If you read my review of Timer earlier this week, you know I'm a huge fan of App Cubby's newest app for setting timers. Its primary attribute is its simplicity. To start a timer, you just hit the big button that represents the time you want.

Here's what App Cubby's David Barnard has to say about Timer and the theory behind its design:

HUGE buttons are incredibly well suited to quickly taking action on touchscreen devices. For all the love complex, nebulous gestures have gotten in recent months, tapping a HUGE button is still the ultimate — and often overlooked — gesture.

And ultimate it is!

With the ability to set up to 12 timers at once from the same screen, Timer is incredibly efficient at setting timers. It's also very beautiful.

Now, one of the main negative responses I received about Timer, despite its efficiency, was that asking Siri to "set a timer for 5 minutes" is actually faster than opening Timer and hitting a button. And this is true. However, Siri uses the iPhone's internal clock and timer which has a couple of limitations including the inability to set multiple timers. Also, if you ask Siri to set a 30 second timer, she'll reply with "I can't set a timer with seconds. Sorry about that."

Timer doesn't have either of these restrictions. Now, I'm not denying the convenience and just plain awesomeness of using Siri to quickly set a timer, but for those times when Siri and the iPhone's built-in clock can't do what I need, Timer is the perfect substitute.

Just the other day, I was baking a banana creme pie from scratch. This recipe required about 3 different timers going at once and Timer was my hero. The huge buttons made it super easy to start the timer I needed while covered in various ingredients (knuckles work great on the iPhone's touch screen!). I also appreciated the count-up timers for those times when I had to perform a task for, say, 8-9 minutes.

Seriously, Timer is the ultimate app for setting timers. Super easy. Super fast. Super awesome.

$0.99 - Download Now

This week started off with me begging for a good, Men in Black-style, neuralyzation but ended up with a ton of great stuff. Any coincidence we're heading into the biggest Apple event of the year? Of course not. Let's check the hot sheets....

Dumb Apple stuff, redux

Let's start off with two of a hundred memories I don't want.

The first was an article listing 7 things Apple CEO Tim Cook might do at the D10 conference that no self respecting Apple journalist, much less one of the biggest tech sites on the internet, would ever legitimately imagine him doing. When even well-informed readers know there's no chance Tim Cook will whip out the next iPhone or iPad Mini or an Apple Television, and they know the writer/editor knows that, what's the point in doing it?

The second listed a series of supposedly recent moves by Apple that would cause their late co-founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, to "roll-over in his grave". Other factually challenged content not withstanding, the list contained numerous things widely known to have been started under jobs, if not driven by Jobs. Again, savvy readers know this, know the writer/editor knows it, so why is it happening?

Us.

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- it's our fault. We get what we read, what we link to, and what we share. If those are the quality pieces, the great research, and killer analysis, if that's what gets our attention and our traffic, that's what we'll get more of.

If it's dumb Apple stuff, all we'll get is more of it, and dumber.

EFF'd up

Speaking things that make me want to reach for the Noisy Cricket...

The EFF seems to have gone on a bender this week, no doubt guzzling whatever off-world ale got the formerly reputable Consumer Reports to mortgage their integrity for cheap Apple-fueled headline hits. They made a list of "rights" that Apple was violating by locking iOS into a crystal prison, and in so doing tried to infantilize supporters and disregard the personal responsibility so integral to consumers in a free market society.

Dear EFF -- If I buy an iPhone, I'm making a conscious decision. A choice. I'm giving up control to gain user experience. If I'm not prepared to do that, I can go download Android Open Source Project, and Radio Shack up my own phone. (I'm turning to ASOP and kit parts because no commercial phone, not even Android, is actually open to consumers.)

Here's the thing -- Apple is a three star Micheline restaurant with a diva chef right out of a kitchen nightmare. Apple is The French Laundry. Apple is Nobu, And you don't walk into a fancy fine dining restaurant, barge into the kitchen and tell the iron chef you're cooking your own dinner.

If you want that, you go to the supermarket. You buy your ingredients. You cook it your damn self. Because with control comes responsibility. You can't have your freedom cake and eat it to.

And the EFF, being filled with brilliant minds, knows this. And they know we know they know this. So why the game?

See above.

Podcasts

Tons more feedback and it seems we have 2 main camps emerging: Those who want deep geek dives into the news and issues surrounding iOS, the iPhone, and iPad; and those who want more mainstream headlines with a mix of apps and accessories. And very little, if any middle ground. This week we went super-deep, with David Barnard of App Cubby, and the first part of our WWDC 2012 and iOS 6 preview.

