Popcap Games is known all over the world for a wide array of flash-based games. From the incredibly successful colorful match-em’ Bejeweled, to the marble-smashing Zuma, Rocket Mania and Bookworm. Their portfolio of games is, all in all, quite impressive. Today though, Popcap Games announced via their Twitter stream that their well-loved plant-munching, zombie-infested tower defense title Plants Vs Zombies, which is available for both PC and Mac, is coming to iPhone February 15th.

The game involves using a variety of plants including potato mines, peashooters, cattails and hypno-shrooms (to name just a few), to repel an army of zombies led by “Doctor Zomboss”, a giant machine with zombie commanding it. The homeowner, along with a neighbor (called Crazy Dave), must defend the homeowner’s house during day or night, in the front yard, the backyard, and even on the roof!

“Several plants are nocturnal, like mushrooms, having a lower sunlight cost and are ideal for nighttime levels, but will remain asleep during daytime levels unless startled by a coffee bean. In the “back yard” levels that includes a swimming pool, seeds must be planted atop lily pads on water spaces, while on the roof levels, all seeds must be planted in clay pots. The various plant abilities range from firing projectiles at zombies, turning zombies against each other, quickly exploding and wiping out an area of zombies, and slowing down zombies through a high defensive value. Certain plants are highly effective against specific types of zombies, such as a magnet-shroom that can remove a bucket or another obstacle being used for defense from a zombie’s head.”

Continue reading PopCap Games Announces Plants Vs Zombies for iPhone. Hits February 15th. »

Game trailers are serious business. The decisions that you come to on a daily basis sometime come down to whether or not a quality game trailer has been made. Even if you don’t particularly care for trailers, I watch them religiously and often highlight apps that put in that extra bit of effort.

Last week I went ahead and put in my best trailer ever vote for Chillingo’s newest title, The Hero. Perhaps my vote was premature. This week I’m not even going to leave it up to me. Let the readers be the judge! This weeks showdown is between two game trailer powerhouses. On one side, we have Chillingo’s trailer of the hero, which is still all sorts of amazing to me. On the other side, we have ustwo’s trailer for ..™. They pride themselves on their trailers for the entire .™ coolectable series, but I personally like the ..™ trailer the best. Watch both trailers after the break and let us know who wins… I have to know!

VS


Continue reading Mobile Showdown – Game Trailers »

The App Store is known for its sales, and just like December and the holiday discount, February is no different, at least for London UK-based mobile development studio Origin8. Developer of “The Sentinel” series, Origin8 have announced “February Freebie Fever,” a sale which will see the company drop the price to FREE on one of it’s App Store hits. Every Friday in the month of February, Origin8 will make one of their App Store titles absolutely free for the busy weekend period.

The sale comes as Sentinel: Mars Defense is about to turn a year old on the 19th February. The sale has already started with Car Mania becoming free last Friday up until today. Details of future weekend deals will be announced via the company’s various social networking accounts on the day of the sale.

“The Sentinel: Mars Defense anniversary provides us with a great excuse to spread some love to our players, and it’s a logical point for us to take a look back over an exciting year. Our aim is to develop games that stand out for their high quality and we want to get them into as many hands as we can. The iPhone as a gaming platform has grown spectacularly over the past year – many current players won’t have owned an iDevice at the time of the original Sentinel release, so we’re giving them a chance to catch up with our back catalogue for nothing.”

Continue reading Origin8 Launches App Store “February Freebie Fever” Sale »

This isn’t a joke, well at least the title isn’t. The tagline on the e-mail that I got about the game was “IFUN4ALL AIMS TO CREATE WORST GAME EVER ”. They really do know the way to a man’s heart. The e-mail goes on to say,”Games developer and publisher iFun4all is quick to expand his portfolio of game series in most bizarre way one could think of. They’ve created game so bad that the best title producers could think of was Crap of Defense. To achieve such horrible quality company CEOs limited the budget to equivalent of 500 Russian Roubles and tried to combine remote work of “cost effective” workers worldwide.”

“Our idea was to make tower–of–defense type of game and reverse the concept” says Fülöp Mészáros, one of most world–renown Hungarian designers (out of two). “In normal ToD game you place the towers and they shoot automatically. In our game you have your tower already placed and you shoot it yourself. It has to be fun!” continues Fülöp, who was fired from the company as soon as beta tests proved correctness of his assumptions (or rather lack of it).”

