Ios

‘Flappy Bird’ creator breaks silence, says he pulled game because it was ‘addictive’

11 February 2014 7:38 PM

Flappy Bird

Indie developer Dong Nguyen has broken his silence following the sudden removal of his popular Flappy Bird game recently. In an interview with Forbes, Nguyen says the game was originally designed to be played “when you are relaxed.” However, the notoriously difficult game, created in mid-2013, rose to fame recently, with some social network and YouTube users pointing out comically just how frustrating it is to navigate Mario-style pipes with a pixelated bird. “But it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem,” explains Nguyen. To solve that, Nguyen removed the app last weekend, and he notes “it’s gone forever.”

The popularity of the game, which Nguyen revealed to The Verge generates on average $50,000 per day from in-app ads, appears to have had its negatives. “My life has not been as comfortable as I was before,” says Nguyen. “I couldn’t sleep.” Forbes reports that Nguyen has spent the last few days internet-free and resting up, while also suddenly meeting Vietnam’s deputy prime minister ahead of the publication’s interview. Despite the time for reflection, Nguyen doesn’t believe the sudden removal of the game was a mistake. “I have thought it through,” he explains.

Nguyen also previously revealed to The Verge that he was considering a Flappy Bird sequel, but that now seems unlikely considering he believes it’s an “addictive product.” Instead, Nguyen says he will continue developing games, and he still has two popular titles, Super Ball Juggling and Shuriken Block, in the Top 20 games on the App Store. “After the success of Flappy Bird, I feel more confident, and I have freedom to do what I want to do.”

The sudden and surprising popularity of Flappy Bird has spawned countless clones of the game, as well as a web version that combines Flappy Bird and doge to create a pixelated shiba. Several enterprising eBay users have even listed their phones for sale with a copy of Flappy Bird installed, hoping to cash in on the Flappy Bird craze.

[Source: TheVerge]

Flappy Bird’s Creator Says He’s Removing The Game

9 February 2014 12:31 AM

Flappy Bird

A tweet from Dong Nguyen, creator of the maddening and virally popular game Flappy Bird, says the game will disappear from the Android and iOS app stores at noon tomorrow. “I cannot take this any more,” he Tweeted today.

He also added:

Then made it clear he has no plans to sell it to other developers or companies.

As Kotaku points out, the game has been around since 2013, but recently became wildly popular, boosted by a Buzzfeed article about its simple yet frustratingly difficult to master gameplay. Could this just be a push for even more downloads? Perhaps—the free, ad-supported game has reportedly been raking in $50,000 a day.

But lately, Nguyen seemed uncomfortable with its popularity, refusing interviews and other press contact. Apparently enough to scuttle the whole thing.

So download it while you can [iTunes Link] [Google Play Link]. Come tomorrow, the game will disappear—just like all the hours you’ve wasted playing it.

Update: 10-02-14 5:07 PM;

At just after 5pm today, he did as promised and took the game down, meaning it is no longer available to download – and prompting a rush of #RIPFlappyBird tweets.

If you try and download it now, it won’t work.

But fear not! If you’ve already downloaded it, it’ll still be there. Just make sure you keep a backup of your phone.

[Sources: Twitter / Gizmodo]

Apple launches ’12 Days Of Gifts’ app for the 2013 Holiday season

11 December 2013 1:16 AM
Hello!

Apple has launched its annual 12 Days of Gifts app, offering a new free song, app, book or movie every day from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6.

European fans have grown accustomed to Apple’s holiday promotion called 12 Days Of Gifts (previously 12 Days of Christmas) because they can count on a free download every day in a period following Christmas and until early-January. It’s not just apps, Apple usually gives away songs, books and music videos as well.

A dedicated app is crucial to the promotion and today the company has updated the iOS App for the iPhone, iPod and iPad with gifts for the 2013 Christmas holiday season. Download it now to get your free gift starting with December 26, the day after Christmas. Only available in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and other territories (requires iOS7)

Also new this year, the US has finally been invited to Apple’s Christmas party. Rather oddly, Apple had previously excluded its own home country in favour of the UK, Europe, Japan and Canada.

