Stalk My Friends?!?

I feel like I’ve been using Apples new FindMyFriends app a little more than I should. Don’t get me wrong. Its not like I’m tracking my friends every move, but it is pretty cool to see what they are up to and maybe send off a funny text. Getting over some of the privacy issues I see, this app does make me think about some of the cool and helpful ways it could improve some people’s lives.

​FindMyFriends is a simple app, almost to simple, with a very basic setup. You’re not going to need any codes or knowledge of GPS systems to get online. All you need is your Apple ID along with your password and you’ll be signed right into the home screen. From here you can send either a “temporary share location” request and set the time limit for how long you want to be sharing or you can send a permanent share location request. Now this is where I fumbled with the app a little bit. I sent a request to a pal of mine and he accepted so I could then see his location on the map but when I asked if he could see me he said no. He then sent me a location share request that I accepted and then it worked. I guess this is just a safeguard against sharing your location unknowingly. Besides being able to get directions to a friend’s location, this sums up all the functions in the app. It’s definitely not any sort of new extreme social networking tool. Even with a lack of functions, this app definitely opens up some great possibilities for real life situations.

​FindMyFriends is a really cheap solution to what is usually a high cost system for small businesses. Imagine the owner of a small delivery company that does nights out on the town and airport runs. It would be convenient to see the location of the cars and their ETA to destinations. With a couple Internet connected iOS devices you have a gps tracking system for your business. Voila.

​Apply the same concept to a family of five. It’s a good way for a mom and dad to keep track of the youngings (and keep track of each other). Now if you read the link you could see where this app could start some problems. In a relationship this could be the beginning of the end for some. For anybody reading this who has a significant other that is a little abusive on the telephone/texting, this is not an app you want to make them aware of.

​All in all, this app is really great in terms of ease of use and overall design. The iPod/iPhone version looks great and the iPad version is impressive in itself. Again, the app does lack in-depth functionality, but this is also the very beginning of Apples stroll into mostly uncharted territory. Lets see if this is just another one of Apples “hobbies” or the start of something much grander in the Live Social Networking Experience.

Vincent V.

Read more »

RAGE: That's it?

Rage is a gorgeous first person shooter that brings rich apocalyptic landscapes and breath-taking skylines. The textures and detail are amazing to look at and even the weapons feel solid and versatile with different ammunition types. Rage also incorporates fun vehicle gameplay and a basic engineering craft to create sentry bots, exploding RC cars, etc. But, once you start mowing down the mutants and bandits throughout the Wasteland, there really isn’t much else. In other words, the lack of story made me want to shoot myself in the face.

The game kicks off with your character being stowed away in a bunker called an ARC to survive the apocalypse. Brought to you by the most glorious asteroid that annihilates almost all life on the planet. Upon waking up years later after impact you find your fellow crewmates dead in their cryo-beds and you step in to a world where no one likes you. A man named Hagar saves your ass shortly after leaving your cocoon and you start running errands for him. Like killing bandits and stuff, no big deal.

You find out early in the game that you are a special class of soldier that has microscopic robots in your body that regenerate your health, called Nanites. You also have a large bounty on your head by the Authority (a corrupt Government agency) because of your special ability. Luckily, you fell into the hands of the rebelling heroes and are the key to winning the fight for the Resistance. Nothing to ground breaking but it works as a basic story.

The main problem I had with Rage after playing for a few hours was that the story really did not go anywhere. I ran around helping Hagar at his settlement, and some other locals around the Wasteland. You eventually make your way to the first protected town called Wellspring (one of two towns in the game) and start to find your way into the Resistance. But that was pretty much it. Throughout the game you know that the Authority want to control the world with a mechanical fist and that the Resistance just want to be free. There is some extra storyline that connects the mutants that were said to be from the asteroid radiation to the Authority, but nothing to surprising.

The only enjoyable part of the game was traveling through Dead City and encountering the countless amounts of mutants, both small and really damn big. It was terrifying and suspenseful and really put you at the edge of your seat. Plus, (Spoiler Alert) the only real boss in the game.

Towards the end of eight hours of gameplay, you start the main mission to destroy the Authority once and for all. You are given a brand new mini gun with secondary BFG rounds (thank you DOOM) and some advice of caution. Without any deep story to drive me, I was revved up to get chaotic with what was ahead of me. It seemed the game was finally going to pick up. It didn’t. I found myself at the top of an Authority stronghold as I blazed through standard enemies ready for the big boss fight. Instead, I was welcomed with a CG cut scene and the end of the game as I cried out “That’s it?”

Overall, if you want to play a fun FPS with solid gameplay, go for it. If you want to play a game with a great story that makes you want more and more, just walk away from this one.

Eric G

Read more »