I don’t often get excited about app previews without awesome trailers, but if Rudy’s “Country Store” taught me anything, it’s that you should always trust things that claim they are the worst.

With all the iPad mumbo-jumbo going around, I decided to ask an industry vet about the situation. I got in contact with Keith Adair, I-play’s VP of Sales & Marketing to ask some questions about where I-play is going, where the App Store will go, and most importantly, where Waldo is. You’d think he would be easier to find with those stripes!

Continue reading 4Q Interview: I-play »

As you may know by know, I have this obsession with high quality game trailers. Chillingo’s new trailer for Traplight Games new app “The Hero” just obliterated the rest of the iPhone trailer competition, with what could be the best promo video for a game since the commercials for the original Gears of War. Enjoy!

According to the superhero evaluation on Traplight’s website, The Hero “reveals clear signs of Super Human Stress Disorder (SHSD) caused by exposure to threats such as meteors, zombies, UFO’s, ninjas, giant insects and falling babies. Constant impacts and flying at high speeds have also caused micro tears in brain tissue, possibly explaining momentary episodes of disorientation. SHSD is a condition caused by both, psychological and physiological elements. Condition can be summarized as mental breakdown caused by physical stress combined with inflated ego and a sense of omnipotence.”

I can’t wait to play. Expect “The Hero” to take over the App Store later this month.

While the guys over at iTextSpeed aren’t quite the Guiness Book of World Records committee, they probably do have a pretty good grasp of iPhone texting speed. According to this recent youtube post, the fastest iPhone texter comes in at 56 WPM. Considering the fact that most adults don’t type faster than 56 WPM on a real keyboard, this is quite impressive.

Even if you don’t plan on challenging these serious typing skills, iTextSpeed is probably a great app to have for those of you who say ridiculous things like “I’m all thumbs” and “my fingers are too big”. Pick it up, it’s only 99 cents.

It’s no secret that the App Store economy is artificially deflated, but none have been quite as outspoken as the guys over at ustwo™. Their blog proclaims that “UK studio ustwo™ have launched a tongue-in-cheek (yet serious) campaign against 59p app pricing (that’d be 99 cents in the US, obviously). “F*** 59p. I’d rather nothing than that insult price.” Inspired by their tongue-in-cheek rage, I decided to send a few questions over their way to get the real scoop.
Continue reading 4Q Interview: ustwo™ »

You may remember towards the end of the year, Apple introduced a new online system which allowed you to preview information for both singles and albums in its current iTunes back catalogue, using its official iTunes URLs, without the need to physically launch iTunes. Then, as we noted, later in the year they also added the ability to actually listen to 30 second audio snippets of these products, effectively moving the iTunes catalogue online. This system became more commonly known as iTunes Preview.

Following on from the music-centric previews added to iTunes Preview, Apple has today quietly activated the same system for all of its App Store URLs associated with its application catalogue. So, what does this mean? Well, this means you can now fully preview applications, including the application’s icon artwork, its accompanying screenshots, pricing information, App Store ratings, customer reviews, release date, seller and more, directly within your browser without ever needing to open iTunes. This, of course, comes alongside a “View in iTunes” button which then takes you directly to the product stated on iTunes. The new page replaces the old page which featured a simple dialogue box which asked if you wished to launch iTunes.

Even though an iSight camera (or its accompanying UI) wasn’t shown off last Wednesday’s iPad media event, speculation has now fallen to if the iPad will ship with one. These rumors started when Steve showed the device to the media. For a split second (around the 9:24 mark on the video podcast), you’ll see the studio lights catch what appears to be a concealed hole in the top center of the iPad’s new bezel. Sure, we’ve been here before. This could be a number of things, an ambient light or proximity sensor for one.

Granted, this “evidence” is pretty sketchy, and probably likely to be debunked, but it gets better. Mission Repair today started to receive replacement Apple iPad parts of which it posted some shots of on their blog. Among the parts was the iPad’s outer frame .. and guess what? It has a molded slot which fits the iSight camera part, perfectly. The photo shows the iPad’s outer frame (top), an Apple Macbook iSight unit (middle), and the Macbooks inner frame (bottom).

