Combine tech and health with Active Sitting

With a lot of time,not just over the festive season, but also in normal day to day life spent sitting,you'd think we'd be very good at it. Unfortunately that's not the case. Now if you work in an office or just spend a lot of your leisure time seated you'd probably think that there could be little done to help that. Thankfully that's not the case and some very progressive thinkers have come up with the concept of active sitting as embodied by the "Evolution Chair".

If you're a regular reader of Gametrender then you'll probably be spending a good portion of your life seated, either working with your office based computing setup, meddling with your portable devices or gaming avidly on your platform of choice. Like us you're not going to want to sacrifice work or game time unless you have to. Unfortunately you're probably sat in a conventional chair that is definitely having some sort of negative effect on your general well being. It's not just eventual back problems that can arise through a sedentary unthinking posture, poor core muscles, reduced lung capacity through continuous lumbar compression and gradual spinal atrophying all eventually occur through traditional seating.

We've been asked to review the Evolution Chair and were very keen to engage with it, essentially anything that can help our readers and indeed ourselves to maintain health and stick to our avid tech activities is a good thing.

The concept is very sound with the foundation of the seat being very similar to a Swiss Ball that you might expect to find in a gym. The benefits of these have been long known with a lot of your core muscles engaged to maintain posture while sitting on or using these for exercise. With the JD Harris product the "ball" has been carefully selected to not only meet most height specifications but is also made from very sturdy non puncture material. It can also be used as a standalone Swiss Ball when removed from the base.
The base itself is also very tough and able to have extension castors easily added to it to adjust for differing heights. The wheeled base also allows for very easy movement of the chair.

I've used the chair extensively through the festive season,thankfully holidays have certainly been on the cards so I haven't had the chair in the office. But a variety of television leisure time and console gaming has been conducted from the perch of the active seat. It certainly is a different experience and doesn't encourage lounging. Core muscles are definitely engaged and a more natural and healthier method of sitting is encouraged. One of the bigger benefits I found is the fact that I'm very alert and more ready for whatever activity I'm doing when using the a Evolution Chair. Sat on a couch or easy chair and you'll start to slump,relax and slide down, not exactly the most dynamic position to be in and your alertness levels will wane with this somnolent almost sleeping seated position. Aside from the lumbar benefits of this seat you'll find the expression "edge of your seat" rings true with your seated activities being fully engaged in with active sitting bringing it about.

If your lifestyle,work or leisure wise,involves prolonged sitting then the Evolution Chair will allow you to sit in a healthier and more engaged manner.

Let's go Caroling

Merry Christmas from Gametrender. We've covered a lot of apps this year and definitely a good swathe of music creation apps. Just doing a few last minute research for our next year bumper load of app reviews and we came across a great Google Christmas Egg (Easter Egg) which works great on Android, IOS, and even desk top  as long as you're using the Chrome Browser. It's no music app but just type in "Let's go Caroling" into any Chrome toting browser for some festive caroling fun.
It's not exactly carollers at your door,but nor is it losing your virtual money to the best PKPKT, so once again have a good festive season and enjoy  if you've got any extra festive cash left over.

Easy ways to unlock your phone

Coming to the end of 2013 with all kinds of great phones gracing underneath palms of techno lovers and Everyman you'd wonder if there was any need for the "age-old" practice of phone unlocking anymore. And more importantly with quad core Nvidia capable high rom/ram handsets readily available is this dark art now not only redundant but far beyond ordinary people's reach?

We're not going to delve into every handset available but are going to hone this article on phone unlocking down to just Android devices. We hope that the most popular phone OS on the planet is in many of our reader's hands and that you'll find this guide helpful.

Reasons for cell phone unlocking  of your Android Phone

If you've searched out this article you'll probably already have a fairly good idea about why you want to unlock your phone. In case you don't, then here are some of the main reasons why people choose to unlock.

