Jake Ludington - Mediablab

Cube 'O'

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:11:06 -0700

Relive the biggest puzzle craze of the 1980s with Cube 'O'. This online game puts a twist on the classic Rubik's Cube ®. Use the empty space to maneuver pieces so that each side of the cube is a different color. Move one piece at a time. Rotate the cube using the arrows. Prepare to have your brains and patience tested when you play online. You can't break Cube 'O' apart with a hammer if you get stuck!

Globs

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:10:33 -0700

Looking for a colorful challenge? Connect the Globs and make them all the same color in this simple-yet-captivating online game. Start with the top-left glob. Click one of the 6 colored buttons above this glob to change its color. Any globs that are the same color and touching this glob will merge with it. Repeat until you merge all the globs. Earn massive points by connecting all the globs in 25 moves or less. You'll be the Master Globs Guru!

The Three Stooges

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:11:36 -0700

Join Larry, Moe, and Curly, those comedy icons, as they search for a secret treasure. Stay one step ahead of their dastardly landlord, Mr. G. Reedy while hunting for clues in a variety of levels. Relive the hilarious antics of the The Three Stooges, inspired by classic in-game shorts and movies. Can you brave the follies of this famous TV trio? Scour scenes in this Hidden Object saga, and hang with your best buds, The Three Stooges.

Farm Frenzy

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:12:04 -0700

If you thought life in the big city was crazy, wait until you get a load of the country life in Farm Frenzy! Daily chores have never been more entertaining as you cultivate your fields, feed your animals and gather the items they produce. You can spend the money you earn on upgrading your farm! Offering plenty of finger-clicking action, just enough strategy to keep things interesting and an amusing cast of characters, Farm Frenzy is a game the whole family can enjoy!

Avalanche

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:10:51 -0700

Hop your way to the top of the blocks as you play Avalanche. In this quick-moving online game, you must leap from block to block to avoid the rising pink liquid. Use arrow keys to move left and right and the up arrow to jump. Don't get crushed by falling blocks! Dodge and hop your way through the Avalanche of blocks now.

How to Close Outlook when Outlook is already closed

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:11:50 -0700

"I am trying to install Google Calendar Sync, but when it begins to install, a message pops up that I must close Outlook first. I do not have Outlook open. Any suggestions?"

There are many instances where you will have closed the Outlook application window without Outlook actually being closed. I'm not sure if this is a problem with Outlook or a feature designed to make it load faster when you re-open it later, but I find it frustrating on a regular basis. Some manual intervention is required to fix the problem.

Buku Dominoes

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:11:21 -0700

For centuries, the game of dominoes has been loved by every age and culture. Now Buku Dominoes brings the experience to a fun online game. Play 2 different game types online plus many more available in the full version of the game. Dominoes continues to be one of the most popular strategy games in the world, and Buku Dominoes is the champion favorite. Try it online and then download the full version for free!

PDF Split and Merge

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:12:06 -0700

There are many occasions where I want to combine a few PDF files into a single document for easy storage. If I get invoices, contracts and data about a project in several different files, I can archive them all as one file by combining them. Conversely, there are many instances where I get PDFs that have unnecessary blank pages or strange formatting that I eliminate by removing pages. I typically use the full version of Adobe Acrobat for these functions, but that's overkill for most people. PDF Split and Merge helps make it easy to merge and split PDF files without needing to spend additional dollars on a more complex program. The interface is a little clunky, but once you get used to it's quirks, splitting PDFs is a snap. The only possible disadvantage to this app is it lacks the ability to perform split and merge functions on password protected PDFs. [Windows 2k/XP/Vista $0.00]

Visual Voicemail market continues to grow

Jake — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:12:05 -0700

I’m sure Apple will receive undeserved credit for creating the visual voicemail concept when the iPhone launched. Several companies beat Apple to the punch, saving us from wasting time listening to our messages without needing an iPhone to get the job done. I first started testing visual voicemail in 2007, but didn’t find a service I liked until PhoneTag came along. I was enamored with their service fairly early on (when they were still called SimulScribe) and have kept a PhoneTag account ever since.

Recently Vonage added a visual voicemail feature for $0.25 per message. I already get my messages from Vonage delivered as audio files to my inbox, which dramatically decreases the amount of time required to review messages. Adding visual voicemail makes a huge difference, because I no longer need to write down phone numbers. The numbers are conveniently stored in Outlook, where I can easily retrieve the information at a later time without looking for the scrap of paper I used to write the number down. The 0.25 fee represents an extra $3-5 on my phone bill (based on the past several months message volume), which is an acceptable fee for the convenience.

If you haven’t tried visual voicemail yet, I highly recommend giving PhoneTag a test with your cell phone. The time savings is definitely worth it.

If you’re already using a visual voicemail product, which one is it? Do you love it? hate it?

