Now that I have learned a ton about our manmade mechanical counterparts and witnessed them in action, I'm convinced the robotic underground will stage an uprising and someday take over the world. In all seriousness, though, Robots for iPad is equal parts creepy and cool, and it's one of the most informatively fascinating apps you'll find on the subject of artificial intelligence.
Bursting at the seams with well over 100 real-world robots that range from freakish human lookalikes to quasi-sentient kids toys, this exhaustive app is a repository of incredible information about the history of our mechanical pals. Each entry features detailed photos, historical rundowns, tech specs, neat factoids, and embedded links to related articles about the robotic creation in question. Numerous videos included in the entries are perhaps the most fascinating feature, since they let you see these crazy things come to life and tell you more about the stories behind them.
On a basic level, there's a ton of content to explore, but a few additional perks make this a must-have app for serious robo-philes. An up-to-date robot news feed stocked with current articles keeps you abreast of the latest word on the street, plus interactive options let you go hands-on with the droids in neat ways. Beyond the reams of historical info, there's also a "would you rather" quiz game that tests your inclinations towards different types of robo pals and rates your answers with other users' entries. All of this is bundled in an interface that's very easy and intuitive to navigate.
The bottom line. If you have even an inkling of curiosity about real-world bots, Robots for iPad is a no-brainer. Despite its occasional creepiness, the app proves both captivating and entertaining.
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iPad running iOS 5.0 or later
Huge index of real-world robots. Very detailed information and fascinating videos/photos. Cool extra perks for robot fans.
Some robots are kind of freaky to watch in motion.
