iPhone Games for the Christmas Season

There are now over a thousand games listed in iTunes and they vary greatly in quality and price tag. So its can be a real nightmare trying to find the good ones. Over the next few posts we will be reviewing some of the recently released games. For now, we will stick to those targeting the Christmas season.

There are eight Christmas-theme games listed in iTunes – six released in December and two in November. All carry a price tag! What is troubling about these – and other recently released games – is that in many cases the support site and/or game home sites listed for the developers don’t actually have information (or even mention) the game! The game will get a solid rave on itunes, but when we follow the link – nada!

Take Rudolf’s Revenge – released at the beginning of November. In this case, clicking the link to the site results in a “The url is not valid and cannot be loaded” message. The support link works but does not send us to the support page on the site. OK there is a clear tab at the top to “support” BUT, the game itself does not get a mention anywhere on their site. It’s been two months, dudes. If you don’t think its worth a mention, why would we buy it? (No, not a freebie)

And much the same can be said for Christmas Trivia (they do have a site – if you count half a page and a few short sentences as a site, but no support). They do mention their game – sort of – apparently, however, its too much work to list the game by its full title, so they haven’t! Nuff said!

Macphun have done a few games for iPhones – but their current offering – Christmas Puzzle – also does not get a mention on their site! For Christmas Swap, we get “New site coming soon”, and its support is “coming soon” as well! Christmas Season also has a “coming soon” for the game details and support. Poor show for games that have a price tag.

AND NOW:- THE GOOD NEWS….

On the bright side, there are three games in the list that have good site back-up. These games are also well developed and are, we think, the better games in the bunch. In fact, the iPhonegizmo team have found that the quality of the site backing up the game is an indicator of game quality.

Three out of eight aint bad? Well, unless that reflects the results for all 1000+ games…….!

The three games that get good site/product support are: Christmas Spell, ELFrun, and, to a lesser extent, SnapIt – Christmas Edition.

We give the prize for best site support, to ELFrun which goes the extra mile and provides a video trailer for the game.

Google G1 mobile phone versus Apple iPhone

How Google’s new Android mobile phone compares with Apple’s hugely popular iPhone.

Price:
G1 = free on contract with T-Mobile, contracts likely to start from about £30 per month
iPhone = free on some contracts with O2, monthly tariffs start from £30 per month

Weight:
G1 = 158g
iPhone = 133g

Battery life:
G1 = 5 hours talk time, 130 hours standby
iPhone = 5 hours talk time, 300 hours standby

Screen size:
G1 = 3.2in
iPhone = 3.5in

Camera:
G1 = 3-megapixel
iPhone = 2-megapixel

Capacity:
G1 = 2GB, expandable to 8GB
iPhone = 8GB or 16GB

Key features:
G1 = touchscreen, Qwerty keyboard, internet access via 3G and Wi-Fi, additional downloadable content, one-click access to Google search services, built-in GPS and compass for easy navigation, push Google email, instant messaging.
iPhone = touchscreen, virtual keyboard, multi-touch gesture support, web access via 3G and Wi-Fi, additonal downloadable applications, GPS and Google Maps, push-email, full web browsing.

Extra applications:
G1 = extra software downloadable from Android Market. Includes games, such as Pac-Man, and useful software, such as Shop Savvy, which allows users to take photographs of a product barcode, send it to Google, and then retrieve price comparison results.
iPhone = extra programs and software downloadable from Apple App Store, including games such as Super Monkey Ball, and other applications, such as language dictionaries, travel guides, restaurant recommendations.

Entertainment:
G1 = one-touch music downloads from Amazon MP3 store, 2GB integrated storage, expandable to 8GB.
iPhone = one-touch music downloads from iTunes music store, choose from 8GB or 16GB storage.

Apple iPhone 3G and iPhone 2.1 OS jailbreak guide

With the iPhone Dev Team’s release of the Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1 giving arm-chair iPhone hackers the tool they need to jailbreak and activate their iPhone 3G and any iPhone running the newest iPhone 2.0.1 2.1 OS, there are likely mobs of jailbreak-fiends out there looking to hook up your brand-new iPhone 3G or updated iPhone with those free third-party applications, a la the Installer.app.

The iPhone Dev Team has done their best to ensure that the iPhone 3G and iPhone 2.0.1 2.1 OS jailbreak process is as simple as possible and shouldn’t need too much in the way of DIY tutorials or instructions, but that doesn’t mean all you iPhoners out there don’t want a Pwnage Tool 2.0.1 2.0.2 2.1 tutorial.