Wired reports the iPad simulator seeded as part of the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK still features a “Take a Photo” OS action, when adding a contact’s photo to Contacts.app, for example. There’s even speculation that the reason Apple didn’t show the camera at the event was due to its then unfinished supporting UI. This image posted by Shaun supports the rumor, suggesting that Apple didn’t just leave in the same UI from iPhone OS, but that it has been modified to look and feel dedicated to the iPad, although as you can tell, it’s far from final.

Maybe we’ll see another event at the end of March, just before they launch the Wi-Fi iPad model. “One More Thing?” .. Or could this be a design choice for a future iPad model? I’m sure we’ll find out soon!

It hasn’t been long at all since the release of Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery, but the folks at Ubisoft have already announced their plans to release a third Assassin’s Creed game on the App Store. Titled “Assassin’s Creed II: Multiplayer,” this iPhone-exclusive title will feature some sort of four-player assassin deathmatch. The screenshots show a top-down view and feature environments inspired by the cities featured in Assassin’s Creed II.

It’s all live, and will use a WiFi connection for matches, which is a bit disappointing—Bluetooth is so much simpler!—but it’s possible that that detail was simply omitted for brevity’s sake. You’ll have six powerups at your disposal, but perhaps your most important tool will be your assassin’s stealth, as you can take advantage of your environments and hide within crowds of citizens. The teaser website also mentions a “notoriety” system, which will use a “dynamic ranking system” to place players on the leaderboards, as well as built-in achievements. You’ll be able to challenge friends to matches, but I hope that random matchups are also included.

You can read the full details revealed so far on Ubisoft’s website. In the meantime, we’ll anxiously await the release of more information (or better yet, the game itself!). We’ve already seen two solid ports of the Assassin’s Creed DS games to the App Store, and this iPhone-exclusive title should be very interesting.

Falling Balls

Falling Balls is a super basic FREE game app from developers WickedPissahGames and Bit-101. Now what do I mean by “super basic”?

The game starts with you as the stick figure hero, with the unenviable task of dodging falling balls. At first I thought, “Hey, this is pretty easy, I tilt left – dude goes left; I tilt right, dude goes right.” Mere seconds go by when suddenly balls fall off the top left corner! I screeched with surprise as I was nearly squished. More time went by and more and more balls were dropped. It became apparent that I did not have the skill to continue at this pace, so the game decided it was time that my fate would be death. A ball bounced off the little stick figure creating a splat of blood, and an extremely annoying scream. High score…19. Throughout the next hour I continued to play, getting higher and higher scores until I eventually hit the amazing score of….50. The scream of the dead stick man eventually got to me and I was done. I can still here the screams of those little guys, they haunt my dreams.

Continue reading David’s Low Budget App Corner: Falling Balls and Marbles Multiball 3d (Free Edition) »

Well, this is certainly a neat idea. Navizon, a global positioning software development company, needs to gather data on WiFi access points and cell towers. Guess what? Plenty of iPhone users drive past such spots every day. And now Navizon has an iPhone app…as well as a rewards program.

Here’s how it works: you open the iPhone app, and you get points for driving past WiFi access points and cell towers. Cell towers net you 15 or 2 points (you get more points if you’re the first to discover them) and WiFi access points get you 3 or 1 point(s). Once you accumulate 10,000 points, Navizon pays you $15. Cyril Houri, CEO of Navizon Inc, claims that some of their users make as much as $15-$100 per week. Now, that’s probably a little high for most of us, but for cab drivers, truck drivers, or those who simply have long commutes, it could be plausible.

There are a few downsides that become apparent when you dig a little deeper. For one, the app is free…sorta. The lite version only allows you to get one $15 reward, so for an “unlimited” number of rewards, you’ll need to get the $10 app.

Also, the app needs to be running in order for you to earn points. That means leaving it open, constantly—so if you like to listen to Pandora or use a GPS app, well, tough luck. This isn’t Navizon’s fault, but just one irritating result of Apple’s ban on background processes. Apparently jailbroken iPhones can download an app that runs in the background from Cydia, the so-called alternative app store.

Those few caveats aside, it’s still an intriguing idea, especially if you spend a lot of your day in a car. 10,000 points is an awful lot, though, so don’t expect to become rich off of this app. Let us know if you’ve tried it!

Just under a week after Apple’s media event, iPhone OS 3.1.3 is now available for both iPhone and iPod touch. The update comes after Apple released iPhone OS 3.2, which is iPad exclusive, to developers in its ADC network. As expected by many, this new update includes no new features however it does come packed with a few security fixes.

