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My Top G1 Apps #3

// June 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog, mistical.com, Reviews

This is my third list of my top G1 Apps. I think I will do this every so often months just to give some people a fresh list of what is out there, what is better than previously was and so forth. If you would like to, you can read my previous top G1 apps lists here, #1 and #2.

I have since rooted my phone as of last week. I am sure if you have rooted your phone by now, you have already installed aNetShare if you at any point in time plan to tether your phone to your laptop/other devices. Also Advanced Task Manager is key to have to close apps in use.

If you use JesusFreke’s root, make sure you grab JF Updater if you have not. I however am not nor going to use any type of App2SD, I do not recommend using Move Cache either (see an earlier post of mine about this).

If you have not rooted your phone, unless you plan to tether, control tasks or do something else that requires root then you do not even bother to, though it is very, very easy to accomplish.

Since before I have removed AnyCut and replaced it with Better Cut. I actually decided to make my phone more Apple theme like using BetterCut to replace a few icons on the desktop (I am an Apple fan just not an AT&T fan).

I also decided to replace the default virtual keyboard that came with Cupcake with Better Keyboard.

If you do not know by now, make sure you download the new version for Google Maps. You will find it much better with more features, it sadly does not show up for an update until you do this. Google also just came out with a new application about 2 weeks ago called Places Directory and boy, what an amazing new app by Google. Very good and useful, I highly recommend adding it to your collection.

Here is the “full” app list I am currently using that I recommend that most people have or try out not including root apps: AK Notepad, Better Cut, Better Keyboard, aTrackDog which will check apps for updates, Movie Finder, My Account, MyBackup Pro which backup text messages, apps, contacts and more, OI File Manager, OI Flashlight, Places Directory which will find nearest gas stations, restaurants and more, ShopSavvy, Weather Channel, TuneWiki which is the best music player, Twidroid best Twitter client so far, Txtract which backs up text messages and WeatherBug.

So Long, Circuit City

// March 6th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Blog, mistical.com, Reviews

March 8th, 2009 marks the date that every Circuit City will officially be closed. I guess it is not just Circuit City that makes me have chills when hearing this or rather saying but among other companies that have already gone under that will be missed, that are going to be gone as well or headed there.

I will miss Circuit City, I know I a few bad experiences with them in the few end years. But I do have some fond memories there as well such as when I camped out on launch date for Xbox 360. What an awesome night that was and for the people I met. Camping out is always fun, not there are becoming very few places to camp out.

Circuit City really messed up many years ago and just continued to more. They should of never got rid of appliances, fired top smart employees and so forth. Now given, who knows what state they would be at if all this never happened, their mistakes, maybe they still would be going under. But it will be missed still. Very soon for how many businesses are going under in these scary times, we seem to be headed in the direction of Wall-E’s “Buy More” or also known today as Wal-Mart which they have already been doing almost 20 years though but you can really see it more than ever now.

Halo Wars Review

// March 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog, Gaming, mistical.com, Reviews

I decided to pick up Halo Wars, especially since it is an RTS and I like a new RTS from time to time. I am not a huge Halo fan but here it can easily be ignored. If you do not know if it has a story to it or not, it does when playing campaign mode and so far it seems to be great as well as they did a great job with the videos. From what I understand it takes 20 years before Master Chief.

After putting about 5 hours into it already and nearly done with ACT 2. I decided to take a break and write a review on it. This is a cut down RTS in my opinion compared to the Command and Conquer series on Xbox 360 and Civilization Revolution on Xbox 360. But if this scares you, it should not, there is little worrying to do here unlike in both of those games (I know there are a few more RTS on 360 but I have yet to play them) where you have a lot to do, control, build, defend, etc.

There is a lot here not only in Single Player but in Multiplayer as well, so if you are worried about putting this game away on the shelf after becoming bored of it, you should not worry unless you are that type of person then maybe you will just want to rent it. Online will give you many more hours to play out of this once you are finished with playing Campaign. You obviously can play Campaign further more on the harder difficulties like Legendary.

You also have Skirmish mode as well, very popular in RTS’s so nothing new there, I have yet to try that mode though, still playing through the Campaign. As long as people buy and continue to play online, online should be fun for those people that are into it. I doubt I will venture off into it yet alone play it a lot, I have many other games to play before this online anyways.

The menus and online (matchmaking) is just like Halo 3, so those that are coming from the Halo series to this, especially to try out this RTS because remember, Halo 3 is a FPS and this is an RTS. Totally different games if you did not know this yet.

