Before I wrote this article I was sitting on my porch, enjoying the afternoon sun while playing Me and My Katmari on my Ipod. Now I love downloading Ipod games but until recently I didn't even know you could download games onto your Ipod until my friend John showed me how.
It's quite easy to download Ipod games. Most sites provide the converter you need in order to put the Ipod software downloads onto your Ipod. Once you've downloaded the games of your choice, you can play them directly on your Ipod Mini, Ipod Nano or video Ipod.
There are so many different games you can download to your Ipod; sports, action, strategy, puzzles, driving, adventure, simulations and role-playing. Some of the most popular games at the moment are action games such as Persuit Force, Daxter and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. Popular shooter games include Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Essentials. A popular arcade/puzzle game is Me and My Katmari. Two popular fighting games are Fight Night: Round 3 and Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai.
These games are just the tip of the iceberg. With so many Ipod games to download, you're spoiled for choice. Of course, you could always download ALL the Ipod games. That's sure to keep you busy for a while!
There are so many Ipod software downloads out there though. It can be very time consuming surfing from site to site trying to find the particular games you want to download. Wouldn't it be great if you could download hundreds of Ipod games from the one site?
Well, I've just found such a site. It has hundreds of Ipod games to download and the game database is updated daily. I'm in Ipod game heaven! Want to join me?
Jessica Smith is an Ipod game fanatic. If you'd like to find out more on downloading hundreds of Ipod games, visit http://www.coolwebstuffonline.com/Ipodgameheaven now!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
How To Download Ipod Games
Choosing the smart Apple iPod accessory
Are you thinking of buying an Apple iPod? Or have you bought one?
Almost everyone and anyone that I know seems to have bought an iPod or at least is thinking of getting an ipod for themselves or their loved ones. The iPod is just so alluring! However, do you know what you should do after buying the iPod?
Most people don't. Yet, market analysts estimate that the average iPod owner spend as much as 30% of the original iPod price on additional accessories! That's a whopping US$60-US$90 on iPod accessories that each iPod owner will spend!
Many people are simply spending their money on the wrong accessories! In fact, many are going for fancy accessories such as car transceiver kit, wireless remote kit, speaker kit even without realizing what are the first accessories they should get.
Get the Basic iPod Accessory before getting the Fancy Stuff!
Do you, as a iPod user, faces these problems on a daily basis too?
* iPod Screen scratches
* Click wheel scratches
* Mirrored back scratches
* Messy iPod earphone cables
* iPod overheating when being charged while in a silicone or leather case
Despite the technical and cosmetic superiority of the Apple iPod, there remain some teething issues. Weak batteries is one. Being easily scratched is another. These problems immediately lower the resale or trade-in value of the iPod, if any? This may not seem important but if you are trading in your older iPod for a new one, this does matter. It also sucks to see scratches and marks on the beautiful iPod. In fact, microscopic scratches takes place everytime you take the iPod in and out of pocket!
Get a good-quality iPod case before ANYTHING ELSE!
There are numerous iPod accessories out there. Many accessories are fanciful, some are good but most do not fulfil the basic need of the iPod. You need to protect the iPod from getting scratches and accidental marks before anything else.
Before the iPod can serve you well, it must be able to take care of itself. So, before you even look further into getting your first iPod accessory or even if you have gotten numerous other accessories, make sure you first equip your iPod with either a good quality case or sleeve.
The most common iPod cases in use are:
Handphone sleeves converted to iPod sleeves
This is the most common as handphone sleeves are cheap and easily available. However, the mirrored back of the 3G and 4G ipod are easily scratched by theses sleeves as they run against the iPod. It is not recommended unless you have a budget problem.
iPod screen and wheel sticky protectors
There are transparent iPod screen and wheel sticky protector that are cut of the right size and stucked directly onto the iPod screen and wheel. However, there are various models in the market and some of the cheaper ones tend to curl and peel off after some use. If you are on a budget, a good quality screen and wheel protector is the minimum you should have.
iPod silicone skin
This is the most common iPod case around. It looks like a good casing choice but it is in fact one of the worst, especially if you have bought a cheap one.
These cheap silicone cases are being mass-produced in China with doubtful materials and design elements. Many of the cheap silicone skins in the market tear easily and pick up lint and dirt easily. They are also difficult to wash and maintain. I will not advise a silicone case unless they are made by some of the better and branded products from USA or Japan. A good model is found at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com
iPod Leather case
The iPod leather case is one of the most popular case. However, do not get the Apple branded one if possible as it tears to scratched the mirror back and it does not have a covering flap. Get one of the leather cases from the many in the market. Check the stitching on the leather case before buying one as some of the mass-manufactured ones may have poor workmanship.
