Monday, March 15, 2010
Wicked Lasers TORCH Flashlight [review]
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11:31 PM   |
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Wicked Lasers is a company that makes lasers that are so powerful that they can melt plastic and light matches. One of their more extreme products is a flashlight called the TORCHThe Torch, according to Wicked Lasers is the "world's brightest and most powerful flashlight and has 4100 Lumens with an adjustable high efficiency reflector." Let’s put that in perspective. A typical flashlight is only 100 Lumens.
So what can you do with 4100 Lumens? There are videos of people frying eggs and burning stuff with this “flashlight.”
Why you would want to cook an omelet with a flashlight is beyond me, but its nice to know you could. The Torch sells for about $300. The biggest drawback to the Torch is the battery life is a low 15 minutes.
Here’s a full review of the TORCH and several demonstrational videos of stuff being burned to a crisp.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for iPhone [review]
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| 8:07 PM |
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Get ready to cause massive mayhem with your iPhone! Guess what showed up in the Apple App Store this week? Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.The main character in the game is Huang Lee, a smart-ass kid who wants to avenge the murder of his mafia boss father and keep control of his father's Hong Kong Triad empire. Just like most GTA games, you start our small doing seedy missions and build your way up to the big time. And yes, you can expect plenty of colorful characters throughout the game.
At $9.99, it's one of the more expensive games in the Apple App Store, but keep in mind, this is a very deep game. It's also one of the most sophisticated iPhone apps we've ever seen. There are plenty of missions to keep the average gamer busy for months.
The controls were a little difficult for us, especially while driving. The game left us wanting some sort of directional-pad or gaming controller add-on for the iPhone. We've seen iPhone gaming grips, but none yet with D-pads.
If you're a big GTA fan, then the eagle-eye perspective in Chinatown Wars will probably remind you of some of the original GTA games from the late '90s. Just like in Grand Theft Auto 2 (now a free PC download), the vehicles all look like Matchbox cars.
If you have a long plane ride in your future or a boring commute, then you'll no doubt enjoy this game. And we're sure it will sell like hotcakes GTA fans with iPhones.
You can download GTA: Chinatown Wars for iPhone and iPod Touch from the Apple App Store here.
methodshop
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Amazon Kindle 2 [review]
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| 10:42 AM |
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Amazon.com started out as an online book store in 1995. They now sell everything from toys to furniture, but their roots have always been in books. So when Amazon announced the Kindle, an electronic book reader, we were hardly surprised. Amazon's vision for the Kindle is to have every book ever printed, in any language, all available in under 60 seconds.The 2nd generation Kindle, the Global Wireless edition, or the K2 as it's been nicknamed by fans, brings the Kindle much closer to Amazon's vision. The K2 has a lot of new features including free global wireless connectivity, longer battery life and PDF support. But how does the Kindle 2 compare to its predecessor or the competition? Let's find out.
REVIEW: Kindle 2 (Global Wireless Edition)
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Friday, December 11, 2009
Flip Mino HD [review]
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| 11:31 AM |
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Flip Mino HD puts the power of HD video in your pocket. Flip Mino HD offers all the signature Flip Video features you love—sleek design, simple user interface, flip-out USB arm, rechargeable internal Li-ion battery, built-in editing and sharing software, instant uploads to YouTube and MySpace—plus stunningly crisp, clear HD-quality video. Weighing only 3.3 ounces and featuring a slim, sleek design that fits into any pocket or purse, super-small Flip Mino HD lets you capture life in HD anywhere you go. Weighing only 3.3 ounces, Flip MinoHD features a super-sleek, super-portable design that truly puts the power of HD video in your pocket. Here's a video of Chris Lesinski and Kelly Sutton from Hack College reviewing the Flip Mino HD in their own special way.
