Author: Justin Cheng

For those who capture audio out in the field — reporters, podcasters, musicians, etc. — a nice recorder is a must. It’s important that the audio comes through loud and clear, and isn’t drowned out by background noise. One of the most trusted brands in the audio-recorder world is Zoom, whose H4n is the go-to gadget for podcasters such as Marc Maron and Chris Hardwick. Recognizing that folks may not want to carry a bulky recorder with them in addition to their iOS devices, Zoom has released the iQ5.

The iQ5 is a stereo condenser microphone that can fit easily in your pocket, yet has a lot of the bells and whistles you’d expect from a Zoom product. You can adjust the gain, for example, or alter the range of the recording area (90 or 120 degrees). The iQ5 is plugged into the Lightning port, but it has to sit flush against the bottom of your iPhone/iPad, which often means removing any cases you might have. Once it’s connected, though, it works as advertised with the default Voice Memos and Camera apps. You get the most out of the mic by using the free HandyRecorder app—the combination of the iQ5 and the app basically turns your iOS device into a full-fledged Zoom recorder.

My only slight qualm with the iQ5 is its build quality. It never broke on me during my time with it, but it felt a tad fragile due to its lightweight plastic construction — it’s a double-edged sword as the lightness is what helps make it so portable.

The bottom line. Despite its minor issues, the Zoom iQ5 is a good option for those who don’t want to carry a bulky audio recorder out into the field.

Without question, LEGO Legends of Chima Online is geared towards younger gamers. It is, after all, based on a toy line and a CG-animated TV show on Cartoon Network. But don’t write it off just yet — this is a massively multiplayer online action-RPG in which a driving motivation is to collect loot. In many ways, Legends of Chima Online is like a simplified Diablo, and that’s why it can work for older gamers, too.

The world of Legends of Chima is one in which humanoid animals (à la the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) are divided into tribes that battle over a resource called Chi. You — as a bear, eagle, gorilla, or lion — must tackle a wide array of quests, most of which require you to hack and slash enemy crocodiles. All of these actions are achieved via motions on the touch screen: tap on a target to shoot, and swipe on it to slash. It’s a simple yet effective mechanic, but the combat can become repetitive and imprecise. And Legends of Chima Online is definitely best enjoyed on an iPad, thanks to its larger screen. No matter the hardware, though, the game suffers from occasional slowdown.

Victory often leads to rewards in the form of studs (the currency used to purchase most stuff) and loot. You can pick up new weapons and armor that not only affect your appearance, but also stats such as HP (hit points) and DPS (damage per second), allowing you to dispatch foes at a faster rate; playing cooperatively with friends certainly doesn’t hurt, either. In addition to these accessories, you can acquire blueprints for new weapons, as well as LEGO bricks with which to build them. 

Crafting is done at your Outpost, the place wherein the game throws a city-building component into the mix. Here you’ll place structures that generate studs or give your character additional powers. As in games like The Simpsons: Tapped Out, you’ll have to wait for stuff to finish building, but you can accelerate construction times with earnable/purchasable gold bricks. 

This is business as usual for most free-to-play titles. The real roadblock if you want to play without dropping a cent comes with the amount of available real estate in your Outpost. The default area has about enough space for four buildings, and in order to have the option of expanding your Outpost (which will still cost you studs/gold bricks), you’ll have to pay for a monthly membership, costing $7.99 for one month, $35.99 for six, or $59.99 for 12. It’s a pretty severe restriction for those who want to play for free, but on the bright side, you can keep your Outpost expansions even after your membership expires.

The bottom line. LEGO Legends of Chima Online is lightweight kids’ stuff, but it has some elements that could appeal to players of all ages who are craving Diablo-style action.