• iPhone & iPad Live 296: iOS 6 and Apple TV apps speculation

Not to be outdone, we rounded up Kevin from CrackBerry.com, Phil from Android Central, Derek from webOS Nation, Daniel from Windows Phone, and Gary from Mobile Nations for a cross-site, cross-platform round table.

• Mobile Nations 16: People who do things

Keep the feedback coming!

Features

We put a lot of work into our features this week, and hope you enjoyed them. If you missed any, here's the rundown. First, yours truly continued to look into Apple's options for iOS 6:

• iOS 6: Is it time for Apple to revamp the multitasking fast app switcher?: A look at the history of mobile multitasking and how Apple could implement better fast app switching in iOS 6
• iOS 6: Higher hanging fruit: Features and functionality from Android, BlackBerry, webOS, Windows Phone and more, still ripe for iOS 6 inspiration
• iOS 6: A fresh coat of paint: A brief look at the history of Apple's mobile UI, and what hints it may hold for iOS 6

And our regularly scheduled programming:

• How to fix the dock connector on an AT&T/GSM iPhone 4 by Ally Kazmucha. Another fantastic installment in our ultimate DIY maintenance and repair guide.
• How to take irresistible photos of your pets with your iPhone by Leanna Lofte. Why should portraits be limited to the human members of the family?
• Diet Coda vs. Gusto vs. Textastic: Code editor for iPad app shootout! by Ally Kazumchua. Which iOS FTP and website editor reins supreme?
• [Best cases for iPhone] by Georgia. Our favorite hard cases, soft cases, bumper cases, wallet cases, charging cases, eclectic cases, and more!
• Best jailbreak apps for iPhone by Ally Kazmucha. If you've just used Absinthe on your iPhone, this is where you'll want to go next.
• Best jailbreak apps for iPad by Ally Kazmucha. Same as above, but for iPad.

Recommended reading

• Research In Motion, rear view mirrors, beer goggles and a reality check by Chris Umiastowski. Whether past corporate behavior is a good indicator for future viability.
• No, iOS is not a prison by Chuq von Rospach. A former Palm webOS insider explains the realities of why open wins our hearts, but not our money in the consumer market.
• Mobile hardware and software are separable, no matter what manufacturers tell you by Vlad Savov. In the alternative, why decoupled models may lead to decoupled attitudes among consumers.
• Game In-App Purchases: A Conflict Between Developer Economics & Goodwill by Graham Spencer. An incredibly in depth look at the consequences of the fremium App Store model.
• Jayse Hansen on creating heroic user interfaces for The Avengers, touch by Matthew Panzarino. Pure geek awesomery.
• Aaron Sorkin's Steve Jobs Movie is Going to be a Disaster by Farhad Manjoo. The possible problems that might arise when you mistake an incredible scriptwriter for a historian.

Pushing the little red button

What's better than selling a reverberating carbonizer with mutate capacity to an unlicensed cephalopoid? WWDC 2012, of course, and it's just a week away. I'll be arriving in San Francisco around this time next Sunday, along with Leanna and Seth. And we're going to make iMore's coverage look GOOD.

So tell me -- what do you want to see?

The Adonit Writer Plus Bluetooth keyboard provides portable, protective productivity for your iPad

I first had the pleasure of trying out Adonit's Writer for iPad, then one of the newest, thinnest Bluetooth keyboards for iPad, at Macworld 2012. And it was impressive. There are several variations of these designs on the market, however, so light and thin as it is, is it still impressive enough?

In the Adonit Writer Plus box you'll find the keyboard and case themselves, as well as a welcome pamphlet, and the micro-USB cable for charging. You can charge via Windows or Mac PC, or with a power adapter (like the one that came with your iPhone or iPad).

The Adonit Writer Plus for iPad is more than just a Bluetooth keyboard. It includes a shell case to protect your iPad when it's closed and to prop it up at a convenient angle for typing when open. The case itself is composed of a strong plastic frame with a thin rubberized exterior and and a soft suede interior. That lets it keep out the scrapes and bumps of the cruel world while coddling your iPad and wrists at the same time.

The keyboard portion of the Adonit Writer Plus is aluminum front and back with black plastic trim and island-style keys. You can get that aluminum in silver, red, or blue, which is nice. It attaches to the sturdy case hinge but can also be separated with a pull. That gives it far greater flexibility and allows for more use cases than a permanently attached keyboard.

The keyboard portion of the Adonit Writer Plus can be detached and pulled away, allowing much more flexible setup options.

The front of the Adonit Writer Plus functions like an Apple Smart Cover, magnetically sleeping or waking your iPad when open or closed. However, because the keyboard gets sandwiched between the case cover and the iPad screen, it didn't prove as consistently reliable. Those same magnets are what allow you to position the Write Plus at a convenient typing angle -- once open, you simply slide the keyboard down towards the edge of the cover and the magnets keep it in place.