Controls are and work great. I have no problems with them as I know many people always are fearful about how the controls for an RTS are on a console. They are much better and not as many either compared to the Command and Conquer series and others. You have your simple controls here like LB to select all units anywhere on the map and RB to select only units shown on screen. You press A or hold A to select a number of units, I am not too happy with when you hold A to select units as it creates a large circle after holding it more than about 2 seconds. Press B to not select anything, move your units with X and Y to use the units special ability.

There are not many problems I have come across except that sometimes your units block your path, I have had this happen a lot especially when you set down Cobras and clearly other units would be able to get past but they do not. They sometimes eventually find an alternative (takes a while) if there even is one. There is not much else I have run into that bugs me.

I love when you are given Spartans to control, they are awesome to have especially when you have a large group of them. They can not, they will go down as will Forge but as long as you have other units to go by him when his health is halfway again then you will never fail a mission unless you are trying to protect or accomplish something or whatever else going on.

To end this now, I am really enjoying the game. I think if you are new to RTS games and really want to try one out, this is definitely the game for you. I give it 4/5 stars.

My Top G1 Apps [UPDATE]

// March 5th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Blog, mistical.com, Reviews

This is an update to my earlier post in December 2008: My Top G1 Apps. So a while back I wrote a list of great apps that I use and recommend to others. Well overtime, new apps have come out that are either much better then another one like it or just another new app has come out that is great.

I still use Scoreboard, Shazam, TuneWiki, PhoneFlix (NetFlix) ShopSavvy, The Weather Channel, Ringdroid, Bartender and more from my previous list. Given I have already set my settings for Ringdroid and Bartender is only necessary here and there. I have removed and replaced StreamFurious with Last.FM App. StreamFurious is still very nice, I am not putting it down but I use and enjoy Last.FM much more to my liking. Check them both out, they are very similar but also very different.

Twidroid has become much better then when I last talked about it. A LOT better but I still have some problems with it, I would love to see a new UI especially. It is constantly being updated and developer seems very nice when I have emailed. There still is no Facebook App, requiring you to still have to use the browser. Sadly, it is very doubtful we will ever see a Facebook app for the Android/G1 especially given the fact that some Facebook employees hate the Android/G1 and for heaven shake, Facebook will you add T-Mobile to Mobile?

Some new apps have come my way since my last post and those would be the following to check out.

- Xbox Friends List (1337pwn) – No need if you do not have Xbox Live or do not even plan to use.
- AK Notepad – This has been out a while but it is a great notepad so far that I have found.
- aTrackDog – Check all your apps for updates.
- Txtract – Backup all your text messages.
- MyBackUp – Backup almost everything on your phone from contacts to text messages to apps.
- Movie Finder – Probably the best movie application on the G1, I love it.

I use the following as well but only when needed: SnapTell, Finance, Voice Recorder, Cubik, OI Flashlight (the lack of a Flashlight having come from a Sony Ericsson W800i still sucks and miss it) and OI Shopping list.

Quantum of Solace for Xbox 360

// January 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog, Gaming, mistical.com, Reviews

I was not expecting much when I popped this game in but wow, I was amazed at what I got. It is just a rental but wow, I would definitely of bought this game had I known how great it was.

This is the 007 game that, if you are a fan, you have missed since Goldeneye 007 on N64. Not only is the single player great but multiplayer as well. The single player campaign is not very long nor very difficult on 007 difficulty but it does provide a small challenge but not like say Call of Duty games on Veteran and such.

They have a cover system in the game which works very well though sometimes, more so online, there are hiccups. The game would not be as great without such a cover system especially for how difficult it would be on 007 difficulty or even just to stay stealthy and when or when not to move around a corner or whichever the case may be.

Multiplayer is a whole other different story. I was so surprised to see many, many people actually playing this game online. Not just during the day but at night as well. At night though most people playing are from other countries and not just the UK and connection is shit too but still it is nice to see a game that many people are playing online 3 months still after release.

The multiplayer graphics are not the best but this can easily be ignored to just play and have fun. There are many game modes to play for which you gain points from on each to be able to purchase weapons, gadgets and so forth for your player.

Overall, I would most definitely recommend picking up this game. I would rate it a 7.5/10. The movie itself may of sucked in my opinion but it is a nice FPS for the most part to play if you are looking for a game to play. The multiplayer is definitely worth checking out and will add more hours to the game as well. Especially since people are still playing it as I said with it being out now for 3 months.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

// January 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog, mistical.com, Reviews

Last night I saw Paul Blart: Mall Cop with my sister and younger brother. Go see this movie!

