New Technology Reviews!.: Screen

Tetris Free hits Android Market today

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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="106" mce_src="http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/3853/tetrissg540x293.jpg" src="http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/3853/tetrissg540x293.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="194" />One of the games that I really liked back in the day was Tetris. The puzzle game has different shapes that tumble from the top of the screen and fill up the area. The goal is to align the different pieces to fill up a row and make the row disappear. If you don’t align enough when the parts touch the top of the screen, you lose.</div>
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Tetris Free is now on the Android Market for you to download. The app was updated August 24 and is being offered at no cost exclusively on Android devices. The game is a new and improved version of the original Tetris with the music we all know and it includes the Marathon Mode as well.</div>
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The game uses the touchscreen for control and the pieces can be slid and rotated using the fingers. The free version also allows for stat tracking so they can work to beat their high score. I bet a bunch of people grab this game today.</div>
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“Tetris is one of the most distinctive, well-known and popular video game franchises in the world and it gives EA the opportunity to grow its already-expanding customer base on the Android platform,” said Bernard Kim, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for EA Interactive. “Tetris has a strong legacy in the mobile gaming world and we’re excited to bring a free version of Tetris to yet another great platform.”</div>
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Tetris Free hits Android Market today

One of the games that I really liked back in the day was Tetris. The puzzle game has different shapes that tumble from the top of the sc...

Review: Sony VAIO E Series

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Sony has a different VAIO range for each type of user, but has always valued solid multimedia performance and good looks for all its laptops.</div>
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Curiously, though, the Sony VAIO VPCEEL1E1E (E Series) didn't produce the usual spark of excitement for us. By shunning an Intel processor and instead opting for an AMD E-350 Vision CPU, Sony has kept the cost down. And while there's no dedicated graphics card, AMD's Vision brand of CPUs includes the integrated graphics chips in the form of the Radeon series.</div>
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The VAIO has an integrated Radeon HD 6310 that will handle some pretty demanding programs. We got a respectable score of 5651 from our 3D benchmark program, and were impressed when we loaded up some high definition (HD) video.</div>
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Battery Eater '05: 177 minutes<br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5;" />Cinebench: 1237<br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5;" />3DMark 2006: 5651</div>
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The screen is well suited to watching movies or light gaming, thanks to the Super-TFT coating that gives it that distinctive reflective sheen. The native 1366 x 768 pixel resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio are standard nowadays for comfortable movie watching without the letterbox black boxes at the top and bottom of the screen. We also found we could get good viewing angles from the screen.</div>
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When it comes work, you'll find the usability is pretty decent. The touchpad has a textured coating which makes it comfortable to use and stops you slipping or brushing it accidentally. It is responsive and both the left and right-click buttons are chunky and feel solid.</div>
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The same can be said of the full-sized keyboard, which is designed with Sony's favoured isolation-style keys and gives you plenty of space, so you won't end up hitting the wrong button when typing at speed. There's a dedicated numeric keypad added in, as well as Sony's now standard VAIO, ASSIST and WEB hotkeys.</div>
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The chassis is sturdy, apart from the lid, which flexed quite badly when we pressed on it. The black embossed design unfortunately does little to stand out from the crowd.</div>
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Connectivity is standard fare, with four USB 2.0 ports, VGA and HDMI sockets for connecting to an external monitor, and an Ethernet cable for hardwired internet access – something you might not need, because the VAIO is equipped with 802.11n wireless capability.</div>
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Admittedly, we are so used to seeing Sony turn out brilliant high-end laptops, that when it produces a simple mid-level machine (at a reasonable price) we are left feeling somewhat underwhelmed.</div>
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There are a number of positives to take away from the laptop, however, particularly if you plan to watch a lot of HD video from services such as the BBC iPlayer, or if you want to use your machine for working at home. The keyboard is up to Sony's usual high standard and will benefit students or writers.</div>
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All in all, this is a good, if unremarkable, mid-level laptop from Sony, especially if you value the VAIO brand</div>
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Review: Sony VAIO E Series

Sony has a different VAIO range for each type of user, but has always valued solid multimedia performance and good looks for all its la...

