http://clevermedia.com/news/feed.xml CleverMedia News Feed en http://clevermedia.com/news/Championship_Solitaire_Brings_Competition_to_Klondike_id20121220-060000.html Championship Solitaire isn't your typical solitaire game. Instead of playing alone, you are competing against the entire world for the best score! Each game costs 52 points. Each card placed in the foundation stacks scores you 5 points. With each game you play you can build your score higher, or knock it back down. When you think you have a good enough score to post it, you can submit it to GameCenter. In addition, Championship Solitaire is a nice-looking solitaire game that gracefully resizes to fit the screen sizes of any iOS device, both horizontally and vertically. In addition, the free ad-supported game offers an option where you can pay $0.99 to remove ads from the game. You can get Championship Solitaire at http://macmost.com/j-csol]]> Thu, 20 Dec 2012 06:00:00 -0700 Championship_Solitaire_Brings_Competition_to_Klondike_id20121220-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/CleverMedia_Gets_Into_Educational_App_Development_id20121125-060000.html Today CleverMedia, Inc. unveiled its first two purely educational apps for the iPad. These will be the first of many educational apps in a potentially large series. The goal of CleverMedia's educational apps is not to simply test students, like most educational apps do. But instead to provide an exploratory environment for learning. These and future apps will shy away from quizzes, scores and progress tracking and leave those up to the teachers and parents. Instead, the ideas behind the topics will be presented in different ways that match how children actually learn a subject. Learn to Multiply is the first in a series of educational iPad apps from CleverMedia. The goal of our educational apps is to teach subjects to students through innovative interaction. Many apps merely test you repetitively. They are nothing more than quizzes where you are expected to memorize the answers. With our apps we want to instead teach you how to get the answers. Learn to Multiply teaches you how to multiple numbers with more than one digit. You will see how to stack the numbers on top of each other and break the problem into very simply one-digit multiplication and addition problems. This is the same method used by almost every school in the world. You get to practice this standard method with the app’s assistance. You can start with simple problems with two digits on the top and one digit on the bottom. Then you can try harder problems with up to four digits on the top and three on the bottom as you get more comfortable with the method. You can even enter your own numbers for the top and bottom and proceed to solve it step-by-step. Once you are more confident, you can create a page of sample problems and work through each of them. This will help you prepare for assignments and tests in school. Learn the States is a teaching tool for elementary school students who need to learn the locations, names, capitals and spelling for each state. This app is about teaching instead of testing. There are six modes, each of which try to teach the user through easy and simple methods. The first mode is simply an exploration tool. The user can explore the 50 states, tapping on each one to learn about it. The state name is pronounced and spelled audibly. Many students can quickly learn the states by simply exploring. The other modes attempt to teach by asking the user to locate or name states, but without negative re-enforcement. For instance, in the Find mode, the student can feel free to make a wrong guess without a penalty and search for the correct state. In addition, a Show Me button and take the frustration out of learning by helping the student. After using the Show Me button, the student must still tap on the correct state to continue, thus re-enforcing the new knowledge. Another mode groups states together as it is often easier to learn small groups of states and where they are located relative to each other. For students that need to learn how to spell state names, the app has a spelling mode where the student can type the name of the state. They can try again if they get it wrong, or use the Tell Me button to listen to the spelling while they type. CleverMedia's educational apps can be found here: http://www.clevermedia.com/education/apps/]]> Sun, 25 Nov 2012 06:00:00 -0700 CleverMedia_Gets_Into_Educational_App_Development_id20121125-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Just_Jigsaw_Puzzles_Becomes_an_iPad_App_id20121105-060000.html The popular JustJigsawPuzzles.com web site has been used by millions over of the past decade to play online jigsaw puzzles. However, because it uses Flash it has been unavailable to iPad users until today. The new Just Jigsaw Puzzles app from CleverMedia, Inc. is a full-featured version of the same game, but built specifically for iPad users. The app is free and comes with 15 images. Collections of more images can be purchased through the app. Game options include the number of pieces, the shape of the pieces, backgrounds and edges. You can also use handy arrangement commands to move the pieces around and work with only edge pieces or middle pieces. The jigsaw puzzles snap together easily. You can play puzzles that take only minutes to solve, or cut the image into small pieces for more of a challenge. You can find the Just Jigsaw Puzzles iPad app at http://macmost.com/j-jigsaw]]> Mon, 05 Nov 2012 06:00:00 -0700 Just_Jigsaw_Puzzles_Becomes_an_iPad_App_id20121105-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/MacMost_Produces_Video_Guide_To_Mountain_Lion_id20120827-070000.html CleverMedia has followed up the success of The Video Guide to Lion with The Video Guide to Mountain Lion. These Mac apps are a new way to learn how to get the most from your Mac. Instead of a traditional book or a set of tutorials on a DVD, The Video Guide to Mountain Lion is an application that can be purchased in the Mac App Store and contains more than 20 video tutorials. Targeted at new Mac users, or users who have just upgraded to Lion and are looking to learn about its new features, the app is a series of 21 video tutorials that can be watched right on a Mac inside the application. It is a product from MacMost, the same web site that features more than 800 tutorials on how to use Macs, iPhones and the iPad. But the videos in the Video Guide to Mountain Lion are exclusive to those who buy it. "I wanted to come out with a way for people to learn to use the Mac, but I didn't want to do another book," said Gary Rosenzweig, the producer of MacMost. "Since all Lion users