RedEye Mini For iPhone and iPod Touch

RedEye Mini is not a red eye reduction product or a product that is photography related in anyway. RedEye Mini is the latest product release from THINKFLOOD. They are a new company that manufacturers infra-red adapters for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices that allows you to control other devices. The RedEye Mini is a small adapter that plugs into your headphone jack. By installing the associated software, your iPhone or iPod Touch turns into a sophisticated touch screen universal remote control for most of your home appliances.

Saturday Specials: Chillingo Catch Of The Day

In my second installment of Saturday Specials I take a look at some older Chillingo / Clickgamer titles. These were games that slipped under the radar (one for good reason), and I figured better late than never to tell you about them. I’d definitely suggest adding Potpourrii to your collection, especially if you’re a match 3 fan. As for the others, well, at least I’ll hopefully give you some food for thought.

Quick Look: Tilt To Live for iPhone

Tilt To Live is a great example of the necessary evolution of the “dodge ‘em all” genre of game play. No longer do you have to take your invasion of privacy by unwanted elements lying down. Now you can fight back with some really cool weapons. It’s time to tilt to live…

Saturday Specials: The 99 cent Smorgasbord

Ever bought a game at the App Store just because it was 99 cents? I do quite often, and I decided I wanted to share my thoughts on some of them with you. This is hopefully going to be a regular feature for me now on TechnoBrains, but I thought I’d start it out with a random sampling of games I picked up “just because” they were 99 cents.

Quick Look: Slug Wars for iPhone

Rating 4.33 out of 5

[?]First there were bazooka toting worms, then came angry snails, and now we have Slug Wars.  Unlike the first two which are clearly Scorched Earth clones, however, Slug Wars takes a simpler approach to the strategy genre.  Unfortunately, while the game looks good and has some interesting unit types, it’s ultimately [...]

Quick Look: Meltdown – Radioactive Platformer for iPhone

Meltdown was great when it came out on my PocketPC in 2006, and four years and a platform change haven’t made it any less enjoyable. Your mission is to guide Em-cee through 100 levels of reactors that are just dying to go into meltdown before you can flip all the necessary switches. The one button control makes it perfect for the iPhone, and the challenge in later levels is certain to keep you busy for some time.

Eating Healthy on a Busy Schedule

Many of us are busy throughout the day either sitting behind a desk on the computer or travelling with our mobile devices. It is very crucial that we maintain a good healthy diet with exercise. There are times when it just becomes difficult to take the necessary break to enjoy a good relaxing meal during the afternoon or early evening. I have a bad habit of eating unhealthy snacks like cookies, chips, and microwave popcorn.

Digital Camera Mondays: February 22

Today is one of those really gloomy days here in Toronto with snow flurries. Not ideal for picture taking since the lighting conditions and visibility are poor. This does not mean you cannot take some interesting shots though. To give you an idea, I took a couple shots from the top of my building. The first is of a chair covered in show and the other is a more distant view of the area. You can notice in both images a few white blotches which are actually larger clumps of show that appears out of focus.

Quick Look: Thumpies for iPhone

Standard rhythm games don’t really do a whole lot for me. Thankfully some developers are willing to look outside of the box and come up with something that skirts the realm of rhythm but in the end becomes something entirely different. Such is the case with Thumpies from Big Blue Bubble, and the result is a game that is fun, crazy, and quite addictive. The controls could use a bit of tweaking, but otherwise Thumpies is an absolute blast.

Quick Look: Arachnadoodle for iPhone

If you liked Spider: The Secret Of Bryce Manor, prepare to meet its little brother. If you’re not familiar with Bryce Manor you’re in for a treat. Prepare to guide the little doodle spider through 32 levels of web building fun. The graphics are fun, the music is upbeat, and best of all the rooms can actually be challenging to beat! This is a great game for beginners and somewhat seasoned puzzle gamers alike, and it’s also good for the whole family.

Quick Look: Radial 50 for iPhone

Want a new perspective on the breakout game genre? Radial 50 takes the classic concept of brick breaking and sets it in a 360 degree playing field. The visuals are nice, the music is pretty rockin’, and there are plenty of levels to challenge you. Just don’t expect this to be the game to convert you if you’re not already a fan of the genre.

Quick Look: Daisy Mae’s Alien Buffet for iPhone

Hey look, another dual stick shooter to get excited about. Well, Daisy Mae’s Alien Buffet actually kind of is. It turns out there’s actually more to this game than the Daisy Duke like charm the heroine attempts to exude. With a cool retro sci-fi theme, some interesting weapons at your disposal, and control options to ease the beginner in, there’s a lot to like about Daisy Mae. Besides, dual Tommy guns are always awesome!

Toronto, Canada

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Toronto, Canada is the home location for www.technobrains.com. Most of what we report and discuss on Technobrains is about products and services created and offered in the United States. There will be on occasion, products from Canada and overseas that catch our eye. With the vast number of mobility electronic products continously being [...]

Quick Look: Twice! for iPhone

I’m not a fan of the type of game where all the pictures are hidden and you have to flip tiles over two at a time to try and find matches. However, if I could find one that really thinks outside the box, I might be willing to spend some time with it. Unfortunately, Twice just isn’t the game. It’s too bad really, because I’m a big fan of Herocraft’s work. I just couldn’t get into this particular game. It’s not bad, it’s just not for me.