Follow these PwnageTool 2.0.2 2.1 usage instructions to avoid the possibility of ending up with a glossy-backed iBrick 3G. This tutorial is only meant for Mac users (Windows tutorial to follow shortly). Keep in mind that only the iPhones running iPhone 2.0.1 2.1 OS can be jailbroken, activated, and unlocked. The iPhone 3G cannot be unlocked at this point.

So without further ado, here are the instructions you will need to get your iPhone 3G and updated iPhone jailbroken with Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 (for the purposes of this PwnageTool 2.0.1 2.0.2 2.1 jailbreak guide, we’re going to assume you want to jailbreak an iPhone 3G on a Mac):

• Familiarize yourself with the Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1 jailbreak instruction video at the bottom of this DIY tutorial
• Backup your iPhone 3G with iTunes
• Quit iTunes
• Disconnect iPhone 3G from computer
• Make sure your iPhone is not connected to your computer
• Download Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1 here or update your current Pwnage Tool installation to Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1 accordingly (That is, once the Dev Team pushes out the updates through Pwnage Tool’s integrated software update utility)
  • Do NOT use Pwnage Tool 2.0 or Pwnage Tool 2.0.1 or Pwnage Tool 2.0.2
  • Download Pwnage Tool 2.1 to your desktop
• Download iPhone 2.1 OS for your iPhone 3G here. Dowload iPhone 2.1 OS for your original iPhone here.
  • Use Firefox to download the .ipsw file
  • DO NOT use Safari
  • Download to your desktop
• Move the firmware file from your desktop to your iPhone Software Updates directory (~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates)
• Start the Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1
  • Click “Ok” on Copyright prompt
• Choose “Expert Mode” in top left corner
  • Choosing the “Simple Mode” allows you to take the easy way out and circumvent much of this PwnageTool 2.0.2 2.1 jailbreak guide – you may want to choose this option if you want to just go with default settings. If not, continue with the rest of this jailbreak tutorial
• Pick your iPhone version
  • Pick the iPhone 3G on the far right
  • Click the blue arrow in the lower right corner
• Allow Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1 to search for firmware bundle
  • If you placed the firmware file in the correct location, Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1 will locate the firmware file automatically – give it time to do its thing
• In this next step, you’ll want to make sure you select only those options that you inted to change. Here are the recommended options:
  • General
    • Click the blue arrow in the lower right corner
• When you are taken to the “General” options screen:
  • Official iPhone customers (AT&T iPhone customer in US) will want to:
    • UNCHECK the “Activate” box
  • Unofficial iPhone customers will want to:
    • CHECK the “Activate” box
  • Click the blue arrow in the lower right corner
• Skip over the “Cydia” options screen
  • Click the blue arrow in the lower right corner
• When you are taken to the “Custom Packages” options screen:
  • Make sure the “Cydia Installer” box is checked
  • Click the blue arrow in the lower right corner
• When you are taken to the “Custom Logos” options screen:
  • Decide which logos you would like to use
    • Uncheck the boxes to use the default iPhone boot logos
  • You may also browse for custom logo files
  • Click the blue arrow in the lower right corner
• Click “Build”
  • Wait for your custom .ipsw iPhone firmware restore file to be built
  • Click the blue arrow in the lower right corner
• Save the custom restore file to your desktop (default location)
  • File will be named “iPhone1,2_2.1_5F136_Custom_Restore.ipsw” – leave it alone
• When asked if the iPhone has been Pwned before, choose the appropriate option
  • iPhone 3G:
    • “NO”
  • iPhone (never Pwned – No pineapple logo):
    • “NO”
  • iPhone (previously Pwned – Has pineapple logo):
    • “YES”
• Connect your iPhone
• Follow directions to enter “Restore Mode”
  • To put iPhone in to Restore mode, follow these steps (same steps as outlined by Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1) – you can just follow on-screen instructions and ignore this section of the guide:
    • Turn off iPhone by holding down “Power/Sleep” button located on the top edge of your iPhone (you may “Slide to Power Off,” or you can just keep holding the Power/Sleep button until your iPhone powers down)
    • Hold down the “Home” button (the only button on the front-face of the iPhone) while plugging in USB cable (or iPhone dock)
    • Keep holding that “Home” button
• If you followed the directions correctly, you will be rewarded with a blue window exclaiming your success – this is a good thing
  • Click “OK”
• You will see “I Can Haz Success”
  • Quit Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 2.1 by hitting the Apple+Q keys or from the “PwnageTool”
• Fire up iTunes
  • You will be told your iPhone needs to be restored
  • Click “OK”
• Option+Click Restore (VERY IMPORTANT)
  • Make sure you hold down the “Option” key on the keyboard while clicking on “Restore”
• Choose the “iPhone1,2_2.1_5F136_Custom_Restore.ipsw” from your desktop
  • Click “Open”
• Wait
• Wait some more
• After some more waiting, you will be told that your iPhone that your iPhone has been restored
  • Click “OK”
• Disconnect iPhone AFTER iTunes recognizes it
• Restore backup of iPhone data

Your iPhone 3G is now fully jailbroken with third-party jailbreak application support. You may use jailbreak applications and AppStore applications alongside eachother.