1. You might be able to use your phone globally with unlocking. A handset is often locked to the country of purchases's GSM band. Unlocking can give you (dependant upon the handsets antenna capability) access to 4G,LTE, quad band etc.
2. Dual sim adaptors are able to be used. If you're a frequent traveller with a sim locked phone the se adaptors might not be able to be used. So international roaming charges and overseas data charges could be astronomical. Using a dual sim adaptor in an unlocked phone allows you to use the country of destinations cellular network saving you big bucks.
3. In the long run the value of your phone is increased by unlocking. Eventually you'll probably want to sell your cellphone, ebayers and other secondhand mobile outlets often favour unlocked Android phones and this can add on to the value of the device.
4. Probably the main reason for unlocking your phone is the fact that you can now choose whichever network you want. You might not be locked into a long term phone contract so can pick and choose your network based on cost and service coverage. (Plus all the extra bells and whistles that a money hungry contract provider might throw at you).

Dangers of unlocking an Android Cell
You know those movie caveats that state boldly: "Don't try this at home!"? Well with modern handsets you're risking bricking a £500/800 Dollar handset. So before you set off just be aware of the risks. And apart from making your tech fetish a particularly pricy paper weight or a rather weak part of your new dry brick wall there are some other hidden dangers if you choose to unlock.
For example Google does actually update their OS on a very frequent, if irregular, basis. At the time of writing Android KitKat has yet to make its way to my Xperia Z. Now if the phones unlocked the carrier delivered update might never make its way to the handset and I might be left with the onerous task of side loading or going down the Cyanogen route for Samsung unlocking.
You've also got to watch out for warranties. Sometimes these can be voided by unlocking which is definitely not a desirable thing. Luckily progressive legislation in the states is working toward a more user friendly solution. Just a few days ago Reuters reported:"

 Major U.S. wireless carriers on Thursday pledged to make it easier for consumers to "unlock" their mobile phones for use on competitors' networks, responding to pressure from consumer groups and the top U.S. communications regulator."

Finally...Easy ways to unlock your Android Phone
.Okay if you've just come here then apologies for all the preamble, and if you've boned up on our unlocking facts then welcome to the nub of this article.

Unlocking USA Carrier Mobiles: This info is constantly changing and updating so if you're a USA reader and you know different then please say so in the comments below. If you need to unlock your phone, call AT&T or T-Mobile and ask them. Expect a positive response if your account is in good standing, but for brand new phones you might get a negative response. This should be free if you give them a good reason such as an extended trip abroad or poor coverage in the areas that you're likely to use the device. 

T-Mobile has a simple, easy to read unlocking policy which you can find on their website.

Other ways to unlock

Like May of the more occult Android practices you'll want to strongly consider rooting your phone, in which case most recommendations will point toward CyanogenMod which will give not only a lot more user control over your phone but also more tools for Sim unlocking. This is quite an easy way to access the Sim programming that needs to be adapted for the final unlocking. Of course referencing back to the benefits of which antenna your phone uses and finding out if it is physically capable of your smartphone of using alternate networks. If nothing else the Cyangen forums will give you a slew of other useful smartphone info not just on cell phone unlocking.

Now before you continue just take a quick look at your Android phone settings. An unlock might be only a quick tick box away. If not then arm yourself with these: your make, model and IMEI number. And prepare for some forum searching to see if you can find the unlock code.

Unlocking via App

Yes, there are even apps for unlocking your Android Smartphone! Check out GalaxSim Unlock if you're an S3 user, and prepare to do a bit of research if you're using another handset. But be assured the apps are out there!

Finally if this is all too tedious for you  the pay for unlock root can be considered. 

We hope this helps you get more joy from your mobile, remember no matter what they say it's not illegal and it's your SEO make the most of it. 

For more information please visit our FAQ page: http://cellphoneunlocker.com/faq

Minecraft PE December 2013 Update

In the latest Minecraft Pocket Edition update this December we've got another slew of great Minecraft portable features to keep us going through the cold winter months. With a multitude of new blocks,the ability to breed animals and Minecarts (did someone say Minecraft Rollercoasters of Epic proportions) there's a lot to the update.
Full list of Minecraft PE updated features:

• Minecarts, rails, and powered rails
• The view distance has been massively increased (check Options)
• New textures and colours taken from the PC version
• New blocks: carpets, more wood types, hay bales, iron bars, and more
• New crops and food types, including beetroot, carrots, potatoes and pumpkins. Now you can cook new soups, pies, and more
• A bunch of new items for Creative and Survival, including clocks and compasses
• More blocks and items to use in Creative Mode: including jungle wood, ice, bedrock, shears, dyes, and tall grass
• New AI: mobs are now more intelligent and you can even breed your own animals
• A new Creative Mode inventory with tabs
• New functionality and tweaks to existing blocks and items. Bonemeal lets you grow new cool stuff
• Improved lighting and fog effects
• Loads of bugs fixed

Xbox One and Music Games

Now that Xbox One has hit the market we're eagerly waiting to see how the superior sensing power of the new Kinect Is going to improve future music games.
Xbox One is of course a more powerful version of its predecessor, but it's the multi person and more importantly multi digit sensing capability of the Kinect that is going to make games like Rocksmith really sing!

