We heard last Wednesday from Apple that the next iOS update should be bringing the much awaited Game Center feature for iOS gaming. This is something I’ve been excited about ever since the iOS 4 announcement back in June. Being able to see how well you stand against your other friends is pretty good motivation to try harder and beat their scores every time.

Well now something even better is coming our way. Aurora Feint has announced that its popular gaming social network, OpenFeint, will receive a major update called PlayTime. The scores, rankings and multi-play won’t be limited to iOS users either; they’ll get to battle Android users too!

Now we might actually get a chance to see which platform actually is the best for gaming. My money will still be on iOS, I have yet to see anything earth shattering come from the Android market that really gets my adrenaline pumping. Hopefully someday we can see game development become very similar for both platforms like we see today on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

With more developers like those behind Angry Birds making the move to other mobile OSes, we should see a nice surge of applications beginning to use this awesome feature.

Via: Engadget

Check it out, as Alex shows off a quick look at some glass box-shattering fun with the free Glass Tower 2 game app.

Will wonders never cease?

Turns out that ModMyi, a bastion of jailbreaking goodness, has a bona fide iPhone app! Okay, it’s basically for the forums plus news, and it’s listed under the “news” section, but still — I’m rather shocked that this got through Apple’s “app police.” The official description and features are:

The official ModMyi.com app. Apple, iPad, & iPhone News, Forums, Guides, and Reviews. Supports iOS4 and the iPhone 4 retina display resolution. Connect with the largest iPhone and iDevice community on the internet, with over 1 million posts and over 600,000 members!

• Read the latest Apple, iPad & iPhone news.
• Browse (by category or alphabetically), post, and reply in the ModMyi.com forums.
• View the latest threads, or drill down on a per-forum basis.
• Read the complete forums/news as a guest, or register directly from the app.
• Search the forums.
• View your sent and received private messages, and send new ones to any ModMyi.com member.
• Submit news tips and attach images.
• View your subscribed threads, profile, and other info.

For more on the ModMyi app, or to snag it, click this link.

Shazam fan? Then you’ll want to make sure to grab the latest 3.0 upgrade. The developer included iOS support, as well as other features, including:

• multitasking support: Users can switch from Shazam to accept a call or launch another app, and come back to where they left off
• revamped interface
• more artist info, with reviews, bios, and discographies
• new “Discover” tab with Shazam Tag Charts
• new shortcut icons for previewing music, purchasing from iTunes, or sharing via Twitter or Facebook
• custom settings
• enhanced video play

The announcement states that all the updates are for all Shazam iPhone or iPod Touch apps, including the free Shazam app, Shazam Encore ($4.99) and the Shazam RED special edition app ($4.99), although Shazam RED still appears to be on version 2.2.3 as of this writing. The free version also offers optional premium services available as in-app purchases, which cover a 1-year option ($2.99) and lifetime ($4.99).

So what’s the difference between all the versions? Well, Shazam RED is basically like Encore, but 20 percent of the purchase price is donated to HIV and AIDS programs in Africa. The app is also denoted by a red color scheme. As for the free and paid Encore versions, here’s the explanation, straight from Shazam’s website:

The free version of Shazam includes:

• Music Previews: Listen to 30 second song previews in My Tags and Charts.
• Multiple Tag Charts: Discover the most popular tagged tracks from 20 countries/regions.
• Shortcut menu: Tap artwork in My Tags and Charts for shortcut menu to preview, buy and share options.
• Tag on startup: Background listening allows you identify music faster.
• Artist info: read track and album reviews and artist biographies and see other music from the same artist.
• Lyrics: View song lyrics for tagged tracks.
• Search Music: Find music by artist, track or album titles from a database of over 8 million tracks.
• Track your music Journey: Tag mapping helps you remember places where you’ve tagged a track.
• In-App Videos: Watch YouTube videos of music you’ve discovered without leaving the Shazam Application.

Version 3.0 (Shazam Encore) includes all the features of Shazam, plus

• Unlimited tagging: Don’t miss a music moment – Tag as often as you like.
• Recommendations: Discover similar music and enhance your music knowledge.
• Launch a station: If you have last.fm or Pandora apps create a Station using your tagged music.
• Drive and Tag: Dock to enter Car Mode and still discover what’s playing on the radio.
• Shazam Blog: stay tuned to the latest music news with the Shazam Blog.

To get your updates, click on the links above, launch iTunes or download straight to your device.

One word: GORGEOUS. Daniel tried out the beta of the game Apple showed off in its music event, and you have to see it to believe it. Check this vid out, then RUN to the app store and try it for yourself.

You might think that you have all of your school shopping done, but think again. When you’re not busy with bio quizzes and pondering homecoming dates, you’ll be dishing about the latest styles, guys and pop culture hits and misses. Be the belle of the conversation with these back-to-school must-have apps.

