craiggrannell

craiggrannell, 1 year ago to random

#DailyRetroGame 110: Little Computer People (1985)

Never one to let tech (or reality) get in the way of his gaming ambitions, David Crane created a ‘house on a disk’, with a tiny character you could interact with.

To modern eyes, LCP is a proto-Sims crossed with a Tamagotchi. In 1985, it was like magic, with its oddball humour, bouts of poker, and impromptu piano sessions. It’s surely long overdue to be remade for mobile.

Play it on: #C64

Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFcg8I21cng

#retrogaming

craiggrannell, 9 months ago to InitialD

#DailyRetroGame 182: The Typing of the Dead (1999)

You’d loved to have been in the room. “You know what House of the Dead needs more of?” “What?” “Typing!” And so Sega mashed its fab light gun shooter into Mavis Beacon and the result was… awesome. Rather than aim and fire, you smashed out words accurately, or had your face torn off. Now someone have the next Walking Dead TV show do the same, for the yuks.

Play it on: #arcade, #Dreamcast, #PC

Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk_OnRDXRok

#retrogaming

craiggrannell, 9 months ago to random

If you’re a newcomer to this fine place, looking to escape the Musk binfire, welcome!

I wrote a guide for Stuff you might find helpful: https://www.stuff.tv/features/what-is-mastodon-all-you-need-to-know-to-switch-from-twitter/

Also bookmark and regularly explore the excellent https://fedi.tips

craiggrannell, 3 months ago to random

Column! The Prodigy’s Wind It Up vanishing from music streaming makes me want to buy CDs again

https://www.stuff.tv/features/the-prodigys-wind-it-up-vanishing-from-music-streaming-makes-me-want-to-buy-cds-again/

craiggrannell, 9 months ago to random

Devs: I have upcoming articles your apps could feature in. One on the best big app updates for iOS 17. And another specifically on interactive widgets. If you’re doing either, please get in touch, ideally via email.

(Please note: I do read EVERY email from devs, but won’t always have time to reply.)

craiggrannell, 3 months ago to random

My column for Stuff this week is ‘My phone does everything, which is why I want to resurrect my iPod’.

I realise my inability to focus for more than about two seconds is a me problem. But as I look around, I find it’s a ‘lots of other people problem’ too.

https://www.stuff.tv/features/my-phone-does-everything-which-is-why-i-want-to-resurrect-my-ipod/

craiggrannell, 5 months ago to random

On the tech days of Christmas, my gadgets gave to me…

Twelve forecasts numbing
Eleven kinsfolk sniping
Ten updates? Weeping!
Nine downloads advancing
Eight batteries missing
Seven speakers ringing
Six cooking aids spraying
Five pho-ones sing!
Four TV turds
Three dated trends
Two cable flubs
And a random gift in Barton-on-Sea

Merry Christmas! I hope you get all the gadgets you’d wish for – and none of the hassle with them! :D

https://www.stuff.tv/features/on-the-tech-days-of-christmas-my-gadgets-gave-to-me/

craiggrannell, 2 months ago to random

I wrote a thing: The Nokia 3210 at 25 – we remember one of the best mobile phones ever made • https://www.stuff.tv/features/the-nokia-3210-at-25-we-remember-one-of-the-best-mobile-phones-ever-made/

craiggrannell, 3 months ago to random

Apple: Streaming gaming – nope.
Microsoft: But…
Apple: Make a web app!
Microsoft: Well, OK. puts loads of effort into web app despite not really wanting to

[years pass]

Apple: Surprise! Steaming gaming is fine now. Oh, and we’re killing web apps in the EU. Bye!
Microsoft: FFS.
Apple: This is all the EU’s fault, you know. The EU is BADNESS.
EU: FFS.

From: @ianbetteridge
https://writing.exchange/@ianbetteridge/111998415695215731

craiggrannell, 12 days ago to random

Judging by what I’m seeing, Apple is using a lot of automation of late in app review. And it’s not going well.

