion that really caught my eye. A simple little weed whose beauty is often overlooked.

I started off shooting in Pro Camera. I had to get quite low to take the shot. I tapped the screen to bring up the Focus on the app, and placed it on the dandelion. I took a few photos from this point of view and also from some different angles. Always take a few photos of the same points of view to make sure you have your shot, in case one is flawed. After going through all my shots, I chose the best one.

Next, I brought my fresh photo into go-to editing app Adobe Photoshop Express (free). I use this app to Reduce Noise (smooth out any fuzziness) and to Sharpen (which gives you a crisp, professional-looking photo). I also cropped my image here just a bit.

After that I used Mextures ($1.99). This is a very easy to use app with many wonderful filters. I went to the Enhanced Landscape option and used the Spring Time filter and adjusted it to about 40%.

Next I usedLens Flare ($1.99) to adjust the glare. This app has wonderful sun flares and glints for your images. I used Edge Glare 2 and placed the glare in the corner so it would shine on my subject. I adjusted the lighting to about 75%.

Finally I brought the image intoiWatermark (free), where I placed my name on my image to show ownership.

I hope that the tips, tricks, and apps are helpful for you to use on your next iphone photos.

I've been using a Windows RT Surface from Microsoft, and while it's no iPad, it does have a built-in stand. But that stand only works in landscape mode and has a limited range of motion.

Rain Design has an answer: The iSlider ($49.00) is a compact folding aluminum, plastic, and silicone offering that looks right at home with Apple products.

In fact, the stand looks a bit like a cross between Apple's Magic Trackpad ($69.00) and the original iPhone, thanks to the black plastic strip at the edge of the otherwise all aluminum body.

When you pull on that plastic strip, the iSlider slides open to reveal an adjustable support stand with over a dozen angles. It accommodates a variety of tablets, with or without a case.

The iSlider is a bit bigger and heavier than other portable stands, but it is quite versatile and well made and has earned a spot in your gadget bag, or even your pocket!

Wow! That's the word that first comes to mind when trying to describe just how amazing 50 Cent's new SMS Audio Street ANC headphones ($279.95) are. 

50 Cent is know for his hardcore gangsta rap and controversial lyrics, as well as some seriously heavy bass lines. Discovered and managed by none other than Eminem himself, 50 Cent has gone on to transcend his rap star status and become a successful actor and businessman as well.

I got a chance to chat with 50 Cent at this year’s CES in Vegas. He was in town promoting his new line of headphones. We didn't get around to talking much about his headphones (it was Vegas after all), but I enjoyed our one on one a great deal, and he did offer to sign an autographed copy of iPhone Life magazine for me. It was only later that I came to realize what an amazing pair of headphones 50 had attached his name to. Look out, Beats by Dre ($299.95), there's a new contender on the block!

Studio Mastered Sound

SMS in this instance stands for "Studio Mastered Series." As you might imagine, the sound quality is of the highest caliber. The SMS headphones deliver an audio experience worthy of any studio professional. 

Drawing upon his first-hand knowledge of professional studio sound quality, and with the input of seasoned recording industry veterans, 50 Cent has let loose with what I consider to be one of the best headphones options on the market. Their frequency response is finely calibrated, and even though the bass end is rich and dedicated, with their patented THUMPP Enhanced Bass, the Street series still manages to maintain a silky smooth equalization of high-, mid-, and bass-end acoustics.

And get this! The Street headphones are also equipped with Active Noise Cancellation, and have a built in Li-ion rechargeable battery to back up the ANC system. With a flick of the switch, the Streets go from their already impressive passive noise cancellation to Active Noise Cancellation whereby the drivers emit a subtle low frequency sound wave to mask and mute a great deal of outside sounds. While it won't drown out a crying baby (that's a good thing!), it will effectively dampen the sound of things like fans, air conditioners, washing machines, airplanes, or nearby weed whackers.

No Headclamp!

As a result of some truly conscientious planning, the Streets are very lightweight, weighing in at only 11 ounces, and the memory foam cushions surrounding the 40mm drivers is of enough depth and width that they are a truly comfortable set of over-ear headphone, one that doesn't pinch or compress your ears in a way that could become uncomfortable, what is known among headphone afficianados as "headclamp." The Street headphone also has a generously padded headband so there will not be any annoying pressure across the top of your head. 

Included with this conveniently collapsible headphone is a heavy duty, fully detachable headphone cable with a built-in, in-line mic/playback control, as well as a sturdy, and compact protective case.