You can find the Flip Mino HD on Amazon.com. If you think HD is overkill and are just looking for a low cost stocking stuffer, then check out the non-HD Flip Mino camera.
methodshop
Ziggy Marley iPhone App [review]
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| 10:14 AM |
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There's a new Ziggy Marley app for the iPhone in the iTunes Store. The app, called Ziggy Marley's Music Mixer, allows users to mix tracks, break beats and create their own dub sounds. There are also a couple features that take advantage of the iPhone's accelerometer feature. Just select one of these options in the app and shake your iPhone or iPod Touch to make instant randomized music.- "Jackpot Mix" - randomly mixes different sounds
- "DJ for Me" - picks a track and then randomly remixes interchangeable reggae riffs
You can download Ziggy Marley's Music Mixer app from the iTunes Store here.
methodshop
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Leg Lamp [review]
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| 9:34 AM |
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The timeless holiday film, A Christmas Story, is full of plenty of classic scenes like the Chinese turkey, Ralphie's Black Bart fantasies, the schoolyard flag pole and last but not least... the infamous Leg Lamp.It took about 20 years, but now you too can own the coveted Leg Lamp. And you don't even have to win a contest like the Old Man to get one. They sell the damn things on Amazon.com, and they even come in multiple sizes!
This half-scale reproduction of the Leg Lamp from the 1983 movie A Christmas Story isn't completely accurate, but for a mere $40 bucks it's probably close enough for most Christmas Story fans. And honestly, it's smaller scale will be more apt to blend in with the average living room.
Full Review: The Leg Lamp (from "A Christmas Story")
methodshop
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Spy on Your House or Office with a Panasonic Network Camera
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| 9:04 AM |
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Wonder what your cats do while you are at work? Is the nanny drinking again? Don't trust your roommates? Did the dog walker forget to come today? Are the kids throwing a party at your house while you're on vacation? Want to keep an eye on your store employees while you are at home?There are a million reasons to install a hidden camera at your home or office. Installing a security camera system has traditionally been both expensive and difficult. But not anymore.
The Panasonic BL-C131A wireless network camera sells for under $300 and will do everything from email you a photo when the motion sensor is triggered to to let you watch and control the camera angle live over the Internet.
Unlike a webcam, a "network camera" doesn't need a dedicated computer. Just plug in the power and connect the camera to your wired or wireless network. The Panasonic BL-C131A wireless network camera is about the size of a 16 oz. jar of peanut butter. No clunky tape decks. No frozen computers. And since it's so small, it's easily hidden on a bookshelf or a dark corner. It's also very easy to setup. All you need is a web browser like Safari or Internet Explorer so both Mac and PC users can take advantage of this great camera.
For less than $300, this feature rich network camera can really give you piece of mind.
Tutorial: How to Setup and Monitor Your Home or Office Remotely Using the Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera
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Tuesday, November 03, 2009
NexCopy USB Drive Duplicator
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| 6:43 PM |
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Looking for an easy way to copy files to multiple USB drives at the same time? If your company frequently has a booth at trade shows like CES, then you've probably run into this problem before. NexCopy makes great USB duplicators that can copy files to 20, 40 or 60 USB sticks in one shot.Something to keep in mind if you ever find yourself manually coping files to hundreds of USB sticks one at a time.
methodshop
Monday, October 12, 2009
T-Fal Sandwich Maker [review]
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| 11:18 AM |
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Back in college, my parents got me a sandwich maker for my dorm room. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was the perfect gift. My roommate and I used to steal ingredients from the dining hall and keep them in our mini fridge. The hours the dining halls were open didn't always mesh well with the typical college social schedule... and we were poor students and the dining hall food was free. So at any given hour we might be making anything from BBQ chicken and Swiss melts to peanut butter and M&Ms sandwiches (a late night favorite).After freshman year I threw my sandwich maker away because it was so scratched up and dirty. It made great sandwiches but it was impossible to clean. I remember using a plastic knife and trying to scrape it clean in the common bathroom's sink. Yuck.
Ten years later, college is a fading memory, no one owns a beeper anymore, Sean Kelly's band The Samples have broken up and sandwich making science has reached new technical heights. The engineering geniuses at T-Fal made a sandwich/waffle maker with dishwasher safe interchangeable grilling plates that snap in and out.
Review: T-Fal Sandwich/Waffle Maker
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Harry Potter's Vibrating Broomstick [review]
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| 10:21 AM |
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Looks like the perverts from Mattel have been busy. Their latest creation is a vibrating Harry Potter broomstick that has teenage girls everywhere going wild.
