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'Fruit Ninja' Version 1.4 Update Brings Online Multiplayer Through Game Center

Thursday, September 16, 2010 10:21 PM

Posted by best

Today developer Halfbrick Studios unleashed the newest update to its wildly popular fruit slicing game Fruit Ninja [99�]. In version 1.4 a brand new multiplayer mode allows you to square off against players online using Apple's Game Center. Upon starting a game, a new option for multiplayer can be chosen which takes you to the Game Center online lobby. From here you can choose to start a new game which will match you up with a random player or you can pick a friend from your Game Center friend list to send them out a request to join a game. As with other Game Center online multiplayer games, matching up is simple, quick, and basically lag-free.

The Fruit Ninja multiplayer mode is also really simple to understand. A series of fruits are tossed up just like they are in a normal game. All of the fruit either have a red, white, or blue border. The blue fruit are your own, and you will gain points including bonuses for combos by slicing them. The red fruit are your opponent's, and if you accidentally slice them it will deduct points from your score. The white fruit are fair game for either party and if you can slice them before your opponent does you'll earn some bonus points for your score. Multiplayer rounds last for one minute, and whoever has the highest score at the end wins. When the round is over you're taken to a post-game lobby where you can choose to rematch against the same opponent or quit back to the menu.�It really is very simple but also a tremendous amount of fun. Things get hectic with so much fruit flying around and trying to slice your own while avoiding your opponents.

The Game Center online multiplayer is pretty much all that is in the Fruit Ninja version 1.4 update, but Halfbrick is planning on bringing even more new features soon. Leaderboards and achievements will be added for Game Center, and according to one of the devs in our forums so will post-game lobby voice chat. Halfbrick also hints that the long-awaited "banana mode" is nearing completion and should be made available in the near future. Another interesting point is that the new Game Center functionality runs in tandem with the existing OpenFeint integration. So upon starting the game you'll get a welcome pop-up from each service, and all of the OpenFeint options are still available from the menu just as they were before. Conceivably, you could disable one or the other and just use a single social service, but the online multiplayer only works with Game Center enabled.

At any rate, this new update to Fruit Ninja is a ton of fun, and I've been pleasantly surprised with how well Game Center multiplayer works and how much it can add to a game. If you own a copy of Fruit Ninja for your iPhone, make sure and grab this latest update and head over to the Game Center username trading thread in our forums to add some friends to your list and partake in some competitive online fruit slicing.



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Official: Samsung Galaxy Tab coming to AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint, also coming to Canda via Rogers and Bell

7:29 PM

Posted by best

SAMSUNG MOBILE EXPANDS GALAXY PRODUCT PORTFOLIO WITH LAUNCH OF SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB™ WITH MULTIPLE U.S. CARRIERS

Designed as a true mobile tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab™ powered by 7-inch touchscreen, Android 2.2 platform with Flash Player 10.1 and front and rear-facing cameras for video chat support landing soon with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon

DALLAS, September 16, 2010 -Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S., today announced the upcoming availability of the Galaxy Tab™ in the U.S with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. The first mobile tablet from Samsung shares many of the powerful characteristics of the Galaxy S smart phone lineup that launched this summer. The Galaxy Tab is designed with several enhancements to create a unique mobile experience that other products can't deliver.

The Galaxy Tab features a brilliant 7-inch enhanced TFT display screen, 1GHz Hummingbird Application processor supporting 3D graphics and smooth Web browsing and front and rear-facing cameras for video chat while on-the-go. The Galaxy Tab is powered by Android 2.2™, including full support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1. Just like the Galaxy S smart phones, the Galaxy Tab includes Samsung's Social Hub application and the new Media Hub content service, offering a robust collection of premium movies and TV episodes from some of the biggest entertainment companies.

"The addition of Galaxy Tab to the Galaxy product portfolio is a powerful proof point of Samsung's commitment to bring new and innovative mobile experiences to U.S. consumers," said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer for Samsung Mobile. "The 7-inch display and thin, lightweight design, combined with premium content and productivity tools makes the Galaxy Tab a true mobile tablet that is as comfortable to use standing on a crowded train as it is relaxing on the couch at home. The Galaxy Tab is perfect for watching a movie, reading an e-book or catching up with your favorite TV shows or chatting with an old friend. Plus, the Tab's design makes it completely pocketable in your pants or jacket."

