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The Rise and Fall of Flappy Bird

As you know, Flappy Bird, the amazingly simple, addictive game has been removed from the App Store and Google Play after only 28 days being in the top 10 of the App Store by it’s author, Dong Nguyen. The story surrounding it’s rise to popularity and it’s ultimate demise is truly an interesting one and a must read. One of my favorite sites, Mashable, has so graciously put together a timeline of events leading to the author removing the game and it’s a must read:

From Mashable:

“The story of Flappy Bird — its sudden rise and equally sudden fall — is hard to pin down. That’s partially because Nguyen, overwhelmed by the popularity of the game, has declined press requests for interviews. [Update: Shortly after we posted this story, Forbes tracked down Nguyen in Hanoi, where he revealed that Flappy Bird is “gone forever’ because, essentially, it was addictive.]

Still, using Twitter data from Topsy, Nguyen’s Twitter stream and app-ranking data from App Annie, we’ve managed to put together a timeline of the game.”

CLICK HERE to read more.

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Personally, I just don’t understand it. It’s a GAME. Why was the author so beaten up by the press, by Twitter? If you hated the game, hated the graphics, delete it. Yes, he made a lot of money from the game, as do many others, like say, Candy Crush. Is the difference because he was just one guy in Vietnam rather than a huge company? Is it because the graphics resembled old Nintendo of yore? The only people that should care about that is Nintendo, and as of yet, they haven’t done anything about that. I just don’t understand why people couldn’t just download the game and be happy, or delete the game and be happy, rather than harass this man with questions of why it got so popular, why the graphics are what they are, his formula for success.

Could he have handled it better? Probably. Maybe he just should have left Twitter entirely, used some of the money to hire someone to field questions or the like, but he didn’t. Instead, the game was pulled. Now, people are selling their iphones on ebay for mass amounts of money if Flappy Bird is installed. Crazy! Hopefully, Nguyen will now be able to live in peace. In the meantime, I’m gonna go try and beat my all time high score of 13.

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Tech Tuesday! Get All Caught Up in One Day!

It’s Tech Tuesday! Here are your quick little tech updates, all in one place!

Netflix: Streaming, Charging and the Kiddos

Let’s begin with Netflix. As you may already know, Netflix is raising their prices for their streaming/DVD out plans. Well, this is our way of reminding those of you that wanted to switch their plans before the changes take affect, better get to it. The price change takes affect for current subscribers on September 1st. Time to get those DVD’s back you had sitting around for months! I myself am canceling the DVD Service, and will just stick to streaming. If something new comes to DVD that I just have to see, then I guess RedBox will be getting my business. In the meantime, for the geeks out there, check out the nifty PBS Documentaries Netflix has streaming. I can vouch for the FDR and Huey Long Docs as being pretty interesting.

Another Netflix note: Netflix is currently testing a “Just for Kids” interface that will allow kids to browse for streaming content by character. Users that were selected for this beta test will notice a new tab on the main menu of their accounts located between the “Watch Instantly” and “Browse DVDs” tabs. Clicking the characters will bring up choices that feature that character. Sounds pretty great for parents who have to shuffle the kids around on errands. No word when it will be available to all.

iReadersDigest, iPad 3, iPhone 5 = iWantThemAll

Starting in September, Readers Digest will launch it’s digital subscription just for iPad users. Print subscribers will be able to receive their first 6 months free, but thereafter, will have to pay the regular non-print subscriber rate of $1.99 per issue, or $14.99 for the year. I know, you younger set think Readers Digest is just so old school, but I still subscribe, if only for the short articles that you can read when, well, you know when. Is the iPad about to take over the bathroom magazine rack?

Speaking of the iPad, rumor has it the next iPad version, iPad 3, is scheduled for release around February, 2012. Yep, right after Christmas, just like the iPad 2. I’m not real sure why Apple keeps pushing the latest and greatest AFTER the holidays, but I am assuming it’s to try and get rid of it’s previous version inventory as quickly as possible. I won’t make that mistake again. (Damn you iPad original!)

Which leads us to Apple, again. Did you run out and grab the iPhone 4? Well, of course, here comes iPhone 5. It’s just a rumor for now, but a report stemming from a Japanese website puts September 8th as the next Apple Media Event Day, which they believe Apple will launch the iPhone 5. Although in the past, Apple traditionally released their newer version of iPhone at the summer Worldwide Developers Conference, they didn’t this year, leaving speculation that Apple will announce at the September Media Day, usually reserved for their new iPod releases.

Mice!

Since Apple’s “Magic Mouse” has been released, it doesn’t seem like companies have been paying that close attention to that little gadget we use every day, until now. Two mice have hit the market recently, and both are very interesting, in their own very unique ways.

First the Microsoft Touch Mouse. Exclusive to Windows 7, this mouse scrolls like a dream. A three finger swipe will minimize all your windows, the two finger swipe will minimize the window you are in. The biggest difference between this mouse and the Apple version however is it’s feel. Testers say this mouse fits in your hand perfectly.

Our next mouse innovation is the USB Optical Mouse with Pocket Digital Scale. Yeah, you heard me. A mouse with a mini scale built in. The mouse offers a precise scale with a range of 0.1 to 500 grams allowing you to weigh small objects laying around on your desk. Perfect for the jewel thief or drug dealer on your Christmas List. http://usb.brando.com/usb-optical-mouse-with-pocket-digial-scale_p02420c037d15.html

Bedphones

Can you just see the informercial for these? Picture a man, tossing and turning dramatically in bed, trying to listen to music to sleep by. His ears aching for the dastardly large headphones he is wearing. Introducing Bedphones! The amazingly thin and tiny headphones designed to put you to sleep. That’s right, for only $29.95 you too can stop that horrible ear ache you get from those unsightly headphones you use when trying to sleep. They are less than 1/4″ thick and about as round as a penny. They ear hooks are made from moldable memory wire for all your comfort needs. The headphones are compatible with all devices that have a standard headphone jack, and come with a Satin eye mask and a travel case. Course if there were an infomercial for these, getting the eye mask and travel case would mean you would have to call within the next 15 mins… Aside from the corny infomercial we may see in the near future, these are pretty cool.

Yo 911. Cn u hlp me plz?

FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, announced a plan last Wednesday to update the 911 technology to include texts, photos and videos, along with a way to track the location of such communication. 911 Operators think this is a great idea, but without a way to track where the text or video came from, it will be useless. The Chairman is trying to implement that feature first.

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That’s it for this week! Are you going to grab the iPhone 5 or the iPad 3? Are you cancelling Netflix because of the price hike? Let us know below!

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Tech Tuesday! This Weeks Stories in Tech

Well, it’s been another week, and stories just don’t stop in the tech world. Here are the chosen topics today:

Steve Jobs Goes on Medical Leave

Apple Inc. co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs sent a note Monday to employees saying he’s taking a second medical leave of absence (he had taken a medical leave previously less than two years ago) so he can focus on his health.

There was no information provided about his current condition, and Apple Spokesman Steve Dowling would not directle answer any questions relating to Jobs’ health or whereabouts. Jobs did say, however, that he will continue as CEO and be involved in the major decisions, but has put Steve Cook (COO) in charge of day-to-day operations. Jobs said “I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can”.

Jobs has had health troubles in the past, but those issues were never disclosed until after the fact. Back in 2004, he recovered from a rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, but the surgery and recovery were not revealed until afterward. In 2009, on another 6 month medical leave, he had a liver transplant, which wasn’t public until two months later.

COO Steve Cook was put in charge on every medical leave to date. In 2004, it was his performance in the day-to-day operations that won him the COO position. Many consider Cook as the Jobs’ logical successor.

Shares of Apple dropped 5% since the announcement.

White iPhone 4 Could Finally be a Reality

Speaking of Apple the mythical white iPhone 4  could finally be ready for retail.

According to reports from Engadget and MacRumors, white iPhone 4 units are showing up in inventory systems at Vodafone Germany and Best Buy. Leaked screenshots of the Best Buy inventory system indicate a projected in-stock date of February 27, 2011.

Apple was supposed to release the white iPhone at the end of June last year, but the launch just never happened. The company attributed the delays to “manufacturing problems.”

I think if I were to grab myself an iPhone, I would probably choose white if given the choice.

Facebook Stops it’s Phone & Address Sharing (Momentarily)

Following major outrage from FB users over it’s recent decision to allow applications to request access to a user’s address and mobile phone number, Facebook has decided to temporarily disable this feature until it implements changes that will help users make better informed decisions about their privacy.

Just like our recent post about Spokeo that puts all your info in one place, I think this is a good decision by Facebook. However, I still don’t trust Facebook with my information, and have since removed a lot of my more personal details.

Matter of fact, and I know this isn’t a very popular opinion, but I’m not a fan of Facebook. If there were a “like” button for Facebook, I wouldn’t push it, how about that! I’m such a rebel. I would imagine that this opinion may end up getting me deleted as a friend from many, but I an in complete agreement with Andy Ostroy over yonder at Hufffington Post who wrote an article on just this topic back in 2009. Read his article HERE, and you will get my sentiments exactly.

Facebook Arranged Date Ends in Murder

…And another reason to dislike Facebook:

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuanian police say a 14-year-old boy has admitted killing a 13-year-old girl he met through Facebook.

Police spokeswoman Dalia Petrauskiene says the girl from the town Alytus was murdered after arranging on Facebook to meet the boy, who lives in the capital, Vilnius. Her half-naked body was found at a bus stop outside Vilnius on Sunday.

The spokeswoman said Monday that the boy confessed to the killing. If found guilty of murder he faces a maximum 10-year sentence.