Amazon was selling the vibrating Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 broomstick for only $19.99, but the sex shops in New York City sell it for double. After sending Amazon.com an email asking for a comment, they temporarily stopped selling the item. If you go to Amazon's page for the Nimbus now, you will see that not only did they delete all of the controversial reviews, but they no longer sell the product. Too bad, it would make a great Halloween costume.You still might be able to find the Nimbus on eBay or through a third party seller, but regardless where you buy this thing, make sure you pick up some extra batteries and keep your teenage daughters away from it. Who knew Harry was such a stud?
Review: Harry Potter Nimbus 2000
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Thursday, October 01, 2009
Make Music on Your iPhone with GrooveMaker [review]
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| 12:08 PM |
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Feel like using some slamming loops to create a nasty, floor shaking electronic/hip hop track for your next party or record? To get your groove on, just take out your iPhone, go to the App Store and get busy with GrooveMaker.Review: Making Music on Your iPhone with GrooveMaker
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Thursday, September 03, 2009
Sony A300 DSLR Camera [review]
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| 11:22 AM |
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You might think that in the current economic climate, spending money on a high-end digital camera would be a luxury that most people couldn't justify.After all, millions are being lost on Wall Street and in the city every day. High street sales are down, jobs are being lost and nobody is spending money on anything. How on earth could you think about trading up that little point and shoot camera for something serious?
Well, here's the good news. Sony has come to the rescue of your wallet with this, the Sony Alpha A300 - which is available online for a mere £330 including an 18-70mm lens. Now that is a super price for a digital SLR especially one that includes a live preview mode. And you know what? It's just perfect for some credit crunch-busting fun.
Review: Sony Alpha A300 DSLR Camera
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Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Sunday Driver - Living the Lowrider Lifestyle [review]
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| 2:52 PM |
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Rockstar, the company famous for the Grand Theft Auto video game series, sometimes like to flex their creative muscles beyond just games. With the help of documentary filmmaker, Carol Strong, Rockstar released a DVD documentary called Sunday Driver about the lowriding subculture of Compton, CA.
Lowriders have been a prominent part of several of their Grand Theft Auto releases and this lowrider documentary is a natural evolution of their brand and a treat for their existing gaming audience.
The low rider is a little higher...
REVIEW: Sunday Driver: Living the Lowrider Lifestyle
methodshop
Monday, August 31, 2009
Lighter and Faster - OS X Snow Leopard
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| 11:46 AM |
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Apple’s new operating system, Snow Leopard, hit stores last Friday. To encourage upgrading, Apple has slapped a super low $30 price tag on the upgrade.
But hold on Apple Fanboys. Snow Leopard isn't a major OS upgrade. Snow Leopard is mainly just a performance boost for Macs equipped with 64-bit Intel processors.So what should you expect to find in Snow Leopard? Here are the 5 most important things you need to know about Mac OS X 10.6:
- Performance Boost
- Lighter - Less OS Bloat
- Third-Party Software Compatibility Issues
- Minor Interface Improvements
- No PowerPC Support
Performance Boost
Snow Leopard was coded to take full advantage of the hardware in 64-bit Intel Macs. So all applications coded for 64-bit processors will be much faster.
Lighter
As operating systems add new features, they get bigger and bigger and take up more of your hard drive. But Snow Leopard is unlike most bloated OS upgrades. Snow Leopard will actually free up some space on year hard drive. We're read reports of users seeing anywhere from 2-7GBs of extra space after installing Snow Leopard.
Third-Party Software Compatibility Issues
One of the biggest drawbacks to Snow Leopard is the incompatibility of some third-party applications. If your livelihood depends on a third-party application, for example a cash register app, then you will want to wait to upgrade until the developer gives Snow Leopard the green light. Snow Leopard is still compatible with 32-bit applications, but Apple admits that some third party software will have issues.
Minor Interface Improvements
Apple made a few minor user interface and software improvements to SNow Leopard. For example, Expose was moved into the Dock, time stamps added to screenshots and QuickTime Player now has the playback controls from iTunes' full screen mode.
No PowerPC Mac Support
Still rocking an older Mac these days? If you own an older PowerPC Mac and have yet to upgrade sine Apple's switched to Intel, then Snow Leopard is not for you. Snow Leopard will only run on an Intel Mac equipped with at least 1GB of memory. You also need 5GB of free hard drive space and a DVD drive.
