One click; just one single well-aimed click. That’s all you get in Boomshine.

That single click triggers a chain reaction; circles start exploding, and other circles colliding with the shockwaves explode as well, creating their own shockwaves, which then catch other circles.

It’s been done before, yes, but this one is a great iteration. The soundtrack is mellow, with lots of piano and some nice percussion (not electronic – it sounds like drums).

At each level you need to make a certain number of circles explode to go on to the next level. I got up to level 12, where you get 60 circles and need to make 55 of them explode. And then I kept trying and trying, but simply couldn’t get it. I did get to 54 circles a couple of times, but as they say, you don’t get points for trying.

There’s no time limit, so you can carefully study the pattern of motion and place your click at the exact right place to create the best chain reaction. I’ve found that clicking near the middle of the screen works quite well, especially if the balls are slowly moving in that direction. By the time the first shockwave dies off, the oncoming balls usually hit it and the chain reaction continues.

What level did you reach? Screenshots please!

Boomshine is a soothing-yet-frustrating time waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/16/boomshine-is-a-soothing-yet-frustrating-time-waster/

INFOCUS ZORAN ZIONS BAN YAHOO

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The Feds put the smackdown on Megaupload and its whole executive team last week, charging the them with criminal charges for copyright infringement and racketeering in addition to conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and money laundering. As a result, it appears that several other cloud locker companies have curbed their sharing ways to avoid similar DOJ entanglements. FileSonic and Fileserve have eliminated file sharing from their service menus, and Uploaded.to is no longer available to those of us in the US. Naturally, none of these companies have said that Megaupload’s legal problems are the reason for the changes, but the timing suggests it’s more than mere coincidence. Disagree? Feel free to speculate about the possibilities in the comments below, and let us know if any other online storage services have made similar moves while you’re at it.

In the wake of Megaupload crackdown, fear forces similar sites to shutter sharing services? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/PL5DWwq9-BQ/

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Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

Continue reading IRL: The CES 2012 Edition, featuring AirDrop, a new MBP and Crumpler

IRL: The CES 2012 Edition, featuring AirDrop, a new MBP and Crumpler originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/irl-the-ces-2012-edition-featuring-airdrop-a-new-mbp-and-crum/

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I have a thing for full-screen text editing. I use WriteMonkey for my creative writing needs, and VIM in a full-screen PuTTY session for my Web development work. That being the case, I’m all over the monospace, dark-background, focused editing scene.

OmmWriter attempts to take that aesthetic and make it somehow more spiritual, with three picturesque backgrounds and ambient background audio tracks (there are seven of each in the paid version).

I’m of two minds about this app. On the one hand, yes, it’s beautiful. But if you want music as a background to your writing, why not pick your own soundtrack with Winamp or Foobar2000 running in the background?

OmmWriter also offers three keyboard-clicking sounds, which are kind of nice. None of these features are groundbreaking, really. OmmWriter could be seen as a way to gently ease into the world of distraction-free writing — in case something like WriteMonkey’s dark background is just too oppressive for you.

After the fold you can see a video showcasing several of OmmWriter’s features and creative soundscapes.

Continue reading OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows

OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/ommwriter-brings-its-clean-calm-writing-interface-to-windows/

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The Sportiiiis Heads Up Display boom from 4iiii Inovations attaches to almost any glasses and gives you a visual and audio feedback on critical performance criteria.  You use PC, Mac, or smartphone software to program the Sportiiiis to respond to data from your current ANT+ training devices.  With a tap of the Sportiiiis attachment point, [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/01/15/4iiii-innovations-releases-sportiiiis-the-worlds-first-heads-up-display-and-audio-feedback-system-for-athletes/

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Nortel, once one of the biggest telecoms company in the world but now in the death throes of bankruptcy, has selected Google’s $900 million bid for its patent portfolio as the stalking horse bid. This doesn’t mean that Google will automatically win Nortel’s massive array of telecoms patents, but it does mean that Google is the preferred buyer.

Google, which has a history of lobbying for patent law reform, has been the target of many patent litigation suits. Google’s relative infancy means that it has a lot less patents in the vault than big-hitters like Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, and buying Nortel’s portfolio of 6,000 patents could provide better protection against patent litigation in the future. It’s worth noting that both Apple and RIM have showed interested in the portfolio, too.

Mashable speculates that the patents — which are nearly all telecoms-related — will be used to defend against Oracle’s attacks on Android’s use of Java. We reckon that Google is simply looking to cover its future endeavors in the world of networking. In the absence of patent law reform, and continued threats to net neutrality, owning a bunch of telecoms patents sounds like a very sensible move.

