App reviews: Does Not Commute, Punkpost

Does Not Commute

Do you hate your commute? Consider letting out some of that road rage by playing Does Not Commute, a game that asks you to shepherd several cars on their way through their chaotic daily commutes, one by one. Be careful how you plot each driver, however, as you'll continue to cross paths with all the cars you've set in motion. If you send one sedan down the road the wrong way, you might find yourself facing down its headlights later.

Players should keep a light hand on the steering, as it's easy to make those tiny vehicles careen out of control. But they can handle themselves in a crash, and the app may be a good outlet for those who wish, sometimes, that they could just drive down the shoulder. There is also a paid version, for $2.99, that gets you access to other checkpoints - just in case you haven't found the base game cathartic enough.

Free, for iOS and Android.

Punkpost

Punkpost is one of many apps that promise to make it easy to send thoughtful, custom messages and cards through the mail. But it comes with a twist: Rather than having cold, typewritten text, Punkpost will write your message in very attractive handwriting. Think of it as Cyrano de Bergerac for snail mail. You get to write the words, and they are presented in a far prettier form for your recipient. The first card is free, and each costs $6 after that.

You can pick from several categories of cards including for Mother's Day, thank-you notes and birthdays (both timely and belated). Of course, some people may prefer your own chicken scratch to the beautiful handwriting of the person you've hired to transcribe your messages. But it will at least be your words that reach them - and you'll get the credit for them, too.

Free, for iOS and Android.