Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Android Market tops 100,000 applications
Google reached a significant milestone for its Android mobile operating system today: 100,000 applications are available in the Android Market.
The company announced the news in a post to its Android Developer Twitter account, nearly two years to the day since the Android Market formally opened for business. An unofficial estimate of Android applications by AndroLib had pegged the number at 50,000 in April, but it's not clear how accurate that was, as AndroLib currently predicts that 150,000 applications are available in the market.
Google is still well behind Apple when it comes to mobile applications, of course, with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad owners having access to over 280,000 iOS-based applications at last count. (UPDATED 1:37 p.m PDT - Apple e-mailed in to clarify that on its earnings call last week, CEO Steve Jobs said there are now over 300,000 applications in the App Store.) Still, the milestone is worth noting as Android continues to cement its role as the Apple alternative for developers and consumers.
Before Google made the formal announcement The New York Times posted a story noting the milestone and pointing out some of the challenges that remain for Android developers, such as the subtle-yet-important differences between the hundreds of different Android devices on the market as well as payment issues with Google Checkout.
Edios 2011
The human revolution
Deus Ex is an historic game. Although unforgivable flawed at times, it established many of the archetypes modern RPG gaming takes for granted. Moral choice, branching dialogue systems, alternate story development based on the players behaviour, character augmentation, all of these elements are now commonplace in the action RPG.
Taking place in a Gibsonesque future where genetic enhancement runs rampant and shadowy corporations preside over the proletariat, the first game follows J.C Denton, an augmented agent working for UNATCO. After being sent out on one clandestine operation too many, Denton soon begins to question his role in these shady government machinations. The brainchild of genius developer Warren Spector (System Shock) Deus Ex was a satisfyingly deep experience, rich in story and gameplay.
Deus Ex: Invisible War was released in 2004 and shares many traits with it's superior predecessor. Story is the games main focus and many of the innovative elements of gameplay established by Deus Ex are relegated to the sidelines. Invisible War was still a deep RPG experience but it watered down many of the first games more ambitious aspects.
Taking place in a Gibsonesque future where genetic enhancement runs rampant and shadowy corporations preside over the proletariat, the first game follows J.C Denton, an augmented agent working for UNATCO. After being sent out on one clandestine operation too many, Denton soon begins to question his role in these shady government machinations. The brainchild of genius developer Warren Spector (System Shock) Deus Ex was a satisfyingly deep experience, rich in story and gameplay.
Deus Ex: Invisible War was released in 2004 and shares many traits with it's superior predecessor. Story is the games main focus and many of the innovative elements of gameplay established by Deus Ex are relegated to the sidelines. Invisible War was still a deep RPG experience but it watered down many of the first games more ambitious aspects.
The mystery of Deus Ex 3
Now comes Deus Ex: Human Revolution, a game shrouded in mystery. Developer's Eidos Montreal are holding their cards close to their chest with Deus Ex 3, up until now we have only been offered glimpses of the game in the form of cryptic images and intriguing, pre-rendered trailers.
In a recent Q&A with Gamespot, director Jean Francois Dugas gives the impression that Human Revolution will attempt to re-capture the revolutionary (excuse the pun) gameplay style of the original Deus Ex:
"Even though some recent games took a page or two from Deus Ex, we believe that the experience hasn't been done since the original game. With Deus Ex: Human Revolution we're really dedicated to re-creating this unique experience for a new generation of gamers that never experienced what it's all about in the first place."
In the interview it is made clear that the game is a prequel rather than a direct sequel. The reason for this, as Dugan states, is to explore from a player perspective the early days of augmentation. It certainly seems like a bold choice to go back and explore the origins of Deus Ex's universe, but it may also serve as a great primer for those not familiar with the series.
Dugan also explains how Deus Ex 3 will be freeform and have a non-linear story progression as well as a return to the character augmentation that became a fan favourite in the other two games.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution has the less than enviable task of standing against the recent crop of modern action RPG's like Fallout 3 and Borderlands and trying to be a faithful and successful representation of it's highly regarded predecessors. Time will tell if Eidos Montreal can pull it off.
In a recent Q&A with Gamespot, director Jean Francois Dugas gives the impression that Human Revolution will attempt to re-capture the revolutionary (excuse the pun) gameplay style of the original Deus Ex:
"Even though some recent games took a page or two from Deus Ex, we believe that the experience hasn't been done since the original game. With Deus Ex: Human Revolution we're really dedicated to re-creating this unique experience for a new generation of gamers that never experienced what it's all about in the first place."
In the interview it is made clear that the game is a prequel rather than a direct sequel. The reason for this, as Dugan states, is to explore from a player perspective the early days of augmentation. It certainly seems like a bold choice to go back and explore the origins of Deus Ex's universe, but it may also serve as a great primer for those not familiar with the series.
Dugan also explains how Deus Ex 3 will be freeform and have a non-linear story progression as well as a return to the character augmentation that became a fan favourite in the other two games.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution has the less than enviable task of standing against the recent crop of modern action RPG's like Fallout 3 and Borderlands and trying to be a faithful and successful representation of it's highly regarded predecessors. Time will tell if Eidos Montreal can pull it off.
