Mighty Miyo for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

They say build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. While cute, the folks behind Miyo Mouse don't have to worry about a rush to their door just yet. In Miyo Mouse, you navigate a mouse on a game board, trying to avoid mousetraps and falling meatballs (the developers call them fireballs) while gathering cheese, and returning to the home position.

The problem? The controls are frustrating: right and up directional buttons are on the right side of the game, with down and left controls to the left. Two big buttons (as well as blank space underneath the buttons) allow you to stop your mouse in its tracks. A more traditional directional pad placement of the buttons would go a long way toward making the game better. Some sound effects, and less reliance on stock music would be great as well. And as for those falling meatballs, they had frustration rather than difficulty to the game. Here's a look:

(iTunes link)

PhotoCaddy for the iPhone and iPod Touch

We're gearing up for our trip to MacWorld in San Francisco next month. And any visit to a new place means plenty of photos. Unfortunately, on a trip like this, it also means we won't have a lot of time. PhotoCaddy is an app that can help by giving you basic suggestions for different shooting scenarios, including recommended ISO settings, f-stop, etc. 

It also includes essential tips that while often are quite obvious, it doesn't hurt to have a refresher. For the budding photographer, looking to keep the basics nearby, and some quick tips to make the shoot go smoothly, and quickly, check out PhotoCaddy:

(iTunes Link)

Here's a look:

iSamJackson for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

iSamJackson marks perhaps the highest profile star getting involved with the creation of an iPhone app. Samuel L. Jackson has created hundreds of original sound clips for the app, and its add-on packs. Both "clean" and "explicit" versions of the app are available for $1.99.  Unfortunately, you won't find any of Jackson's famous movie lines due to copyright restrictions, but the developer says they are exploring additional content options for future updates.

There's also an "Ask iSamJackson" feature in which Jackson replies to your questions with magic 8 ball-esque responses. Additionally, there's an app that "scans" your fingerprint, followed by a Jackson quip. This particular feature seems the least useful (as useful as an app of Samuel Jackson voice clips could be).

(iTunes link)

Here's a look:

Grizzly for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

There truly is an app for just about anything. Case in point: Grizzly. Grizzly mates the combat style of street fighter with ridiculous cute stuffed teddy bears. But don't let those cute bear faces fool you: these bears are full of anger, and they're ready to do battle in a photo-realistic background near you. 

You control your character by tapping two circles on the bottom of the screen. One controls direction, while the other controls kicks, punches, and secret moves. While the gameplay is fun, it would be even better with networked, multiplayer game options.

As it is though, we can say this is easily the best teddy bear street fighting game ever. (note to the developers: we expect to see that glowing line of praise on the app page soon.)

(iTunes link)

Here's a look:

Chumby One Video Review

Last year, while reviewing the first generation of the chumby, I fell in love. In fact, as a full disclosure, I became a proud owner shortly after the review. Now the new chumby one is out, and there's very little not to love.

First, a quick explanation of just what a chumby is. The chumby essentially runs a series of flash widgets, allowing developers to do a lot of clever things, from stock tickers and RSS readers, to games that can take advantage of the built-in touchscreen and accelerometer. Make no mistake, this is not an iPhone competitor, nor is it any kind of computer replacement. It's really a new generation of product that can serve as an alarm clock replacement, desktop radio, and information appliance (a term which used to have a negative connotation, but not in this case.) At the office, I use the chumby to off-load items I would normally have to keep checking manually on my computer. For example, I can see at a glance what friends are saying on twitter and facebook, read my favorite blogs and see new stories as soon as they're on the feed. Sitting next to my computer, it becomes a productivity companion, freeing up the computer and me to get down to actual work.

However, there were some limitations to the first generation chumby (known as the chumby classic). First, it was strictly a plug-in device, meaning if there was something cool you wanted to share with someone else in the house/office, or you wanted to bring your tunes with you, you couldn't. Now there's an optional battery, allowing you to take the chumby anywhere you want (provided you stay within a setup wifi connection.) Another big improvement with the chumby one, is the inclusion of a large dial on the right to adjust volume. Previously, you would have to touch the screen then use an on-screen slider. The audio from the new device sounds a bit crisper, and louder. Bear in mind this is a small system, so don't expect Bose-like sound. There's a headphone jack in case the rest of the office doesn't appreciate your eclectic music tastes. The biggest improvement with this model though, is the price. Starting at $99, the chumby now can be a logical alarm clock replacement for many. In fact, this model includes an FM radio receiver for those who just can't wake up without their local "morning zoo" dj. This also means there's a wire antenna on the bottom of the device, but it can be stowed in the battery compartment if you aren't using a battery with the device. The FM receiver is a nice add-on, but it seems to have poorer reception than most FM radios located in the same location. Plus, the streaming music tends to sound much "fuller." The only thing missing from the chumby one compared to the classic, is the soft beanbag-like construction of the classic. The one features a quirky/futuristic white plastic look, that will probably prove far more friendly to office desks and cubicles the world over.

You really have to play with a chumby to fully appreciate what it does, and unfortunately, the device is currently only available online.

The bottom line is the chumby one is a unique device that improves on its predecessor, and is priced to make it practically a bargain. What it ultimately becomes for you (radio,clock,weather,news reader,twitter client, etc.) will determine how you use it, but with 1500 apps, you will find a way to make it your own, and probably love it in the process.

Here's a look: