Weekly Time Waster: Hedgehog Launch

This week's time waster is a bit on the strange side. In Hedgehog Launch 2 your goal is to launch a hedgehog (yes, a hedgehog) to the moon. You work for the "country" of Minovia Cay. You must launch your hedgehog through a hole through the center of the Earth to Nebraska, and then to the Moon.

The game itself is simple to learn, and pretty easy to master. You hold down the mouse and pull back to launch your hedgehog and use the arrow keys to steer him with a jetpack. You can also hit platforms to gain money and speed, there are also coins that give you money. At the end of the level you can buy upgrades and clothes for your hedgehog.

The Story mode of the game is fairly short, but the Free Play mode adds a lot of fun. You just try and get as high as you can. This game will suck up hours of productive workdays. You can play Hedgehog Launch 2 at Armor Games.

Favorite iPhone apps

This correspondent considers the iPhone to be that rare game-changer in the technology industry. While it is in some ways still a work in progress, the iPhone does for smart phones what the iPod did for music about 7 years ago. For one thing, unlike other smart phones (and certainly those more traditional ones), the iPhone really is a computer in your pocket. With faster 3G connectivity, it starts to work at reasonable speeds for computing, or surfing the internet (remember telephone modems- well, my 3G iPhone is faster than those were). But today I am going to focus on a different killer feature of the iPhone; namely, the app store. And below I am going to describe 2 of my favorite games, both available for the iPhone and iPod touch for $2.99.

First, QUORDY, a simple yet addictive word game. It consists of a 16 square grid, with games consisting of how many words you can make in either 1, 3 or five minutes (there is also an untimed game). Also variable is the minimum letter words that count, though I always go with the easier version of 3 word minimum (I mean, why make it harder than it already is?). The game is totally addictive, and even (so I tell myself) educational. The user interface is very smooth, and you spell words by dragging your finger over the letters. Each letter you use must be adjacent to the next letter, and letters may only be used once in each word. It is perfect for killing time when waiting on a line, or when you are otherwise with a few minutes to kill. (If I had this game during my LIRR commuting days, commuting may have been more fun. I might have even missed my stop-- pretty hard, considering I got off at the last stop!) For certain things, like longer letter words, more points, or badges are awarded. the game keeps track of your best games in points and percentages. Trying to get all the possible words is almost impossible particularly when plying in the all words no matter how obscure mode, but getting close is a fun effort. Oh yes, you also get a special badge for spelling QUORDY, a badge, I may add, that I have yet to earn.

Another game worth mentioning is Frenzic, a game involving the speed in which you are able to fill six circles (or pies) with the appropriate shaped pie pieces. Additional points are given for filling a pie with pieces of only one color, earning bonuses. The game is actually fairly simple, and there are only 3 colors and 6 pies at a time, but not surprisingly, the game starts to speed up, and it does get a bit frenetic. This one I have a harder time convincing myself is educational, but I guess it does test your reaction time. While I haven't played Frenzic in a while, it is a fun game, and like QUORDY, designed perfectly for the iPhone gaming platform.

In coming editions, I will discuss some other apps, including ones that are either educational or designed to help with various tasks. There are thousands out there!

And have I mentioned that it is also a phone?

Signing off, by The Trash Bin's Humble Pie correspondent.

Happy iPhone 3GS Day!

Today is the day the iPhone 3GS comes out! TechCrunch took one apart earlier and showed its pretty innards. But, since I already went over all its cool feature it's time for a poll!

Key differences Between iPhone 3G and 3GS

Instead of posting a long review in my words. I figured I would let the readers decide what they think of the new iPhone. Apple has a chart of all the features, compared side by side. (see below)

Weekly Time Waster:Upgrade Complete!

Have you ever played a game where you can upgrade almost EVERYTHING.  Well, Upgrade Complete takes that to another level.  The entire goal of the game is to upgrade everything in the game.  You can upgrade the menu, graphics, even the copyright text.  

The core way of making money in the game is to play a shooting game.  You control a fully-upgradeable ship makes the game interesting and fun.  You can progress through 20 stages of different enemies to collect coins when they die.  Unfortunately, there is no final boss battle.

There is also an achievement system to give you a sense of pride.  You can play this game for hours, even after you have "beaten" it.  You can lose track of time and play this game at Armor Games.

Xbox Live Post-Maintenance Glitches

Microsoft is having glitches from yesterday's crippling maintenance. Users are unable to preorder the new Ghost Busters game, or find entire games missing from their hard drive. Oops. But, here's Microsoft's excuse-I mean "reason":

"Users may experience difficulties when attempting to use Marketplace and/or making purchases. We are aware of the problem and working to resolve the technical issues. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience."

Cool Site of the Week: This is why your fat.

No, I'm not insulting you, it's the name of a blog called This is why you're fat.  It's a blog on food, and lots of it.  As the name implies, its on the richest and fattiest treats around.  It has everything from a Fluffernutterbutter Sandwich to Kentucky Nachos.  Just looking at the site makes me salivate.  

This is why you're fat is updated daily with a fresh supply of heart attacks from readers.  You can send in pictures to the site through their email address.  Or, you can be like me and look at all the delectable goodies on show for hours at a time, and think: This why you're fat.  

iPhone OS 3.0 Out Today

Apple's new OS for the iPhone, 3.0, comes out today.  iTunes will prompt you to download it and I strongly suggest you do so.  If, by some reason, you don't want to upgrade to a faster OS with MMS, cut and paste, and loads of other new features; go do so.  Though your friends will all be laughing at you as they preorder their iPhone 3GS's (which are sold out on AT&T by the way) on their Macbook Pro's.  Oh, and now we have a Twitter page.