Water and shock resistant cases
There is an increasing demand for such cases as more and more people bring their iPod for hiking, cycling, trekking, fishing and beach trips. There are various good brands in the market. However, note that whatever the advertisement may say, at best, the case can only be water resistant and not water proof which is two different things all together. A water resistant case can only take splashes and short immersion in water and certainly not something you can bring for swimming or diving trips!
iPod stuff: Troubleshoot your iPod
A lot of people are encountering various problems with their iPod devices. iPod restore issues, blue, black or white screens, erase, connect and transfer problems, iPod won't turn off (!), iPod falls into water, videos are not showing properly, audio is corrupted during playback and a lot more. The thing is that many of these issues can be resolved by following a basic troubleshooting routine every time you face a minor or major problem with your iPod.
- First of all, you got to make sure your iPod is turned on! A lot of people get so enthusiastic with their iPods forgetting the fact that the iPod is still an electronic device that uses batteries. And batteries must be fully charged. No batteries, no electricity, no iPod. So make sure your batteries are properly and fully charged before turning on your iPod.
- Restore your iPod. You will find all the information you need to restore your iPod at the apple website. Always restore your iPod using the latest updated software. Keep in mind that restoring your iPod means that you will lose all songs and other files and all settings will be restored to their original value.
- If you can't connect your iPod with your computer via a USB or FireWire port, try a different port. It may not be your iPod's fault but the USB's or FireWire's port fault instead. Try restarting your computer if the problem persists. A lot of compatibility issues have been reported, especially with the Windows XP operating system. A simple system restart might be the solution to your iPod connection problems.
- Another common mistake is the Hold switch mistake. If you forget the Hold switch in the locked position your iPod screen will show a lock image telling you that you have to turn the Hold switch off before turning on your iPod. A lot of new iPod users tend to forget the Hold switch on, thus believing that there's something wrong with their iPod when they try to turn on the device.
- Try resetting your iPod. This usually solves a lot of issues. To reset your iPod connect it to the iPod AC Adapter and plug the adapter into an electrical outlet. Alternatively, connect your iPod to your computer's built in FireWire port. Turn on the Hold switch and turn it off again. Finally press the Play/Pause button and hold it until the iPod logo appears.
- Keep updating your iPod's firmware. Firmwares keep updating all the time. Be sure you always have the latest firmware for your iPod. You can download the latest firmware for free at the apple website. Also try to reinstall your iTunes software. Always have the latest iTunes version installed. You can download the latest iTunes version for free at the apple website.
It's not always the iPod's fault if something goes wrong. Use common thinking troubleshooting techniques before throwing your iPod in the garbage.
Ipod Nano Review
In this age of portable music, the iPod has downloaded itself into the public consciousness…where it won't be leaving any time soon. Not that we mind. Despite a large pool of reputable competitors, such as Sony and Dell, who manufacture their own slick mp3 gizmos, the iPod is still the most popular and best-selling of the bunch. Just think of buying an mp3 player, and I bet your knee-jerk reaction will at least be to consider, if not choose, the iPod.
When Apple Computers' CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPod Nano in San Francisco's Moscone Center, it immediately became known as the smallest member of the display-bearing iPod family line and successor to the iPod mini (the updated version of which was released a mere 7 months prior to the Nano). Compatible with both Mac and Windows-based computers, the iPod Nano comes in two colors, white and black. You also have your choice of a 2GB version ($199) or a 4GB version ($249), which is a bit steep given the fact that the iPod mini held the same price tag for the 4GB and 6GB models, respectively. The iPod Nano's storage drive is flashed-based, which means no moving parts inside (decreased wear-and-tear and breakage potential), higher durability, and no sound skips while jogging, biking, or stumbling home after happy hour. Given the increasing capacities and capabilities of flash drives, I wouldn't be surprised if some day Apple starts implementing this technology into more of its major products. But that's for another article.
The first thing one is likely to notice is that the Nano, as its name implies, is tiny. You have to actually hold one to see just how astonishingly small this device is, and my first thought was that the small pocket of my jeans might now finally serve a greater purpose. The Nano measures 3.5" long, 1.6" wide (smaller surface area than a credit card), and just .27" thick (thinner than a AAA battery). Sleek and serene, the Nano is characterized by the simple elegance familiar to Apple fans. Yes, it certainly is a gorgeous-looking little machine due in no small part to the shiny, thin layer of acrylic applied to its surface. But the downside to the finish is its susceptibility to scratching and/or fingerprints (especially on the black version of the Nano). Weighing in at only 1.5 ounces you could conceivably move the Nano across a flat surface by sneezing on it, though I don't recommended this for health reasons.