Acer planning a sliding Android tab for the holidays, won't fit in your stocking

Acer planning a sliding Android tab for the holidays, won't fit in your stocking

Rumor has it that ASUS wont be the only company with a sliding Android tablet this holiday season -- DigiTimes claims to have it on good au...

Review: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4-85

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="150" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%201-200-200.jpg" width="200" /></p><br/>It's no surprise that Bang & Olufsen's first 3D TV also happens to be one of the most expensive sets ever produced.<br/><br/>More likely to be found on a yacht or luxury custom installation than the average living room, the BeoVision 4-85 boasts an 85-inch plasma screen, a host of features and a price that would make Croesus himself blush.<br/><br/>The display is the same as that behind Panasonic's TH-85VX200, so its pedigree isn't in doubt. Amazingly, though, the 4-85 is about to become the smallest TV in the BeoVision range, with the non-3D 65-inch version being phased out and a whopping 103-inch version (BeoVision 4-103) waiting in the wings.<br/><br/>The latter, with its motorised stand, will cost you – deep breath – close to £100,000. If you decide to wall-mount it, the price comes down to a trifling £82,000.<br/><br/>For now, this 85-incher is the only plasma sold by Bang & Olufsen, the rest of its range being mostly LED-backlit LCD TVs that are as delectably designed as they are expensive. At the entry level – if such a thing exists within B&O's money-no-object ethos – is the BeoVision 8-40.<br/><br/>A snip at £4,500, this 40-inch TV has a full HD resolution, 200Hz and a surround sound decoder, plus a soundbar-style speaker system.<br/><br/>Next up is the BeoVision 10 range, all of which have a curiously square aspect, thanks to the three-way speakers slung under the displays.<br/><br/>The variations comprise the 32-inch BeoVision 10-32 (£4,500), 40-inch BeoVision 10-40 (£7,000) and 46-inch BeoVision 10-46 (£8,500), with only the smaller version unable to cope with surround sound. All have 200Hz, full HD and an anti-glare screen covering that's also seen on this 85-incher (it works, too; switch-off the TV and reflections are only faint).<br/><br/>Finally, aside from this 3D monster, is the BeoVision 7 range, which comprises the BeoVision 7-40 (£11,000) and BeoVision 10-55 (£16,000). The smaller is LCD, the larger LED-lit, yet both have perhaps the greatest feature of all; built-in Blu-ray. It's not 3D, sadly (it soon will be), but is designed quite brilliantly. Press Eject and a Blu-ray disc (or DVD) silently slips out, supported by a slim column.<br/><br/>All Bang & Olufsen TVs – and especially the BeoVision 4-85 – are programmable. An engineer asks you exactly what other products you have – say, a Sky+HD box and a Sony Blu-ray player – and the controls for those are integrated into the remote control.<br/><br/>However, if you change your components around, an engineer does have to pay another visit to reconfigure the remote.<br/><br/>It's the kind of personal service you'd expect if paying this much cash, though the charges keep on coming. You can't just barge into a Bang & Olufsen store and purchase the BeoVision 4-85, though. A site survey must be carried out first, largely to make sure the TV will fit through your doorway, and be supported by your walls or floor.<br/><br/>The site visit costs £300, though it's refundable if you decide to buy a BeoVision 4-85. The final charge is for delivery, which, as you can imagine, requires some pretty specialist lifting equipment; say goodbye to between £4,000 and £10,000. The main reason for that is the BeoVision 4-85's clever floor stand that weighs a whopping 500kg.<br/><br/>Whereas most TV stands rotate and wriggle, this one elevates. It's largely a show-off feature and not aimed specifically at improving the viewing angle or picture, but it's still addictive; switch the TV on from the remote and it rises to attention, revealing the BeoLab 10 speaker (also part of that 500kg bulk) as it does so.<br/><br/>This feature can be customised to exact proportions, with the TV leaning back or turning slightly. Does a TV need to have one position when switched-off, and another when turned on? No, not really – though arguably that's more important with an 85-inch TV, which is likely to become the focal point of any room, however large.<br/><br/>When it's switched-off, the BeoVision 4 retracts down to the floor – just an inch or two above, in fact – and from down there it doesn't dominate quite so much.<br/><br/>No sooner has the TV lifted into position than the TV comes to life – no coincidence – in typical B&O style; a pair of digital curtains part on the screen to reveal a live TV channel.<br/><br/><img alt="BeoVision 4-85" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%202-420-90.jpg" width="420" /><br/><br/>At this price the BeoVision 4-85 isn't going to sell in the thousands, which is great news if you're in the market for it, since you can pretty much have it completely customised. Your first choice is between six colours (black, silver, red, blue, golden or gunmetal); the sample we reviewed was finished in snazzy brushed silver.