TUAW First Look: Parachute Panic for iPhone
I love iPhone games. Zen Bound, Frenzic and Peggle are among my favorites. Each feels right on the phone, from the utilization of the touch screen to the graphics and sound. Best of all, there's no definitive end, so I can continue to play for as long as I like.
Earlier this week, they were all knocked down a peg as Parachute Panic [App Store link] became my favorite. It's part Defender, part SketchFighter 4000 Alpha and a lot of fun. The goal is simple: Allow paratroopers safe passage from an airplane to the deck of a ship. As they fall, you must deploy their chutes (some open on their own but most don't; I'd have a word with the manufacturer) while avoiding rotating helicopter blades, abducting space aliens, electrical storms and hungry sharks. Additionally, you've got to alter the wind direction to ensure they hit the target and not the open sea.
Brando's Paper Storage Box inconspicuously hides your HDDs
Oh, Brando -- how you make our hearts flutter. One day, you're pumping out new kit fit only for our Crapgadget roundup; the next, you're delivering gems such as this. The 5-bay HDD Paper Storage Box with Cover covertly hides up to five of your precious 3.5-inch hard drives, and it likely provides more security for your personal information than a fireproof lock box. 'Cause really, what data thief is going to shuffle through a cardboard container looking for valuable platters?Mojo Mobility shows off wireless charging on Intel MIDs
Despite overwhelming evidence showing that MIDs just aren't the next big thing, Intel refuses to give up on the idea. To that end, Mojo Mobility has seemingly drank the Kool-Aid as well, showing off a new wireless charging system on those very devices at Computex. The Near Field Power solution can be integrated into mobile devices much like the Palm Pre, and the Mojo pad enables current to be transferred easily as soon as the device is laid to rest on said mat. Heck, it's even smart enough to turn itself off once the device reaches a full charge. Unfortunately, pricing for the Mojo system is still undisclosed, but we're told that several OEMs are already looking into baking it into their next-gen products.so I'm behind....Facebook rolls out its revamped apps directory
As anticipated from last week's Facebook company blog post, the company has rolled out a redesigned directory of applications that has been tweaked to better show off verified applications. The company has also trimmed the number of categories down to just seven from a list that had grown to 22.
Verified applications are those that have gone through Facebook's new annual verification program, which costs $375, or $175 for students. Facebook vets these apps to make sure they conform to the company's standards both in content and in API usage.
Apps that have been verified get a little green check mark next to their name, along with a large badge that goes on their description pages. With this move it also nets verified apps more exposure within the directory. They're now shown off in a new featured section that goes on top of all the other applications in each category.
While users can choose to only view verified apps in each category, one area where verified apps do not have as much importance is with Facebook's search. If you do a search for an app, it does not tell you whether it's been verified or not within the results, something that Facebook could change as an additional incentive for developers to pay up to get verified.
I love iPhone games. Zen Bound, Frenzic and Peggle are among my favorites. Each feels right on the phone, from the utilization of the touch screen to the graphics and sound. Best of all, there's no definitive end, so I can continue to play for as long as I like.Earlier this week, they were all knocked down a peg as Parachute Panic [App Store link] became my favorite. It's part Defender, part SketchFighter 4000 Alpha and a lot of fun. The goal is simple: Allow paratroopers safe passage from an airplane to the deck of a ship. As they fall, you must deploy their chutes (some open on their own but most don't; I'd have a word with the manufacturer) while avoiding rotating helicopter blades, abducting space aliens, electrical storms and hungry sharks. Additionally, you've got to alter the wind direction to ensure they hit the target and not the open sea.
Brando's Paper Storage Box inconspicuously hides your HDDs
Mojo Mobility shows off wireless charging on Intel MIDs
Facebook rolls out its revamped apps directory
As anticipated from last week's Facebook company blog post, the company has rolled out a redesigned directory of applications that has been tweaked to better show off verified applications. The company has also trimmed the number of categories down to just seven from a list that had grown to 22.
Verified applications are those that have gone through Facebook's new annual verification program, which costs $375, or $175 for students. Facebook vets these apps to make sure they conform to the company's standards both in content and in API usage.
Apps that have been verified get a little green check mark next to their name, along with a large badge that goes on their description pages. With this move it also nets verified apps more exposure within the directory. They're now shown off in a new featured section that goes on top of all the other applications in each category.
While users can choose to only view verified apps in each category, one area where verified apps do not have as much importance is with Facebook's search. If you do a search for an app, it does not tell you whether it's been verified or not within the results, something that Facebook could change as an additional incentive for developers to pay up to get verified.
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