have the Mac App Store, it seemed to make sense to create a product that could be sold right there." The more than 2 hours of instruction includes topics like manipulating files, using Finder windows, learning about iCloud documents, Mission Control, file sharing, browsing the web, using Mail, and accessing system preferences. Once a user has purchased the Video Guide to Mountain Lion, it will download to their Mac and can be run at any time. They can jump around between the videos, pause them, and resume them later. The videos are all recorded in high definition and show the user exactly what to do while Rosenzweig explains the different features of the Mac. "Video instruction is the best way for many people to learn," said Rosenzweig. "When you can watch the video right there on your Mac, you can try things out for yourself as the video plays, or pause it to try them." To get the Video Guide to Mountain Lion, Mac users can simply run the Mac App Store from their Dock and then search for it. They can also get a direct link by going to http://macmost.com/video-guide-to-mountain-lion.]]> Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:00:00 -0600 MacMost_Produces_Video_Guide_To_Mountain_Lion_id20120827-070000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Word_Spy_for_iOS_Released_id20120315-060000.html CleverMedia brings its classic word game to the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad! Previously available only at GameScene.com, this new version includes the original game plus three game variations. Find as many words as possible in three minutes on each level. Look for words made up of three or more connecting letters on the game board. Click on each letter of the word, in order, to select the word. Once the entire word is selected, click again on the last letter to submit the word. More points are awarded for longer words. You will be awarded additional points for multipliers and bonuses as they appear and you use them. You must score higher than the goal for a each level to continue to the next level. Plurals and proper suffixes are allowed, but proper names are not accepted. The three alternative games include: Brief Encounter: See how many word you can find in one minute. Seek and Destroy: Find the spy code word indicated. Intercept: Find the code word and its origin and destination. Very difficult! Word Spy keeps track of your best score for each of the game variations.]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0600 Word_Spy_for_iOS_Released_id20120315-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/MacMost_Produces_Video_Guide_To_Lion_id20111010-070000.html The Video Guide to Lion is a new way to learn how to get the most from your Mac. Instead of a traditional book or a set of tutorials on a DVD, it is an application that can be purchased in the Mac App Store. Targeted at new Mac users, or users who have just upgraded to Lion and are looking to learn about its new features, the Video Guide to Lion is a series of 21 video tutorials that can be watched right on a Mac inside the application. It is a product from MacMost, the same web site that features more than 600 tutorials on how to use Macs, iPhones and the iPad. But the videos in the Video Guide to Lion are exclusive to those who buy it. "I wanted to come out with a way for people to learn Lion, but I didn't want to do another book," said Gary Rosenzweig, the producer of MacMost. "Since all Lion users have the Mac App Store, it seemed to make sense to create a product that could be sold right there." The more than 2 hours of instruction includes topics like manipulating files, using Finder windows, learning about Mission Control, file sharing, browsing the web, using Mail, and accessing system preferences. Once a user has purchased the Video Guide to Lion, it will download to their Mac and can be run at any time. They can jump around between the videos, pause them, and resume them later. The videos are all recorded in high definition and show the user exactly what to do while Rosenzweig explains the different features of the Mac. "Video instruction is the best way for many people to learn," said Rosenzweig. "When you can watch the video right there on your Mac, you can try things out for yourself as the video plays, or pause it to try them." To get the Video Guide to Lion, Mac users can simply run the Mac App Store from their Dock and then search for it. They can also get a direct link by going to http://macmost.com/video-guide-to-lion.]]> Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:00:00 -0600 MacMost_Produces_Video_Guide_To_Lion_id20111010-070000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/CleverMedia_Launches_Game_Site_for_Post-PC_Era_id20110331-070000.html With the ascent of devices like the iPad, most casual game web sites are left behind. They require a browser plug-ins and often mouse or keyboard input. So CleverMedia, one of the original pioneers of web-based games, has launched a new game site that works on almost any device. GamesWithoutLimits.com uses pure HTML5 instead of relying on browser plug-ins. Yet the games are the type usually only thought possible with a plug-in. They include high resolution graphics, animation, arcade action and even sound. "We wanted a game site that worked across all platforms," said CleverMedia CEO Gary Rosenzweig. "All of those Flash game sites won't work on the iPad and most touch-screen phones." The games combine HTML5 elements like JavaScript, CSS, graphics and audio as well as some server-side elements. The screens present themselves in different sizes and formats depending on the device: PC or Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android phones. But all games work on all of those platforms. The site is launching with 12 games, but more will be coming shortly, said Rosenzweig. "We haven't just developed individual games here," he said. "We've created a platform where we can keep adding new games." The site also features a high score system that uses Facebook user IDs rather than its own user database. As a result, players do no need to sign up with GamesWithoutLimits.com to begin playing or to register high scores. There is also an achievements system that gives players goals to accomplish with each game. Like CleverMedia's other game sites, the games are all free to play.]]> Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:00:00 -0600 CleverMedia_Launches_Game_Site_for_Post-PC_Era_id20110331-070000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/MacMost_Now_Video_Podcast_Publishes_500th_Episode_id20110107-070000.html Since its beginning in November, 2007, the MacMost Now video podcast has taught viewers how to get the most from their Apple devices. Publishing about three times per week, the short videos include tutorials, advice and tech news. Gary Rosenzweig, the host of the show, started with the simple goal of providing short video tutorials to help the average Mac user. He found an audience of podcast subscribers and YouTube viewers. "I love being able to produce these videos," said Rosenzweig. "It is very satisfying to come up with an idea, create a video, upload it and have people learning from it all within the space of a few hours." Most episodes of MacMost Now feature Rosenzweig talking about a technique or process and showing viewers with captured screen video exactly how it can be done. The episodes are sometimes geared toward novice Mac users, while other times he will show more advanced tips. The show also frequently includes iPhone, iPod and iPad tutorials. Viewers typically either subscribe to the show through iTunes as a video podcast, or watch it on YouTube. Rosenzweig said the split is pretty even. Newer methods of viewing, such as Tivo, Roku and other set-top boxes are adding to the total. The show gets about 10,000 views per day and any episode can be found and viewed just as easily as the latest. The show and MacMost site has also spawned two mass-market books. The first is the "MacMost.com Guide to Switching to the Mac," a novice guide to learning how to use a Mac. The second, "My iPad," is one of a larger series of beginner books covering different gadgets and devices. Rosenzweig said that he plans to continue to produce new episodes for the foreseeable future. Recently he added a section to the web site that lists all the videos by category to help viewers find old episodes. There is also a search box at the top of each page on the site. "There are a lot of shows now," said Rosenzweig. "It is getting to the point where many of the questions I get from viewers can be easily answers by just referring them to an old episode."]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 07:00:00 -0700 MacMost_Now_Video_Podcast_Publishes_500th_Episode_id20110107-070000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Gold_Strike_Released_As_Free_Game_In_the_New_Mac_App_Store_id20110107-060000.html Developer Gary Rosenzweig said that the game has done well over the years, but he felt he wanted to do something special for the Mac App Store launch. "I kept thinking about prices," said Rosenzweig. "But my mind kept returning to the idea of just making it a free game. No strings attached." In Gold Strike you dig through a mine by clicking on blocks. You get points for long sets of connected gold blocks, which can be increased with strategy. There are five game variations, including one where you can throw sticks of dynamite and another where you dig for archeological artifacts. The game is basically the same as the one for sale in the iOS App Store for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Rosenzweig said it was simple to port the game from the iOS version to the Mac. He is thinking about doing the same with some of CleverMedia's other iOS games. There are currently more than 20 CleverMedia games in the iOS App Store. You can find Gold Strike in the Mac App Store by updating to Mac OS X 10.6.6 and running the Mac App Store. Then search for "Gold Strike." You can also use this link if you already have the Mac App Store installed: http://macmost.com/j-gsmac.]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:00:00 -0700 Gold_Strike_Released_As_Free_Game_In_the_New_Mac_App_Store_id20110107-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Just_Mah_Jongg_Solitaire_Comes_To_the_iPhone_id20101221-060000.html Following the success of the Just Solitaire iOS apps, the new Just Mah Jongg Solitaire brings another one of CleverMedia’s games to the iPhone. The new game is a matching tiles puzzle where players find and remove pairs of tiles. Just Mah Jongg Solitaire started as the game Nile Tiles on CleverMedia’s game sites in 1999 and eventually got its own site at justmahjonggsolitaire.com. That early version used egyptian hieroglyphic symbols rather than traditional Mah Jongg symbols. The new Just Mah Jongg Solitaire iOS app features both traditional and egyptian symbols, as well as several other tile sets that the player can choose from. There are also different backgrounds and layouts. “Our Mah Jongg tiles games have had a long history,” said developers Gary Rosenzweig. “It is great to finally be able to bring these to the iPhone.” Previously, versions of the games were available on different web sites and as a downloadable application for Mac and Windows computers. Rosenzweig said that the design of the iOS version was difficult because of the small screen size of the iPhone. A typical layout includes 144 stacked tiles, which would be too small to see and touch on the iPhone’s screen. The game allows the user to pinch and zoom to change the size of the tiles. While zoomed in, the user can drag the viewable area of the screen around to see different areas. “The app basically allows the player to decide how big or small the tiles should be,” said Rosenzweig. “The available tiles are also brighter than the other tiles, making it easier to see what moves can be made.” In addition to the more than 100 layouts, a special Quick Mah Jongg layout was added with only 64 tiles designed to fit nicely on the iPhone and preset a short, fun challenge for the player. The app will work on any iPhone, but was designed for the latest iPhone and iPod Touch with retina displays. The graphics were built for these screens, making it even easier to view the tiles. Just Mah Jongg Solitaire is a free game which can be downloaded from the iOS App Store directly on the iPhone by searching for it by name. Users can also use the shortcut http://macmost.com/j-jmj. CleverMedia, Inc. creates web-based and iPhone games and applications. You can see all of CleverMedia's iPhone games at http://clevermedia.com/iphonegames/.]]> Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:00:00 -0700 Just_Mah_Jongg_Solitaire_Comes_To_the_iPhone_id20101221-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Free_Games_2_App_Includes_12_Games_In_One_id20101217-060000.html iPhone and iPod Touch users can get a collection of 12 games in a single app. The Free Games 2 app has small casual games that can be played even when the user is not connected to a network. Free Games 2 is a sequel to the original Free Games app, which featured games that could be played online. The games have been redesigned, enhanced with new features and the online requirement is gone. "The original game is very successful," said developer Gary Rosenzweig. "But it was clear that the main way it could be improved would be to make the games playable off-line. I also wanted to improve the games." Some of the games, such as Collapsing Blocks and Match Three are variations on popular casual games. Others, like Maze Game and Word Search bring paper-and-pencil games to the iPhone. The main screen of the app shows all 12 games and allows the player to choose one to play. With iOS 4 multitasking, the player can even switch to another app and then return to complete a game later. There are also two picture puzzle games, Jigsaw Puzzle and Sliding Puzzle. In either game, the player must assemble an image. The game includes a library of more than 700 images for these puzzles. There are also interpretations of classic computer games like Minesweeper and Missile Command. The player can challenge their iPhone in games like Deduction and Reversi. "There is a little something for everyone in the collection," said Rosenzweig. "Adults can enjoy all of the games, but they can also be fun for children." The most complex game is a full-featured version of Sudoku with three difficulty levels and unlimited game boards. You can download Free Games 2 directly to your iPhone or iPod Touch by going to the App Store app and searching for "Free Games 2." You can also browse to http://macmost.com/j-fg2. CleverMedia, Inc. creates web-based and iPhone games and applications. You can see all of CleverMedia's iPhone games at http://clevermedia.com/iphonegames/.]]> Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:00:00 -0700 Free_Games_2_App_Includes_12_Games_In_One_id20101217-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Build_a_Snowman_On_Your_iPhone_id20101208-060000.html No need to wait for the first snowfall to build you own snowman. You can now do it with your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. The Snowman Construction Kit lets you create a snowman picture using dozens of parts in a simple, fun mobile app. CleverMedia, Inc. created the web's original Snowman Construction Kit back in 1997. It has been updated over the years with new graphics and features. Kids and adults can build and share snow creations. Now it has arrived on the iPhone with an app version. "When I first built the Snowman Construction Kit in the 90s," said CleverMedia CEO Gary Rosenzweig, "I was surprised at how many people came to the site. But over the years I've learned that people love it because it because it is a simple idea that can lead to a great deal of creative expression." After installing the app on the iPhone, users can select building blocks and move them around to create a picture. They can choose piles of snow, clothes, branches, hats and even a carrot for the nose and coal for the eyes. Users can also app a caption to their snowman, turning it into a custom greeting card. They can then take a snapshot of the picture. These pictures can then be sent as email messages, multimedia text messages, uploaded to picture services or saved to their computers. "Like the web site, I envision people going way beyond snowmen," said Rosenzweig. "They will create animals, families, comic panels, and whole winter scenes." People can find the Snowman Construction Kit app by searching for it in the App Store on their iPhones, or going to http://snowmanapp.com. The app is free. CleverMedia, Inc. creates web-based and iPhone games and applications. You can find most of CleverMedia's games at http://gamescene.com.]]> Wed, 08 Dec 2010 06:00:00 -0700 Build_a_Snowman_On_Your_iPhone_id20101208-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/First_JustSolitaire.com_iPhone_Game_Hits_the_App_Store_id20100915-060000.html More than 5,000 applications have been created by developers for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but finding a useful app can be difficult. MacMost.com, the Apple news Web site, has created a way to easily search for interesting apps. The new iPhone Apps directory lists all available apps in the iTunes app store and is easily searchable. In addition, new apps released in the last 24 hours are put in their own list to make them easy to find. The iPhone Apps directory can be found at http://macmost.com/iphoneapps/ or by clicking on the iPhone Apps button on the main MacMost page. "We saw a problem with the iPhone app store right away," said Gary Rosenzweig, the editor of MacMost and host of the regular video podcast MacMost Now. "There are too many apps. It is almost impossible to see what is really new and worth your time." Apple only recently allowed third-party developers to create applications for the iPhone. Hundreds of developers has responded with games, personal and business applications created specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch. In addition to seeing which apps are new, the MacMost iPhone App Directory lets you see which ones have been recently updated. Then you can go directly to that app's page in iTunes to download or purchase the app. "We hope to add new features to the directory as well," said Rosenzweig. "Perhaps user reviews, ratings and maybe a way for developers to add more information." The directory already has a featured iPhone app hand-picked by the staff. In addition, the video podcast MacMost Now regularly features iPhone app reviews. MacMost also has its own collection of iPhone Games at http://macmost.com/iphonegames/, which are played in the iPhone's web browser. There is also a collection of free iPhone ringtones at http://macmost.com/iphoneringtones/.]]> Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:00:00 -0600 First_JustSolitaire.com_iPhone_Game_Hits_the_App_Store_id20100915-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Solitaire_Game_Site_Re-Launches_with_HTML5_id20100618-060000.html The popular Just Solitaire site, originally created in 2003, has relaunched this week with entirely new versions of all 26 solitaire games featured at the site. The games, such as Klondike, Spider, Russian, Canfield, Pyramid, Yukon and Freecell, are the same as before, but with new technology behind them. Players no longer need the Shockwave and Flash browser plug-ins. Instead, the new games use technology like JavaScript and HTML5. They will play in all major browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera and Google's Chrome browser. In addition, since the games do not require browser plug-ins, they will also work on the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android devices. "We needed to upgrade the site and move away from plug-ins," said developer Gary Rosenzweig. "Shockwave was the way to go when we started, but since then fewer and fewer