The Street headphone series includes more than just the Street ANC. Also available are an amazing Bluetooth model with 16-bit lossless sound and a 50-foot wireless range, as well as an On-Ear model and a DJ specific model with patented Quiescent PNC Passive Noise Cancellation.

After putting the Street On-Ear ANC headphones through the paces I give them a resounding 5 out of 5 Star rating, for audio quality as well as for sheer comfort! I'd highly recommend these luxurious headphones, especially for any audiophile, studio musician, or person on the go who doesn't want outside noise interferring with their listening pleasure.

Cynaps has a new project, the result of its successful campaign back in February. That campaign raised more than double its goal of $20,000, and allowed the production of a very cool baseball hat that doubles as a Bluetooth headset and microphone. The new hat is designed to enhance hearing for those who might have some hearing impairment. 

What really sets the Cynaps Bluetooth hat apart is how the audio is delivered. Instead of traditional speakers, the hat uses bone conduction to transmit sound. This is proven technology, used by fighter pilots, and it works pretty well. 

In fact, when I let some friends try it, they were blown away. A neat trick is that you can plug your ears and the audio actually gets louder! This is because the sound is traveling inside your head and not coming in through your ears. 

If you want to use your own hat, or even put Cynaps's technology in a bicycle helmet, the company offers kits to do just that.

The technology is very cool, but the device itself shows some need for industrial design. The heat-shrink-enclosed electronics are bulky and the buttons aren't intuitive. Still, if you're willing to put up with some idiosyncrasies, the functionality of the Cynaps hat is pretty slick.

If you are looking for a sleek case that does not turn your iPhone into an 800-pound gorilla, Slickwrap's The Case ($34.95) is for you.

This product is actually not a case; it’s a wrap. It comes in pieces with self-adhesive backing. You simply stick the pieces where they belong on the phone. If you goof up putting it on, no worries. Just peel it off and re-place it carefully on the phone. If the material gets dirty, you can peel it off and wash it with tap water and re-install it.

The Case also comes with a screen protector, a squeegee for getting the air bubbles out of the screen protector on your screen, and a specially treated cleaning cloth.

Easy Installation

To install a Slickwrap, follow the instructions in the video below.

I tried it, and the installation went very smoothly. The pieces are precision cut and fit over the phone perfectly.

The carbon fiber used for Slickwraps is tough and durable, giving your phone a sleek look and ample protection at the same time. Textured rubber sides offers further protection and better grip so the phone doesn’t slip.

Slickwraps come in an array of colors including black, white, red, blue, pink, green, orange, dark pink, yellow, light orange, glitz pink, and glow series blue. There is enough variety to make almost anyone happy. One could even get several cases in various colors to coordinate with outfits and décor as you would a pair of shoes and other accessories.

If an environmentally friendly group of alien programmers had written Angry Birds Space, it might have turned out much like Solar Flux HD ($3.99). Instead of destroying pig domiciles in the far reaches of the universe, you need to heal ailing suns through clever manipulation of your spacecraft.

The game is 226MB in size, so you might want to grab it through iTunes or Wi-Fi. When you start it up, it walks you through the basic tutorial levels to teach you how to control the ship, collect plasma fragments, and use the various gravity effects to score on each level. The game ran pretty well, though it seemed to take longer and longer to load as I progressed.

The point of the game is to heal the stars in each level before your shield is depleted and your ship burns up from exposure (or runs out of fuel). The dynamics are much like you would expect in the vacuum of space, with the exception that the ship enters planetary orbit automatically when getting close to a gravity well. Planets, stars, and other space objects are rendered in attractive detail, and you need to become skilled at maneuvering in a vacuum and around large planetary bodies to capture plasma quickly.

To control the nut-shaped ship, you can use thrusters (thrust direction and duration is controlled by screen taps on the side to which you wish to apply thrust); or slingshot around a planet, trying to maneuver close to the plasma fragments sprinkled around the area (which get sucked into your ship.) Once collected, they need to be launched into the sun (the healing needed to complete each level.)

When the plasma strikes the suns, a flare occurs, which may apply a force vector on a tangent (that's a fancy way of saying the ship could go flying off at an angle). Precise timing is required to avoid being driven into another object like an asteroid, or out of the game playing area (though you will eventually be bounced back in). Keep an eye on shield level, fuel level (indicated in the corner HUDs), and strategically plan your routes to quickly grab the plasma. Collect all the fragments and launch them (by tapping a sun) before ship burnout in order to progress.