Google bids $900 million for Nortel’s patents to protect against litigation trolls originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/google-bids-900-million-for-nortels-patents-to-protect-from-li/

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In BattlePaint, you play a cube. In fact, you’re not even a cube — just a square. But boy, are you fast! And you can shoot in all directions. That’s important, because there are baddies coming in from all over the place.

The “baddies” are swarms of other squares, in all sorts of pretty colors. They track you all over the screen, and you run around very quickly and just shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. If that doesn’t sound very emotionally deep, it’s because it isn’t. But it’s fun!

After you shoot a baddy, it splashes paint as it disappears. You need to skate across this blob of paint and “eat it up” to get points. This game is fast. It clocked in at around 60-70 FPS on my system, and was loads of fun to play. It does tend to insult you when you die, though, but don’t be offended — I don’t think it’s personal.

BattlePaint is an addictive geometric shooter game originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/09/battlepaint-is-an-addictive-geometric-shooter-game/

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Solarfocus will introduce the SolarKindle cover at the Consumer Electronics Show today. With a built in reserve battery (1500mah) that will charge via USB or via an optional built in solar panel the cover also includes a built in LED reading light (800 lux) that will last up to 50 hours without using the Kindle’s [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/01/09/solarfocus-solarkindle-cover-solar-powered-kindle/

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Gorilla Glass 2 is just as strong, tough and impressive as the original Gorilla Glass. Only difference? Gorilla Glass 2 is waaaaaaaay thinner at only .8mm compared to the original Gorilla Glass at 1mm. And at that size, 20% is a big freaking deal. Nothing currently has Gorilla Glass 2 but you can be sure even more anorexic thin gadgets are on their way. Thin is in, right? More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/sjRVsRNVFLQ/watch-the-new-crazy-thin-gorilla-glass-2-somehow-survive-121-pounds-of-pressure

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Continue reading BBC launches news app for Sony connected TV, joins Samsung and Panasonic

BBC launches news app for Sony connected TV, joins Samsung and Panasonic originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/bbc-launches-news-app-for-sony-connected-tv-joins-samsung-and-p/

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While Toshiba's previous tablet efforts certainly didn't go unnoticed, they weren't exactly home runs for the company either. For CES 2012 though, Toshiba looks to be hoping to carve out their own portion of the tablet market by offering a cost effective device to masses.

Not a whole lot of specs have been revealed in the latest leak but from what has been gathered thus far we're looking at a 7-inch tablet with a a screen resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels powered by an Qualcomm Snapdragon processor — that differs from the NVIDA Tegra 2 found in other Toshiba tablets such as the Thrive.

Like other Toshiba tablets before it, this one will come loaded with microUSB, microSD and Bluetooth alongside a wireless LAN. There is a camera on the back as well but, we're not expecting much from it as Toshiba has left a LED flash out of the equation. Want to see more? Jump past the break for some more images to feast your eyes upon.

Source: Notebook Italia; Thanks, Marco!

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/qOcLsMFN9-c/story01.htm

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If you have an artistic temperament, but you weren’t blessed with steady hands or an eye for color, Konstruct might be the app for you. Not only does the iPhone app let you produce generative art using words, warbles and whistles, but it also uses augmented reality to bring your artistic creation to life.

To get started, you first need to print out the Konstruct marker and place it wherever you’d like to create your AR sculpture — it could be on your living room wall, or on the floor of your bathroom, it doesn’t matter. Open the app, point your iPhone at the marker, and start making some noises! Once you’re done, you can save your creation, or simply wipe the slate clean and start again.

The volume of your voice affects the size of the shapes that are drawn on the screen, and you can move your head around to alter the path of your ‘brush’ — but to change the shape of your brush or modify the color palette you have to use a menu. Without knowledge of the app’s internal workings, it’s hard to say what the actual difference between whistling, talking and singing is — and judging by the developer’s affinity for whistling in the demo video (after the break), the app probably doesn’t perform that much analysis on your input.

Still, Konstruct is just a prototype! A later version could do away with menus and rely entirely on the location, tonality, quality and amplitude of your voice — and judging by the the words of the developer, James Alliban, there is definitely more in store for Konstruct: “The idea of transforming entire cities into user generated virtual art galleries really appeals to me. I see Konstruct as an early prototype that will hopefully be realised in this form in the future.”

Download Konstruct for free from the App Store (iPhone 3GS and 4 only)

[Thanks to Richard for the tip!]

