iPhone Game App Reviews

Just posted a review of two fun game apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. The Price is Right and Million Dollar Password.

The Price is Right is one of my all time favorite game shows from the 70's, and I was also a huge fan of the PC version of the game.
The iPhone app does not disappoint!

Check out the game reviews at my site Brodie Beta dot com.

Museum of Modern Beta-Inducted

You really never know where you'll end up on the web. A friend @Twitter sent me a link to MOMB today,
( Museum of Modern Beta ) in case you haven't heard of it.
My site BrodieBeta dot com was added to the serendipity ( odd ) section of Beta apps?!

The museum features webbased applications in Beta testing or as they call it "on a Beta trip". MOMB is a great site to assist you in finding new services and applications.
Despite being inducted into the museum and my last name I assure you, I've moved way past version 1.0.0

- Brodie Beta

For iPhone junk, reviews, news and webservices-
Please subscribe to my feed @ BrodieBeta

2.2 firmware update

Check out my newest Post " a week after the 2.2 firmware update "



Looking at the highlights and nightmares of the 2.2
iPhone firmware update released last week.
Get the article

Photography- iPhone

Had some serious geeky fun over the weekend reviewing photography apps for the iPhone. Check out the reviews and screenshots at my site BrodieBeta.


CameraBag, VintB&W, Photogene and NightCamera


Subscribe to my new feed @ BrodieBeta.com

That's what she said...

Find out who's talking about you, or the things you care about..

Social networking is bringing web searches to a new level. Searching social networks for information gives you the ability to see what people are saying in conversation and connects you with the users who are talking about your searched topic. Much more interactive than doing a google search.
I've recently come across a new site called Social Mention. The beauty of Social Mention is that it uses the power of numerous networks to aggregate information, displaying the data conveniently on one page. Social Mention allows users to search microblogs, blogs, bookmarks, news, comments, images, video, events or all.

Your searched topic, name or product displays a stream of usable content aggregated from social networks such as; Twitter, Friend Feed, Delicious ,Flickr, Digg, YouTube etc..
Searching your information individually at these sites would be a timely endeavor.
Sites like MonitorThis also allow you to search mulitiple engine feeds, subscribing you to the feeds while tracking or monitoring your topics by creating OPML files. OPML files contain search feeds which you will then need to open in a RSS reader.
With Social Mention you don't need to play with OPML files, just use it as you would a regular search engine.
You can also see what conversation topics are "hot"right now with the new "hot topics" feature.

If your business consists of you and one other person and you can't afford to hire a reasearch & development team, then Social Mention is an excellent way to find out what people are saying about your products or service at no cost. Even large companies like Comcast who saw a lot of flack from customers online have begun to take an active role in engaging customers on the web to defend the brand.
Your social status or reputation on the web may also be of interest to you. View conversations or blogs that contain your name much like TweetBeep or Technorati and connect with who's talking.



As you can see in the snapshot above, the search criteria "Microblogs" displays content from Twitter as the "video" search pulls content from Youtube.
The usable stream of content allows you to give feedback to the creator of the microblog, video, comment etc.. If you were looking for support with a product or game for example, this would be a great way to get connected with live support rather then searching for the answer in forums.

I'd like to see Social Mention allow users to track or monitor their "mentions" or their searched word. Possibly allowing users to sign-in and track a series of searched topics, products or names.
Overall very useful and time saving tool.
Check out Social Mention.com

Spore Origins for the iPhone

If you haven't yet downloaded Spore Origins, EA's iPhone version of Spore, I highly recommend you go to the app store now. Spore Origins is a small mobile version of Will Wright's recently released game Spore available for Mac and PC. Nintendo DS also has a spin-off called Spore Creatures. Mobile gamers can download Spore Origins available on selected wireless handsets and of course Apple's iPhone.
The original Spore lets you play God by creating creatures, ecosystems and biospheres eventually evolving into a developed creature.
Sure, Spore Origins won't let you evolve too far up the food chain but it's a super fun game and it gives you a reason to use the iPhones motion sensor.
Spore origins entire game is similar to the beginning stage of your creatures adventure in the original Spore.

In origins, your limited to making small modifications to your creature such as; movement, perception, defense and offense.
Spore Origins uses the fun of the iPhones motion sensing accelerometer to move your creature around the 35 levels of this player unique game. Just tilt your iPhone in the direction you want to move. I've heard a lot of gripping about the awkwardness of the accelerometer although I can't say overall that I have complaints with the game play. I tend to focus on innovation over minor glitches.
I like the fact that the game experience is unique to each player and allows you to use your creativity to build your creature. You have the ability to trick out your creature's appearance with your images and armor.
Your creature moves up the food chain by absorbing smaller organisms watching out for bigger ones! The graphics are beautiful on the iPhone and the game play is smooth, organic and will auto save when you close the app.
It's unfortunate that Spore Origins for the iPhone unlike Spore doesn't give you the ability to connect with other Spore users (the hive). With all the abilities of connectivity on the iPhone this raises an eyebrow. Apparently the smaller versions available on wireless handsets allows you to import you DNA and battle with other Spore users. I'm looking forward to an update with this feature.

