POW! ZOTT! THWANNGGG! BANG!

ComicZeal for the iPhone is a comic viewer for industry standard comic files (.cbr). The application is popular on the iPhone, but is a little too small to be comfortable to me.

The good news? It’s already been submitted (in improved form) for the iPad! Now that  I could dig in to!


The iPhone version, though popular, can only show a panel or two at a time and still be big enough to read…


The iPad version, however, has PLENTY of space to show a whole page
(and keep this image is significantly lower resolution than the real version)


Here’s what it looks inside the iPad simulator with the page shown in
"No Controls" mode…


And of course you have the option of turning the iPad sideways for an
even closer (but less than full-page) view!

- App Announcement on Publisher’s site -


Zooming In on Google Coolness

I found a cool spot on Google Maps recently - a military aircraft grave-yard!

The pictures below show progressive levels of zooming out to give an idea of the scale.

Sometimes I love Google Maps (or Google Earth).


We start out zoomed in all the way - Minor coolness, right?


Then we zoom out a bit (the red marker shows the area of the first picture) - Getting cooler…


Another level of zoom-out - the marker shows the 2nd picture area…


Here’s a large chunk (but by no means all) of the base - it started to show too much surrounding area due to the irregular shape of the area of interest… Now notice the green rectangle in the bottom right…


EXTREME CLOSE-UP (OF THE GREEN RECTANGLE AREA)!!!!! - the whole area is awesomely explorable on Google Maps (or, again, Google Earth for the impatient scrollers out there).

- Link to Google Maps Location -


A Zero-Star Nuclear Bunker Hotel? COOL!

Welcome to the Null Stern Hotel.

Touted as the world’s first ‘zero star hotel’ it is in fact a converted underground nuclear bunker in the town of St Gallen, Switzerland


I bet the rooms are fairly safe from burglary when locked up…


Ah yes… Reminds me of my shipboard days!


Hey… I don’t remember the beds looking so comfortable on the Navy ships…

- Write-Up in the Telegraph -

- The Actual Null Stern Hotel Site -
( Click the Hotel Name on the Entry Page )


POTRTP: “COOL!!!”

POTRTP: Picture Of The Random Time Period

Enjoy!


"Can I come in? This is just REALLY COOL!"

Lego & Army Men - What could POSSIBLY be cooler?

I saw these recently in a Toys-R-Us store I was wandering through with a friend. I instantly fell in love with them and thought they were so cool that, had it not been for the fact that I’m already in DMAoS mode ("Decrease My Amount of Stuff"), I would have bought several of them at a minimum.

If you don’t happen to be in the unenviable position of being stuck in DMAoS mode, check ‘em out!


They’re part of the Lego "Toy Story" set, but that’s pretty irrelevant, honestly - they’re still Lego Army Men!!!


Here’s what’s included in the set… ME WANT!!!


A close-up of one of the (pose-able) dudes with (optional) accessory, and the totally cool Army Men truck!


If we’re really going to be fair about this, they actually have a lot more functionality than the original Army Men.

- Lego Army Men on the Lego Site -


It’s at least ONE of the coolest ever!

This is among the coolest concepts for a geek T that I’ve ever come across…

Well, at least it’s in the top 100…

:)


If this needs a translation for you, either you’ve come to this site completely accidentally or you need to see The Princess Bride!


It’s JUST so COOL!

- The Place -


Vers Case Scenario (Sorry, I couldn’t resist)

Everybody in the tech sector knew it was coming - the deluge of add-ons and accessories for the iPad coming from every corner of the marketplace - and many were looking forward to what the offerings would provide (full docking station anyone?).

An early product from Vers is a hardwood and bamboo case for the iPad that doubles as a stand, with lots of well-considered niceties "under the covers" if you will.

 Check it out.


Don’t like the black bezel? Hide it inside a beautiful hardwood frame!


Here’s a view from the side with the optional stand peg extended.


The new iPad case is an addition to the pre-existing line they have  for the  iPhone and iPod touch.

- Vers website -


How much can I get for twenty bucks?

How much fun can a geek have for under $20?

Quite a bit it turns out.

TorchLight is an action RPG that’s loads of fun and just dripping with style (see the pics).  It’s made by the guys who did Diablo and Fate, and you can see the influence of both, with details tweaked and improved.

Available online or off the shelf.

And yes, it retails for $19.95.


You can play one of these three character types (and also choose from one of three pets).


This is my character, Rick Rock, and his ferret, Dave.


The left side shows a fairly standard character sheet, and the right side shows part of the skill tree.


Here’s a full-screen view of the game in play.


Oh, and did I mention the style?
(Note: all pictures here were taken in the Crypt of the Chronicler, but there are other types of scenery other than stone dungeons)

- TorchLight by Runic Games -