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| Busker MP3 Player |
| 12.10.05 (12:00 am) [edit] |
 If you've purchased a Palm device over the past year, it probably came with an MP3 Player loaded in ROM, maybe RealPlayer, or PocketTunes. You may even have downloaded another media player, such as AeroPlayer or TCPMP. If you're like me, you probably have two or more media players installed on your device.
I'm a long time user of RealPlayer, because it was preloaded in ROM on my Zire 72. It's adequate, as long as I only want to listen to MP3 files. Like many PalmAddicts, I also use The Core Pocket Media Player. TCPMP plays most media formats, including AAC and MPEG Video, with the proper CODECs installed. It's a very versatile player, but the UI can be a little confusing at times for new users.
Over the past week or so I have had the pleasure of test-driving the Busker MP3 Player from Electric Pocket.
The first thing that caught my eye the first time I ran Busker was the ease of one-tap play selection.
 With an MP3 loaded SD Card inserted, one tap will launch a randomly generated list of 15 songs (Quick List), your favorites list (Playlists), all tracks on the card in sequential order, or open the folder of any artist loaded on the card (Busker automatically generates the Artist list for you). How much simpler could it be to get right to the content you want to hear? I love the ease of getting a different variety of music every time I tap the QuickList option -- it keeps the music from getting stale.
Busker automatically sorts your MP3 files into artist folders for display without changing the layout on your SD Card by using the clip data encoded into the MP3 file. The result is that you can dump songs from several artists into the same folder on your SD Card and Busker allows you to choose just one artist (or even just one album from that artist) to listen to without creating a Playlist.
Creating a Favorites Playlist is as easy as tapping the STAR icon of a song when it's playing. It is instantly added to your favorites list for quick playback next time.
 Busker supports album art, including compatibility with album art embedded in MP3 files. No album art embedded? No problem! Busker supports album art search for wireless devices with a simple tap to connect and search. And if that fails you, too, or if you just want to choose your own picture to display, just place any JPEG file into the same folder as your MP3 files, and Busker will load it as album art.
Other great features in Busker include:
* An alarm clock that will play the MP3 or WAV file of your choice (did I forget to mention that Busker plays WAV files, too?).
* Run out of time to listen to a podcast on your commute to work? Set a Bookmark and pick up where you left off on your drive home.
* Don't have an SD Card reader to copy MP3 files to? Busker is compatible with Softick Card Export II for file transfer.
* Busker supports background playing.
* You can manually turn the screen off to save battery power, or Busker will automatically turn off the screen at the preset Auto Off setting in the Preferences panel.
On top of all the great features, Electric Pocket's support to the one minor issue I encountered was swift and helpful.
What else can I say? RealPlayer is installed in ROM on my device, so there's no deleting it. I'll keep TCPMP as a video player and AAC player. As for MP3 and WAV files, you can bet I'm switching to Busker. It's easy to use, feature-packed, takes only half a meg of memory, and sells for $19.95 at ElectricPocket.com.
By the way, don't let the funky colors in my screen shots throw you off. Those colors are my feeble attempt to create a festive Christmas theme on my device using Colorize.
-Jeff Cole, Associate Writer, Indiana USA
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| Review: Farkle by Smart Box Design |
| 12.09.05 (11:59 pm) [edit] |
 For me, one of the best ways to use my PDA is to play games - noone wants to work all the time, right? I'm always on the lookout for new games, so I was very pleased to be given the opportunity to review a game from Smart Box Design: Farkle, which is a game combining Craps and Yahtzee.
The game can have up to four players (with a minimum of two required), and can be any combination of Palm or Human. You can choose to set a minimum score that the players must attain in order to start the game, and also the score to play up to.
 You roll 6 dice, choosing at least one scoring die on each roll. The scoring dice are 1,5,three of a kind, three pairs, and a 6-dice straight. On each roll you can choose to Pass and keep your current score, or you can try your luck at getting a higher score, and roll the remaining die. If your roll doesn't have any scoring die, you get a Farkle. If you get three Farkles in a row, you lose 1000 points. And, yes, if your score is less than 1000 points at the time, you go into negative scores!
 When one of the players has reached the score to play up to, each other player has one chance to see if they can beat the current high score. You keep rolling the dice until you either beat the score or Farkle, with the winner being the person with the highest score.
 Of course I had to make that screen shot example one where I won - anything else just wouldn't have been right ;)
There is also a statistics table where you can view the win/loss record for all of the players.
Farkle has elements of luck and skill to it - you need luck on your side in getting the highest scoring combinations, but you also need to know the best time to bank your points - it happened more than once that I thought I'd give it "just one more roll" to see if I could better my score, only to end up with a Farkle.
It all depends on your strategy - some people are more willing to go for broke than I am!
 I really enjoy playing Farkle. The graphics are beautiful, with rich colours, and the sound effects are a nice touch to the game. The rules are easy to learn, and the game is very addictive. It is the perfect game to play if you have a few minutes spare, but at the same time it is very easy to spend a lot longer on it!
I highly recommend Farkle - it has definitely earned a spot on my list of most-played games on my PDA.
Farkle is available for $14.95 from the Smart Box Design site (although look in the PA sidebar for a special deal).