Powerful Display, Portable Design
The Galaxy Tab's 7-inch display features enhanced TFT technology, offering brighter colors and clearer pictures, whether watching a movie or reading a book. The display delivers 1024 x 600 WSVGA resolution, offering full support to the Android 2.2 operating system. With support for Flash Player 10.1, the Galaxy Tab delivers an enhanced content experience when compared to other tablets currently available in the U.S. Users can engage with thousands of sites with rich Flash based applications and content including games, animations, rich Internet applications (RIAs), data presentations and visualizations, ecommerce, video, music and more. Samsung's mobile tablet also provides access to the more than 80,000 applications currently available on the Android Market™.

Many of the built-in productivity services and Android applications are scalable to fit the Galaxy Tab's full 7-inch screen. For example, the user's email, calendar and contacts will all rotate from portrait to landscape format through the tablet's accelerometer and then open as a split-screen to create a PC or laptop viewing experience on the Tab. Likewise, many Android Market applications will open in full screen. Non-scalable Android Market applications will be framed and centered on the Galaxy Tab screen.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is designed for people who want a premium mobile entertainment experience on the go, but don't want to be weighed down by a bulky device. The Galaxy Tab fits in a pocket or purse, weighs only 13 ounces and is 12 millimeters thin. Those super-light and sleek dimensions, matched with the 7-inch touchscreen display allows the Galaxy Tab to easily fit into a jeans' backpocket or the inside pocket of a jacket. The compact design of Galaxy Tab also makes it easy for the user to type on the virtual keyboard with both thumbs or with one hand using Swype technology to type with one continuous finger motion across the keyboard.

Two Cameras, One-on-One Video Chat
The Galaxy Tab is designed with a rear-facing 3 megapixel camera for taking pictures on-the-go and sharing with family and friends. The Tab is also outfitted with a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder, enabling video chat with other people who have video conferencing capabilities. Users can align the Galaxy Tab with video chat clients including Qik and Fring and seamlessly talk with other people over a WiFi connection.

Google Mobile Services Benefits
Services like Google Maps™ Navigation (Beta) and Google Goggles are available on Google's Android platform. With useful location-based services like Google Maps™, consumers can search in Standard English instead of entering an exact address. A search-by-voice function is just as intuitive, meaning searches can also be completed easily on the go. Google Goggles™ is a powerful, visual search tool that uses the Samsung GALAXY Tab's camera to uncover information � an image of a landmark or artwork is automatically used to perform a search, delivering relevant content like a description or history. In addition, with a camera, users can enjoy various augmented reality services which are downloadable in the application market.

Samsung Social Hub Simplifies
Just like the Samsung Galaxy S smart phone portfolio, the Galaxy Tab keep users connected with Samsung's Social Hub application. Social Hub works with the user's Messaging and Contacts to initiate the sending and receiving of information, whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization.

Additional features of the Galaxy Tab include:
� Daily Briefing: Offers instant access to weather, news, stocks, and schedules.
� Impressive Onboard & Expandable Memory: Galaxy Tab can add 32 GB of external memory to store and manage your favorite video content and pictures.
� AllShare DLNA Technology: Take video or pictures shot with Galaxy Tab and send content wirelessly to other DLNA-enabled devices (HDTVs, laptops, PC monitors, etc.)
� Document Viewer & Editor: Open and make changes to any Word, Excel, Powerpoint or PDF document
� 4,000 mAh Battery: Super-sized battery provides ample power to watch movies, share content and surf the Web

Samsung Media Hub � Entertaining the Masses
In addition, the Galaxy Tab will include future access to Media Hub, Samsung's own content service, offering a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase. Samsung is working with the biggest and best names in entertainment, including MTV Networks, NBC, Paramount and Universal Studios Home Entertainment to assemble a full library of movies and TV programming, including new release films, next day TV episodes and even full TV show seasons. Media Hub also allows the user to expand the entertainment experience, allowing content purchased to permanently own to be shared with up to five devices that carry the Media Hub application.

