Leading the Revolution, Again

apple-tablet-patent-5As you read this, Apple has already changed the world.

As I write this, we are still a day away from that monumental shift in the computer/communications world.

Okay, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, and in the pre-event world in which I am writing from, many of the tech blogs have begun to mock the mind-numbing hype that has preceded Apple’s newest product. Jokes about letting users walk on water or access the Internet through demonic powers have become more prevalent than speculation over built-in cameras and size.

This is not to say that those mocking the hype are completely in the wrong. There has been a deluge of rumors, fake spy pictures and boding on Apple’s tablet computer. I think I even read a story linking it to one of Nostradamus’ prophecies.

However, there is some good reason for this excitement. Apple has repeatedly revolutionized the computer and gadget industry over the last few decades.

Turning the way-back machine to the 80s, Apple brought the first “personal computer” into our homes. My 16th birthday gift was an Apple IIc. That was in 86, and the home pc revolution was already kicking with IBM PC Jrs and Commodore 64s, but it was Apple that spearheaded that moment.

With the spread of beige-boxed IBM clones, Apple near faded away, but in 1998, they did it again. Introducing the iMac in 5 brilliant colors, with screen and computer built in one unit, Apple changed the rules on what a computer looked like. They also killed off the floppy disc, when they went CD only with the iMac.

Now, at this time, I wasn’t a Mac fan. The Apple IIc was a nice toy, but lack of support, software and the fact that my high school was all IBM had left me with little love for the rainbow apple. In college, I had to work with both Mac’s OS and Windows, and firmly determined that Macs were just as crappy as Windows, but Windows had more games. I didn’t buy another Mac again until I picked up a PowerPC at a garage sale for $200 that included a HP laser printer and monitor. I was more interested in the laser printer, and the Mac became just another toy, albeit with less games than my IIc had.

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Burning Desire – Fired up by the Kindle

The Kindle 2 is as thin as a pencil, but can hold thousands of books, blogs and several other document types.

The Kindle 2 is as thin as a pencil, but can hold thousands of books, blogs and several other document types.

As a geek, and particularly a sci-fi/fantasy geek, there are two things that I really love: gadgets and reading.

I am a voracious reader. Back in high school, I was known to go through two to three novels a day. Sadly, I have to admit that I have slowed down on my novel consumption since then, but I still have a stack of reading materials on my nightstand and at my desk, jumping from one subject to another as the mood takes me. (more…)

Get iVamped! Get iMobbed!

Got a MySpace page? How about a spot of Facebook?
Are you tired of getting 100 requests to play this game or add that app?
Well, they aren’t going to be stopping any time soon. Moreover, they may be coming to you iPhone and iPod Touch. Although, since the chain letter mindset of MyFace life has been left behind, what you are getting now is some of the best games ported and improved to fit on that iGadget in your pocket.
Zynga.com, the creators of two of the most popular (read addicting) MyFace apps, had recently released iPhone/iPod Touch versions of Vampire and Mafia Wars. And while the game mechanics are similar to the web-based versions, these mini-versions bring some improvements to the presentation and entertainment value.
In both games, you play a single character that collects currency, crewmembers for your posse, weapons, skills and properties. You can perform tasks to earn experience or go out and beat on other players. In fact, this describes about 90 percent of the FacePlace games out there.
The basic difference between the two games is the genre. In Mafia Wars iPhone, you play a gangster fighting his way up the criminal ladder. You can buy Tommy guns, getaway cars and body armor. Invest the money you steal in legitimate properties and business to generate even more income.
In Vampire, you’re a bloodsucker who hunts for more and more blood, which can be used to increase your mystical powers and dominate humans.
In both games, improving your skills and arsenal are important, but increasing your clan/mob size may even be more important. However, since the MySpace/Facebook restriction that limits you to people who are on your friends list, the game is wide open to add new crew members—if you can find them.
In the iPod/iPhone versions, you are assigned a pin number to give out to your friends/fellow iUsers. I am sure that there are networks forming of lists of people wanting to join your mob. I haven’t explored them too much yet, but I did use Twitter.com to broadcast my id number – 7400 7876 20 – to anyone who might want to add me to their team.
While the comments and rival lists have yet to make their way to the iVersions, Zynga has added a very smart interface, sound effects and other tweaks. The iVersions are much faster and more responsive than their MyFace Flash-based counterparts, which immediately endeared them to me.
So, whether you like to bite or fight, you can now add them to your favorite iDevice and take them with you. They do require an Internet connection to play, but that’s why you got an iPhone or iTouch, right?
And don’t forget to add me!

Got a MySpace page? How about a spot of Facebook?

iMafia Wars

iMafia Wars

Are you tired of getting 100 requests to play this game or add that app?

Well, they aren’t going to be stopping any time soon. Moreover, they may be coming to you iPhone and iPod Touch. Although, since the chain letter mindset of MyFace life has been left behind, what you are getting now is some of the best games ported and improved to fit on that iGadget in your pocket.

Zynga.com, the creators of two of the most popular (read addicting) MyFace apps, had recently released iPhone/iPod Touch versions of Vampire and Mafia Wars. And while the game mechanics are similar to the web-based versions, these mini-versions bring some improvements to the presentation and entertainment value.

In both games, you play a single character that collects currency, crewmembers for your posse, weapons, skills and properties. You can perform tasks to earn experience or go out and beat on other players. In fact, this describes about 90 percent of the FacePlace games out there.

The basic difference between the two games is the genre. In Mafia Wars iPhone, you play a gangster fighting his way up the criminal ladder. You can buy Tommy guns, getaway cars and body armor. Invest the money you steal in legitimate properties and business to generate even more income.

In Vampire, you’re a bloodsucker who hunts for more and more blood, which can be used to increase your mystical powers and dominate humans.

In both games, improving your skills and arsenal are important, but increasing your clan/mob size may even be more important. However, since the MySpace/Facebook restriction that limits you to people who are on your friends list, the game is wide open to add new crew members—if you can find them.

In the iPod/iPhone versions, you are assigned a pin number to give out to your friends/fellow iUsers. I am sure that there are networks forming of lists of people wanting to join your mob. I haven’t explored them too much yet, but I did use Twitter.com to broadcast my id number – 7400 7876 20 – to anyone who might want to add me to their team.

Bloodlust comes to your iPhone or iPod Touch

Bloodlust comes to your iPhone or iPod Touch

While the comments and rival lists have yet to make their way to the iVersions, Zynga has added a very smart interface, sound effects and other tweaks. The iVersions are much faster and more responsive than their MyFace Flash-based counterparts, which immediately endeared them to me.

So, whether you like to bite or fight, you can now add them to your favorite iDevice and take them with you. They do require an Internet connection to play, but that’s why you got an iPhone or iTouch, right?

And don’t forget to add me!

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