When someone tells me about a "platformer", my first thought is that it's probably a simple game that mainly revolves around running and jumping around, with a minimal plot. [Play a Zelda game! -Ed]
Elephant Quest is one platformer that managed to prove me completely wrong. Yes, you do run and jump around, and you also shoot at stuff. But the game has much, much more going for it.
Basically, as you run, jump and shoot, you gain experience points and level up. Hitting Space brings you into an interface where you can convert your experience points into Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Dexterity points. Once you've "specialized" your points, you then get to pick what exact skills you'd like to enhance in each field. For example, you could use your dexterity to enhance your weapons or increase your swiftness.
The game is played in a huge maze; you go through rooms using doors, and there's a large map. As the name implies, there are quests you can take, too. For example, one quest had me searching all over the place for ten balloons.
The bottom line is that this is a surprisingly deep game that just might ensnare you for a good bit longer than you intended to play. Beware!Elephant Quest is an addictive, deep platformer originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication
Mozilla Messaging, citing Mozilla's increased focus on Web-borne communications, will be reintegrating with Mozilla Labs.
The Messaging subsidiary was formed in 2008 to focus on Thunderbird, but given Mozilla Labs' current focus on identity and contact management, it now makes sense for the groups to be merged. Thunderbird will be unaffected by the change -- some URLs might change, but that's it -- and presumably Messaging's F1 and Raindrop will thrive in the Labs playground.
What this means for the end user -- for the hundreds of millions of Firefox users -- is that the next big additions will be communication- and messaging-oriented. Contacts and F1 will be almost certainly be baked into Firefox 5 or 6, both of which will be released this year -- and, who knows, there might be something else even more exciting up Mozilla Labs' sleeve!Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The Messaging subsidiary was formed in 2008 to focus on Thunderbird, but given Mozilla Labs' current focus on identity and contact management, it now makes sense for the groups to be merged. Thunderbird will be unaffected by the change -- some URLs might change, but that's it -- and presumably Messaging's F1 and Raindrop will thrive in the Labs playground.
What this means for the end user -- for the hundreds of millions of Firefox users -- is that the next big additions will be communication- and messaging-oriented. Contacts and F1 will be almost certainly be baked into Firefox 5 or 6, both of which will be released this year -- and, who knows, there might be something else even more exciting up Mozilla Labs' sleeve!Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Flickr adds to sharing options, now easier to share photos across the Web
It sure is nice to see some new developer action over at Flickr. The relatively slow-moving photo-sharing service has just announced a new sharing update, which consists of several new and easy ways to embed or link to your photos:
Share from Photo page: There's a new sharing option on each and every photo page. When logged off, the button shows only Facebook and Twitter options. But once you log on, you get Tumblr and Blogger too, and can configure other sharing venues as well.
Share non-public content on Facebook: This doesn't sound like a great idea, but you now can share private photos on Facebook if you're so inclined (and if you trust your privacy settings).
That's the gist of the update; it makes it easier to show off your pretty pictures in a plethora of places.Flickr adds to sharing options, now easier to share photos across the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Share from Photo page: There's a new sharing option on each and every photo page. When logged off, the button shows only Facebook and Twitter options. But once you log on, you get Tumblr and Blogger too, and can configure other sharing venues as well.
Share non-public content on Facebook: This doesn't sound like a great idea, but you now can share private photos on Facebook if you're so inclined (and if you trust your privacy settings).
That's the gist of the update; it makes it easier to show off your pretty pictures in a plethora of places.Flickr adds to sharing options, now easier to share photos across the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Daily Crunch: VR Drone Edition
Giant VR Helmet Is Very 90s, Yet Way Cooler Europe Launching Gigapixel Probe To Map Milky Way Effectology: Paranormal Spooooky Sounds Do A Barrel Roll: AR.Drone Challenges You To Become A Great Drone Pilot Kid-Tested, Grant Imahara Approved: Hexbrite Open Source Flashlight
Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5
As far as Tetris goes, most variations look quite similar. You're usually looking at a "wall" of bricks directly from the front. Torus takes that notion and throws it away; as you might have guessed from the name (or screenshot), this Tetris clone is played on a ring-like 3D surface.
You rotate the ring itself with the arrow keys, while a Tetris-like piece slowly (excruciatingly slowly, in fact) descends from the top. As soon as you make a solid line, it disappears.
Not all pieces are Tetris-like; some of them wouldn't really work with a regular Tetris game but are a good fit for Torus' 3D format.
Torus is ideal for playing at the office, because it has absolutely no soundtrack. The game is dead-quiet. It's also very very slow (slow enough for me to mention it twice in one post) so you can safely look away for a moment and then keep playing. Also, as soon as the game loses focus, it automatically pauses.
Bottom line: It's an impressive demo of the power of HTML5; if it were a bit faster, it would have some serious addictive potential.Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
You rotate the ring itself with the arrow keys, while a Tetris-like piece slowly (excruciatingly slowly, in fact) descends from the top. As soon as you make a solid line, it disappears.
Not all pieces are Tetris-like; some of them wouldn't really work with a regular Tetris game but are a good fit for Torus' 3D format.
Torus is ideal for playing at the office, because it has absolutely no soundtrack. The game is dead-quiet. It's also very very slow (slow enough for me to mention it twice in one post) so you can safely look away for a moment and then keep playing. Also, as soon as the game loses focus, it automatically pauses.
Bottom line: It's an impressive demo of the power of HTML5; if it were a bit faster, it would have some serious addictive potential.Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
HTC Jetstream receives custom CWM based recovery and permaroot
While development for the HTC Jetstream has been pretty slim since its release that's not to say the device has been abandoned totally by developers and now, some new doors have been opened. DooMLoRD has created a custom CWM based recovery and permaroot for the HTC Jetstream and made it available for download. The recovery is still in testing so feedback is needed. Plus, like all things of this nature -- caution is advised should you put it to use but if you're fine with that then you can head on over to XDA, grab the download and check out the full list of changes and features built in. Source: XDA
Poll: Are you going to pay Verizon?s new $2 convenience tax?
If you listened to Girls Gone Gadgets last night, you heard Ashley, Kim, and me debate Verizon’s new $2 convenience tax — where and when it’s actually applied and...
N-Control dismisses marketing consultant, discounts PS3 Avenger pre-orders
Keeping up with your gamer gossip? Then you're probably up to snuff on the recent Ocean Marketing / Penny-Arcade spat. We held our tongues as the drama unfolded -- no easy task, considering Engadget's name was dragged into the affair -- but now it seems like the internet soap-opera is reaching its conclusion.
Not the gossiping type? Here's a quick recap: When N-Control's latest Avenger add-on missed its November 8th street date, customers with pre-orders were left wanting. Some reached out for answers, hoping they could still get their PS3 Avenger before Christmas. All they got in reply, though, were some *ahem* choice words from N-Control's third party marketing contractor, Paul Christoforo -- a man who gained instant notoriety when his emails caught the attention of Penny-Arcade's Mike Krahulik. Krahulik took exception to Christoforo's insults, threatening tone and name-drop posturing (that's where we came in) and responded by publishing the marketing mishap on his comic's website.
Suffice to say, it hasn't ended well for Paul Christoforo -- N-Control has released a statement saying that he and his marketing operation have been "categorically dismissed," stressing that Christoforo owns no stake whatsoever in N-Control. After ejecting the elephant from the room, N-Control went on to announce that all PS3 Avenger pre-orders would be given a $10 discount, and penned in a new ship date for January 15th. "I created the Avenger to make people happy," said inventor and company founder Dave Kotkin, who originally designed the controller for a student who had a physical disability, "I deeply regret that so many people have any negative feelings toward it as a result of what has happened." N-Control seems bent on moving on -- which is fine by us, so long as they keep their customers better informed. After all, it's not every day that such an awkward-looking gadget blows us out of the water. Read on for N-Control's full and apologetic press release.
Update: To clarify, Engadget's relationship with Mr. Christoforo was limited to a few emails and PR requests regarding his clients. Continue reading N-Control dismisses marketing consultant, discounts PS3 Avenger pre-ordersN-Control dismisses marketing consultant, discounts PS3 Avenger pre-orders originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Not the gossiping type? Here's a quick recap: When N-Control's latest Avenger add-on missed its November 8th street date, customers with pre-orders were left wanting. Some reached out for answers, hoping they could still get their PS3 Avenger before Christmas. All they got in reply, though, were some *ahem* choice words from N-Control's third party marketing contractor, Paul Christoforo -- a man who gained instant notoriety when his emails caught the attention of Penny-Arcade's Mike Krahulik. Krahulik took exception to Christoforo's insults, threatening tone and name-drop posturing (that's where we came in) and responded by publishing the marketing mishap on his comic's website.
Suffice to say, it hasn't ended well for Paul Christoforo -- N-Control has released a statement saying that he and his marketing operation have been "categorically dismissed," stressing that Christoforo owns no stake whatsoever in N-Control. After ejecting the elephant from the room, N-Control went on to announce that all PS3 Avenger pre-orders would be given a $10 discount, and penned in a new ship date for January 15th. "I created the Avenger to make people happy," said inventor and company founder Dave Kotkin, who originally designed the controller for a student who had a physical disability, "I deeply regret that so many people have any negative feelings toward it as a result of what has happened." N-Control seems bent on moving on -- which is fine by us, so long as they keep their customers better informed. After all, it's not every day that such an awkward-looking gadget blows us out of the water. Read on for N-Control's full and apologetic press release.
Update: To clarify, Engadget's relationship with Mr. Christoforo was limited to a few emails and PR requests regarding his clients. Continue reading N-Control dismisses marketing consultant, discounts PS3 Avenger pre-ordersN-Control dismisses marketing consultant, discounts PS3 Avenger pre-orders originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Anonymous Implicated in 'Robin Hood' Hack on Christmas Day
Hackers claiming to belong to the Anonymous hacking community broke into the servers of private think tank Stratfor over the holiday weekend. They stole thousands of credit card numbers and other personal information, and also claim to have stolen the company's list of confidential clients. This includes organizations such as the United States Air Force and the Miami Police Department.
Apple SVP of Design Jonathan Ive gets official knighthood
Apple Senior Vice President of Design, Jonathan Ive has been made a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE), in recognition of his work at Apple and contributions to...