Because the case is part of the structure, you don't have to remove your iPad from it and slot it into place like you do with some other keyboards. That keeps it more tightly secure and makes it less likely to get bumped or jostled out of place. It does mean it takes a second longer or two, and a little more effort, to remove the iPad from the Writer Plus.

Pairing is a little more complicated with the Writer Plus as well. First, the power switch is on the bottom of the keyboard, so you have to open the case and flip the keyboard back over the iPad to find it. Then it's so deeply recessed as to be very difficult to actually switch. There's a pin hole so you can use a tool to help you, but it really should be much, much easier. Second, the Writer Plus requires a pin be typed into the keyboard for it to pair, which I like, but additional security always comes at the cost of convenience.

The same aluminum surface covers the Adonit Writer Plus as the 13-inch MacBook Air, although the keys don't enjoy as much space.

iPad sized, the Adonit Write Plus keyboard can't also be full sized. It's smaller than a MacBook Air and closer to a small netbook keyboard. It is done in the Apple chicklet style, however, the keys have a much easier feel to them (except for the space bar, which is stiffer.)

Unlike some other brands, the Adonit Writer Plus has a full set of function keys across the top -- F1 to F12 -- in addition to dedicated Home and Lock keys on either end. The function keys do primary duty as Spotlight Search, Photos, show/hide Keyboard, cut, copy, paste, skip back, play/pause, skip forward, mute, volume down, and volume up.

A full set of iPad-specific function keys are included on the Adonit Writer Plus keyboard.

There are also alt/option, ctrl, cmd, and arrow keys, and the iPad supports a lot of typical text editing commands and conventions, so keyboard shortcutters will feel right at home.

Adonit promises 2 weeks of battery life on a full charge, based on "normal use". They don't clarify what they consider "normal use", so it'll take us a while and a lot of tests to figure that out. However, it's lasted over a week on a couple of hours of use a day so far, and shows no signs of waning yet.

The hard plastic frame keeps your iPad angled in place as you type away.

The good

• Very thin and light
• Includes protective case
• Keyboard can detach from case allowing for more options
• Dedicated function key row

The bad

• Power switch is very difficult to switch

The conclusion

After having used the Adonit Writer Plus for a little over the week -- including to write this review -- I remain broadly happy with it. It's not the full sized typing experience of the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (paired with Origami), and it's not the incredibly sleek, if case-less package of the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover.

It's something decidedly in the middle -- much easier and better packaged case and keyboard combo that may not be the thinnest possible solution but is the thinner possible solution that includes the security a full case. There's no such things as the best of both worlds, but the Adonit Writer Plus keyboard is the best balance of the two, and that's going to appeal to a lot of users.

$99.99 - Buy now

Little Generals by Smarter Apps trundled its way into the App Store this week, putting you in command of a cartoony military empire.

Little Generals is, at its core, Worms meets Risk. You and an AI opponent take turns battling for territory. Each side gets a tank, and jump back and forth taking potshots at one another on a randomized map with destructible terrain. You edit the trajectory and strength of your shot by dragging the guide around the screen, and let loose with one of many different weapons, such as napalm rounds and drilling explosives. The destructable terrain is pretty neat, but sometimes creates this weird cheese-peeling effect where a single, clean line will cut through the ground and have a cliff wobbly precipitously outwards after an explosion. Levels are also populated with various power-ups and obstacles for generals to interact with, like blimps overhead carrying mines and mailbox on the ground.  Some territories have factories which produce weapons and power-ups, but you have to log in to the game and manually collect them to enjoy the benefits. If you lose a battle, the AI has a chance to attack one of your territories and potentially take it away from you.

One of the best things about Little Generals is that it's free. You earn Warbux for winning battles, and gathering it from your capital by checking in on it at regular intervals, but you can also buy more Warbux with in-app purchases. Warbux are spent on fresh ammunition and new tanks. There's extensive avatar customization, and I can only assume that there will be a lot of stuff there in the future that will be unlocked with Warbux. The goofy style extends beyond the smack-talking avatars. The randomized global maps have great names for individual territories you invade, like West Mungvania, Duchy of East Zitbrook, and United North Frazzleistan.

There's no multiplayer yet (even with AI) unfortunately, and I would love to be able to use more than one tank in each battle like Worms (which is on sale this weekend, by the way). Game Center integration tracks your win count and achievements. The graphics are optimized for the new iPad's Retina display, not that the cartoony visuals need to be bleeding sharp.

If you're looking for a lighthearted wargame, be sure to commandeer Little Generals this weekend.

Free - Download Now