Quick Look: Hellkid for iPhone

Hellkid is another entry in the ever growing genre of “keep running, jumping and swinging” style games, and for me it’s one of the more addictive ones. It sports a cool main character, a slick environment, and some wicked arm extending. It just needs a few obstacles and a couple of additional environments to take it to the next level. I’ve certainly had some fun with it, though.

Quick Look: APPDOPE Website for iPhone

I was just contacted by Morgan Davies who runs www.appdope.com. This is website devoted to iPhone and iPod Touch related software promotions. This site keeps track of newly released software and monitors existing software for price drops and other incentives that benefit the end user.

Every Friday, www.appdope.com also gives away promotional codes to various software titles. According to Morgan, they currently have available over 50 promotional codes to giveaway. Anyone that owns an iPhone or iPod Touch should check out APPDOPE on a regular basis and especially on Fridays. You will need to register an account on APPDOPE and follow the links associated with the giveaway apps to qualify for the promo giveaways. I would suggest you go to www.appdope.com to get the whole story and enjoy what this great website has to offer.

Quick Look: iGuardian for iPhone

I once speculated that any scrolling shooter had to be a good game, right? One should always know better than to make such blanket statements, and iGuardian is the proof in the pudding (whatever that means). The game play is lackluster, the visuals are decent but low end compared to most other offerings, and the sound feels like it was just kind of thrown together. Fortunately there are plenty of alternatives in this genre, but I always hate having to count one out.

Quick Look: Dead Man’s Dungeon for iPhone

I’m not a big fan of the FPS genre, but it seems like a 3D dungeon crawl with the protagonist wielding guns should work reasonably well, right? Unfortunately, Dead Man’s Dungeon just doesn’t quite make the cut, especially considering some of the more recent 3D fare to hit the iPhone. The basics of the game just aren’t that interesting, and bland level design and mediocre graphics weigh it down even more. With some more work there could be something interesting, but right now it’s just not a whole lot of fun.

Apple iPad is Full of Juice

I having been reading various comments coming out of yesterdays Apple announcement on the Apple iPad. Some are positive but some are also on the negative side. Overall the impression I have is that the Apple iPad will do well once it becomes available. The starting price of $499.00 USD for the 16 Gb version is enough to peak interest in most people. I feel the Apple iPad is full of juice and not an over hyped product.

The iPad seems to be situated right in the middle of the smartphone and laptop category as far as functionality goes. No other ebook reader on the market currently or coming out this year except for the enTourage eDGe can be placed in the same category. Most are specifically ebook readers with some added online capabilities.

Quick Look: Watermelon! for iPhone

When I first saw the screen shots for Watermelon I thought to myself “I HAVE to try that game!” Turns out I was right. Watermelon is probably one of the most bizarre games I’ve played on my iPod Touch to date, and it’s also one of the most amusing. The game looks and sounds like a modern NES game, the character and concept are straight out of Shrek, and the action is fast, furious and addictive. In short, you should want this game too.

Quick Look: QSTARZ BT-Q1000eX GPS Lap Timer with eXtreme 5Hz log speed

A new handheld GPS unit comes to market with high speed data logging. Typically, a GPS device has been used to capture the location of the user at any given timeframe. Also, GPS units are allowing the user to keep more details about the actual trip like:

Total distance travelled
Total time taken
Average speed for the trip
Waypoints to determine actual route taken

Quick Look: Skee-Ball for iPhone

Can an electronic skee-ball game really be fun? There’s no stray hands grabbing your tickets by accident, no fear of random flying balls hitting you in the head, no attendant climbing up the machine because a ball (or some other foreign object) got stuck somewhere it shouldn’t have. Turns out that despite the absence of all that, this particular skee-ball implementation is a blast! You should just go get this now, but if you really need a review…

Quick Look: Starball for iPhone

Apparently Quantum Squid Interactive didn’t get the memo that Tilt To Live was going to be THE “avoid all the enemies” game on the App Store, because they came up with their own entry in the genre. I had the opportunity to take a pre-release build of the game for a spin, and while it was fun, I felt the subtitle “Simply Addicting” might have been a bit of overkill. It seems they decided to up the ante a bit. With multiple difficulties, 3 different themes and OpenFeint integration, Starball has a chance of grabbing the throne away from the one that would be king.

Quick Look: Ten Pin Championship Bowling for iPhone

Ten Pin Championship Bowling is a solid if pretty much uninspired implementation of bowling for the iPhone. The game looks decent, and the controls are pretty easy to navigate. Lack of a computer opponent and the annoying need to go back to the main menu between each game you play gets a bit frustrating after a while.

Preview: Tilt To Live for iPhone

If the previews keep coming in this strong I think 2010 is going to be an even better year for iPhone gaming than 2009. Tilt To Live clearly demonstrates that there’s still innovation to be had even in something as simple as a “dodge everything on the screen” style game. The special effects are cool, the music rocks, and the game is just plain fun. This is definitely one to keep your eye on.