Top 25 Sexiest and Most Beautiful Women in the World
I was really amazed by the results of the surveys and poll made by different and recognizing organizations.
Browsing the net I came across this result, The Top 25 Sexiest and Most Beautiful Women in the World.
“Beauty indeed is in the eye of the beholder”. Different choices, different tastes and who knows, your pick were there too.
Browsing the net I came across this result, The Top 25 Sexiest and Most Beautiful Women in the World.
“Beauty indeed is in the eye of the beholder”. Different choices, different tastes and who knows, your pick were there too.
#1. Jessica Alba
#2. Megan Fox
#3. Scarlett Johansson
#4. Angelina Jolie
#5. Kate Beckinsale
#6. Keeley Hazell
#7. Hayden Panettiere
#9. Cheryl Cole
#8. Alessandra Ambrosio
#12. Elisha Cuthbert
#11. Hilary Duff
#10. Eva Longoria Parker
#13. Gemma Atkinson
#14. Beyoncè Knowles
#15. Rachel Bilson
#16. Adriana Lima
#17. Salma Hayek
#18. Christina Aguilera
#19. Jessica Biel
#20. Rihanna
#21. Keira Knightley
#22. Gisele Bündchen
#23. Jennifer Love Hewitt
#24. Sophia Bush
#25. Ana Ivanovic
The Top 11 Sexiest Women
Angelina Jolie
Regardless of the fact that she has more kids to take care of than Professor Xavier, Angie consistently kicks ass in every role she takes on and usually winds in some kind of latex outfit when it is all over. And, there is just something about Jolie and guns in the same scene that we can't resist. She plays a rogue CIA agent who must elude capture in Salt - kind of like the female version of Jason Bourne.Halle Berry
There is a reason she is constantly being crowned one of the sexiest women in the world. Because it is true. Her resume speaks for itself: she's a pageant winner, a Bond girl and a sexy comic book chick.Jessica Alba
Who can forget Jessica Alba's turn as the seductive stripper Nancy in Sin City. And she did make the Fantastic Four films watchable thanks to her skin tight, blue, superhero outfit.Naomi Watts
When it comes to being sexy on camera, Australian beauty Naomi Watts has very few hang-ups. Introduced as a leading lady through her portrayal of a nymphomaniac lesbian in Mulholland Dr., Watts soon after bared all again for a steamy love scene with Sean Penn in 21 Grams, followed by a series of equally graphic sex-scenes with Mark Ruffalo in We Don't Live Here Anymore. One year later, Watts would become a bonafide A-list actress through her role as a giant monkey seductress in Peter Jackson's King Kong.Zooey Deschanel
Zooey, whose parents got her name from a J.D. Salinger book, jumps easily from the brooding, indie flims like All The Real Girls and Whatever We Do to big budget blockbusters like Jim Carrey's Yes Man and cool shows including The Simpsons, Tin Man, and Weeds. And she's in a cool indie band. Which proves that Zooey is the best kind of chameleon - the kind that will wear a dress (and looks good in it) if she has to but is really more at home when she's actually at home hanging out.Mila Kunis
She couldn't be any hotter in Forgetting Sarah Marshall with her Hawaiian beach bod and cool girl attitude. Then there was all that cleavage in American Psycho. And do we have to mention her sexy cowgirl spread in April's GQ magazine where she said that there is nothing quite like a good d*ck joke. This girl is a keeper.Megan Fox
From Transformers to Jennifer's Body, Megan Fox proves that she can sex up any role she plays forcing men everywhere to flock to theatres no matter how bad the movie might be. Next up for foul-mouthed Fox is the role of Leila, Josh Brolin's gun-slinging love interest in the supernatural western Jonah Hex. Truth be told, no one can rock the thigh high and corset look quite like she can. PS - Supernatural westerns are the future.Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in Iron Man 2 was worth the price of admission alone.Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Some new blood here. Mary was cute in Final Destination 3 and will probably be even cuter in Grindhouse and Live Free or Die Hard (as John McClane's daughter), but it is her frequent various red carpet appearances where you can see the true VIXEN shining through.Rosario Dawson
She's got one of the sexiest bodies in Hollywood and she isn't afraid to show it off. She was nearly naked as Gail in Sin City sporting little more than S&M style leather and mesh and took dancing in the streets to new heights as pole dancing Mimi in Rent. Plus, we bet Rosario could go shot for shot with the best of 'em and still tell the funniest jokes while starting the jukebox with her fist.Olivia Wilde
We were first introduced to Olivia when she played bisexual Alex Kelly opposite a then hot Mischa Barton on The O.C. The first impression is always the most important. She went on to steal our hearts as the nerdy Thirteen on FOX medical drama House where she used her feminine wiles to sleep her way into her boss' bed. Her sexy raspy voice and cat like eyes only add to the appeal. Also, she married her husband in a school bus. Weird. And yet we're totally into it. She's also in Tron Legacy!
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