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Looks like options for iOS gamers are only expanding. Not only has Apple just announced the new Game Center, but Aurora Feint has just announced that its OpenFeint social network will soon enable interconnectivity between iOS and Android. The service, called OpenFeint PlayTime, will allow multiplayer gameplay between both platforms -- in addition to matchmaking, game servers, and real-time voice chat during gameplay. If you're a developer, and you're interested in adding cross-platform multiplayer to your next game, hit up the source link to apply for the private Beta. And now you'll have to excuse us -- we were in the middle of a rousing game of Bomberman Touch 2.

OpenFeint PlayTime brings cross-platform multiplayer gaming to iOS, Android originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You've heard of this Love Plus thing, right? This Nintendo DS-based "dating simulator" is apparently a big deal in Japan, giving Otaku the opportunity to chat up (and kiss) girls the only way they know how: on a hand-held game console, with a stylus. To promote the latest version of the game (Love Plus +), Konami has developed an Augmented Reality iPhone app that players can take to the coastal city of Atami and use to interact with their virtual girlfriends at any of thirteen romantic spots. One can even book a a room at the Ohnoya hotel which, according to Discovery News, offers futon beds and a "barcode panel that allows the men to visualize their girlfriends in a flattering summer kimono." Over 2,000 virtual lotharios visited the resort town during the campaign, which began on July 10 and ends today. Check out the the trailer for the game (in Japanese, which doesn't diminish the enjoyment for our English readers one bit) after the break.

Continue reading Resort uses augmented reality to pair virtual girls with actual nerds

Resort uses augmented reality to pair virtual girls with actual nerds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To be perfectly honest, we can't believe the above image is running on Engadget either. But with all the ongoing hoopla surrounding the App Store approval process, we'd be remiss if we didn't hep you to recently reported news that Phillip Shoemaker, director of applications technology at Apple, seems to have a healthy sideline developing iOS software with names like iWiz and, ahem, Animal Farts. We'll let you hit the store yourself if you want to learn more about these fine products (search for his company, Gray Noodle). For Apple's part, the company states that the apps were submitted and approved before Shoemaker got the job -- and that, indeed, he was hired in part because of his experience as a developer. Now, if we could only get that Pocket Pain Doctor guy a real job. He looks like he could use one!

Update: We also thought we'd mention that, although Apple stated that the apps were submitted and approved before dude got the job, Shoemaker Tweeted that he had his new employee orientation on March 9, 2009 -- and that Gray Noodle was still publishing apps a month later. What does this mean, exactly? We're not sure (and we're not sure we care), but we figured we'd throw it out there nonetheless.

[Thanks, Rohit]

iWiz dev does good, becomes Apple App Store director originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To be perfectly honest, we can't believe the above image is running on Engadget either. But with all the ongoing hoopla surrounding the App Store approval process, we'd be remiss if we didn't hep you to recently reported news that Phillip Shoemaker, director of applications technology at Apple, seems to have a healthy sideline developing iOS software with names like iWiz and, ahem, Animal Farts. We'll let you hit the store yourself if you want to learn more about these fine products (search for his company, Gray Noodle). For Apple's part, the company states that the apps were submitted and approved before Shoemaker got the job -- and that, indeed, he was hired in part because of his experience as a developer. Now, if we could only get that Pocket Pain Doctor guy a real job. He looks like he could use one!

Update: We also thought we'd mention that, although Apple stated that the apps were submitted and approved before dude got the job, Shoemaker Tweeted that he had his new employee orientation on March 9, 2009 -- and that Gray Noodle was still publishing apps a month later. What does this mean, exactly? We're not sure (and we're not sure we care), but we figured we'd throw it out there nonetheless.

[Thanks, Rohit]

iWiz dev does good, becomes Apple App Store director originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SNAP (Social Network Analyzer for Privacy) by BIT Systems does one thing, and one thing only: it looks at your Facebook profile and then "grades you on how visible you are to the outside world." Of course, you can always just go into Facebook itself and look at your privacy settings, which would save you the steps of downloading an app and using it to login to your account, but at least the thing is free. And it does provide a handy and thorough tutorial on Facebook privacy in general. Hit the source link to take it for a spin.