Quick Look: Gold Miner Joe for iPhone

For the first time since I’ve started reviewing Donut Games games, I find myself unable to say “they did it again”. Gold Miner Joe is not by any means a terrible game, it just doesn’t seem to me to have the certain “something” most Donut Games offerings posses. I grew to like the game a bit more as I continued to play it, but overall it never really gripped me.

Science Fiction Meets Science Reality

Remember the movie “Star Trek IV – The Voyage Home”? Scotty needed to create a tank onboard to house two hump backed whales. He gave the technical specs to a manufacturer to create a sheet of transparent aluminum. A lab at Oxford University has now created such a transparent aluminum sheet. Now a company called Skiff will be releasing an ebook reader later this year which uses a thin transparent metallic layer instead of glass to protect the screen underneath. The silicon thin film transistors (TFT) are also on a flexible stainless steel substrate which makes the whole screen shatterproof and crack proof.

MSI: Musical Keyboard for your iPhone and iPod Touch

I have been a fan of MIDI ever since it became popular in the 80’s. In the 90’s MIDI controller keyboards became available that removed much of the sound processing and programming power from the actual keyboard synthesizer and relied on an external computer system as the source. This was revolutionary for those limited in budget but more importantly allowed musicians to use the keyboard mainly for playing and rely totally on the computer sequencing software to control the MIDI data. Most sequencing software at the time did not recognize specific makes and models of keyboard synths therefore manufacturer specific features were not directly accessible via the various computer music programs when someone used a full featured synthesizer.

I must have a twin working for ION Audio or a designer there must have read my mind. I say this because I have always wanted an external musical keyboard that I could dock into a handheld computer. Not connect via cable like to a laptop but have the keyboard actually merged with the handheld like the Windows Mobile device when they first came out.

Quick Look: Retro Fighter for iPhone

Scrolling shooters are one of my favorite things, so I’m usually willing to give one a try. Retro Fighter was no exception, and it actually proved to be a pretty fun experience. The visuals are interesting in their simple way, and the levels have a nice bit of variety to them. Controlling the ship in the 360 degree levels is a bit cumbersome, but all told Retro Fighter makes it pretty easy to blast alien scum.

Quick Look: WEPC.COM – Design Your Own Laptop

It is rare for a manufacturer to ask the general public openly for input and feedback on their next design project. ASUS a populur laptop and motherboard manufacturer that has teamed up with Intel a popular computer chip manufacturer to do just that. The website located at www.wepc.com allows you to send ASUS and Intel your ultimate laptop design details and the online community will discuss and vote on the designs submitted. Down the road, ASUS and Intel will take the most requested features or design concept and turn it into an actual product.

Que proReader vs enTourage eDGe

Full page ebook readers will be a huge market this year. With declining PC and netbook sales, the next surge will be tablet PC’s or more importantly PC/ebook/touch screen devices. No more DVD-ROMs, physical hard drives, expensive operating system upgrades or the $1000.00+ price tag.

CES LIVE: Jamie Sorcher Introduces Some of the Latest Products For 2010

Jamie Sorcher joins Bob Katayama from the floor of this years Consumer Electronics Show to tell us about some of the NEW and HOT products for 2010. Just Click the image below to watch:

Products Covered:
LG Next Generation Blu-Ray
Panasonic 3D Television
Polk Audio’s HitMaster
Entourage Edge
Logitech’s Lapdesk

Preview: Pro Zombie Soccer for iPhone

So how do you defeat wave after wave of menacing killer zombies? Why, with your trusty soccer ball of course. Or so it goes with Pro Zombie Soccer, anyway. This tongue-in-cheek look at zombie slaying games is colorful, the music sounds great, and best of all it’s loads of fun.

Quick Look: Digit Defenders for iPhone

Sitcoms always teach you that there’s never a good use for math. However, apparently it can help against an imminent invasion, as witnessed in the game Digit Defenders. This game has a nice mix of math problems from a variety of different levels of learning, but it’s really geared more towards reinforcing concepts than actually learning them. Still, what a way to reinforce mathematical concepts!

Interview With Jamie Sorcher Live From the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

I just had the pleasure of interviewing Jamie Sorcher and Jamie showcased 5 of the NEW and HOT products for 2010.

Products Covered:
Panasonic 3D Television
LG Next Generation Blu-Ray
Polk Audio’s HitMaster
Entourage Edge
Logitech’s Lapdesk
I will be posting the actual video once completed in the next day or two.

Stay tuned.

Bob Katayama Executive Editor

Quick Look: Imp Or Oaf? for iPhone

Have you ever wondered how to tell the difference between an imp and an oaf? Well, thanks to Gilded Skull Games you can take a crash course in just such a subject with an app for your iPhone appropriately titled “Imp Or Oaf?” Kids will probably love it. Adults just looking for a casual game to play might want to look elsewhere.

Quick Look: Gas Tycoon for iPhone

There have been a number of implementations of the “pipes” style of game on handhelds over the years, and they mostly tend to play the same as one another. Like a lot of these sub-genres, then, it really becomes a matter of which one you like best. For me, Gas Tycoon is one of the better implementations I’ve played in the past couple of years. It’s nothing fancy, but there are a lot of challenging levels, there’s no timer so you can think about what you’re doing, and you actually get rewarded for beating a level in the fewest number of moves possible.

