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Is your Android app on BlackBerry App World without you knowing?
In our review of PlayBook 2.0, we were eager to check out how well Android apps worked on the platform, and one of the first we reached for was the Dolphin HD browser. Curiously enough, it turns out Dolphin's makers MoboTap had no idea their app was available via BlackBerry's App World. The discovery came after we were notified by developer Steve Troughton-Smith that Dolphin HD had been submitted to App World by white label store Handster (owned by Opera). We reached out to MoboTap who confirmed they didn't authorize any submission by Handster, with a spokesperson telling us "We do not condone Handster submitting our Dolphin Browser app to BlackBerry's App World for us and are currently working to take it down and assure Handster will not submit our app for us again. We will assess developing for BlackBerry when the time is right." Dolphin HD may be a free app, but the question remains: why is Handster submitting it without permission? Has your app been submitted to App World without your knowing?Update: We received the following statement from Handster regarding their policy: Handster aggregates over 8500 developers with 55.000 apps and serves them for distribution to Handster/Opera appstores, as well partner distribution network consisting of LG, Ericsson, Alcatel Lucent, MTS and number of other partners. Recently we also signed a deal on providing aggregated content for RIM. By the Handster standard distribution agreement, we can distribute apps via our main store and our partner network. Most of the developers use this agreement. Handster serves as hub, where you can publish app and cover multiple channels. As a result, developers generate higher revenue and more downloads for their products. Before publishing any app to new partner channel, we sent notification email to all developers, with information about the partnership. Except notification email, there is usually prior press release and about the coming partnership. We also asked if there are any objections to distribution of apps in the channels, but so far getting only positive feedbacks from the developers. But of course you should consider that in some cases notification email is not read, or responsible person changes and doesn't notify new people at the developer company of all channels. We contacted Dolphin team to clarify the issue, and expecting soon resolution. Our partnership with RIM opens new distribution channel to Android developers, by allowing to receive revenue stream from Blackberry devices, without additional efforts. The team established complex process on verification of apps, conversion of APK to BAR files, retesting on Playbook devices and submission integration. These processes are quite complicated for each individual developer to implement.
Rumor: PS Vita glitch leads to dolphin debug mode
Of all of the weird glitches to occur in newly launched game hardware, this is by far the most soothing. Andriasang spotted a video taken by a new Vita owner of what appears to be some kind of debug mode, complete with three swimming dolphins, a floating oyster and a pearl, all of which can be seen from various angles and distances. It is truly a multiporpoise device. We'd be a lot more charmed by this, if not for the fact that this Vita was reportedly stuck in this dolphin mode. No amount of variable dolphin lighting could make up for that inconvenience.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, in HD thanks to emulation
Whenever a new Wii game comes out, players set to work opening up the PC-based Dolphin emulator, upscale the graphics to HD resolution, and take screenshots for us to drool over -- like the Skyward Sword images posted on the software's forum. The normally soft, watercolor-y backgrounds look a little strange in HD -- we can't decide if it's more of the intended effect, or just oddly blurry. But there's no such conflict when it comes to the characters -- they look amazing. We're just going to cross our fingers for upscaling functionality when the Wii U comes along.
Technology: Play Wii on an Android tablet with an Xbox 360 controller
Sure, it seems easy enough: Play your Wii games on an Android tablet with an Xbox 360 controller. Technology! But underneath that simple premise is a complicated reality. First, you need to run the Wii games on a PC using the open-source Dolphin emulator. From there, you're going to stream the video to the Android tablet using the Splashtop Remote Desktop HD app on Android. YouTuber Obiwan222222 tossed an Xbox 360 controller in, but it's unclear if he's controlling the tablet's VNC client with it, or the PC directly (we're guessing the latter). If this sounds similar to GameStop's planned tablet, featuring Spawn Labs-powered retail game streaming, or OnLive's upcoming tablet "Player" software, we agree. Mostly, it seems like the future ... a laggy, buggy future but the future nevertheless. Technology!
Popular Android browser Dolphin Browser now on iPhone
One of the shiniest gems on the Android Marketplace has made its way over to the iOS App Store. The Dolphin browser was an early alternative to the official browser on Android phones, and actually ran faster and smoother than the real thing for a while. Now, the Dolphin browser has come to the iPhone, and is available as a free download from the App Store. It's more than just a Safari alternative in this case -- there are gestures that you can play around with, full tabbed browsing capabilities, multiple ways to store sites and bookmarks, and you can easily flip between the standard desktop web view and the special mobile view on various websites. Unfortunately, the app is currently made for iPhone, but it works with iPad, if you can deal with the upscaling. It's a solid app, and especially if the usual Safari browsing leaves you wanting a little more, you should give it a look. Most of the time, we end up hearing about quality iOS apps heading on over to the Android side of the fence, but in this case, we're glad to have one of Android's favorite apps over here as well.