<br/><br/>There's no Freeview HD tuner on board the BeoVision 4-85. If you balk and splutter at that, you're very probably not in Bang & Olufsen's universe. Any situation where the BeoVision 4-85 could be used is also one where a Sky or Virgin box is going to be in place – if only for the plethora of high-definition TV channels – so we're not unduly worried about the lack of DVB-T2. Despite that, we're told it will soon be in place.<br/><br/>In some ways the BeoVision 4-85 is all about cutting out features considered pointless, picture settings being first on the list. It's a strange stance in some ways, because high-end punters should be the fussiest, but Bang & Olufsen has removed virtually all opportunities to tweak the image. Yes, there are some very basic drop-down menus to change contrast, brightness and colour alongside a Game mode, but that is it; everything else is performed automatically by the BeoVision 4-85's ... wait for it … robotic pop-out camera.<br/><br/>Has Bang & Olufsen gone cuckoo? The set arrives perfectly calibrated for its surroundings – B&O is very confident about that, and doesn't want it jeopardised by the customer (heaven forbid) – so the job of the robot arm is to keep things that way.<br/><br/>Partly because plasmas are dynamic, colours can take on a slight yellowing hue the more they're used, so every 90-100 hours of use a five-inch camera pops-up from the top of the display, drops down in front of the screen, and measures the saturations and contrast (from a colour spectrum and a greyscale shown onscreen). It then resets to its original parameters, and adjusts the colour temperature to steer away from yellow and the camera dives back in, cuckoo-clock style.<br/><br/>The whole process (called Automatic Colour management, which can be done manually at any point) takes about 20 seconds, during which time the IR receiver is also measuring the ambient light in the room, and adjusting the brightness accordingly.<br/><br/>It's all a very subtle and silent process, and as we'll see, does a great job, though home cinema aficionados might take umbrage at the apparently dismissive stance towards users making their own tweaks. We presume this stance is largely to stop customers requesting call-outs every time someone messes with the settings.<br/><br/>Aside from magical moving mechanisms, the BeoVision 4-85 is also a 3DTV. It employs the Active 3D system used by (for now) the majority of manufacturers and brands, though that's absolutely no surprise; this is a high-end, and huge, plasma that is ideal for Active 3D.<br/><br/>In and outputs are, again, up to each buyer; on the back of the sample we saw was strapped a BeoSystem 3 surround sound processor that built-in DVI, four HDMI, component video, three electrical digital audio and, remarkably, three Scarts. Also back there were some line ins and outs, analogue and digital RF and an RF modulator.<br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="BeoVision 4-85" class="aligncenter" height="142" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%203-420-90.jpg" width="252" /></p><br/>Paired with a reference-level Oppo BDP-95EU Blu-ray player, the BeoVision 4-85 pumps out some seriously great 3D pictures.<br/><br/>Perhaps it's just the size of the screen that creates such enveloping intensity (not that we sat directly underneath it), but a run-through of <em>Avatar</em> delivered some of the most convincing 3D pictures we've seen.<br/><br/>Heavy on contrast and with a searing brightness (at least, for a 3D screen), the BeoVision 4-85 deciphered with intrinsic depth and startling detail the scene where the floating flowers settle on Jake. The way the screen picks out pricks of bright light in otherwise inky black areas of the image is brilliant. In the dog attack scene, it all moves a touch too fast for the BeoVision 4-85; there's a suggestion of crosstalk, though it's mostly a problem with judder.<br/><br/>Colour is sublime, as it is in 2D mode. There's a huge drop in contrast with those 3D specs dumped, though it's still enough to impress when compared to mainstream plasmas. On 2D mode there simply isn't any motion blur at all, which is why plasma is best for monster screens (though the 3D specs do introduce some).<br/><br/>Sky channels look better than Freeview, which is blighted by softness and fizzing around moving objects. That's no surprise on a screen this big, and the good work done in contrast and colour is retained. Overall, the BeoVision 4-85 is a top-drawer screen for 3D and 2D, while for standard definition it does a decent job at cleaning it up, considering its size.<br/><br/>It would be remiss not to point out that 3D material is best viewed on Active 3D screens in as near to blackout as possible – and the BeoVision4-85 is no different.<br/><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img alt="BeoVision 4-85" class="aligncenter" height="142" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%204-420-90.jpg" width="252" /><br/></strong></p><br/><strong>Sound</strong><br/><br/>If the picture relies largely on the Panasonic plasma panel it's hosted on, the sound is all Bang & Olufsen's work. The BeoLab 10 speaker that sits below the screen is a mono driver – but acts as a centre channel in a surround sound set-up, which is virtually the law if you're spending this much.