- Jenny O'Reilly, Associate Writer (Australia)
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| Review of Astraware’s Mazera |
| 12.09.05 (11:57 pm) [edit] |
Astraware is the place to go for your handheld gaming and entertainment needs. With over 140 applications for most handheld platforms, Astraware is uniquely positioned to cater to anyone’s gaming and entertainment needs. Reviewing applications for Astraware can be a daunting task as they have such a wide range of diverse, quality applications. Over the years, Astraware has made their reputation by producing various genres of exciting and challenging games. Recently, they have included some of the best stable of applications for everyday use cementing their hold as “the home of handheld entertainment”. I will be reviewing a number of applications from their gaming and Lifestyle sections over the next few days.
Everyone loves puzzles! Whether it’s building blocks or Rubik’s cube; crosswords or Soduku, puzzles have stumped and satisfied people from all walks of life the world over. Astraware and Cold River Studios have captured the wonderful spirit of excitement and challenge unique to puzzles in their latest hit creation: Mazera.
Mazera is a huge and vast world left open for the imaginations of gamers everywhere to explore vicariously through our intrepid hero, Ix. Since he was young, Ix was kidnapped by the treacherous Mazerans and left on display for all to see in their alien zoo. However, Ix has found a way to finally escape and we are along for the ride! The artwork for the game is indicative of the anime/manga craze that’s become so popular today. The gameplay is further accented by the futuristically brooding, ambient soundtrack that is a principle element to the peerless success of Astraware’s games.
There is a world of discovery awaiting players who love games that have the special mix of challenging yet, fun and relaxing gameplay. As I traverse this world with Ix, I oftentimes get the feelings of great anticipation and satisfaction tantamount to opening those Cracker Jack prizes as a kid! I’ve been more than mildly surprised to stumble across maps hidden underwater when I’ve mistakenly stepped over water’s edge; or, accidentally walked into a sprawling bush only to find an essential key tucked inside the shrubbery!
Along the way, we meet the denizens of Mazera as they try to chew, claw or blast you to oblivion. However, not everyone is a fiend, as you find friends who cross your path and lend a much-needed helping hand to get you out of a tight spot. There seems to be an infinite number of lives throughout the game which is greatly satisfying as I learn as I go. If you’re like me, it may take one, two or more attempts before figuring out a level’s particular solution. It was a great move on Astraware’s part to allow Ix to regenerate new lives over and over at no cost or penalty to your health or placement in the game.
Mazera is a fun, puzzle game featuring an alien world of imaginative landscapes and incomparable denizens. Astraware and Cold River Studios have flexed their creative muscles and pulled out all the stops to present a game which is nonpareil to Astraware’s usual stable of high quality games. This one is a keeper!
Mazera can be found at Astraware's site and retails for only $29.95 and worth every penny.
-Kevin Agot, Associate Writer, Carmichael, California
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| WordWatch |
| 12.09.05 (11:56 pm) [edit] |
 My absolute favourite genre of PDA games is word games, and today I bring you a review of one such game from Smart Box Design, called WordWatch. There are three playing modes available to registered users - WordWatch (the standard mode), Untimed and Practice.
The aim of WordWatch is to create a word using all the letters you are given (the number of letters ranges from 5 to 9), before you run out of time. If you can't make a word using all the letters, make the longest word you can. The letters that you don't use at the end of the allotted time become red tiles, and are placed in an area at the bottom. If you get 8 or more red tiles, the game is over.
 If you can't solve the full-length word, you can click on Pass and it will show you the solution. But make sure you have entered the longest word you can, because all the tiles you haven't used will become red tiles! You move up through the levels based on how often you solve the full-length word, and how few red tiles you have - the fewer, the better.
 In the WordWatch and Untimed modes, there is an additional round called the Bonus Round. If you have red tiles, and you find the full-length word for that round, you are given the opportunity to get rid of some of your red tiles. You make a word of the same length as the original word for that round, using as many red tiles as you can. Any red tiles you use are removed.
 The Practice mode has an anagram round. If you solve the full-length word and there is another full-length word that can be made with the same letters, you start this round to try to find another word.
 At the beginning of Untimed mode, you start out with some red tiles. The good thing about this mode is that you have as long as you like to find the full-length word, so it's perfect if you don't want the stress of trying to beat the clock. When you have found the full-length word for each round, you are given a bonus round to try to use up the red tiles.
One thing I am used to seeing on games is a numerical score; so I find WordWatch's scoring system, which is determined by your current level and round number, a bit unusual. However, this is purely personal preference and it in no way detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
As I have come to expect from Smart Box Design, the graphics on this game are excellent, with a great colour scheme and design. The sound effects are subtle, although the countdown when you're down to the last 5 seconds makes me a bit nervous! My nerves aside, Smart Box Design has again come up with a game that is perfect for playing any time, even if you've only got a few minutes or a few hours spare. Be warned, though, it is very difficult to put down!
For word game fanatics, WordWatch is a must.
WordWatch is available for $14.95 from the Smart Box Design site (but check out the PA sidebar for a special deal).
- Jenny O'Reilly, Associate Writer (Australia)
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