• If you'd prefer to keep it old school then you could just dispense with New and old consoles altogether and try m audio firewire solo at musicians friend

Clash of Clans Christmas Update

We know you've been waiting for the Clash of Clans update for at least a month now,we'll here is what to expect from Supercells best game. And yes Santa's surprise is back!
Clash of Clans Christmas Holiday Update

✔ What's the gift in the new Jingle trees

✔ Limited time special defense: Santa Strike! The son of Santa's Surprise

 Inferno Tower is improved
✔ Brand new multiple target mode launches a blazing web of flames against several troops at once, but the flames will not charge up in this mode

✔ Troops targeted by the Inferno Tower are no longer able to be healed. Use multiple target mode to seriously hinder healing reliant armies

✔ Switch between the classic single target or new multiple target mode at any time

✔ Inferno Tower level 3 will help keep you warm this Winter



Clash of Clans New loot caps
✔ Percentage of loot available now decreases based on defender's town hall level

✔ Maximum amount of loot available now increases based on defender's town hall level

✔ Loot bonus when attacking opponents at higher town hall levels has been removed

Interface and feature improvements
✔ Clash is now fully localized in Korean!

✔ Village Edit Mode: New base layouts in-progress will be automatically saved and resumed if the game restarts

✔ Added "Training capacity" to barracks info and upgrade screens

✔ Unarmed traps are now indicated a by a smoke effect instead of text bubbles

✔ Arabic text input has been improved



Balance tweaks
✔ Decreased the attack range of Inferno Towers from 10 to 9 tiles

✔ Decreased the cost of the Inferno Tower level 2 upgrade

✔ Slightly increased damage of level 4 Dragons

✔ Slightly increased HP and damage of level 6 Giants

Easy ways to make a Connected Home

The Internet of things and the Connected Home are definitely some of the top trending phrases in the world of technology, apps and smartphones this year. Luckily the smart home is not an ephemeral and elusive idea confined to the likes of Bill Gates and other technocrats, it is solidly within every bodies reach and there are some very simple, yet effective, ideas going around to make this so.

Switched on Products' Light Switch Timer recently came to our attention at a fortuitous time, here at Gametrender we were just bandying  around some ideas for simple home automation and the easily installed Light switch timer came across our desk.

Luckily for us with bright ideas, but little mechanical aptitude Switched on Products' device doesn't require much skill to operate whatsoever, and is a very simple concept. Just slot the cradle over any 1,2 or 3 gang switch and set the timer to operate. The only effort you'll need to make is using a screwdriver to loosen the light switch cover, then slide on the cradle and you're good to go. The device itself fits into the cradle and provides a very lengthy time of use on standard pen light batteries.

On these cold and dark winter months this simple light switch timer can not only save money (and if you love in Britain you certainly want to avoid excess electricity charges!) but also allow you a little bit more peace of mind when going on holiday. A light coming on at random times (random,pre-programmed and manual settings are available) could just be enough to convince a would be burglar that the house has not been left alone. Indeed the fact that the light switch timer is about to gain endorsement from the police services is more than enough testament to this fact.

Whether you're a gadget geek wanting your taste of home automation or are security conscious the nice and simple, yet effective, Light Switch Timer is a must have for your home.

Fitbit Force and other Android app linked fitness trackers

I'm about a month into using my Fitbit Flex fitness tracker which I have linked to both the IPad and Android phone (Xperia Z in this case). The Fitbit has a lot of great features and I particularly love the sleep tracking that it does. What I don't love is the fact that the Android App is fundamentally broken and thus I have to rely on the IPad app.

