Gaming has gotten a bad rap in recent years, with the general belief that regular gaming is akin to becoming an antisocial zombie. Actually the reverse is true, in contrast to passive television watching, gaming is a very interactive pastime with many benefits. Gaming in general, dependent on the type of game you choose to play, will require some form of strategic thought, quick motor skills or problem solving abilities. Add interactive or social online play such as the massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), and you can add social interaction and team work to that list.
Gaming can improve the player’s technology-related knowledge. Studies have shown that children who play online applications are more aware of how to use a PC and when you consider that computer literacy and internet research are now important basic skills best grasped as early as possible, it is advantageous to allow children a moderated set period of time to have fun whilst improving their computer literacy.
Research has also shown that elderly people whose brains are constantly challenged with puzzles and trivia that require problem solving skills, decision making and memory recall lower the risk of having memory ailments, so playing online interactive games can be a fantastic tool and are hugely beneficial for keeping a mind active and healthy.
Playing online games on your PC, laptop, tablet or other mobile device also allow a certain freedom to participate in hobbies or pastimes in an otherwise busy and stressful life. Enjoy a weekly cards evening with your friends? Use an online casino site to add some online casino thrill to your otherwise mundane weekly get together. Enjoy going to the bingo hall but can’t find the time to get there? There are now many online bingo sites to choose from that you can access via your mobile or laptop on your commute home or from your sofa in the evening, so you don’t miss out.
Interactive gaming has also been used as a language teaching tool. Evidence from research suggests that using multiplayer online games can promote the language student’s motivation, increase communication and encourage collaboration among participating students as computers and online gaming provide a convenient venue to practice the target language. Online gaming gives the student the opportunity to use the written language or spoken language (if using a game that requires a headset) in a setting that is more true to life, rather than the theory of dusty text books.
And finally, if you needed further persuasion of the benefits of online gaming, there is evidence that when older children play online educational games, they can benefit from increased confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Older children who play online educational games and are able to beat levels and accomplish small goals usually feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, a feeling that is often missing in these turbulent developmental years. Small goal setting and the subsequent achieving is a fantastic skill for older children to learn to implement in all aspects of their life. As with all online access for children, the amount of time spent playing these games should be monitored and the websites properly vetted by the parents before access is allowed.
Three Apps to Unleash Your Creativity on Android Tablets
The
mobile revolution means we can work on the go, stay connected while traveling
and be productive while in perpetual motion. Of course, it also means we can
while away time on Wikipedia, search for an endless amount of animated GIFs of
cats and compete with our friends on Candy Crush Empire until someone gets
belligerent. But what often goes unremarked is the fact that a slew of applications that can enhance and
nurture your innate creativity are available for your Android tablet or
smartphone. And we're not talking about Instagram. Here are a few choice
selections:
Real Drum
What could be more fun and creative than
drumming on your Android tablet? That's what a slew of apps have set out to do,
but few have been as successful as Real Drum by Brazilian developer Rodrigo
Kolb. Real Drum has racked up nearly 27,000 ratings on the Google Play store,
with a four and a half star rating in total.
Real Drum offers 13 drum pads, 13 sounds, HD
resolution, multitouch functionality and a record mode. It promises
"studio audio quality" as well. In practice, the main user interface
screen is a series of drum heads presented from a top-down angle. You touch a
drum head and it makes the requisite sound. The latest version of Real Drum
includes a 'record' feature, which is useful for musicians who get ideas while
on the go. All they have to do is tap out their idea on their Android tablet
and record it on Real Drum so they can recall it easily.
One issue with Real Drum seems to be latency, or
'lag', between the time you touch a drum head on the screen and when the sound
is played, according to several user reviews on Google Play. "As others
have said, there is a slight delay. It makes it hard for real drummers like
myself. The overall setup is nice, though," wrote Real Drum user Vernon Q.
Jones II on 9 Feb. However, if you are satisfied with Real Drum, as the
thousands of users who have rated it highly appear to be, then you might want to
check out its developer, Kolb's, portfolio of other music apps. These include
Real Piano, Real Bass, Congas and Bongos and other apps of a musical nature for
your Android tablet and smartphone.