Including:

- Improves accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS
- Resolves issue where third-party apps would not launch in some instances
- Fixes a bug that may cause an app to crash when using the Japanese Kana keyboard

The update is compatible with all iPhone and iPod touch models, and is available for download from iTunes right now.

It’s hard not to love ngmoco. From Rolando to Eliminate, their catalog is bursting with App Store classics. It’s exciting, then, to hear that they’ve got a new game in the works…specifically, a “social game” entitled We Rule.

ngmoco might be calling it a social game, but the first word that jumped to my mind was “simulation.” Here’s an excerpt from ngmoco’s announcement:

In We Rule, you will govern your very own kingdom. You will act as a city planner and landscaper—customizing your realm with buildings, banners, and botany. You’ll decide what crops to plant and ensure they are harvested on time. You will collect taxes from your citizens and manage a variety of shops and businesses – from bakeries and inns to lumber mills and ore mines.

It sounds like the basis for an excellent simulation game, and some sort of social aspect will obviously play a key role. As to what exactly it will be, well, we’ll have to wait to learn more.

Also of note is that ngmoco will be partnering with Newtoy for We Rule. Newtoy has a pretty solid pedigree—the games they helped create range from Halo Reach to Words With Friends—and coupled with ngmoco’s own talent and finesse, We Rule is almost guaranteed to be great. We’ll update you when ngmoco releases more information!

Dual Electronics has updated their site promising that the XGPS300 Navigation Cradle for the iPod Touch, originally expected in November ‘09, will be shipping later this February. The cradle offers GPS support for all models of the iPod Touch and comes bundled with a Windshield Mount kit and the NavAtlas App all for the price of $179.99. While some critics have taken aim at the price point claiming it to be too steep for a consumer who might as well buy a dedicated standalone GPS unit, there are some features of this that might make the expense a little easier to swallow.

Adding significant value to the deal is the battery pack portion of the cradle which can be switched on and off as necessary. Whether it be to keep the GPS from draining all of the touch’s power or simply as a power boost to keep the it kicking, the XGPS300 is capable of doubling its battery life. Battery pack cases alone usually cost between $60-$100, not to mention that this also means you’re not tethered to your car. Unlike many other standalone GPS units, which get all of their power from the cigarette lighter, this one can be taken hiking, biking, swimming…well maybe not swimming, but you get the idea.

Continue reading GPS for an iPod Touch, Coming in February »

As you probably already know by now, last Wednesday Apple unveiled to the world its new “tablet computer” – the Apple iPad. Shortly after the event came to a close, like always, Apple issued registered developers of it’s ADC network the next beta of the iPhone OS SDK. Version 3.2. Now among trivial changes, like this version of OS only being compatible with the iPad, one change has been uncovered which is slightly confusing.

If you’re not familiar with VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol, the technology allows for telecommunication using the internet. Take a service like Skype, for example. It uses VoIP to connect its millions of users to other users around the world at very little, or no cost at all. Ever since the introduction of the iPhone SDK, Apple has stood by the fact that its partnering mobile networks, AT&T in the US and O2 in the UK, weren’t so keen on the fact that developers could (if they wanted) use VoIP to circumvent monthly call plans. So, Apple being Apple and wanting to keep relations sweet put a restriction on the iPhone SDK stating that use of VoIP over a 3G data connection was prohibited.

Late Wednesday night though this all took a turn around – for the better, with the introduction of the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK Beta – as now, this SDK does support VoIP over the iPhone’s 3G network. In fact, a few applications, such as iCall and Fring, are already supporting this new rule, ultimately saving you money on phone calling through local and international ad-supported calling. This all leaves me to ask myself one question .. What must AT&T, O2 and the other mobile networks selling iPhone call plans around the world, think of this move? Did they sanction it? Maybe they believe they’re going to make so much of a killing off 3G pre-pay plans with the iPad this Spring, that they don’t care about loss of revenue in regards to call plans on the iPhone?

Continue reading iPhone OS SDK 3.2 Beta Lifts VoIP Over 3G Restriction. AT&T and O2 Say “Wahh?!” »

Aliens and hot chicks…sounds like an interesting combination, right? IUGO, developer of the Toy Bot Diaries series and Implode!, among others, is bringing us just that in their latest game, Daisy Mae’s Alien Buffet. The main character is apparently a trailer-park-gal-turned-alien-hunter, and you’ll be helping her catch some prey for her diner in this wacky dual-stick shooter. It’s currently slated for a February release.

