Articles by Michael Anderson

IK Multimedia iKlip Studio for iPad Mini Review

Just about a year ago, I reviewed the original iKlip Studio. It was a simple and short review, and for good reason – the iKlip was simplistic and direct in design, solid in build and materials, and well executed. Back at CES 2013, IK Multimedia announced they were building an iKlip for the iPad Mini. Today they have released it, so let’s see how it compares! Description Here are some of the features: Sturdy, durable, lightweight, shock-resistant thermoplastic construction holds your iPad securely without scratching or marring it Rubber foot-pads grip the desktop and prevent unwanted sliding Flexible orientation allows…

Music Diary, News & Features

Google Launches Spotify-like ‘Google Play Music All Access’

For a couple of years or more, there has been constant speculation about when we would see an ‘iRadio’ service from Apple, with some more reasonable speculation that by capitulating to streaming price demands they might have something by this June. Google has also been rumored to be working on a similar service, though more of an ‘on demand’ service like Rdio or Spotify than the Pandora-alike service Apple is reportedly working on. Well, today at Google I/O, they announced Google Play Music All Access. The service is pretty much identical to Spotify and Rdio, but is unique in one…

Game Diary, Reviews

Isla Dorada – Episode 1: The Sands of Ephranis HD for iPad Review

Having just come off of the euphoria that was Special Enquiry Detail 2, I was ready for my next hidden-object puzzle adventure. It comes in the form of an island-based game called Isla Dorada – Episode 1: The Sands of Ephranis HD, which has you taking on the role of Jessica Pandora, an archeologist drawn to a hidden site sought by many treasure hunters. What happens to her once she arrives, and is this a good game? Let’s take a look and see!

Health and Fitness

Recovery Is Training, too – The Monday Mile

This is one of those things I fear saying out loud, but I have never been sidelines for more than a day or two with a running injury. I recognize that I am not normal – I have a good running posture and form, good joints, and a fast recovery. I tend to bounce back from ‘doing something stupid’ (my wife’s mantra) pretty quickly As a result I avoid giving much advice – because I am always on the edge of stupidity! So when Judie decided to use a RunKeeper 5K training plan – and quickly ended up with an…

Game Diary, Reviews

Special Enquiry Detail 2 – Engaged to Kill HD for iPad Review

It has been nearly two years since I reviewed the iPad version of Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds, and I absolutely loved it. The sequel came out for PC a while back, but has just now arrived for iPhone . Let’s dig in and see if this story and character driven hidden object puzzle adventure can live up to the original! Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version is here.; available in the Mac App Store Developer: Floodlight Games / G5 Entertainment Description: Special Enquiry Detail 2 has loads of…

Game Diary, News & Features

Disturbance in the Force as EA Gets License to Make Star Wars Games!

Taking top prize of a consumer poll two years in a row is something most companies would dream of … unless you are EA, and the poll is ‘Worst Company in America’. That’s right, EA made history by capturing the title an unprecedented two years in a row. How? Trashing beloved franchises, over-enthusiastic nickel-and-diming via DLC, and psychologist and analyst enhanced extortion through freemium games (yes, they actually have behavior-analyst teams designing games to get you to spend $100 over time on something you wouldn’t pay $5 for upfront!). So imagine the excitement of the gaming community when the most…

Editorials

Will Samsung Suffer Due to the ‘Lackluster’ S4?

Samsung recently started delivering their new flagship, the Galaxy S4. The GS4 is the follow-up to the Galaxy S3, which is the best-selling Android phone ever made, and one of big reasons Samsung is now the largest smartphone maker in the world. The GS3 was itself the sequel to the earlier best-selling Galaxy phones – but with the GS3 Samsung went from being a ‘leader’ to becoming the de facto Android flagship and market leader. Early critical and user reviews for the new S4 have been generally solid but not exactly glowing – and with more and more issues cropping…

Game Diary, News & Features

Plants vs. Zombies 2 Comes for Your House Again in July!

It has been more than 3 years since I posted my review of the iPhone version of Plants vs. Zombies, and four years to the day since the original game launched (I did a review of the game elsewhere in May 2009) … and now we get word that the sequel to one of the hottest tower-defense games ever made is coming in July! There isn’t much info yet other than a Tweet saying “Yay! I can finally say it! PvZ 2: It’s About Time is coming in July! 🙂 #GetReady”. Also, there is a teaser trailer: There is also…

Health and Fitness

R U A MILER? National Run a Mile Days – The Monday Mile

Today marks an important – though totally artificial – milestone: the day Roger Bannister first officially broke the 4 minute mile. It is important because it removed a mental obstacle – and it is artificial because it is an arbitrary round number. That mark remains a goal for all milers and a remarkable achievement for any runner. The American Running Association is using the anniversary to push fitness and running among young people with their ‘R U A MILER’ campaign. The American Running Association is hoping that by pushing the mile in schools they can get more kids involved with…

Game Diary, Reviews

Dark Avenger for iOS Review

In the action-RPG genre, 1996’s Diablo is the one that brought mass-popularity, and therefore subsequent action-RPGs were called ‘Diablo clones’ for years regardless of what else they brought to the table. On smartphones and tablets, the Dungeon Hunter games have defined the standard for action-RPG gameplay but have angered gamers with agressively pushing in-app purchases. Now we have Dark Avenger, a new entry to the genre. How does it compare? Let’s take a look! Type of app: Action Role-Playing (aRPG or Action RPG) game Platform/where to buy: iPhone/iPad; available in the Mac App Store Developer: Gamevil Description: Dark Avenger has…