Paper
Camera
The filtered-photo mobile or tablet app is played
out, now that everyone has an Instagram account, whether it's on an iOS or
Android device, right? Not necessarily, as Paper Camera shows. This is a photo
filtering app with a difference, and one that is sure to bring out your
creative instincts when you use it on your Android tablet.
Paper Camera "cartoonises" images seen
through your Android tablet or smartphone's camera viewfinder. Images can look
like a comic strip, an oil painting, a pencil sketch and so on. These effects
are what make the app unique. They turn your image into something so different
from a retro photo filter that you won't mistake it for a boring old Instagram
shot. You can do a few other things, like add borders to the image and adjust
the brightness or contrast, and that's
about it. You then save your cartoonised image and you can share it on
social networks or e-mail directly to friends.
Paper Camera's relative simplicity seems to have
won it fans. It has a four and a half star rating on the Google Play store from
nearly 22,000 votes. It has between 1 million and 5 million installs, according
to the Google Play store. It costs GBP1.19, which may not be too high a price
to pay considering the sorts of creative fun you'll get up to with it on your
Android tablet or smartphone.
Let's
Create! Pottery Lite
Besides drawing apps, photo apps and music apps,
what other categories could there be for a curious and creative mind to explore
on an Android tablet? It turns out that something unexpected is possible on a
tablet — practicing pottery.
The Let's Create! Pottery Lite app promises to
be a pottery simulator for Android tablet and smartphone users. You will
virtually "throw your clay" onto the pottery wheel and shape it into
something presentable. That's the basic premise, anyway. A 'game' is fashioned
around this premise where you must create pottery in certain designs to gain
points and credit in order to create more elaborate pieces. The app is free,
but a paid version allows you to paint on the vase after the it's been glazed in
the kiln.
Let's Create! Pottery Lite has been unexpectedly
successful in the Google Play store. It has somewhere between 500,000 and 1
million installs. It has a four and a half star rating from 6,200 votes. The
app review site Android Pipe gave it nine and a half stars out of 10, calling
it "very original and highly relaxing". A pottery simulator was not
the most obvious thing to download for an Android tablet or smartphone, but
clearly, thousands of people have done so and enjoyed the creative experience.
The week in review: Windows 8
As Sony geared up for their
eagerly-anticipated PlayStation keynote, Bill Gates was deep in discussion with
Reddit about Microsoft's mobile strategy. Here's all the Windows phone, tablet,
and laptop news from the past week.
Nokia have introduced two new models to
their Lumia range – the Lumia 720 and Lumia 520 – at the Mobile World Congress
2013 in Barcelona. Nokia are launching the phone as low-cost alternatives to
their premium Windows 8 smartphone, the Lumia 920, with Nokia President and CEO
Stephen Elop saying that “broadening our devices and services” was a motivation
for expanding the line.
Paul Rubens, who writes for CIO, commented extensively on reports
that Windows 8 tablets were making good headway in the enterprise sector. He
concluded that while both Windows 8 tablet and app sales among businesses are
strong, the limited app selection means that Microsoft’s offerings are only
slaking the thirst of niche enterprise services not disrupting the business
market as a whole.
Windows Blue, the rumoured update to Windows
8, has been poking its head above Microsoft’s leaky parapets for the first
time. Unconfirmed reports state that the new OS will launch in August, and
feature much-expanded search functionalities.
LG, whose handset division has all but wound
up over the last year, say they’re open to developing Windows 8 devices, but
don’t see a “significant market” for them yet. The Korean consumer electronics
giant – who manufacture displays for a few global handset manufacturers – “will
be on board” with Windows 8 when things pick up, according to an unnamed LG
representative.
Microsoft has expanded its range of
peripherals for Windows 8 devices. Among the accessories on offer are a pair of
ergonomically styled mice and a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard.
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, thinks that
Windows 8 sales are “perfect” for now, and is pretty pumped about the
possibilities for Microsoft’s in-house tablet, the Surface. “I don’t think
Surface is going to dominate volume,” said the exec in an interview with TechnoBuffalo, “but it’s a real
business”.