The main features: Like all other iPods, the Nano is primarily designed to play digitized music such as mp3 files. And like its relatives, the Nano excels when doing what it does best. According to my research, the Nano uses the same sound chip as the Mini, and as mentioned before, overall quality is excellent. The included earbuds do a decent job delivering the sound, though I would prefer higher-end headphones to take full advantage of the audio experience. Fiddling with the included equalizer settings also seems to make noticeable sound adjustments, so fickle sound connoisseurs may have something to smile at here.
Owners of previous iPods shouldn't have a problem navigating the interface, as selecting songs, play-lists, and the like using the touch-sensitive click-wheel is still as user-friendly as ever (but I hate leaving behind those darn fingerprints!). Setting up and connecting to iTunes on both Mac and Windows machines was smooth and straightforward as well. According to information available at Apple's website, the 2GB iPod Nano holds 500 songs while the 4GB version stores about 1,000, assuming that the average song is 4 minutes long and compressed at 128 kbps using AAC encoding. And like the larger iPods, the Nano recognizes songs encoded in the following formats: mp3, AAC (and protected AAC format from the iTunes Music Store), AIFF, and WAV.
Unlike the iPod mini, however, the Nano sports a color display as well as the same photo capabilities as the top-of-the-line iPod Photo. This might have been a "just because we can" idea cooked up by the engineers over in Cupertino, as I received some strange looks while sharing my latest photos on a screen that's barely the size of a postage stamp. But I admit it's a fun feature to be included on such a small device. Complete with the usual organization options, you are able to create slideshows (with music and transition effects) and categorize your pictures any way you want. The Nano recognizes images in the following formats: JPEG, GIF, PSD (Mac only), TIFF, BMP, and PNG. I'll take this time to note that the camera connector for the iPod Photo, used for transferring pictures directly from a digital still camera to the iPod Photo, will not work with the iPod Nano. Also, other current third party devices such as voice recorders and FM transmitters are not currently compatible with the Nano.
There are also features that exist exclusively on the iPod Nano, such as the World Clock function, which allows you to see the local time anywhere in the world. Once you select a region (or major international city), a clock will appear on the display. The clock graphic will darken or lighten depending on what time of day it is at the other region, which is handy for frequent travelers. Feel like prank calling your friends in Egypt at 3AM local time? The iPod Nano can help! (Of course, I do not condone this sort of behavior- use this feature to make sure you don't accidentally call your friends in Egypt at 3AM).
Other Nano-exclusive features include a screen lock and stopwatch. The screen lock allows you to create a 4-digit combination to prevent others from going through your music and photos. This would seem like an effective method of deterring would-be thieves (or nosy exes), but since I already have so many passwords and codes in my life to remember I can do without it. Besides, such a pricey gadget like the Nano should be kept in a safe place anyway. The stopwatch feature is pretty neat, and allows you to record your best lap times or to keep track of how long tech support puts you on hold.
Battery life: The iPod Nano claims 14 hours of music playback, though battery consumption increases when using the photo slideshow functions with music playing in the background. Charging via the included USB 2.0 cable, which connects to the dock connector on its underside, it takes the Nano about an hour and a half to reach 80% capacity, and 3 hours to achieve a full charge. At present, the iPod Nano is not firewire capable. In my research I've also learned that the Nano's battery appears to be permanently soldered into the unit, which leads me to question the feasibility (or even possibility) of future battery replacement. Information regarding this will be updated as it is found.
Included items:
- USB 2.0 cable (backwards compatible with USB 1.1). This connects via the dock
connector underneath the Nano. NOTE: Don't confuse the dock connector with the
dock itself. The iPod Nano dock is an accessory that costs an extra $29. Over USB 2.0,
the Nano transfers music at about 5 mb per second.
- iTunes software (Mac & PC)
- Earbud headpones: They're white, (even for the black iPod Nano).
PROS:
Great sound quality, easy to use, beautifully stylish, extremely lightweight, portable, and durable. Nice color display, handy extras such as photo viewing and international clocks. Flash memory design prevents skipping, integrates easily with iTunes. Mac and Windows compatible.
CONS:
High price for relatively small drive space (compared to other iPod models), lack of more advanced iPod features/support, no present firewire capability, surface smudges and scratches easily if not protected.
