Monthly Archives: November 2010

I Must Run! coming to iPhone, Android, PlayStation and iPad

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Shaun

Gamelion has published a teaser video for I Must Run! which should be released for the iPhone, Touch, iPad and PlayStation Minis in December with Android and other platforms to follow. Looks excellent.

Sunnyvale, California – Gamelion, a global digital publisher and award-winning game developer of mobile, home and portable console games, is pleased to release the first official trailer for I Must Run!, the upcoming skill-based action game for iOS, PlayStation Minis (PSP/PS3) and Android devices.

The teaser trailer tells the story of a US Marine who ended up in jail after involvement in a street fight during which the city major’s son dies. To revenge the death, someone kidnaps the Marine’s girlfriend and gives him 24 hours time to show up before she’ll be killed.

I Must Run! will be released world-wide for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and PlayStation Minis (PSP/PS3) still during December 2010, followed by a release on Android devices and other mobile platforms. More information on the game including new trailers, in-game screens and a playable PC demo build will be available soon on the official game’s website.

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Average price for apps on all mobile platforms

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Shaun

Distimo has produced a report showing the average price for apps on all of the major smartphone platforms and the results are surprising. Games are very popular under Windows Phone and the real surprise is that Apple paid apps are on average more expensive than any other platform, apart from the original Windows Mobile. I have always considered iPhone and iPad apps to be excellent value for money and do generally feel that the app quality is on average better from the iTunes app store.

This report covers the Apple App Store for iPad, the Apple App Store for iPhone, BlackBerry App World (worldwide), Google Android Market, Nokia Ovi Store, Palm App Catalog and Windows Marketplace for Mobile (Windows Mobile 6.x) during October 2010 in the United States. Data on Windows Phone 7 Marketplace was collected during the timeframe November 1 – 22 2010 in the United States.The major findings are:

•Games are significantly more popular in Windows Phone 7 Marketplace than they are on Windows Marketplace for Mobile (6.x). This mirrors the way that Microsoft positions Windows Phone 7 as a more consumer-oriented platform.
•The price of applications in Windows Phone 7 Marketplace closely mirrors the prices in other application stores, as opposed to applications in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile (6.x), which are significantly more expensive.
•The prices of the most popular applications in Windows Phone 7 Marketplace are even more in line with the other stores: 57% of the 100 most popular applications are priced below $2.00. For the other stores, this is between 51% and 67%, except for Windows Marketplace for Mobile where only 37% of the 100 most popular applications is priced below $2.00.
•The Windows Phone 7 Marketplace launched on October 21, 2010, and has grown to 2,674 applications as of November 22, 2010. In comparison,Windows Marketplace for Mobile has gathered only 1,350 applications to date since the store launched over a year ago.
•All ten of the most popular paid applications in Windows Phone 7 Marketplace are games, with prices ranging from $2.99 – $6.99.There are only two games among the ten most popular free applications in this store.
•Mirroring the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, a large portion of the ten most popular applications in Windows Phone 7 Marketplace is published by Microsoft (six applications). In the Apple App Store for iPad and BlackBerry App World, four out of the ten most popular applications are published by Apple Inc. and Research In Motion Limited, respectively.

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Apple bans Android magazine app

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Shaun

Mediaprovider has claimed that Apple rejected an Android magazine app from the app store. To quote their CEO- “You know… your magazine,” replied the Apple rep, who identified himself only as Richard. “It’s just about Android…. we can’t have that in our App Store.”

If true, that’s not great is it. When you consider that there are many magazine apps on iTunes, this would seem to be a content related rejection because it is a competing platform- that won’t sit right with many people.

UPDATE: David makes an interesting point- “Not really surprising but I know apple haters will use it for ammunition. However microsoft did the same thing with a certain apple mag, but that doesn’t make news does it?”

When I did a search for Microsoft rejects Apple Magazine all I get is links to the story above. Either Google diverts the searches or, as David says, the story never took off.

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QOTD: Symbian?

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Shaun

In my recent review of the Nokia N8 I was particularly harsh about the Symbian operating system. I wasn’t doing it for attention, but got generally very frustrated by the way it worked. So, how would you sum up Symbian in 5 words?

