Archive for June 26th, 2009

Reviews of The Guitar Hero III Game App For BlackBerry

Guitar Hero III Game for BlackBerry

Summary

Guitar Hero is one of the most popular games. This has been true almost since its release. While a large part of the pleasure of playing that game comes from being able to manipulate the guitar setup that comes with it, at the same time people must acknowledge that the game on its own has a lot of merit as well. The BlackBerry people certainly believe this to be the case and that is why the Guitar Hero III app for the BlackBerry has been released for public consumption.

User Interaction

At first, the release of Guitar Hero III for the BlackBerry might seem like a bit of a contradiction. After all, if the BlackBerry is supposed to be the ultimate in mobile technology, how can releasing a game that requires a huge controller be of any use?  Well, you don’t actually get to use that controller in playing this game. It would be a bit ridiculous if you did considering the mobile nature of the BlackBerry, but by the same token it is also a little strange that you don’t get the chance to use one of the main reasons why the game is popular in the first place.

Instead of using that guitar to control your actions in Guitar Hero III for the BlackBerry, you instead get to use the controls on the BlackBerry. You push buttons in order to correspond to the directions that are on the screen, allowing you to play the game in the same way and with the same rules, just with a different controller. It is very similar to playing Flash Flash Revolution online with your keyboard arrows as opposed to playing Dance Dance Revolution offline with the dancing pad.

User Interface

As far as the user interface is concerned, you will see everything that you would expect to see from a Guitar Hero game. There will be the instructions and the graphical elements that you need to follow the action and of course there will also be replies to how successful you were at jamming on your converted BlackBerry guitar. Essentially, nothing about the internal mechanics of the Guitar Hero III game have changed in its movement over to the BlackBerry. The depth might be a bit different, but aside from the change away from the guitar controller, there is really nothing else for you to worry about.

Utility and Productivity

In the end, the utility and productivity of this game is great. When you take a look at the overall mechanics of the control system, it becomes quite obvious how easy it is to control this game. Furthermore, you can easily bash out a song on your way to work if you take public transit, meaning that you can play Guitar Hero III everyday without having to actually worry about it cutting into any other aspects of your life.

Rating

As a result of the great game play, the fantastic productivity and the successful conversion to BlackBerry app status, Guitar Hero III receives a score of 9.0 out of 10.

The eMobile Sports App For The BlackBerry

The eMobile Sports App for the BlackBerry

Summary

Sports fans often end up taking their love of sports with them to the computer and that is where the love of sports and gaming can collide. If you are a sports fan that also loves to game on a frequent basis, the eMobile Sports app for the BlackBerry might just be what the doctor ordered. Getting the chance to indulge both of your loves during the long bus ride to work is a sweet deal and at the reasonable price that they are now available at, you really can’t afford to say no to this deal.
User Interaction

The eMobile Sports app actually has a number of modes too it, all of which can be used in the same general mode of interaction. Before you enter one of the modes however, you are going to have to choose the one that you want for that particular gaming session. In order to do that, the interaction involved is simply scrolling and then selecting.

User Interface

If you take a look at the interface for the eMobile Sports app, the first thing that might come across your mind is that it looks a lot like the interface you would see on some of the older console games around. When you take a look at some of the games for the Super Nintendo for example, the interface is quite similar. The graphics are a lot better though, which is essentially just a way of saying that this interface is very much in the style of what you see is what you get. There is nothing too flashy about it and that in turn lets you get down to the business of playing whatever game you fancy for the day.

Utility and Productivity

The main problem with this game is that it does not have the modern design and look that some people expect from BlackBerry apps. For some people, this might compromise both the way in which they use the game as well as how much enjoyment they get out of it. Enjoyment essentially equals productivity as far as games are concerned, so it is impossible to give this game full marks in this category. Most people will still find it fantastic, but there is still a concern to be had.