Premium Accessories Portfolio
To enhance the Galaxy Tab user experience even further, a set of accessories designed specifically for the mobile tablet are available for purchase from www.Samsung.com including:

Keyboard Dock � $99.99
� Ergonomic, comfortable full-size keyboard with 7? Galaxy Tab replaceable inserts that doubles as a charger for power and synchronization of media and data
� Dock contains convenient stereo audio output jack for connecting to speakers or home stereo
Desktop Dock � $49.99
� Doubles as a Galaxy Tab charger using the Micro USB wall adapter that comes with the Tab; allows users to view movies, display as a digital picture frame and listen to music
� HDMI output to view HD content on HDTV enabled with 1080p resolution and provides HDTV connection to play content from the Galaxy Tab to a television
Car/GPS Dock � $99.99
� Conveniently positions 7? Galaxy Tab display screen inside car for turn-by-turn GPS navigation instructions and traffic updates
� Attachable to either the windshield or car dashboard and rotates freely between landscape and portrait modes

Upcoming Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Tab portfolio of mobile tablets from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless will be available in the coming months. For additional information on the Samsung Galaxy Tab portfolio, please visit www.samsung.com/galaxytab.

1 Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q2 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Verizon Wireless Announces Its First Mobile Tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab™

Delivers Premium Mobile Entertainment Experience through 7-Inch Touch Screen Display, Android 2.2 Platform, Front and Rear-Facing Cameras, Entertainment Applications and 1GHz Application Processor

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and DALLAS, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ � Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ will launch in the coming weeks. Equipped with a brilliant 7-inch touch screen and a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application processor, the Galaxy Tab will provide customers with a robust HTML Web browsing experience.

"The Samsung Galaxy Tab is an exciting addition to the Verizon Wireless Android portfolio," said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. "Coupled with the nation's largest 3G network, the Galaxy Tab is a powerhouse that will be as exciting to use as it is practical for both consumers and business customers."

Verizon Wireless will introduce the Galaxy Tab with a number of exclusive applications such as V CAST Music with Rhapsody®, V CAST Video on Demand, V CAST Song ID, VZ Navigator®, along with games "Let's Golf" and "N.O.V.A."

"As we head into the holiday travel season," Stratton added, "We expect customers will find the Galaxy Tab is the perfect traveling companion � download a book to the Kindle™ eReader, and you won't miss your favorite paperback. Tune in to Slacker Radio, and create your own custom station or choose from over 100 expert, preprogrammed radio stations from every genre. You can even download a movie and take advantage of a screen large enough to enjoy all the action."

The Galaxy Tab refines the mobile multimedia experience by offering full support for Adobe Flash 10.1 for video and mobile gaming and an integrated entertainment, multimedia and social networking experience. An image of the Galaxy Tab is available at: http://news.vzw.com/images/releases/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab.jpg. The Galaxy Tab will be available in the coming weeks in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com.

Key features:

* Enhanced TFT display with WSVGA resolution � Offers brighter colors and clearer pictures and delivers 1024 x 600 resolution whether watching a movie or reading a book
* Rear-facing, 3MP camera and camcorder � AutoFocus captures DVD quality video
* Front-facing, 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder � Enables video chat (Wi-Fi® only) with other people who have video conferencing capabilities (applications available in Android Market™).
* Corporate Email � Supports Android 2.2 Exchange ActiveSync e-mail to synchronize corporate e-mail, contacts and calendars from office e-mail accounts
* Wi-Fi® connectivity (802.11 b/g/n) and 3G Mobile Hotspot support
* Built-in 2 GB internal memory with 16 GB pre-installed microSD™ expandable to 32 GB
* 4,000 mAh Battery � Provides ample power to watch movies, share content and surf the Web for hours
* Ultra thin and weighing less than a pound � For users who don't want to be weighed down by adding a mobile tablet to their pocket or purse

Lifestyle features:

* Samsung Social Hub � Built around messaging, contacts and calendar sync, which allows users to send and receive daily activities, whether it is e-mail, social network updates or SMS messages
* Customizable touch screen menu with drag-and-drop widgets



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Motorola Android tablet coming out in early 2011

6:44 PM

Posted by best

We know that Motorola is going to launch an Android powered tablet via Verizon in USA. According to the leaked Verizon roadmap, the tablet will be out in early 2011, and yes it's true because Motorola's Sanjay Jha is saying that the tablet will come out in early 2011. May be Motorola is waiting for Android 2.1 a.k.a Gingerbread, or they are waiting for Verizon to activate LTE in most parts of the country because may be the tablet will be LTE capable. "I will only develop a tablet if it is sufficiently compelling. Hopefully, that is early next year," Jha said during Deutsche Bank Technology Conference. So folks may be next year we'll see an awesome Android tablet from Motorola side, what do you think?

via Phandroid

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T-Mobile getting HTC Desire HD, Nokia C7, and LG Optimus One

6:00 PM

Posted by best

T-Mobile UK is one of the largest and strongest carriers in UK, and the reason is that they always pick good and new phone. T-Mobile UK has picked up three phones, the new, just announced HTC Desire HD, Nokia C7, and the LG Optimus One. All of them are announced this week.

