Yes, it’s all true.

1. FAITH: I am a follower of Yeshua and I’ve given my life to YHWH (Yahweh). No I’m not Jewish.
2. I play alto and baritone saxophone. I was pretty good. Not so much now, but I can play the Ocarina on the iPhone.
3. I was captain of my high school marching band, and an avid member of the Jazz ensemble
4. I was falsely handcuffed and harrassed in my Calc II class at the University of Florida. Mistaken identity.
5. I was hospitalized from March to November the year I was born with an unknown illness. Wasn’t supposed to make it. My family celebrated November 20th as “Bwana’s Day” since that’s the day I was released from the asylum hospital
6. I love basketball more than football. I never played football despite the fact my brother was a superstar and played at the University of Central Florida. I learned a lot from him (and I continue to)
7. I can not get on “spinning” rides at theme parks, as I get deathly sick.
8. I was allergic to milk for much of my childhood. I had to eat peanut butter on ice cream cones while my family and friends enjoyed ice cream. I’m not bitter.
9. I didn’t have access to a computer until I got to college.
10. I taught myself most of what I know about computers and technology.
11. I love Gospel music more than Jazz.
12. There’s a high probability I don’t agree with you.
13. I was voted “Most Talented” in my senior high school class.
14. I (and my friends) won our high school talent show by doing a dance routine to New Edition’s “N.E. Heartbreak”. I was Johnny Gill. No one knew I could dance prior to that.
15. I was awarded a Homebuilder’s Association scholarship for a house I designed in my high school drafting class. The house was built.
16. I love blue crabs. I mean, I really love blue crabs.
17. I believe the world is coming to an end sooner than you think.
18. I’m the most positive pessimist you’ll ever meet.
19. I believe additional species occupy the earth other than humans….and idiots
20. I grew up in a family of evangelists, singers, and ministers
21. I finished Super Mario Brothers on NES with my eyes closed. (Hint, use the music)
22. I was writing online web logs in 1994
23. I am an aspiring photographer
24. My wife and I met on an online dating service (blackplanet)
25. I haven’t met a person that I haven’t made laugh

Others: Shey, Mona

No related posts.

You know, I never thought I’d cling so much to a phone as much as I cling to the iPhone. When the iPhone was updated to version 2.0, I knew that it was going to make things worse. While many still believe the iPhone to be over hyped and not worth the time, money, and support, I firmly believe it has changed the smart phone market in a very short amount of time.

On the matter at hand. Here at the end of 2008, which iPhone applications were the most valuable players? Let’s count it down:

10. Brightkite (Free) – Brightkite for iPhone actually prompted me to sign up for a service that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. It allows you to check in to your friends network your various locations, provide status updates, and upload photos.
    
    The combination of the iPhone interface, GPS, and camera make this app intuitive and fun to use. Thank goodness for Brightkite’s privacy options so I don’t have to let the world know where I am at any given moment. I am at http://brightkite.com/people/bwana
9. Qik (Jailbreak) – Qik is a big motivator for me to jailbreak (hack) my iPhone. Qik provides live streaming of video and audio from the iPhone much like Ustream.tv does for computers and webcams.
   
   They have done a great job of utilizing the iPhone’s hardware to squeeze out a great streaming experience. It’s too bad that this application is not available on the iTunes App store, but several bloggers have received advanced copies of the app that doesn’t require a jailbreak and absolutely love it. I can’t wait until the masses can use it, but for now, I’m using it with a jailbroken iPhone. My Qik profile is at http://qik.com/bwana
8. Evernote (Free) – Evernote is a great way to stay organized and the iPhone version does not disappoint. From taking ordinary notes to voice reminders, I find this tool to be an absolute necessity to stay organized.
   
   Given that it synchronizes with the cloud, I can create and edit artifacts on my iPhone and on the computer. This app is easily worth money, but the authors have made it free to the public.
7. Winterboard (Jailbreak) – One of my biggest gripes with the iPhone is the lack of customization options available out of the box. Since I’ve jailbroken my iPhone for Qik functionality, I am also able to customize backgrounds, icons, sounds, and applications using Winterboard.
   