Dolphins enter cute-animals-using-iPads race, are in it to win it
Researchers at Dolphin Discovery in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico have been teaching two year old Merlin how to nose-touch operate an iPad by matching physical objects with their virtual representation on screen. Merlin is a dolphin. "This is an easy task for a dolphin, but it is a necessary building block towards our goal of a complete language interface between humans and dolphins," said one of the insane people attached to the project.
Dolphin uses iPad to learn to identify objects
Cats love iPads, dogs love iPads, and dolphins... love iPads? That's the word from a site called SpeakDolphin.com [PDF, here's the text], where researchers say they're using the iPad's touchscreen to offer up visual stimuli for dolphins to touch and interact with. A touchscreen for dolphins needs to have a few certain criteria, including being waterproof-able, sensitivity, and visual clarity, and apparently the iPad fits the bill, as you can see in the picture. So what kinds of apps does a dolphin use? Turns out they're addicted to Plants vs. Zombies HD, too. No, just kidding -- they use just an image that contains pictures of various items that exist around the dolphin in real life. The trainer points to an object in real life, and then asks the dolphin to point to that same object on the screen, laying the very first groundwork for lingual interaction. Interesting stuff. We haven't heard of dolphins using Apple's magical device before, obviously, but what's constantly surprising is that the iPad is slowly replacing all sorts of other technology, and being used in many ways that Apple's engineers couldn't even imagine. [via BoingBoing]
Dolphin browser for Android adds multitouch support on Droid
We've already seen that the Droid is perfectly capable of implementing multitouch gestures in third-party apps, and the most high-profile (if not the most important, period) implementation of that is in a good web browser where non-stop zooming is a way of life -- especially when browsing sites designed for desktops. Dolphin -- which has been kicking around for a couple months in the Market -- has just added multitouch support on the Droid, which automatically makes it an interesting alternative to Android's mediocre (well, mediocre by WebKit standards, anyhow) built-in fare. Follow the break for a video overview -- or better yet, if you're running Android and you've got a couple fingers to spare, just check it out yourself.
See what Mario Galaxy looks like in HD
Remember that Wii emulator that boosted the graphics up to 720p? Thanks to a recent update, Super Mario Galaxy is now playable on the emulator -- known as Dolphin (get it?) -- and we have to admit, it looks pretty gorgeous. Granted, Super Mario Galaxy was no graphical slouch in the first place, but the extra resomolutions certainly add to the overall experience, and it gives us an idea of what a Wii HD console would be capable of producing.Check out a video of the Super Mario Galaxy running in HD after the break (don't forget to turn on HD in the player). It's in HD. Did we mention that yet? [Via CVG]
Emulator runs Wii games in 720p while we wonder what might have been
Using PCs to do what Nintendon't, YouTube user renebarahona is running Wii games in HD resolutions through the Dolphin emulator. One peek at Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 720p is enough to make any of us wonder what a world where Nintendo didn't hate HD (even yanking 480p capability from the Gamecube, we're still not over that) would be like. These games aren't merely upscaled like DVDs, they're being rendered in a high resolution natively with extra anti-aliasing Xbox 360 BC-style, producing surprisingly crisp visuals. Check out the embedded videos after the break (remember to hit the HD button) for an example, including how to set this up on your own computer.[Via Joystiq & 1Up]
Wii emulator boosts visuals to 720p HD
Lamentably, in the current console generation, Nintendo decided to turn away from the popular strategy of juicing the visual capabilities of its hardware to eye-searing levels. YouTube user renebarahona recently gave us a taste of what HD Wii would have been like by cranking up the visuals of a few titles to 720p using the Dolphin emulator on PC. We've got two examples, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, posted after the break (be sure to turn on HD mode).We're not advocating the shameless emularceny of Wii titles, though it is interesting to see how these games look with a bit extra graphical endowment. To use a standard rate of exchange, it's about the visual equivalent of three GameCubes duct-taped together -- maybe even three-and-a-half. We're not quite certain.[Via IGN]
Hyundai's MB-490i Dolphin cellphone is ridiculously clever
You know, when we first read the image-less text describing Hyundai's dolphin-shaped cellphone, our instinctual, caffeine-injected reflex was to launch into an angst-ridden assault on the MB-490i. Then we saw the pictures and, well, dammit, we kind of like it. Somehow Hyundai managed to make the aquatic scroll-wheel on the front mirrored by cascading waves of aluminum along the backside work. Even the pale blue eyeball on the side comes across as tasteful without kitsch. Spec-wise, we're looking at a 240 x 400 touchscreen display augmented by a swipeable touchscreen surface below, a 2.0 megapixel camera (no flash), Yamaha speaker, Bluetooth, and a €250 price tag when it launches in May. Check the pictures after the break and sound-off in the comments with your opinion. [Via PMP Today]
Starfish vacations with the dolphins
Last year, Starfish released a game called I Love Dolphin, which we affectionately dubbed Nintendolphins. Now, Starfish is revisiting its dolphin love by coming out with Long Vacation: Iruka to Watashi (i.e. Long Vacation: Dolphin and Me) this August. Although the title isn't an official sequel (perhaps Starfish didn't want to call the game I Still Love Dolphin), the gameplay is essentially the same. You play with the porpoise-like creatures, explore the ocean, and let's not forget about those minigames.Now we only have to wait for Ubisoft to copy the idea and come out with Petz: Dolphinz. Oh, wait ...[Via Siliconera]
Gameplay Wishlist: new mount abilities
Mounts in World of Warcraft are essentially organic vehicles that allow the player to traverse the landscape more quickly. Level 60 Epic mounts are faster than level 40 mounts, and of course flying mounts grant vertical movement. Mounts in other games are mostly the same, barring, of course, smaller games of which we might know nothing. It's a big game universe out there; it's possible.But it seems that there's unaddressed potential with these mounts. Sure, they look menacing, and it's better to ride than to walk, but is that all? Watching the recent Vanguard mounts video made us yearn for more from our noble steeds. Here's what we'd like to see in future games.