HTC Desire HD is one of the hottest handset at the moment, and lot of carriers are looking forward to it specially in UK. The first carrier to officially announce the HTC Desire HD is T-Mobile UK. Desire HD comes with Android 2.2 with HTC Sense UI, 4.3 inch WVGA touchscreen display, 1GHz processor, 768MB RAM, 8MP autofocus camera, HD video recording, and lot of other stuff. The phone is due in October.

T-Mobile will get the "Navigation Edition" of LG Optimus One, which means it will come with a free satellite navigation with Google Maps, car cradle, and in-car charger. Other specs include Android 2.2, 3.2 inch HVGA touchscreen display, Wi-Fi, 3.2MP camera, and MicroSD card support. The phone is due in October.

Now the C7, which is launched by Nokia during the Nokia world event, is a Symbian

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Verizon ready to bring LTE in 30 NFL cities, getting HTC Desire HD?

5:15 PM

Posted by best

Folks over at BGR are claiming that the recently launched HTC Desire HD is going to hit Verizon as a world capable handset, it's not 100% confirmed, but you can take it as a rumor. HTC Desire HD is actually a GSM and UK version of EVO 4G, may be the Desire HD is going to hit Verizon as a LTE capable phone, but who knows. So folks stay tuned with us, if it's true then we'll hear about it in future.

Verizon is planning to launch LTE service in 30 "NFL cities" by the end of 2010, which means we are going to see LTE capable phone by the end of this year.

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T-Mobile USA getting HTC HD7, and may be an Android powered LG tablet

4:30 PM

Posted by best

AT&T is not the only mobile carrier who is interested in WP7, T-Mobile USA is also looking forward to WP7 phones. According to a leaked document above, T-Mobile USA will launch the successor to HD2, which will be known as HTC HD7. HTC HD7 will be running Windows Phone 7 for sure, and in the document we can see that the accessories of the device is coming out in November, so it means that the device is also coming out in November.

LG Optimus T is also coming to T-Mobile, It could be the Optimus One or Chic, or may be it's the LG Optimus Tablet which is coming out in Q4 of 2010, because the "T" could mean tablet, but lets wait for some official words. Also Motorola Jordan is coming to T-Mobile, which is actually Motorola Defy. Blackberry Bold 9780 is also going to hit T-Mo. The only unknown devices are the Motorola Begonia and Dell Clarie, Engadget is saying that the Dell Clarie is Dell Streak.

Hopefully, we'll see all these devices in early November, so folks stay tuned !

via TmoNews

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Winner of free Creative ZiiSound D5 iPod / iPhone bluetooth speaker giveaway

4:27 PM

Posted by best

""

Hey folks, we've now got a winner for our recent Free gadget giveaway: Creative ZiiSound D5 iPod / iPhone bluetooth wireless speaker system. If this is the first time you took part in our contests, you may be interestedin knowing that all our prize winners are chosen based on a random number generator (Random.org), and the numbers which we send to the generator represents each comment entry number. So without any further delays, the winner of our latest free gadget giveaway is…

Comment entry number 52: "Eva" who left the comment

"Fact: "With the touch-sensitive volume panel on the ZiiSound D5, controlling the audio level is made easier than ever. Simply glide your fingers along the touch-sensitive bezel to set your desired volume level. The included wireless transmitter allows you to stream music from your favorite Internet radio channels, Podcasts or iTunes® music directly from your iPhone®/iPod®."

Count me in, please ":)"

I'm following you on Twitter, my id is Altrotiroaltror.
Thanks for the chance."

Congrats to Eva, we've just sent you an email and we hope to hear back from you soon. Thanks again to all of you who took part, as always, please feel free to email us your feedback and suggestions about our contests � we'd love to hear from you all.