Rating

In the end, the main reason we hesitate to give this game top marks is that we feel it might not appeal to the full range of BlackBerry users. For that reason, the fairest mark that this game can get is 8.0 out of 10.

The G-Park App for the Apple iPhone

The G-Park App for the Apple iPhone

Summary

For anyone that has problems parking, it is definitely a crazy thing that the iPhone has not developed an app like this sooner. However, G-Park App for iPhone is here now and that means that anyone that has the chronic problem of forgetting where they parked can say goodbye to that problem as a thing of the past. Right now, your Apple iPhone will become your lifeline in the parking arena, remembering where you parked and letting you know exactly what to do in order to get back to your car.User Interaction

Interaction with the G-Park app for the iPhone could not be any easier. All you have to do is press the button entitled “Park me!” when you find your parking spot and then tap the button marked “Where Did I Park?” when you are on your way back to the car from wherever it is you were parking to get to. It is easily one of the simplest Apple iPhone apps around to utilize and for that reason it is somewhat amazing that something so simple could at the same time end up becoming something so useful.

User Interface

The user interface for the G-Park application for iPhone is one that is very easy for a person to understand. The Park Me option is one that does not require anything at all aside from the pressing of a button, allowing you to actually get the chance to record the exact location of your parked car. Once you press the Where Did I Park button however, all you need to do is follow the directions that flash on the screen. It is very similar to following the directions that a GPS device gives you and for that reason the iPhone app is one that is very easy to understand just as it is one that is very easy for you to use.

Utility and Productivity

Rating

All in all, G-Park app for iPhone gets a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The main reason that it did not get into the 90% area is because not everyone travels in cars and/or has problems with parking. This is really more of a niche app wrapped in a presentation that seems mainstream and that is why it loses some marks in the details:

iPhone Remote App

Turn your iPhone into a Remote Control with the iPhone Remote App

Summary

In the end, everyone loves the remote control. Whether it is for the television or for another electronic device in your household, the remote control has made getting up and changing the channel a thing of the past. Now, the Apple iPhone has gotten into the remote control business with an Apple iPhone application that allows you to control both the Apple TV and the computer from the comfort of wherever you happen to have an Apple iPhone.

User Interaction

Interacting with the iPhone Remote app is very easy to do. All you have to do is press a few buttons to turn the app on and take control of your Apple television or your computer and you are basically good to go. All of the standard remote control options are available, making the Remote app for the Apple iPhone an extremely powerful one to have.

User Interface

As far as the interface of Apple iPhone Remote app is concerned, the user should have no problems finding anything that they need. The information is available right there on the screen, with status bars allowing you to see what the status is like on whatever show or song you happen to be watching. Planning what you’d like to see next is a breeze since you can still see the Apple iPhone time display when you are in the remote control app, so overall the interface is intuitive and all-encompassing. In the end, that is perfect for turning a device into a remote control.

Utility and Productivity

In the end, what makes the Apple iPhone Remote app so impressive is the fact that when this app is installed, is actually just as effective as a normal remote control. This means that with this app all you will ever need is the Apple iPhone when you are controlling different things remotely.

When it comes to your computer, the control power that you have over things like media playlists is absolute. You can play a piece of music, pause it, skip it entirely or rather shuffle in between two random songs. You can even scroll through everything that is available in your music folder, although you do need to have a Wi-Fi network available in your house for it to work. If you have one however, you can put your speakers on full blast and then just control the playlist from anywhere you want through the use of the wireless connection.

Rating 9.0 out of 10

In the end, Apple iPhone Remote app is a handy device and hence gets a rating of 9.0 out of 10. Just about everyone that is a fan of the Apple iPhone can use this app to increase their personal convenience and in the end those are the types of apps that really get the accolades from all of the iPhone consumers. If you are a music fan that loves to be away from your computer when listening to music, this app is definitely one that you should consider. To do anything else would be to potentially leave a very useful app out there in the ether: