Mini Reviews for February 12: Colbert Report’s The Word, eWifi, and Burglar Alarm Reviews

Some applications give us video options, some Wi-Fi internet connections, and some simply no options.  Here are a few new and popular iPhone applications, ranging from free to the measly price of $0.99.

The Colbert Report's The Word

America could do worse than Stephen Colbert.  Easily.  Now the daily rantings of the Colbert Nation are being beamed directly into iPhone's through "The Colbert Report's The Word."  The application, easy enough, is a way for you to stream in video clips of Stephen Colbert's "The Word" segment right onto your iPhone.  Since the iPhone lacks any real online video capabilities outside of applications there is a certain need for more like this.  The Word is organized by different ways of actually searching through them.  You can start out with the Featured one, or search them by date or "word" that he uses as the launching point for stint as an ironic attack dog.  You can go ahead with Popular or Random as well, but really these are just different ways of organizing the same thing.  What makes The Word actually worth the $0.99 that it costs is the fact that you tap into a huge library of Colbert video clips.  All the real functionality of the iPhone application is just different ways at getting you at these segments, and that is good enough for me.  If you are a fan of The Colbert Report you likely already know that this is going to work out for you.  Indispensable for those that cannot get enough. 

Five out of five stars.

eWifi

The 3G network is really what separates the iPhone and the iPod Touch, but that is not to say that iPhone users need to rely on it entirely.  Wi-Fi has proven to still be faster in most cases and many functions through iTunes' and the App Store still require a Wi-Fi connection at the very least.  The use of Wi-Fi is also essential when traveling internationally when data rates go way beyond what is reasonable.  eWifi is a free iPhone application that allows you a clean and easy way to find and connect to Wi-Fi networks nearby.  The application will net you know the information for the Wi-Fi networks such as their name and strength, as well as whether or not they are open or closed with password protection.  When you select the network in eWifi you will be give a full profile page and then have a "Connect" button that you can use for direct connection.  Over all eWifi works well for its purpose, but that purpose is not one that is always necessary.  There are already functions in the iPhone Settings area to find local Wi-Fi networks and connect, and you can also set these for push notifications.  This is obviously not as easy as using eWifi so it still holds a purpose, and since it is free it is hard to argue against incorporating it with the rest of your utility applications.  If you use Wi-Fi often, especially when traveling, then eWifi is going to be a good option.  If you are at the end of your iPhone storage space then you may want to go ahead and pass.  Four out of five stars.

Burglar Alarm

The worst thing an iPhone application can do is give you an advertisement right out of the gate.  Strike one for Burglar Alarm.  Right off the bat Burglar Alarm gives you a pop up message for an external website.  It then asks if you want to set up Push features for Burglar Alarm.  Then another pop ad message.  Strike two.  What it has really is two fingerprint spots where you can put two fingers.  It then does a "scan," then sounding an alarm that is supposedly a mock of a 'burglar alarm.'  What else does it do?  Nothing.  Strike three.  Burglar Alarm is an annoying application who only function is to make a bunch of noise and flash repeatedly without any real context.  Inside you also get a banner ad at the top of the screen and a button to see more applications at the bottom.  Every single aspect of Burglar Alarm is an excuse to get more advertisements onto your mobile device.  This is not even justified with a mildly worthwhile function or game, instead a gimmick that does not have even a brief moment of entertainment.  Burglar Alarm is a complete failure all across the board.  One out of five stars.