The Verdict:

Solar Flux HD is a solid visual experience, and on a par with other decent physics puzzlers. I do have a few enhancement ideas. It would be cool to include missions that require sophisticated ship control (i.e. to enter a stable planetary orbit or snag power ups). The old 70s game, Lunar Lander, is an example (really one of the coolest all-time physics puzzlers). It would also be cool to introduce extra challenges, like the threat of a Sun going supernova—suns swell, get hotter, deplete shields faster, and explode. Of course maybe these features are included in higher levels which I haven't yet played. It is a bit pricey, but if stabilizing the universe is your cup of tea, grab it in iTunes.

Pros:

Good graphics
Interesting game concept

Cons:

Slow loading as you advance

Thanks to everyone who entered iPhone Life's Biweekly Weekend Giveaway! We received entries from 371 people in 24 different countries this week! WOW! And are giving away 3 amazing Otterbox accessories!

And the winners are... (drum roll please): Richard H., King D., and Angel D.-S.,

If you see your name but didn't receive an email, please check your spam folder.

Didn't Win This Week? No worries! Visit iphonelife.com/giveaways for the chance to win in the next giveaway round.

This weeks featured items are:

1. square jellyfish 3 piece combo set (tripod, ball head, and spring mount): Combined Retail Price $30.00.

The Jelly Legs micro tripod gives digital camera and smartphone users the ability to stabilize their cameras and phones, while offering flexibility with regard to angle or location. This tripod, ball head, and spring mount are all small, lightweight, and easy to use, making it a handy tool for any traveler or picture-taker who wants to enhance the next photo-op. Designed to hold smartphones and similar flat and thin devices weighing up to 9 ounces Jelly Legs is pocket size and weighs less than half an ounce. When the tripod legs are folded down they form a handle for secure video taking, self-portraits and iPhone 5 panoramic photos.

1. Speck's SmartFlex CARD: Retail Price $34.95.

The SmartFlex Card case is a slick, supple choice for your on-the-go lifestyle. When carrying a wallet is too much, our SmartFlex Card iPhone 5 case makes a clever companion.

• SmartFlex case fits iPhone 5
• Cool card carrier. Securely hold up to 3 cards (or folded bills) in this iPhone 5 cover's side-loading slot.
• Easy on, easy off. Flexible construction provides protection that’s durable, yet pops on and off in a snap.
• Snappy thumb release. Easily push cards out from the slot when you need them.
• All-around protection. Raised bezel keeps screen safe and rubberized covers shield buttons.

2. Speck ToughSkin Duo: Retail Price $39.95

ToughSkin Duo is tougher than ever, providing maximum protection against fumbles, tumbles and never-saw-it-coming stumbles. This dynamic duo of defense combines two iPhone 5 cases in one – all with sharp color options and a super-functional holster that make safety look smart.

• ToughSkin Duo case fits iPhone 5!
• Relentless protection. Slim inner case and rubbery outer layer give your iPhone full-on coverage
• Ultra-rugged exterior. Rubbery, notched surface provides a no-slip grip and full-on shock absorption.
• Flexible inner case. Use the slim inner shell on its own when you need to keep a low profile
• Handy detachable holster. Get quick-draw access to your iPhone with a rugged rotating belt clip that does double duty as a viewing stand.

Questions or comments? Email Brian@iphonelife.com. Good Luck and remember to visit iphonelife.com/giveaways to enter! Also check out our other contests at iphonelife.com/contests. The next contest drawing is September 9th!

Game Centered features roundups and in-depth reviews of the best in iOS games and related gaming news. Among the App Store’s myriad games, it’s all too easy to overlook some of the greats. Each installment of Game Centered will take a close look at a select few worthy of special recognition. This week's installment features the latest in the phenomenally successful Asphalt racing series, a recap of last week's Gamescom international gaming convention, and this week's featured App Store Free App.

• Asphalt 8: Airborne ($.99)

Asphalt 8: Airborne has finally landed in the App Store. I've been eagerly awaiting this modern masterpiece. Get ready for some serious hijinks in the latest installment in the massively successful Asphalt road-racing series. This is far and away the coolest Asphalt ever—trust me, I've played them all and this one stands out.

In Asphalt 8 you literally take to the skies as you compete in races on realistically rendered tracks in locations around the world. Jump ramps are everywhere and hitting them is to your advantage. In this immersive, console-quality game, flying through the air not only looks so awesome that you can almost feel the Gs, it’s also a great way to make up ground in a tight race.