Oh, and the features list? It includes “purty graphics,” “sassy costumes to unlock for Daisy Mae’s hoedown,” and “taunt” moves for stunning aliens along with your standard things like auto-save and leaderboards.

We’ve seen a lot of stuff from IUGO, but nothing quite like this. We’ll let you know when this, er, “alien hoedown” hits the App Store. For now, check out IUGO’s promo video.

A while ago I gave you the heads up on WordCrasher. Developed by Kevin Ng who has consequentially worked with gaming outfits such as EA and RockStar Games, WordCrasher is Kevin’s first debut app for iPhone. Colorful and fast-paced WordCrasher is a letter match-up title which sees you matching letters in any way which suits you. With its various challenging game modes and graphically exciting UI, it’s not surprising that the game, having launched, is currently sitting at number 2 in the iTunes UK charts for the gaming category ‘Word Games’.

Yesterday though, to my surprise, Kevin dropped me a note that he actually had a full version of WordCrasher up and running on the iPad simulator. He was kind enough to give me some insight into the process of taking WordCrasher from the iPhone to the iPad. Talking to Kevin a little further, he was able to tell me that the physics simulation is up and running at a decent speed, and that the game is responding to the touch events. He has not tried hooking up the sound yet, however, but he explains that basically it is possible to play a game of WordCrasher natively on the iPad, (albeit through the simulator).

There were not too many changes necessary to make the game work on iPad due to similarities in the SDK (iPad runs iPhone OS 3.2), but the real work will be making iPad WordCrasher a stand-alone game which takes advantage of the format, rather than just a straight port. Using the iPad simulator, a lot of work can be started in creating high fidelity graphics for the big screen, but many of the UI and gameplay decisions will have to be held back until I can get my hands on the hardware itself. There are other issues to consider too though, such as whether OpenFeint will step forward and support the iPad, which is in my opinion likely, but I haven’t heard anything from them.

Continue reading Word Crasher for iPhone Could Be Headed to iPad! Kevin Ng Gives an Insight Into Developing for iPad. »

While digging through e-mail today, I may have struck gold. Gold Keeper 2, the sequel to Digital Worlds Gold Keeper looks absolutely amazing. If all reports from the iTunes reviews hold true, the game should be extremely fun. Hopefully we’ll have a review up as soon as possible.

In the meantime, check out this amazing promo video. Enjoy!

Before the smoke has even cleared from the iPad announcement yesterday, some accessory makers are already showing off some new products to go with it. iLuv is amongst the first to unveil a new line of products, full of carrying cases, hard and soft, as well as a few types of screen protectors. Interestingly enough, iLuv has promised these items to be available in February, a bit premature since no one will be able to hold an iPad until March or April, but hey, better early to the game than (insert cliché here). Check out more of their products after the break.
Continue reading iLuv Already Showing Off iPad Accessories »

To the chagrin of every app reviewer on Earth, Nordcurrent released today what will certainly go down as the most un-reviewable app in the App Store. They call their creation 101-in-1 Games, and like its name states, it contains 101 apps “ranging from puzzle games and fast-paced arcade action, to racing, sports, cooking, shooting, and Sudoku”.

“101-in-1 Games is a great fit for the iPhone and iPod Touch,” said Victoria Trofimova, Director at Nordcurrent. “With its extensive use of the hardware’s touch screen and its vast array of games and a great price, it is a must-have for every iPhone and iPod Touch gamer.”

After staring at the game for a bit, eyes glossed over with what I would only describe as a combination of confusion and wonder, I have decided on a review score… 893 Chiclets.

If/when you download 101-in-1 games, let me know what you would give the app. I’m interested in how well people react to having 101 games all in one place.

Here’s the trailer. No, it doesn’t show all 101 games. Enjoy!

COGS, the frenetic puzzle game that makes my head hurt just looking at, is out now. Arron previewed the game earlier this month, and although his brain hurt, liked the game quite a bit. Expect a review soon. Until then, enjoy the official “out now” trailer from Lazy 8 Studios.

As I was watching the iPad keynote a few hours ago, I thought to myself, for the first time in an Apple keynote, that I was bored. Bored. While watching an Apple keynote. I was so bored in fact that I took a phone call in the middle and talked about Denny’s. Boy do I like Denny’s.