Quick Look: Arctic Shuffle 2 for iPhone

Sometimes there’s a bit of truth to the old adage: If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It. Such is the case with Arctic Shuffle 2 for the iPhone. There are a couple of tweaks that were made to enhance the game play, but overall it’s basically the same as its predecessor, just with different level designs. That’s quite all right, because it’s still great fun to play.

Quick Look: Rail Adventures for iPhone

Evil has taken over the mountain, and you must escape before it ensnares you as well. In Rail Adventures you must ride a mine cart through five areas of the mountain, trying to make your way to the bottom and freedom. Fight everything from giant bats to spooky ghosts, and be sure to jump over the junk lying on the tracks…

Happy Holidays From All of us at Technobrains.com

We would like to wish everyone the best and the warmest holiday season. Hope 2010 bring continued joy and happiness to all of you and the people around you.

Happy Holidays.

Bob Katayama Executive Editor

DIY Digital Camera Kit For Kids

Rating 4.00 out of 5

[?]
Digital Camera Thursdays – December 24:
I can remember when I was a little kid, I would take many things apart with a simple screwdriver. I was curious on how a winding alarm clock or a wrist watch looked on the inside. Sometimes, I would wind up breaking a part or two. Luckily my [...]

Quick Look: Spider Hornet Smash for iPhone

The spider’s back, and this time it’s hornet hunting season. Spider: Hornet Smash is somewhat of a lite version of Secrets Of Bryce Manor in that it gives you a feel for the controls of the game, but it’s really a new game mode that doesn’t exist in the full game. It’s more action oriented than Bryce Manor, but just as fun. If you’ve not played Bryce Manor, you really need to check this out. If you have played Bryce Manor, you should still check this out. It’s free, so it’s a win-win situation.

Quick Look: The Mystical Woods Of Darkness for iPhone

The developer of The Mystical Woods Of Darkness likens the game to the classic Castle Of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse. I will admit that I can understand the inspiration, but the unfortunate reality is that Mystical Woods is a far cry from the quality of the compared title. However, I think there’s a lot of promise for the game, so hopefully some sales will encourage the developer to put additional time into creating a more polished product.

Quick Look: Rat On A Scooter XL for iPhone

“Look ma, a rat on a scooter!” “Don’t be silly, son, rats can’t drive scooters.” Apparently she’s never peered into the warped minds of the folks over at Donut Games, because they would probably disagree with her. And so we have Rat On A Scooter XL, a game that’s actually a full fledged spin-off of a mini-game from another Donut Games title. Turns out it’s just as addictive on its own, and this time there are more modes of play to keep you entertained.

Magellan(R) Launches Premium Car Kit for iPhone and iPod Touch

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]New Cradle Provides Complete Hands-Free Navigation Solution
SANTA CLARA, Calif. Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Magellan, one of the leading GPS brands, today announced an innovative new vehicle mount for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and second generation iPod touch. With a built-in GPS receiver for improved navigation accuracy, the Premium Car Kit [...]

MSI: Paper-thin Batteries Made from Algae

A number of researchers worldwide are developing paper thin batteries that will allow for paper thin products to hit the consumer shelves in the coming years. One concept being developed use algae which is available all around the world in large quantities. These batteries will be thin and light enough to be combined with traditional paper, fabric or solid material coatings to create all sorts of interactive displays and surface changing features.

Quote from www.livescience.com

“Scientists worldwide are striving to develop thin, flexible, lightweight, inexpensive, environmentally friendly batteries made entirely from nonmetal parts. Among the most promising materials for these batteries are conducting polymers.”

Potential 2012 Christmas gifts from the minds eye of Bob Katayama:

Technobrains Create QUICK LOOK Logo Program For Recommended Products

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Today, www.technobrains.com would like to announce that products that are recommended by our editors/writers can have a “QUICK LOOK Recommended” logo proudly associated with the product. Manufacturers and developers can use this “QUICK LOOK Recommended” logo on their website as part of their product literature and/or packaging.
The popularity of the QUICK LOOK postings on [...]

QUICK LOOK Logo Program

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Technobrains now has a QUICK LOOK Logo Program. This simple program allows any manufacturer or developer to proudly display the QUICK LOOK Recommended Logo on their website, product literature and/or packaging once Technobrains has deemed a product worth recommending.
The process is very simple;

Manufacturer or developer submits product to Technobrains for a [...]

FLip UltraHD vs KODAK Zx1 Pocket Video Camera

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Small unibody digital cameras are starting to become very popular for those that would like to have a camera handy anytime. The two most recognizable products currentlyavailable are the FLip Nino/Ultra series and the KODAK Zi/Zx series. All are approximately the size of a disposal camera and have simplified controls. For the vs comparison, [...]

Good.iWare Launches GoodReader Lite, a Free Version of its Highly Successful File Viewer for iPhone

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Good.iWare announces the launch of GoodReader Lite, a free version of its document viewer for iPhone and iPod Touch. GoodReader Lite is identical to the full version in the number of features, but limits the user to storing five files only at any given time.
As with the full version, GoodReader Lite [...]

