Android – Iphone – Applications

written by Script Alert \\ tags: cydia, enter-pwned, firmware-select, install-cydia, instructions, mac, posted-image, restore, summary, the-screen-then, ultrasnow, white, your-phone

iTV Shows HD provides a simple, effective way to follow the TV shows that you are interested in. Its content is aggregated from both The TV Database and TVRage to ensure that even the less well known shows are catalogued. The design of iTV Shows is clean and well thought-out, with the screens differing depending on whether you hold your device in landscape or portrait mode. Much like the Notes application, a directory sidebar is constantly visible when viewing iTV Shows in landscape mode, but is only visible in portrait mode when a button is pressed.

Adding a TV show is a really simple process. Click the plus button, enter in the name of the show, tap it, and that’s it. Rather neatly, the search box doesn’t hide as soon as a show has been added – meaning it takes a fraction of the time to add multiple shows. The application did get a little confused, understandably, between differentiations between the ampere sign (&) and the word (and), but this is more a database limitation rather than iTV’s problem.

Once shows are added, the aforementioned directory sidebar comes into play, providing the user with the latest timing information with regards to the show. For example, the application is currently telling me that The Good Wife is restarting in 13 days, September 28, and that the episode number and name is S02E01 (season 2 episode 1) – Taking Control. For shows like In Plain Sight and Curb Your Enthusiasm, the times are marked as TBA, or To Be Announced. Finally, shows like Frasier and The West Wing are marked as Ended, signifying that these shows have no new episodes airing. I’ll leave my personal disappointments aside. Going into more detail, when you tap on a specific show the application offers a wealth of information regarding episode numbers and names, as well a description of the show and full episode history. Each episode history contains its own short synopsis paragraph, taken straight from The TV Database or TVRage.

One feature that I’d like to touch on is the ability to mark a show as ’seen’ – which places a red bookmark similar to that on iBooks by that particular episode. Instead of having a red bookmark for every show, only one bookmark is placed, thereby implying that all of the above shows have been watched. This makes sense when you think about it – episodes of TV shows are typically watched in chronological order.

The application was somewhat slow in aggregating content for a TV show, particularly in series with a higher number of seasons. In addition, the lack of broadcasting information – like when and where it’s on – forces a user to look elsewhere. Finally, a push notification wouldn’t go amiss to alert you that one of the shows you watch is about to start, particularly given the fact that this is a paid-for application.

Overall, I am impressed with iTV Shows HD. It feels like a native version of a website like epguides.com, and the ability to mark TV shows as watched is very cool. If future updates satisfy the above, it’ll be worth every penny.

[ iTV Shows HD Review is a post from 148Apps ]

written by \\ tags: game-as-folks, getupp, magnetic closure, red bull, variable-angle, white

Virtual City oozes charm right from the offset. It’s a bit like SimCity but in a lighter, more cheerful manner that encourages you to keep playing. There are 50 different levels in all covering a variety of different US states each with their own quirks. Early missions offer basic tutorials to help players along the way. In each level there’s a series of challenges to complete. Typically these are things like ‘establish a transport route’ or ‘reconstruct a bridge.’ Typical city management fodder, really. It never feels overwhelming like other city management sims, though. Instead, it’s consistently fun, having removed all the tedious elements of a game like SimCity.

There’s no need to worry about organizing zones for building areas or managing the sewage systems in this virtual city. Instead, it’s all about accomplishing pre-set goals. Things like making the town eco-friendly is a nice touch and a challenge that I found especially satisfying. Forming transport routes frequently plays an important role, offering a Transport Tycoon feel to proceedings. Routing the city’s trucks from business to business is vital to help the town grow, as well as developing bus routes to encourage new residents. As you complete levels, you’re assigned a score and medal which provides a good reason to go back to master the level.

Virtual City is pretty good fun overall. It’s easy to get the hang of and offers menus clearly designed well for the small iPhone screen. Nothing feels squashed at all with even the town feeling in proportion to the screen size. The only really annoying feature is that the menu offers a Sandbox mode that isn’t actually available until a future upgrade. It’s an annoying reminder that there could have been a new mode to play but not yet. At least there’s plenty to do with the rest of the game.

Virtual City is well worth a purchase. It’s a much friendlier version of SimCity and one that feels more enjoyable and less spreadsheet management- ish than other behemoth city management games.

[ Virtual City review is a post from 148Apps ]

written by BroKen \\ tags: after-the-break, background, floor, game-as-folks, hassle, red bull, redbull, stealth, unlock, white

I was originally drawn to Megaplex Madness because of its mention on Apple’s Game Center list, despite its relative obscurity. Who does Apple think they are, putting games I’ve never heard of in special lists? It’s almost like they are trying to promote new apps rather than old ones that have sold a trillian copies. Madness!

Well needless to say, I took the bait and downloaded the game. I knew going in that it was a simple time management game, but it looked like a more complex Diner Dash set in a Multi-Mega-Screen Movie Theater, so I was fairly excited. After playing for awhile, though, I found that the game was a bit of a mixed bag.

The basic idea of the game is that each stage represents a night at the cinema, so some nights are kids only nights, some nights are adult only nights, and some are mixed. As people walk up to your theater, their wants are displayed as a picture icon. For example, if they want a ticket, a ticket icon pops up, and if they want popcorn, a little popcorn icon appears. People are also color coordinated too, so you get special bonuses for having the same color people go to the same lines in succession.

Past the basics, every level is an extension of the last. My real problem with the game is that it doesn’t present too much of a challenge. Once you’ve beaten one level, you’ve beaten them all. Getting perfect scores throughout should be a rarity, but in this one it’s commonplace.

If you love time management games, Megaplex Madness will probably whet your whistle. It’s a good game, but it doesn’t really do anything to make it better than any other.

[ Megaplex Madness Review is a post from 148Apps ]

written by \\ tags: after-the-break, clever-revenue, game-as-folks, host, tool, white

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is planning to sell some of their debt this year in order to pay for dividends and repurchase shares. The company plans to raise as much as they can without jeopardizing their debt rating of AAA.

According to a source with Bloomberg, Microsoft could potentially issue as much as $6 billion in debt without putting their rating at risk. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is pressured to return some of the company’s $36.8 billion in cash and short term investments to investors in the form of dividends.

Microsoft had around $22 billion in free cash flow last fiscal year with about half of that being in the U.S. and the rest overseas. Microsoft started paying a dividend in 2003 and offered $3-a-share in 2004. Microsoft repurchased over $78 billion in stock since this 2006. Microsoft is in the middle of a $40 billion buyback allowance, running through 2013. Microsoft sold its first debt in May 2009 in the form of a $3.75 billion offering.

[Bloomberg]

written by admin \\ tags: laptops-range, softdisk-john, white