Continue reading SNAP for iOS gives you The Power... to appraise your Facebook privacy

SNAP for iOS gives you The Power... to appraise your Facebook privacy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, the iA100ZE iPad dock isn't anywhere in the same league as the iTar. To be fair, you can't fault iHome for trying to stir up some interest in an over-saturated market by strapping an iPad onto a fairly typical FM radio / alarm clock / dock. And if that's your bag, it certainly seems to be more than up to the task: iHome+Sleep app integration, Bluetooth, and that patented Bongiovi punch. Only a few questions have yet to be answered: when does it ship? For how much? And, most crucially, will you be able to sleep with an iPad shining in your face all night? Get another look after the break.

Continue reading iHome iA100ZE iPad alarm dock raises questions, supplies few answers

iHome iA100ZE iPad alarm dock raises questions, supplies few answers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like Fring's recent decision to block Skype access to its iPhone 4 video app was the final straw for Skype, who charges that VoIP network was in breach of the Terms of Use and EULA for the Skype API. "Over time," writes General Counsel Robert Miller, "Fring's mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers." Although they've "been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably," Friday's action is being called "disappointing [for] our customers, who have high expectations of the Skype experience." He goes on to say that "Skype will rigorously protect our brand and reputation, and those developers that do not comply with our terms will be subject to legal enforcement." Meaning, presumably, that in the case of more Fring shenanigans there will be some sort of red-hot legal action. For its part, Fring CEO Avi Shechter had this to say: "We are disappointed that Skype, who once championed the cause of openness, is now attempting to muzzle competition, even to the detriment of its own users." Which is all well and good, but we can hardly see how Skype is the problem here when you were the ones who locked out its users in the first place.

Skype says Fring violated its Terms of Use, 'damaging our brand and reputation' in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What did JFK, Obama, and Martin Luther King Jr. all have in common? If you believe the makers of You Prompt-It!, it's the ability to use a teleprompter. And now you can join the pantheon of important Americans who inspire us regular schlubs to greatness. What does your $130 get you? Tripod, base, beamsplitter glass display, and a carrying case. Fits your iPhone or iPhone-esque device, and will sit comfortably on your laptop. To get that scrolling text effect, the manufacturer suggests that you check out the PROPROMPTER app from the App Store. What are you waiting for? We're quite frankly getting sick of all the hemming and hawing on your YouTube rants. Maybe now you can start winning people over with your "Larry King is an alien from the future" message -- it's worth a shot at least. A video, of sorts, after the break

Continue reading Prompt-It iPhone teleprompter perfect for business meetings, Internet cranks

Prompt-It iPhone teleprompter perfect for business meetings, Internet cranks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're guessing that there won't be many tech sites lineblogging outside the Shenzhen KIRF stalls when the ePhone 4GS finally gets a release date. And it's a shame, really: for knock-off fanatics like ourselves, this thing could be in the big leagues, right up there with the iorgane (that's pronounced "i-orange," by the way). Don't let the industrial design fool you -- unlike the real deal, this thing is all plastic, right up to that silver band wrapping 'round the edges. The rear of the unit boasts the Apple logo and 16GB, and while the first designation is definitely inaccurate, we harbor serious doubts about the latter. But what do you expect for $85? Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Keeping it real fake: ePhone won't shatter when you drop it, might melt in the sun

Keeping it real fake: ePhone won't shatter when you drop it, might melt in the sun originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already knew that Apple was likely ratcheting up the social networking integration in iOS 4 -- that is, if the addition of Linked Contacts and .plist entries referring to Facebook means anything (and it probably does). Adding further flame to the fire, the gang at 9to5Mac.com have dug up a bit of code that appears to handle video exporting to the popular social networking site. As near as we can tell, users will be able to send files at 480 x 480, 30 FPS -- and since Facebook is already using HTML5, you won't have that pesky Steve Jobs / Flash thing to worry about.

iPhone OS 4 to include Facebook video uploads? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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