Quick Look: Elf Command for iPhone

Let’s see: so far on the iPhone we’ve had Santa killing rogue elves, demonic children and zombies (?). How about something a little more lighthearted? Welcome to Elf Command, the game that sees Santa’s Workshop automated with robotic elves that must move presents from conveyor belts to collection platforms before time runs out. It starts out easy enough, but eventually builds to a frantic pace that will give most gamers a run for their money. It’s cute, it’s Christmas-y, and it’s free, so what do you have to lose?

Have You FLipped Out Yet? – FLip Ultra From Pure Digital

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]I just received a first generation FLip Video camcorder and I had to make this post as soon as I could. This is certainly old news but until I actually got my hands on one of these FLip cams, I had no idea how good the product actually is. If I was to design [...]

Quick Look: Action Hero for iPhone

The folks over at Donut Games know a thing or two about making a slick presentation. Fortunately, they can usually back it up with some addictive game play as well. Action Hero is no exception to the rule. Sure it’s “just” a run and dodge style game, but it’s a run and dodge game done with style.

Quick Look: Trigger Happy Christmas for iPhone

I know Santa’s supposed to be the jolly old sole in the big red suit that loves everyone, but sometimes he just has to take matters into his own hands. Especially when the elves develop sharp pointy teeth and nasty dispositions and threaten the very fabric of Christmas. Welcome to Trigger Happy Christmas, the game that wonders “what happens when Santa decides there’s no more mister nice guy?”

Nexus One Google Phone Sneak Peak

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Well, it had to happen eventually. The first images and details about an Android 2.1 based Google phone are now available. The details are still limited but if the information is accurate, the phone should be available for purchase unlocked. This would be great news for someone like myself that would love [...]

MSI: Watching Videos Directly on Your iPod Touch

Downloading videos to my iPod Touch is a real pain just as it has been with most of my music files. Early last year, I used to search the Internet for hacks and applications that would allow me to download videos from Youtube. I finally came across a version of RealPlayer which allows me to download the Youtube video and watch it anytime without streaming/downloading the same file from Youtube each time. Whenever I go to a video on Youtube or some of the other sites, I can mouse over the video and see a download video link appear on the top right of the Adobe Flash based video. Once I click the link, the video is automatically downloaded onto my laptop. This was a great Internet Explorer plugin that came with the FREE RealPlayer download.

Electric Pocket Has Released FestiveTones

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Electric Pocket has released FestiveTones — a holiday version of its MailTones app for iPhone — so now you can set certain holiday tones to play when specific people send you emails. The collection of alert tones include sleigh bells, brass bands and carols.
With FestiveTones, iPhone users can set a holiday [...]

Paragon Software Releases Handy Safe Pro Software, Advanced Mobile Data Protection for Windows Mobile Phones

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Professional Level of Private Data Protection, Strong Encryption and Password Security, Finger-friendly Interface and Smooth PC Sync
Freiburg, GERMANY – December, 2009 – Paragon Software Group announces the release of Handy Safe Pro, the new professional version of the best-selling private data storage application for Windows Mobile devices (Symbian S60 application was [...]

Eye-Fi Collaborates With Google’s Picasa to Make Storing and Sharing Memories Easier

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Consumers Who Buy 200GB or More of Extra Google Storage Receive a Free Eye-Fi Card in Time for the Holidays
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Dec. 8, 2009 — Today Eye-Fi Inc. announced a collaboration with Google’s Picasa that makes sharing and storing memories effortless, just in time for the holidays.  Anyone who [...]

Quick Look: Crush Bunny for iPhone

What do you get when you cross disaster movies with rabbits? Why you get Crush Bunny, of course. Your job is to protect innocent, unaware bunnies from the perils of falling asteroids and rogue bombardier rabbits. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. And as it turns out, it’s actually pretty fun.

Free For All Weekend: Why I Purchased an iPod Touch

Many of you have known me as a long time Windows Mobile PDA user. During the period of 2004 – 2008, I was also a Microsoft Valuable Professional in the mobility category for my contributions to the Windows Mobile online community. Since 2008, I have noticed a wave of iPhone and iPod Touch users. As with the older iPod devices, these users mainly listened to their vast collection of music and watched the odd TV show or movie. In early 2008, Windows Mobile developers started to contact me for reviews on iPhones and iPod Touch devices. Since I did not own an Apple product, I was not in any position to accept their offer.

As months past, I started to notice a decline in the release of new Windows Mobile games and applications. Looking into this immediately indicated that many Windows Mobile developers had started to expand into the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch arena. I would not have thought twice about this market switch if it was not for the fact that these games and applications were being made available on the iTunes store for 99 cents. Typically a similar game or application on the Windows Mobile would be anywhere from $9.95 – $19.95 with some being much higher. Initially, I took this as a introductory trend and within 4 – 6 months I felt I would start to see a large number of iPhone and iPod Touch applications appear in the $10.00 price range or higher.

Great Deals on iPhone Accessories From Wireless Ground

It’s always great when you can pickup some excellent deals a month before Christmas. Wireless Ground has a large number of deals available for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. Many of the deals are 50% off or greater. Also Wireless ground has FREE shipping for purchases over $50.00 USD and a flat rate of $3.95 for purchases under $50.00. You cannot miss this opportunity to purchase an Apple accessory before the Christmas sale is over.

