Zen Garden - @ 20six.co.uk

THOUGHT: Enter The Dark Side

So much fear about this, I sense. It sounds like a topic of taboo
that you should be afraid to discover and discuss. Yes, I know. We are
not suppose to discuss Windows Mobile here, but hey aren't they supposed to
be gaining grounds and becoming the dominant mobile platform? Its like
the evil empire being fought by the rebel alliance in a neverending battle.

You see, when the fight started towards the turn of the century that was
during the timeline of the great battle in Yavin (where Luke managed to
destroy the first version of the "Death Star"). We are currently
living when Vader blurted out "Luke, I am your father". And a month
or so from now, it will be heading towards "The Return of the Jedi" period.
Exciting isn't it? Putting the jokes aside, why did the geek
community referred to Microsoft as the evil empire? And Windows Mobile
being the Dark Side of the Force? I've read some posts stating that
the Windows Mobile platform should only be called as the Other Side (rather
than the Dark Side). You see, no one wants to be the antagonist.
Everybody loves to be the hero. They just don't get it! Its a
different analogy all through out. The analogy should be this way: To
be a Jedi, you can only exercise your Jedi powers when you let go and feel
the Force. While it would take fear, anger and hatred inorder to provoke
the more powerful Dark Side. In human terms, Palm OS engineers are the
ones cracking their brains out to improve the human interface inorder for
Palm users to get things done in a breeze (through a simplistic system).
On the other hand, it would take a genius to maximize and fully appreciate
the powers of a more complex and more powerful Windows Mobile platform.

Although it is presented that way, I'm not saying that Windows Mobile is
totally bad. I'm just presenting it on what the user experience will be
and what level of expertise each system requires.

W

**Written and sent wirelessly using a palmOne Tungsten|C**

9.4.05 12:10

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THOUGHT: WWDC Trading Cards

Got this news from Gizmodo. Way too cool stuff to collect! Geek trading cards for the geeks. Hah! ^_^

You can collect them all here.

W

15.4.05 08:36

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SITE: Astraware's Lifestyle Channel

Astraware is pleased to announce the launch of their new Lifestyle channel. From 18th April 2005 a selection of the best lifestyle applications for Palm OS(R), Windows Mobile(TM) for Pocket PC and Smartphone, and Symbian Series 60 and UIQ are available from the Astraware website for the first time.

"Our customers come to us for the best in games, and often ask us for additional software," commented Howard Tomlinson, CEO of Astraware. "Our Lifestyle channel extends our catalog with only the best quality titles, so Astraware customers can be confident that the software we carry all meets our extremely high standards."

Astraware Lifestyle features five categories; Reference, Security, Business, Productivity and Recreation, which bring together more than 20 applications selected by the Astraware team from customer requests. The programs are used on a daily basis by the Astraware team on their own devices so they really are tried and tested! The software includes travel tools, music players, blogging software, money managers and reference guides - a full range of software to really enhance your mobile device and your lifestyle.

The Astraware Lifestyle channel gathers together software from a range of great developers: Aerodrome Software, Chapura, Deluxeware, Electric Pocket, Ilium Software, LandWare, Llamagraphics, Red Mercury, SplashData and Ultrasoft. For more information, visit Astraware Lifestyle at: http://www.astraware.com/lifestyle.

About Astraware Limited
Founded in 1994, Astraware Limited develops, publishes and distributes games and lifestyle software for mobile devices. Some of the company's best known handheld titles include Bejeweled, Cubis, Zuma, Insaniquarium and Zap!2000/2016. Handango have presented awards to Astraware twice in recent years, with Game of The Year in 2003 for Bejeweled, and Palm OS(R) Developer of the Year in 2004. Mobile gaming enthusiasts have downloaded more than 30 million copies of Astraware's products, and the company has customers in over 100 countries.

19.4.05 02:29

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THOUGHT: Being Palmless

Ladies and Gentlemen, my over-six month old Tungsten C refused to connect to any AP. I've already updated the firmware, done a hard reset, and still no can do. I'll try to call palmOne this Monday, but being "palmless" is getting me mentally/psychologically ill. URRRGGGHHHH!!! >.<

W

UPDATE: I've got my replacement unit right after I called palmOne! Isn't it amazing? There are readilly available replacement units over at the palmOne Store (inside Digital Exchange Glorietta 3 formerly Street Life). Now, I'm back and kicking (though I had a hard time syncing back my data from the way it used to be). Next on my agenda, the long-awaited review of Village Sim. -.^

23.4.05 15:07

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REVIEW: Village Sim

Playing God or Playing Trump? You may already played the game Civilization (or alike), but you ain't played anything like this yet. LDW (short for Last Day of Work), the makers of great simulation games for the handheld with the likes of Fish Tycoon and Plant Tycoon, recently launched the first ever human survival simulation game for handhelds called Village Sim. Its about the adventure of a castaway tribe learning how to survive and start a whole new civilization in a strange island.

This is perhaps the best thing that ever happened in handheld gaming. This game is a combination of a simulation tribe game with a Tamagotchi feel. Its very realtime (virtually continuous even the handheld is turned off) and quite addicting (not to mention that it will improve your people management skills).

Speaking of people management, this game manages to get as close to any actual interaction with real human behavior could ever get. I don't know how LDW did that, but its quite amazing! If you're a big fan of Donald Trump (like myself), you could become his apprentice by playing this game. The challenge is for you to appoint, train and instruct every member to do their individual task (for the betterment and success of the tribe), then you'll be measured by how much food and tech points you acquire. Ofcourse, you should pass the legacy to your offspring (on whether how would you procreate, I'll leave that up to you). Upon failure, somebody will gonna be fired! In reality, each and every member will suffer death from either sickness or starvation.

Every angle is covered. Even in procreation, genetics are also considered. Try cross-breeding if you like. Each offspring will easily acquire the talents and skills of their parents.

For starters, you must turn on the tutorial mode. This will help guide you through the entire game. It will be hard to play at first, but you'll get to master and acquire the needed management skills later on (as the game progress). For a quick tip, research and food are very very important early on the game. Try to do farming and research first, before you do the rest. You'll treat the research table and the berry tree as your valuable resources.

To tell you the truth, I'm not yet finished playing my first game. This makes Village Sim one of the best games with a very long playing life ever. It sure is worth every dollar that you'll be paying for.

W

**Written and sent wirelessly using a palmOne Tungsten|C**

P.S. You can download the free trial copy here.

UPDATE: LDW won the PalmSource Powered Up Awards for Best Games / Entertainment Solution for 2005.

30.4.05 14:22

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THOUGHT: WWDC Trading Cards Got this news from Gizmodo. Way too cool stuff to collect! Geek trading cards for the geeks. Hah! ^_^ You can collect them all here. W
15.4.05 08:36	Permalink / Comment