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First Look: iZen Garden

by Erica Sadun Jul 15th 2008 at 5:00PM

The iPhone App Store offers several zen garden applications and today, I was able to play with one of them, iZen Garden [iTunes link], on my simulator. The program allows you to place stones onto a bed of sand and rake the sand around the stones. As the marketing materials suggest, it's basically a fidget toy. "iZen Garden is perfect for long meetings, train rides, or meditation practice. It helps you to center your mind, relax your psyche, and relieve your stress."

The interface is easy enough to use, with several rocks available and reset options for when your perfect garden gets too messy. At $4.99, it's a love it or leave it program. If rock placement and sand stroking isn't your thing, then iZen Garden probably isn't either. If it is, this is a simple visually appealing solution.

I found the program easy-to-use and modestly fun. I have limited artistic skills and my raked gardens always looked messy. Your mileage will almost certainly vary.

iZen Garden works on both iPhone and iPod touch.



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The iPhone App Store offers several zen garden applications and today, I was able to play with one of them, iZen Garden [iTunes link], on...
 

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26 Comments

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anonymous

"First Look" doesn't imply that there will be necessarily a "second look," does it? :)

July 16 2008 at 12:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stephen Lang

I actually bought one of these apps, but it was only 2 bucks. For that I thought it was alright, I like Japanese gardens, now I have one in my pants.

July 16 2008 at 2:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Stephen Lang's comment
Dan

Ha! Reading through all these comments was worth it for this one. I lol'd.

July 16 2008 at 3:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
R Muffet

Have to admit, I lost a bit of respect for Erica's sense of good app design when I saw the horrible way she polluted the Settings section with nothing but Legal entries.

July 15 2008 at 8:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to R Muffet's comment
ximon

Indeed.

July 16 2008 at 3:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

I think that TUAW should spotlight the AppStore's worst applications as well.

This would be right up there with the 10,000 other flashlight apps.

July 15 2008 at 7:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Farmer Joe

Well goodness. I don't know how you can possibly concern yourself with zen gardens when there is a crucial need for a tip calculator! Please! Somebody write a tip calculator! I can't seem to find one anywhere!

July 15 2008 at 7:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Farmer Joe's comment
Jack

Please tell how you get apps on the simulator!

I would love to know! thanks!

July 15 2008 at 6:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jack's comment
Kyle

Have the programmer send you the xcode project for the application then compile it. There is NO way to run an itunes downloaded app in the emulator. You need the original code.

July 15 2008 at 7:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jack Montana

With Apple being so selective about letting developers into the App Store program, I had high hopes for the apps. While a handful are really great, I was shocked to see the absolute drivel that was available. I stopped counting at 5 "flashlight" applications. A "hold down the button game"? Mosquito swatter? Are you f-cking kidding me? I shudder to think of the developers that didn't make the cut

July 15 2008 at 6:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Jack Montana's comment
Erick

So it is plainly obvious that there were a few hand picked developers let in and the rest were maybe picked at random or was first come first serve until they hit the 4,000.

July 15 2008 at 6:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kev Orng

you'd probably appreciate "Stapler".

July 15 2008 at 6:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
obtusegoose

The rocks should cast shadows and leave an impression in the sand when you move them. Aside from that, it looks like a dollar app at best.

July 15 2008 at 5:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Neil

Pathetic, just pathetic.....a complete and total waste of money.

July 15 2008 at 5:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rick

I'm not Buddhist, so forgive my ignorance, but what's the significance of a Zen garden? Is that purpose at all hindered by being simulated on a cell phone?

July 15 2008 at 5:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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