Tag: Online »

Apple has launched its new Apple Store app for iPhone and iPod touch that allows users to browse Apple’s online store via their portable devices. Aimed to launch at the same time as iPhone 4 pre-orders, most users have had to put up with the Apple’s customary “We’ll be back soon” sticky note for much of the day with high demand for the next generation of iPhone bringing servers to a standstill.

The free app offers customers (in the US only for the time being) a convenient way to browse the Apple Store and even access Genius Bar support from within the app. Apple Store is sure to benefit those who take advantage of Apple’s in-store training and Personal Shopping services and, as you would expect, looks the part too. Oddly enough Apple hasn’t seen fit to provide an iPad version of the app presumably assuming that users would rather use the large screen to visit the Apple Store via Safari than through a dedicated application. For all you developers stung by the iPad's dimensions, take heart from the fact that Apple's own apps look awful at 2x zoom too.

Another weekend, another great multiplayer game. This weekend, we're designating the great strategy game Galcon as our weekend fun. Come join us.

Galcon is a game of conquest. Your goal is to fight against the other players and capture as many of the planets as possible. You do this by directing your ships (you have a specific number at each planet you control), from your planets to other players planets or uncontrolled planets. The planets that you control also produce new ships. So the more planets you control, the more ships you produce.

Once control of all of the planets has been achieved by a single player, that player wins. You can play many different variations as a single player game to get used to how the game is played. But when you are ready, hit the multiplayer version.

Besides the great strategic gameplay, Galcon also has a killer multiplayer version. The iPhone version, known as just Galcon, offers up to 4 player multiplayer games. You can play over the internet with others, or you can play locally over Wifi and Bluetooth. The online multiplayer is where it's at. There's never a time you can't find a game to join.

The iPad version is an enhanced version of the game with many added features over the iPhone version. Not only are there more single player versions of the game to play, there are also 6 different multiplayer variations you can play. In addition, the multiplayer version on the iPad supports up to 12 players. And Galcon Fusion is the same as the desktop version. This means that you'll be playing on your iPad against Windows and Mac users as well.

What other multiplayer games would you like to see us feature on Weekend Fun? Let us know in the comments.

If you're one of those sociable types who has more friends than you can keep track of, your best chance of staying in touch is to use the power of social networking.

But what if you got caught up in the MySpace explosion and then jumped on the Facebook bandwagon only to be lured by Twitter and Buzz? You can't just ignore one network and stick with the most popular one. Well... you could but that just wouldn't be sociable now, would it.

No, your only hope is to let everyone you have ever met via social networking know what you're doing by updating your status message on each service. But logging in to each site in turn and posting about how you had eggs for breakfast is probably going to keep you busy until it's time to let your followers know about the contents of your lunchbox. This is where Hellotxt comes in.

The suitably text speak-titled service gathers all of your social networks into one place and allows you to update everything in one go. The aggregation idea is nothing new, but what sets Hellotxt apart from the pack is the sheer number of social networks it supports. Over fifty of them!

Scanning the list, the usual suspects are present but there are some that we have never heard of and some you don't usually see in this type of app.

The interface is clean and simple and has a few nice details such as a character count (handy for Twitter's 140 maximum) and link shortening and you can add photos from your iPhone's Camera Roll to the updates you send out. You can also select which services your update goes to rather than fire out a message to all of them each time. Handy if you're attempting to mix business with pleasure in the social network world.

You will need to use the Hellotxt.com website to attach your accounts to the Hellotxt service before using the app and you also have to register with Hellotxt which is free, but beyond that there's no additional setup to worry about.

While we're sure none of you out there will need to update every social network supported by Hellotxt, if your online updates are starting to wear you down and eat up your time, this free app will be an essential download.

A highly anticipated title, Com2us' Sniper Vs Sniper Online brings the massive multiplayer online concept to life. Based on a two player scenario, the game sees players trying to hunt down and eventually kill each other, with the help of snipers. Although the game has been hyped, you shouldn't be two quick to purchase. While the game is enjoyable for a short period of time, the way Sniper Vs Sniper Online is marketed it seems to imply I was in store for in-depth and lengthy gameplay, although in my personal experience playing the game, this wasn't the case.

The game centers around two or more players fighting to find, and eliminate each other. Opening Sniper Vs Sniper Online for the first time, the game will ask you to setup a handle (username), and a password - which will also be used in the event of you switching your device for another. It's sorta like an 'authorisation' system they've built into the game. This is a one time setup, and afterward you'll join the company's online servers. From there the game plays out in two modes: Single Mission and Online Play.

Choose Single Mission and you'll have a choice of six different 'areas' in which you can play. These include: Training Field, Building, Village, Forest, Temple and City. By default, Building, Village, Forest, Temple and City are locked until you complete the 'Training Field' stage. Selecting any one of the areas gives you a few further playing options. These include: Campaign, 1 vs 1 and Special Missions. In campaign mode you will be given a series of task to complete per area. For example, in the first area, your task is to shoot down five sets of five targets, with each future set of targets becoming smaller, and moving further and further away from you.

1 vs 1 is a little different. In this mode you'll be set a challenge which is timed. Basically, your against the clock. For example, In the first mission on the 'Training Field' area, you'll have to shoot down 10 targets, avoiding shooting anything other than the 10 targets in question, and all the while completing it within 5 minutes. Choosing the 'Special Mission' mode brings up 5 further missions to which you can complete, each offering a different task with a time limit attached.

Entering 'Online Play' mode sees you pitt yourself against players across the globe. Here, you can join a networked game, or if you like, an alliance attack. This involves you teaming up with someone already in the online lobby, to build a 'team'. Or maybe you just want to play with a family member who's already in the same room as you? A 1 vs 1 match which allows you to do just this.

Online matches consist of looking at a block of windows, and trying to spot and shoot your opponent. Controlled by accelerometer, online matches see you tilting your device to scour the playing field. While fun, I found doing this is somewhat limited, with your 'sniper sight' not being able to fully pan to the edge of the screen. It's like there's some kind of invisible limit - which is very noticeable.

In-game you have two objects which are there to assist you in making a successful kill. The first is your two-scope binoculars, which in turn allow you to pan a larger area of the screen. The second is of course, your sniper. These are toggled by hitting the appropriate symbolized buttons. As well as switching inventory items, you can also send 1 of 7 'audio' segments, which will convey how you feel about your opponents progress. Live chat is also available, allowing you to chat with opponents or members of your alliance.

After you've completed a match you'll have the option to share your score with the world, either via Facebook, or Twitter. One aspect I have to admit caught my eye with this is the game will actually put the gamer tag (handle) of whoever you were playing, in the tweet or status update. A little addition, but a nice one!

Overall, Sniper Vs Sniper: Online combines the use of tilt controlled gameplay, with satisfactory graphics. With realistic sound effects, and fluent animation in-game, the game holds up. While I enjoyed playing the game for a few minutes, it got boring - fast. The factor I put this down to is the game is centered around the 'visuals' rather than actual gameplay. There's no doubting the visuals of this game have been well thought out, but in my opinion, there isn't anything of real substance to actually involve the user, other than tilt and shoot, which for what should be an in-depth immersive title, doesn't cut it.

Fun for a few rounds with the mates - sure, but unfortunately didn't turn out as good as I was anticipating it was going to be.