Xbox Live will be down today

Xbox Live, Microsoft's online gaming service, will be down today for maintenance. Microsoft has said: "On Tuesday, June 16 beginning at 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. PDT (2009-06-16 0701 to 2009-06-17 0659 UTC) Xbox LIVE and Xbox.com will be offline for scheduled maintenance."
I suspect someone pushed the big red button.

Apple WWDC Roundup

Apple's WWDC was yesterday and they announced basically everything that was rumored (that Apple Tablet is still just a rumor).

The update for the iPhone's software, version 3.0, will be released June 17th. It was released yesterday for developers though so they can start making and updating their Apps. It will bring many long-awaited improvements, including cut and paste, HTML 5 support, and MMS (on all carriers that carry it expect AT&T at launch). Another feature is that "Find my iPhone" feature that allows users to find there phone through MobileMe, no more calling your phone to find it I guess. iPhone OS 3.0 will be released for free for the iPhone and will cost $9.95 for the iPod Touch.

They also announced the new iPhone, iPhone 3GS (the "S" stands for speed by the way), as expected. Also, the 8GB iPhone 3G will sell for $99 starting June 19th. Here are some of the new features:

• A new, 2x faster processor, that also consumes less battery.
• A new 3 megapixel camera with auto white balance, auto exposure, and auto focus.
• You can tap to zoom in on the camera.
• A 30fps VGA video in the camera, you can trim video in your iPhone and share it via Youtube, email, MobileMe, and MMS
• There will also be support for the faster, 7.2 mbps 3G.
• 3D graphics support, which means better and faster-rendered 3D games.
• The same size as the iPhone 3G with the same glossy finish.
• A fingerprint-resistant, multitouch, screen with an oleophobic coating.
• Weight increases to 4.8 ounces, still pretty light compared to the G1 (5.6 ounces).
• It is also now made with greener materials like most of Apple's products.
• Voice control: You can instruct your iPhone, like a technological servant, to call people, play songs, or hang up on telemarketers.
• Increased battery life: 9 hours on Wifi, 10 hours of video, 30 hours of music, 5 hours of talking or internet use on 3G, and 12 hours of 2G talk time.
• It will sell for $199 (16GB) and $299(32GB) starting June 19th.

Mac software wise there is now much to be announced (comparatively). Snow Leopard will be released in October at a price of $29 for a single upgrade and $49 for a five-user upgrade. It will have integrated Youtube support, and will be faster and take up less space then Leopard. Safari 4 is also being released.

Tetris Turns 25 Today

Tetris was the game that every child in the 90's played on the archaic Game Boys, with polyphonic music, squinting at the unlit screen.  The music still rings in my head.  Time to take a look at the history of Tetris, courtesy of one of my favorite web-shows, Play Value.

TechFellow Awards Winners Announced

You can see the list of winners on Techfellow.com
The TechFellow awards recognize the biggest innovators of the tech world. Those who would spend hours and hours coding when a weaker person had gone to bed. Those who disproved their parent's theory that "this website thingy you have will never work". Those who made the internet what it was today-a mindless wasteland of email and social networking sites, then the vast underground of hidden gems such as Newgrounds and SomethingAwful.

Bing: Microsoft may have got it right this time

A few days ago Microsoft released its new, long-awaited search engine, Bing. It touts video previews, easy business listings, and much,much more. It has a nice, dead simple interface and a nice color palette. Right on the start page non"internet savvy" people will feel right at home, the sidebar on the right directs with large type to Shopping, Travel, News, Images, Videos, and Web search.

One of the nice features is all the ways you can narrow down the image search. You can choose the size, the style of photo, and who is in the photo. There are also options to change how the thumbnails are shown, from only one at a time to many on screen at once. While it can't give you witty humor like Wolfram Alpha can, it sure has some snazzy features.

If you search something in Bing it will give you many options to expand on it, from searching downloads to repairs and games for the Wii or any other product.

When you search for videos it plays a preview of it when you roll over the video, with sound too. If you click on the video it will show a larger preview with the results still under it, along with a link to view the video at its site of origin.

Bing also give phone numbers for businesses when you search for them and search suggestions inside of the results, and probably more that I'm not putting here.

The search results, overall, are comparable to any other engine. It seems like a solid, all purpose search engine that really wants you to use it. I think Microsoft hit it right with this one, bit, it is not the Google-killer we are waiting for, and, it may never come.

What could this Mean?

This is Apple's WWDC poster, just put up. I'm not sure on it's meaning but my guess is it is comparing the iPhone to the Pre. The Pre, buy the way, came out today.

Microsoft E3 Summary

Microsoft's Press Conference showed us many things, here are videos of some of the coolest stuff.

Halo 3:ODST Has been rumored for a while now. Instead of taking control of the usual Master Chief, the super-soldier Spartan, you take control of of an ODST soldier, the "ninjas" of the Halo world. They have silenced weapons and incredibly powerful pistols (remember Halo 1?, that, but WAY MORE DEADLY).

Video Games | Halo 3: ODST | E3 09: Press Conference Gameplay HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Project Natal is Microsoft's new baby. It is a camera that you stick to your tv and allows YOU to be the controller.

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Other notable titles include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band (shown below).

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Microsoft also announced new features to the Xbox. They will be adding Facebook and Twitter access from your Xbox, if you have Xbox Live to use it. There will also be changes to Netflix, including HD video and a queue list.