Sudoku Grab
Michael (Admin) | Apr 6, 2009 Games
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m too stupid to play Sudoku. Seriously, this game hurts my skull! Crosswords I can handle, but weird Japanese number puzzles I can’t.
However, I decided to try this app because I wanted to be impressed by Sudoku Grab’s main attraction which is the ability to “Grab” other sudoku puzzles via photo capture! And impressed I am, mostly.
Sudoku Grab comes with its own library of 1000+ puzzles and it does all the things a good sudoku app should do… you can play easy, medium, and hard levels, undo, write numbers in “pencil”, solve, yada yada yada… and those are all valid reasons to buy this app, but photo capture is what CMG Research built this app to do.
Just aim your iPhone camera at any sudoku puzzle, and the app will convert it into a playable iPhone-ified puzzle. The only catch is that you need to be in a place that’s fairly well-lit, ‘cuz if you’re not then the app will get all kinds of numbers wrong. When this happens you can make corrections to match the puzzle you’re stealing, but depending on how dark your sudoku photo is that could prove to be kind of a pain in your rear.
When you’ve got enough light, though, Sudoku Grab is awesome. Well-lit sudoku photographs are quickly and accurately converted into playable puzzles, and all of the built-in game features apply. If you’re gearing up for a long ride home after work, you can also use this app to grab puzzles from websites! It’s especially good at this because computer screens almost always have enough light and contrast to make a good Grab. There are tons of sudoku websites, so if you’re not sure where to steal a puzzle online just google it and start Grabbing all the puzzles you can find.
I’ve only played with one other iPhone sudoku app… again, my poor brain isn’t wired for this kind of torture… but I can’t imagine what any other app in this genre could do to top Sudoku Grab. $.99 seems very reasonable for what the developer calls “the only Sudoku Game you are going to need”.
And just in case you’re curious, CMG Research is publishing their Sudoku Grab sales stats! I kind of wish more developers would make this information public. I guess I’m just nosy like that.
- Sudoku Grab will throw you hints on how to work the app the first time you run it
- Sudoku Grab will try to draw this green box for you, and if you have to do it yourself that probably means the photo sucks
- With this many corrections to make you’re probably better off doing the photo again in better light
- Once you’ve got your game, the rest works just like you’d expect it to
- The “Solve” button is my best friend
- Computer screens almost always make for great puzzle Grabs
- Select from your library of puzzles
April 6th, 2009 at 5:46 am
CMG Research has been nice enough to provide some promo codes to hand out! First come, first served.
H4XW796ENF4R
T7NFJ79NPNFE
HL63E9WLPYA7
NLH7RH3WWEYP
LYMAPT6MP4PT
XXH7JYFL466W
If you use one, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT so that everyone knows which code you took! Your thoughts on the app (after you try it) are also welcome. Enjoy!
(You must have a U.S. iTunes account to use promo codes)
April 6th, 2009 at 5:47 am
And here are more codes… I’m *pretty sure* these will work… there was some confusion between versions, but if you miss out on the first batch posted above try one of these:
4PM3RPP3XYEE
7TNTTWAA6NXX
4RKLXW4L6XJF
NY3KF4X3K4FY
KTJE6K7HLL9J
Again… please LEAVE A COMMENT if you use a code!! Thanks :cool:
April 6th, 2009 at 6:35 am
thanks i took H4XW796ENF4R
April 6th, 2009 at 6:54 am
I took T7NFJ79NPNFE.
April 6th, 2009 at 7:20 am
thanks
4PM3RPP3XYEE
April 6th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I took KTJE6K7HLL9J
April 6th, 2009 at 8:35 am
thanks i used XXH7JYFL466W
April 6th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I took NY3KF4X3K4FY.
Thanks!
April 6th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I took LYMAPT6MP4PT. Thanks very much!
April 6th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I took NLH7RH3WWEYP!
What a great app! thank you!
April 6th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Darn, looks like all of them are gone (went by one by one just to make sure). Oh well. Only $0.99. Looks like I’ll just buy it. :smile:
April 13th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
You might take a look at Sudoku w/Cam capture, or if you wan to try a free version look at Sudoku w/Cam preview. They both allow you to import images with the camera, although Sudoku w/Cam preview will cut you off after 50 moves. I woul dbe curious to know how you feel the two programs compare.
DaveE