   This free application available in Cydia is a must have if you’ve jailbroken your iPhone. Often, I get asked, “How did you change that background?” or “How did you get that sound?”, and the answer always points to Winterboard.
6. Smiles ($2.99 Zen|Drop/$4.99 Combined) – I need to thank Chris Pirillo for introducing me to Smiles for the iPhone. Chris gave me the opportunity to review this game and I’ve been playing it almost every night since. Smiles is a matching/puzzle game that resembles Bejeweled on the surface but adds elements that differentiate it.
   
   For one, you can use the iPhone’s accelerometer to change orientation in the game. This may sound like a visual preference, but it also serves as a strategy for certain game modes. I’ve reviewed Smiles on Bwana.TV, and I definitely believe it to be worth the $2.99/$4.99 price tag. Here’s my video review of Smiles for the iPhone:
   
5. Uno ($7.99) – I’ve played Uno since I could burp. Yes, it’s been that long. This game is just the epitome of fun. The rules are not difficult, the color based cards make it easy for the youngest kids to pick it up, and it’s hard to find someone who says they actually don’t like the game.
   
   The iPhone version of Uno adds a multiplayer component to an already rich single player experience. Now you can play your friends over Wifi and the internet if they have an iPhone or iPod Touch. At $7.99, it may sound a bit expensive, but once you’ve played it, you’ll see right off that it’s a premium app for the iPhone. Here’s my video review of Uno for the iPhone
   
4. Facebook (Free) – Easily the most comprehensive, in-depth, social networking application for the iPhone today, Facebook takes it to a whole new level. As a light user of Facebook, I know that if I’m impressed with the features and functions of this app, that the regular users of Facebook will find it essential. It does it all.
   
   If Facebook is your social network of choice, there’s no way you can do without viewing and uploading photos, updating your status, posting notes, approve/ignore requests, reading notifications, read and respond to messages, and even utilize Facebook chat. This app is a must have.
3. Pandora Radio (Free) – Do you listen to music? Then there’s no excuse why you shouldn’t have Pandora installed. Pandora uses technology from the Music Genome Project to create dynamic “radio stations” based on artists and songs that you like.
   
   Want to hear similar music to a certain artist you like? Simply create a station based on that artist and Pandora plays a great selection of music that’s very similar to your artist and give you the ability the rate up or down songs. I love this app, and for a while I believed it to the best available for the iPhone. If you don’t have it installed, I don’t know what you’re waiting on.
2. Ocarina ($0.99) – To be blown away by this app is not only a pun, but an understatement. Ocarina turns your iPhone into a thousand+ year old instrument called the Ocarina. You may have heard of the Legend Of Zelda game, Ocarina of Time? Well yes, it’s pretty much that, but on your iPhone.
   
   The folks over at Smule have done something I never thought was possible. They register the air you blow in the iPhone microphone and create music with fingerings on the touchscreen. There are many scales and pitches allowing you to create just about anything. Here is my latest video, where I play “Song of Storms” from the Legend of Zelda. This thing is truly incredible.

   Smule is also holding a contest worth $1000, if you can create your own Ocarina video, so if you got the skills, enter today.

1. Google Reader (Web/Free) – If you read My Top 10 Websites of 2008, then you already know Google Reader is my MVP. Well things are the same on the iPhone. Although this is a web application, it doesn’t change my love for it. Google has refined Google Reader for iPhone so much that it seems like the most optimal way to read news on the web.
   
   The interface is responsive, the controls are intuitive, and all the major functionality (star, note, share, email) for handling articles is right at your finger tips. Literally. Hands down, Google Reader for iPhone is the best iPhone app of 2008 for me, and I believe it’s a great choice.

So what are your favorite iPhone apps? Don’t be ashamed to express yourself in the comments.

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• iPhone Update Means Bad News for Custom Apps
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It’s like the hardest question one could ask a gamer. I’ve been asked this so many times by my viewers and I’ve always had difficulty answering it. So, instead of trying to do it on my own, I solicited my FriendFeed and Twitter followers to see what they thought. It turns out, I’m not the only one who has difficulty narrowing it down:

Twitter:

dunnfann @Bwana madden xbox360

pcmacsmackdown @Bwana mine would be Unreall tournament 3

otherbayarea @Bwana resident evil 4 ftw

MikeNally @Bwana Pole Position (old school baby)

pcubed @Bwana Final Fantasy VII. No question.