people have it installed." Rosenzweig cited devices like the iPad and iPhone as another major reason to move away from plug-ins. Apple has decided not to allow plug-ins like Flash and Shockwave to run on its new handhelds. That made the games at JustSolitaire.com unplayable on those devices. In addition to the behind-the-scenes change, the new games also have new features such as auto-save, choice of card and background designs, and scoring. "The new site is designed to be easy to update," said Rosenzweig. "We plan on adding more features and solitaire variations in the coming months and years." Rosenzweig said he eventually would like to have every variation of card solitaire on the site, and possibly the ability to set your own rules and layout. Just Solitaire has done well since its launch in 2003, but Rosenzweig said the site has turned away thousands of people each day because they do not wish to install browser plug-ins, or are unable to do so because the device does not support it. Most gaming on devices like the iPhone and iPad are done by downloading apps from Apple. But the games at JustSolitaire.com can be played by simply browsing to the site using the built-in Safari web browser that supports all of the technology used by Just Solitaire. "It is going to be great to see a whole new audience of mobile gamers come to the site," said Rosenzweig. Just Solitaire is a CleverMedia, Inc. game site along with the popular sites GameScene.com, JustJigsawPuzzles.com and JustMahJonggSolitaire.com. The games are free to play, and no sign-up is required.]]> Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:00:00 -0600 Solitaire_Game_Site_Re-Launches_with_HTML5_id20100618-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Gold_Strike_Game_Comes_to_the_iPhone_id20100123-060000.html The popular online game Gold Strike has come to the iPhone. Gold Strike has previously appeared as a Web-based game, downloadable game and smartphone game for the pre-iPhone generation of phones. It has been played by millions since its release in 2003. Gold Strike is an action puzzle game where you play a miner trying to strike gold in a collapsing mine. You must throw your pick at groups of matching blocks as tremors push the blocks closer to you. The object of the game is to dig as deep as you can, scoring points for hitting gold blocks. The game was developed by CleverMedia, Inc., a game development company in Denver, Colorado. Since 2003 it has been the top game at CleverMedia's primary portal GameScene.com. "We loved this genre of collapsing block games," said the game's creator, Gary Rosenzweig. "We wanted to create the ultimate game in that genre, but at the same time make ours unique." Gold Strike differs from other block games in that the blocks move in from the left side, rather than dropping down from the top. As the blocks push each other to the right the player must work to clear columns of blocks or risk being pushed off the screen. The iPhone app includes the original game, plus four alternate game modes: Bottomless Pit, Strategy, Dynamite and Archeology. Each presents a different challenge using the same basic gameplay. The click-only interface of the original game lent itself well to the touch-only interface of the iPhone and iPod Touch. "We knew that this game would work well on the iPhone because all you need to do is to touch blocks," said Rosenzweig. "We didn't have to mess around with simulating arrow keys or mouse movements like in a lot of other games." The game also keeps track of your best scores for each game variation. It is available in the iTunes app store for an introductory price of 99 cents in the United States. It can be purchased through iTunes, or direct on the iPhone through the App Store.]]> Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:00:00 -0700 Gold_Strike_Game_Comes_to_the_iPhone_id20100123-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/New_Web_Site_a_Paradise_for_Word_Search_Fans_id20091015-060000.html JustWordSearch.com tries to be everything word search fans could ever need: puzzles they can play in their Web browser, the ability to build and share their own puzzles, and advanced features like saving and printing. When someone visits the new site, they can choose between playing a word search puzzle created from a pre-made word list, a list of random dictionary words, or a word list that they create. The players fill out the puzzle right on the Web page by clicking and dragging outlines around words on the screen. A list on the right keeps track of which words have been found so far. "I want the site to be the ultimate computer word search game," said Gary Rosenzweig, the creator of JustWordSearch.com. "Right off the bat the game is packed with just about every feature I could think of." The puzzle size can be varied to include longer words or remove backward or diagonal words to make it easier. The colors and background can also be changed. Players can also print out the puzzle to complete it with a pencil and paper. When players create their own list of words to be used in a puzzle, they can then play the game online or print it out. They can also send a link to the puzzle for their friends to play. "In addition, we allow people to embed one of our puzzles or one of the ones they create right in their own Web page or blog," said Rosenzweig. "So teachers can make up word search puzzles for their class and put them right on the school's Web site. Businesses can do it too." The custom puzzle and printing capability was created with teachers in mind, who often use word search puzzles as part of classwork. Teachers can make their own puzzles and then print them out and copy them for their students. When playing online, the players can also click on a word in the list and search for dictionary definitions or Web pages about that word. This would give students the ability to learn words they have used of before. The pre-made word lists on the site include a variety of educational and fun topics. The list is growing all the time with new lists added daily. Word search puzzles are one of the most popular paper games played by both adults and children alike. Many word search computer programs can be purchased, but JustWordSearch.com is completely free and requires no registration or membership. ]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0600 New_Web_Site_a_Paradise_for_Word_Search_Fans_id20091015-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/ScaryJane.com_Blogs_About_the_Creepy_Side_of_Life_id20090812-060000.html Imagine if Martha Stewart was part of the Addams Family. She would have probably turned out like Scary Jane, recommending all sorts