Game Diary, Reviews

Neverwinter Enters Open Beta Testing – My Hands-On Impressions

The realms of Neverwinter and the Sword Coast are beloved by all fantasy RPG gamers, and they have been featured since the very earliest days of Dungeons & Dragons. Some of the most famous games set in this universe are Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2, Icewind Dale 1 & 2, and Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2. Though its main campaign was criticized by some in 2002 as lacking depth and excitement compared to the Baldur’s Gates games, multiplayer and player-created content have kept Neverwinter Nights and its sequel popular for more than a decade. So when Cryptic Entertainment and Perfect…

Music Diary, Reviews

Molly Ringwald Except … Sometimes Review

Similar to video games, I will often buy music on impulse. Most times I do this, it is like my recent Kris Davis or Ches Smith purchases where there was limited ability for me to preview – and based on previous experience with the artists I had confidence. Or something like Justin Timberlake, where I was able to take advantage of a special deal and expiring credit and knew my family would enjoy at least a couple of songs. But when I heard Molly Ringwald was releasing a traditional jazz vocal album, I went ahead and used another expiring credit…

Game Diary, Reviews

Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! for iPad Review

Imagine a game that combines a classic fantasy story, told as a ‘create your own adventure’, loaded up with fantasy RPG gameplay, and with a unique and engaging visual style. Intrigued? You should be! Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! is the video game realization of the classic early 80’s book series. Can it actually deliver on expectations set across the decades? Let’s take a look and see!

News & Features

Think Netflix Streaming is Light on Titles? It is Getting MUCH Lighter this Month!

This past November, I got a ‘one month free’ thing to rejoin Netflix, so I signed up … and we’ve kept up the subscription ever since. Now, between Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus and Netflix, we are covered pretty well and are getting closer to ‘cutting the cable’ … once we can get Time Warner to agree that fewer services should make our bill lower! One reason I had joined and quit Netflix a couple of times before was due to the selection – when we had the DVD plan and started moving to streaming the selection was … um, lacking….

Reviews

STM Scout 2 15″ Laptop Bag Review

There seem to be nearly as many laptop bag designs as there are laptops – backpacks, sleeves, messenger bags and every variant in between! I have always preferred a messenger-style bag, but there is a trade-off of how much you can carry. Eventually it just becomes more efficient to lug around a backpack. But even within the messenger bag category there is a wide array of possibilities – and the STM Scout 2 Medium bag is on the ‘small & thin’ end of the spectrum. Let’s take a look! Description Here are some of the features: •High quality canvas fabric…

Game Diary, Reviews

Red Crow Mysteries: Legion for iOS Review

G5 Entertainment works with a number of developers as well as doing in-house work. Recently they have partnered with Cateia Games for some cool games, including Where Angels Cry and Fate of the Pharoah. Each of these were compelling games that I very much enjoyed, so when I heard that they were behind Red Crow Mysteries: Legion, I was already intrigued to check out the latest hidden object game from G5 Entertainment!

Music Diary, Reviews

Craig Taborn Trio Chants Review

The piano trio format is one of the classic modes of jazz composition and improvisation, going all the way back to Jelly Roll Morton in the 1920s and becoming a mainstay of popular jazz starting with Errol Gardner and Bud Powell in the late 1940s. The modern piano trio space was defined by Bill Evans in the early 1960s, but there continue to be advancements in the form. The latest album that is worthy of consideration is Chants by the Craig Taborn Trio. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: Amazon MP3 or iTunes Artist: Craig Taborn Trio Description: Craig Taborn…

Events, Music Diary, News & Features

Stream the International Jazz Day Concert Live Today!

For the second year, April 30th is International Jazz Day – and to celebrate there is a large celebration concert! With the success of last year the event has grown incredibly to be a major happening. This year the concert is taking place in Istanbul and you can actually live stream the event! The site is hosted on YouTube, and will be streaming beginning at 9pm/Istanbul, 7pm/London 2pm/New York and 4am(May 1) Sydney. For those who can’t make the event, it will repeat a few hours later. The spokesman of the event is UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Thelonious Monk Institute…

Music Diary, News & Features

iTunes Music Store Turns 10, Look Back at the Launch Event!

Over the years, there have been Luddites like has-been rocker Jon Bon Jovi who claimed Steve Jobs was ‘personally responsible for killing the music business’, but there have been even more people — most of them with data and arguments that make sense — talk about how Jobs and Apple saved and even revolutionized the music business. Regardless of which way your opinion swings, there is one thing that is certain: Steve Jobs and Apple CHANGED the music business forever. And April 28th marked the Apple event that launched the iTunes Music Store. Throughout the second half of the last century,…

Health and Fitness

Early Morning Running Safety Tips – The Monday Mile

For all of the years I lived in Massachusetts and was a morning runner, which I count as 18 or 19 – Patriots Day would mark the time when people would come out of hibernation and either start exercising or take the exercise routines outdoors. As I have noted, I keep running outdoors in pretty much any weather, this winter contending with wind chills around -25. But for those who mark the Boston Marathon as ‘oh crap I made a resolution and we are four months into the year I better get my butt outdoors’ time, there is a bit…

Game Diary, Reviews

Fieldrunners 2 for Android Review – The King of Tower Defense Games!

When it comes to casual mobile games I love, Fieldrunners ranks at the top along with others such as Plants vs. Zombies and Civilization Revolution. All of those games allowed me to get an ‘on the go’ experience that still scratched my hardcore gamer itch. So I was wary when Fieldrunners 2 came to iOS devices last September – but as noted in my review of the iPad version, I was thrilled with the results. This week the game (finally) landed on Android devices and I took some time to check it out! Type of app: ‘Tower Defense’ game Platform/where…

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