<br/><br/>In our review the BeoVision 4-85 was paired with two BeoLab 5 speakers (£3,600 per pair) and two surround sound modules, the BeoLab 3 (£2,700 per pair). The sound is crystal clear and powerful, as it should be at this end of the market.<br/><br/>In fact, with the sharp and well-weighted vocals, pitch-perfect bass levels (no external subwoofer is needed) and overwhelmingly effective surround effects, we'd argue that the audio brings the movie to life just as much – if not more – than the 3D effects onscreen.<br/><br/><strong>Value</strong><br/><br/>If you want one of the best screens on the planet, it will cost you. There is the small matter of price to contented with though – Panasonic's TH-85VX200 costs a 'mere' £42,000, so where's the BeoVision 4-85's extra £24,000 going? On the robot arm, perhaps? The motorised stand?<br/><br/>The look of the BeoVision 4-85 is a lot more sculpted, and the way it integrates into a home automation system – and, more importantly, a speaker array – is impressive. Other than that, the money seems to get you a screen that delivers a consistent picture performance that refuses to bend to your will.<br/><br/>For those after a top-notch, fuss-free 85-inch screen with huge wow-factor, the BeoVision 4-85 is first class – but the only real reason for any TV to cost £66,000 is that a production line simply doesn't exist; it's custom-built, and that is what determines the price.<br/><br/><strong>Ease of use</strong><br/><br/>There are two remote controls to pick from. The  default option is a Beo4, a long, slender and pleasingly weighty  product that takes some getting used to. It's thoroughly effective,  though a tad slow at communicating with an IR receiver that protrudes  from the BeoVision 4-85's top right-hand corner. The Beo6, which has  been in the Bang & Olufsen arsenal for quite some time, costs £230.<br/><br/>Those  that want a more up-to-the-minute touchscreen remote are also catered  for by the Beo6. It's a strange looking thing, with a small colour OLED  screen sitting atop what looks like part of a model aircraft's fuselage.  It's nicely weighted and comfy to hold, but best of all channel logos  can be programmed to appear on the touchscreen.<br/><br/>At £600 it adds  further to the increasingly stratospheric bill (it comes free with the  BeoVision 4 and BeoVision 7 products, so why not this top-of-the-range  TV?).<br/><br/>The remote really comes into its own when controlling  external equipment; we managed to control the internal workings of a  Sky+HD box with no problem, perusing the EPG and setting-up recordings.<br/><br/>Both  remotes are capable of mastering a home automation system if paired  with a MasterLink Gateway so, for example, you can use it in conjunction  with a Lutron lighting system; press 'movie' on either Bang &  Olufsen remote and the Blu-ray kicks-in as the lights dim. It also works  with Crestron and AMX systems, so for the wealthy it can control  security systems, ventilation, curtains, a burglar alarm – even your  electronic pool cover.<br/><br/>The TV's user interface doesn't make such a  splash, though it is complete simplicity defined. While other brands  struggle to introduce polished graphics and colourful, responsive menus,  here a different attitude has been taken. There is a bare-bones (and  attractive, despite being just white text on a black background)  interface that cuts in menus and choices from the left-hand side, but  usually the remote can be used to directly choose the source.<br/><br/>Those  wanting to control TV, or even entire zones of their automated house,  with a smartphone can do so with the free – and highly polished – BeoLink app on iPhone or Android.<br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="BeoVision 4-85" class="aligncenter" height="142" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Bang%20and%20Olufsen%20BeoVision%204-85/B%20and%20O%20BeoVision%202-420-90.jpg" width="252" /></p><br/>Although it's always been a pricey brand, the last four or five years has seen the Danish brand issue TVs that haven't been sufficiently different to mass-market propositions to get anyone very excited.<br/>That all changes with the BeoVision 4-85.<br/><br/><strong>We liked:</strong><br/><br/>Contrast, colour and sheer detail are the picture highlights, but this TV goes way beyond its great 3D and 2D work. The robotic camera, home automation options and speaker opportunities are excellent, as is the touchscreen remote and iPhone app, while the motorised stand does nothing to lower our expectations. The choice of plasma when LED-backlighting is so well marketed is a shrewd, if risky move – and absolutely pivotal to its success.<br/><br/><strong>We disliked:</strong><br/><br/>The constant piling-on of costs – for the remote, surround sound decoder, speakers, stand and even delivery charges – might begin to annoy even those with vast resources. We're also rather surprised there's no online dimension whatsoever, while the lack of a Beo6 touchscreen remote as a default, included option is a shame.<br/><br/><strong>Final verdict:</strong><br/><br/>Incredibly expensive and aimed at money-no-object types, the BeoVision 4-85 sees a return to form. Bang & Olufsen's engineers have sensibly built the swish user experience around a cutting-edge plasma panel that excels with all sources.

