Nixxi | Tagline Unnecessary.

You know what sucks about apps? Most of them are not universal. Save for some pretty nifty games, they’re all either for iPod/iPhone and have a specific HD iPad version, which usually costs more. Now, I’ve been limited to getting just the universal apps. But even then, there are exceptions. Like Angry Birds and Cut The Rope, which are staple games for the iPod/iPhone. And shell out the big bucks for Angry Birds and Cut the Rope HD.

Selling your soul, 99 cents at a time.

What annoys me is that its practically the same game. Ugh. But anyway, here’s my top picks for my iDevices. First off, top 3 of the serious apps.

1. Stanza - Absolutely fantastic. Screen too bright? Swipe your finger in the middle of screen. Want the font to get bigger? Four taps and you’re done. And I’ve already got tons of epubs loaded up on my iPad. I’ve done more reading this month than I’ve done in the past two years. Love this app to death. Universal app.

2. IMO - This app takes care of all my chat needs. Skype? Facebook? Yahoo Messenger? AIM? This app does it all. Push notification, easy breezy. iPad app.

3. Pink Calendar - Keeps track of ovulation, menstruation and all those messy girly things. iPod/iPhone app.

Alright. Now for games.

1. Tiny Tower - This game is evil. To say its “ADDICTIVE” would be a gross understatement. Install this app and you will say goodbye to a social life, productivity and sanity. Twitter and Plurk has been filled with rants about this game which always end with them deleting this evil, evil game a few days later. SRSLY I wish with all my heart I was kidding. Universal app.

2. Battleheart - This game reminds me of MMORPGs in the past. Cute sprites with different skills? What’s not to love? Universal app.

3. Infinity Blade - This game is the shit. Honestly. If you wanted to see what the graphics processor of your iDevice is capable of, go download this game and be amazed. I haven’t really played this much but when I do, I am stunned at the clarity and the insane graphics. I shit you not. If this game isn’t on your game arsenal, you’re missing out on a lot. Universal app.

4. Amateur Surgeon - Basically you’re a back-alley surgeon performing extractions, open heart surgery, bone resectioning using very crude tools. Yeah. Xray? Here’s an Etch-A-Sketch. Scalpel? Pizza cutter. It’s hilarious and the graphics are cartoonish but would you really want realistic graphics? Really? Cauterize with a Zippo and heal using a magical potion eraser thingie. Played it for hours. iPad app.

5. Diner Dash: Grilling Green – I’ve had several incarnations of Diner Dash on my iPod Touch and I found the cramped space annoying but I had to finish the game. This version, particularly made for the iPad solves all that. iPad app.

Now, camera/editing/photo sharing apps for the iPod/iPhone.

1. Instagram – Who doesn’t like Instagram? It’s nifty, has a built-in social network thing so others can see all the cool shit you have to share.

2. Cameramatic – For effects.

3. Half Tone – Still for effects.

4. Pocket Labeler – For the OC in you.

5. FX Studio – Effects.

As you guys can probably tell right now, I don’t have much on my iPad. I use it mostly for reading and surfing. Heck, nowadays, it’s my music player too. Though I do refrain from whipping it out when I’m commuting. My iPod Touch has become my repository for games. It has one basic playlist and I filled it with all the iPod/iPhone-only apps.

You might ask, ‘Are you kidding? You can play all of those on the iPad!”

Not all apps have iPad versions. I KNOW WHAT A SHOCKER

Game Dev Story, Hot Springs Story in all its lovable 8bit glory is only for the iPod/iPhone. Cooking Mama has yet to release an iPad version. Monopoly and Fruit Ninja’s HD versions were too expensive to justify buying.

And of course, my runners up.

Plants VS. Zombies, Cooking Mama, Need For Speed Undercover, Need For Speed Hot Pursuit, Battlefield: Bad Company, Angry Birds, Angry Birds Rio, Angry Birds Seasons, Monopoly, Scrabble, Hot Springs Story, Game Dev Story, Pocket Academy, Mega Worm, Mega Worm VS Santa, Guitar Hero, Tap Tap Revenge 3, Tap Tap Revenge 4, Rock Band, Lane Splitter, Fruit Ninja, Traffic Rush, Flight Control, Street Fighter IV, Robot Unicorn Attack, Cut The Rope: Holiday Gift, Cut The Rope, Pac Man, League of Evil, Fishing Frenzy Deluxe, Dead Space, Aftermath, Mega Jump, Zippo and iBeer.