of creepy and strange products and giving year-round decorating advice usually reserved for Halloween. ScaryJane.com is a new blog written for people who appreciate dark decor and morbid humor. It is for someone who agrees that a skull makes a nice bookshelf decoration and their welcome mat should specify whether or not vampires are allowed in the house. "Adding a bit of gothic style and dark humor to your house seems to be in fashion these days," said Jane. "At least to those who like to be a little unusual." Jane finds products to recommend from all over the Web, including things like a toilet brush shaped like a skull, wall hooks that look like knives and a shower curtain and bath mat that come pre-stained with blood. "I like to find these odd products and write about them," said Jane. "But I will also be covering popular culture, crafts, recipes and anything that is strange and creepy." Jane posts daily to the blog and also to her Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/scary_jane. Post topics will include products, crafts, design ideas, recipes, fashion, movies and television shows, books and, of course, Halloween. Jane is already planning a month-long focus on Halloween for October, with posts about how to decorate your house and what to serve at parties. But Jane won't stop with Halloween. Year-round she'll give tips on celebrating holidays in creepy fashion. She'll also be taking suggestions and tips from readers as her audience grows. You can read Scary Jane at http://scaryjane.com]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0600 ScaryJane.com_Blogs_About_the_Creepy_Side_of_Life_id20090812-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Chill_With_More_Free_iPhone_Ringtones_From_MacMost_id20081218-060000.html Los Angeles artist Anji Bee, known for her smooth vocals and music podcasts, can now be heard whenever someone calls you on your iPhone. She is featured on the latest set of ringtones from MacMost.com, the Mac news, tutorial and iPhone content Web site. MacMost began providing free iPhone ringtones earlier in 2008 as an alternative to pay-per-song downloads at the iTunes music store or illegal music downloads elsewhere. There are now 15 sets of ringtones in the MacMost collection. They feature everything from holiday sounds to short, original musical creations. "We began creating ringtones to fill a need," said Gary Rosenzweig, the producer of MacMost.com. "There are plenty of ringtones out there that you can buy, but we thought it was ridiculous to pay more for a ringtone that you would pay for a full song." The MacMost collection of more than 150 ringtones is available at the MacMost iPhone Ringtones (http://macmost.com/iphoneringtones/) section. You can also subscribe to it as a podcast at the iTunes Music Store for free. "One of the ideas we had for the free ringtones was to use them to promote artists," said Rosenzweig. "We knew Anji Bee from her work as a podcaster and thought it would be perfect to begin with her." The ringtone set features sections of Anji's work with various other artists, as well as her podcast theme and vocal recorded specifically for the ringtone set. Anji hosts The Chillcast, a weekly podcast that presents a smooth mix of electronica, jazz, soul, and world music each week. She is also the vocalist and lyricist for Lovespirals, who have produced several full-length albums and have been featured internationally on network and cable television including: MTV, Vh1, ETV, The WB/CW Network, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. You can find all of Anji Bee's projects at anjibee.com (http://anjibee.com).]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0700 Chill_With_More_Free_iPhone_Ringtones_From_MacMost_id20081218-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/MacMost_Creates_iPhone_App_Directory_id20081015-060000.html More than 5,000 applications have been created by developers for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but finding a useful app can be difficult. MacMost.com, the Apple news Web site, has created a way to easily search for interesting apps. The new iPhone Apps directory lists all available apps in the iTunes app store and is easily searchable. In addition, new apps released in the last 24 hours are put in their own list to make them easy to find. The iPhone Apps directory can be found at http://macmost.com/iphoneapps/ or by clicking on the iPhone Apps button on the main MacMost page. "We saw a problem with the iPhone app store right away," said Gary Rosenzweig, the editor of MacMost and host of the regular video podcast MacMost Now. "There are too many apps. It is almost impossible to see what is really new and worth your time." Apple only recently allowed third-party developers to create applications for the iPhone. Hundreds of developers has responded with games, personal and business applications created specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch. In addition to seeing which apps are new, the MacMost iPhone App Directory lets you see which ones have been recently updated. Then you can go directly to that app's page in iTunes to download or purchase the app. "We hope to add new features to the directory as well," said Rosenzweig. "Perhaps user reviews, ratings and maybe a way for developers to add more information." The directory already has a featured iPhone app hand-picked by the staff. In addition, the video podcast MacMost Now regularly features iPhone app reviews. MacMost also has its own collection of iPhone Games at http://macmost.com/iphonegames/, which are played in the iPhone's web browser. There is also a collection of free iPhone ringtones at http://macmost.com/iphoneringtones/. ]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:00:00 -0600 MacMost_Creates_iPhone_App_Directory_id20081015-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/MacMost_Releases_More_Free_iPhone_Games_id20080215-060000.html Add It Up, Pyramid Solitaire and Deduction are among the latest games added to the MacMost iPhone games collection. These games add to the largest collection of iPhone games by a single company. The games can be played for free by iPhone users by simply using their iPhone to browse to iPhone Games section of MacMost.com. MacMost.com is a Apple enthusiast site with news, tutorials and video podcasts. It is produced by CleverMedia, an Internet content company that has created more than 300 Web-based games since 1995. Gary Rosenzweig, founder of CleverMedia and executive producer of MacMost, added four new games this week in response to continuing demand for more games. "We continue to have thousands of people per day come to play our