Review: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4-85

It's no surprise that Bang & Olufsen's first 3D TV also happens to be one of the most expensive sets ever produced. More likely ...

Trimit reads, simplifies, and condenses web content for social networks

<br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter" height="68" src="http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9128/screenshot20110628at906.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px;" width="178" /></p><br/>Trimit is a new app that promises to automatically summarize text. The idea is this: You enter a URL, trimit ingests the web page you pointed to, and then it spits back a condensed version at the length you specify.<br/><br/>TUAW had a chance to take an early peek at this app, which is due to launch soon on the App Store. So how did it measure up? All in all, I was impressed by its looks, but not by its functionality.<br/><br/>Trimit is visually lovely. But that loveliness has not been designed around a solid user experience. I did eventually get the hang of using the application, but given the number of steps it took to make things happen, I felt that the app would benefit from hiring a usability designer.<br/><br/>Here are the steps you need to take for the most common use case:<br/><ol><br/>	<li> In Safari, find a URL you want to work with and copy it to the system clipboard. The application does not offer a built-in web browser.</li><br/>	<li> Tap the link button (it's in the center of the screen, one icon over from the left, looks like a two-link chain).</li><br/>	<li> Paste the URL into the "import text source from url:" field.</li><br/>	<li> Tap Go and wait. Trimit extracts the content text from the page.</li><br/>	<li> Tap on settings. This is the leftmost icon in the middle of the screen. Once tapped, it becomes a keyboard icon. You'll need to use this after picking your destination.</li><br/>	<li> Select a destination, like Twitter (which is the top-left of the options). A teeny tiny checkmark appears next to the choice. I could figure out Twitter at a glance, and "f" is probably facebook, but the other options may leave you guessing.<br/><div><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="419" src="http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4442/img07191309290704.png" style="width: 220px; height: 328px; margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;" width="279" /></div></li><br/>	<li> After tapping on the destination, once again tap on it, but this time tap and hold until the iPhone vibrates. A pop-up appears. Choose whether you want to compress vowels and/or add abbreviations.</li><br/>	<li> Tap anywhere but on the destination again. (It took me forever to realize you could not dismiss the pop-up by re-tapping.)</li><br/>	<li> Tap on the keyboard icon to leave the destination settings mode.</li><br/>	<li> Shake the iPhone <em>strongly</em>. A gentle shake will not do. And *only* shake in the right mode, which seems to be compose mode or something like that, after destination picking. You'll be shaking your arms off otherwise. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure why some massive shakes would work sometimes and others wouldn't.</li><br/>	<li> Wait for trimit to compress your message.</li><br/>	<li> If needed, further edit the message by hand (so you can add a bit.ly'd source to the summary, for instance).</li><br/>	<li> Tap the send button at the top-right corner of the screen. It does not look like a button, just like an arrow, but it <em>is</em> a button. (Other on-screen buttons have shadow effects to show they are tappable buttons that invite interaction.)</li><br/>	<li> Select how you want to send the message, e.g., "Twitter it" or "Facebook it" (their phrasing). While these items <em>do</em> explain what each icon means, those same explanations should have been on the destination chooser and should follow the same order. They aren't and they don't.<br/><div><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="419" src="http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8476/img0721.png" style="width: 220px; height: 329px; margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;" width="279" /></div></li><br/>	<li> Enter credentials, authorize the application, and send.