The mad genius who gave the world Flappy Bird is back with a new game that has that same maddeningly simple gameplay that made his first title a sensation. But simple doesn’t mean easy. If you’re looking for a fun game to help you unwind, you should look elsewhere.
As with Flappy Bird, Swing Copters asks players to navigate the main character through a series of obstacles. Here, the field is vertical and players are responsible for the safety of a little man with a very unstable propeller hat. Tapping on the screen helps keep him flying on the straight and narrow, although you do have to let him wobble a bit to avoid the steel girders and swinging hammers that block your way to the top. Players really have to work to set a good rhythm, otherwise they risk sending their character smashing into the wall.
Swing Copters is a work in progress. Even in the course of reviewing the app, it got a complete update, so players probably can expect more tweaks. This most recent update made the game easier. (But it’s still pretty stinkin’ hard.) Free, for iOS and Android
Time warp
Instagram’s latest: Hyperlapse
Hyperlapse gives everyday smartphone users a tool to make time-lapse videos through the back-facing camera of your iPhone. It’s ideal for panning or driving shots to capture the scenery as it goes by the window, or for condensing long videos into something a little more manageable for the average social media user. The app also stabilizes the video you shoot, so your viewers won’t feel seasick when they watch your video of a ferry ride across the bay. Using the app is easy — just point and shoot — and the videos the app produces are added to your iPhone’s camera roll. Then they can be shared — of course! — on Facebook and Instagram.
The app doesn’t have many production features; you can tap to focus, but there are none of Instagram’s famous filters here. Users should also know that the app asks for access to their camera, photo storage and microphone to function. Free, for iOS devices.
