Now this is cool -

Social Gaming Network (SGN) has been around for a while making games for Facebook. Recently however, they have extended it’s development to the iPhone.

SGN made an app called iFun, that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for free. Once installed, the app makes your iPhone behave like a Wii remote control.

So how does it work?

You load up the game on your PC from the SGN website (at this stage, golf is the only game available).

Once you’ve logged in on both your PC and your iPhone, you then swing your iPhone like a golf club (not too hard – unless you have insurance).

The app then sends data (via a wi-fi or cellular network) to the server and your ball moves as per your movement. This can be played in a social environment with other people as well.

While this currently works on the iPhone, SGN is looking to expand this to the Android-powered G1 as both phones have built in accelerometers.

SGN is looking to expand this further, by eventually allowing third party developers to build more games on their platform.

I guess we won’t need a Wii after all eh?

Come November 19th and Microsoft will unleash it’s new Dashboard to all XBOX 360 consoles.

It is expected to be completely brand new and different to the existing “blade” theme that we current 360 gamers use. Microsoft names it “The New Xbox Experience“.

Users can create avatars to represent themselves when online (similar to the Wii). Like the screenshot below, users can choose a “base avatar” and customise it from there. It is assumed that new customisation features (like clothing & accessories) will be added on in the future to enable more variety.

The new Dashboard system apparently also loads the entire game on to the Hard Drive for quicker loading and play time (however, the original DVD must still be in the drive).

The new dashboard also connects to Netflix for video content (not sure if this will have limitation in certain countries).

Microsoft seems to geared this new Dashboard towards a social networking environment as well as pushing it’s Marketplace content. Both would be revenue streams for them.

Hopefully this system will take off by the most frequent 360 gamers, though be prepared for the usual criticism.

Over the last weekend, I was looking forward to just one thing – my new iPhone 3G.

That’s right after months of reading and waiting I’ve given up on the Samsung Omnia as well as the HTC and moved on to the Apple corner.

You see, I would have got the Samsung, however usability, from what I understand, is a bit crap. It’s got these small little ‘x’ to close the window on the corner where your finger may have to tap it several times before you get it. It’s not multi touch and the response of the TouchWiz isn’t comparable to the iPhone.

Then there is the screen resolution and colour, which on the iPhone demolishes the Samsung hands down. The HTC Touch HD may have been good – but god knows when that’s coming out.

When it comes to the Camera – the Omnia would have taken that trophy, however, I figured, if I want a camera – I should get a proper camera. What you get on the iPhone is basic enough for me.

So my final decision was to jump on the band wagon with other iPhone owners.

I’m on a Virgin plan, which is $70 per month + $4 for the phone (16GB Black). This includes $520 worth of calls (incl. international which I often make) and 1GB of data per month. However, for an extra $30 you can go on the $100 plan per month where the $4 fee is waived, and you get the same amount of call credit but 5GB of data instead.

I was told that if you started on the $70 plan (+ $4) and then decide to later move to the $100 – you will still have to pay that additional $4. So either start at $100 or later upgrade to $104. But seriously, 1GB is quite enough really.

Once home, I activated the phone over iTunes. The phone already had the latest firmware. I got it connected to my wireless network and then it was time to find some applications and games. The Apple App store does have a great selection. You can find paid or free apps. Do a bit of research, as sometimes you might find that a free app could almost do what the paid app would do.

So far I’ve installed

Wordpress (to write and review blogs on my website),
MotoChaser (cheap and fun),
Audi A4 (free and not so good – a marketing stunt I think. Will uninstall soon),
Urban Spoon (finds restaurants near your current location),
Shazam (don’t you find yourself listening to a song and trying to get the name of it? This app records what the iPhone can listen and then gets back to you with the name & the artist)
Fring (Skype and MSN contacts on my phone)
Remote (control iTunes on my wireless network)
WinePad (to record the wines I’ve tasted before)
Hold’em (great poker game for $6)

I’ve also configured my Gmail (primary mail account) with the Mail app that comes standard. My mobile number transferred from Vodafone to Virgin (it took about 24 hours starting Sunday afternoon).

Virgin runs off the Optus network – which I heard from various write ups and forums that they are having issues. And I’ve seen a little bit of it. Where I work in Pyrmont the coverage isn’t fantastic. Not always on 3G in the building. But voice calling was fine.

I’ve moved some of my music from my iPod to the iPhone. My iPod is now my 80GB external hard drive *sigh*

At the end of the day, I am quite satisfied with my choice. It’s more than just a phone as it comes with heaps of entertainment to fill the void while you wait around.

I’ll keep you posted as I find new apps (or if I write any).

On the 12th November 2008, my father appeared in the local Iceland newspaper.

My father has always fed birds, dogs and any domestic pets that he feels could do with some food. In most trips to Iceland he has bought loaves of bread and fed the birds. In London, he would go to a park where other people feed the birds and do the same.

After all these years, his recognition has paid off in the newspaper as the “walking man who has time to feed the birds”.

This comes at the particularly interesting times where even though we all face tough times in today’s economic situations, there are very few who still take the time to feed the birds.

Translation of the Icelandic article reads:

“The act of giving – is very giving –  even in small bits. This bird and the other birds have been pleased by having the bread which the walking man gave them (taking his own time to feed the birds). We should not forget the birds.”

Full newspaper PDF can be found here

We heard that Microsoft invested $240 million dollars into Facebook. But for the US Elelctions, Facebook wanted to to allow its users to find a polling place as well as mark if they had voted and who they supported.

Despite Microsoft having Virtual Earth for it’s Maps – who does Facebook use instead – Google!

Feeling the love, Microsoft?