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Hands-On Videos of &#39;Gundam&#39; Games Leak Out of Tokyo Game Show

3:58 PM

Posted by best

Yesterday we caught wind of a set of Gundam games and apps courtesy of Japanese video game magazine Famitsu. All of these games are currently playable at the Tokyo Game Show, and our friends over at AppBank have posted hands-on videos. We still don't know much about these games, or if they'll even be released in English on the US App Store, but quite a few people are excited for them judging by the comments from yesterday.

Gundam Fighting Spirit � A fighting game where players are pit against other mobile suits.

Gundam G Generation Touch � A strategy RPG with what sounds like tons of content with additional suits to unlock.

NDAM Tool Box � A Gundam-themed dashboard-like app lets you launch things like Safari, Mail, and other apps.

The Gundam suite of games and apps is scheduled for release this winter, but as I already mentioned, we still haven't heard whether this will be a Japanese-only release or not.



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E.Honda and C.Viper Go Live in &#39;Street Fighter IV&#39; Update

3:28 PM

Posted by best

""Capcom's Street Fighter IV [$9.99] not only is proving to be a fantastic fighter for the iPhone, but also one of the best supported games we've seen from big-name developers who historically haven't had that great of a track record when it comes to free content updates. We loved the game when it was first released, as evident in our review. Since then, both Cammy and Zangief have been added, and this most recent update includes E.Honda and C.Viper. Each come with two costumes, their own associated set of moves, and combos to master. Also included are some new costumes for Ryu and Chun-Li available via in-app purchase.

""

If you haven't picked up Street Fighter IV yet, now is a fantastic time to get on board. Capcom did an amazing job adapting the controls to the touchscreen of the iPhone, the graphics look great, and you really can't argue about four additional characters being added since release for free. Hopefully Capcom keeps the update train rolling.



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&#39;The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition&#39; Joins &#39;Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck&#39;s Revenge&#39; on Sale for 99�

2:58 PM

Posted by best

""A few days ago we were surprised to see Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge [99�] dropped to a dollar, but today the original The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition [99�] as well as Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge for iPad [$4.99] saw similar price drops. In the past we've posted at length about Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2 and both games are about as classic as you can get when it comes to point and click adventures.

The Monkey Island series follows the exploits of Guybrush Threepwood, a white blouse wearing wannabe pirate with a name that is nearly constantly mispronounced by every character you come across in both games. The ghost pirate LeChuck causes problems in both game, and vanquishing him both times requires a ridiculous adventure filled with hilarious writing, a great soundtrack, and complete voiceovers. If you have an iPad, I highly recommend picking up the iPad version since it looks fabulous on the device� and it even comes with director commentary.

You really can't go wrong with both of the iPhone games for 99� a pop. Both work fine on the iPad pixel doubled, and while they don't have Retina Display resolution graphics, they're still a ton of fun to play through on the iPhone and each version of the game comes with an associated lite if you'd like to try before you buy.

Update: Scratch that bit about Retina Display graphics, Monkey Island 2 was updated mere moments ago to include high resolution graphics. If you've got an iPhone 4 or new iPod touch, this is 99��you really should spend.



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Asus Eee PC 1015PN comes with NVIDIA ION graphics

2:27 PM

Posted by best

The new Asus Eee PC 1015PN is a 10-inch notebook and it looks the same as the Eee PC 1015PED and 1015PEM but unlike those models, Eee PC 1015PN boasts 1366 x 768 pixel screen resolution. Another interesting thing about this notebook is that it uses one of the two following processors: a single core 1.83GHz Intel Atom N475 or 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 dual core processor. Besides Intel processor, the 1015PN houses NVIDIA ION graphics making it capable of 1080p HD video playback. As for the storage space, this model comes equipped with a 250 GB hard drive which will be enough for most. On the other hand, this model comes with only 1 GB of DDR2 RAM so it might not run all the latest applications, but it will surely handle most of your daily tasks. As for the operating system, Asus Eee PC 1015PN comes with Windows 7 Home Premium preinstalled.

At the moment, Asus Eee PC 1015PN is available for preorder in France for 399 Euros but no additional details are available just yet. If you want to purchase this notebook in the US you'll have to wait a bit more since no information about its release or pricing are yet available..

[via Ubergizmo]

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Smartphone Championship: Motorola Droid vs SE Xperia X10

1:20 PM

Posted by best

The last match of FoneArena Smartphone Championship was between the EVO 4G and Samsung Galaxy S, both are known as the one of the best smartphones, but unfortunately there is always only one winner, and the winner is Samsung Galaxy S. We got a total of 2,714 votes, in which Samsung Galaxy S got 1,534 votes, and the EVO got 1,180. Well, that was close.