Graphically I feel like Gameloft has the cutting-edge visuals nailed. There's not much that the developers over at Gameloft can imagine that they can't render with great detail and precision. The graphics continue to be groundbreaking and of a caliber only rivaled by actual console games. 

Asphalt 8 also brings with it more eye candy than I've ever seen in a racing game of this quality. There's helicopters buzzing by, biplanes swooping overhead, and volcanic activity shaking the ground and affecting visibility. NASA’s space shuttle even makes a guest appearance in grandiose fashion!

Asphalt 8: Airborne Features

Leave gravity in the dust.

• Perform dynamic, high-speed aerial stunts in an intense driving experience powered by a brand-new physics engine 

Luxury dream cars.

• Forty seven high-performance cars (80 percent new!)
• Top licensed manufacturers and models like Lamborghini Veneno, Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari FXX, and Pagani Zonda R
• Newly recorded high-fidelity motor sounds for realistic audio immersion. 

Get airborne:

•  Hit the ramps and take the race upward
•  Perform barrel rolls and wild 360-degree jumps 
•  Maneuver through the air while pulling off stunts 

New exotic locations:

• Nine different settings like Venice, French Guiana, Iceland, the Nevada desert, and more 
• All tracks available in original and mirror variations in Career mode 
• Discover plenty of hidden shortcuts

New features for speed freaks:

• Eight seasons and 180 events in the Career mode 
• Stunning visuals thanks to next-gen shaders, real-time geometry reflection, and other amazing effects
• New Infected and Drift Gate modes
• A detailed damage system

Simultaneous multiplayer and ghost challenges:

• Enjoy simultaneous multiplayer action for up to eight opponents 
• Dare friends to asynchronous races 
• Compare scores on the new leaderboards with friends and drivers around the world
• Share your racing achievements and prove that you’re the ultimate speed machine

Music to rev your soul:

• A heart-thumping mix of amazing licensed music featuring tracks from Bloc Party, Mutemath, and the Crystal Method!

For the price of just $0.99 you can't go wrong with this stellar racing title. The graphics are some of the best you’ll see on a tablet, the choice of cars is extensive with some absolute beauties available as you progress. The multiplayer in Asphalt 8 is some of the best, most competitive racing I've had the pleasure of experiencing (if only there were voice chat, I'd have a few choice words for those racers in London last night) and the added twist of airborne flight and the strategizing that comes along with this new element is an absolute joy.

Asphalt 8: Airborne gets a rare and deserved 5 out of 5 Star rating.

*****

This Week's App Store Featured Free App

• Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders (free from $4.99)

Go download this award-winning game now, while it's Apple’s Free Game of the Week. Usually priced at $4.99, Sky Gamblers, a former App Store Editor’s Choice, is arguably one of the best flight sim iOS games out there.

This game will take you some time to adjust to if you aren't already a trained pilot. It’s definitely not as simple as just tilting to steer. But once you get the hang of it you will truly feel like you've been teleported into the heat of fierce WWII dogfights! The graphics are top notch and the gameplay is innovative in its use of touchscreen and accelerometer capabilities to immerse you in the action as if you were really there.

Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders Features

Amazing quality, exclusively on iOS!

Unparalleled visuals, special effects, and audio, including: specular masks, bump mapping, atmospheric
scattering, volumetric clouds with realistic lighting, sun glare, day and night transitions, God rays, high
definition textures, 4x anisotropic filtering, High Dynamic Range (HDR) rendering, radial blur, heat haze,
refractive raindrops, and more!

Immersive gameplay:

Take off and land on landing strips and carriers. Fly in fully recreated cities with realistic
weather, accurate atmospheric scattering with aerial perspective, and highly detailed planes with
interactive cockpits.

Huge historic fleet:

Fly highly detailed WWII top aces planes. Watch as planes are progressively damaged and finally
shredded into pieces.

Huge collection of online gaming modes:

Invite your friends to play online! Choose between cooperative and competitive modes: Survival, Last
Man Standing, Free Flight, Free for All, Team Match, Capture the Flag and the new Assault. Use Game
Center head to head with Voice Chat for the ultimate duel experience.

Acrobatic Smoke:

For pilots who want to show off their flying skills in style.

Gamescom 2013: An iOS Snub, or an Oversight?

