December 14, 2011
Lizard plays Ant Crusher
You can see the frustration.
[Via kottke]
Spiderweb releases Avernum: Escape from the Pit RPG for Mac
Spiderweb Software has announced the release of Avernum: Escape from the Pit, a new version of their classic turn-based fantasy role-playing game for the Mac. (Windows and iPad versions are coming in 2012). A free demo is available; it costs $20.
In Avernum, you’re banished to a subterranean kingdom after raising the ire of the emperor. You lead a struggle in this prison underworld to return to the surface. The game features hundreds of quests, hundreds of magic artifacts and a huge game world to explore. You can complete three game-winning quests as you master more than 50 spells and battle disciplines.
This isn’t Avernum’s first release; it’s the latest evolution of a game that’s been around for a number of years. Spiderweb Software says that the remastered Avernum: Escape from the Pit contains overhauls to the gameplay system, graphics, compatibility and interface. If you do own the original Avernum or Exile: Escape from the Pit, you can get a $10 discount on this version.
Redesigning HPs brand and identity ∞
Moving Brands partnered with HP as their lead agency to set a creative vision for the HP brand. The vision was to transform the world’s biggest technology company into the world’s most powerful brand. HP would become the blueprint of a moving brand, built for a moving world.
Microsoft offers SkyDrive cloud storage for iOS
In addition to an Xbox Live application and its Kinectimals game, Microsoft also recently began offering another software app for iOS – SkyDrive for iOS. The free app provides access to Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud-based storage system.
SkyDrive requires you to log in using an existing account on Windows Live, Xbox Live, Microsoft Messenger or Hotmail. The service provides you with 25 GB of free storage capacity you can use as you wish. The app provides you with the ability upload documents, access existing SkyDrive content including files shared with you by other SkyDrive users, upload videos and photos directly from your phone, share links to files with other users via e-mail, and create or delete folders on your SkyDrive account.
User reaction to SkyDrive for iOS on the App Store has been mostly positive, but there are some mixed comments – users claim Microsoft has hindered the app by limiting the types of files which can be previewed and limiting the app’s ability to upload only one file at a time.
Still, it’s a positive start for Microsoft, which has only very recently begun supporting the iOS platform with software.
Microsoft co-founder launches space project ∞
Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allen is planning to build a spaceship that could replace the Space Shuttle and put paying passengers into orbit this decade.
I think I’ll wait a little bit.
Kobot ∞
DigInfo:
The Kobot is a new EV concept for navigating around cities and towns, developed by Kowa Tmsuk. There are three models in this prototype range, the single person vehicles ν (nyu) and β(beta), which with the push of a button from a smartphone can transform so that they can be parked securely in a compact space, and the π(pi) which can hold two people.
December 13, 2011
Louis CK makes $500k in three days selling $5 video ∞
The show went on sale at noon on Saturday, December 10th. 12 hours later, we had over 50,000 purchases and had earned $250,000, breaking even on the cost of production and website. As of Today, we’ve sold over 110,000 copies for a total of over $500,000. Minus some money for PayPal charges etc, I have a profit around $200,000 (after taxes $75.58). This is less than I would have been paid by a large company to simply perform the show and let them sell it to you, but they would have charged you about $20 for the video. They would have given you an encrypted and regionally restricted video of limited value, and they would have owned your private information for their own use. They would have withheld international availability indefinitely. This way, you only paid $5, you can use the video any way you want, and you can watch it
That’s awesome.
Nokia can’t give its phones away ∞
Om Malik talking about his trip to Helsinki:
Walking around the downtown (where I am staying), I have seen many more iPhones than Nokia phones. And most of the startup people I met have some variation of the iPhone. One of them who is still in college told me that Nokia gave him one of their new phones, and he decided to use it as a way to support his nation’s largest employer. A month later, he switched back to the iPhone. Ouch! When you can’t give away your phones to your own “youth,” it is time to stop hating on other platforms and look for ways to get people to use your product.
And Nokia says youth are fed up with the iPhone.
Apple hires iOS concept designer Jan-Michael Cart ∞
Gary Ng:
Looks like hard work and a creative talent pays off. Jan-Michael Cart, known worldwide for his iOS concept videos has announced he has achieved his goal of working for Apple as an intern, as posted on his updated blog.