Overall, a win for iPhone users. Check out some of the game play..


This is my creature "Festivas". He began his life as a small organism in primordial ooze.
Here we are at the beginning of the game with our basic Creature.
The Game is somewhat of an interactive maze, simply tilt the phone forward and backward to move your creature.

Festivas begins to absorb smaller organisms to gain size and strength.
As you hunt for smaller creatures watch out for anything bigger than you.


Look out for small glowing balls as they will activate shields, speed and poison to protect you from predators.

In Select mode the game allows you to use your own pictures as the texture of your creatures body.
I've uploaded a photo I took of a Jelly Fish to Design my creatures body.

As you can see your DNA meter at the top screen fills up when you
eat those yummy smaller organisms and your creature will begin to grow.


As you level your options will unlock. Festivas tries on his first armor.


Hint- Poke this orange fish with a claw or bump into it and the fish will explode.
You can use this to your advantage to blow tunnels and pathways. Make sure to move out of the way
after you dedinate.

Festivas all grown up in his last stage:)

Will Wright is the creator of Spore and The Sims.
Available at the itunes store for $10

5 ways to pick up a girl using your iPhone.

Geeks,
Use your iPhone to charm the ladies and break the ice -
Here are 5 ways to help you pick up like a fork! ...... Or at least attract girls who like the iPhone :)

1. Challenge her to a game of "tap tap revenge"- Tell her you'll buy her a drink if she wins. Let her win!
2. To get her attention in a loud place use the " hello my name is " app. A sure way to capitalize on your geeky cuteness.
3. Offer to read her, her love horoscope reading using "iscopes" or "itarot". Be sure to add in " you should embrace new love opportunities"
4. Use banner free to type a cute message to her like " you have nice eyes ". Sure to get a smile *
This would be ideal in a club or noisy place.
5. Lastly, be the "go to guy" for info.
Try You Tube to Impress her with a video clip of her favorite ______.

Geeks just do it better :p

Your Interests and Feeds

Checking out a widget called Popego. They were recently featured at Tech Crunch earlier this week.
The widget uses your social networking feeds to generate what they call an" Auto Blog ".
Much like Friend Feed Popego pulls your feeds from Twitter, Digg, Pownce, Facebook, blog etc and
displays them on one page in graphic bubbles. Users can filter your content to just display a specific content type such as pictures or videos.

Unlike Friend Feed Popego builds an interest feed for you based on the information it reads in your social network feeds, to create a unique experience to you. The interest page is populated from information from other users on Popego that you would most " likely" find of interest. The posts that were generated on my interests page were very relevant to the content I like. I thought the equalizer feature was very neat too. Equalizer allows you to
manipulate your feeds output. Add more of your Digg feed if you wish or less of your blog posts. Interests can be easily edited.
Content and posts can be commented on, Dugg, bookmarked etc.

Interest cloud pulls common words from your social networks and displays them as a word/tag cloud on the header of your page.
Looking at my cloud, there are seriously a few things that I need to stop talking about.
A few other kewl features of Popego are " interest stats ":of the last 100 vistors that checked out your Popego page.
They also integrated social networking so your able to add friends :)

Backend programming language is Python.
And remember geeks Popego is still in beta so don't get cranky if it takes a day to generate your interest cloud.
My cloud didn't calculate until the next day :p
Overall some really great idea's. Layout of the site is aestheticly pleasing but i'd give up the graphics if the site would load quicker.

If you would like to check out my Popego page - http://popego.com/BrodieBeta/
or check out http://www.popego.com

Brodie Beta- aka iphone girl

Bye Bye Crackberry Hello iCrack !

Blackberry "Bold" now released !
I'm just not feeling the euphoria I would have prior to July 11th, the release of the Apple's iPhone.
As a business consumer I am disappointed with several functions Apple left out, such as the obvious inability to cut and paste text and the bleak fact that I cannot
send attachments from my mail program on the dock.
Pictures for example are e-mailed directly from the items options ie " e-mail photo ".

Despite those current issues there is no way I would never hand over my iPhone for another Crackberry!In saying that there are two functions I do like about the Bold..
Build in flash feature and tethered modem. Tethering now possible on the iPhone.
The consistent ability to download new apps makes me feel the joy of Christmas every morning as I unwrap my new apps on the commute to work.
My old blackberry offered crappy games and office programs.