A few days ago, we saw the SE Xperia X10 winning from the HTC Desire with a big margin, and the Droid from the Blackberry Bold 9700, and now it's between the SE Xperia X10 and Motorola Droid, and the winner will face the Galaxy S. So before voting, check out the specs of SE Xperia X10 and Motorola Droid, then choose your favorite.

So folks on your marks, get set, VOTE!

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&#39;Beyond Ynth&#39; Review � Unique but Frustrating Puzzle Platformer

11:14 AM

Posted by best

Just a little more than a year ago, indie developer Krabl released a quirky puzzle platforming game with interesting mechanics titled Ynth [$2.99]. You controlled a tiny bug who rotated boxes from the inside in order to traverse a hazardous marshland. In our review of Ynth, we noted that the game was clever with cute graphics and plenty of content, but the trial and error factor of completing levels could be really frustrating. Now, Krabl and FDG Entertainment have collaborated to bring a sequel to the original game called Beyond Ynth [$3.99/HD]. It still retains some of the frustration factors of the first game but also expands on it in every way and ends up being a fun puzzler with a tremendous amount of content.

Beyond Ynth uses beautiful graphics that are optimized for Retina Display. An illustrated story with voiceovers explains the tale of the main character, the tiny bug named Kribl, as you progress through the game. Beyond Ynth takes place in four distinct environments � forest, volcanic, desert, and snow. Each environment has its own hazard to deal with, like getting burned by the sun in the desert or freezing in the snow when you are out of a box for too long. There are 80 levels to play through across each of the environments, accessed from an overhead map. The levels are more openly accessible with at least a few available to play at any given time, rather than the linear progression found in the original Ynth.

The core gameplay remains the same in Beyond Ynth. Kribl will start at one side of a level and use a series of boxes to get to the exit on the other side. Boxes come in various shapes and sizes, and once you crawl inside of one you can tilt the box over by pushing on one of the inner walls. You'll "roll" these boxes by tilting them over and over to progress through the level. The puzzle element in Beyond Ynth comes from being able to align the openings of the boxes together so you can make your way from one to the other without accidentally getting yourself stuck. You must also think ahead in order to properly deal with the environmental hazards and other various objects present in each of the levels.

The entire game is incredibly unique and each level is cleverly designed from beginning to end. As mentioned, however, it can be pretty tough figuring out how to advance past a certain part, and the instant death from touching a hazard that causes you to restart the level can wear pretty thin after a while. There's nothing more frustrating than meticulously working through a level only to suddenly die near the end and have to start over. Moving in the boxes can be slow-going, and it sometimes feels overly tedious to play through the same sections over and over just to get to the point you were previously stuck at. Each level also has a set of diamonds that can be collected in order to earn a medal, and some of these diamonds seem nearly impossible to collect which adds greatly to the challenge.

While this may sound pretty negative, I actually really like Beyond Ynth a lot. The artistic style and story are really charming and you can't help but appreciate how cleverly designed some of the levels are. For me, it's best taken in small doses though, and if I'm feeling frustrated with a certain level I'll try a different one or take a break from the game altogether. With 80 levels to play through plus the added replayability of obtaining gold medals for each one, Beyond Ynth will keep you busy for a long time. There's also achievements and leaderboards tracked through OpenFeint, with Game Center integration set to appear with the game's first update. There are already a lot of players enjoying the game in our forums, so if you like puzzle or platforming games and have a fair amount of patience, Beyond Ynth is worth taking a look at and is definitely a huge leap forward from the original game.



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New &#39;Dungeon Hunter 2&#39; Trailer and &#39;Gangstar: Miami Vindication&#39; Gets a Release Date

10:44 AM

Posted by best

This morning we got some news from Gameloft on some highly anticipated upcoming titles of theirs. First off, they revealed that Dungeon Hunter 2 will have both Game Center support as well as Gameloft Live to do matchmaking, making it one of the first games that is going to include multiple matchmaking services to be backwards compatible with device that don't support Game Center. A new trailer was also released that looks awesome and is a must-see for anyone interested in dungeon crawlers:

In other news, Gangstar: Miami Vindication now has a release date� we'll be driving around Miami on our iPhones on September 23rd. Also, Gameloft has told us there will be 75 missions included across an open world "amazing reconstruction" of Miami which will feature varied environments such as a downtown area, swamps, beaches, and others. The law enforcement AI is also apparently significantly improved, a welcome change from the previous Gangstar.
Miami Vindication will also sport a varied soundtrack of all kinds of licensed tracks, and a storyline written by one of the writers of the TV show The Wire.