Digital Music Fridays: Alternative to iTunes on Windows

Being a long time PC user, I had also started to use a Mac for artistic reasons in the last 3 years. The Mac computer excels in areas like photo editing, music editing, and various other multimedia based applications. One aspect of the Apple line that I have never really embraced is the iTunes application. I have always enjoyed other PC based applications like Real Player and even Windows Media Player.

I recently acquired a third generation iPod Touch and the more I try to get comfortable with iTunes, the more I dislike iTunes. I have problems transfering or syncing my music collection easily to the ipod Touch due to DRM issues or others issues which the iTune application does not clearly indicate. Transfering files over to the iPod as a generic file is not possible through iTunes. There is no way to see the iPod Touch as a physical drive letter or folder to transfer files to. Everything must be imported into iTunes for syncing and all the non Apple acceptable files cannot be imported for syncing.

Quick Look: Crazy Turkey Blast for iPhone

Thanksgiving may be over, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had hunting turkeys on your iPhone. That is, of course, if you have Crazy Turkey Blast from EZone.com. The shooting may be standard fowl fare, but the prize system and immense number of combination of themes will keep you coming back for more.

Quick Look: Teh Internets for iPhone

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to pilot your own ROFLcopter, now is your chance to find it. Thanks to Insurgent Games and Teh Internets, you can navigate the inner reaches of the internet, dodging popup windows and defeating trolls as you try to rescue LOLcats. And don’t worry, you’re not alone if you don’t know what any of this means. Just read the review…

MSI: Missil MP4 Player Video Conversion Issues

Over the past few days, I have been looking into the Missil Line of Mp4 players. These seem to be popping up in clearance centres and discount stores at reasonable prices. Scouring the Internet seems to indicate that many users are having problems playing the various video file formats that are indicated as being suppported.

The problem with the Missil line of Mp4 media players are that the devices are old. The formats supported by the hardware are those that where popular over 2 years ago. To clarify, many of the current video files available for download like Avi, WMS, MP4, MPEG, all use an internal codec that are more upto date and are not backward compatible. Unless the software or firmware on the Missil MP4 players can be updated to handle the newer codec, these current files cannot be played or even recognized as a valid video file format.

Tech Buyers Guide

Populare Science Magazine has made available their Tech Buyers Guide online for FREE viewing.

http://popsci.com/buyersguide

Quick Look: Santa’s Run for iPhone

It’s time to deliver the packages! Yes, this is yet another game focused on the theme of helping Santa get the presents out to all the little boys and girls. However, this one has a rather interesting control scheme. It’s fun to look at and listen to, and overall enjoyable to play.

GPS Wednesdays: November 25th

Tips on Buying a Useful Car Navigation GPS
Knowing exactly what you need in a GPS device is very important before making the leap to buying one. There are car navigation versions, mobile versions, marine plus GPS add-ons for PDA and computers. All can be used or adapted for use in the car but none are suited specifically for use in the car like a true car navigation GPS.

TIPS When Buying:

GoPro HD Hero vs VholdR ContourHD – Extreme Sport Digital Camera

Extreme Sports have been very popular in the last 20+ years. It has always been a challenge for these sports enthusiasts to visually document their amazing accomplishments. Digital cameras have allowed many in the past 10 years or so to strap on a handheld camera to their helmet or carry as they performed their daredevil stunts. These cameras are bulky and prone to all sorts of problems. Within the last 2 years, we have seen some interesting advances in portable HD camera designs. The two cameras I will compare are specifically designed for the extreme sports enthusiast to strap on and record their achievements in 1080p HD video.

Free For All Weekend – November 22nd

We are now in the tail end of November and we have experienced one of the best November weather in a good number of years. This has allowed me to devote more time outdoors instead of being under the covers staying warm. To maximize the enjoyment of this great weather, I have been taking part in various activities. Most activities are those that allowed me to get some exercise and enjoy the simple things in life.

Quick Look: Finger Sling for iPhone

It almost sounds like a contest for flicking boogers, but Finger Sling is not that kind of app, thankfully. It’s actually a nice little action / strategy game that takes the “king of the hill” recess game concept and applies it to balls. The game is simple, quick and fun, and it looks pretty sharp too.

Quick Look: Transylvania for iPhone

Sometimes it’s fun taking a trip down memory lane, especially when it comes to playing the computer games we used to play when we were kids. Unfortunately I don’t remember too much about the game computer game Transylvania when I was young, but after playing it on the iPhone I can see why I liked it back then. Now another generation of players can see what adventure games used to be like as well.

Are You Addicted to Twitter? – If so, You Need This New Device Called the TwitterPeek.

I thought carrying a cellphone, point and shoot camera, MP3 player and a PDA was bad enough. How about adding a TwitterPeek device to the collection? This new offering seems like a great addition to the geeky mobile person I have become. It is a simple device that allows you send and receive emails plus do twittering on the go. The cost of the device is not cheap though. At $199.00 USD, it is not a really high cost but the advanatge is it comes with a lifetime of free service with no added cost or contracts. There is the option to buy a unit for only $99.00 USD with a 6 months worth of free service and the added service fee afterwards is only $7.95 per month USD which is not bad either.

