Boomshine is a soothing-yet-frustrating time waster

boomshine
One click; just one single well-aimed click. That's all you get in Boomshine.

That single click triggers a chain reaction; circles start exploding, and other circles colliding with the shockwaves explode as well, creating their own shockwaves, which then catch other circles.

It's been done before, yes, but this one is a great iteration. The soundtrack is mellow, with lots of piano and some nice percussion (not electronic - it sounds like drums).

At each level you need to make a certain number of circles explode to go on to the next level. I got up to level 12, where you get 60 circles and need to make 55 of them explode. And then I kept trying and trying, but simply couldn't get it. I did get to 54 circles a couple of times, but as they say, you don't get points for trying.

There's no time limit, so you can carefully study the pattern of motion and place your click at the exact right place to create the best chain reaction. I've found that clicking near the middle of the screen works quite well, especially if the balls are slowly moving in that direction. By the time the first shockwave dies off, the oncoming balls usually hit it and the chain reaction continues.

What level did you reach? Screenshots please!

Boomshine is a soothing-yet-frustrating time waster originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/16/boomshine-is-a-soothing-yet-frustrating-time-waster/

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OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows

ommwriter
I have a thing for full-screen text editing. I use WriteMonkey for my creative writing needs, and VIM in a full-screen PuTTY session for my Web development work. That being the case, I'm all over the monospace, dark-background, focused editing scene.

OmmWriter attempts to take that aesthetic and make it somehow more spiritual, with three picturesque backgrounds and ambient background audio tracks (there are seven of each in the paid version).

I'm of two minds about this app. On the one hand, yes, it's beautiful. But if you want music as a background to your writing, why not pick your own soundtrack with Winamp or Foobar2000 running in the background?

OmmWriter also offers three keyboard-clicking sounds, which are kind of nice. None of these features are groundbreaking, really. OmmWriter could be seen as a way to gently ease into the world of distraction-free writing -- in case something like WriteMonkey's dark background is just too oppressive for you.

After the fold you can see a video showcasing several of OmmWriter's features and creative soundscapes.

Continue reading OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows

OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/ommwriter-brings-its-clean-calm-writing-interface-to-windows/

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Booq Bags Booqpad mini iPad mini case review

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The Booqpad mini iPad mini case from Booq Bags is the latest iPad mini case to show up on my door step.  This time it’s a folio style case complete with a notepad and pen holder. Let’s take it for a spin.

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

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This  case is available in two styles: Black leatherette and Grey jute. I was sent the Grey version which has a tweed appearance.  The Booqpad mini is a play-through case with a non-padded but rigid front and back cover. The cover is held securely closed with a snap tab.

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When you open the Booqpad, you will find a suede lined interior with a holster to hold the iPad mini on the left side and a notepad on the right side. A holster is not one of my personal favorite ways to hold a tablet in a case. I’d much rather have a non-bulky plastic tray that the iPad mini can snap into like some of the other cases we’ve recently reviewed (see related links at the bottom).

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The mini slides into the holster with minimal wrestling required. Once seated, the pen holder tab slides under the mini.

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The pen loop can hold larger diameter pens like the one shown here.

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I don’t find holster style holders to be very attractive, but this one does line up well enough that the main cutout does not restrict access to the touch screen.

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The home button is accessible along with the front facing camera, earphone jack, volume buttons, sync/charge connector and power button. The only feature that is not accessible is the rear camera.

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Located under the 50 page unlined notepad are 2 card slots that can each hold several cards.

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The cover doesn’t fold flat under the mini, but you can use it as a pseudo stand if you need to angle the screen for typing or viewing.

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The Booq Bags Booqpad mini is not fancy or flashy. Some will say it’s boring due to its utilitarian style and function. Folio style cases are obviously bulkier than cases which don’t include a holster and/or a notepad. So you have to ask yourself if the added bulk is worth it to you. If the answer is yes, then the Booqpad mini might be your next iPad mini case.

Product Information

Price:$39.95
Manufacturer:Booq Bags
Requirements:
  • Apple iPad mini
Pros:
  • Combines a notebook and tablet case
  • Pen holder
Cons:
  • Holster instead of a snap-in tray
  • Rear camera covered

Filed in categories: Cases, Covers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tagged: ,

Booq Bags Booqpad mini iPad mini case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 23, 2013 at 11:00 am.

Burn Silicon Valley to The Ground (NSFW)

What you're about to watch is a real video advertisement created by a real venture capital fund in Silicon Valley, ostensibly a real place in the United States. If you didn't hate the startup world before, you'll now instantly die. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PtYRHvxHPpU/burn-silicon-valley-to-the-ground-nsfw

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This Is What Happens When You Fight a Five-Alarm Fire in Single-Digit Weather

Firefighting is an extremely dangerous job on par with helicopter linemen and DC pizza delivery boys. But when fighting a Chicago-area warehouse inferno earlier today, crews had to endure both fire and ice caused by temperatures hovering just above 0 degrees F. Check out shots of the fire's aftermath over at WSJ. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/v3PpD_Eh1iU/this-is-what-happens-when-you-fight-a-five+alarm-fire-in-single+digit-weather

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Here's Everything Wrong with Avatar

Do you remember watching Avatar? It was a pretty long time ago! And though it looked amazing in 3D IMAX (and not so amazing on sad old DVD) there were definitely things wrong with the movie. Like how it was Pocahontas or Dancing With The Wolves with a giant blue man group. Or how it was only fun when you watched it in 3D. Anyway, Cinema Sins takes Avatar to task and finds everything wrong with the movie in less than 4 minutes. [Cinema Sins] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/y_I164Yp_5s/heres-everything-wrong-with-avatar

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Get free MLB.tv access during April with MLB.com At Bat app

If you're a baseball fanatic, the MLB At Bat app is a must-have. It's packed with live updates, scores, stats, news, and videos -- and right now there's another great reason to pick up At Bat. Pony up for At Bat and you'll get to enjoy MLB.tv free for the entire month of April.

The service streams games in HD to just about any connected device you can imagine, from iPhone to PS3, and even Roku boxes and LG Internet-ready televisions. The basic subscription will set you back $99 for the season, and a Premium sub is an extra $20 (and adds DVR functionality, multi-game PIP, and more).

MLB At Bat is available for Android and iOS and both apps run to $14.99 US.

Get free MLB.tv access during April with MLB.com At Bat app originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/get-free-mlb-tv-access-during-april-with-mlb-com-at-bat-app/

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Google Images gets redesigned, focuses on speed and metadata

Google Images gets redesigned, focuses on speed and metadata

Page and Co. have just unveiled a new look for Google Images that places a premium on metadata visibility, speed and slick looks. After gathering feedback from both users and webmasters, Google redesigned its image search to feature relevant information right next to images and speed load times by no longer loading source pages behind selected graphics. Mountain View also designed the new layout with keyboard surfing in mind, to boot. The new UI isn't available across the board quite yet, but the search titan says folks will start to see the refreshed UI in the next few days.

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Source: Google Web Master Central

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/eVnEgWPMGfo/

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Google Images gets redesigned, focuses on speed and metadata

Google Images gets redesigned, focuses on speed and metadata

Page and Co. have just unveiled a new look for Google Images that places a premium on metadata visibility, speed and slick looks. After gathering feedback from both users and webmasters, Google redesigned its image search to feature relevant information right next to images and speed load times by no longer loading source pages behind selected graphics. Mountain View also designed the new layout with keyboard surfing in mind, to boot. The new UI isn't available across the board quite yet, but the search titan says folks will start to see the refreshed UI in the next few days.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Source: Google Web Master Central

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/eVnEgWPMGfo/

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