Initially, I thought that I would just buy the iPad because I was a tech blogger and that it would be a commercial failure, but then I got to thinking about the mass market. Apple products have always geared towards the upper echelon of tech buyers… not necessarily towards the “super tech nerds” who want to mod the crap out of their tech, but towards the individual that wants to have something unique, something that is better than the average piece of technology out there. I keep hearing about how the average Wal-Mart mom buying diapers will not be interested in such a product, but when did Apple start marketing their computers towards the typical Wal-Mart mom? The key for Apple isn’t the Wal-Mart mom, it’s my dad.

My dad is an upper middle/upper class, middle aged commodity broker who doesn’t really know anything about computers other than how to use FutureSource. He just recently bought a Mac because he wanted a more stable, more intuitive way to put his pictures on a computer, and also for a way to browse the internet without the fear of getting a virus. Within the last year, he finally bit the bullet and bought an iPhone after I made him use mine for a bit on a Vegas trip, and because he was paying almost as much per month on his much less capable phone using Verizon. He tells me all the time that he likes it because “it is so cool”.

Continue reading Why My Dad, and the Rest of Mac Loving America Will Jump On The iPad »

iPad, a name formed from a hybrid between the iPod and a pad of paper, was revealed to the world at a two hour Apple event finishing less than an hour ago. The new touch screen computer is a kind of giant iPod running a custom version of iPhone OS, 3.2, the SDK for which is available now to ADC members.

Featuring a 9.7” multitouch display for use with all 10 fingers at once, the iPad looks very similar to an iPhone zoomed up to around 300% scale. The same home button adorns the right (or bottom) of the display depending on if you’re using it in horizontal or vertical orientation, and it’s about half an inch thick, dimensions achieved thanks to Apple’s new custom hardware architecture.

In addition to the usual Apple touch screen apps (Music, Photos, Maps, Calendars), all of which have been customized with fairly stunning interfaces in Apple’s reincarnation of the tablet, iWork has been ported to the touch screen ($10 per application – so $30 if you want to make presentations, write documents and edit spreadsheets on the go) complete with brand new interface designs to make the most of touch, and the huge QWERTY keyboard, which appears to be more suitable for using on the lap with two hands than with rhythmic thumb jabbing as we’ve seen from iPhone and similar devices.

Also featured is Apple’s attempt at an eBook reader, which I didn’t hold out too much hope for before launch. Once again Apple have produced a versatile user interface, using finger actions on screen to turn the page and an ‘App Store’ style book shop with best sellers priced at $14.99, and older novels as low as $4.99 in the industry standard ePub format, wrapped, presumably, in custom DRM.

Third party apps were also on display, with Apple setting a ‘two week’ challenge to a small subset of developers, who got to play with the iPad for two weeks prior to the event and create some prototype applications. EA demonstrated racing on the touch screen with Need for Speed, the New York Times showed a version of their paper with built in video clips and NBA showed a new version of their application with live, full screen match highlights – all fairly standard fare.

Continue reading Underwhelmed by Apple’s Touch of Creativity »

Tomorrow, Apple has a BIG announcement scheduled. If Apple delivers on even half the hype, it will be a huge day.

Join us and a group of very esteemed iPhone bloggers tomorrow over on a special Friendfeed group to discuss the announcements in real time.

The event starts at 10am Pacific (GMT -8). Be there for a piece of Apple history!

Join us on Friendfeed.

Maybe it’s because I’m pessimistic, but when I hear other blogs talking about the revolution to reading the iSlate will bring, I just don’t buy it. Yes, the iPod did wonders for music and the iPhone has changed the mobile phone landscape overnight, but reading is different – and if the rumours of a multi-purpose, all in one device are true, Apple doesn’t appreciate the importance of keeping it separate.

I should start by explaining that I’m an avid reader and follower of all things literary, so much so that I just spent £238 having an Amazon Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/kindle) and it’s accompanying leather case shipped across the channel to arrive on the 27th – so I’ll have two things to look forward to that day! A quick count of my bedroom highlights the presence of over 150 books, from Harry Potter to Dan Brown and with a load of lesser known authors in between – Jasper Fforde anyone?

What makes the Kindle great is its single function eInk display. It reads books, and that’s about it (there’s an experimental web browser too), but it does it brilliantly. The screen has no glare, only uses power during a page turn so you get seven days from the device without needing to charge it and – perhaps most importantly – reads even under direct sunlight.

