AI, Mobile, and Eveything Around the Cloud

Some quick thoughts about mobile gaming in the age of app stores, casual gaming, and diminished support for portable gaming consoles, is it time to give thought to how Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo will go on. I see a merger of platforms, birth of new ones, and a salad of old tech mixed with the new. Which is better? More at Onxo .

Is the iPhone and sibling, iPod Touch, for gaming as well as a countless of other multi-purpose functions? You know, a mobile computer? Sega thinks so. In fact, according to IGN, they're more than just excited. They've got stuff cooking that they can talk to anyone about. The first game in a long time from Sega is Super Monkey Ball 2. It's not out yet but it certainly looks pretty good. So, what are these developments that Sega cannot talk about? I guess we'll know shortly. No matter what they are, it's important to understand what's being said. Sega, creator of Genesis, Dreamcast, Game Gear, and tons of gaming properties, believes the iPhone is for real. Hey, if it's good enough for Sega, it's good enough for me. At the moment, you'd think Gameloft and EA were the only two big development houses making games for the iPhone but you should take a look at the app stores and you'll realize Sega has 5 games already in the store.  But ...

There has been a plethora of articles and blogging posts (line continues to be blurred between the two) about Apple's iPhone platform and the inways its made in the mobile gaming market. Personally, I think the final ruling is a bit further out.  Two or three years.  Still, there has been quite a bit of attention, including our own blogs ( Onxo and here) about mobile gaming in general and how iPhones and iPod Touches can benefit as more mobile warriors use it beyond playing music, making calls, and surfing the Web. I have to say that 90% of all my apps, both paid and free, are games.  They range from $1 and up.  And you know what?  During that time, I've not touched my other gaming gears.  And this isn't just coming from me.  Others have also noted this change.  Perhaps it's time for me to make a declaration about Apple's gaming but honestly it really is too early to say.  Nintendo and Sony have yet to respond to the app store in any m...

That's the question Onxo examined today.  Inspired by a post I read over Gizmodo today (must read for all gaming fans), I started wondering about Apple's prospects of supplementing Nintendo and Sony as the mobile gaming leader. While that issue may be up for debate for years to come, what isn't is the facts that surfaced in recent days about Apple's moves on the mobile front and data that point to Cupertino gearing up for a mobile gaming war. 35K apps in the App Store.  Of those, more than 9,000 are games.   37 million iPhones and iPod Touches.  We might see 70-80 million by the end of 2009.   1 Billion downloads in about 9.5 months.  The next billion will not take that long. New iPhones coming in June along with iPhone 3.0.   Back-to-school iPod Touch giveaways with Mac purchases.   Apple commercials with iPod Touch and gaming. App Store seeing more games from tier one developers like EA and Sega.   Apple's recent hiring of forme...

Macworld reports that Apple pulled Duck Hunt from the app store at Nintendo's request.  Frankly, I'm very surprised by how long it took for Nintendo to make this request. However, the developer will provide an updated version without infringing on Nintendo's copyright - meaning removing the graphics and music. Now, sports games.  Today, Macworld wrote an article about football games for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  I thought "wow, how could I have missed those games completely".  I have been complaining about the lack of sports games. Well, it turned out it's not real football like what we see on the DS or PSP.  No Madden.  Still, it's a great post that I recommend readers head over to read.  Instead of real football, it's finger football or paper football.  Basically, you flick something between a graphical pair of hands set up to look like the goal post to see if you can make the "field goal". There's a game called "X'...

With the Mac back in the news today.  Oh, sorry.  You heard right.  The Macbook is back to headline once again after ceding media and blog attention to its smaller mobile cousins, the iPod Onxo Updates: Pole Position for iPhone   Can Apple make America read again? Need a  better way to blog  on the iPhone. Mac Hybrid Onxo  on the best non-Apple Macbooks. Hand crank  to charge the iPhone or iPod Podcaster  via Jailbreak Onxo  feels iPhone games should contain more depth. iPhone-iPod Update: iSmashphone  on iNotes for the iPhone. TUAW  on Street View and special features for Japanese iphone users.  Emoji should have been on the iPhone to start with.  Next step, make it easier for people to read enovels and comics, Jobs. Touch Arcade  on $10K prize for best iPhone/iPod game. Small Wave  talks about App Store. iLounge  on contract free iPhones in Mexico. Macworld    reports owner...

We did not post a lot of Mac updates last week because there really was not a lot to write about and I don't want to waste your time for the sake of clicks. Just to recap a bit from last week, Apple finally lifted their nondisclosure agreement for iPhone developers. I can't call it the right move.  It was just "a move" that really should have been done.  Apple really screwed up by not communicating with the iPhone community on this issues. Also today, NDP stated the iPhone took command of the smartphone market with 17% of total units moved.  It's possible Apple has already broken through the 10 million mark it set for itself for total 2008 sales. Onxo Updates: Pole Position for iPhone   Can Apple make America read again? Need a better way to blog on the iPhone. Mac Hybrid Onxo  on the best non-Apple Macbooks. Hand crank  to charge the iPhone or iPod Podcaster via Jailbreak Onxo  feels iPhone games should contain more depth. iPho...