GvLPunisher @Bwana that’s a tough one but I would have to say military madness for the TG16.

Beonarri @Bwana Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

Dualbo @Bwana Abe’s Oddysee- PS1 though the DS lite is my top pick for best console/platform.

ultimatejosh @Bwana Deus Ex for PC

MichaelMidnight @Bwana favorite video game of all time: SNES’s (and just currently released on the DS) Chrono Trigger!

kenGe @Bwana Super Mario Bros 3 for NES

therealchris @bwana i think descent 2 was the best in its time & still a great game

terpkristin @Bwana Of course, it really is Final Fantasy VI, as it was in Japan

terpkristin @Bwana Tough question! Final Fantasy III on the SNES was what really drew me into JRPG’s, and one I still go back to, so that’s my vote.

HeyEddie @Bwana Mario! What else?

fiveofeight @Bwana Half Life 2 for the PC

kyleve @bwana Super Mario Galaxy

FriendFeed:

DS Lite: Animal Crossing (in Japanese). Wait – SNES: The Legend of Zelda. No – PS: Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. Hold on – Gameboy: Metroid II. Nono, Nintendo: Super Mario Brothers II… wait Mario Kart… Mortal Kombat II… Bwana, please don’t make me choose. My head hurts. :\ – Mona N.

GTA – Ali.Atrvash

Sonic / Puzzle Bobble / Peggle / Bewjeled 2 / Quake 3 Arena / Puzzle Quest / CoD 2 / Max Payne / Need For Speed Hot Pursuit – Underground – Milan Luca aka Vibes

Donkey Kong, arcade version. Many quarters died in the making of my fascination of that game. I’d buy a standing version and keep it in my house if I had room for it. – Derrick

I remember how much I loved the Atari game Adventure- it was one of the first games I ever played. But my daughter and I have been playing a lot of Cooking Mama so I’ll go with that because it makes her happy. – Abby Martin

Civilization – I’ve lost track of how many evenings “disappeared” to that game – Mike Taylor

Here’s a few or mine: Arcade – Missile Command | PC – Quake Series, Battlefield Series, Half-Life Series | Atari 8-bit – Spelunker, Jumpman, Lode Runner | Atari ST – Midimaze, Dungeon Master, Stunt Car Racer, Populous | C-64 – Below the Root | Atari 2600 – Breakout | Playstation 3 – FIFA, Motor Storm | Wii – Sports, Fit – Mark Krynsky

The Legend of Zelda, Punchout, Metroid, Final Fantasy, all on NES. I couldn’t think of any others until Is aw Mona mention Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo on the Playstation, I have that sitting on my desk I’ve played it so recently! – Joe Pierce

(Nintendo) Mario Bros., Zelda, Mario Kart (PC) Half-Life Series (XBox) Halo Series (GameBoy/DS) Tetris – Jeffrey Blais

Ultima VII & Ultima VII Part 2. – Akiva Moskovitz

Super Tecmo Bowl, Ultima I-IV, Knockout (? – game with Glass Joe as the first boxer), – Amani

Call of Duty – World at War – iCombine

Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri. – Mark Trapp

Final Fantasy II (The US Version) – Matt M.

Deus Ex or Portal – Richard Bradshaw

Old school, but Artillery/Scorched Earth and variants http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A… – Micah Wittman

Final Fantasy VII and Super Mario Brothers. – Jason Huebel

Starcraft & Fallout (1) – Squirrel Girl

Animal Crossing on the DS and any Burnout on the 360. – Michelle Martinez

Mario Kart. – Steven Perez

Bwana, if I have to I could narrow it down to 1 for each platform but it will take me all afternoon to decide based on a thorough process of elimination which I have yet to devise so please don’t make me do it. - Mark Krynsky