Pleo communes with nature, woos Dolphins
After an absolutely heart-wrenching video of Pleo being annihilated by a sadistic ComBot emerged yesterday, we're thrilled to add a little balance to the whole thing with a totally heartwarming clip today. Down at Sea World, Pleo was politely introduced to a number of animals in the park, though its interactions with the dolphins were particularly special. In the vid posted after the jump, you can go ahead and fast-forward to around the two minute mark -- there you'll find the true definition of a stud. Or maybe the pod just thinks miniature dinosaurs look extraordinarily tasty.[Thanks, Robert]
Winter the dolphin gets fitted with prosthetic tail
It's been a while since we last heard about a dolphin getting fitted with an artificial tail, but it looks like Fuji finally has some new bionic company, with Winter the dolphin now starting to get used to a prosthetic tail of its own. Unlike Fuji, Winter lost her both her tail flukes and her peduncle, which posed additional problems for the team of researchers that developed the tail, ultimately requiring them to "MacGyver" one as they went along (a term the researchers themselves used to describe it). While it's apparently not perfected just yet, Winter has started to learn to swim with a prosthetic sleeve, which will eventually be outfitted with artificial tail flukes that could allow it to keep pace with other dolphins. In addition to helping Winter, the researchers behind the tail say that the lessons learned from it could also help human amputees, with the gel sleeve used to hold the tail into place apparently already adapted for use with a human prosthesis.[Photo courtesy of AP]
I Love Dolphin Screens
That is to say, here are some screens of a game called I Love Dolphin. While we personally have nothing against dolphin screens, we haven't formed any special attachment to them.From what we can tell based on the screens, it's a game where you train and befriend a cute lil' dolphin. Basically, it's Nintendolphins. You train the dolphin to do tricks, which you are scored on. You can also learn about dolphins and take some dolphin-related quizzes. Most importantly, you can use the stylus to toss fish at them. If you're squealing with delight at the idea of training a virtual dolphin on your DS, then it's official. You love dolphin. Maybe you will love dolphin game!
Century's Dolphin waterproof MP3 player
Wrap an MP3 player in a silicone tube held secure with cable-ties and what do you get? Well, if you're Japan's Century then you've got yourselves a waterproof MP3 player dubbed the Dolphin. Ok, the player does carry an IPX7 Ingress protection rating which means it really is waterproof (not just splash-proof) up to a depth of about 1 meter -- ideal for laps around the Coral Key Park & Marine Preserve. Inside, the Dolphin packs 1GB of flash, USB 2.0, and support for MP3/WMA playback off 8-hour battery. Looks aside, at ¥12,800 (about $107) -- which includes a pair of unusually decent looking waterproof headphones -- it'll save you a healthy chunk-o-change compared to the $250 waterproof iPod shuffle we showed you last week. [Via Impress]
Two new Sega Genesis Collection videos released
Seeing Alex Kidd was good and all, but now we're talking with new videos of Ecco the Dolphin and Columns that will be crammed into Sega Genesis Collection.I know there are a lot of young gamers around these days and some of you may not be old enough to have experienced the greatness of these two games. That's why I'm so excited Sega is releasing this collection of almost 30 Genesis games. It's kinda funny because Sega's old slogan - "Genesis does what Nintendon't" is so fitting. You see, Sega has put all their classic games onto one disc, while Nintendo forces gamers to buy all their NES games separately. For shame!