games," said Rosenzweig. "So we want to have more games for them to play." Four new games this week add to the 16 games already at the site, some of which date back to the day the iPhone was released. The games also work on the iPod Touch. While the iPhone does not include any game applications, it does allow for third-party developers to make games using the Safari Web browser built into the phone. The Add It Up game challenges players to find number patterns that add up to to a goal while they are being timed. Deduction is a puzzle game, where the player must guess a pattern in a limited number of turns. Both games work well with the iPhone's touch screen. Another game added this week, Chicken and Eggs, is an arcade action game where the player must click on eggs as they fall and catch them before they break. The game has been at CleverMedia's free online games site GameScene.com for years, and has always been one of the most popular games there. The MacMost.com Web site also includes news and blog posts designed to fit the iPhone's screen. In addition, the regular video podcast, MacMost Now, is provided in mobile phone format for the iPhone. The games can be played by going to http://MacMost.com and clicking on the "iPhone Games" link at the top of the page.]]> Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:00:00 -0700 MacMost_Releases_More_Free_iPhone_Games_id20080215-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/GameScene.com_Invites_Players_into_the_Mysterious_Manor_id20080206-060000.html Mysterious Manor is the latest new game at GameScene.com, the free online games Web site. In the game, players must search the rooms of an old house to find objects from a list. The game has eight interior rooms and two outside areas. Each area has about 50 possible items, of which the player needs to find 10. This makes the game re-playable, as different objects will be asked for with each new game. "Hidden object games have been popular for some time now, but they are a challenge to do purely in a Web browser," said Gary Rosenzweig, Chief Engineer for CleverMedia, the publisher of GameScene.com. "A typical game would take a long time to download, even with a broadband connection." Mysterious Manor solves this problem by only downloading the portion of the game that the player needs to see at that moment. So the player never waits very long. Creating the artwork, which includes more than 500 objects, 10 areas and an overview of the house was a challenge for CleverMedia artist Eve Park. "Each object had to be cleverly hidden in the room, and among other objects," said Park. "Some are pretty easy to find, but others are tricky. Some of the objects just blend right in and you need a sharp eye to find them." Another big difference between Mysterious Manor and other hidden object games is that it is free. Like all the games at GameScene.com, players can just go to the Web site and play the full version of the game. They do not even need to sign up or join the site to play. GameScene, the largest site of original games by one company, dates back to late 1995. CleverMedia has more than 150 Web-based games at GameScene.com and other sites. You can play Mysterious Manor at http://gamescene.com/Mysterious_Manor.html.]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:00:00 -0700 GameScene.com_Invites_Players_into_the_Mysterious_Manor_id20080206-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/MacMost_Builds_iPhone_Game_Collection_id20070825-060000.html MacMost has boosted its collection of iPhone games to 16, including several word, card and picture puzzle games. This is the largest collection of iPhone games by a single company. MacMost released three games on June 29, the day the iPhone went on sale. Reaction to the games has been so positive that MacMost has continued to add more games at the rate of almost two per week. Recent additions include a Jigsaw Puzzle game, where the player can assemble a picture from 25 or 49 puzzle pieces, a Word Search game, where the player must spot words in a jumble of letters, and Think Ahead, a number puzzle game. Some card games have also been added, such as Solitaire and Video Poker. MacMost.com is a Apple enthusiast site with news, tutorials and a weekly video podcast. It is produced by CleverMedia, an Internet content company that has created more than 300 Web-based games since 1995. Gary Rosenzweig, founder of CleverMedia and executive producer of MacMost, has been converting some of CleverMedia's games to work on the iPhone, and creating new ones specifically for the iPhone. "Most of the game code is completely new, built for the iPhone. But we have been able to reuse some artwork from our other titles," said Rosenzweig. "The trick is to figure out which games will work best on the iPhone's touch screen." While the iPhone does not allow third-party developers to install applications on the phone, MacMost has been able to make games that play using the Safari Web browser built into the phone. Rosenzweig said of thousands of people per day are coming to MacMost.com to play the games. Almost all of the players are using an iPhone to play, even though the games can also be played in the Safari browser on Macintosh and Windows computers. The games are free to play and can be found by going to MacMost.com and clicking on the "iPhone Games" link at the top of the page.]]> Sat, 25 Aug 2007 06:00:00 -0600 MacMost_Builds_iPhone_Game_Collection_id20070825-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/MacMost_Releases_Free_iPhone_Games_id20070702-060000.html Sudoku, Match Three and Collapsing Blocks are the first three games to be released for the iPhone from MacMost. The games can be played for free by iPhone users by simply using their iPhone to browse to MacMost.com. MacMost.com is a Apple enthusiast site with news, tutorials and a weekly video podcast. It is produced by CleverMedia, an Internet content company that has created more than 300 Web-based games since 1995. Gary Rosenzweig, founder of CleverMedia and executive producer of MacMost, created the games in anticipation of the iPhone launch, without being able to test the games until the phone was released on June 29. "I was able to draw on our library of game code and create the games using my best guesses about the iPhone's capabilities," said Rosenzweig. "Then I waited in line all day on Friday so I could be one of the first to get one and to test the games." While the iPhone does not include any game applications at launch, it does allow for third-party developers to make games using the Safari Web browser built into the phone. The Match Three game challenges players to swap objects to line up three matching pieces in a row. It is the same basic concept as most popular casual games. MacMost's game uses apples as playing pieces. The Collapsing Blocks game is another classic casual game type, adapted for the iPhone's screen. The Sudoku game uses the iPhone's touch screen to allow the player to enter numbers on a standard Sudoku board. It features a nearly unlimited supply of puzzle boards, with three levels of difficulty. Rosenzweig said he is planning more games. He intends to keep the games free. "We're working on some card games and other puzzle games," said Rosenzweig. We hope to be updating the game site almost every day in the coming weeks. "Like the games at our main game site, GameScene, these will be free and we'll eventually support them with advertising." The games can be played by going to MacMost.com and clicking on the "iPhone Games" link at the top of the page.]]