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Hair, Make-up and Style:

Fashism [free] – Get collective advice on your fashion decisions in realtime. Need a second opinion on an outfit before heading out? Ask the Fashism community!

Makeup Master [$.99] Makeup Master is full of simple, yet effective makeup tips and tricks. With this app, you can learn how to flaunt different eye shapes and how to choose the perfect eye shadow to suit your eye color.

Lookz [free] – Learn how to apply the looks donned by your favorite ladies in Hollywood. The celebrity-inspired tutorials include Lady Gaga (for those brave enough!), Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus. You can also get great ideas for events, whether it be a regular day, a girls’ night out or a super glam dance.

Beauty Calls [$.99] Beauty Calls offers useful hair and makeup tips and tricks, including DIY masks and recipes. You can also score some sweet deals on beauty and health-related products.

Style Studio [Free] – Have a knack for design? Apply your creative skills and personalize your favorite fashions using Style Studio. Choose from skirts, dresses and tops and add buttons, belts, any type of personal flair to make it your own!

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Dating and Social:

Boyfriend Evaluator [$2.99] – Want to know if Johnny Football Hero is going to be a good match? Ask the Boyfriend Evaluator. This compatibility test asks you 50 questions and determines if you and JFH will have a relationship that sizzles or fizzles.

Love or Not [$1.99] – Similar to the above app, Love or Not will help you determine if a guy is right for you. Instead of a simple yes or no, it provides characteristics about you both, how you two interact, areas of compatibility and conflict, as well as how you can make the most of the relationship.

Boxcar [Free] – Who doesn’t want to know when they’re being talked about? Boxcar will notify you any time someone mentions you in a Tweet or responds to your Facebook status. Our eyes and ears can’t be everywhere at once, so let your iPhone track your digital social standing while you manage your reputation in school.

Fring [free] – Keep mom and dad happy by saving money when socializing. Fring lets you and your friends keep in touch with free chatting, voice and video calls. (Of course, if your pals all have iPhone 4s, you’re probably already having a ton of Face Time!)

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Pop Culture 101:

MTV News [Free] – Stay up to date on all things music, movies, tv, celebrities and gaming. Watch exclusive videos from MTV News, read articles about your favorite celebs and get sneak-peek of MTV event pictures.

People Celebrity News Tracker [$1.99] – Stay informed about all of Hollywood’s breakups, makeups and everything in between with the People Celebrity News Tracker. Be the first to know who’s dating who, when Taylor Lautner takes off his shirt, or who Lea Michele is wearing!

CWTV [Free] – Keep up with info on your favorite CW shows, including ANTM, Gossip Girl and 90210. Although it doesn’t offer full episode streaming, it does allow users to view photo galleries of cast members, check out behind the scene clips and and stay on top of up-to-the-minute air times and dates.

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And if you’re a parent-pleaser:

Cram [$3.99] – Think of Cram as your personal study buddy. It helps you prepare for class quizzes and tests through flashcards, pictures and multiple-choice tests.

GradeTracker [$1.99] – Instead of being surprised at mid-term, keep an eye on your grades by using GradeTracker. You can easily determine what effect your next grade will have on your overall grade – that could mean a reward is coming!

Got any other fabulous apps or accessories in your arsenal for the school year? What are you looking forward to showing off most? Let us know in the comments.

Remember the good old days when you would beg your parents for a ride down to the arcade? I remember spending endless hours running around from Pacman to Asteroids, and then to the best of them all — the pinball machines. If I’d never spent all those quarters, I would definitely be a rich man today. But it was always money well spent.

Well now you can save yourself some coins. New Potato Tech has a new little accessory for your iPhone that transforms the device into your very own pinball machine. At $39.99, this “gaming case” offers a very realistic feel to the original arcade games. In addition, you’ll need the Pinball Magic app, which requires iOS 3.0 or higher.

By connecting your iPhone or iPod Touch to the 30-pin connector, the device’s screen serves as the playing field for the virtual silver ball that rolls around, trying to avoid slipping past the rubber flippers. And to make things even better, you can also tilt the “machine,” thanks to the iPhone’s accelerometer, and buzz out “TILT” warnings.

Other features of the game include:

• Multiple classic and unique playboard layout
• Advanced multi-level and multiplayer competition
• Four possible multi-ball modes
• End-of-ball and replay bonuses
• Ball saver

Here is New Potato Tech’s own description:

Get ready for iPhone and iPod touch entertainment that’s in a class by itself! The Pinball Magic [app]cessory creates realistic and engaging gameplay, bringing classic pinball machine cabinet design and fun to iPhone and iPod touch. Pinball Magic, just like the classic cabinets (only smaller), works with the free Pinball Magic app to create a portable arcade experience, complete with flipper buttons and ball-launching plunger.

Even though the accessory has not been released yet, the website states that it will be ready for August 2010. It seems they may miss their own deadline unless they decide to let the buying commence at 11:59 pm tonight.