Happy iPhone-ing!

UPDATE
This guide has been updated to reflect the release of PwnageTool 2.0.2 that is compatible with the iPhone 2.0.1 OS and preserves the older baseband firmware (making it more likely that a future SIM unlock solution will still work).

UPDATE 1
This guide has been updated to reflect the release of PwnageTool 2.1 that is compatible with the latest iPhone 2.1 OS and preserves the older baseband firmware (making it more likely that a future SIM unlock solution will still work).

In this updated guide, you will see all references to Pwnage Tool 2.0.2 edited to reflect the usage of the latest version of Pwnage Tool – Pwnage Tool 2.1

Click here to view guide video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7RCQwV7qh0

Apple iPhone icons for every occasion?

For those that adore all things Apple iPhone this may be right up your street. Know all those lovely little iPhone icons floating about your precious Apple iPhone touch-screen?

So how about this unique iPhone-esque item, a set of 16 coasters in the form of the Apple iPhone icons. Each coaster is an exact copy of an iPhone icon to grace your lounge coffee table or dining table, or kitchen, or just about anywhere you’d like to put them.

Meninos are offering the set of 16 iPhone icon coasters for $60.00, yeah I know that’s pretty steep, but if you love all things Apple iPhone these will probable be a must have.

Google Translate comes to the iPhone

Ever tried to convince a Bulgarian that you were the real Slim Shady? No? Either way, we’ve all got stuck ordering a bottle of the local plonk on holiday or at the local Italian eatery. But wouldn’t it be cool if you could use your phone to get around these awkward moments? Step forward Google, which has created a mobile version of its Translation service for iPhone users.

The Google Translate mobile service works almost exactly like the desktop version. Simply type in a word or phrase, select the language you wish to translate it to and hit ‘Translate’. It deciphers both single words and entire phrases from 24 different languages including Chinese, French, Japanese and, er, Finnish. But unlike those electronic dictionaries you can buy at airports, you’re not tethered to a few pre-selected phrases — the database is so large, Google didn’t know how many words are in it when we wrote this.

The whole thing works using the iPhone’s Safari browser, which means that you need a data connection to use the service. But once you’ve searched for a word or phrase, it’s stored in the iPhone’s memory and can be accessed again without a data connection. Of course, you’re most likely to use this service when you’re abroad, so you will incur roaming data charges. Google wouldn’t quantify how much data is used, except to say that it is ‘minimal’, so hopefully your phone bill won’t be too high when you get home.

Aside from being an impressive app in its own right, there’s an interesting story about how it came into existence. Allen Hutchison, an engineering manager at Google, developed it during his ‘20 per cent time’, the one day a week Google employees get to spend on whatever projects they want. Better yet, we’re told it only took Allen a couple of days to finish it — now that’s efficient.

If you want to try it out for yourself, and we suggest that you do, then go to http://google.com on your iPhone, click on ‘More’ in the menu and then on ‘Translate’. You’ll finally be able to tell your estranged Spanish neighbour that you didn’t mean to insult his cat — you just thought it looked like a dog.

Apple iPhone Design Awards: AOL Radio, Enigmo, OmniFocus

Apple held its annual design awards for developers during the currently underway Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). This was the first year that the company offered accolades for native iPhone application development.

Among the winners is AOL Radio, in “best entertainment application” category. AOL issued a press release announcing the win, stating: “the new application gives users immediate, free access to over 350 online radio stations, including 150 local CBS RADIO stations and custom channels plus more than 200 AOL Radio channels. The AOL Radio iPhone application will be available as a free download with the launch of Apple’s App Store. AOL Radio for iPhone leverages iPhone’s Core Location framework to detect a user’s location and automatically display CBS RADIO stations nearest to the user. Additionally, AOL Radio for iPhone automatically adapts to the current connection speed of the device providing low-bandwidth streams when on a cellular network versus higher quality audio for WiFi connections.”