It is absolutely hilarious. Now given I already think Kevin James is awesome and hilarious and would watch him anyways, I still think it is absolutely funny to see and well worth the money spent.

Especially since now a days you could easily see all the funny parts in the trailer, they ruin it but not in this case at all. Also the fact that movies you see now a days are not as funny as you would hope, that does not apply here either.

My Top G1 Apps

// December 15th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog, mistical.com, Reviews

These are not in any particular order either.

- TuneWiki
- Shazam
- ShopSavvy (Barcode Scanner and Compare Everywhere are great too)
- Scoreboard (Replaces all sports apps like Pro Football Live)
- StreamFurious
- The Weather Channel
- Bartender
- Ringdroid

I am still waiting for a good Twitter App to be made. I am not happy enough with Twidroid and the others are still not as good as Twidroid too. I do wish the Facebook App would get better, if possible. The MySpace App is pretty cool if I were actually use MySpace.

Now there are still other good apps to use that may not be on a regular basis or a game. These do not include the default apps that already come with the phone like Amazon MP3, Maps, etc). Those would be the following: Any Cut, aSettings, Backgrounds, Bonsai Blast, HotSpot Locator, Hold’em, MyBackup, PAC-MAN, ParkMark, Picasa, PhoneFlix (NetFlix), Pro Basketball, QSearch, Quickpedia, Tetroid, Solitaire, Tip Calculator, Txtract and Video Player.

G1 Phone Review

// November 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog, mistical.com, Reviews

I picked up the G1 phone from T-Mobile this past Saturday. Now having played with it for almost a week I must say this is such a great phone. I honestly had so many doubts about the phone to where I stuck with wanting to purchase the Sony Ericsson W902, well that finally came out and just as expected, price was $550. Honestly, such a great phone but did not want to pay that price especially when you do not get much out of it for what the G1 offers especially for $199.

I started with the RC29 update, battery life and things were great having just used it, few recharges from Saturday through Tuesday. Early Tuesday morning came finally with the RC30 update. Whoa, did that help the battery life so much more. I especially love the fact that if needed I could change the battery out unlike say the iPhone.

The applications so far are not so bad, I am loving ShopSavvy even though I do not use it as much but it is still nice. The iPhone has such an app too, so not like it has not been done before. I love the Google account integration, works flawlessly just as you would hope. Amazing. I am just anxiously waiting for more applications to come to the phone though.

Keyboard and touch screen work great. I honestly had doubts about the phones look when deciding about finally purchasing it. After going to the local T-Mobile store it did not look as bad as it did online pictures. The plastic is not so bad at all, I think it looks like in black and not so good in brown. The white and gray is very nice though and which I bought it in.

It has a great phone. If you are a T-Mobile customer or not, I would really recommend looking into purchasing this phone, go play with it and possibly even buy it. It can definitely compete with the iPhone and overs advantages over the iPhone but vice-versa disadvantages as well.

Henry Poole Is Here

// October 5th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog, mistical.com, Reviews

Watched this movie last night with my friend. Wow, such a great movie is all I have to say, sad though too but great ending. Honestly to me, this is one of those many movies out there that you should at least see once in your life. My friend said she liked it as well.

Luke Wilson just once again proves to me that he is an incredible actor. This movie should definitely get nominated for an oscar. Radha Mitchell also plays amazing in this movie, loved her in Man on Fire and many other movies she has been in. Their acting and moments together are incredible.

I would really recommend watching this movie whenever you get a chance too.

Trailer: Apple | Info: IMDB

Babylon A.D.

// October 4th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blog, mistical.com, Reviews

Last night I watched this movie with a friend of mine. Her thoughts first on this movie was that it was just alright though she obviously did like Vin Diesel in the shower scene, heh.

I think this movie could of been so much better. So I would have to say it was just alright too. It was not an absolute terrible movie though. There are for sure so many better movies that have already come out this year or coming out before you should sit down and see this one unless you are interested. That does not mean do not ever see this movie though. It had a lot of awesome scenes and what not. Vin Diesel is awesome, I am a fan. The movie seemed long but it was really short (1 hour and 22 minutes).

It is hard to say if it was a little long if it would of been better. They would of had to have done more to the story which I think was needed. I would have to say I give the movie 3 out of 5 stars. At most, it would be 3 1/2 but no more than that.

Trailer: Babylon A.D. | Info: IMDB