OVERALL:
Despite the relatively hefty price tag for its storage capacity, the new iPod Nano by Apple is certainly a cool device for most gotta-have-it gadget-philes and for those who just want a reliable, easy-to-use high quality mp3 player. If you want to play your favorite songs while relaxing or running, the Nano and its few extra functions will make you happy. Those who are big on more complex functions may be disappointed with the present lack of features available (no support for FM transmitter, camera connector, firewire, etc.). But its ease-of-use, intuitive interface, style, and quality make this a very difficult gizmo to resist.
Monday, March 26, 2007
iKaraoke for your iPod
iKaraoke connects to the iPod through a cable or via FM transmitter. It doesn’t use batteries, because iKaraoke is using iPod’s power when connected. You can get the party started for only $49.99.
X-240 Speaker System From Logitech
Moving to the specs part of this review I have to draw your attention toward the 25 W of power that comes from two satellites of 5 W each and a 15 W subwoofer. You may also want to know that the speakers offers a 40Hz-20KHz frequency response and that Logitech has set the price to just $49.99
iDog for your entertainment
Around the iPod mania have appeared many gadgets and devices. One of them is the iDog. Now you can plug your iPod into iDog and listen to your favorite tracks. iDog feeds on the music played. Its moods are changing from a song to another. Its personality depends on the type of music you listen. iDog has a LED on its face that shows its mood. The color of the lights reflects its personality and the flashing LED light patterns and animations show its mood.iDog is compatible with the most part of CD players, MP3 players or other music devices. The iDog can listen to the music through its built-in microphone. You can sit the dog near a stereo speaker and see how it reacts. iDog requires two AA batteries. It doesn’t download or store music. Good news about the price - only $29.95!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Bubblegum FM Transmitter for iPod Nano
The Bubblegum FM Transmitter is specially designed for 2G iPod Nano. It adds just 3cm to the iPod’s dimensions. The size and color are matching perfect the new generation Nano iPods. The Bubblegum FM Transmitter works with any FM stereo , so you can use it to share music with others in your car, home and other places.
The FM Transmitter connects directly to your iPod. You can check the frequency right on your iPod’s display. The transmitter operates in a 20ft range. No batteries needed, because the device takes the power from the iPod. It can store 9 channels and it works in 87.9MHz - 107.9MHz frequency range. The Bubblegum FM Transmitter retails for $14.99 in online stores.iPod Shuffle puts some color on
iPod Shuffle is available in new colors. Besides the original silver color, iPod shuffle comes in pink, orange, green and blue. We find out that the new iPod shuffle is coming with new headphones, like the ones shipped with the other iPod models for the past several months. Storage capacity remained 1GB and the price $79. Anyway the new model looks better than its predecessor. Thanks to the simple built-in clip, iPod Shuffle fits very well on your jacket, purse trap or shirt sleeve.Tuesday, March 20, 2007
FIB2.0: TuneDeck, O ROKR, AirDock, iDuo Hub debut
Belkin’s TuneDeck for iPod nano ($50) combines a metal-reinforced dock with a cassette tape adapter, allowing you to mount your nano in front of your car’s cassette player without wires. Griffin’s AirDock ($70) is the new entry-level member of the company’s TuneCenter line. The AirDock’s remote and iPod dock use RF wireless technology, allowing users to control audio and video functions from up to 60 feet away and through walls. The product will also charge an iPod while docked.
The iDuo Hub + Remote ($60) is Atech’s new version of its iDuo, which combined a memory card reader and iPod dock. The iDuo Hub + Remote features three USB 2.0 ports, a 7-button infrared remote control, and S-video output.
Hello Kitty iPod gear abounds
The Spectra Group has recently introduced several iPod accessories under the Hello Kitty electronics brand. Among the new products are three FM transmitters and two speaker systems. The Hello Kitty KT4520 is a small dock-connecting FM transmitter for the iPod nano. The KT4530 is an FM transmitter/car charger/cradle for all dockable iPods. The KT4510 is a top-mounting FM transmitter for 3G, 4G, and mini iPods. The KT4555 and KT4556 speaker systems have identical specs with different Hello Kitty designs. Both work with all dockable iPods and feature integrated docks, two 1” speakers, and can be powered a wall outlet or batteries.