[Via 9to5Mac.com]
Apple founding docs sell for $1.6M ∞
John C Abell for Wired:
The papers in question comprise the contract which formed Apple Computer Company on April 12, 1976, and are signed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, the Pete Best of the computer revolution who got cold feet and bailed on the company before it got off the ground. And the timing could not be better: The recent passing of Jobs and the elevation of Apple to one of the most valuable companies in the world makes these particular documents quite something just now.
Pretty stunning, just for some papers of limited historical significance. I mean, I’m an Apple enthusiast, but this seems rather ridiculous. The papers sold for $1.35M – $1.6M after fees – to an unidentified telephone buyer.
Rich people and their money. I just don’t understand sometimes.
FCC to ban loud TV ads ∞
Consumer Reports:
The Federal Communications Commission will pass regulations today to limit the volume levels of TV commercials and penalize broadcasters that bombard consumers with loud ads between televised shows and programs.
We live in a fairly small house with interior walls that have an unfortunate tendency to reflect noise, and quite often if we’re up late watching TV, the sound of the ads will wake one or more of our kids up. So I was delighted to learn about the CALM act and that it would soon be the law to quiet these ads down, because they’re obnoxious.
Microsoft: A platform company
Matt Alexander is the owner and editor of ONE37.net, a writer, a technology enthusiast and a contributing writer for The Loop.
When Google released its iOS Gmail app, I argued that it was a woefully missed opportunity for the software giant. With Gmail for iOS, Google had a unique chance to impress iOS users with a well-designed app for a widely used service. Instead, as we all know, Google released a pathetic implementation reliant on UIWebView, and squandered a phenomenal Trojan Horse moment.
In stark contrast to Google’s well-publicized folly, Microsoft is doing everything it can to impress iOS users.
In the past few weeks alone, the folks in Redmond have released an Xbox companion app, an HTML5 demonstration of Windows Phone 7, Kinectimals, and a number of Office-related apps for iOS.
The unifying theme between all of these apps? Well, frankly, they’re all fairly well done.
Accordingly, the chatter amongst bloggers about Microsoft is growing. Posts about the impressive Nokia Lumia 800, the HTML5 demonstration of Windows Phone, and the growing number of well-executed iOS apps are not uncommon. When watching The Verge’s talk show, On The Verge, John Gruber even indicates that Windows 8’s Metro UI implementation looks interesting.
I have criticized Microsoft rather heavily in recent weeks (particularly following CNET’s coverage of the the Courier’s demise) but I cannot help but feel somewhat positive about the company’s prospects today. Renewing its focus on its existence as a platform company, Microsoft is embracing alternate platforms, allowing its unique Windows Phone 7 platform to blossom unhindered, and is somewhat ahead of the curve in terms of its media implementation with the Xbox 360.
Honestly, I’m cautiously impressed.
Rather than pushing poor products, Microsoft seems to be aware of its status as the underdog in the mobile operating system arena, and is acting accordingly. Scrappy attempts to chip away at competing platforms? Well, that just doesn’t seem representative of the modern Microsoft. That is the behavior of a humble, young, and reactionary company — the Microsoft of the early 90s.
Of course, Microsoft still has a propensity for utter foolishness, thus rendering this current streak of positivity as being somewhat tenuous. With Ballmer at the helm, even the most impressive idea out of Microsoft seems volatile and at risk of dramatic collapse. Even so, I find myself quietly rooting for Microsoft at the moment. Just as I romantically rooted for webOS, I want the well-designed underdog to gain traction and support.
The latest versions of Android strike me as uninspired and third party implementations are incessantly flawed. Even Google’s own products on competing platforms are half-baked and careless. But Microsoft’s efforts are different.
Rather than resting on its laurels, Microsoft appears to be taking an uncharacteristically humble path, and is doing what it can to redeem its image and to gain support. That is an admirable endeavor, particularly when you consider the company in question. I never thought I’d see the day, but in his interview with The Verge last week, Paul Thurrott had something remarkably apt to say about his beloved Microsoft:
At its heart, Microsoft is a platforms company, not an OS company. So even if Windows fell by the wayside–which I don’t see happening–the company still has some stunning platforms to push forward, including Office–which should be ported to the iPad, Android, and any other popular OS, the Xbox, and of course its various cloud initiatives. What Microsoft needs is to recapture the sense of constant fear that characterized its early days. It’s gotten too comfortable.