</li><br/>	<li> Tap the keyboard to re-enable the link button.</li><br/>	<li> Pull down to clear the previous text (otherwise the app will append new material, not replace it) and confirm your deletion.</li><br/></ol><br/>I love the idea of trimit, but the app itself is a big ol' mess. With this high degree of summarizing, not being able to include a source link is incomprehensible. What's more, people seem to do a much better job of summarizing the cool web pages they just read, whether using a basic tweet test or allowing more lax summaries.<br/><br/>For example, consider this Auntie TUAW post. Most people would tweet it like this: "iOS devices are no replacement for Wacom tablets http://aol.it/jx5AvB" 70 characters or so. How does trimit summarize the same material?<br/><br/><em>I am looking for an iPad app that allows it 2 function as a graphics tablet, similar 2 something like a Wacom tablet.</em><br/><br/>No source link, and very little context. Here's another go. Website io9 seemed to like Sunday's <em>True Blood </em>season premiere. What does trimit have to say about their write-up?<br/><br/><em>Con: Sookie is pized that Jason had the audacity 2 sell her (her grandmother's) house, after she's been mizing for over a year.</em><br/><br/>Honestly, do you really want to tweet that out? As if you had written it?<br/><br/>I found trimit more concept than execution. I didn't like the "shake to summarize" -- don't build your apps around shake gestures, people -- I wasn't impressed by the summaries, and I found the user interaction crippling.<br/><br/>Trimit is an app that should have soared. It is a great concept, but the app doesn't deliver on execution. Trimit will be available on App Store for US$0.99 (introductory price), moving to $4.99 once the initial sale concludes.

Trimit reads, simplifies, and condenses web content for social networks

Trimit is a new app that promises to automatically summarize text. The idea is this: You enter a URL, trimit ingests the web page you pointe...

Game Review: Penguin

<img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-36741 aligncenter" height="192" src="http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2923/penguingjj.png" title="Penguin" width="320" /><br/><br/>Dive into some Tiny Wings action with Penguin, the first Tiny Wings-type game on WP7. By the way, it’s free to download.<br/><h3>Overall Score: 3/5</h3><br/>The gameplay and presentation are good, but the lasting value could see some improvements. However, it’s a great Tiny Wings style game for now!<br/><h4>Gameplay: 4/5</h4><br/>The gameplay feels almost identical to Tiny Wings. You touch the screen to dive down (gaining speed), and then you release the screen to fly. The goal is to get as far as possible without running out of air, so you have to try to catch big jumps as often as possible. If you’re not sure how to play, Penguin has a fabulous adaptive help system that teaches you when to press on the screen, and then gradually fades away once you get the hang of the game. Eating the fish in the game will give you a little speed boost. It feels pretty solid when playing it!<span> </span><br/><h4>Presentation: 4/5</h4><br/>The visuals are only decent, however the load speeds and music makes up for that! The game loads extremely fast, and will also resume even faster, so you can respond to that text right when you get it instead of worrying about having to wait for the game to resume! The music in the game sounds awesome and is nice to listen to. For HTC phones, there’s currently a bug where the sound effects make constant static, but by turning the sound effects volume off, that static went away. While the visuals could be more interesting, they are definitely effective and work for now.<br/><h4>Lasting Value: 2/5</h4><br/>Unfortuantely, this game doesn’t have a local or online leaderboard. You can sort of compete with friends locally, since it records your best all time score, but a leaderboard system would make the game far better.

