Cube Cheater iPhone App - Life-saver or fun-killer?
My wife recently had a hankering for a Rubik's Cube, so I got her one, and it's been a fine outlet for extra mental energy. And then I saw this post on the Make blog about an iPhone app called "Cube Cheater" - you simply take a photo of the cube with the phone's camera, and the app will walk you through solving the puzzle, step by step. So the question is: Is this is a lifesaver which can free a frustrated puzzler from the tyranny of the cube, or a fun-killer which negates the whole point of the puzzle? If you had this app, would you be too tempted to use it? And most importantly, what will my wife's reaction be when she reads this post?? Stay tuned, I'll update it in the comments - or maybe she will...
2 comments:
During the original height of Rubik's Cube popularity, there were books readily available that explained the algorithm step-by-step for solving your cube. The app presumably automates the heck outa that process, but it isn't any more cheating than the books were...
The verdict from my better half: It's more of a fun-killer than a lifesaver. However, various general written instructions that are available - NOT customized to your particular cube state - are less fun-killing. They're more like Sudoku, where you learn a process and apply it, with some strategy, to reach a satisfying result. So to those of you with cubes: avoid the app, but seek out the guides - and have fun!
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