Daily Crunch: Scope Edition
Nikon Displays Mysterious Prototypes At French Exhibition Sweet-Looking Bike Tool Roll Made From My Favorite Material, Waxed Canvas Dodocase Puts Out Some J. Crew Exclusive iPad 2 Cases SocialBicycles Bike Sharing Is Now A Kickstarter Project Thanko Starts Selling The USB Butt Cooler Cushion (Ver. 2)
Friday, December 30, 2011
Help Bob make money in Sticks, a fun physics game
Sticks is another one of those rare games where the intro is actually worth watching. It introduces you to office worker Bob, who is basically a wage slave fantasizing about a better existence.
Then, on his way back home from another grueling day at the office, he passes a huge sign which says "Sticks." This is where the game starts.
Each level has a number of coins hovering in mid-air, and your goal is to place sticks that lead those coins to Bob -- but you only have a limited amount of wood to play with. As soon as you're done placing your sticks strategically, hit the big Play button and let nature, or rather gravity, run its course. The coins will drop down, and if you place your sticks correctly, they will roll all the way to Bob.
The soundtrack is soothing and playful, and didn't get on my nerves even after playing for quite a while. All in all, a very cute game, especially for a day at the office.Help Bob make money in Sticks, a fun physics game originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Then, on his way back home from another grueling day at the office, he passes a huge sign which says "Sticks." This is where the game starts.
Each level has a number of coins hovering in mid-air, and your goal is to place sticks that lead those coins to Bob -- but you only have a limited amount of wood to play with. As soon as you're done placing your sticks strategically, hit the big Play button and let nature, or rather gravity, run its course. The coins will drop down, and if you place your sticks correctly, they will roll all the way to Bob.
The soundtrack is soothing and playful, and didn't get on my nerves even after playing for quite a while. All in all, a very cute game, especially for a day at the office.Help Bob make money in Sticks, a fun physics game originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Chamber Raid: Hackers Target US Commerce Lobby
As the U.S. government continues to pound out proposals for getting its IT security ducks in a row, it appears it's not the only party in Washington, D.C., to have a problem with network intrusion. IT systems belonging to the lobbying group the United States Chamber of Commerce were breached by hackers using servers located in China, according to a recent report.
A Web Of Apps
It is remarkable to think that we're in the early days of the app era, when there are already close to 600,000 iOS applications and nearly 400,000 on Android. The growth of these app ecosystems has been rapid, exponential and shows no signs of slowing down. As well it shouldn't: the untapped, addressable market for mobile apps involves hundreds of millions of users.
And yet, app discovery remains a challenge. Whether in an app store, on the device itself,�or via a third-party service. Whoever cracks the nut of app discovery will have the potential to be the next Google: the search engine of the modern age. The search engine for a web of apps.
And yet, app discovery remains a challenge. Whether in an app store, on the device itself,�or via a third-party service. Whoever cracks the nut of app discovery will have the potential to be the next Google: the search engine of the modern age. The search engine for a web of apps.
2011: The Year In Tech
Okay, last workday of the year. It's nostalgia time. Let's take a quick glance in the rearview mirror at the year in Tech, before we speed forward again in 2012. There were defining moments, epic battles, new product introductions, and major corporate screw-ups. Mobile and social drove many of the changes in tech, and we've certainly gone through our own major transition here at TechCrunch (but I'll save that for another post).�Below is our list of 11 events in tech that made 2011 memorable.
Please Make Games That Work With This Incredible iOS Controller [Video]
From the almost-too-good-to-be-true department comes this iOS gamepad that connects through the headphone jack for minimal battery drain. The catch? Games have to be specifically written to use the controller. And, uh, they haven't been yet. More »
Leather Six-Pack Holder For Artisanal Frat Parties
This weekend, we’ll all be heading out to parties, getting drunk and spending Sunday afternoon nursing our inevitable hangovers with bacon sandwiches and energy drinks. But why turn up at your friend’s house with your booze in cheap and ugly carrier bag when you can carry your six-pack in style?
This is the Leather 6-Pack Carton, [...]
This is the Leather 6-Pack Carton, [...]
Pastebin updated to V3, releases Windows app
Pastebin is a very popular website aimed at coders and other nerdy types, which allows them (or should I say, us) to paste and share snippets of code with lovely syntax highlighting.
It has recently undergone a major overhaul which includes the release of a brand new Windows client. The new client lets you create new "pastes" and manage your existing ones. It joins a host of other tools from Pastebin, such as the Google and Chrome extensions, OS X widget and the mobile apps.
If you're currently using Pastebin, the new client is a great addition. And if you haven't tried it before, next time you have a piece of code you want to share or get some feedback on, you could do worse than try out Pastebin.
[Thanks, Jeroen!]Pastebin updated to V3, releases Windows app originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
It has recently undergone a major overhaul which includes the release of a brand new Windows client. The new client lets you create new "pastes" and manage your existing ones. It joins a host of other tools from Pastebin, such as the Google and Chrome extensions, OS X widget and the mobile apps.
If you're currently using Pastebin, the new client is a great addition. And if you haven't tried it before, next time you have a piece of code you want to share or get some feedback on, you could do worse than try out Pastebin.
[Thanks, Jeroen!]Pastebin updated to V3, releases Windows app originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Gladinet maps Amazon Cloud Drive to your Windows desktop
Amazon's recently-introduced Cloud Drive is a great place to store your files online. It offers 5 gigs of totally free space, and U.S. users also get access to the handy Cloud Player app (for Web and Android!) which streams music you upload to your Cloud Drive.
The service could be a little easier to use, however. Until Amazon releases a desktop client, Windows users might want to take another look at Gladinet. The multi-service cloud connector has now added Amazon Cloud Drive support and will let you map a network drive letter to your account with minimal fuss.
Once you've added your credentials to Gladinet, just pick the letter you want to assign to the drive and you're good to go. You can then copy files to and from your Cloud Drive, rename items, and manage folders like you would any local hard drive in your system.
The only downside is that the free version of Gladinet gives you a limited number of cloud interactions. Once you use those up, you'll need to upgrade to the paid version, which costs $49.99. If you work with a number of cloud-based storage providers, however, it could be well worth the price tag.Gladinet maps Amazon Cloud Drive to your Windows desktop originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The service could be a little easier to use, however. Until Amazon releases a desktop client, Windows users might want to take another look at Gladinet. The multi-service cloud connector has now added Amazon Cloud Drive support and will let you map a network drive letter to your account with minimal fuss.
Once you've added your credentials to Gladinet, just pick the letter you want to assign to the drive and you're good to go. You can then copy files to and from your Cloud Drive, rename items, and manage folders like you would any local hard drive in your system.
The only downside is that the free version of Gladinet gives you a limited number of cloud interactions. Once you use those up, you'll need to upgrade to the paid version, which costs $49.99. If you work with a number of cloud-based storage providers, however, it could be well worth the price tag.Gladinet maps Amazon Cloud Drive to your Windows desktop originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Here's Amazon's Final Damage Report for the 2011 Holiday Season [Amazon]
Chances are the holidays have driven you mostly insane by now, so Amazon's gone ahead and packaged its Christmas shopping postmortem (it sold lots of Kindles!) with some goofy facts that will appeal to the infantile mush that used to be your brain. Here are some of the more charming/pertinent bits: More »
Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple
In news that will no doubt shake the very bedrock of your belief system, Apple has asked Toyota to remove its Scion theme and its advertising from ModMyi, a Cydia repository. The Scion theme has been available for weeks, but after it received a ton of press in the last couple of days, Apple finally lashed out.
It's not like we should be surprised, considering Apple has claimed in the past that jailbreaking is illegal -- but at the same time, did the Cupertino cronies hear about the ruling that made circumventing DRM, and thus jailbreaking, legal? Anyway, whether Toyota was supporting illegal, legal, or deliciously gray and ambiguous, activity, it doesn't matter: Apple asked Toyota to remove the theme, and Toyota graciously bent over and capitulated.
This story raises a much more interesting topic, though: this is the first time a multinational company has publicly acknowledged and embraced the jailbreak community. Considering jailbreaking is technically legal, and Cydia's creator, Jay Freeman, estimates that up to 9% of OS devices are jailbroken, it simply makes good, commercial sense to target jailbreakers with ads. Toyota was simply trying to make some money, for shame!
As long as Apple continues to throw around its increasingly-expansive mass, the legality of jailbreaking will continue to be inconsequential. It will be interesting to see if another big company dares embrace the jailbreak community after this, too.Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
It's not like we should be surprised, considering Apple has claimed in the past that jailbreaking is illegal -- but at the same time, did the Cupertino cronies hear about the ruling that made circumventing DRM, and thus jailbreaking, legal? Anyway, whether Toyota was supporting illegal, legal, or deliciously gray and ambiguous, activity, it doesn't matter: Apple asked Toyota to remove the theme, and Toyota graciously bent over and capitulated.
This story raises a much more interesting topic, though: this is the first time a multinational company has publicly acknowledged and embraced the jailbreak community. Considering jailbreaking is technically legal, and Cydia's creator, Jay Freeman, estimates that up to 9% of OS devices are jailbroken, it simply makes good, commercial sense to target jailbreakers with ads. Toyota was simply trying to make some money, for shame!
As long as Apple continues to throw around its increasingly-expansive mass, the legality of jailbreaking will continue to be inconsequential. It will be interesting to see if another big company dares embrace the jailbreak community after this, too.Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The Most Pirated Movie of 2011 Really Sucks [Piracy]
The list of the most pirated movies on BitTorrent reveals that as as society, we've got incredibly bad taste. Fast Five is the winner. It was downloaded more than 9 million times this year. The list gets worse. More »
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Microsoft releases sexy Bing app for iPad
It's still a bit odd seeing Microsoft deliver apps for Apple's mobile platform. And it's even stranger still to see one as sexy as the new Bing app for iPad, which brings a slick, immersive search experience to Apple's tablet.
Just as a regular search on bing.com will, the Bing app for iPad tailors the results it displays based on what you're searching for. There are loads of custom views, covering everything from movies and maps to weather and shopping. The app also offers a heads-up display of currently trending searches, complete with related images, which is an iPad-exclusive feature.
Navigation is a breeze thanks to multitouch controls, allowing users to flick or swipe through results. And while the development team refers to the app as "touch and decide," Bing Voice Search is also built in -- making it easy to start a query without using the iPad's on-screen keyboard.
The Bing app for iPad is available for download now from the App Store.Microsoft releases sexy Bing app for iPad originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Just as a regular search on bing.com will, the Bing app for iPad tailors the results it displays based on what you're searching for. There are loads of custom views, covering everything from movies and maps to weather and shopping. The app also offers a heads-up display of currently trending searches, complete with related images, which is an iPad-exclusive feature.