Any progress could easily collapse, but for now, I’m cautiously optimistic. Microsoft used to be a reactionary competitor, but has recently relied all too heavily on its enterprise dominance. Seeing the Redmond giant take a step back, swallow its pride, and produce some forward-thinking products? That’s certainly a good way to regain some support from even their most staunch opposition.
I’m certainly not going to up and leave OS X any time soon, but at least knowing creative competition for Apple exists gives me confidence that innovation can, and will, continue in the industry. Whether you agree or not, I’d argue that even Apple can use some competition.
iOS App Store downloads are unique too ∞
Matthew Panzarino for TNW:
So we contacted Apple and it has confirmed to us that the numbers released about the iOS App Store, currently at 18 billion downloads, with 1 billion downloads a month, are uniques.
Yesterday I contacted Apple and confirmed that the 100 million Mac App Store downloads were unique and did not include Lion, updates or downloads to other Macs. Panzarino took it a step further and confirmed the same for the iOS App Store.
My Living Desktop 5 for Mac released ∞
Amuse, Inc. today is pleased to announce My Living Desktop 5.0.1 for Mac OS X, an upgrade to their critically acclaimed application that includes dozens of unique, high definition videos to create soothing visual and aural environments on the Macs desktop. In addition to videos of natural beauty shot from all over the globe, the application also allows the user to import their own home movies.
Always thought this was kind of cool.
I would like to thank RIM’s co-CEOs for their incompetence
The holidays are approaching fast. It’s the time of the year where we take stock of the good (and bad) things that happened over the last 12 months, and figure out goals for the next year.
I would like to personally thank RIM’s co-CEOs for their complete and total incompetence in 2011. Without your lack of attention to the market and the details that would make a great product, my year wouldn’t have been so successful.
In February, when I first went against the mainstream media and called RIM out for its ridiculous PlayBook claims, I had no idea it would turn into an 11 month journey. Even I thought RIM would snap out of it sooner or later.
From my challenge that RIM needs to shut up and ship, to taking a picture of me and my iPad at RIM’s offices to show them a working tablet, RIM’s co-CEOs never let me down.
In fact, things got so bad for RIM that I stopped looking for things to post. The incompetence of the co-CEOs was so profound that they delivered all of the fodder that I could possibly hope for.
RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis even had a meltdown while doing an interview with the BBC (his second in a week), denying that the company had any problems and that they were being “singled out because we’re so successful around the world.”
When the PlayBook finally was released it lacked basic features that almost every device in the world has — email and calendaring.
Responding to ridicule and complaints RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie said that people were “overplaying one aspect that really isn’t a core element that we’ve seen from our enterprise customers or webmail people.”
The year ended with RIM posting dismal sales, its stock tanking and two of its employees chewing through restraints on a plane.
Good times.
Microsoft’s Kinectimals game comes to iOS
Kinectimals was a launch title for Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing peripheral for the Xbox 360, involving playful virtual pets you could interact with. Now it’s come to iOS, and it’s available for $2.99.
Apple posts its holiday shipping deadlines
Apple on Tuesday posted shipping info for those considering making a purchase from the company over the holidays.
Of course, if you want something special, like engraving, it will take a little longer. Basically here’s how it goes:
- Customized Macs: 12/14
- iPhoto print products and Cards app letterpress cards: 12/18 to receive by 12/24
- Regular off the shelf Macs: 12/21 to receive by 12/24
- Free engraving on iPads and iPods: 12/19 to receive by 12/24
- All other items: 12/21 to receive by 12/24
You can get more information from Apple’s Website.
10 CSS design resources ∞
Design Festival:
The following collection is a one-stop-shop for CSS. From the official home page of W3C to gradients and button generators — each of these resources has been carefully reviewed and tested. With these tools, you can accomplish any CSS design task that you want using CSS as the primary, if not only, system for implementing the look and feel.
CNET calls Gruber a ‘fanboi’ ∞
Brooke Crothers on CNET:
Take the blog Daring Fireball. It offers some solid analysis. But in the end it’s a fanboi site, assailing the misinformed or pointing out how wrong or disliked the Android competition is. That kind of attitude gets in the way of informed insight.
I’ll tell you this — If there was a panel talking about technology, I’d stand beside Gruber over anyone at CNET. See my definition of a fanboy from yesterday.