Spin Madness

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:10:32 -0700

Send yourself into Spin Madness with this tricky hand-eye coordination game. Click on as many like-colored discs as you can to start them spinning. Then, click the big red button to clear them from the board. Work quickly! If a disc stops spinning before you remove it, it turns black and can't be moved again. Play Spin Madness online now and find out what the madness is all about!

Bourne Conspiracy Xbox 360 and PS3 Tips and Cheats

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:11:51 -0700

Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy isn't nearly as free-form as the marketing suggests. You can't interact with the world during hand-to-hand the way the game suggests, it decides for you. Still it's a fairly engaging game based on the Matt Damon interpretation of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne character. Here are walk-through strategies and cheats that should help you beat Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy:

Aztec Blocks

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:11:53 -0700

Deep in Montezuma's greatest pyramid, you've discovered a treacherous Match 3 puzzle. Now, you must match the cryptic Aztec Blocks in groups of 3 or more to free yourself from the pyramid's grasp. Watch the right side for 3 bonus tiles that can replace any tile, act as a wildcard, or move tiles diagonally. To use a bonus tile, click on it and then place it on the board. Don't run out of moves or the Aztec Blocks will keep you trapped forever.

Bittu Bomber

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:11:37 -0700

Fight fire with fire in this explosive game of speed and skill. In Bittu Bomber, you must bomb your enemies before they bomb you. Use the arrow keys to navigate the maze and the space bar to place bombs. Run away when you set a bomb - your explosions will kill your enemies, and they will also kill you. Destroy all the enemies to find the key to the next level. With 10 levels to beat, Bittu Bomber really is the bomb!

War of Guns

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 01:11:18 -0700

Feel the thrill of a tactical War of Guns. Use a combination of military strategy and massive firepower in this sci-fi tower defense game. Purchase 3 powerful weapon types: robos, tankers, and traps. Fire on your enemies with strategically placed robos and tankers. Plant traps to decrease enemy power. Unlock 6 different lands and protect them all. The War of Guns is starting. Are you ready to defeat your enemy?

Poker: Texas No Limit

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:10:32 -0700

Break out your best poker face and play poker online. Poker: Texas No Limit brings the most popular version of poker from Vegas right to your computer. Compete in a quick solo game or choose a character and play in career mode. Enter competitions and win your way to the top. Extensive tutorials help you learn how to play. Bet high and hold your cards close when you play Texas Hold'em No Limit.

New Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Video Show

Jake — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:11:03 -0700

If you haven’t been to a live performance by the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus you really should go next time they pass through your town. It’s a throwback to traveling performances with all the fire eating, contortion, and other oddities you could ever hope for. They performed at my bar about 10 years ago and it was one of the most entertaining shows I ever hosted. They recently launched a new video show, simply called The Bindlestiffs, offering a behind the scenes look at the artists who perform in the Cirkus. Video will never do the live show justice, but the behind the scenes POV is excellent.

Image Master

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:10:32 -0700

Want to see the world without leaving your house? Explore beautiful locales from around the globe as you play Image Master online. Find 5 differences between the 2 photos before the timer runs out. Click on each difference in the right-hand photo. Use hints if you get stuck. If you click incorrectly, you will lose time. With its lush photos, Image Master will challenge your eyes and inspire your inner traveler.

Azada - Puzzle Game of 2007 for under $1

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:10:32 -0700

I realize that 2007 is long gone by now, but if you haven't tried the 2007 Puzzle Game of the Year, here's your chance to get it for a song (assuming you already pay .99 for music). All you need is the discount code AZADA99 when you checkout for a great deal on a game that normally costs $19.99. The premise of Azada is the adventurous Titus is trapped in a haunted room by his great-uncle. Titus needs your help to release him from the magical spell. To do this, you must solve the most mysterious puzzles of Azada. A little cheesy, yes, but the puzzles are a great challenge and you really can't go wrong for $0.99. The catch, this offer ends on August 15, so the clock is ticking.

You can see a video demo of the game before you order, or you can order the game immediately. The order page is a little confusing, you actually want to choose the $19.99 option, click next, and then enter AZADA99 on the next page.

And if you get stuck, you can always get the Azada strategy and walk-through guide.

Governor of Poker

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:12:03 -0700

It`s best not to mess with Texas in this battle to poker superstardom. Earn your title by challenging old western poker pros and see your name in the local paper. Compete for cash, fame, properties, transport assets, and more. Youda Governor of Poker revisits the roots of this riveting card game. You`ve got to hold em and know when to fold em to take over Texas.

Tweezle Lab

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:10:47 -0700

Deep in the mysterious Tweezle Lab, a mad scientist works day and night trying to clone extraterrestrial life. Help him manage his high-tech cloning machine. Match up pieces of the power grid by color as they drop into the machine. Connect the colors to each side of the grid to create a power surge. One powerful zap and you have a new life form! See how many weird and wonderful aliens you can clone as you help out in Tweezle Lab.

