definitely worth it – SmartGo Kifu Review

I don't remember when I wrote the below review, but it's been awhile. This app has only gotten better. My one concern before was that a database is of somewhat limited value without pattern searching. Either I just plain missed it or it was in one of the updates, but the app definitely has pattern searching now. Combined with the fact that the game library gets updated this app is extremely valuable to me. I remain very glad I purchased it. Previous review below. ------------------ I debated buying this app due to it's cost. $20 is definitely a lot to spend. The main thing I would say in it's favor is this, realize that buying printed go problems in books costs more. I spent $25 for a book with 1001 go problems. This app has double that many, and costs less. Beyond that, realize that you are also getting a very large library of pro go games + a good collection of commented pro games + a program that will play with you + you can use this last program to enter your own games. Further, I feel that the actual implementation of these features is great. I haven't had any problems or encountered bugs. I find the ability to play the moves in a diagram out is really cool. I feel the engine strength is good and it saves the games you play with it. Having said that I think it's easily worth the cost, there is one major improvement I would like to see. It seems to me that one of the main reasons to have a large collection of game records isn't so much the idea that I will actually read tens of thousands of pro game records, rather it's the ability to do pattern searching. This seems to me like kind of a hole in the program that I would like to see filled.
Review by jabotscrob on SmartGo Kifu.