Will this technology really take off?

Will Coins and Bills Eventually Disappear to be Replaced With an Electronic Wallet?

In Canada it is taken for granted that we can use our ATM/ABM (Automated Teller Machines – Automated Bank Machines) cards to buy gas, food at groceries, restaurants, liquor stores and elsewhere. Most places of business accept direct debit card transactions. Some places do pose a $5.00 minimum but that is a small price to pay for added convenience. Sure most countries accept credit cards for the same type of purchases but not always a debit card. Even in the United States, many states lack the acceptance of debit cards unless it is a debit card and credit card combination like a Mastercard debit card. These cards are not the same since you still need to top up the Mastercard debit card when the funds run low on the card.

In most Canadian cities, you have ATM/ABM machines in banks open 24/7, in convenience stores, bars and even ATM/ABM only locations. Some cities even have ATM/ABM drive thru. The only convenience area that still lacks the use of an ATM/ABM card is on vending machines. Some do exist but not a common sight yet. To carry cash or go to a bank to withdraw cash first before shopping is nolonger a neccessity. Many major retailers and businesses also allow a CASH BACK transaction with the purchase. This makes it truly convenient when you are strapped for time.

Digital Camera Mondays: November 16th

Many amateur photographers feel that they lack the quality in their photos since their equipment they use is not as great as those used by professional photographers. Professionals do have an advantage over amateurs purely by the fact that their equipment are more expensive and higher in imaging quality. This does not automatically mean someone with an expensive camera will always take better photos. Many professionals lack one element when on a photo shoot. This element is time therefore many professionals use the more expensive cameras to allow them to quickly adjust and set the camera for the ever changing lighting conditions or use equipment that is specifically suited for the condition they are shooting in. Lower priced consumer cameras take much longer to adjust for each shooting condition meaning the opportunity to take that one money making shot could be lost.

Today, I wanted to discuss how you can utilize your existing camera equipment to improve your photos since time is not an issue. First and foremost is you need to understand the ins and outs of your current camera. All digital cameras have a number of buttons that allow for customization. Be it from adjusting the ISO setting, white balance, how the camera focuses, if the flash is on or off etc. . .

Quick Photo Tip – Using the Point and Shoot Auto Focus

Most amateur photographers are in a hurry when taking photos. At a gathering, picnic, concert or just taking photos in general, most users just press the shutter button and hope for the best. One specific feature built into all cameras that most take for granted is the auto focus. Most people feel that just the press of the button to shoot the image is sufficient for the camera to focus and take that good photo. In many situations, this is not the case. Many point and shoot cameras lack the speed in making the proper adjustments in that micro second available during the press of the shutter button. Therefore, all camera makers provide the ability for the camera to auto focus by pressing the shutter button half way for 3 – 5 seconds before pressing the shutter button all the way to snap the photo.

Quick Look: Giga Force for Pocket PC

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Yep, you read that right.  Long before I was hopelessly addicted to my iPod Touch I wrote reviews for games on some of those OTHER mobile platforms.  I was approached a couple months ago and asked if I would take a look at this new Pocket PC shooter called Giga Force [...]

Quick Look: Gold Keeper for iPhone

Ever wanted to walk in the hooves of a demon and defend hordes of gold against human thieves? Of course you have… well, maybe not. Now you can, though, thanks to Gold Keeper for your iPhone from Digital Worlds. Turns out its actually a bit of fun.

Preview: Finger Sling for iPhone

Finger Sling sounds like something a child does when they have a rogue booger, but in fact it’s actually a simple yet engaging action game coming soon to your iPhone. How long can you protect the white ball from all the attacking brown balls? That depends on how accurate your slinging is. Read the full preview to figure out what this crazy reviewer’s talking about…

Quick Look: Hockey Allstar Shootout for iPhone

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]I’m all for mini-games.  For example, Skyworks has several that pretty fun, including some in the sports category.  Unfortunately, there’s a point at which mini becomes too mini.  I suppose for each person that line is different, so it does end up being somewhat of a judgment call.  For me, Hockey [...]

Quick Look: Crazy Chicken Deluxe for iPhone

Chicken hunting has never been quite as fun as when you’re hunting the crazy chicken. This light and colorful game is sure to keep you amused as you try and pluck chickens from the sky (or wherever else they might be hanging out). The graphics are wonderful, the game is easy to pick up and play, and at a minute and a half a session, you’re guaranteed not to get bored.

Quick Update: Frootrees Halloween Edition for iPhone

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]You can read my review of the original Frootrees here.  Suffice it to say you probably should if you want to know about this game, and you probably want to know about this game because it’s a lot of fun.  Anyway, just in time for Halloween Tin Man Games released a [...]

Quick Look: TriColor for iPhone

You got your match 3 in my Tetris! Those of you old enough know where this argument is going, and for the rest, let’s just say that at a minimum you could describe the game TriColor as a cross between Tetris and match 3. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have any features to set it above either of those types of games, and in fact is a bit lacking in comparison. I guess if you’re a no frills player TriColor might do, but for anyone else you might consider the many alternatives present in the App Store.

