The long-awaited revised version of PhoneSaber, er… Lightsaber Unleashed has arrived in the iPhone App Store.

As promised, the new version is a tie-in to the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and features characters from that game. Back once again are the great lightsaber sound effects we all love, and the ability to change colors by choosing different characters. However, the yellow and purple lightsabers are no longer available (a bummer, I know). In addition to using the characters to choose your blade, you can also learn more about the characters with a photo and character bio. 

When the game launches, you’re forced to click through an ad for the game, which is kind of a pain. But the app is still free, so I guess that’s not so bad. A big plus for this version is the ability to add music and create your own “duel mode” as you wield your lightsaber and listen to some great Star Wars music! We should all walk around with John Williams’ music playing in the background.

We did find a bug with the music feature, as the music still plays when you turn the iPhone off. I’m sure this will be addressed in a future update. 

As it stands, Lightsaber Unleashed is still a great program and a must-have for any iPhone or iPod Touch owner. May the Force be with you!

Useless Productivity Rating:

Cost: Free

Learn More:

• Lightsaber Unleashed website
• Get Lightsaber Unleashed from the iPhone App Store

  

  

I grew up in the 1970’s, so nobody needs to explain the nostalgia one might feel using a rotary telephone again. Heck, I didn’t even use a push button phone until I went to college in 1985. So, it was with hopeful anticipation that I saw the new app Bakelite from MildMannered Industries.

The concept is pretty simple. Rather than dial your iPhone using the built-in Phone app, you use Bakelite and “dial” literally your numbers. The effect comes complete with sound effects (more on that later). Unlike those old rotary phones of yore, there’s a delete button in case you misdial.

And therein lies the rub. This phone is far, far too easy to misdial. Worse, the sound effects are choppy, out of sync, and unlike any phone I’ve heard of. So, as a simulation this app falls down and because it is so easy to misdial you’ll find yourself taking minutes rather than seconds to make a simple phone call!

The app is free, and might be worth it as an educational tool for today’s youth that haven’t seen a phone without a “send” button. But that’s about all it’s worth.

Useless Productivity Rating:

Cost: free

Learn More:

• Bakelite website
• Get Bakelite from iPhone App Store