Gadgets
Sprite Something: iPad App for Pixel Artists
There are two main reasons why I am posting about this app for the Ipad that lets you create and manage multi-frame pixel art. Despite the fact I will most likely never use an Ipad and by relation this app, it seems to be a pretty good for anyone interested in created a pixel-based game. However, the important reason I posted this is that I know the developer, Matthew Klundt of Terrible Games. This is probably the biggest mark the town of Aberdeen, SD has ever made on the gaming industry (except for this blog obviously). It has been fairly well received and I hardly recommend you download Sprite Something from the iTunes store as soon possible.
The Most Awesome or Stupid Lego Machine
Someone took the time to create a Lego machine that turns itself off. It has so many purposes…like turning itself off. I think that’s about it. Am I the only who pictures a little dude in the box getting pissed every time someone turns it on?
(via Gizmodo)
Star Wars TomTom
I’ve never been somewhere that I needed directions so a TomTom was never on my wishlist. Now TomTom will have the Star Wars voices including Darth Vader, C-3PO, Yoda, and Han Solo. I am half tempted to buy a TomTom just to hear Vader give me directions to the grocery store. I can think of better uses of my money, but not many geekier. If all of this doesn’t have you excited, maybe watching Vader’s recording session will have something to say about it.
(Picture via Uncrate)
(via Topless Robot)
The Future of Books: Alice on the Ipad
I’ll admit I didn’t see the point of the Ipad; it being a larger Iphone with half the features and all. After I saw Alice in Wonderland on the Ipad I changed my mind. This seems a lot more like something I’d see on a datapad from Star Trek than a phone. If we see more interactive books like this, I might actually have to pick an Ipad.
(via Ned Hardy)
Skinput: Your Skin Becomes The Screen
This device allows you to interact with your gadgets by tapping your skin. It’s interesting but even if they managed to make it work on everyone, attaching a large armband and projector to your arm defeats the point of reducing gadget space. I’ll just hold off until nanobots are injected into our body that can read out thoughts. I’m sure that won’t have any negative consequences.
(via Kotaku)
Problems with the Pokewalker
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver come with a Pokewalker, a small device allowing you to bring your Pokemon with you on walks. It can be used to level up your Pokemon, catch new Pokemon, or get more items. The small addition of the Pokewalker is bringing back old Pokemon fans who haven’t played the new games. But before you run off to pick up the remake of Gold and Silver, you might want to know the problems with the Pokewalker.
Level Cap
Each time you bring your Pokemon out on a walk, you can gain up to one level no matter how much you walk. For lower level Pokemon, it is much quicker to level them up in the game than it would be to use the Pokewalker.
Pokewalker Access Limited to Title Screen
If you want to transfer a Pokemon to or from your Pokewalker, you must enter the title screen (where you select to continue your game). This means if you are playing the game and are ready to save and go out with your Pokewalker, you need to restart the game and get back to the title screen before you can put any Pokemon in your walker. You can only transfer Pokemon from your PC to the Pokewalker so if you want to bring one from your party: you need to enter the game, find a PC, transfer to your PC, then exit back to your title screen to transfer them to your Pokewalker. › Continue reading
PSP Comic Viewer Review
In hopes to turn the PSP into an all powerful super device, The PSP’s latest firmware has added a Digital Comic Book Viewer to the device along with a comic book section to the PSN Store. After you select the viewer from the new “Extras” section, you will have to download the viewer before you can start checking out the comics.
The main interface is simple and helpful allowing you to view your entire collection, just the new additions, or the comics you have yet to read; beyond that you can even sort by the comic series and genre. After you finally selected your comic, you get to the most important part: reading it. The comic viewers fuctions are actually quite impressive starting with the simple but nice ability to listen to the music on your PSP while you use the comic viewer. The best way to read the comic is using the “AutoFlow” fuction that with the click of the left and right direction button takes you smoothy throughout the panels so you read the story in the order. The Autoflow also allows for deeper story interactions then just reading the physical comic as it seperate different aspects of the panel or page as they should be viewed. During one comic, I clicked the right button and it zoomed on the panel to show the back of a rabbit standing in the snow, then the screen moved to show the rest of the panel and revealed the bunny was watching a man in the snow. Another good use of the “AutoFlow’ system happened later in the same comic in which a large explosion in the comic resulted in the page shaking on the screen. These simple tricks help create a great feel for the story.
While the AutoFlow is the best way to view the comic, some people may want to read it their own way and the Comic Viewer allows for that. You can zoom in and out using the left and right trigger as well as panning around the comic and the up and down direction buttons flip the page. This is helpful for when the Autoflow misses small parts of scenery when moving from speech bubble to speech bubble. Once you are done panning around, you can snap back to the panel with a tap of the triangle button.
How does it compare to actual comics books? The Digital Comics offer portability since you can store hundreds of comics on your PSP and take them wherever you go. The AutoFlaw definately adds to the story and allows you to focus on one panel at a time, but I noticed small areas that weren’t shown due to their lack of story aspects. The panning works but doesn’t compare to simply moving your eyes along a page. The most disappointing part of the Digital Comics comes from the buying side, with their current selection of comics being rather small and the average price at $1.99, saving you just a buck from buying the physical book. I like the viewer itself, but at that price I would only use for the free comics and special issues available only online.
Use the force to control a ball
When I read about “The Force Trainer” I went from confusion, to amazement, to disappointment. It is a toy from Uncle Milton Industries that allows “players” to control a ball using a headset that reads their brain waves. The headset activates the tower pushing the ball up with air making small children believe they are using the force. Star Wars sound effects and sound clips from the Force Trainer tell you doing and challenge you to move the ball around in the tower. I see several faults with this product; for starters that I don’t believe it will work 90% of the time, the expected price tag of $90-100 dollars, and I don’t think the headset is made for adult heads! Even if the thing does work, Its amusement will disappear far too soon and will only be brought out when you have guests over to show your geekyness. I think we should stop trying to make force simulators and get back to working on the technology to make Spiderman’s webs. Who’s with me?
(via USA Today)
Mir:or released in England
Voilet, the makers of the famous Nabaztag Rabbits, just released their new revolutionary technology named Mir:or… in England. The Mir:or uses RFID tags attached to items that when swiped over or placed on it, the Mir:or will launch programs and web actions on your PC.
This means you can attach tags to your keys so they your computer goes into hibernate mode when you swipe your keys on the way out the door and starts back up when you return. Its list of possibilities are quite impressive.
The tags are said to be compatible with the Nabaztag which provides a lot more features and rabbit adorableness so I do recommend that over getting the Mir:or, but for people looking a bit more simplicity the Mir:or is perfect for streamlining your life a little bit.
No word when the Mir:or will be available in America but you can import from England for £36.00 ($53) a third of the price of the new Nabaztag rabbit.