""

"" ""

"" ""

Needless to say, these are two games we're really excited to try out. As soon as we get a chance to get our hands on them, we'll have reviews of both.



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General Motors OnStar system gets Facebook support

5:39 AM

Posted by best

If you need to check status updates even when you're driving, Facebook and General Motors have a solution for you. As you might remember, there has been a rumor that General Motors OnStar system might get a Facebook integration so that you can receive status updates from your Facebook account while you're driving. This is not a rumor anymore and it seems that Facebook and General Motors have taken this quite seriously.

In order to use Facebook integration with your car you'll have to connect your phone to General Motors OnStar System via Bluetooth and you're good to go. Thanks to this integration, your car can read Facebook updates to you or even incoming SMS. This makes it relatively safe to use while driving. Thanks to voice control, you can send certain predefined responses. Besides that, this system will allow you to start your car, lock it, or even control your lights and your horn with your phone.

This new system from GM looks great but we hope to wait and see how it works in action. Facebook is everywhere, but is it necessary to be connected to Facebook even when you're driving?

[via Ubergizmo]

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Latest gadgets: This USB blanket may keep you warm this winter

3:39 AM

Posted by best

Well, mankind has come up with some of the�weirdest�of innovations but I never expected our clothing to be as technology dependent as this blanket seems to be. It is simple, the USB heating blanket uses power via the USB to heat up and keep the body that it covers warm. We are not sure if it means that the blanket will be useless if you don't have USB power available but this is what the case seems to be.

The USB heating blanket boasts of a button as a cloak and helps your body de-frost within seconds. It has a built in warming pad that generates heat by utilizing the USB port to which it connects. It is plug and play blanket that keeps its temperature to be around 35 degree after it is connect to USB. The 85�45 cm USB heating blanket weighs 369 grammes and has the USB cable of 125 cm in length so that you can even go to sleep if the electronic warmth makes you feel comfortable.

The USB heating blanket costs $25 and is available in pink, navy blue and grey.

[USB Heating Blanket via 7Gadgets]

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&#39;Army of Darkness&#39; iPhone Game Coming � Hail to the King, Baby

2:29 AM

Posted by best

""Buried in the Buganoids announcement email from Backflip Studios was this tiny little tidbit:

A game developed by us in tandem with MGM Studios based on the cult classic ARMY OF DARKNESS movie will launch early in 2011 . . . deadites beware!

That's right! Army of Darkness the game is coming to the App Store in 2011.

Now, I know what you're thinking… "a movie franchise game?" But Backflip's Julian Farrior says the whole team is "insanely excited" about it and it's collectively the team's favorite movie. So, we're going to mark this one as "can't wait" for now.

The game will include all the favorite quotes from the movie and is described as a hybrid castle/tower defense inspired game. Your job is to protect the Necrinomicon from the deadites with help with your boomstick, chainsaw and more.

Here's a great collection of many of the quotes, probably not entirely safe for work:


If you haven't seen Army of Darkness, well, you've got time before the expected "early 2011" release.


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Daily gadget deal: $150 off HP ENVY 15 Core i5 Laptop

1:39 AM

Posted by best

Here's LogicBUY's latest gadget deal of the day for a HP ENVY 15 Laptop . The ENVY 15 PC features outstanding performance in a thin, light-weight design with amazing battery life. Featuring an elegant metal-etched surface design, made of strong but lightweight magnesium chassis.

This 1-inch thin, 5.18-pound laptop is powered by the Intel's�Core i5 processor, with updated 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5830�discrete graphics card. The Envy 15 laptop is equipped with 4GB DDR memory(upgradable up to 16GB), 320GB Hard Drive, 15.6-inch LED BrightView LCD and a USB 3.0 port.

Other key features of the HP Envy 15 �include Night Vision WebCamera, Wireless-N with Bluetooth, stellar battery life of up to 6.0 hours and pre-installed with Windows 7.

This deal offer you $150 off the listed price and free shipping.
[via LogicBUY]

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