App’s Description pulled from the Apple App Store:
“From December 26 to January 6, you can download a gift each day—songs, apps, books, movies, and more—with the 12 Days of Gifts app. Each day’s gift will only be available for 24 hours, so download the free app to make sure you don’t miss out. Note: Not all content is available in all countries.”

12 Days of Gifts can be downloaded now for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPad, though it won’t offer its first gift for another 15 days. If you’re worried that you’ll forget all about the app’s existence in this period, don’t worry – you can set it to notify you when new deals become available.

Apple notes that not all content will be available in all countries, but you can bet there’ll be a fine selection wherever the app is available.

You can download the app from the UK App Store right here for free Direct Link]. (CA / US)

The app requests permission to send push notifications so it’d be wise to hit the OK button because otherwise you won’t be alerted of daily freebies.

Apple releases Chrome and Firefox extensions for Windows for iCloud bookmark syncing

19 September 2013 7:07 PM
iCloud Bookmarks - Firefox

iCloud Bookmarks – Firefox

Apple has quietly released extensions for the Chrome and Firefox desktop browsers for Windows. The extensions allow Windows users to sync their Safari iOS bookmarks across the two browsers. Prior to the Firefox and Chrome extension release, iOS Safari bookmark syncing was limited to Windows Explorer via the iCloud Control Panel (v2.1.2) for Windows app.

Users can download the Chrome extension from Google’s Chrome web store. According to its release notes:

Keep your Chrome bookmarks up to date with the Safari bookmarks on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.

iCloud stores your website bookmarks, so they are everywhere you go — on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and PC. So when it comes to your devices, you can switch things up without mixing things up.

Note: iCloud Bookmarks extension for Chrome is for Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Similarly, users can download the Firefox extension from Mozilla’s Add-Ons site. Its release notes read:

Keep your Firefox bookmarks on Windows up to date with your Safari bookmarks on iPhone, iPad and Mac with the iCloud Bookmarks extension for Firefox.

Unfortunately, it looks like these extensions are Windows-only for the moment and will not work on Chrome or Firefox for the Mac.

Story: tuaw / aol

Google Launches The $35 Chromecast Streaming Device To Bring Chrome To The Living Room

24 July 2013 8:39 PM

Meet the Chromecast. As the name suggests, it’s powered by Chrome and is designed to bring Google’s browser/OS to the biggest screen in the house.

The Chromecast is designed first to be a streaming device. It’s supposed to be the easiest way to get YouTube and Google Play and Netflix and Pandora and photos on HDTVs. Think Apple TV, but rather Google TV with another name (because, well, Google TV is already a thing).

The Chromecast is the first expansion of the Chrome operating system out of traditional forms of computing. Up until now, Chrome OS was a desktop operating system, designed for use on a laptop or monitor. Google retooled it for the living room and tapped mobile operating systems to provide the content.

Chromecast

Chromecast Streaming

The Chromecast uses an AirPlay-type system to provide content to the device. From Android or iOS, users simply hit a button on YouTube to load the video on the other screen. Quick and easy.

Chromecast is essentially Google’s answer to AirPlay. But it’s available on more than just one platform. It also features group playlists, continues playing the media back while the phone is doing other things and even streams while the device is asleep. The big downside is that, as of right now, this feature requires the Chromecast device — it’s not available on countless devices like AirPlay. At least not yet.

Best yet, any device can be the controller. Start a video on one device, turn it off, and another device can still control the video started. It appears to be seamless.

Desktops connected to the same network can also act as a controller. Click the cast button, the video will play and the computer will continue to play the media as it does other tasks.

The device itself is a small HDMI stick similar to the Roku Steaming Stick. It’s powered by USB and Google TV VP Mario Queiroz bragged that it features quick and easy setup.

The Chromecast is just $35 USD and is available today in the U.S only.