With this new wave of biometric time clocks fitness trackers (still waiting for the Fitbit Force to hit Uk shores by the way) you'd expect better support for the worlds biggest Smartphone OS. Some Android owners will enjoy a hassle free Fitbit app, but that is mostly limited to a few top tier phones like the Galaxy S4 and I believe HTC One.
With Fitbit being debatedly the premier Fitness Tracker you'd expect more in the way of Android support. 

Clash of Clans Trap Upgrade: how do you upgrade traps

The November Clash of Clans update has brought with it upgradeable traps and the ability to rearm those traps. If the C of C new trap abilities have left you with more questions than answers and you just want to blow stuff up, spring trap dozens of giants at once(no spring trap upgrade though..sob) and send those pesky minions back to the dark elixir from whence they came then here's how to use those new traps to do it!


Guide  to Clash of Clans  new trap system ( November update)


Upgrades facts:

✔ All explosive traps will have upgrade levels.

✔ Upgrading is available as soon as a new trap is bought from the shop.

✔ Traps are upgraded using Builders.

✔ Upgrade times and costs are relatively short if compared to building upgrades.

✔ Different trap types have different upgrades: Damage, radius…

✔ Traps cannot be sold anymore.

✔ Traps under upgrade are visible to enemies, remember to replace them 

✔ Attacker can deploy troops on top of traps also when traps are under upgrade.


Using new traps:

✔ After a trap is triggered, it stays right where it was, but its status is “Triggered”.

✔ After a trap has been triggered, it needs to be re-armed.

✔ You don’t need an available Builder to re-arm the traps.

✔ Upgrade levels don’t disappear when traps are triggered.

✔ Re-arming traps cost gold. Re-arm cost increases when the trap is upgraded.

✔ You can re-arm all traps with one button OR re-arm traps one-by-one.


Plan your trap upgrades and protect your village?

Clash of Clans November Update

The Clash of Clans November update is rolling out now as we speak. You've probably heard rumours of more powerful goblins and rearming traps. But what are all the updates we can expect in this Novembers Clash of Clans update?

Reworked traps


✔ Sick of puny bombs? Upgrade all of your explosive traps to blow up your foes big time!

✔ Even sicker of constantly replacing your traps? Traps now stay put after use, and can be fully re-armed with a single button!

✔ Level 1 Giant Bomb is now much cheaper, though with a slightly decreased damage radius that can be upgraded

✔ Bomb and Giant Bomb explode faster after being triggered

✔ Seeking Air Mine and Air Bomb trigger radius has been decreased

✔ Seeking Air Mines now cost Gold instead of Dark Elixir



Tier 1 terror in Town Hall 10
✔ Level 12 Archer Towers: stylish, deadly and oh so sharp

✔ Level 6 Goblins: never forget your wallet again, nor anyone else's



Unquenchable spells
✔ Get your spells in a snap! Spell factory boosting is now only 20 gems for 4 hours of boosting

✔ Spells are now created with Elixir instead of Gold



Clan and Interface improvements
✔ Players who are kicked out of or rejected from clans are automatically banned from that clan for 24 hours

✔ Tapping the active tab in the Inbox, Chat, Clan, Leaderboard, League or Search view will automatically scroll it to the top



Balance tweaks
✔ Slightly increased hitpoints for level 4 Dragon

✔ Slightly increased hitpoints and damage for level 6 Giant and level 4 P.E.K.K.A

✔ Slightly decreased hitpoints for Hog Riders

✔ Upgrade time reduced for most Archer Tower and Wizard Tower levels



Lots more bug fixes, tweaks and performance improvements!

What IPad games have controller support

If you're an IPad (or iPhone gamer) and have the latest IOS 7 download you'll be frothing at the mouth to get a hold of an IOS enabled controller and let rip.
But what games have iOS 7 controller support?

• Critter Panic 
• Dead Trigger 2 
• Into the Dead 
• Lili 
• Muffin Knight 
• Ravensword: Shadowlands 
• Silverfish 
• Silverfish Max 
• Spiral: Episode 1 
• Superstar Chefs
• Limbo 
• Trouserheart 
• Tennis in the Face 
• King Oddball 
• Air Wings Intergalactic 
• Asphalt 8: Airborne 
• Chasing Yello
• Phoenix HD 
• Cro-Mag Rally 
• AVP: Evolution 
• The Walking Dead: The Game 
• Bastion 
• Nimble Quest 

List of IPad games with controller support current as of November 2013. Now that the list of controller playable IPad games is expanding we really want to see where Apple and third parties go with this. Especially with the A7 chip in the 'thinner,newer,better " version we really think music games ala guitar Hero and others need to start enjoying peripheral support. Who knows when we look beyond the games we might even find exciting projects to make apps that rely on actual instruments. Now that would be a fun and high tech way to learn send petitions to  lanikai lu-21 at musicians friend if you want to see an IPad connected ukulele in the future.