Lithuania is one of Facebook’s fastest growing markets, with some 710,000 users in the country of 3.4 million.

Be careful out there Yaksters, and keep an eye on the kids when online.

HP Launches New Comedy Improv Show on YouTube

HP is bringing a new kind of comedy show to YouTube. Actors from the ‘Upright Citizens Brigade Theater’ will take skit ideas from viewers and perform them live on Google’s video-sharing site.

The two-hour show, called HP ePrint Live, will be hosted by comedian Rob Riggle (The Daily Show) and simultaneously broadcast on the HP for Home Facebook Page. HP will allow viewers to send in their ideas for the different skits by sending an e-mail to one of the internet-connected ePrint printers on the stage. Viewer submissions that get chosen will be performed live on the stage.

The premier of the show will be on Jan 21, starting at 3:00 p.m. ET and will contunue for 6 days (January 21 through 26) with more comedy shorts based on new selected ePrint submissions. According to HP, viewers can submit their ideas using photos, poems, single words and drawings to ideas@hpeprintlive.com throughout the week; if chosen, a link to a video of the participant’s skit will be e-mailed back to the viewer.

The skits will be performed live, but they will also be made into short videos later so a viewer doesn’t have to be there at any specific time.

It’s an interesting advertiseing concept, but will it work? I guess that depends on the talent and whether the HP promotion will be subtle rather than in your face annoying.

That’s all for today folks! Share your thoughts below!

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Tech Tuesday! This week’s top stories in the world of Geek

I admit it, I am a total geek. I would imagine I am not alone in this, so I thought I would write an article aimed at those like me. Cool geek is how I refer to myself. I am a proud member of “Geeks are Sexy” (yes, they are) over at Facebook, and keep up to date with the Mashable App on my iPad.

I am, however, not a rich geek, and a pretty thrifty one as well. The iPad was a gift, and wifi, not 3g. I do not own an iPhone. In fact, I recently downgraded all the phones on my current “family plan” to newer flip phones (with qwertys of course) and got rid of all internet plans on them. Do I miss it? A little admittedly. However, I would much rather view the web on my larger iPad screen, then on this itty bitty phone screen, and, for free. My family plan bill dropped a whopping $80 dollars by doing it. I just couldn’t justify the $80 for our phones to have internet, and the additional $50 or so that goes to my cable company for home access.

I own a MAC. Yes, I put out a good sum to get it a couple of years ago, but the headaches and cost it has saved me in the long run is well worth every penny. Now I know that statement may have irritated a few PC users, and I’m sorry for that. I was a PC user for years, fearing the switch, but I jumped over anyway, and am so glad I did. I was a PC Technician for years, and the one thing a PC Tech will never tell the customer? “Get a Mac.” It would put us out of business!

I also own a Tivo Box and Wii, and am becoming a Netflix and Hulu streaming extraordinaire. Now, one might say that I am putting all this money out on those services (Tivo, Netflix) how can that make me a thrifty geek? Well, I cut my cable bill WAY down, only receiving, at the moment, cable’s basic service. I’m sure the cable company can’t be that happy with me. Eventually, I plan on going strictly antenna, and cutting the cable TV service all together. It’s just a matter of finding the time to re-wire the house. It’s on the agenda for 2011 however. Now if MagicJack would get number portability…. (prod prod poke poke)…

I just got so tired of every bill I get costing me around $200 a month. When did $200 a month become the norm?

Anyway, I digress. Let’s take a look at this week’s tech headlines:

iPhone coming to Verizon: I heard about this a few days ago, and the Verizon announcement has been made. The iPhone 4 will be exclusively offered for pre-order to current Verizon customers on Feb 3rd and Feb 10th for everyone else.

Now I have to say, if you are interested in getting the iPhone and paying the monthly price, it is well worth it to make the switch. One, it’s an iPhone, and they are, well, awesome. Second, it’s the Verizon Network. You will actually be able to use the “phone” part without dropping calls or losing signal. Nice huh?

Apple Launches the Mac App Store: Yep, now there is one for your Mac. It doesn’t sound like such a big deal since there are already app stores for all other Apple products it seems, but it actually is a big deal. Having an app store (for free and paid apps) will allow for more development, and more business opportunity for developers. Matter of fact, hopefully there will be a YakkityYaks app out there soon! Now, if they can get it together to offer it up to us old Leopard users…. As of now, it’s currently available to Snow Leopard users.  I’m hoping they will remember we are out here soon.

Facebook NOT shutting down on March 15th. I repeat, Facebook is not shutting down on March 15th. I have heard the rumors, seen them spread like wildfire, especially on Facebook itself, and it’s just not true. Just days before, as a matter of fact, Facebook raised $500 Million in funding, so yeah, not shutting down.

Those are the big stories this week! I’m sure there are plenty more, but I have kept you long enough for now. Come check out our FORUMS and talk about the latest in all things tech!