Weird Apps for iOS

A list of the weirdest, most artful or unexpected apps. Art projects, strange tools, cultural oddities, and more. I plumb the depths of the app store so you don't have to. Suggestions encouraged, or follow me on Twitter @weird_ios

[weirdios]

Howl

HOWL is a synth that uses formants to simulate the human voice and a pitch-space keyboard to help you find interesting melodies. For the most part, though, it makes expressive grunts, groans, wails, and moaning noises.

Also, it's open source, which is amazing!

[weirdios]

CatPaint for iMessage

CatPaint adds cats to your photos, the cats fire lasers from their eyes. With iOS 10, CatPaint now includes an iMessage sticker pack. Send laser cats in your iMessages.

Pew pew!

[mortenjust-experiments]

Simpler language editor. Inspired by xkcd, I made an editor that only allows the 1,000 most used words in English. It’s harder than you think, and you think harder, to let your reader think less. And it’s worth it.

[weirdios]

Generation Lamp

An art piece about time and technology, that anyone can own.

Over its lifetime, Generation Lamp will flip through all 16,777,216 possible colors in the RGB hexadecimal spectrum (#FFFFFF to #000000), at the rate of 1 per minute.

[weirdios]

Grayout

From the creator of the experimental word-puzzle narrative game Blackbar, Grayout is a wonderful follow up. The game is set in a similar world, and has a similar puzzle-as-emotional-hook gameplay, thought the mechanic is completely different. It's longer, more wordy, more mature, and total worth checking out if you enjoyed the frustration of Blackbar's puzzles. It took me three days of casual play to finish, though I imagine play-time will vary wildly depending on which puzzles stump you.

$3

[weirdios]

I Love Potatoes

I found this gem featured on the app store! It's a game, put out by the National Film Board of Canada, about potatoes. Only when it says potatoes, it really means consumerism and natural resource exploitation. It isn't often you see characters talk about things like "sustainablity" and "organizing" in what is definitely a kids game.

The first half of the game seemed like it was heading towards a critique of free-to-play games, and their uncanny ability to exploit our natural impulses. The first couple missions even have you gathering in-game currency (spoiler: potatoes) to purchase power-ups. But it quickly takes a sharp turn towards environmentalism and a simplified Marxist "together we can" sentiment.

It's definitely aimed at indoctrinating inspiring kids to grow up to become social-change leaders. Honestly I think it's a bit of a wasted opportunity. A game that could teach kids that free-to-play is bullshit, or even help break the addiction in adults, would have a huge lasting impact on the world. All in all, I Love Potatoes has an honest goal, and is a great way to introduce your child to some solid north american ideals like "don't trust authority, trust your instincts" and "working together is great" (apparently this is called "socialism" by some??).

note: this is a kids game, so don't expect challenging gameplay. It's by the NFB, so do expect twee animation!

FREE

[weirdios]

K Blocker - Block Kardashian content

An iOS content blocker that stops Kardashian content from appearing in Safari.

[weirdios]

Triviata and "slow gaming"

As a big motivation, I didn’t want this to be a single player game. When testing it with my kiddos, I observed their “skinner box” impulses of “answer/reward/answer/reward” and designed against it.

This is an excellent write up by iOS deveoper Erica Sadun about the design process used for her new Apple TV game "Triviata".

Definitely worth checking out the game, if you've gotten your hands on one of those new Apple TVs. Search "Triviata' in the app store.

[weirdios]

Clarity Keyboard for iOS

A minimalist keyboard, for when all you need is a combination of these four words. Best part? No more accidental "duck yes" texts.

[weirdios]

Gran Text Auto, best game concept of 2015?

[meesey-m]

THIS APP IS QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT

[weirdios]

Crazy Heliumbooth

[ryancarryon-deactivated20221004]

well uhhh….

[hashtagproblematic-blog]

[weirdios]

Morfo

Import a photo, set up eyes and noses and mouths, and then puppiteer it as needed.

See Uncanny Valley for more details.

[emsovaries]

If the Simpsons are yellow, can we pick their skin tone?

[weirdios]

Click Wheel Keyboard

Typing on your phone has never been more... effortful?

For those keeping score at home, the original iPod is now officially retro technology. Your feelings of nostalgia for it will now confuse and delight you.

[weirdios]

[weirdios]

Sext Machine

Sext Machine is an SMS-based game exploring the frailty of algorithms and human sexuality. The game is played by taking and sending photos with your phone's camera that look like, but aren't, sexually explicit.

Photos sent to Sext Machine are run through a nudity-detection algorithm. You're scored based on how well you've tricked the bot into thinking you sent it something x-rated.

You can play Sext Machine by texting ';)' to (669) 333-SEXT (7398). It's totally free to play, but if your carrier charges you for SMS/MMS then regular fees might apply.

[ EDIT ]: Sext Machine is now available as a web app http://sextmachine.lazerwalker.com