All I know is that I’m going to be spending endless hours hunched over on my desk once I get this nifty little accessory for myself. What about you guys? Ever wanted to own your own pinball machine? Or do you still prefer the atmosphere of your local arcade?

Via: NewPotatoTech

Ever since the Angry Birds release last year, the game has grown to become the favorite of virtually everyone with an iDevice. The game is simple, addictive and every now and then releases a new set of 15 levels for free, as part of a software update. The basic idea is to hurl a bird at blocks of glass, stone and wood in order to kill the evil green pigs that stole the birds’ eggs. I’m a huge fan, and get a little giddy every time I see a new update is available. However, this bit of news is saddening to me; the developers are looking to make a movie out of the brand. I’m a bit of a movie snob, and generally ignore the temptation to watch the latest blockbuster, unless it’s genuinely unique. I much prefer the independent side of the movie business, art films that don’t make it to major theaters, ones with really deep characters. Not all guns blazing, patronizing, shallow films that everyone in the world seems to flock to see.

The 5 main characters?

So, back to Angry Birds. The game has sold over 6.5 million copies of the iPhone/iPod Touch paid version. It’s also sold 200,000 copies of Angry Birds HD for iPad, and 11 million of the free version for iPhone. This success, according to an article on Variety, has led the the Finnish creators of the game to contact people in the movie business, looking to expand in to the movie world. I could beg and plead with them not to do it, but I fear the potential lure of cash would make them deaf to any sensible objection. Games have made it in to films in the past, but, not from the mobile world. The Mario Brothers movie comes to mind, Doom, and Prince of Persia more recently. All awful (in my opinion). For any of you planning on seeing it if its released here’s a quick breakdown of how the story will play out:

1. Introduction to the Angry Birds’ world, and the main characters.

2. Green pigs will steal some eggs.

3. Angry Birds group goes on a mission to save eggs.

4. All is going well until 20 minutes before the end, they all get stuck in a seemingly unescapable trap. (Possibly a romantic relationship happening somewhere to keep it interesting. Does a bird fall for a female pig?)

5. Angry Birds are victorious, and return home as heroes. (Main hero gets the girl too..)

If you watch enough movies, you know that pretty much every film runs this way, so just replace the characters of a bog-standard movie with Angry Birds faces and you’re there.

In other Angry Birds news: The brand is also looking to expand across other mobile platforms, BlackBerry and Android should have a version available soon. The developers are also looking to spread in to the games console market, Nintendo DS has been mentioned as has PS3. Personally I’d love to see Angry Birds on my TV screen, so the sooner they release it for consoles, the better.

Via: Variety

I hate running late. Sometimes it’s due to slow-moving traffic, other times, it’s an epic time management flub on my part. Either way, I find myself at a crossroads: Should I do the courteous thing by letting friends know by calling or texting? Or do I opt for safety and put the phone away while I’m driving?

Thanks to the GPS capabilities in my smartphone, I’ve got some other options: There’s a new app by TeleNav called OnMyWay. It lets my iPhone automatically alert pals that with updated ETAs if I’m behind schedule. Previously available on BlackBerries, it’s now available for iPhones and Androids.

Before you leave, launch OMW and enter your destination, appointment time, and the email addresses/phone numbers of the parties you’d want to notify. The app automatically tracks your progress and alerts those contacts if you’re going to be late. It even sends a new estimated arrival time automatically, but it doesn’t share your specific location. So if you don’t want them to know that you stopped at MacDonald’s on the way to their dinner party, they won’t be any the wiser.

If you do want friends to know exactly where you are, there are other apps that can do the job. Glympse, for example, works like OMW (with your notifying friends before you leave via email, text, Facebook or Twitter), but then it pinpoints your location on a map and tracks it in real time. Pals, who get a link to the map online, can follow along while they’re waiting for you. And, of course, you can shut it off at will or pre-determine how long it geo-tracks you.

I’ve also been using Mobcast. It’s more of a general activity and location-sharing app that hooks into Facebook. Instead of going for a single-purpose app, I sometimes prefer programs that do multiple things, and this one’s a pretty fun application. Not only can I share my own location in real time with all or some of my Mobcasting Facebook friends, but if they’re the ones running late, I can see what they’re up to or “nudge” them to launch Mobcast for an automatic location update.

I find it really handy for longer distance visits in particular. If I’m driving in from a few hours away, my pals don’t need to be alerted every time I hit traffic or make up the time. I just tell them I’m Mobcasting before I leave, and they can check in on me at their leisure.

All of these apps are free, and no matter which one you choose, it beats the alternatives — irritating your friends or worse, engaging in distracted driving.

Have you got a favorite geo-location app? Which one do you use and why? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

iPhone apps like Netflix and Hulu are out there now working well with streaming TV shows and movies. Can the music video market work just as well? Alex takes a look at the VEVO music video application — over both Wifi and data connection — so check it out.