The Qeo Connected Home Challenge - Fly Me To Vegas

Qeo is the software framework that interconnects devices and apps of all brands and ecosystems.
The Qeo Connected Home Challenge - Fly Me To Vegas will open up your eyes to what this has to offer.

The objective of the contest is to create an app or a service, using Qeo, in order to deliver more intelligent services based on peer to peer interactions between connected objects.  You can, for instance, develop an app that makes a television communicate with the home video intercoms or the smartphone of its family members.

There’s $72,000 Prizepool to win including 15 tickets for Las Vegas to present your project at CES , $15,000 in cash prize and a possible integration in Technicolor’s development programs.

The Challenge is not only dedicated to developers, everyone who comes with a great idea is welcome!

If you need more information, here is the official website: http://qeochallenge.com/

SRCH 2 set to change the way we search on Android

Following on from their partnership with HTC SRCH2 are now making their superior search product available for all on Google Play. Announcing at AppsWorld this morning we unfortunately missed the announcement as this could be a big milestone for mobile search :

SRCH2 Delivers Lighting Fast Search Software to Android Devices

Riding the Mobile Wave SRCH2 Arms Android Manufacturers with Search that Will Forever Alter the User Experience

LONDON, October 23, 2013 — SRCH2, provider of the industry’s leading search-as-you-type engine for e-commerce and mobile devices, unveiled its Android software development kit (SDK) and local search app at AppsWorld in London today. SRCH2’s Android SDK enables any Android developer or manufacturer to easily embed superior, instant search functionality, locally onany Android device.

Using SRCH2’s Android SDK, Android developers can run SRCH2 to deliver fantastic search locally, on the handset, without dependency on the mobile network. Users benefit from lightning-speed search-as-you-type, with error-correction, geo-awareness, configurability, and more. No network latency, no intermittency. SRCH2 delivers quick and complete access to any indexable data on the phone, at cached speeds.

“When users first see search-as-you-type on their phones, it’s an ‘Ah-ha’ moment,” said SRCH2 CEO Dev Bhatia. “Right away, they realize this is something new. Consumers have come to expect poor search quality on their phones, and when they see fantastic search quality, at speeds better than the best desktop sites, it blows them away. We recently announced partnerships with some of the largest global Android handset makers, and today’s announcement of SRCH2’s Android SDK enables any Android developer—large or small—to access and embed the same revolutionary search technology.”

Armed with advanced, error-correcting, geo-aware seach-as-you-type capabilities, Android OEMs can build universal search capabilities, so that their users can access contacts, text messages, apps, images, and music locally, and everything else on the cloud, via application programming interface (API). To demonstrate its ease-of-use and cutting-edge features, SRCH2 built a downloadable app using the new Android SDK and will demonstrate that it this week at AppsWorld in London.

“There’s no question that local search is important turf for the handset manufacturers,” said Gerry Purdy, Ph.D., chief mobile strategist with Compass Intelligence. “It’s part of the core user experience,” he added, “and potentially the gateway to all Web-based data as well.”

SRCH2’s Android SDK is available now at http://srch2.com/downloads.html. SRCH2’s Android App will be available in the Google Play store for Android on October 23, 2013.

HTC and SRCH2 revolutionise mobile search

HTC One was undoubtedly one of the boldest phones that we've seen in recent years. Operationally though there was little change from what many other Android devices had to offer. This evolution is now set to be toppled by a real revolution in how yup use your mobile with a new partnership between HTC and SRCH2 upending the way that we search on our phones:

HTC Signs Agreement with SRCH2 to Bring Instant Search to Smartphones

Collaboration Enables Lightning Fast “Search-As-You-Type” on HTC Devices

Irvine, Calif. and Taipei, Taiwan, October 22, 2013 — SRCH2 and HTC have teamed up to bring lightning-fast “search-as-you-type” to HTC devices.