Simon Garfinkel, a writer for Technology Review, has his doubts about
the possibility of unifying an operating system’s interface across multiple
devices. He thinks Microsoft’s solution feels “somewhat weird”, although he
also credits Windows 8 with getting “a lot right”.
Consumer Reports has been testing
loads of Windows 8 laptops and ultrabooks, and thinks there are much better
devices on offer than Microsoft’s own Surface Pro, including ultrabooks and laptops by Lenovo and Acer.
Google have released a super-high-resolution
Chromebook with a touchscreen, called ‘Pixel’. Preston Gralla, who writes for Computer World, hates it.
Lenovo have launched their best-selling
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch in the United Arab Emirates.
Mozilla has seen fit to release an early
‘test’ version of its Metro-optimised browser for Windows 8. It’s available
now, free of charge, from Mozilla’s test build archive.
IHS iSuppli,
a leading technology market research agency, are pretty certain that the second
half of 2013 with be a gravy train for ‘hybrid’
(convertible laptop/tablet) Windows 8 ultrabooks, according to a report from
CNet. Despite a weak start to the year, they predict
2013 notebook shipments from PC manufacturers will rise 5 percent from the
total of 156.9 million units shipped during 2012.
Keep Healthy with your Mobile Phone
Singapore has the world’s lowest health care costs
and is ranked by the WHO as having the sixth best healthcare system in the
world. Nevertheless, we all try to avoid a trip to the doctor wherever
possible. In this modern world of smartphones, new solutions are proposed
daily, designed to help you deal with your health needs. A number of apps have
been developed, both by private companies and by the government of Singapore,
to keep you healthy and deal with your problems if you fall sick.
As
we all know, prevention is better than cure: one of the best things that a mobile
phone health app can do is to help you stay fit. The Singapore Health Promotion
Board has released a number of phone apps aimed at keeping you in shape. Healthy
Chef contains over 70 nutritious recipes from Singapore's leading chefs. The
HPB Diet Tracker allows you to keep track of what you're eating and
compare it to the HPB food nutrition database, to give you an idea of whether
you are in line with the recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals. The
HPB Fitness Tracker tracks your aerobic fitness score and body mass
index over time, suggesting activities if your score does not fall within the
recommended zone.
At
the moment these apps only work with phones and tablets operating on iOS. If
you are fond of other operating systems and own non iOS gadgets, you will need
to look somewhere else. For example, if you have a BlackBerry
Bold or an Android smartphone you might consider downloading Health
Meter Premium as an alternative. Using this tool you can calculate your
body mass index, basal metabolic rate, body fat and waist-to-hip ratio. This
type of information can alert you to potential health risks and make you set a
recommend daily calorie intake plan.
No
matter how fit you are there will always come a time when you need to see a
doctor. The Ministry of Health’s answer to this is the app MOH iHealth SG
that offers a comprehensive guide to the country’s healthcare establishments
and healthcare professionals. If crisis
strikes when you’re out but carrying your mobile phone in Singapore,
you’ll still have direct access to information about the nearest medical
facilities, be able to filter results by the service they provide, and get
their addresses and phone numbers and even a map right away. The app is currently
available for iOS only, but information apps on how to actually deal with a
medical emergency are available on all platforms. Health Guide: FirstAid Pro, for example, encompasses a range of health
tips: from day-to-day healthy living, to emergency information. It gives you
immediate access to a database of emergency numbers, as well as online medical
encyclopaedias that will help you understand what is wrong.
Here’s
wishing the very best of health to you all!
Stylish Gear for the Savvy Businessman and Businesswoman
To be taken seriously
in the business world, you need to look and act the part. This often means
having the right gear, gadgets and accessories to come across as confident,
intelligent and, most importantly, prepared to make an important deal or
connection. This article will explore some of the latest and best accessories
for the savvy businessman and businesswoman, including self-charging bags
suitable for your smartphone, glasses to prevent jetlag and mobile phones to
use on the go.
Logitech
Ultrathin Keyboard Cover
One of the most well-received
accessories of 2012 was the Logitech Ultrathin iPad keyboard attachment, and it
is still making waves. This accessory works by connecting a thin, portable keyboard
to your iPad with a magnetic clip. Doubling as a protective cover, this accessory
turns into a fully functioning keyboard when it is slipped open. This accessory
is great from the travelling businessman or woman as it helps your tablet make
the seamless transition to a near laptop, all by adding a keyboard for ease of
typing and transport.