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COTD: Mobile computing is getting boring

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Shaun

Today’s comment of the day comes from James- “I’m guessing that outside of a major paradigm-shift in mobile computing features, we won’t see any major changes in the overall landscape.  Unless I’m missing something, mobile devices as we know them are reaching their peak potential to impress in the same way that desktop/laptop computers stopped being in any way interesting a few years ago.  No one platform has any incredible advantage over any other.  We’ve already got features like web browsing and GPS firmly established as standard features of everyday mobile computing.  I’m terrible at speculating on these sorts of things, but what new feature would only one platform successfully develop ALONE in the next two years that could break the overall platform parity we see today?  Can any system come up with a game-changer that the other platforms wouldn’t pick up in short order?  4G will be the norm, but that’s nothing special other than to say it’s just faster.  The only feature that said speed will open up is greater ease in viewing video media and video chat – which are cool and nice and all, but we’re already collectively starting to get comfortable with those concepts.  I think mobile computing is getting pretty close to being boring, and for that reason, I’m not convinced that 24 months is going to bring us any great changes in the installed base.”

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Smartphone Essentials Issue 108 now on sale

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Shaun

Issue 108 of Smartphone Essentials is now on sale and this month includes the Awards 2010 feature which looks at the very best smartphones of the year. It also includes a review of the HTC Desire HD, which will also be reviewed on 247 next week, tests of over 80 apps and also 50 smartphone accessories.

With Microsoft, Apple and Google leading the way, mobile is the new battleground in computing. Today’s smartphones do a whole lot more than make calls: they are web browsers, social networking tools, mobile offices and satnav systems.

Smartphone Essentials is the UK’s only magazine dedicated to guiding you through the complexities of this rapidly changing technology. It is packed with comprehensive reviews of the latest devices, plus in-depth tutorials and features to ensure you get the most from them.

Aimed at everyone from businessmen baffled by their BlackBerrys, to tech enthusiasts who lust after the latest gadgets, Smartphone Essentials is the ultimate guide to mobile computing.

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Fit a screen protector in seconds

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Shaun

Here’s a clever idea which should help you align a new screen protector in seconds. Check out the video below from KIOKY for a demo. The screen protectors are not cheap, but how many have you ruined in the past just trying to install them?

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My BB GPS for BlackBerry

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Shaun

The BlackBerry GPS chips are hampered by a lack of good quality navigation software, but My BB GPS offers some users that specific users may need. Currently on sale for $2.99.


This software shows GPS information, takes GPS logs and you’ll enjoy these GPS logs on Google Earth.

Software informs you with vibration and green LED when your device grabs satellites.

The following is the GPS information.
* Sat count* Altitude* Latitude* Longitude* Speed* Course* Timestamp* Method* Info(i.e. Address)

If you select [menu]-[GPS Logger], you can take consequence logs and enjoy these logs with Google Earth via KML files.

You can launch Google Maps and/or BlackBerry Maps at your GPS point via menu. You can set the duration of logs and suspend/ restart logging.

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Nokia X7-00 leaked on video

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Shaun

The Nokia X7-00 has been leaked on video and is shown off playing a racing game. I haven’t been kind to Symbian this week, but this phone is UGLY!


Nokia X7-00 with Symbian^3
Uploaded by superchilko. – Explore more science and tech videos.

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SyncMate 3 Beta available for testing

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Shaun

Android users who also own a Mac can have a hard time when trying to get the two to work together. Fear not though because SyncMate 3 is now available in beta and will soon be released officially. Looks mightily impressive to me.

Hi everyone! Yes, SyncMate 3 will be released very soon, and right now all of you can test SyncMate 3 Beta absolutely for FREE! Just request your beta version and enjoy discovering new features of SyncMate 3 Beta!

Please, note, that if you are not a registered SyncMate user yet and buy SyncMate Expert 2.6 starting from November 2, 2010 and till SyncMate 3 official release (within the grace period), you will receive free upgrade to SyncMate 3.If you already are a registered user of SyncMate you will receive 50% upgrade discount once SyncMate 3 is officially released.