Fun 'n' Fruits

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:10:52 -0700

It's raining, it's pouring, the fruit is falling from the sky in Fun N Fruit. In this mouth-watering online game, you must match up the fruits as they tumble down into your basket. Rotate your basket left and right using the arrow keys. Pile up 5 or more like fruit to clear them from your basket. Pay attention to the fruits. Some contain special powers that can help, or hurt, your game. Play Fun N Fruit now - it's sweet enough to eat!

Explorer's Shuffle

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:10:50 -0700

Arrange the pieces in numerical order in Explorer's Shuffle, a tricky online puzzle game. Swap a tile into the hold area. Then, move the correct tile into its place. Choose from 3 difficulty levels and several exotic backdrops. With its mind-boggling logic and deceptively simple game play, Explorers Shuffle will have you scratching your head for days.

Kullors

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:11:19 -0700

Bored with the same old Match 3 games? Brighten your day with Kullors, a cute online matching game with a colorful twist. Kullors are bright little guys who love to be paired up. Match 2 to clear them from the board. Stuck with an uneven number? Combine 2 different Kullors using the Kullor wheel and they'll become 1 new color. The more you mix, the more you score. Play Kullors online now and show your flying colors!

Dino Run

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:11:18 -0700

Doomsday has come to the dinosaurs, and a wall of fire and meteors threatens all prehistoric life! Send your fleet-footed dino on a Dino Run to save the species in this quick-moving online action game. Use the arrow keys to navigate a rugged world full of obstacles, enemies, and treasure. Collect dino eggs and eat critters to earn DNA. Move quickly the protoplasmic fire is hot on your heels. Can you help the dinosaurs escape extinction in Dino Run?

Schooled

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:11:19 -0700

Fish school has been tough for Goldie the Goldfish. The mean Angelfish bully her constantly because she can't spell. Help her get Schooled by spelling the words on the chalkboard in this charming online word game. Click to position Goldie so she can eat the letter pellets that complete the word. Catch falling bonus pellets and power-ups, if the greedy Angelfish don't get them first! With your help, Goldie will swim away from Schooled with her diploma in tow.

Chocolatier 2: Secret Ingredients

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:11:34 -0700

The delicious world of chocolate is once again turned on its side, this time by deceit and deception in the new chapter of the Chocolatier saga. There is a mole controlling Baumeister Confections, and it is up to you to build a new empire from the ground up and take over Baumeister Confections. On this journey you will need to rise up in this industrial age of innovation and seek out secret ingredients to create rich new recipes.

Happy Pill 2

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:11:05 -0700

Turn those frowns upside down again! Happy Pill 2: Double Dosage brings this bouncy online puzzle game back with more complex levels and smile-inducing new puzzle pieces. Bounce the happy pill so that it hits all the sad blue faces. Use your mouse to place the happy pill on the puzzle board, and click to fire the pill. Join Bi-polar Bear, the Hippy, and Morose Ghost and start smiling when you play Happy Pill 2 online for free.

Hedgehog Launch

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:12:11 -0700

The tiny Carribean nation of Minovia Cay needs you to head up its new space program, code-named operation Hedgehog Launch. Armed with only $50, a slingshot, and an infinite number of hedgehogs, you must help this tropical paradise reach the stars. Launch a hedgehog using the slingshot. Use left and right arrow keys to help him collect coins and hit bounce platforms. Buy equipment upgrades with your earnings. Good luck, captain. This is one small step for you, one giant leap for your hedgehog.

Mutant Heads

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:11:06 -0700

Call in the clone clean-up crew! The cloning sequencer broke mid-experiment, and now the lab is swarming with horrible Mutant Headz. Your job? Clear them out, level by level, in this eyeball-popping online game. Click on the mutant heads to eliminate them from the screen. Leave the Headz that match the clone. Be careful! You can only click incorrectly 3 times. It's a dirty job, but someone has to clean up all the Mutant Headz.

Make Windows Media Player Ignore Files

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:11:34 -0700

"I have ripped albums into Windows Media Player and have downloaded podcasts into iTunes and would like to keep the two separate, but WMP keeps picking up podcasts which makes streaming through my albums a pain, b/c all of a sudden Ira Glass is talking to me when I was in the groove doing homework to some good jazz music. Is there a way I can keep WMP from picking up my podcasts?"

There's two ways you could go about solving this problem. One way would be to create an Auto Playlist starting at Library - Create Auto Playlist in Windows Media Player. You'd then select only tracks you want to hear by genre or other meaningful details about the songs. This first method doesn't get Windows Media Player to ignore you podcasts. If you really want to eliminate the podcast files from being exposed to Windows Media Player, you need to have the software ignore the folder where the podcasts are downloaded.