From: @jandamm
https://iosdev.space/@jandamm/112513498957185543

craiggrannell, 1 month ago to random

Column! Just say no: not every piece of tech needs subscriptions and AI • https://www.stuff.tv/features/just-say-no-not-every-piece-of-tech-needs-subscriptions-and-ai/

craiggrannell, 1 month ago to retrogaming

By me: The Game Boy at 35 – and six of the best Game Boy games // The Game Boy’s green screen might not have made rivals green with envy, but, boy, did its games shine • https://www.stuff.tv/features/the-game-boy-at-35-and-six-of-the-best-game-boy-games/

#retrogaming #nintendo #GameBoy

craiggrannell, 3 months ago to iPhone

This was a fun one to write up: the latest entry in my classic #iPhone #apps series is the wonderful Apollo, by @christianselig. Many thanks to Christian for the interview!

https://www.tapsmart.com/features/classics-apollo/

(And if you enjoy this kind of thing, please consider supporting us with a $2/£2 per month subscription for Swipe – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/swipe-for-iphone/id523628077 – our little indie iPhone mag.)

craiggrannell, 1 month ago to retrogaming

My first piece this week on Delta and iPhone emulation: Why an iPhone Game Boy emulator is a bigger deal than you think • https://www.tapsmart.com/features/why-emulation-matters/ #retrogaming

craiggrannell, 26 days ago (edited 26 days ago) to random

UK folks:

• Publisher states a payment has been made + sent remittance.
• I have not received the funds (after six weeks now) and my (UK) bank’s customer services, fraud and international teams have all stated they cannot see any payment and that I do not have a block on my account.

Any advice on what to do? I’ve never been in this situation before, and the amount of money is not insignificant. But also, the publisher appears to be very much in “we’ve paid so nothing we can do” mode now.

craiggrannell, 3 months ago to random

The 9yo rediscovered No Limits and was dancing around her bedroom while I was trying to read her bedtime story. She had a great time and is now fast asleep. I’m downstairs with the bloody song playing on a loop in my head.

Something something parenthood.

craiggrannell, 1 month ago to random

Anyone know of a good iMovie resource (book or video series) for beginners somewhat freaked out by tech but keen to learn about basic editing? (This is for my parents.)

craiggrannell, 3 months ago to random

“Flu like”. Yeah. Because flu is likely to leave a substantial number of people with months-long or lifelong conditions. Also, I don’t recall there being multiple flu spikes during April to October in my lifetime but that happened just last year with covid.

From: @arstechnica
https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/112023227855578308

craiggrannell, 2 months ago (edited 1 month ago) to retrogaming

EDIT: Thanks for the suggestions! All written and filed for tomorrow.

===

Any Amstrad CPC fans on here? What would be the five games you would HAVE to put on a list of the very best for the system? (I have my own ideas, but would love input from other people.)

#retrogaming

craiggrannell, 2 months ago to random

Canva needs to tread carefully. A ton of goodwill related to Serif is based around its relatively small and caring nature combined with it NOT having a subscription. Kinda the opposite of Canva really. If it messes up what Serif built, quite a few folks may well just switch back to Adobe (unless they’re using iPads because Adobe still isn’t exactly winning on that platform).

Also: slightly grumpy that another British success story looks set to be devoured.

craiggrannell, 2 months ago to random

You know Apple has a tech problem when your 9yo is complaining about the HomePod you bought to replace a first gen Echo. (She’s unhappy how Siri “isn’t fun”, “doesn’t give you good answers” and that it is triggered far too often when you’re just talking. I’m also deeply unimpressed with it from a playback standpoint. Takes far too long to respond to devices. Mind you, I’ve also of late found my two Apple TVs are also less responsive than they used to be. Not sure what’s going on there.

craiggrannell, 3 months ago to random

Column! Old games consoles aren’t redundant – I think they’re a fantastic must-buy. https://www.stuff.tv/features/old-games-consoles-arent-redundant-i-think-theyre-a-boon/

In which I note my tendency to buy consoles late and keep them for ages, and that is not a bad thing.

craiggrannell, 2 months ago to random

Quite something that some people hand-waved away straight-up oppression in China and didn’t suggest Apple should pull out of the region, but the second the EU rocks up with some regulation, folks are screaming that Apple should just pull out of the entire EU.

I mean, really?

craiggrannell, 2 months ago to random

Some of these AI advocates (NOT Oliver – I’m referring to his quote!) appear to want a future where AI marketing builds AI collateral that is then sent to algorithmic editing software that pumps out AI-driven articles to websites that are then shared to social feeds that use algorithms and ML to shove this in your face 24/7. Humans at the end of a chain of shit.

Reacting with glee about AI annihilating the workforce is just baffling.

From: @reichenstein
https://mastodon.social/@reichenstein/112079809030840673

craiggrannell, 2 months ago to random

To Affinity and beyond: what does the Canva buyout means for the future of Serif?

https://reverttosaved.com/2024/03/26/to-affinity-and-beyond-what-does-the-canva-buyout-means-for-the-future-of-serif/

^ My thoughts on the Serif buyout.