Final Thoughts
Snow Leopard isn't enough of an OS upgrade to knock your socks off, but the speed improvements alone are well worth the $30 price tag.
methodshop
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Skunk Off [review]
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| 10:53 AM |
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Unfortunately for us dog owners, our canine companions will probably get sprayed by a skunk at one point in their lives. Rural pets are much more likely to have a skunk encounter, but even city dogs who join you on weekend getaways or camping vacations might find themselves downwind from a skunk's anal scent glands. And dogs aren't alone in this stinky honor. Cats, pigs, horses and other domesticated pets have all been skunked before.So what do you do after a pet gets sprayed by a skunk? Does tomato juice really work? Can over the counter products like Skunk Off save the day? Apparently I was about to find out.
Review: Skunk Off
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Labels: review
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Radius Atomic Bass Earphones [review]
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| 11:01 AM |
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Do you feel like your iPhone or iPod needs more bass? Is your favorite Equalizer setting "Bass Boost?" Wish your headphones sounded as good as your home or car stereo system? Then maybe it's time you invested in an "atomic" pair of bass enhancing earphones.Radius, a relatively new audio company based out of Nashville, Tennessee (USA), prides itself on using premium parts in their products to deliver premium performance.
Radius sent us over a pair of their Atomic Bass Earbuds to test out. Here's how it went...
Review: Radius Atomic Bass Earphones
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones
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| 9:18 AM |
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After a recent 4-hour flight with 3 different types of earbuds jammed in, wrapped around and loosely falling out every time I shifted in my seat, it was time to invest in a good pair of nose canceling headphones.I dropped $125 on a traditional pair of headphones 2 years ago and it was a big mistake. Lacking the portability and performance I wanted the head band finally broke a few weeks ago while I was struggling to get them wrapped up going through airport security. If you travel quite a bit, commute on the subway or train, and want the best sound quality to complement your iPod or iPhone it makes sense to spend a little extra and get a more complete package.
After researching several different brands and models I chose the JVC HA-NC250 for their style, performance, comfort, portability and value. According to CNET, "[they] make a great travel companion for those who demand quality sound. And they may not be cheap, but they seem that way next to the Bose QuietComfort 3."
Review: JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones
methodshop
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Peak Pro 6 - Review
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| 9:30 AM |
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Ok, so you have a stereo mix of your music that that needs a little EQ, a good fade out, and some volume so it's louder on the web. Or, you have a bad recording of dialog for your film that you want to compress and remove some noise from. Maybe you have some drum loops you need to cut up and add underneath the dialog in your new podcast.Whether you're a musician, composer, sound designer, audio editor, podcast/multimedia producer, or mastering engineer, you will find Peak Pro feature rich, yet flexible and friendly. It is industry-renowned for sonic quality and precision.
Designed specifically for recording, processing, editing and mastering audio on the Mac platform, Peak Pro 6 is a major update from Peak 5. The newest version builds upon its predecessor and includes many new developments that offer more creative potential than ever before.
Full Review: Bias Peak Pro 6
methodshop
Monday, August 03, 2009
BMX Bandits - Review
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| 9:28 AM |
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If you grew up in the 1980's, then you probably remember a movie called BMX Bandits. And because the film was Nicole Kidman's first major role, it continues to get a little more extra attention that other BMX movies like RAD.Over 25 years later, the 1983 movie is still a cult favorite. BMX Bandits was recently re-released on DVD and continues to completely sell out on Amazon.com.
Movie Review: BMX Bandits
methodshop
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Moon People: Best First Page of Any Book Ever [pic]
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| 9:34 AM |
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It's called "Moon People". And it may just be the Snakes on a Plane of the book world. Dale M. Courtney is the "writer" of this particular opus, but after reading the first page of "Moon People", you may be wondering - Was Peter Griffin from Family Guy Courtney's editor? The ridiculous plot aside, the book is filled with rAndOm caPitalizatioNs, odd sentence structure and an abusive use of a'post'ro'phe's."Moon People" won't be getting a Pulitzer, but the book's "unique" writing style has certainly captured the attention of the Internets. People are blogging, tweeting and Digging it. Although negative, all this attention can't be bad for sales.