Express iPod-ready Play List Jacket
Clothing company, Express, is leaping on the iPod accessory bandwagon with this jacket. The Play List Jacket is a pretty simple jacket that includes an inside pocket for the iPod and fabric buttons to control the iPod. This jacket will be hitting Express Men stores this month for $248. Now, this begs two questions: how much would the jacket cost without the iPod pocket and who would actually wear it?Currently, the cheapest jacket on the Express site is $148. So it could be said that this iPod pocket and fabric buttons tack on an extra $100, at most, which is really not worth it given that most jackets already have an inside pocket. I don't think I am cool enough to do that jacket/hoodie/vintage tee combo.
ViewSonic iPod-Docking PJ258 Projector
The folks over at Laptopmag got their hands on the ViewSonic PJ258D, or better known as the iPod-docking projector. The projector includes a dock for the iPod video for direct video playback. It's also not the first time ViewSonic has slapped an iPod dock on a type of display.Based on functionality, this projector did quite well. It was tested with Pirates of the Caribbean and Gone in 60 Seconds and the picture looked quite well blown up to 60 inches. It is the aesthetics of the projector that really bit the dust. The control panel is on the rear and the buttons are small and hard to read. The projector was also hot and noisy. And my biggest complaint is the position of the iPod dock. There probably isn't anywhere else it could work, but being on the "top side" eliminates any chance of ceiling-mounting the PJ258. It also carries a four-digit price tag.
Creative iPod Speaker System
Creative has added a couple more iPod accessories to their repertoire of MP3 player speaker systems. It is interesting to see Creative, the pioneers of everything anti-iPod, to finally give in and release some iPod speaker systems like every other damn company out there. The PlayDock i500 (pictured) has a subwoofer, remote and can charge the iPod. The TravelSound is a smaller version of the i500 and can be battery powered. Is this a sign of Creative waving the white flag? Slow down, Apple haters, I was exaggerating and speculating. The Zen music players aren't too shabby.
How To Fix a Non-booting iPod With a Folded Up Business Card
There've been many how-tos in fixing your broken iPod over the years, many of which recommend you to just reset and restore the iPod in hopes that it was a software corruption. If that doesn't fix it, Matt over at Crunchgear has a solution that's almost as easy.All you need is to open up an iPod and shove a folded-up business card inside the case. The drive gets warm as it spins, which in turn warps the case and renders the drive inoperable. By shoving the card in, you're securing the disk and ensuring that you can rock out to Echo and/or his bunnymen once again.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
iPod speakers in Pink
Those i-deck people have reasoned that since people are always personalising their iPods, they'd probably quite like to do the same with their iPod accessories. Which explains the existence of this pink i-deck. Actually, it's just a normal i-deck decked out in some changeable speaker grilles, and you can pick from blue and black versions as well. The speaker grilles are available for £9.99 a pair from Monitor Audio's i-deck site.
Houseparty III iPod stereo speakers
The latest in the Houseparty range of iPod speakers is this model which also has a FM radio and a line-in port so you can listen to music from other MP3 layers, laptops and PCs. Behind the speaker grills is a LED display with volume or radio frequency. It comes with a remote control that operates the speakers as well as able to access the iPod menu but there are built-in controls for when you finally lose the remote - £79.99Xi iPod jukebox
If you're going to get speakers for your iPod, you have two choices: make them modern, slimline and unobtrusive, like the iTower speakers we featured yesterday, or go the whole hog with an all-singing, all-dancing, all-models-of-iPod-compatible jukebox. This one is called the Xi, and claims to be the world's first iPod jukebox (wrongly, as it happens). It comes in classic, retro jukebox style and delivers your tunes via a powerful 3-way speaker system. It's £4850, and if you want to spend even more than that, you can also have it customised just for you.Friday, March 16, 2007
Gucci Blackberry case - logos a go-go!
You may think this is just another leather Blackberry case, smothered in logos just for the sheer hell of it, but you would be wrong, for this is not just leather - it's gold "guccisima" leather, which I believe roughly translates as "by giving it a pretentious name we're able to charge more for it". It also comes in regular beige/ebony or black/tan, and is $195. Gucci neglect to say which model of Blackberry this was designed for, but it measures 3.1" x 0.6" x 4.7". Griffin Reflect mirrored iPod case
The Griffin Reflect is a pretty typical iPod case in that it's made of a nice rugged lightweight polycarbonate - but the twist is that it has a scratchproof mirrored finish that gives the chromy slickness of an old-school iPod with the modern sleekness of the modern thin variety. Also, when your backlight is off, it's pure mirror, showing only the navigation wheel. The back has a slightly rubberized finish to provide contrast and give some extra grip so you can set it on your dashboard without it immediately falling in your lap. Available for the Nano or Video size. $25.