As far as I'm concerned, the future of gaming does not lie in stationary, bulky consoles tethered to a TV set, but rather in the portable, visceral interface of iOS interactive technology. Whether through touchscreen or certified third-party controllers, iOS gaming is the future of the video game industry.

So why iOS games weren't more prominently featured at this year’s Gamescom in Cologne, Germany is beyond me. What does that imply? That there are no groundbreaking new iOS games? Is it a conspiracy by the makers of the console gaming systems in an attempt to stifle their most obvious rival and greatest competition? Why would one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world not show greater deference to the iOS platform? 

As this week’s Gamescom 2013 unfolded, I kept waiting for some big iOS game revelations. Not that there wasn't news, but it wasn't what I expected. That said, there were still a few stellar titles that were shown off. Some of the highlights of this year’s Gamescom included:

• Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf: Blood on the Snow 

If the embedded gameplay trailer is not visible, please click HERE.

This is a juicy-looking game that I can't wait to sink my teeth into. Based on the popular books by Joe Dever, Lone Wolf looks to take the single player RPG to the next level. This episodic game is graphically stunning with a deep and intriguing storyline.

Fans of Joe Dever’s popular choose-your-own-adventure game books shouldn't be disappointed. The upcoming iOS game combines elements of an artfully rendered ebook with 3D action combat woven into the story. Along the way, the choices you make affect your outcome. This should all combine to create a unique and compelling gaming experience unlike any other on iOS.

According to Dever, who actively contributed to the story of this new game, Lone Wolf—Blood on the Snow "will comprise four games (or ‘Acts’) that can be played either individually, or consecutively as a progressive four-part saga. Act 1 is sub-titled ’Rockstarn.’ Acts 2–4 are sub-titled ’Sunken Forest,’ 'Shianti Temple,' and ’V’taag—The Dark Tower’ respectively. Forge Reply is the developer, and BulkyPix is the publisher. Story and game text by yours truly!”

Look for Lonewolf in November 2013

• The Cave

I previewed this highly anticipated side-scrolling adventure game a little while back when I was reporting on the E3 2013 game conference, where I saw my first iOS demo. I'm expecting this game to become available before year’s end.

In The Cave, you play the part of one of seven characters—of sometimes questionable morals and dubious intentions—as you descend into a sentient, mysterious, and quirky underground labyrinth. Your path will be filled with obstacles and puzzles galore, and like the aforementioned Lone Wolf game, the choices you make in this game will affect its outcome. The game, from what I've seen so far, features a gameplay style that seems well suited to the touchscreen format along with nicely animated 3D graphics.

If you are already familiar with The Cave from its console version you won't be disappointed, the iOS version seems even better to me! And, if you've yet to hear about this soon-to-be-released iOS game, you’re in for a great treat in this intriguing and surprising game.

Check out the trailer for the Cave below, and if the embedded video is unavailable, click HERE.

•  Godfire: Rise of Prometheus

Get ready for pure action and mayhem in this 3rd-person, combat-adventure RPG. Based on Greek mythology Godfire casts you in the role of Prometheus as you set out on an open-world journey and battle epic beasts, demons, and titans. In Godfire you will be called upon to solve puzzles and overcome powerful foes in combat in order to survive and advance. This is a game that I already consider a “must-have” for any serious iOS gamer. I feel as if my dream has been answered and an iOS port of God of War has finally manifested!

As you can see from the screenshots above, Godfire really shows off the incredible gaming capabilities of the iOS interface. None other than the infamous Unreal Engine is the power behind this stellar game. I think you’ll be impressed! I know I have been blown away  by all of the demos I’ve been privy to. Look for this blockbuster game to debut in early 2014.

All the evidence continues to point toward a Sept. 10 event to launch two new iPhones, and we can likely expect Apple to make an official announcement next week. A new video has appeared on the web that gives you a good look at the forthcoming champagne- or gold-colored iPhone 5S as well as a blue iPhone 5C.

The video just shows the casings, but that's enough to show what they'll look like. The first part of the video shows the champagne-colored iPhone side by side with a current black and white iPhone 5s. About halfway through it then adds the blue iPhone 5C. You can see how it's just slightly thicker and has more rounded edges.

It's amazing how the different material (polycarbonate), the slightly different form, and the blue color give the iPhone 5C a different personality. I think consumers will find both phones appealing.

In other news, a big question is when we'll be able to download iOS 7, which will likely come installed on the new phones. A rumor reported by AppleInsider suggests that it'll be available Sept. 10, the same day as Apple's event.