Wouldn't it be funny if "Moon People" became a Twitter phenomenon and a New York Times bestseller?Be sure to read some of the Amazon.com reviews of "Moon People." They are literally LOL.
Amazon.com Link: "Moon People" by Dale M. Courtney
methodshop
Monday, June 29, 2009
Nike Low Dunk [Unboxing]
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| 8:43 AM |
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Many geeks shoot photos of the "unboxing" of their new gear. Well, yesterday I was able to get the last pair of the exclusive Nike Japanese Low Dunks at Foot Action! The hottest kicks in New York City.These photos document the event...
Unboxing [pics]: Nike Japanese Low Dunks
methodshop
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Zuca Sport Bag - Review
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| 8:02 AM |
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Part vehicle, part suitcase, the Zuca Sport is a piece of luggage like none you've probably ever seen before. Picture a small vertical sports locker on wheels that light up and you've got a good idea of what the ZUCA is all about.This ZUCA Sport bag is for everyone who needs a sleek means of moving their stuff from place to place, especially in crowded locations where places to sit or stand are limited. Broadway actors, makeup artists, figure skaters, lawyers, fitness fanatics all come to mind.
Don't you ever find yourself clutching a load of stuff while standing on a crowded train or plane and wish you had a place to stash everything while sitting comfortably on a portable seat? Then the ZUCA is for you.
Review: Zuca Sport
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Labels: review
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tekkeon NavDock for iPod - Review
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| 10:24 AM |
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Tekkeon's NavDock is a home media center all wrapped up into an iPod dock. The NavDock lets you navigate your iPod through an on-screen menu to play videos, photos, and music on a connected standard definition television.
NavDock browses directly through your iPod menus, so finding and playing music and videos is easy. And you can use the 16-button remote to adjust or mute volume, shuffle, repeat or skip songs, and fast forward or rewind through music or videos. The remote offers a 5-way navigation pad and quick keys that you jump directly to the videos, photos, music, or settings menus.And the damn thing isn't even that expensive. But it's also not perfect. If you want to connect your iPod to your TV, should you splurge and get an Apple TV, buy a cheap $5 AV iPod cable or get the NavDock? Let's find out.
Review: Tekkeon NavDock for iPod
methodshop
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Oregon Trail for iPhone
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| 8:11 AM |
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Mobile games developer Gameloft has released an updated version of The Oregon Trail. The game costs $5.99 in the iTunes App Store and introduces several new gameplay elements to the elementary school classic.The game now includes 5 skill-based mini-games, side-missions and random events like bandits. Of course, everyone's favorite gameplay elements like hunting and random outbreaks of disease are still included.
iTunes Download: Oregon Trail for iPhone & iPod Touch
For you youngsters out there who don't know about the original Oregon Trail game, it was an educational computer game about American pioneer life that has a long history in North American school districts and homes. The game was inspired by the real-life Oregon Trail and was designed to teach school children about the realities of 19th century pioneer life on the trail. The player takes the role of a party of people, of a selected profession, traveling across the Oregon Trail in a Conestoga wagon.
The original Oregon Trail game was developed by John Hoffmann, Anthony Stone and Pablo Jara Meza in 1971 and produced by MECC in 1974. The game was inspired by the real-life Oregon Trail and was designed to teach school children about the realities of 19th century pioneer life on the trail.
Oregon Trail was very popular among American elementary school students in the mid 1980s to early 1990s. Many students in the United States had access to the game at school in computer labs full of Apple II computers. 20-30 years later the game has become culturally iconic and there remains an aspect of nostalgia for those who grew up playing the game. The game is also ridiculed for featuring incessant dysentery and dysentery-caused deaths.
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Has a virus or hard
drive crash wiped out your entire music collection on your computer? No
problem. Here's how to copy music off your iPod or iPhone and back onto your computer.
Bugs tend to freak us out. Mosquitoes, spiders, wasps, centipedes... you name it. If it crawls, bites or buzzes anywhere near our faces, then we squirm, swat and run. But what's worse than a little bug crawling on or biting you? How about a really, really big one? Here are some of the biggest bugs on Earth. Enjoy!. 
Need
something to watch on your iPod or iPhone? Here's a tutorial that
explains how to use a program called Handbrake to rip DVD's
into iPod compatible MPEG-4 video files.