Navigation is a breeze thanks to multitouch controls, allowing users to flick or swipe through results. And while the development team refers to the app as "touch and decide," Bing Voice Search is also built in -- making it easy to start a query without using the iPad's on-screen keyboard.
The Bing app for iPad is available for download now from the App Store.Microsoft releases sexy Bing app for iPad originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Scrolling LED Belt Buckle
If you just can’t find the right belt buckle, you should try the Scrolling LED Belt Buckle from Gadgets and Gear.� You’ll be able to type in six of your own messages; the first can have 512 characters, but the other five are limited to 256 characters each.� The buckles are available with either red [...]
Tasty Planet is a fun flash game where you eat everything in sight
So this professor comes up with a new toilet cleaner that works by "eating" the dirt; or so he thinks. That's how the plot starts for Tasty Planet. You play the role of the toilet cleaner, but you're not really a toilet cleaner after all -- you're a blob of gray goo that can eat anything that's smaller than yourself.
As you chomp away, you grow -- and as you grow, you can eat bigger and bigger stuff. The first level pits you against microscopic particles; by the time I stopped playing, I got all the way to eating cats and dogs. I know that sounds disturbing, but it's a really cute game, and there's no gore or anything like that.
Supposedly you keep growing and growing until you're able to eat whole planets (hence the name). The challenge factor comes when you realize you can't touch any critter larger than yourself - you'll get "bitten" and become smaller. In the beginning you're so small, that a single touch can kill you. Later on, you're big enough that touching larger animals doesn't kill you on the spot, but it does reduce your size. Each level is timed, so if you're not large enough by the time your clock runs out, you need to start again. As long as you don't touch the larger animals, you should be fine.
All in all, a fun, addictive little game. It's available for iOS, too.Tasty Planet is a fun flash game where you eat everything in sight originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
As you chomp away, you grow -- and as you grow, you can eat bigger and bigger stuff. The first level pits you against microscopic particles; by the time I stopped playing, I got all the way to eating cats and dogs. I know that sounds disturbing, but it's a really cute game, and there's no gore or anything like that.
Supposedly you keep growing and growing until you're able to eat whole planets (hence the name). The challenge factor comes when you realize you can't touch any critter larger than yourself - you'll get "bitten" and become smaller. In the beginning you're so small, that a single touch can kill you. Later on, you're big enough that touching larger animals doesn't kill you on the spot, but it does reduce your size. Each level is timed, so if you're not large enough by the time your clock runs out, you need to start again. As long as you don't touch the larger animals, you should be fine.
All in all, a fun, addictive little game. It's available for iOS, too.Tasty Planet is a fun flash game where you eat everything in sight originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Tablets Streamline Medical Practice
Tablets Streamline Medical Practice The use of tablet computers in medicine is increasing rapidly with millions of doctors, hospitals and clinics worldwide turning to technology to meet their needs. Medical informatics is the new trend in information-sharing, with instant access to data making medicine more efficient. Interacting With Patients Clinicians use tablets when performing consultations with patients in a variety of ways. Tablets allow doctors to communicate treatment recommendations, sketch blueprints of intended surgical procedures and explain complex diagnoses. Most [...]
Gameloft fends off winter blues with dollar sale on Android Market
The French game publisher already sprinkled 99¢ allspice on its iOS and Amazon Appstore titles, plus a two-for-one deal on the Xperia Play, but soon it'll bring that volume-not-margin recipe to the Android Market too. Almost all of its paid titles will reportedly go for less than a dollar between December 26th and January 5th, so if you're about to click 'Buy' on a premium purchase like Asphalt 6: Adrenalin, 9mm or The Adventures of Tintin, then it might be worth relaxing your trigger finger. The notable exception is Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation, which will apparently only be discounted for a single day sometime around New Year's Weekend -- though hopefully not while you're still preoccupied with running around in yesterday's clothes and hugging random strangers.Gameloft fends off winter blues with dollar sale on Android Market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SlashGear | Gameloft (Twitter), DroidGamers | Email this | Comments
Skype 5.3 for Windows released, improves mobile video call quality
Version 5.3 of Skype for Windows has just been released, with the main emphasis of the new release being improved call quality, and the quality of video received by mobile Skype users. Presumably one party of the video call must be using Skype for Windows 5.3, though.
Beyond improved call quality, not much has changed. You can now see your friends' presence icons when contact cards are collapsed, and the topic editing button is now always visible on the conversation header. For a complete list of changes, hit up the Skype Garage blog.
Download Skype 5.3 for Windows
Skype 5.3 for Windows released, improves mobile video call quality originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Beyond improved call quality, not much has changed. You can now see your friends' presence icons when contact cards are collapsed, and the topic editing button is now always visible on the conversation header. For a complete list of changes, hit up the Skype Garage blog.
Download Skype 5.3 for Windows
Skype 5.3 for Windows released, improves mobile video call quality originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
DSLR Remote HD Review
Everybody is excited by OnOne?s DSLR Remote HD launch as an iPad App. What was previously available only for the Iphone and Ipod Touch is now with the iPad as well. The most obvious advantage for this app is that with the iPad?s generous screen area, the program is no longer just a fancy remote controller but also something that can really be useful for certain applications. But what exactly is the DSLR Remote HD and how does it stack [...]
Top 5 things TiPb wants from jailbreak in 2012
While jailbreaking already provides tons of functionality, there’s still room for improvement and expansion in 2012. Last year I did a list of jailbreak concepts Apple should...
Foam Wrist Rest for Tablets. Wait. What?
You know what your tablet needs? A wrist-rest. That’s where the TAB Rest comes in. Because your iPad weighs so damn much, and you have trouble holding it for any more than five minutes before your weak, t-rex-like arms start to sag, the TAB Rest exists to let you place the iPad on your lap [...]
HTC updates bootloader unlock utility to support latest Android lineup
It wasn't long ago that HTC's bootloader unlock utility hit the masses, thereby righting the company's silly decision to lock its phones down in the first place. Now, continuing its commitment to mod-lovers and those who appreciate freedom, The House of Chou is announcing that its latest lineup of Android phones can find a similar (and proper) fate. The company has released an updated bootloader unlock tool that supports all Android devices released after September of this year. Naturally, this includes such handsets as the HTC EVO Design 4G, Rezound, Rhyme and Vivid. The company has yet to release an updated list of supported devices, but promises to do so in the coming days. While we're still not crazy about users losing their rights to a warranty, for the moment, that seems to be the price of freedom.HTC updates bootloader unlock utility to support latest Android lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Android Central | HTC | Email this | Comments
MIT scholar builds a self-balancing unicycle to roll fast and furious around campus (video)
Sure, we've shown you the goofy SBU v2.0 unicycle, but what's better than a glorious DIY project? MIT student Stephan Boyer has built his own electrical uni-ride, which he's dubbing the "Bullet." The single-wheel transporter packs a custom MIG-welded steel body, two 7Ah 12-volt batteries, an ATmega328 chip and a 450-watt electric motor. While the Bullet isn't the speediest of solowheel demons (15mph max), it's on par with its $25,000 Ryno Motors counterpart. As far as power efficiency, the Bullet can go up to five miles on a single charge -- more than enough juice to hit a few classroom round-trips. There's some "Learning to Ride" tips from the creator himself at the source link, but in the meantime you can watch this unified purple rider in action after the break.Continue reading MIT scholar builds a self-balancing unicycle to roll fast and furious around campus (video)MIT scholar builds a self-balancing unicycle to roll fast and furious around campus (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink DVICE | Stephan Boyer | Email this | Comments
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
IRL: Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD, Tonium Pacemaker and the Samsung Galaxy Note
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
For those of you who think all we do in IRL is wax nostalgic about gadgets we've owned for years, you'd be... mostly right. Indeed, this week we've got Mr. Ben Drawbaugh talking up the HDTV he owns (as opposed to the one he wants), and James is here to break down the limitations of his discontinued Tonium Pacemaker. We've got one happy new gadget owner, though, and that would be Zach Honig, who recently traded his iPhone 4 for a Samsung Galaxy Note. So how's that S-Pen working out for him? Head past the break to find out.Continue reading IRL: Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD, Tonium Pacemaker and the Samsung Galaxy NoteIRL: Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD, Tonium Pacemaker and the Samsung Galaxy Note originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
For those of you who think all we do in IRL is wax nostalgic about gadgets we've owned for years, you'd be... mostly right. Indeed, this week we've got Mr. Ben Drawbaugh talking up the HDTV he owns (as opposed to the one he wants), and James is here to break down the limitations of his discontinued Tonium Pacemaker. We've got one happy new gadget owner, though, and that would be Zach Honig, who recently traded his iPhone 4 for a Samsung Galaxy Note. So how's that S-Pen working out for him? Head past the break to find out.Continue reading IRL: Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD, Tonium Pacemaker and the Samsung Galaxy NoteIRL: Pioneer Kuro PDP-6010FD, Tonium Pacemaker and the Samsung Galaxy Note originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
The Eye of Satan Is Watching You From Space [Astronomy]
Repent, sinners! SATAN EXISTS! And his evil eye is looking at you from space! I mean, if there is an Eye of God* in space, there has to be an Eye of Satan in a permanent staring contest, right? More »
The Greatest Electric Razor for Your Beautiful Face [Shaving]
At a time when robots vacuum our floors and make love to our wives, isn't it a bit backwards to drag razor blades across your face, aided by foamy lubricant and water? Electric razors are great—here's the best. More »
Dodge is a space-shooter in which you have no weapons
Space-shooters are usually a fairly fiery affair, with many types of guns, weapon upgrades, power-ups and more. Dodge does away with all of that, while keeping the very essence of a space shooter: Dark background, fast action, and stuff blowing up all over the place.
Your vector-looking spacecraft is the fastest thing on the screen, most of the time. And as the header implies, you have absolutely no weapons; you can't get any, either. All you have is agility and maneuverability.
Your opponents shoot heat-seeking missiles at you; the missiles lock on and start tracking you. The trick is to dodge the missiles while putting them in the path of one of your enemies, thus letting them have a taste of their own medicine.
There are three types of enemies, at least in the first few levels: "simple" spaceships which fire slow projectiles, "tanks" which seem to be more serious and take more hits to destroy, and "circles." The circles simply explode, spewing twenty or thirty very fast projectiles. This sounds dangerous, but is actually great once you learn to use them; they are very destructive for tanks, and can even blow up other circles.