BitTorrent spies ∞
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols for ZDNet:
Think no one knows what you’ve downloaded off the Internet with BitTorrent? Think again.People have privacy delusions about the Internet. They seem to think that just because they don’t sign their real name to a site that no one can see what they’ve been doing on it. Oh dear. So dumb, so wrong.
Nothing is private. Nothing.
Feral to publish Tropico 3 for Mac on Jan. 26
Feral Interactive announced Tuesday plans to publish the Macintosh version of Tropico 3: Gold Edition on Thursday, January 26, 2012. The game will be available for $34.99 and will be available for download from various sites including the Mac App Store.
Tropic 3 is a strategy game in which you build a Caribbean island government – a “banana republic,” if you will. It’s up to you if you rule with the iron fist of a dictator or try to create an industrial empire, commercial haven or island paradise. But you must maintain your popularity, and your people’s happiness, if you want to avoid a coup that will put your head in a noose.
System requirements call for a 2.0 GHz Intel Mac with 2GB RAM, 256MB or better graphics and Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later. Some Intel GMA video chipsets are not supported – visit the site for complete details.
December 12, 2011
Create drop cap effect with CSS3 ∞
Drop caps have been around for years in the print industry, but they are still pretty rare in the web world despite the :first-letter selector having been around for a fair few years. Let’s take a look at how we can create a cool drop cap for our web designs and spice it up with some stylish CSS3 text-shadow effects.
It is interesting that we don’t see this more often on the Web.
RIM screws up again ∞
John Paczkowski talking about the four things RIM had to deliver to Indonesia, including a regional data server:
RIM delivered on all four. But evidently it didn’t carry out the fourth in quite the way the BRTI wanted. It put the data center in Singapore, which is not geographically all that far, but a different country and not nearly as “regional” as the BRTI would like. Aggravating matters further, Indonesia has been asking for a local server for nearly three years.
Now Indonesia is threatening to shutdown RIM’s operations. Seriously folks, I could not make this stuff up.
Carrier IQ and the FBI ∞
Brad McCarty for TNW:
It probably wouldn’t come as a surprise if the FBI were to use data from Carrier IQ, but there’s no need for alarm, just yet. However, that’s contrary to what’s being reported elsewhere, so let’s take a moment to clear the air.
A very sensible article and approach from Brad.
More Kindle Fire bashing ∞
USA Today:
These early adopters are running into an experience that is often clunky, a touchscreen that isn’t super responsive, a Web browser that struggles on many websites and head-scratching hardware omissions. (There are no volume buttons.)
2011 Best App Ever Awards ∞
The Best App Ever Awards were created to celebrate the best mobile apps and games available, as chosen by our readers. Our goal is to help gather together the very favorite apps of the real users, not just the best-selling ones. This year we are making a big change, including Android applications and games in the mix. For each category there will be winners in iOS (both iPhone and iPad combined) and Android divisions.
Kindle Fire is the new Edsel ∞
David Streitfeld for the New York Times:
A few of their many complaints: there is no external volume control. The off switch is easy to hit by accident. Web pages take a long time to load. There is no privacy on the device; a spouse or child who picks it up will instantly know everything you have been doing. The touch screen is frequently hesitant and sometimes downright balky.
I haven’t seen a completely positive review of the Kindle Fire yet. Most people are having problems with it and Amazon needs to get that fixed. The company says they have an update coming and many expect a new device next year, but I don’t know if that will be enough.
The tablet market has mercilessly chewed up everything except the iPad.
Apple’s latest video ad highlights The Beatles
I love the opening animation going up the balconies.
Studiometry [Sponsor] ∞
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Mac App Store downloads don’t include Lion, updates or downloads to other Macs
Earlier today Apple released download figures for the Mac App Store. The numbers were impressive to say the least, but they are even more impressive than we thought.
According to Apple, over 100 million apps have been downloaded from the Mac App Store in less than a year. Here’s where things get really interesting — those are unique downloads.
Apple confirmed for me today that those 100 million downloads do not include downloads for its newest operating system OS X Lion. The figure also doesn’t include updates to apps delivered to users from the Mac App Store.
Finally, the figure doesn’t include apps that users downloaded to other authorized Macs. Can you imagine what that figure would be if all of those numbers were included?
Here’s something else to consider. According to market research firm NPD, sales of boxed versions of software in the US reached 50 million copies in the last year.
I’m making a pretty safe assumption that the majority of Apple’s Mac App Store sales come from the US, meaning that Apple is the largest software distributor in the US.