Author: todd

  • Invaders Game Free from Microsoft

    Microsoft is offering OmegaOne’s Invaders games (based on the classic Space Invaders from the 1970s) for free (with registration). You can find it at:

    Entertainment Applications: Invaders

    It is available for both the Pocket and Smartphone Windows Mobile platforms.

  • Pocket GNU Go (Open Source Game for Windows Mobile)

    One of the oldest and most difficult to master board games is Go (AKA Weiqi). Vieka ported the Open Source GNU Go to the Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone.

    Pocket GNU Go

    I’m not sure how much of a challenge it is for Go expert. But, for the rest of us it is a nice to have mobile port of a classic game.

  • MyWaves: Free Mobile Video Service

    Today’s mobile freebie is a video service (in beta) for mobile devices…

    MyWaves

    The service works sign-up indicates it works on all four of the largest mobile carriers in the US (AT&T Wireless/Cingular, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless).

    Here comes my caveat: Part of the sign-up process requires providing your mobile phone number. That makes sense. But, I’m wary of handing over a mobile phone number to a company I don’t know much about. However, according to their press release, 20,000 people per week have been signing up since October. So, perhaps, my reservation is a minority opinion.

    If you’ve been using it, let me know how it is working for you.

  • Q&A: Ubuntu Linux & Parallels Desktop for Mac

    A friend had a question about installing Ubuntu Linux on a Mac running Parallels Desktop for Mac since reviewed it earlier this year. I thought it might be of general interest. So, I’m posting a response here. He asked…

    I picked up a MacBook Core 2 Duo with 120 GB Hard Drive and 2 GB of RAM. Its wonderful so far. I also downloaded the trial version of Parallel (Build 1970 dated 1 November 2006). I have with me the Ubuntu Edgy (6.10 ) Live CD that I used successfully to install on a standard PC … but am not at all having any luck booting fully from the live CD under Parallels so that I can install it in a virtual environment. I wonder if I should try the Beta version of Parallels instead?You mentioned in your report a few weeks ago that you were not having any problems installing Ubuntu with your version of Parallels. Do you have any general suggestions?

    First, woo! Nice MacBook configuration.

    I’m running the latest public Parallels Desktop for Mac beta and it seems pretty stable to me so far. Two suggestions regarding the issue you are seeing.

    • Trying downloading the current ISO and install it using the ISO file instead of a physical CD disc. There might be some small drive tolerance issue that allowed to install fine on the standard PC you used but not the MacBook.
    • You might want to try Ubuntu 6.06 LTS instead 6.10. I seem to recall reading that some people were having problems with 6.10. I installed 6.06 LTS last summer when I was testing an earlier version of Parallels Desktop for Mac.
  • Ilium Software Dots: Pocket PC Freeware

    Since the holiday season is in full swing, I’ll try to dig up and mention freeware for Windows Mobile devices a few times this week. Here’s one from Ilium Software (I mentioned their terrific eWallet utility in an earlier blog item).

    Ilium Software Dots

    Dots is a connect-the-dots game for Pocket PCs. It’s one of those simple to learn but addictive casual games. Try it out. The price is right (free). Ilium asks you for your name and, optionally, for your email address (but they let you leave it blank if you want).

  • Moblogging to Microsoft Live Spaces (aka MSN Spaces)

    Continuing on with Moblogging week… MSN Spaces got a web facelift and renamed Windows Live Spaces earlier this year. Like Blogger and Yahoo! 360, you can email text and photos from your cameraphone to your blog. Unlike the other services, it doesn’t have an external write-up you can read without logging in. So, here’s some information in case you are considering using Live Spaces.

    • Login to Live Spaces with your Passport account
    • Click on Options on the upper far right side of the window
    • Click on Email Publishing in the left sidebar
    • Fill out the web form and read the instructions about moblogging to your Live Spaces blog

    If you are a MSN Soapbox video beta-tester, you can post videos from it to your Live Spaces blog (though you cannot post video directly from your cameraphone).