Quick Look: Frootrees for iPhone

Did you ever think picking fruit from a tree was boring? You’ve obviously never done it the Frootrees way before. This is one of those rare games that’s kid friendly while at the same time challenging for adults. And I guarantee you’ll never look at fruit the same again.

Quick Look: GumDrops for iPhone

Are you a Dr. Mario fan saddened by the fact that game will never grace your iPhone screen? GumDrops might help you pass the time in Dr. Mario’s absence. Solid controls will get you hooked, and four different game modes will keep you busy for quite some time. Gumdrops with expressive faces and some classical music help seal the deal.

Quick Look: iPlutoid for iPhone

Are you looking for something different in a scrolling shooter? iPlutoid is definitely the game for you. iPlutoid takes the scrolling shooter genre to the third dimension in a fashion similar to Speroids, though it kicks things up a couple of notches. This game is certainly worth checking out.

Quick Look: Robo for iPhone

Robo is a fresh take on the “mirrors and lasers” style of game. You must push lasers, mirrors, boulders and bombs around each level, trying to clear a path to the exit so you can leave. 76 levels of challenging traps await, with excellent graphics and a rockin’ sound track to keep you entertained.

CyberLink Launches TrueTheater Enhancer, the Video Playback Enhancer for YouTube

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]
Taipei, Taiwan—October 15, 2009—CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected media lifestyle today released CyberLink TrueTheater Enhancer that improves the playback quality of videos on YouTube™, including “High Quality” and “HD” online video content. Based on the same advanced TrueTheater Technology that is featured in CyberLink’s leading DVD player [...]

GREAT HEADPHONES ARE LIKE READING GLASSES FOR YOUR AUDIO BOOK

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]

 Phiaton Offers Book Lovers a Great Listen;
Announces $100 Discount With Audiobooks from Audible.com!
– Hi Res Photos and Review Samples Available Upon Request –
 
Irvine, CA – Phiaton, a top premium headphone brand is giving book lovers an ultimate audiobook experience from Audible.com, a leading provider of premium digital spoken-word information and entertainment.  Starting [...]

Quick Look: SpeedQUEST for iPhone

When I was growing up I used to love role playing games, especially when you had to spend a lot of time building up your characters and solving quests. Nowadays I don’t have the time for such epics any more, but I still like the idea of fighting monsters, collecting treasures, and saving hapless people. It seems that at least one developer has tried to accommodate me in the form of SpeedQUEST, or as I like to call it “speed dating for the RPG crowd”.

Quick Look: Horseshoes Pro for iPhone

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]I was never real big on playing horseshoes when I was a kid, probably because I wasn’t very good at it.  Something about chucking a metal quasi-ring at a barely protruding metal pole that sat yards away that just didn’t click with me.  As it turns out, I’m not very good [...]

Quick Look: Did I Download That? Part 2

Did I Download That? Part 2 takes a look at two very different but fun games. Harvester gives you the chance to play an alien collecting Earth specimens with your UFO. In Napsters you must wake up all the sleeping critters in each level without giving them too much light.

Quick Look: Blockit! for iPhone

Protecting your bubble at all costs is your mission in Blockit! The trick is that you only have three blocks to place between your bubble and the incoming spikes, so you have to be careful when placing and replacing blocks. The concept is sound, but lack of variety keeps this from being entertaining for very long.

Quick Look: 7 Deaths for iPhone

The story of 8 “warriors” locked in combat should have the makings of a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon epic. Unfortunately, while the characters are interesting and the dialog witty, the action in 7 Deaths is repetitive and ultimately lacking.

Quick Look: Connected for iPhone

Hey, you got your sliding puzzle game mixed with my connect the pipes game! Welcome to Connected, the next generation of the pipes genre of games. Even if you’ve played 100 other pipes style games, Connected’s unique method for moving pieces around the board makes this another one you should add to your collection.

MSI: Apple iPhone – Software Quick Look

Apple iPhone users should read Eric’s QUICK LOOK’s on iTouch/iPhone software. These overviews on third party software programs are a great source to determine if your hard earned money and time is worth the investment. If any of the titles listed in the Comprehensive Reviews/ 1 QUICK LOOK section are of interest to you, just read Eric’s comments before making the decision to download or purchase.

Quick Look: Skyscrapers for iPhone

Rating 4.00 out of 5

[?]I’m glad that Skyworks is continuing to work on non-sports related games, because they are actually turning out some interesting “pick up and play” type games.  This time around we have Skyscrapers, where the goal of the game is to build – you guessed it – skyscrapers.  It uses a simple [...]

Preview: Underground for iPhone

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]I admired the developers of Circuit.Strike.One for trying to make a game that couldn’t be mistaken for your traditional shooter.  I guess I’m too old fashioned, however, because I really couldn’t get into that game.  Then along comes Underground, which is about as traditional as you can get – at least [...]

Quick Look: Card Drop for iPhone

Tired of the same old solitaire, but looking for a mobile card game to pass the time between heavy hitting games? Card Drop from Kuyi Mobile is just the game for you. A soothing melody, some reflex-inducing action and simple play mechanics make for a nice diversion from whatever’s on your mind.