Retimer
Glasses
Business trips can be exciting
opportunities for personal and professional growth. They can also, however, be
stressful, draining and lead to debilitating jet lag that neither you or your
boss can afford. A new Australian tech gadget may be here to help. Jet lag, which
is a bodily reaction to abnormal shifts in sunlight patterns, can be controlled
and prevented by using the Retimer glasses, which use green light to advance or
delay the body’s natural rhythm. By wearing these glasses for 30 minutes after
you wake up, or 30 minutes before bed, you should be able to return to natural
sleeping patterns within three days. By mimicking the benefits of sunlight
without harmful UV rays, Retimer reduces jet lag, increases energy and manages
fatigue.
Everpurse
Everpurse, a small, portable purse that
charges your smartphone, works by allowing you to place your phone into the
pocket of a stylish clutch. Your phone connects to a docking system at the
bottom of the clutch, so you don’t have to struggle with cords, and your phone
then charges automatically. Each night you can place your Everpurse on its
specially designed charging mat which uses inductive charging to send energy from
the mat to the purse. Everpurse can charge your phone from 0 to 100 percent
twice a day. The Everpurse is currently compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone
4S, iPhone 5, and Samsung Galaxy S III.
BlackBerry
Bold 3 Series
The new BlackBerryBold 3 series is designed with business
in mind. For instance, the BlackBerry Bold 9000 is purposely compact, chic and
powerful, perfect for taking business on the go, and not just because of the
competitive BlackBerry price.
The precision of the trackpad and responsiveness of the touchscreen make this
phone easy and smooth to handle. In addition to enhanced email and data
security, a touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard, this phone contains a 5 MP camera,
voice recording and a powerful QC 8655 1.2GHz processor. With Wi-Fi access to
BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Internet Bundle, you will never be
disconnected. When researching the right tools for business, take a look at the now cheaper BlackBerry prices and consider if a smartphone will
take you to the next level.
Subaru and Nordica Kick off Snowsports Season with the XV Crosstrek Run
The snowsports season is beginning and Subaru together with Nordica is ready to kickstart it with the XV Crosstrek Run. The entire coast-to-coast journey by two young free skiers will be filmed and the material will be produced, edited into short videos by the Champlain College film students.
The videos as well as photos will be uploaded for online viewing by fans of Subaru and free skiing at http://www.multivu.com/players/English/59476-xv-crosstrek-run/.
The featured skier of the XV Crosstrek Run is Luke "Lupe" Hagearty and the filming will be done by another skier Liam McKinley. Together they will be hitting major mountain resorts, visiting skiing events across the U.S. in the all-new Subaru 2013 XV Crosstrek.
"The XV Crosstrek Run is a great collaborative effort and comes at the perfect time as we are celebrating our 10th anniversary of the Subaru-Nordica Service Team," states Tim Tagye, promotions and sponsorship manager, Subaru of America, Inc.
Both Luke and Liam were handpicked by Nordica, company that is dedicated to relentless product innovation to make of all types of skiing more fun, more comfortable and more enjoyable.
The journey, XV Crosstrek Run, is being undertaken to celebrate the partnership of Subaru and Nordica and the 10th anniversary of the Subaru-Nordica Service Team.
Disclosure: This post was submitted by an advertiser.
The videos as well as photos will be uploaded for online viewing by fans of Subaru and free skiing at http://www.multivu.com/players/English/59476-xv-crosstrek-run/.
The featured skier of the XV Crosstrek Run is Luke "Lupe" Hagearty and the filming will be done by another skier Liam McKinley. Together they will be hitting major mountain resorts, visiting skiing events across the U.S. in the all-new Subaru 2013 XV Crosstrek.
"The XV Crosstrek Run is a great collaborative effort and comes at the perfect time as we are celebrating our 10th anniversary of the Subaru-Nordica Service Team," states Tim Tagye, promotions and sponsorship manager, Subaru of America, Inc.