The soundtrack is very techno, but it meshes very well with this type of game. Intense fun!Dodge is a space-shooter in which you have no weapons originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Your vector-looking spacecraft is the fastest thing on the screen, most of the time. And as the header implies, you have absolutely no weapons; you can't get any, either. All you have is agility and maneuverability.
Your opponents shoot heat-seeking missiles at you; the missiles lock on and start tracking you. The trick is to dodge the missiles while putting them in the path of one of your enemies, thus letting them have a taste of their own medicine.
There are three types of enemies, at least in the first few levels: "simple" spaceships which fire slow projectiles, "tanks" which seem to be more serious and take more hits to destroy, and "circles." The circles simply explode, spewing twenty or thirty very fast projectiles. This sounds dangerous, but is actually great once you learn to use them; they are very destructive for tanks, and can even blow up other circles.
The soundtrack is very techno, but it meshes very well with this type of game. Intense fun!Dodge is a space-shooter in which you have no weapons originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Timelines coming to Facebook for iPad in late January
9to5 Mac has word that Facebook for iPad will be getting the new Timeline feature in late January. Timeline was supposed to come to the iPad in December, but the release has been pushed back due to last minute bugs found during advanced testing. Facebook is now planning...
Argentina blocking iPhone sales in order to boost its ailing economy
Argentina has blocked the sale of iPhone and BlackBerry devices in a move that is intended to boost its ailing economy. The ban is part of a selective consumer electronics ban aimed at slowing inflation and balancing its own pesos currency against the U.S. dollar. The new ban...
Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5
As far as Tetris goes, most variations look quite similar. You're usually looking at a "wall" of bricks directly from the front. Torus takes that notion and throws it away; as you might have guessed from the name (or screenshot), this Tetris clone is played on a ring-like 3D surface.
You rotate the ring itself with the arrow keys, while a Tetris-like piece slowly (excruciatingly slowly, in fact) descends from the top. As soon as you make a solid line, it disappears.
Not all pieces are Tetris-like; some of them wouldn't really work with a regular Tetris game but are a good fit for Torus' 3D format.
Torus is ideal for playing at the office, because it has absolutely no soundtrack. The game is dead-quiet. It's also very very slow (slow enough for me to mention it twice in one post) so you can safely look away for a moment and then keep playing. Also, as soon as the game loses focus, it automatically pauses.
Bottom line: It's an impressive demo of the power of HTML5; if it were a bit faster, it would have some serious addictive potential.Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
You rotate the ring itself with the arrow keys, while a Tetris-like piece slowly (excruciatingly slowly, in fact) descends from the top. As soon as you make a solid line, it disappears.
Not all pieces are Tetris-like; some of them wouldn't really work with a regular Tetris game but are a good fit for Torus' 3D format.
Torus is ideal for playing at the office, because it has absolutely no soundtrack. The game is dead-quiet. It's also very very slow (slow enough for me to mention it twice in one post) so you can safely look away for a moment and then keep playing. Also, as soon as the game loses focus, it automatically pauses.
Bottom line: It's an impressive demo of the power of HTML5; if it were a bit faster, it would have some serious addictive potential.Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Gargantuan SQL injection infects 3.8 million URLs, installs rogue antivirus
Over the last few days, a mass SQL injection attack has been quickly gathering speed. Just three days ago only 28,000 URLs were affected, but at the time of writing, there could be up to 3.8 million infected URLs.
Websense has a complete write up the attack, dubbed 'LizaMoon,' but here's the basic gist: it looks like someone is exploiting a vulnerabilty (or vulnerabilities) in hundreds of thousands of websites running on Microsoft SQL Server 2003 and 2005. It's not yet known whether this is a vulnerability in SQL Server, or simply a case of outdated, unmaintained, and easily-exploitable CMSes.
The attack takes the form of an SQL injection, which then inserts a link to a JavaScript file hosted on the attacker's server. This is repeated over and over until every Web page in the SQL database has been infected -- and considering 3.8 million URLs have been infected, you can see that this is a very easy, and automated, attack.
Fortunately, the JavaScript isn't particularly malicious: it pops up a rogue AV program called Windows Stability Center, but that's it. Better yet, the rogue antivirus is already recognized by a bunch of real antivirus suites, including Avast, Panda and Microsoft Security Essentials.
The real problem with SQL injection attacks is that there's nothing we surfers can do about them. There will always be old and unmaintained websites, and thus SQL injections will remain one of the easiest and most lucrative tools of hackers and spammers alike. All you can do is keep your antivirus and anti-malware software up to date, and pray.Gargantuan SQL injection infects 3.8 million URLs, installs rogue antivirus originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Websense has a complete write up the attack, dubbed 'LizaMoon,' but here's the basic gist: it looks like someone is exploiting a vulnerabilty (or vulnerabilities) in hundreds of thousands of websites running on Microsoft SQL Server 2003 and 2005. It's not yet known whether this is a vulnerability in SQL Server, or simply a case of outdated, unmaintained, and easily-exploitable CMSes.
The attack takes the form of an SQL injection, which then inserts a link to a JavaScript file hosted on the attacker's server. This is repeated over and over until every Web page in the SQL database has been infected -- and considering 3.8 million URLs have been infected, you can see that this is a very easy, and automated, attack.
Fortunately, the JavaScript isn't particularly malicious: it pops up a rogue AV program called Windows Stability Center, but that's it. Better yet, the rogue antivirus is already recognized by a bunch of real antivirus suites, including Avast, Panda and Microsoft Security Essentials.
The real problem with SQL injection attacks is that there's nothing we surfers can do about them. There will always be old and unmaintained websites, and thus SQL injections will remain one of the easiest and most lucrative tools of hackers and spammers alike. All you can do is keep your antivirus and anti-malware software up to date, and pray.Gargantuan SQL injection infects 3.8 million URLs, installs rogue antivirus originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM) INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS
Daily Crunch: Fiend Edition
Hot Cool Box: Thanko?s USB Mini Fridge Doubles As Heater Starbucks Merges Their Two iOS Apps, Lets You Gift Your Friends Coffee From Your Phone IBM Takes Another Step Towards Reliable Phase-Change Memory Samsung?s Galaxy Tab 8.9 Hits The FCC How Making Can Help Our Economy, Improve Education, And Make Us Happy
Deal of the Day ? Dell Vostro 260 2.7GHz Dual-core Mini Tower w/20-inch Dell LED-backlit LCD Monitor for $379
Today?s LogicBUY Deal is the Dell Vostro 260 2.7GHz dual-core mini tower with a 20? Dell LED-backlit monitor for $379.� Features:� 2GB RAM, 250GB 7200rpm hard drive, DVD burner, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), more. $478.00 – $99 off = $379.00 with $8 shipping. This deal expires December 29, 2011 or sooner. Check the above [...]
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The Week in Android News
While you should be spending the day with the family, doing some holiday stuff of some sort, we know the inner geek in you just needs to make sure you haven't missed anything. Check out the links below for some of what you may have missed. General News Google announces welcome improvements to Google+ are coming before the New Year Vote now in the 2011 Android Central Awards! More than 700,000 Android devices activated daily Hardware News Sony Ericsson Xperia Active review Droid Bionic gets a mysterious OS update Motorola Droid RAZR bugfix update rolling out now This is not the Samsung Galaxy S III Tablet News ASUS Transformer Prime back on Amazon, company expects 'normal inventory levels in January' Archos announces the 70b Internet tablet, Honeycomb priced under $200 Honeycomb OTA for the HTC EVO View 4G rolling out, rooted users beware HTC Flyer's price dropped to £199, sale season starts early Sony Tablet S to get Ice Cream Sandwich update, timeframe coming 'soon'
6.8 Million Android And iOS Devices Were Activated on Xmas Day, 242 Million Apps Downloaded
It was a very Android and iOS Christmas. Mobile apps research form Flurry released estimates on how many Android and iOS devices were activated on Christmas day, as well as how many apps were downloaded. On a combined basis, 6.8 million devices were activated, up 353 percent from the 1.5 million average activations a day over the first 20 days of December. And that number from 2.8 million combined activations on Christmas, 2010, the previous record.
Flurry doesn't break out the split between iOS and Android. But you can triangulate the numbers with other publicly available stats. Android chief Andy Rubin recently noted just before Christmas that Android activations surpassed 700,000 a day. So that leaves between 700,000 and 800,000 a day for iOS devices (iPhones iPads, and iPod Touches), roughly speaking.
Flurry doesn't break out the split between iOS and Android. But you can triangulate the numbers with other publicly available stats. Android chief Andy Rubin recently noted just before Christmas that Android activations surpassed 700,000 a day. So that leaves between 700,000 and 800,000 a day for iOS devices (iPhones iPads, and iPod Touches), roughly speaking.
GoDaddy Dickheads May Be Delaying Domain Transfers On Purpose (Updated) [StopSOPA]
GoDaddy may claim to be "neutral" about SOPA, the shameful censorship law cheered by a bunch of greedy copyright corpocrooks, but that isn't stopping thousands of people from leaving their dreadful service. More »
The Avengers: A True Tale Of Bad Customer Service
With all this talk of 360-degree customer service and Zappos ninjas who help babies out of burning buildings while taking orders for clogs, it's nice to remember that for every heartwarming tale of customer satisfaction there is a dude like Paul Christoforo.
The tale begins with a controller accessory. It's called the Avonger en-kontrol (my misspelling) and it's some kind of octopus that helps you press more buttons on your game controller. We wrote it up in February 2011 so you can check it out there. A quick web search will bring up the actual product. I'm not about to give them any Google Juice.
The tale begins with a controller accessory. It's called the Avonger en-kontrol (my misspelling) and it's some kind of octopus that helps you press more buttons on your game controller. We wrote it up in February 2011 so you can check it out there. A quick web search will bring up the actual product. I'm not about to give them any Google Juice.
How to encrypt data on ipad
How many times have you stood there looking in disbelief as all your preciously saved data was compromised, you dreaded the day you even thought of buying an ipad and if only it was not that the damn thing was not so overpriced and expensive you will definitely smash it to smithereens. If this sounds even remotely like what you have previously experienced then you will know the pain associated with hacked accounts on or off your ipad, and if [...]
Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin
This is one of those posts that could probably be condensed into a tweet: Apple has released the second Preview of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. If you're running Preview 1, it looks like you'll first receive a small update via Software Update, and then you can download Preview 2 from the Mac App Store.