The main option added to SyncMate 3 Beta will definitely please all Mac users, who own Android devices. From now on Android phones can be synced with Macs directly! Just connect your Mac and Android via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB and sync data between these devices.

With SyncMate 3 Beta you can sync contacts, calendar, music, images, videos, folders and much more between Mac and Android phones. Moreover, SMS reader and SMS manager plugins are now available for Android phones. So, be sure, your Mac and Android phone will work in perfect sync with the help of SyncMate!

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QOTD: Crystal Ball time?

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Shaun

Time to think ahead. Which mobile platform do you think will be the biggest in 2 year’s time? The smart money is on Android, but I do wonder if the likes of Windows Phone or even webOS could be in a completely different place in 24 months. Can’t write off iOS either. To sum up- I don’t have a clue.

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KissOnTheFly for iPhone review

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Shaun

Social networking is of course hugely popular at the moment and particularly amongst mobile users. Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and all of the others have benefited from the quick growth in smartphone ownership, but there are some who feel that they either lack emotion (Twitter) or that they are too complex to quickly express what you are thinking (Facebook). KissOnTheFly is designed to get around the problem by letting you send an animated kiss to anyone at all. If the recipient does not also own the app you can send them a kiss via email, Facebook, Twitter or save the kiss as a photo in your camera roll for use later in an MMS.

The process is also easy to handle and adds a special piece of interactivity into the equation; you tap ‘Send Kiss’, choose the delivery method, select the group of kisses and then the individual kiss within the group. Add a personal message, contact details and then simply blow into the microphone to send the kiss. It is all very simple and even a grumpy 40 year-old such as myself appreciated the interaction and emotional elements within the interface and navigation.

Within the app there are four options; Kiss List, My Kiss, Send Kiss and Downloaded Messages. The Kiss List lets you preview each of the kisses of which there are many included broken into separate groups; Tasty, Wild Ones, Zodiac, Love, Secrets and Wish. These cover the vast majority of reasons you will need to send a kiss and should offer enough longevity within the app for you to send a variety of kisses to your friends and loved ones. There are secret kisses as well which you will have to find for yourself- don’t expect any help from me…

My Kiss shows your received kisses which sounds quite basic, but is actually a small highlight. If you are feeling down for a moment simply open your list of kisses and open the special ones to give you a lift. My wife sat down with my 6 year-old daughter and they sent me a kiss- just the tonic when the day at work has been a bad one.

Send Kiss is the heart of the app and this is where you choose the type of kiss, the recipient and actually send off your messages to others.

You may view KissOnTheFly as a mere novelty app and I fully understand that, but the presentation, emotional design and entire implementation is simply divine. The fact that it could become a new way of communicating with the ones you love the most is an added bonus, and the main aim of the app. It succeeds in its true aim and has captured me when I didn’t expect it to. There are thousands of apps on the app store that are £0.59 / $0.99 and many are really not good at all, but this one is much more fun than I expected and I really do like it. Recommended.

More details and a download link are at www.kissonthefly.com.

KissOnTheFly is currently advertising on PDA-247, but this does not affect my reviews. If it is bad I say it’s bad, good and I say it’s good. This one is good.

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10.1″, 16GB webOS tablet coming in March 2011?

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Shaun

Doug Reid from Stifel Nicolaus is predicting that a webOS tablet will appear in March 2011 and that it will have a 10.1″ screen. The idea is nice, I must say, and the prospect of webOS on a tablet would seem to work well, but time will tell as to if it turns out to be true. More at webOSroundup.

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Qwixt Calendar for iPhone: time to share

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Shaun

Qwixt Calendar is a new calendaring app for the iPhone which aims to make sharing appointments and meetings as easy as can be. I have been trying it overnight and will post some more detailed thoughts next week. So far though, it is looking quite good. Check out the video below to see how easy it is to share…

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The Advent Vega: a surprise success?

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Shaun

The Advent Vega is a budget Android tablet (£249) that is currently being sold by a variety of UK retailers. Either stocks are low or a surprise smash has occurred because ‘out of stock’ seems to be what you will come across if you try to buy one. Thanks to Claire.

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