Both Luke and Liam were handpicked by Nordica, company that is dedicated to relentless product innovation to make of all types of skiing more fun, more comfortable and more enjoyable.
The journey, XV Crosstrek Run, is being undertaken to celebrate the partnership of Subaru and Nordica and the 10th anniversary of the Subaru-Nordica Service Team.
Disclosure: This post was submitted by an advertiser.
Looking for a Date? Let Your Smartphone App Do it for You
One thing that has made smartphones
and tablets indispensable is the way applications have made our lives organized
and efficient. Whether the system is
Android, iOS, or BlackBerry, there is an app available that can serve as our
personal assistant, exercise buddy, music player, or digital toy. While it may be easy to find a mobile app to
track our expenses or helps us with time management, can there be one to help
you find Mr. Right, or at least Mr. Right Now?
Although online dating remains the top platform used by singles to find partners, it is slowly evolving with more users using mobile dating apps to find serious relationships or casual flings. Flurry Analytics reports that a survey of 2 million dating site users in various dating platforms revealed that mobile dating apps have been steadily gaining support, with usage now up at 8.4 minutes per day from 3.7 minutes in a period of one year. The improvement is primarily triggered by location-based features in a smartphone, which allows people to find possible dates within their perimeter in just a matter of minutes. Considering how many singles are focused on their careers with hardly any time for their personal life, such a feature is a good boost to finding a partner on the fly. Here are the best apps to consider in hopes of finding the one you may have been waiting for all your life.
1) Match.com
Considered the pioneer in online dating, Match.com continues to be the number one online dating site, with over 15 million members worldwide. Match.com intends to extend further and reach out to its users on the go. It is one of the more versatile dating mobile apps since it is available for iOS and Android enthusiasts, as well as for BlackBerry users, including those with the BlackBerry Bold smartphone.
2) eHarmony
Founded in 2002 by clinical psychologist Dr. Neil Clark Warren, eHarmony offers the most comprehensive dating service online. It uses a unique method of matching users which is called “29 Dimensions of Compatibility.” Like Match.com, the app links to a user’s online subscription service but new registrations are also possible through the mobile app. According to its website, a survey indicates that an average of 542 people get married daily after meeting through eHarmony. Despite the extensive questionnaire that a new user needs to fill up to set up his or her profile, mobile app downloads of eHarmony breached the one million mark in 2011, with 10,000 more downloading it every day. Needless to say, eHarmony is intended for those looking for long-term relationships. The app is available for iOS and Android.
3) CupidRadar
One of the most sought-after features in mobile dating apps is the ability to locate possible dates within the user’s vicinity. CupidRadar is among location-based dating applications for BlackBerry and Android. Unlike other mobile dating apps, it imposes strict guidelines before a user is approved. The app also offers the best security since it does not reveal the actual location of the user, just the distance. Match results will give the user the option to send a message to prospective dates for a possible spur-of-the-moment meet up.
4) Zoosk
With over 50 million users worldwide, Zoosk claims to be the biggest network-based dating site. Unlike other dating apps, Zoosk connects your dating account with your Facebook account. It allows Facebook friends to post testimonials in your Zoosk profile page and likewise gives your prospective partners the ability to send flirts and gifts to your Facebook profile. Zoosk is free to join, but a paid subscription is required to connect to other members. Zoosk is available in iOS and Android.
Although online dating remains the top platform used by singles to find partners, it is slowly evolving with more users using mobile dating apps to find serious relationships or casual flings. Flurry Analytics reports that a survey of 2 million dating site users in various dating platforms revealed that mobile dating apps have been steadily gaining support, with usage now up at 8.4 minutes per day from 3.7 minutes in a period of one year. The improvement is primarily triggered by location-based features in a smartphone, which allows people to find possible dates within their perimeter in just a matter of minutes. Considering how many singles are focused on their careers with hardly any time for their personal life, such a feature is a good boost to finding a partner on the fly. Here are the best apps to consider in hopes of finding the one you may have been waiting for all your life.
1) Match.com
Considered the pioneer in online dating, Match.com continues to be the number one online dating site, with over 15 million members worldwide. Match.com intends to extend further and reach out to its users on the go. It is one of the more versatile dating mobile apps since it is available for iOS and Android enthusiasts, as well as for BlackBerry users, including those with the BlackBerry Bold smartphone.