There has been some speculation that Apple is getting close to a release or Golden Master build, but judging by 9to5 Mac's initial findings there's definitely some way to go. The Golden Master will probably appear at, or just before, the Apple WWDC in June.
So far, it's looking like the only changes in Preview 2 are the leather bound iCal skin that you can see above, and the main iChat window now combines your AIM, Bonjour and Jabber contacts, like Adium. We're sure that more details will emerge throughout the day, though, and there's bound to be lots of invisible changes, too. We'll update this post when we find out more.Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
There has been some speculation that Apple is getting close to a release or Golden Master build, but judging by 9to5 Mac's initial findings there's definitely some way to go. The Golden Master will probably appear at, or just before, the Apple WWDC in June.
So far, it's looking like the only changes in Preview 2 are the leather bound iCal skin that you can see above, and the main iChat window now combines your AIM, Bonjour and Jabber contacts, like Adium. We're sure that more details will emerge throughout the day, though, and there's bound to be lots of invisible changes, too. We'll update this post when we find out more.Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The FLOTE Stand for Tablets and eBook Readers
Here’s another Kickstarter project.� The FLOTE Stand is a floor stand that works with most tablets and eBook readers, with or without a cover.� The all-metal stand is machined by US craftsmen, and it’s available in aluminum, black, or white finishes.� It easily adjusts without having to loosen or tighten anything, and it has a [...]
How to Upgrade or Downgrade Ipad Firmware
It is a known fact that when most of the people encounter problems with their everyday use of the ipad, they resolve to upgrading or downgrading their firmware as a way to eliminate and solve their problems. There are many problems however that cannot be solved or fixed by upgrading or downgrading ipad firm ware. Though the two tasks appear to be similar, they differ from one another, and this is not in reference to upgrade or downgrade. The legality [...]
Forums: iMessage issues, Setting up a new iPad
Find some new Apple products under your tree this year did you?� Welcome to the family, we’re glad you’re here. Whether you’re new to Apple products or old hat — the TiPb forums are a great resource for discussing all things Apple. Have some questions? Just looking to...
Daily Crunch: Rained Out Lunch Edition
Video: Complete Hand Recognition With 5-Finger Mouse Amenbo (Video) Konapun: Making Tiny, Inedible Food For Fun And Profit (?) The UNISROBO Robot Looks A Lot Like NEC?s PaPeRo ThinkGeek Now Selling The FastMac U-Socket, The USB Wallplug Gunbrella Will Get You Shot For Sure Audyssey Lower East Side Speakers Attempt To Mimic The LES In [...]
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Nerdiest Thing I've Ever Wanted [Daily Desired]
Wi-Fi sucks. Well, it sucks if your router is lurking in a subterranean realm of your apartment and your gaming rig is located aboveground with an iron staircase in between the two and you don't want to run 100 meters of cable or wire the apartment with ethernet because you don't own the building. More »
Meet the Real-Life War Machines [Video]
Like the prologue of any robopocalypse movie where the machines rise up to destroy us, most of the robots we hear about do things we could do, but don't want to. They mop our floors. They put together cars. They die for us. More »
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM) INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS
Matt Richardson turns Arduino, Twitter and lasers into art (video)
Matt Richardson's genius has never really been in question. The Make Live host and compulsive hacker has built an impressive library of creations, ranging from a Google Reader pedal to an email-triggered Christmas tree. The man's works are definitely art, in their own way, but his new project, Fade Away 1, is the first that we could easily see taking up residence in a SoHo gallery. At the heart of the installation is an Arduino (of course) that pulls in posts from Twitter with the phrase "fade away" in them. The same AVR chip then "prints" those tweets on phosphorescent paper with a UV laser mounted on a servo -- as the energy dissipates, the messages slowly disappear. And, if you're wondering what the "1" at the end of the title means, Richardson plans to continuously improve the project. For some more details about the next iteration and to see the current one in action, check out the videos after the break.Continue reading Matt Richardson turns Arduino, Twitter and lasers into art (video)Matt Richardson turns Arduino, Twitter and lasers into art (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink @mattrichardson | Matt Richardson | Email this | Comments
Rooted MotoACTV Brings Web Browsing And Angry Birds To Your Wrist
Fitness watches are one thing, but how about a fitness watch that lets you play a few levels of Angry Birds in between wind sprints? Motorola's MotoACTV debuted alongside the Droid RAZR not too long ago, and one developer has finally taken it upon itself to unleash its full potential.
Nerf Guns Provide the Cutest Way to Pull Your Tooth [Video]
Videos of semi-terrified kids having their teeth yanked by others in crazy ways are a dime a dozen. That's why we love this fearless and adorable kid who yanks his own tooth with a Nerf bow. Nice technique, baller kid! [via Wimp] More »
TechGrinch Was Not Impressed By Google?s ?Jingle Bells? Doodle
When I visited Google.com this morning, I was as excited as the kids sprinting from bed to tree. But all I found was a lump of sonic coal. Oh joy, after months of Christmas music, I get to hear a crummy elevator music version of "Jingle Bells" one more time? *sigh*
But wait, is it a game where I guess how to play the song on the colored keys? No.
But wait, is it a game where I guess how to play the song on the colored keys? No.
Forums: Custom backplate giveaway, iPhone 4S insurance, wallpaper challenge, guitar interfaces, holiday recipes
It’s the holidays and the forums are bursting at the seems with cheer… and more! If you happened to miss out on any of today’s or this weekends events make sure you get caught up either here on the blogs or in the TiPb forums — and stay tuned...
Noisehush NX26 HD Stereo Headphones Review
The NX26 HD Stereo Headphones from NoiseHush boasts to deliver deeper bass, lower distortion, and wider�dynamic�range with advanced engineering and featuring neodymium magnet drivers. �NX26 can be used for home hi-fi systems and mobile sources. �It has an in-line microphone that is built to insure filtering out of external noise and ensure that callers hear [...]
Forums: Custom backplate giveaway, iPhone 4S insurance, wallpaper challenge, guitar interfaces, holiday recipes
It’s the holidays and the forums are bursting at the seems with cheer… and more! If you happened to miss out on any of today’s or this weekends events make sure you get caught up either here on the blogs or in the TiPb forums — and stay tuned...
BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak
A leaked early version of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Messenger 6 has been making the rounds since late February, but images of the new app are just now beginning to appear. Over at CrackBerry, the crew has shared a handful of images of BBM 6 in action. Unfortunately, you won't get a glimpse at a chat or file transfer -- only the profile screens (after the break) and what you see above. All that's really revealed so far is the option to set custom contact and chat colors and BlackBerry OS 6.1-style icons.
CrackBerry also warns against installing the leaked BBM 6 app. There's no guarantee this app hasn't been tampered with, and BlackBerry devices are becoming a more common target for cybercriminals.Continue reading BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leakBlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
CrackBerry also warns against installing the leaked BBM 6 app. There's no guarantee this app hasn't been tampered with, and BlackBerry devices are becoming a more common target for cybercriminals.Continue reading BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leakBlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
New MINE Tools Can Refine Mountains of Data
Massive data sets -- a season's worth of baseball statistics, for example, or health data from around the world -- can contain some very revealing knowledge. The problem confronting researchers, though, is finding it. That may be a little easier with some tools developed by scientists at Harvard University and the Broad Institute.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
XDA dev provides means to block Nook Tablet OTA updates
Worried that an OTA update will put a crimp in your Nook Tablet modding activities? Then you may want to follow the lead of xda-developers member Indirect, who has managed to tweak the tablet to block all OTA updates and kindly provided the means for you to do the same. That involves installing a few files on your device (another method is also available that involve tweaking some files), but Indirect says that the process "holds no risk," and that it won't prevent you from buying books from Barnes & Noble. Complete details can be found at the source link below.XDA dev provides means to block Nook Tablet OTA updates originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | xda-developers | Email this | Comments
Refresh Roundup: week of December 19, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of December 19, 2011Refresh Roundup: week of December 19, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
The Top 30 Android Apps And Games Of 2011
Android apps come in all shapes and sizes - literally.
Unlike iOS applications, which are basically created for two form factors, Android apps need to be developed with dozens (if not hundreds) of device-types in mind. This is on top of the inconsistent operating system releases still mucking things up. While all of this fragmentation is a headache for developers, ignoring a platform with 50 percent market share would ultimately lead to their peril.
The best Android apps are thus the ones that can both push the technological envelope while also remaining accessible to the vast majority of users. This is no easy feat.
We divided our list of the best 30 Android apps into four distinct categories. The top ten apps come from third-party developers, and, if not exclusive to Android, were created primarily for the platform. Additional sections include the best new or significantly updated apps from Google, as well as the best apps and games that appeared first on iOS but later arrived to Android in 2011.
Unlike iOS applications, which are basically created for two form factors, Android apps need to be developed with dozens (if not hundreds) of device-types in mind. This is on top of the inconsistent operating system releases still mucking things up. While all of this fragmentation is a headache for developers, ignoring a platform with 50 percent market share would ultimately lead to their peril.
The best Android apps are thus the ones that can both push the technological envelope while also remaining accessible to the vast majority of users. This is no easy feat.
We divided our list of the best 30 Android apps into four distinct categories. The top ten apps come from third-party developers, and, if not exclusive to Android, were created primarily for the platform. Additional sections include the best new or significantly updated apps from Google, as well as the best apps and games that appeared first on iOS but later arrived to Android in 2011.
Hollywood Invented a New Type Of Fake Snow To Film It's a Wonderful Life [Past Perfect]
The Frank Capra classic isn't known for its special effects. But since It's a Wonderful Life was shot in the sweltering heat of June and July of 1946, the filmmakers had to develop a new type of artificial snow. More »
The First iPad Stylus With an On-Screen Cursor [Video]
Billed as an "active stylus" for the iPad, the iPen can be recognized by the tablet even when the tip hovers above the display. Allowing for improved stylus accuracy, but also facilitating an on-screen cursor. More »
Facebook launches unified mobile site, announces 250 million mobile users
Facebook has announced that its two mobile sites -- m.facebook.com and touch.facebook.com -- have been unified, bringing a simpler mobile experience to Facebook users. And there are a lot of those -- a quarter billion, according to Facebook.
Smartphone users won't be losing any functionality because of the consolidation. If your phone supported the enhacned features offered by touch.facebook.com, the new site will automatically flip the switch when you visit.