Game Review: Penguin

Dive into some Tiny Wings action with Penguin, the first Tiny Wings-type game on WP7. By the way, it’s free to download. Overall Score: 3/5 ...

Touch Screen Software for Computers

Touch-screen software for <a href="">computers</A> includes games, video editing and playback software, interactive screen savers and more. Microsoft's Windows 7 is the first Windows operating system with native touch screen support. Many touch-screen programs require multi-touch which is a touch screen with the ability to register at least three simultaneous input points.<br /><P></P>Graphics software that uses a touch screen provides a more natural interface to create and modify digital imagery. Corel's Paint It! Touch provides features of varying complexity appropriate for children and other casual users. Corel's Digital Studio 2010 provides more serious users with a suite of touchscreen compatible digital graphics editing software. Touch screen games utilize the unique interactive quality of the touch screen to enhance playability. Touch-screen physics games, including Microsoft's Rebound, provide a medium for users who want to physically interact with a game. Physics games for touch screens typically involve solving a physical puzzle by directly interacting with objects on the screen. There are a variety of utility programs that allow the users to perform common tasks using a touch screen. Microsoft Surface Collage is one such program that allows the user to view and arrange photos on a PC using a touch screen. Windows 7 Home Premium, Ultimate and Professional editions provide a basic interface that uses a touch screen to navigate Web browsers and file systems. Some touch-screen software -- Corel Paint it! Touch and the Microsoft Touch Pack -- requires a touch screen compatible version of Windows 7 to run.

Touch Screen Software for Computers

Touch-screen software for computers includes games, video editing and playback software, interactive screen savers and more. Microsoft'...

How to Test a Screen Inverter

How to Test a Screen Inverter

Turn off your laptop and unplug the AC power cable. Locate the plastic frame that rests around the LCD screen. This is the screen bezel. Re...

Twitter hits the Piccadilly Circus big screen

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///classifications/images/twitter%20logo-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>Coca-Cola is bringing Twitter to Piccadilly Circus in London, with the drinks brand using its ad sign as a place for Christmas Twitter messages.</P><br /><P>Coca-Cola has teamed up with design agency Sedley Place for the stunt, which is set to run until 23 December.</P><br /><P>To take part you have to tweet your message to <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/cokezone">@cokezone</A>. We have no idea if the tweets are being monitored, but seeing as it is in one of the busiest thorough fares in London, we are expecting that someone will be putting a swear word filter on the thing.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Unique platform</STRONG></P><br /><P>"The Piccadilly sign provides Coca-Colawith a unique interactive platform and we're delighted that consumers can use it to spread their Christmas messages this year," said Zoe Howorth, market activation director (?!), Coca-Cola GB.</P><br /><P>"This activation puts our fans at the heart of the activity, allowing them to engage and communicate with people everywhere."</P>

Twitter hits the Piccadilly Circus big screen

Coca-Cola is bringing Twitter to Piccadilly Circus in London, with the drinks brand using its ad sign as a place for Christmas Twitter messa...