Continue reading Konstruct for iOS creates generative augmented reality art with your voice

Konstruct for iOS creates generative augmented reality art with your voice originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/konstruct-for-ios-creates-generative-augmented-reality-art-with/

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Select Microsoft Connect partners — major players like HP — have been given their first taste of Windows 8. According to various sources, the build string currently sits at 7971.0.110324-1900, which is the third milestone build of the successor to Windows 7.

So far, there haven’t been many details revealed about Windows 8. An actual System Restore — which is being referred to as History Vault — has been reported, and the feature will allow users and administrators to completely roll back a system to a previous state. A factory reset option is also said to be included.

We’ve also seen Windows Live integration taking shape on the desktop. It’s believed that you’ll be able to log in to Windows 8 using your Windows Live credentials, not just a traditional offline Windows username and password.

All that’s left now is for a leaked Windows 8 build to show up on a torrent site. Feel free to tip us if you see that happen.

Windows 8 now available to OEMs via Microsoft Connect originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/windows-8-now-available-to-oems-via-microsoft-connect/

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Over the past few years, I have had no less than three custom monitors created for me. All of which involved a separate trip to the audiologist to have specially-made molds of my ears created for the monitors to be made from. These visits had to be scheduled and involved a commute to have pink [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/12/26/sculpted-eers-pcs-200-custom-molded-earphones-review/

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Dropbox is trying out a neat new feature that will give it magical Photo Stream-like abilities. Everybody’s favorite cloud-storage app has added photo and video import.
In a new “Experimental Forum Build” of the app for Windows, Mac and Linux, photos and videos will be slurped up from any memory card or camera connected to the [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/dropbox-adds-auto-import-from-your-camera/

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At Last You Can Fabricate Your Minecraft Creations The Gem Hsin Topaz Speakers Do Multifunction Right Scientists Create Microscopic, Lens-less Camera This Case Lets You Attach An SLR Lens To Your iPhone The Gem Hsin Topaz Speakers Do Multifunction Right

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/07/08/daily-crunch-desert-surveillance/

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O’Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/22/oreilly-helps-japan-offers-entire-e-book-catalog-for-50-off/

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A good mobile application is a fine balance between simplicity and functionality. You’re using it on the go, so you don’t have a lot of time to sit there and fumble with the phone to figure it all out. But you also need it to be powerful enough to let you do whatever it is you’re trying to get done.

Hello Expense is one mobile app that gets it right. It’s an expense tracker that lets you use your Android-powered phone to quickly log the money you spend and then analyze it and see where it all went.

I recently had the chance to use it in a real-life situation – a road trip that took a few days and involved quite a few expenses. Logging each expense took seconds, and at the end of each day I could get a great overview of how much money I spent on each category so far.

Categories and tags are user-configurable; the app also sports its own number pad to make number entry easy, regardless of what keyboard you’re using.

Hello Expense is a simple, reliable expense tracker for Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/29/hello-expense-is-a-simple-reliable-expense-tracker-for-android/

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SOUL by Ludacris SL99 Headphones w/ $25 Buy.com Future Credit $99.95 Free Shipping $50 Apple iTunes Gift Cards (Electronic Delivery) for $40 Onkyo TX-NR509 5.1ch Networked 3D-Ready 440W A/V Receiver $199.99 Free Shipping Denon AVR-1712 7.1cH 90W/Ch 3D Home Theater Receiver (MultiEQ XT) $279.99 Free Ship Onecall Black Weekend Sale on Electronics  

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/12/18/this-weeks-hot-deals-from-techbargains-2/

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Now here's where it gets interesting. In HTC's response to questioning from U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., it listed some 6.3 million "active devices" that have Carrier IQ installed. They include:

• Sprint: Snap (Windows Mobile), Touch Pro 2 (Windows Mobile), Hero, EVO 4G, EVO Shift 4G, EVO 3D, EVO Design 4G
• AT&T: Vivid
• T-Mobile: Amaze 4G

However, HTC also disclosed that "components of the Carrier IQ solution" are on the HTC Merge, Acquire, Desire, Wildfire, Flyer and a variant of the Hero. But, the components on those phones "are not requested by the wireless service providers who sell these devices. HTC is currently working on an update to remove these software components from these devices.

HTC, in its response, reiterates that it neither receives nor stores any data the Carrier IQ software collects because the carrier, not HTC, is Carrier IQ's customer. And that's repeated in the bulk of the responses.

More: HTC's response (pdf)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/NC_6mIpUjT0/story01.htm

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