Rolling the sites together helps simplify things for Facebook's developer team. Now changes can be pushed to a single site instead of two separate sites, which makes it easier to ensure that all mobile users receive a nearly identical experience regardless of the device they're using.
The new Facebook mobile can also check to see if your phone supports geolocation. If it doesn't, you won't be seeing much of Facebook Places -- which obviously relies heavily on geolocation. Images can also be optimized on the fly to keep page performance from suffering on less powerful devices. You can see the three different versions of the share button below, courtesy our friends at TechCrunch.
Facebook launches unified mobile site, announces 250 million mobile users originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Smartphone users won't be losing any functionality because of the consolidation. If your phone supported the enhacned features offered by touch.facebook.com, the new site will automatically flip the switch when you visit.
Rolling the sites together helps simplify things for Facebook's developer team. Now changes can be pushed to a single site instead of two separate sites, which makes it easier to ensure that all mobile users receive a nearly identical experience regardless of the device they're using.
The new Facebook mobile can also check to see if your phone supports geolocation. If it doesn't, you won't be seeing much of Facebook Places -- which obviously relies heavily on geolocation. Images can also be optimized on the fly to keep page performance from suffering on less powerful devices. You can see the three different versions of the share button below, courtesy our friends at TechCrunch.
Facebook launches unified mobile site, announces 250 million mobile users originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM)
LogMeIn remote desktop app goes free on iPhone and iPad
Looks like LogMeIn Inc. has suddenly cottoned on to the freemium business model, deciding to offer its basic remote desktop app for iPhone and iPad entirely gratis. Previously, you had to hand over $29.99 for the simple pleasure of accessing your PC and Mac desktops via LogMeIn Ignition, but the new free version (simply 'LogMeIn') amply provides for that barebones service, while bells and whistles are reserved for those who buy an in-app subscription to LogMeIn Pro at $40 per year -- including things like HD video and sound streaming, file transferring and integration with cloud storage services . Confusing matters slightly, the old Ignition app won't die. It'll live on in the App Store with a massively inflated price to support old Ignition customers and -- most importantly -- give them grandfather rights to Pro features, so they don't feel left out and start sniffing around the competition. There's a full PR after the break, and it also mentions that Android update is on its way in 2012.Continue reading LogMeIn remote desktop app goes free on iPhone and iPadLogMeIn remote desktop app goes free on iPhone and iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SlashGear, TUAW | iTunes | Email this | Comments
Zen Coding high-speed HTML shorthand plug-in updated
Zen Coding made quite a splash when we first covered it almost a year ago. For those who aren't familiar, Zen is a fantastic form of shorthand for quickly hand-coding HTML. And today, a new version is out!
Here are some of the goodies version 0.7 brings to the party:
Text nodes: Writing something like a[href=/]{Click here} now works, and puts "Click here" within the link.
New actions added: Increment/decrement number under cursor, evaluate math expressions, and more.
Wrap with Abbreviation was upgraded.
There are several other improvements but they're all rather technical. If you use Zen Coding (or are intrigued by the concept) go ahead and read the release notes for this new version.
Zen Coding has official implementations for a ton of editors, including TextMate, Apatana, Coda, E2, Komodo, Notepad++, PSPad, and more. It also has unofficial builds for Vim, UltraEdit, Visual Studio and more.
If you want to play with Zen Coding without installing it, you can use the online demo to see some of its magic in action.Zen Coding high-speed HTML shorthand plug-in updated originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Here are some of the goodies version 0.7 brings to the party:
Text nodes: Writing something like a[href=/]{Click here} now works, and puts "Click here" within the link.
New actions added: Increment/decrement number under cursor, evaluate math expressions, and more.
Wrap with Abbreviation was upgraded.
There are several other improvements but they're all rather technical. If you use Zen Coding (or are intrigued by the concept) go ahead and read the release notes for this new version.
Zen Coding has official implementations for a ton of editors, including TextMate, Apatana, Coda, E2, Komodo, Notepad++, PSPad, and more. It also has unofficial builds for Vim, UltraEdit, Visual Studio and more.
If you want to play with Zen Coding without installing it, you can use the online demo to see some of its magic in action.Zen Coding high-speed HTML shorthand plug-in updated originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Ask Engadget: best quick-shutter camera for under $700?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Travis, who is soon to become a father (congratulations!) and wants to capture the baby's life with a new camera. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I'm about to become a new parent and my not-so-tech-savvy wife thinks we need a ridiculous DSLR to get good, quick pics of our new child. I argue there are plenty of cameras out there with fast shutter speeds that won't cost us too much, but I don't know what exactly to look for. I want to take quick pictures to capture those really cute shots that other cameras miss. What's a good camera that I can get less for $700?"
Camera experts, baby owners, people who balance objects on your pets, what's the camera you can rely on to catch those split-second moments of cuteness? Our thoughts lead us toward the Nikon J1's motion snapshot, or the Sony NEX-C3, but perhaps someone out there knows the perfect baby-snapping camera? Dear friends, the floor -- by which we mean the comments feed below -- is yours.Ask Engadget: best quick-shutter camera for under $700? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
"I'm about to become a new parent and my not-so-tech-savvy wife thinks we need a ridiculous DSLR to get good, quick pics of our new child. I argue there are plenty of cameras out there with fast shutter speeds that won't cost us too much, but I don't know what exactly to look for. I want to take quick pictures to capture those really cute shots that other cameras miss. What's a good camera that I can get less for $700?"
Camera experts, baby owners, people who balance objects on your pets, what's the camera you can rely on to catch those split-second moments of cuteness? Our thoughts lead us toward the Nikon J1's motion snapshot, or the Sony NEX-C3, but perhaps someone out there knows the perfect baby-snapping camera? Dear friends, the floor -- by which we mean the comments feed below -- is yours.Ask Engadget: best quick-shutter camera for under $700? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Give a $50 iTunes Gift Card for Just $40 [Dealzmodo]
The X day is almost here. You are desperate. Get to Walmart's web site and order this $50 iTunes gift card for just $40. It's delivered via email, so you will get it instantly. [Walmart via 9to5 Cult of Mac] More »
Hollywood Invented a New Type Of Fake Snow To Film It's a Wonderful Life [Past Perfect]
The Frank Capra classic isn't known for its special effects. But since It's a Wonderful Life was shot in the sweltering heat of June and July of 1946, the filmmakers had to develop a new type of artificial snow. More »
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Daily Deal: Incipio Stowaway Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 only $22.95
For today only, the TiPb Store has the Incipio Stowaway Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $18.95!. Get them before they’re gone! Get the Incipio Stowaway Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!
Proof That You'll Click Anything Called a Game [Games]
Ian Bogost was one of one of FarmVille's biggest critics. So he created a pointless game to parody that pointless game. Then his pointless game became a hit. So Wired wrote about it. Now that's a pointless game too. What? More »
Brave GoDaddy CEO Says He's Neither For Nor Against SOPA [Sopa]
GoDaddy CEO Warren Adelman has had his job for a week. Not exactly a great week to start! But I chatted with the guy for his take on the company's SOPA surrender. Is he against SOPA? No. More »
GoDaddy Changes Its Mind on Supporting That Evil SOPA Legislation [Sopa]
Wow, GoDaddy finally does the right thing. After initially defending their stance, they've just announced that they're no longer supporting the awful, anti-internet bill known as SOPA because though 'fighting' online piracy is important, GoDaddy feels they "can clearly do better". Maybe they were scared off by Leave GoDaddy Day? More »
Personal Activity Monitor tracks time you spend using desktop apps
Up until a couple of years ago, I used to turn to RescueTime to figure out how I spend my time online. Then it got too complex, and I stopped using it. Personal Activity Monitor is like a vastly dumbed-down version of RescueTime, and I mean that as a compliment. It's free and bare-bones -- all it does is track what applications you're using and for how long.
A big drawback at this point is that it doesn't integrate with Web browsers to help you analyze how you spend your time on the Web. Still, if your work doesn't require constant Web app use, knowing how long you've used a browser overall might be enough to help you manage your time.
This is far from the only application in this space -- alternatives such as Slife and Chrometa are full-featured and impressive -- but PAM is good option for those who want a nice, simple tracker.Personal Activity Monitor tracks time you spend using desktop apps originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
A big drawback at this point is that it doesn't integrate with Web browsers to help you analyze how you spend your time on the Web. Still, if your work doesn't require constant Web app use, knowing how long you've used a browser overall might be enough to help you manage your time.
This is far from the only application in this space -- alternatives such as Slife and Chrometa are full-featured and impressive -- but PAM is good option for those who want a nice, simple tracker.Personal Activity Monitor tracks time you spend using desktop apps originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Even Orbiting Astronauts Get a Visit From Santa [Video]
It's nice to know that as humanity continues its conquest of space, Santa's naughty or nice list will still include those serving on orbiting space stations. It's just too bad that this might be his last delivery—ever. More »
Blurred Sculptures Are Hurting my Brain [Art]
At first I thought I was suffering from some sort of hallucination, but, nope, just art. Korean artist Duck-Bong Kang craftily staggers PVC pipes to create an illusion of motion—or very poor eyesight. More »
TweetDeck to launch as HTML5 Web app, now accepting beta testers
When TweetDeck landed in the Chrome Web Store, it seemed like an indication that it might eventually evolve into a pure HTML5 Web app. Now it looks as though that's exactly what's going to happen, with TweetDeck announcing that a new, not-just-for-Chrome Web client is ready for beta testing.
It's a natural progression for TweetDeck, especially since its originally Adobe Air app is practically all Web code. TweetDeck Web will sport a feature set which is nearly identical to the Chrome app, with the notable exception of Twitter streaming.
Initially, TweetDeck is targeting Firefox 4 and 3.6, Google Chrome, and Safari. Opera and Internet Explorer 9 won't be invited to the dance until a bit later on.
If you'd like to get in on the TweetDeck Web beta, head on over and register -- or sign up using your existing TweetDeck account.TweetDeck to launch as HTML5 Web app, now accepting beta testers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
It's a natural progression for TweetDeck, especially since its originally Adobe Air app is practically all Web code. TweetDeck Web will sport a feature set which is nearly identical to the Chrome app, with the notable exception of Twitter streaming.
Initially, TweetDeck is targeting Firefox 4 and 3.6, Google Chrome, and Safari. Opera and Internet Explorer 9 won't be invited to the dance until a bit later on.