Apple has once again added an element of fun to my life, this time to my business device. RIM should take a look at consumer perception of their new line of
smart phones and work on giving business professionals more fun and innovative applications if they want to compete with Apple.

RIM advertises facebook and flickr integration on the new Bold.
Seems RIM is kinda behind in social networking.
The iPhone is an all in one device for me and RIM's Blackberry Bold still feels
like just another business "work" phone to me.

Black berry bold is sporting speeds on HSDPA.
Wi-fi, 624 mhz processor, 1.3 MP camera with build in zoom, Build in GPS with
turn by turn direction, Build in flash and tethered modem.

"You can even use Media Sync to transfer desktop items and music files to your smartphone"

RIM Website. Lame!

GPS TRACKER

So Very impressed by the GPS tracker iphone app!
Very accurate and almost scary.

Today I watched a "live" trip across the city via the Insta Mapper site
Your iphone (you) are viewed as a moving red dot on the map. Watch as it maps your location down streets, stops at red lights and all while clocking the speed of your car.

In hybrid mode I was able to see the car pull into the
parking lot on destination. That really made me hot!

Install the GPS tracker app and begin your destination.
Your progress is watched on a map ( hybrid or satallite)
from the Insta Mapper website ( free account ).
Input the "code" you receive with the free Insta Mapper account and input this "code " into GPS Tracker app on iphone.
As apps cannot yet run in the background so you will need to keep the app open while traveling.

iphone girl :P

To get updates please follow me here-

www.Twitter/iphonegirl

Excited about an iphone app called ScanLife 2D Barcode Reader.
Don't get this confused with Barcode, the digital matrix reader app. ScanLife 2D, currently free, allows you to scan barcodes of products which redirects you to the products website/ related information.

Being a socially conscience consumer I will be looking forward to a third app which will provide information about the companies environmental history or ethical treatment of employee's etc. It would be interesting if we saw a site like corporatewatch.com develop an app to integrate with website.

Kill Switch

Developers are claiming they found code in the OS 2x for the iphone which connects 'home' to Apple. Apple then has the ability to check for unauthorized applications and remove them. Apple has not yet officially blacklisted any apps.
This url also downloads software into your iphone every so often..

Read this article.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10010070-37.html

:) iphone girl

Twitter, Location Based SMS

Just recently downloaded twitter on my iphone. Twitter is a short message, social networking utility. View and post short messages in other words.

First began using twittlator and twitterrific applications on my iphone.
I found myself wishing there was more integration with location and mapping.
In both applications you are unable to view a twitters location unless they post a map of their current location.

Yesterday I downloaded twinkle, another twitter application that displays twitters in nearby areas. You can choose to view twitters within 1 mile, 1000 miles or everywhere.
I find it fun to view posts from twitters in our city. I think it adds an interesting element to twitter.
Twinkle is the kewlest location based, short message, social network application I've seen so far. Twinkle only shows the city and does not currently allow you
to see your twitters exact location.

It would be really interesting if we saw an application like Buddy Beacon, (in "Where") add a social networking upgrade like twitter to its basic format.
.
I'm hoping for an application that will use the social networking format
while using gps and having the ability to map them like the Buddy Beacon application.
Buddy Beacon allows you to view your friends who have the Buddy Beacon application, using GPS on a map.
I can view my friends location at all times,the accuracy is unbelievable.
It has been only a few addresses off and shows the location and street names when mapping your buddy.
You still need to refresh your location as you travel or change location. In the future I hope to see that change also.

I may want to add that it is possible that the application Loopt can do the above mentioned but it is unavailable to Canadians.


Go download twinkle and start twitting random crap.

Take a Home Screen Shot- iphone

In case you hadn't already heard, you can in fact take a snapshot of your 3G iphone screen. Requires 2.0 firmware or higher.

Just hold down on the home screen key and the power button. You will see a flash..and
presto your screenshot is in your pictures folder.

Stumble It!

Iphone Applications-Canada(location based software)

Canadians are once again getting the shaft.
Restaurant , Box Office and Event applications (location based software) have not been, for the most part, available in my area.
After downloading numerous applications I find the closest information is based in " Detroit ".

I Found a kewl application called Urban Spoon, application works as a restaurant picker, just shake the phone, it lands on a restaurant pick in your area.
You have an option to pick a major city or let it find you. Not available in my area:(
Folks who live in Vancouver and Toronto should have no problem:)

Local Picks is the only restaurant app that works in my area. It is awesome! and has tons of restaurant listings in my city.
Restaurant Nutritional Application also lists 18 fast food restaurants, all of 9 are in business here. A kewl function that comes with the nutritional guide is the MAP function which finds your location and will give you directions to the closest fast food joints (of the 18 listed).

Box office was also an app that we were looking forward to using.

Not that I am complaining at all. The iphone is the still the best device I've ever owned.

iphone love