As much as I love Apple’s glossy displays, they don’t perform well in bright conditions (try shining a torch at your iPhone) and in my mind a big 10” one just wouldn’t be suitable for reading on the go. It’d be too big and bulky to chuck into an oversized coat pocket, too uncomfortable to hold in just one hand and would you really want to take a $1000 tablet to the beach with you?

Continue reading Why Apple’s Tablet Won’t Revolutionize Reading, At Any Price »

Gizmodo recently reported that Sega will be releasing an official Sega Genesis emulator application. The Genesis, or Mega Drive outside of North America, is Sega’s legendary 16-bit console. Sega has previously ported individual games to the app store, such as Golden Axe and Streets of Rage, with mixed results. The Genesis Ultimate collection will act as a single entry point with an in-app store, functioning essentially as a virtual console. The app is scheduled to arrive sometime in February, and is planned to be free of charge. Space Harrier 2 will come with the base app as well, and the initial list of purchasable games are as follows:

• Sonic the Hedgehog: $5.99
• Golden Axe: $4.99
• Ecco the Dolphin: $2.99
• Shining Force: $2.99

Apple is notoriously cautious when it comes to emulators, making sure that everything is properly licensed and 100% legal. Just ask Manomio, who had to comply to Apple’s understandably strict regulations to release their Commodore 64 emulator, C64. As the console manufacturer and publisher of the titles in question, Sega should have a lot less of the same concerns.

What remains to be seen is how these older titles will hold-up when making the transition to iDevice, with updated virtual controls, etc. The value proposition is also something to consider, as my local Gamestop carries console and handheld versions of Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection for $19.99 new, $10 used. These versions include 40+ and 30+ of the best Genesis titles respectively, making the price of some of the initial titles look steep in comparison. You can’t argue with the base price of free though, and the ability to pick and choose what you’d like to buy. I’d be interested in some gems like Ristar or Streets of Rage 2 myself, Altered Beast definitely not!

The voting for the 2009 Best App Ever Awards is wrapping up. You have until the end of January 31st to get in your votes, if you haven’t already. Head over to http://bestappever.com and get your votes in!

The voting has been rather brisk this year. We’ve more than doubled the number of votes we got last year and there are still a few more days of votes to come in.

The winners will be announced on February 10th at Macworld in San Francisco. And to celebrate the nominees and the winners we will be having a party at Jillian’s in the Sony Metreon, right next to the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. If you are in town for Macworld, please stop by. The party will be from 6pm – 9pm and is graciously hosted by Medialets.

Get your free tickets to the Best App Ever Awards party at Eventbrite.

It’s pretty common knowledge now that Google and Apple aren’t getting along as much as they used to. In fact, when Google’s native ‘Voice’ application, which mainly allows users of Google’s far-reaching social network to send voice-like emails to anyone with an account, was kinda rejected from the App Store, the world reacted.

Just like when Google’s native Latitude app was rejected though, the firm took no time over announcing its “slap you back in the face” course of action against Apple, publicly stating its plans to bring the service to both the Apple iPhone and it’s android based devices in the near future, via the web. But with no official release date, people (including myself) started to ask when it would happen.

Today, Google have announced its Google Voice web app now works on the iPhone. Using HTML5 the web app provides a clean, crisp and user iterative native-esque experience, providing easy access and Voice functionality you’re probably all now familiar if you’re lucky enough to have a Google Voice account. The web app centers around a virtual keypad just like you see in Phone.app, and works as expected. Although, with the app being totally web based, the necessary iPhone OS pop-up confirmations are still present. With the app, you can either dial Google Access numbers, or international numbers and pay Google’s low cost rates. Need to see who’s been sending you voicemails lately? Just switch to the inbox tab. Here, just like as you would if the app were native, you’ll see a list of voicemails, as well as the ability to view or play the message in full and call or text the original sender.

Need to send a message to one of your contacts? Tap compose, and the HTML5 powered web app will bring up the necessary compose tools for you. Maybe you want to easily access certain sections of the web app directly from your iPhone’s homescreen? As you would with other sites you can add a webclip icons which lead directly to these sections the usual way, from Mobile Safari.

Finally, Google Voice on the iPhone .. even if it is a web app. Yes, I’m looking at you Apple.