How to Change the Print Screen Key

<P>Download the MapKeyboard program and use it to make the "Print Screen" key perform any function. It also allows you to disable the key so that nothing happens when you press it. The installation file is small, and Windows does not have to load it into memory.</P><P>Install AutoHotKey. AutoHotKey is a macro program that enables <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer</A> owners to automate Windows functions. You can also use it to remap your keyboard. You do not have to be a programmer to use the software. To remap your "PrintScreen" key, create a text file that contains a simple text string. This string defines how you want the "PrintScreen" key to work. The program will process the text file and remap the key.</P><P>Use Key Remapper. This simple utility does nothing but remap keyboard keys. Its user interface allows you to create new mappings using a wizard that guides you through the process. Use the wizard to give the "Print Screen" key new functionality, or disable the key completely.</P>

How to Change the Print Screen Key

Download the MapKeyboard program and use it to make the "Print Screen" key perform any function. It also allows you to disable th...

How to Decode the Blue Screen of Death Errors

<P>Reboot the computer, and disable the automatic restart during a BSOD error. Right-click "My Computer," then "Properties" and then the "Advanced" tab. Click "Settings" under "Startup and Recovery." Uncheck the "Automatically Restart" under the "System Failure" section. The process applies to most versions of Windows, including XP and 7.</P><P>Recreate the issue. Open the programs you were using and attempt to generate the issue. A majority of the time, you will be unable to recreate the issue. The next BSOD error that occurs will not reboot your computer automatically, giving you time to write down the technical information.</P><P>Write down the first aspect of the error. The second section will have a sentence without spaces, such as "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA." This is what caused the computer to crash. The page fault error implies a possibly damaged memory module. "INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE" indicates that the drivers for a storage device or hard drive were incorrectly installed. Most other common errors involve the word "DRIVER" pointing at a faulty driver.</P><P>Copy down the impacted file name. The section under "Technical Information" lists the exact error in coded message. The first section is programming language. The second section will list a file. The standard file listed will be a combination of letters and numbers followed by ".dll" which is a device driver data file. For example, "ati3diag.dll" may be displayed.</P><P>Open the "Search" engine for the computer. Click "Start" and "Search" for Windows XP. Click "Start" for Windows 7. Type the file name into the search engine to locate the file folder that holds the file. Some files will be in a "win32" folder which is a generic Windows folder. The majority will be housed in file folders specific to a program. The program will need to be uninstalled and reinstalled.</P>

How to Decode the Blue Screen of Death Errors

Reboot the computer, and disable the automatic restart during a BSOD error. Right-click "My Computer," then "Properties...

What Causes the Blue Screen of Death When Opening a Drive?

<P></P>The blue screen of death, or a <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer</A> crash, is your computer's way of telling you of a serious software or hardware problem with the computer. The computer may crash when using the CD-ROM drive of the computer, booting up the main hard drive or using an external hard drive. Read the helpful error codes on the screen to diagnose the problem.Memory FailureMost crashes occur from bad memory sticks or insufficient memory. Memory sticks do fail over time. Computer drives require memory to run applications and read files. The computer's memory may be unable to handle the load of running the operating system and managing the drive at the same time. Depending on the problem, the error code displayed on the blue screen of death may read "UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP" or "KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR."Corrupted Registry or DriverThe computer registry is the "brain" of your <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer system</A>. The registry contains the operating system database, from which run the device drivers and software for your drive. When the registry is corrupted or a driver has been improperly installed, your computer may display the error code "REGISTRY_ERROR." In the event of an incompatible or incorrect driver, the screen displays the error code "KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED."Bad DriveA failing or virus-infected drive may be responsible for the computer crashes. The computer may have difficulty accessing the drive or reading the drive. A virus may have incapacitated the boot sector of the drive, rendering startup impossible. The blue screen of death error code "INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE" means that the computer cannot read the hard disk drive due to a faulty driver, a faulty interface terminator or a virus. The message "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" indicates incompatible hardware or device drivers. References <a href="http://getit.rutgers.edu/tutorials/freezes_crashes/media/crash.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rutgers University: Freezes and Crashes</A>

What Causes the Blue Screen of Death When Opening a Drive?

The blue screen of death, or a computer crash, is your computer's way of telling you of a serious software or hardware problem with the...

How to Save a Screen Shot in Windows

How to Save a Screen Shot in Windows

Press the "Print Screen" key. The button may also be labeled "Prt Scn" or "Print Scr." You might need to pres...