Wedding Dash 2: Rings around the World

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:12:03 -0700

The loveable Quinn, world`s top wedding planner, returns in the hit sequel Wedding Dash 2® to plan the most exclusive wedding of the year. Joining her is the famous Flo® and Joe Wright, wedding photographer. Travel to exotic locations and manage guests while fulfilling the requests of Bridezilla and the all-new Groom-Kong. Tackle comedic disasters in this riotous Time Management game. Can Quinn keep her cool?

Taskkill Replacement for Windows XP Home

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:11:19 -0700

"taskkill works great in XP Pro, but how do you accomplish the same thing on XP Home system?"

If you want to quickly kill off running processes from the command line in Windows XP Professional, taskkill.exe is a great way to get the job done. XP Home does not include this utility, only including the more limited tkill.exe instead. Microsoft does provide a free solution to this via their acquisition of the Sysinternals team.

Fishdom

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:12:05 -0700

Create the perfect dream aquarium for all your finned friends. See your pet sims grow and thrive in their happy kingdom, Fishdom. Progress through challenging boards and solve puzzles to earn cash. Use the money to buy eye-candy fish and attractive ornaments. Win awards and upgrade your virtual tank as you perfect your aquarium design skills in Fishdom, a subterranean Match-3 game.

Get a Free Zune

Jake — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:11:53 -0700

I promised to give away a Zune in June this year and for various reasons it didn’t happen. The Zune has been here the whole time waiting to be given away, but I never got around to announcing the giveaway. With August rapidly approaching, here’s the scoop:

To be eligible to win the Zune you need to be subscribed to my newsletter and/or RSS feed and you need to follow me on Twitter. On August 31 I’ll post a question in my Twitter feed with the answer being in the newsletter from the day before. The first person to respond reply on Twitter with the correct answer will get the Zune. (Trust me, it will make sense when you see it)

The Zune is a brand new, never opened 80GB black model, which include the “premium headphones”. They genuinely are the best sounding headphones I’ve gotten with any portable player because they fit in your ears instead of the ear buds that seem to sit in your ears. They aren’t Etymotic or Shure quality headphones, but they aren’t bad. The Zune is, well a Zune. If you haven’t already, sign up for the newsletter and follow me on Twitter.

Paradise Island

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:11:20 -0700

Aloha and welcome to Paradise Island, a beautiful, word-filled paradise. Lounge among the tikis and hibiscus flowers as you solve 2 kinds of engaging word puzzles in this online game. First, match syllables to form words related to the puzzle's theme. Then, fill in missing letters to form more themed words. Collect tropical trinkets as you advance through the puzzles. Word lovers, get away to Paradise Island for your ultimate vacation.

Sound but no Picture in Windows Media Player

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:11:18 -0700

"A friend downloaded some television programmes for me. When I try to play them with Windows Media Player I only get the sound and no pics. What do I need to do to watch these programmes?"

Video files that play the sound but don't play the video are more common than you might realize. This problem is almost always caused by one of two problems. Either you don't have the required codec installed on your system to decode the video portion of the file you downloaded or Windows Media Player isn't properly associating the correct codec on your system in a way that makes viewing video possible. This is complicated by a huge volume of codecs out there. Here's how to get the file to play:

Saving Audio Only from Windows Movie Maker

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:11:18 -0700

"Is it possible to digitally record just the sound track from a movie captured in Windows Movie Maker?"

The Windows Movie Maker team anticipated this type of request and included a feature to export only the audio portion of your video as a WMA file. Instead of placing the movie clip on the Video portion of the timeline, drag it to the Audio/Music section of the timeline. When you go to publish your movie, Windows Movie Maker will ask you about audio quality settings and create a WMA, instead of allowing you to choose a video format.

Xbox 360 Live Vision Camera Alternative?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:10:32 -0700

"Can i use any other cameras instead of the Xbox 360 Live Vision camera? I have a Logitech webcam that I'd like to use instead."

As of this writing, the only camera supported by the Xbox 360 is the official Live Vision camera from Microsoft. It seems silly that they wouldn't enable any webcam to work with the video chat for the Xbox 360, but so far, the Live Vision is the only option. Presumably this is because Microsoft didn't want to test hundreds of cameras and store Webcam drivers on the reserved hard disk space available for updates to the system.

Convert Digital8 Tapes to Files

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:10:32 -0700

"What program converts Sony Digital8 Handycam tapes to digital files?"

Many programs will capture the footage of Digital8 (and MiniDV) tapes allowing you to convert them to digital files. One of the easiest to use is Windows Movie Maker, which is included with both Windows XP and Windows Vista. If you have minimal editing to do to the files, my favorite solution is to capture Digital8 tapes with WinDV and then save out the files to a smaller format using VirtualDub. No matter what method you use, make sure your computer has a FireWire port for capturing from the camcorder.