SRCH2 is collaborating with HTC to provide industry-leading advanced search capability. This faster, better solution is planned to be incorporated in HTC’s next generation of market-leading devices.

The addition of SRCH2 will give users a new way to search for content, locations and people on their handsets, enabling industry-leading advanced search quality at lightning speeds.

“SRCH2’s search-as-you-type is like nothing consumers have ever seen in the handset market, and I’m sure it will be a welcome and differentiating feature for HTC’s next generation of handsets,” said Gerry Purdy, Ph.D., chief mobile strategist with Compass Intelligence. “Running SRCH2 as a universal search engine as part of the OS is a strong move for HTC, and it speaks to the vast market potential for advanced search features on mobile.”

“Search-as-you-type on a handset is an industry-first, and will be an eye-popper for HTC’s millions of users,” said SRCH2’s CEO, Dev Bhatia. “They will be delighted by a super-fast, ultra-friendly, universal search experience, fully integrated into their devices. Our tools, running right on the device, will enable a plethora of new interactions with all kinds of on-device and off-device content.”

“HTC is always pushing the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. We are pleased that SRCH2 could be a part of HTC’s next generation of market-leading handsets,” said Chen Li, SRCH2 founder and CTO.

SRCH2 offers search software rebuilt from the ground up to address the needs of a data-driven world. In particular, the SRCH2 feature-set serves new needs in mobile search. Some of SRCH2’s powerful features include:

• Instant Forward Search: “Search-as-you-type” functionality presents new choices with every keystroke and helps users find what they want, faster. Until now, very few search boxes offer robust, relevant instant forward search and even fewer mobile devices offer relevant instant forward search.
• Rapid GeoSearch: Localized search for places or merchandise nearby is increasingly important for mobile device users. SRCH2 treats location-search as a single-process search element, enabling super-fast, relevant, geo-aware search.
• Error Tolerance: Guess wht? Peopl make tyops. It happens. And on mobile and non-traditional devices, it happens a lot. With SRCH2, typos are not as costly because users can still find what they’re looking for. Error tolerance can be fully configured by developers.
• Ranking customization: SRCH2 enables developers to easily assign weightings to rank results, without custom coding.
• Real-time updates: Most search software has to lock or slow down inbound queries while data is being updated and re-indexed. SRCH2 software can be configured to index information as it comes in, with no lock or performance denigration.
• All-in-one: SRCH2 delivers all features in one highly configurable solution, with no custom development required.
SRCH2’s industry-leading instant forward search software is available now. For more information about SRCH2, please visit www.srch2.com.

Connecting at #Appsworld

A lucrative day of connecting with Indie developers, mobile start ups , bootstrap peers,big tech companies, Microsoft,Android, Trip Hawkins,Steve Wozniak, Microsoft Surface, Rasperry Pi man. Slashdot, Virtuix, and so much more at Appsworld. We that live in this fast paced world of mobile apps and bleeding edge technology so often lose site of the human side of all that we do.
The world is changing and the economic priniciples and learning skills that were once cherished are now making way for something new...and hopefully better. Just don't lose site of the fact that despite all of our gizmos, gadgets and tech that at the end of the day we as the human user still are that , merely human and with all the brilliance that entails.
Oh, and great to finally meet Rob Shoesmith of Medl Mobile and curse you for those two pints that were ever so tasty but cost two hours of good blogging time! Hangwithme ...

The Lumees at AppsWorld Europe 2013

Continuing our harassment of Indie game developers at Appsworld; we came across a Croydon,London based outfit who are understandably proud/possessive of their game, "The Lumees".
Coming across a a hybrid match five, side scrolling puzzler sort of the game has characters with...character and a good looking feel to it. A quick hands on showed a fun game matched by innovative gameplay and charm. The idea has apparently been a round for over five years and finally the boys from Croydon have decided to make good and bring The Lumees to the public. Envisaged more as a long term brand than just a single showing we hope their infectious ambition pays off, look to Gametrender's YouTube channel for more info on The Lumees.