> Mon, 02 Jul 2007 06:00:00 -0600 MacMost_Releases_Free_iPhone_Games_id20070702-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/MacMost_to_Help_Users_Get_More_From_Apple_Products_id20070323-060000.html Apple fans now have their own television station on the Internet. CleverMedia TV launched MacMost.com (http://macmost.com) this week, a video podcast and news Web site for people who own Macintosh Computers, iPods and the soon-to-be-released iPhone. "The site is geared toward non-geeks, just typical computer users looking to learn more," said CleverMedia TV producer Gary Rosenzweig. "Most Mac users don't care about Apple's stock price or the latest software hacks. They just want to learn how to use their Mac." The MacMost video podcast is a weekly video show that can be downloaded through iTunes, watched at the MacMost.com Web site, or seen at other video sites such as YouTube. Host Molly Stanberry runs down the week's top Apple news and introduces how-to tutorials. The Web site itself features news headlines about Apple products, and asks users to vote on which stories are the most interesting. This will not only be used to decide which stories are covered in the podcast, but also what direction the site will take in covering future news. CleverMedia TV is an Internet content company that produces several video podcasts. Rosenzweig said that the idea for an Apple-oriented video podcast came after they realized that they all use and love Macs, and follow Apple news religiously. "It is the one passion that everyone here shares," said Rosenzweig. We live and breathe the Apple lifestyle here, so wanting to do a show and a site about it seemed to be a great idea." In addition to the main video podcast, the site will also feature stand-alone video tutorials, lists of tips and tricks, product reviews and links to other sites that Mac and iPod users might find useful. CleverMedia TV also produces the video podcasts Podcast Salad, Geek Girl TV, The Daily Vlog and the Secrets of Y.]]> Fri, 23 Mar 2007 06:00:00 -0600 MacMost_to_Help_Users_Get_More_From_Apple_Products_id20070323-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/New_Show_Looks_at_the_World_of_Video_Podcasting_id20060501-060000.html The world of video podcasting is growing quickly as the number of viewers and shows increase daily. And now there is a video podcast that reviews the best shows every week. Podcast Salad is a free weekly show at http://www.podcastsalad.com that takes a look at Internet video programs and news. It is being produced by CleverMedia as part of the podcast network at http://clevermedia.tv. Video Podcasts are shows distributed over the Internet rather than traditional television or cable networks. Podcasts can be distributed directly by the producer of the show to the viewers. This is leading to a plethora of unusual niche content. "There are already hundreds of shows out there and this is just the beginning," said Gary Rosenzweig, executive producer of Podcast Salad. "We feel there is already a need for a weekly round-up show for people that like to know what is new and interesting." The first episode of Podcast Salad became available on Friday, April 28. It can be viewed at http://www.podcastsalad.com, or by subscribing the program using the Apple iTunes music store. Each episode will be about five minutes long and feature from four to six video podcasts. News items will also be covered, such as the recent addition of an Emmy Award for video podcasting. "We hope that Podcast Salad becomes the 'Entertainment Tonight' or 'Talk Soup' of the video podcasting world," said Rosenzweig.]]> Mon, 01 May 2006 06:00:00 -0600 New_Show_Looks_at_the_World_of_Video_Podcasting_id20060501-060000.html http://clevermedia.com/news/Book_News_Video_Podcast_Hits_Niche_Market_id20060117-060000.html A television program on the Internet might seem like the most unlikely place to find book news. But that is where you will find Book Stories, a weekly video podcast about all things literary. Book Stories is a weekly five-minute show featuring book news, trivia and interviews with authors and publishers. It is free for anyone to watch on the Internet by visiting http://bookstories.org. Video podcasting is a new emerging medium that allows small video programs for target markets to reach anyone. Book Stories is produced by Colorado-based CleverMedia, which is also known for its Web-based game sites. CleverMedia is launching its own TV network of over-the-Internet programs. Book Stories is the first of these programs and has been produced weekly since January. "While we plan to produce a variety of programs, Book Stories is our first because all of us here share a great interest in books," said Gary Rosenzweig, executive producer for CleverMedia TV. "We think that book news is a good niche subject for video podcasting." Each episode of Book Stories starts off with news, focusing on the latest legal, censorship and promotional issues in the publishing industry. At the heart of each show is an interview or special feature. Featured author interviews have included Kevin Baker, Giles Carwyn, Todd Fahnestock, and Kathy Brandt. Book Stories has introduced viewers to newly published books of a variety of genres, ranging from historical fiction to fantasy. In addition to the Book Stories Web site at http://bookstories.org, one can receive Book Stories by subscribing to its video podcast through the site, or from Apple's iTunes Music Store. From there, owners of the latest video iPod can download the program to their iPod to watch on the go. Thousands of audio podcasts and hundreds of video podcasts are now available from various sources and on various topics.]]> Tue, 17 Jan 2006 06:00:00 -0700 Book_News_Video_Podcast_Hits_Niche_Market_id20060117-060000.html