The buzz this morning is the NDP data point to a dramatic change in leadership in the smartphone sector.  Who are the top sellers? iPhone Blackberry Curve Blackberry Pearl Palm Centro Here are some statistics to chew on: 30% of people who bought iPhones were new customers to ATT versus industry numbers 23% customers switchers 47% - nearly half of new iPhone owners came from Verizon 24% - nearly a quarter of new iPhone owners came from T-Mobile (I'll be staying with T-Mobile for the G1 experience) 19% of new iPhone customers came from Sprint 11% of smartphones sales were iPhone before iPhone 3G intro.  17% after iPhone 3G was made available.  About a 55% increase. NDP surveyed 150K customers for this report Related links: Virtual Press Office Gizmodo Macsimum News : Cult of Mac :   Cult of Mac :  Numbers suggest big sales for iPhone.  A little analysis. BullCross :  Use of IMEI numbers to track iPhone sales (via MacDaily News ) Macnn ...

You probably already know unless On Apple is your sole Mac and iPhone information but Apple withdrew their NDA. And just as we wonder why they continued to implement the NDA, we now switch to why withdraw it now?  Their claim:  competition.   But it does make sense since all their main competitors, including Android, is out on the market or soon will be.  There won't be any need for Apple to hold developers hush-hush.  Although, I just have to wonder though.   Since anyone can download the iPhone SDK and have a peek around, what why would the NDA be an issue?   We had speculated on why the NDA was so important to Apple but we were right when we said it wouldn't go on forever. iPhone-iPod Update: Yesterday, the biggest news was Adobe making a boneheaded announcement about Flash for the iPhone pending Apple's approval.  With the NDA lifted, Adobe should be able to say more about it.  No word.  Wouldn't bet in it happen unles...

The biggest news, although it's really a non-news, is an Adobe director announcing that a Flash player would be available pending Apple approval. Just to chime in, I doubt it is the case and if we do see Flash on the iPhone, it will not be in the form that we are used to seeing on the Internet. As with all things Apple, time will tell.  But don't hold your breath. The other big news today is the availability of IBM's Lotus Notes available on the iPhone as a web app.  I'm glad for three reasons.  One is that now iPhone users have another enterprise mail option and the iPhone also becomes an option for 140 million Notes users. Secondly, this reinforces the iPhone's place in the enterprise.  And lastly, I'm glad develop on the Web front continues. TUAW InfoWorld  - IBM had two customers participate in testing iNote Ultralight and they love the implementation.  However, they do wish that eventually, iNotes would become a standalone app. Speculation be...

I've got over 25 games on my iPhone.  Some are free.  Some are $0.99.  Others like EA's Spore and Super Monkey Ball tops out at $9.99 a piece.  But I find myself spending a little more time with the free or $0.99 games and I'm perplexed by it. I love Spores.  And find Monkey Ball addicting.  And I paid more for them so why am I not playing them more often?  I don't know.  I chalk it up to personal preference.  In fact, I've rediscovered web apps lately as well.  Specifically, I've been trying to find games and apps that I can use with Safari that work just as well as apps that sit on my iPhone.  But that's chat for another time. But as I got to thinking, I also looking at some of the recent games produced by big named developers.  Star Wars The Force Unleashed looks fun but at $9.99, I don't know if I would like it that much.  I might pick it up when it goes on sale.  I'm more of a Star Trek fan.  Then there'...

Once again, the dominant story in Cupertinoland continues to be the iPhone related issues. First, Apple, who has opted to remain quiet through this developer revolt (I rather think that Apple is up to something brilliant during this period of silence) about app rejections and outcries about NDA. Nevertheless, work continues to be made on the app store. Now, if you don't buy an app, you can't provide reviews.  Finally! A minor step back.  You can't simply find free apps with a click.  Someone will have to provide that link in a blog or something.  Why do that, Apple?  My guess:  trouble with revs from developers as everyone downloads mostly free apps.   Apps are now ranked by release dates, not app updates. TUAW  thinks there are specific reasons for this, depending on how you feel about Apple and the iPhone. Posts on changes to app store: iPodnn   World of Apple   Appleinsider   Touch Podium Silicon Alley Insider   ...

As many games as there are on the iPhone and the iPod Touch, Apple's newest mobile sensation is no closer to being a contender to even be consider a threat to DS or PSP.  In fact, we posed the question whether iPhone gaming may ruin mobile games because of the low prices and dropping prices that developers may not think it worthwhile to develop for any system if iPhone's pricing precedent takes hold. Now, I love my iPhone and I'll be getting the new iPod Touch in days.  However, as much games I've got on for my iPlatform devices, most are by small parties, and they're excellent games.  Still, we are still being pitted as casual mobile gamers, not hard core portable gamers as DS and PSP gamers may be called. Where are the Final Fantasies, Sonic Chronicles, and sports games like Madden and NHL.  Where is Capcom and Konami? I'm expecting a Harry Potter game from WB but I won't hold my breath on that. $10 cap.  That's why.  And the games that TUA...

I was wondering about what Japanese themed RPG are out on the app store for the iPhone and if not, when will they be out. Well, then I saw Vay (head over to Macworld ).  But we're not here to talk about that.  I'l have a review this weekend or next week. But Vay is it!  No more.  Now, I know Pokemon is Nintendo property but Sega, Konami, or anyone do not have anything to compete with Pikachu? Heck, I'll settle for Cardcaptors or Digimons.  In a year, there will be 40 million iPhones worldwide.  In addition, there could be anywhere from twenty to thirty-five million iPod Touches.  For a combo of sixty to seventy-five million potential consumers, it looks right for these Japanese video game studios to jump into the pond. And if these Apple devices are indeed more power than PSP and the DS and as powerful as the PS2, it's time to see Xbox and PS2 type games on the iPod. Judging by the review for Vay, there definitely is a market for Square a...