What's cooler than a basket full of kittens? Appsworld 2013

A question hopefully soon to be answered in the next fifteen minutes when at the gaming expo at Appsworld the speakers will take to the stage demonstrating how sensors, NFC, cameras and more are changing our gaming landscape. Gadget and gaming geek gluttony soon to follow...
What's cool? Apps and new ways to play them.
What's not cool? More than half of Balckberries' app experiments failing due to the "hostile environment" of so many different signals floating about!
What worked: NFC running game with people powered Nerf guns as punishment for not completing a circuit fast enough ( run, tap on NFC tag to measure time between laps)
Blackberry powered drone. Sort of as it soon went rogue picking up another wifi signal.

What didn't work? Heartbeat powered music which ups or slows tempo according to the users Bluetooth band which records their heart beat. That hostile environment started off by taking no prisoners.
Experiment number 4 was some sort of audio setup , which was axed before the event due to time constraints.
Ad hoc multiplayer was a good idea with audience participation via the hub powered ssid, but signal problems soon put paid to it, and then the picture on screen went all wonky to add to Blackberry's woes.
Still they were interesting experiments and a very useful takeaway is that all the source code for them can be found on GitHub, look to our YouTube channel for the exact link.

Indie games of Appsworld 2013

Two indie games have come under Gametrender scrutiny so far at AppsWorld, and after two lengthy YouTube ready videos it came time to charge the Smartphone, because really there is just too much to see and do. Even just a short walk back to the (very handy) charging station saw us stumble upon the Microsoft stand. So much so boring for the Nokia phones and Window 8 devices on display, but we were vastly intrigued by the AlienWare/Kinect/MakerBot Replicator setup which we will certainly be Vining/blogging/Youtubing about once the devices are charged.
But this particular post is not about the 3D nous of the World's largest OS maker but the Indie games we saw.
Thanks to Francesco Palumbo of "Interactive Project" for showing off his GrandPrix Management/racing game which has been on the Playstore for a month and already has 60K downloads. The polished game hails from Italy and looks to be making a name for itself as the Football Manager of the GrandPrix World.
Ivan Kavalerov hasn't taken the need for speed to heart and has instead adopted a childhood love of chess and an adult penchant for puzzle games to develop Piggy Roll Puzzle.
Adopting heavily from a certain Jelly named game and emulating the Candy Crush Saga map the part time developer and one another have used their spare evening times over the last six months to bring their game close to completion(we look forward to the final product in a months time, that promises good natured puzzle fun and progressive levels of difficulty).

Indie game zone-Appsworld 2013

Between keynotes we naturally went off to explore the Indie Game Zone at AppsWorld Europe 2013. We were initially underwhelmed expecting a much larger showing. On reflection though the big booths and freebies would expectedly be the domain of the big players(the likes of PayPal and GM can be found here for example). The poor Indies just struggling to make themselves known were limited to a small expanse of off red carpet and we're flogging their wares from small, round tables on the periphery.
We'll try get around as many of them as possible and follow up with reviews and articles later. If you see them inhabiting an AppStore near you in the future then please show them your love.

Hardcore Gaming -Apps beyond casual pastimes-Appsworld 2013

Appropriately enough the "Future of Apps as games" keynote closed with a gambling question, providing a nice run up for Carsten van Husen's presentation on apps for hardcore gamers.
Hardcovers are an interesting source of revenue, Carsten likens them to a diner, the casual will happily eat his meal, the hardcore will see where the boundaries are...eating the table, stabbing the waiter, ummm interesting metaphor Carsten.
Interestingly enough he brought up the demographics of age and growth rates of mobile phones and gaming usage naturally.
Comparisons of Candy Crush saga were made to the hardcore contingent who according to Carsten have prolonged gaming sessions and are a.ways looking to plan their next session.
In 2011 Vampires Game was released to give their marketeers something to do, a taste of what revenue apps could bring in. Icaria was also referenced with even one attendee having played it, it's success on the web hasn't yet been followed by the mobile app. Mobile users have 10-15 minutes play on average, web users only a minute a so, he likens this to evidence of mobile playing becoming more hard core.
" I guess with games it's all kill time on the mobile" was an interesting quote that the speaker had to unfortunately close on before a localised power cut pre-emptively finished off the hardcore gamer presentation. Carsten was a banker fifteen years ago and unfortunately we think that still shows as his presentation was rather lacklustre... Although perhaps the best was yet to come, we'll never know.