If you'd like to get in on the TweetDeck Web beta, head on over and register -- or sign up using your existing TweetDeck account.TweetDeck to launch as HTML5 Web app, now accepting beta testers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Apple's Juicy 2012 Hardware Harvest
While 2011 was a year full of momentous moments for Apple, 2012 has the potential to outshine them all, especially in hardware. It will be the first full year in which Apple must steer its gigantic ship without Steve Jobs, and the pressure to surprise and delight will be intense.
Recent developments and rumors
The recent developments and rumors about the new ipad 3 has left the market not sure of which way to go. Many predict that apple is bond to keep all secrets about the upcoming ipad 3 a secret. Apple Company does not deny or confirm the rumors about whether they will be an ipad 3 released this year or in the near future. Many are aware that apple does business slightly different from others and this can just be a [...]
Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game
I have a thing for physics games, and I've been known to post the occasional platformer or action game here and there. But Let it Slide is one of the brainiest games I've posted to date.
The idea is very simple, and far from original: You get a board with pieces arranged in a particular pattern; you have to slide those around until you get the special piece into its target location.
It's not even about finding out where the target location is - you can just hover over "dim tiles" and instantly see where you're supposed to bring the special piece. But getting it there is a whole different story.
There are five tutorial levels, which I strongly recommend you do. Then there are twenty "beginner" levels, but that's really a misnomer. If those are the beginner levels, I don't want to know what the intermediate and advanced levels look like!
Every time you finish a level you get a score based on how many clicks it took you - each level has a "par" (the minimum number of clicks it could be completed in), and your performance is compared to that gold standard. Because it's such a brainy game, getting it right is quite satisfying. I was downright proud of myself when I managed to finish a few levels. All in all, quite recommended, especially if you've got a few minutes of quiet. It might actually help you focus better later on.Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The idea is very simple, and far from original: You get a board with pieces arranged in a particular pattern; you have to slide those around until you get the special piece into its target location.
It's not even about finding out where the target location is - you can just hover over "dim tiles" and instantly see where you're supposed to bring the special piece. But getting it there is a whole different story.
There are five tutorial levels, which I strongly recommend you do. Then there are twenty "beginner" levels, but that's really a misnomer. If those are the beginner levels, I don't want to know what the intermediate and advanced levels look like!
Every time you finish a level you get a score based on how many clicks it took you - each level has a "par" (the minimum number of clicks it could be completed in), and your performance is compared to that gold standard. Because it's such a brainy game, getting it right is quite satisfying. I was downright proud of myself when I managed to finish a few levels. All in all, quite recommended, especially if you've got a few minutes of quiet. It might actually help you focus better later on.Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Friday, December 23, 2011
Ask DLS: Cross-platform multiplayer games that work on Android and iOS
Here's one for our knowledgeable commenters: I recently bought my girlfriend an iPad. I, on the other hand, own an Android device. And now we're looking for games we can play using both devices.
There's no dearth of multiplayer games either for Android or for iOS. But finding multiplayer games that can cross the platform boundary is an entirely different matter.
Jay recently posted Words with Friends which is one such game. It's actually an ideal example, because it's turn-based so you don't necessarily both have to be next to your device at the same time (great for long-distance gaming).
But what other examples are there? What multiplayer games are there that let iOS users play with Android users?
[Why am I now humming 'Ebony and Ivory'? -Ed]Ask DLS: Cross-platform multiplayer games that work on Android and iOS originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
There's no dearth of multiplayer games either for Android or for iOS. But finding multiplayer games that can cross the platform boundary is an entirely different matter.
Jay recently posted Words with Friends which is one such game. It's actually an ideal example, because it's turn-based so you don't necessarily both have to be next to your device at the same time (great for long-distance gaming).
But what other examples are there? What multiplayer games are there that let iOS users play with Android users?
[Why am I now humming 'Ebony and Ivory'? -Ed]Ask DLS: Cross-platform multiplayer games that work on Android and iOS originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
iOS Apps Generate 6 Times the Revenue of Android Apps
Distimo, an app store analysis firm, compared the 200 highest-grossing apps in each market. According to a study released Tuesday, the firm found that the iOS App Store has generated six times the total revenues of the Android Market.
Take Your Cellphone Completely Off the Grid with MIAmobi Cases and Bags
Supposedly, your cellphone still sends out information to the service provider about your activities even after you’ve turned it off.� If you want to make sure that no one can track those signals, you need a case or bag from MIAmobi.� The lining in these bags contains colloidal silver, which blocks all radio frequencies to/from [...]
Add a Keyboard to Your iPad or iPad 2 ? Directly on the Screen
I don’t like using the on-screen keyboard on my iPad.� There’s no tactile feedback, so I can’t tell if my hands are in the correct position nor if I actually struck a key.� The TouchFire Screen-Top Keyboard for iPad looks like a very promising way to add a tactile keyboard to your iPad without having [...]
Microsoft Washes Its Hands of CES
January's Consumer Electronics Show will be the last one Microsoft will attend. Announcing its decision on Wednesday, Microsoft's Frank Shaw said the company's product news milestones generally don't align with the timing of the show, which is regularly held in January.
Proof That You'll Click Anything Called a Game [Games]
Ian Bogost was one of one of FarmVille's biggest critics. So he created a pointless game to parody that pointless game. Then his pointless game became a hit. So Wired wrote about it. Now that's a pointless game too. What? More »
The Year in Fail: 2011?s Worst Tech Disasters
They're the worst of the worst: Six of 2011's most egregious gadget abominations.
Jetbus is a retro-tastic physics game, with a bus
Once upon a time, there used to be a DOS game with a caveman and a human powered helicopter. The caveman would shuttle around the screen, madly trying to get customers to where they wanted to go.
Jetbus is not that game, but it's obviously inspired by it. You're driving a yellow school bus which has jets. I guess the jet engine takes quite a bit of space inside the bus, because you can only pick up one person at a time.
There are several doors on the screen, each with its own number. As you pick up a person, the status bar at the bottom of the screen shows you which number door you have to take them to.
You must fly your bus carefully, because if it gets bumped around too much, you lose. You earn money on each level, and can visit the garage to buy better jets and damping, power-ups, or even a whole new vehicle.
So while this game isn't made as well as the original that inspired it, it does provide a few minutes of fun. And now, which one of you guys remembers the original and feels like pointing to it in the comments?Jetbus is a retro-tastic physics game, with a bus originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Jetbus is not that game, but it's obviously inspired by it. You're driving a yellow school bus which has jets. I guess the jet engine takes quite a bit of space inside the bus, because you can only pick up one person at a time.
There are several doors on the screen, each with its own number. As you pick up a person, the status bar at the bottom of the screen shows you which number door you have to take them to.
You must fly your bus carefully, because if it gets bumped around too much, you lose. You earn money on each level, and can visit the garage to buy better jets and damping, power-ups, or even a whole new vehicle.
So while this game isn't made as well as the original that inspired it, it does provide a few minutes of fun. And now, which one of you guys remembers the original and feels like pointing to it in the comments?Jetbus is a retro-tastic physics game, with a bus originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app
Update: Tech From 10 seems to be offline -- but we have lots of images and a hands-on review if you want to see what the new Music app is like.
In what is probably a bit of a big-G whoopsie, the folks at Tech From 10 woke up to find a new, test version of Android Market installed on their Galaxy S.
Visually, the new version is almost identical. The carousel of featured apps has been updated slightly, and apps now have a 'Content rating,' but that's it (image after the break). The interesting bit, however, is the inclusion of alpha and beta apps -- most notably, there's a new version of the Music app, which looks like a scaled-down version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Music app (see right).
Also available from the test Android Market is 'Google Gallery 3D New 10.2', 'Google - Camera v12' and 'Google Desk Clock 10' -- but, curiously, all of the apps refused to launch on Tech From 10's Galaxy S (Vibrant) smartphone. Are they Honeycomb apps? Or, more likely, are they destined for the next Android smartphone OS, Ice Cream?
If you want to try out the new Honeycombish Music app, Tech From 10 has made the APK available for download. You can also download the three Google apps, if you want to have a poke around.Continue reading A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music appA sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
In what is probably a bit of a big-G whoopsie, the folks at Tech From 10 woke up to find a new, test version of Android Market installed on their Galaxy S.
Visually, the new version is almost identical. The carousel of featured apps has been updated slightly, and apps now have a 'Content rating,' but that's it (image after the break). The interesting bit, however, is the inclusion of alpha and beta apps -- most notably, there's a new version of the Music app, which looks like a scaled-down version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Music app (see right).
Also available from the test Android Market is 'Google Gallery 3D New 10.2', 'Google - Camera v12' and 'Google Desk Clock 10' -- but, curiously, all of the apps refused to launch on Tech From 10's Galaxy S (Vibrant) smartphone. Are they Honeycomb apps? Or, more likely, are they destined for the next Android smartphone OS, Ice Cream?
If you want to try out the new Honeycombish Music app, Tech From 10 has made the APK available for download. You can also download the three Google apps, if you want to have a poke around.Continue reading A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music appA sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Kia's Ray EV hasn't heard about aerodynamics, sets out to defy naysayers in Korea
That boxy thing up there? That's Kia's Ray EV, and apparently Korea's first mass produced electric vehicle. Looks-wise it's probably not the Hyundai i10 re-badge you were expecting, but that doesn't mean you should count the rectangular Soul-inspired city dweller out. With a range of 86 miles from its 16.4 kWh lithium-ion pack, it'll take six hours to charge over 220 volts or alternatively 25 minutes with an undisclosed fast-charger. Kia also says its electric motor has a "best in segment" efficiency rating, which at 93 percent sounds plausible. What isn't however, is the claim it's also "brisk," which is at odds with the lethargic 15.9 seconds it'll take to go from 0-62MPH. Undeterred by its languid persona and unconventional looks? Better start packing those bags, as the first 2,500 are going to the South Korean government. More shots await at the source.Continue reading Kia's Ray EV hasn't heard about aerodynamics, sets out to defy naysayers in KoreaKia's Ray EV hasn't heard about aerodynamics, sets out to defy naysayers in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | AutoBlog | Email this | Comments
Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5
As far as Tetris goes, most variations look quite similar. You're usually looking at a "wall" of bricks directly from the front. Torus takes that notion and throws it away; as you might have guessed from the name (or screenshot), this Tetris clone is played on a ring-like 3D surface.
You rotate the ring itself with the arrow keys, while a Tetris-like piece slowly (excruciatingly slowly, in fact) descends from the top. As soon as you make a solid line, it disappears.
Not all pieces are Tetris-like; some of them wouldn't really work with a regular Tetris game but are a good fit for Torus' 3D format.