2) eHarmony
Founded in 2002 by clinical psychologist Dr. Neil Clark Warren, eHarmony offers the most comprehensive dating service online. It uses a unique method of matching users which is called “29 Dimensions of Compatibility.” Like Match.com, the app links to a user’s online subscription service but new registrations are also possible through the mobile app. According to its website, a survey indicates that an average of 542 people get married daily after meeting through eHarmony. Despite the extensive questionnaire that a new user needs to fill up to set up his or her profile, mobile app downloads of eHarmony breached the one million mark in 2011, with 10,000 more downloading it every day. Needless to say, eHarmony is intended for those looking for long-term relationships. The app is available for iOS and Android.
3) CupidRadar
One of the most sought-after features in mobile dating apps is the ability to locate possible dates within the user’s vicinity. CupidRadar is among location-based dating applications for BlackBerry and Android. Unlike other mobile dating apps, it imposes strict guidelines before a user is approved. The app also offers the best security since it does not reveal the actual location of the user, just the distance. Match results will give the user the option to send a message to prospective dates for a possible spur-of-the-moment meet up.
4) Zoosk
With over 50 million users worldwide, Zoosk claims to be the biggest network-based dating site. Unlike other dating apps, Zoosk connects your dating account with your Facebook account. It allows Facebook friends to post testimonials in your Zoosk profile page and likewise gives your prospective partners the ability to send flirts and gifts to your Facebook profile. Zoosk is free to join, but a paid subscription is required to connect to other members. Zoosk is available in iOS and Android.
Cox connects customers to the things they care about
Cox Communication is the third largest cable TV company in the U.S. and has always been working hard to offer their customers what they really want and need. Today the needs have changed, compared to ten years back.
As Len Barlik, EVP Chief Product Officer at Cox Communications says, "Cox's focus has been connecting customer with things that are most important in their lives and that's been our focus the past 50 years. Video in the past has been focused in the living room, a shared experience, and what've really found out over the past several years is that video has extended to be more of a personalized experience."
And because of that, at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show Cox President Pat Esser together with Chairman and CEO John Chambers demonstrated a new mobile application that is being created to personalize the video experience to its customers. The new mobile application, developed by Cox engineers in partnership with Cisco, among other things, features 90 live TV channels and personalized video content recommendations. This means that Cox's customers are now able to watch 90 live TV channels from their tablet and if they want to, even to use the tablet as a remote control for Cox’s Advanced TV program guide. The personalized recommendations are available through enhanced Trio Program Guide, it enables personalized recommendations for up to eight users in a household and also gives them all a way to improve the recommendations by saying what they like and what they don't like.
Barlik said that "We make a point to ask our customers what they value. Our customers tell us they want easier access to the content that is most relevant to them. The investments we have made to deliver these new features puts our customers in command of the content that meets their uniquely personal interests."
Disclosure: This post was requested by an advertiser.
As Len Barlik, EVP Chief Product Officer at Cox Communications says, "Cox's focus has been connecting customer with things that are most important in their lives and that's been our focus the past 50 years. Video in the past has been focused in the living room, a shared experience, and what've really found out over the past several years is that video has extended to be more of a personalized experience."
And because of that, at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show Cox President Pat Esser together with Chairman and CEO John Chambers demonstrated a new mobile application that is being created to personalize the video experience to its customers. The new mobile application, developed by Cox engineers in partnership with Cisco, among other things, features 90 live TV channels and personalized video content recommendations. This means that Cox's customers are now able to watch 90 live TV channels from their tablet and if they want to, even to use the tablet as a remote control for Cox’s Advanced TV program guide. The personalized recommendations are available through enhanced Trio Program Guide, it enables personalized recommendations for up to eight users in a household and also gives them all a way to improve the recommendations by saying what they like and what they don't like.
Barlik said that "We make a point to ask our customers what they value. Our customers tell us they want easier access to the content that is most relevant to them. The investments we have made to deliver these new features puts our customers in command of the content that meets their uniquely personal interests."
Disclosure: This post was requested by an advertiser.
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