Hands down…Mario Kart…loved it as a child & still love it now. A close second would be The Sims. I wasted a few straight months of my life before reentering the real world. – Jennifer Van Grove

I’d have to go with 007 Golden Eye for N64 =) – John

Final Fantasy 12, Descent, Myst. – tehKenny

Ico – Robert Haas

Ocarina of time – N64 – Dominic Dale

god of war, gta san andreas, nintendo kung fu, megaman – Cardeen Martinez

Our family spent many hours with Lego Star Wars The Complete Saga on the Wii but I liked it more on the PSP. It went everywhere I went. – ZenGiraffe

Can’t pick one but Super Mario Kart (SNES), Final Fantasy VI (SNES), Final Fantasy VII (PSOne), Super Metroid (SNES), Grand Theft Auto San Andreas (PS2) and Street Fighter II Turbo Hyper Fighting (Arcade) are up there. – Martin Bryant

C64 – Wasteland – Nick

Hmm…tie between Final Fantasy VII and Gran Turismo… – Alex Scoble

Too many categories. There’s no way to pin down even just a few. KaBoom, World of Warcraft, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Ms. Pacman, Galaga, Lode Runner, Donkey Kong Jr, Archon, Starcraft, Ultima III, Super Mario Bros. 3, Grand Theft Auto 3, Scramble, Choplifter, Qix, Rally X, Tetris, Tempest, Military Madness. Included old stand-ups as a platform since their all playable now through emulation. I’m probably missing dozens of others. In every case, i’m talking about originals, not remakes. – ·[▪_▪]·

Grim Fandango – invariant

Ocarina of Time on the N64 – Michael Perschbacher

Phantasy Star for the SEGA Master System. – Percival Carti3r

WoW, starcraft, CounterStrike – Alan Le

I have two…1. 007 Golden Eye for the N64 and 2. Diablo 2 for the PC – Rob

1. The Legend of Zelda (NES), 2. Metroid (NES), 3. Halo (XBox), 4. Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (N64), Grand Theft Auto III, 6. 007: Goldeneye (N64). Those are my personal favorites. I remember just having a lot of fun and enjoying playing these games more than others. There are probably other games that I may like as well that I have not played yet. It’s hard to beat Nintendo for plain old fun in the game play. – Rolf Schewe

Ah, man… How could I have forgotten this: World of Warcraft. I’ve been playing it for a couple of years now. - Jason Huebel

Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Xbox), The Legend of Zelda The Windwaker (GameCube), Half-Life 2 (PC), The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion (Xbox360) just to name a few. – dbz

Metroid – NES. Wizards and Warriors and Zelda get honorable mention. – ChangeForge | Ken Stewart

Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda. – David Cook

We <3 Katamari, ps2. SMB3, nes. Zelda Ocarina of Time, n64. - Kamilah Gill

Chrono Trigger (SNES) – John Long

As you can see, these results indicate a high level of uncertainty, but I’ve tallied the responses and declared the top response is Mario Kart.

Results sorted by number of users and top 10 graphed

This non-scientific method of determining the best video game of all time is surprisingly close to other sites. I believe The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remains the highest rated game of all time, and it’s near the top of our list.

So what about you, Bwana? What is your favorite video game of all time?

Well gather around children, and let me break it down for you. I, too, have trouble narrowing it down to one single game, so I’ll list my top 5 based on number of hours enjoyed, and replay counts. Then, I’ll attempt to pick a winner.

1. Super Mario Brothers (NES)
2. RC Pro Am (NES)
3. Dune II (PC)
4. Starcraft (PC)
5. Street Fighter II: Turbo (SNES)

Ok, now that my brain hurts, I might as well continue this non-scientific method of determining my favorite. I think of the top 5 listed, I would say my favorite would be Super Mario Brothers (NES). This is a game that I enjoyed both at the arcade and on my Nintendo at home. This was the one game I could finish with my eyes closed and to this day, I enjoy playing it. It’s such a hard task to pick one favorite, but that’s a testament to the many, many wonderful game titles we’ve all been exposed to for the past 30 years.

So what’s your favorite video game of all time? If you didn’t respond via Twitter or FriendFeed, let me know in the comments.

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