Torus is ideal for playing at the office, because it has absolutely no soundtrack. The game is dead-quiet. It's also very very slow (slow enough for me to mention it twice in one post) so you can safely look away for a moment and then keep playing. Also, as soon as the game loses focus, it automatically pauses.
Bottom line: It's an impressive demo of the power of HTML5; if it were a bit faster, it would have some serious addictive potential.Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
You rotate the ring itself with the arrow keys, while a Tetris-like piece slowly (excruciatingly slowly, in fact) descends from the top. As soon as you make a solid line, it disappears.
Not all pieces are Tetris-like; some of them wouldn't really work with a regular Tetris game but are a good fit for Torus' 3D format.
Torus is ideal for playing at the office, because it has absolutely no soundtrack. The game is dead-quiet. It's also very very slow (slow enough for me to mention it twice in one post) so you can safely look away for a moment and then keep playing. Also, as soon as the game loses focus, it automatically pauses.
Bottom line: It's an impressive demo of the power of HTML5; if it were a bit faster, it would have some serious addictive potential.Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers
Just a little under two months after its release candidate went live, Windows Home Server (WHS) 2011 has been finalized and released into the wild. The new version of Microsoft's slick, do-it-all server OS is a big step forward from its predecessor.
Built on the Windows Server 2008 R2 base, Home Server 2011 features a simpler dashboard, a better backup solution, dead simple remote access to your home computers, and Silverlight-powered remote media streaming. For a more detailed look at what's new in Windows Home Server 2011, you check out Microsoft's official breakdown.
Drive Extender, of course, didn't resurface for the final release of WHS 2011 and that's something a lot of power users are still pretty irked about. Even without Extender, Windows Home Server offers a boatload of useful functionality and might be a good fit for your home network. Manufacturers have already begun building hardware, so you should be able to pick up a device in the very near future.
An evaluation download for Windows Home Server 2011 will be made available in April -- we'll let you know when the links are ready.Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Built on the Windows Server 2008 R2 base, Home Server 2011 features a simpler dashboard, a better backup solution, dead simple remote access to your home computers, and Silverlight-powered remote media streaming. For a more detailed look at what's new in Windows Home Server 2011, you check out Microsoft's official breakdown.
Drive Extender, of course, didn't resurface for the final release of WHS 2011 and that's something a lot of power users are still pretty irked about. Even without Extender, Windows Home Server offers a boatload of useful functionality and might be a good fit for your home network. Manufacturers have already begun building hardware, so you should be able to pick up a device in the very near future.
An evaluation download for Windows Home Server 2011 will be made available in April -- we'll let you know when the links are ready.Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win a Verizon Galaxy Nexus, courtesy of Appitalism!
Get drooling, gadget fans, because Day Four of our weeklong Holiday Blues-buster giveaway is upon us -- and if none of the other items get your heart pumping this week, this one will. At stake here is a freshly-minted Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE, thanks to the folks at Appitalism (the mobile app superstore)! We hear these little pocket calculators are pretty hard to come by right now, and we imagine you won't hesitate to jump at the chance to win one, so jump past the break to see all the rules and leave a comment!
Oh, and as a nice little bonus, Appitalism is also adding a pair of Beats over-the-ear headphones (a $300 value) to sweeten the deal even more, just in case the Galaxy Nexus doesn't have enough sugar for you. Good luck!Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win a Verizon Galaxy Nexus, courtesy of Appitalism!Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win a Verizon Galaxy Nexus, courtesy of Appitalism! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Oh, and as a nice little bonus, Appitalism is also adding a pair of Beats over-the-ear headphones (a $300 value) to sweeten the deal even more, just in case the Galaxy Nexus doesn't have enough sugar for you. Good luck!Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win a Verizon Galaxy Nexus, courtesy of Appitalism!Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win a Verizon Galaxy Nexus, courtesy of Appitalism! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Facebook Was Four of the Top Ten Most Popular Searches in 2011. Again. [Facebook]
It's year-in-review time! I love this time of year because all of these lists invariably wind up making me feel like I've wasted another 12 months of this all-too-short existence (and who doesn't love that?) or reinforce the notion that everyone in the world is an idiot. This year's list of most searched-for terms does the latter. More »
Daily Deal: OtterBox Reflex Series Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 only $19.95
For today only, the TiPb Store has the OtterBox Reflex Series Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $18.95!. Get them before they’re gone! Get the OtterBox Reflex Series Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!
Nokia ready to start shipping Lumias to Launchpad developers
Things were a lot less clear back in early 2011 when Nokia announced it would abandon its burning platform for Windows Phone 7. Amidst that uncertainty, Espoo pledged to give select developers an E7 as well as a mystery device running Redmond's bits in the near future. The company's now making good on the latter part of that promise, informing those registered under its Launchpad program that their gratis hardware is ready to ship. Kindly forwarded by a tipster is email proof (seen after the break), which in non-redacted form would provide instructions for procuring a complimentary Lumia 800. Previous whispers suggested the Lumia 710 will also be part of the scheme, so your mileage may vary. Still, a free handset is better than none -- or at the very least a Nokla, right?
[Thanks, Jota]Continue reading Nokia ready to start shipping Lumias to Launchpad developersNokia ready to start shipping Lumias to Launchpad developers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Jota]Continue reading Nokia ready to start shipping Lumias to Launchpad developersNokia ready to start shipping Lumias to Launchpad developers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
GoHow Airport a decent free option for air travelers
If you're hopping on a plane today for the holidays, there's a new free travel app that's worth giving a look. GoHow Airport is a simple app that gives you information on a score of airports. You get an overview, list of shops, and info on food and drinks, services, parking and ground transportation. There's also a basic internal layout of the airport, and city weather info. The interesting thing here is that the airports themselves partner with Gohow to ensure the latest up-to-date information. Also, GoHow Airport serves as a flight and trip itinerary manager. It's got listings for dozens and dozens of airports, and the flight listings are simple but work as advertised. We're not going to call GoHow Airport our favorite travel app. But it's got a wealth of airport information that others don't. And, best of all, it's free. We've got screenshots and download links after the break. More: Press release; Ionos read more
Brand New Retro: Yamaha?s THR Amps Pack High Tech Into Old-Style Boxes
I’ve always loved the look of classic guitar amps, from the signature criss-cross speaker grilles of Vox through the classic Marshall stack to the old Fenders which look like your grandmother’s radio. And now Yamaha’s new THR range adds high-tech to arguably one of the best looking case-designs around.
There are two amps, the THR5 and [...]
There are two amps, the THR5 and [...]
Facebook for Robots Helps Droids Get Smarter [Robots]
Being a robot just got a little bit more sociable, now that droids have their own social network. At MyRobots.com, which launched today, robot owners can sign-up their automatons, create profiles for them - even include a photo and a name - and then leave them to update their own status. This might be a simple temperature reading - or the results of a clever face-recognition algorithm. More »
HP Sends $19 Refunds To Overcharged TouchPad Sale Partakers
If you were one of the lucky few that managed to snag a TouchPad during HP's (maybe) final fire sale of TouchPad inventory two weeks ago, you might be receiving a little present soon via PayPal.
It seems that some people were charged quite a bit extra for shipping. It seems a bit fussy to complain about when you're getting a device like this for such a ridiculous price, but hey, not everyone can spare ten bucks these days. Not only that, but there was chaos at eBay and PayPal during the promotion; many commenters complained of errors, lag, and lost orders. Fear not: you will be compensated for your troubles.
It seems that some people were charged quite a bit extra for shipping. It seems a bit fussy to complain about when you're getting a device like this for such a ridiculous price, but hey, not everyone can spare ten bucks these days. Not only that, but there was chaos at eBay and PayPal during the promotion; many commenters complained of errors, lag, and lost orders. Fear not: you will be compensated for your troubles.
Fly Or Die: The Mid-Size Tablet Revolution
There's been a recent interesting trend in the tablet market: devices 8 inches and smaller that are as powerful as their bigger cousins but considerably more portable and convenient. In this episode of Fly Or Die we talk about the mid-size trend and decide whether a smaller tablet makes for a better tablet.
Citi Survey: 27 Percent Watch Netflix Online Versus 15 Percent For Hulu
Both Netflix's brand and shares have been battered this year after price hikes last summer and the botched attempt to spin off the DVD rental business. Netflix was roundly criticized for its miscommunication with customers, but what's been the actual effect? Citi analysts Mark Mahaney surveyed almost 10,000 former and current Netflix customers to find out.
While overall satisfaction levels did decline, 57 percent of consumers surveyed are still either "very satisfied" or "extremely satisfied." That number is down from 83 percent in May, with a big drop in the number of people who are "extremely satisfied" coming down from 50 percent to 18 percent. (The "very satisfied" category actually grew 6 percent). Netflix is essentially holding its own. What's more, it actually increased its lead over Hulu among respondents. Asked which websites they use to watch movies or TV shows online, 27 percent said Netflix, versus 15 percent for Hulu.
While overall satisfaction levels did decline, 57 percent of consumers surveyed are still either "very satisfied" or "extremely satisfied." That number is down from 83 percent in May, with a big drop in the number of people who are "extremely satisfied" coming down from 50 percent to 18 percent. (The "very satisfied" category actually grew 6 percent). Netflix is essentially holding its own. What's more, it actually increased its lead over Hulu among respondents. Asked which websites they use to watch movies or TV shows online, 27 percent said Netflix, versus 15 percent for Hulu.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Kindle Fire Update: Everything That Was Bad Is Better [Kindle Fire]
Amazon dropped the anticipated and somewhat clamored for first update to its Fire. The bad news: it's a bit of a pain in the ass to install. The good news: it's completely worth it. The entire tablet feels energized. More »
Sony denies Vita plagued by screen issues, claims apology was lost in translation
Sony is a little hot under the collar after a recent wave of stories regarding some bugs that allegedly beguiled the first wave of PS Vita owners. As you may recall, reports were pouring in that many customers were experiencing freeze ups and other performance issues with their new handhelds, prompting Sony to issue an apology. Well, it seems as if something got lost in translation. A UK spokesperson for the company told the Guardian that the statement was actually apologizing to customers experiencing difficulty getting through to tech support, not for the screen issues that have been the subject of many a YouTube video. He went on to say that Sony has seen no evidence of widespread problems with the portable gaming device, though, there was firmware update made immediately available to address some bugs.Sony denies Vita plagued by screen issues, claims apology was lost in translation originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Guardian | Email this | Comments
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