Oquonie: down the rabbit hole
When I'm not playing Oquonie, I'm thinking about playing Oquonie. Oquonie is the newest game from Aliceffekt, AKA Devine Lu Linvega, AKA David Mondou-Labbe, artist, programmer, musician and linguist extraordinaire. You might remember exploration game Hiversaires from last year; if you played it, you know that Aliceffekt is not someone whose games are going to lead you by the hand.Oquonie most certainly does not. I have been playing, on and off, for a couple of hours now, and I still don't understand what is going on, or why I'm doing what I am. This, it must be stated, is most certainly not a bad thing. The game has taken root in my imagination, and it's certainly not without its satisfactions. The game starts with you in an isometric office controlling a long-necked, cheerful-looking bird. As you explore, you will encounter other characters and objects that speak to you in symbols â€" an invented language called Camilare. You need to figure out what you have to do, a task that is compounded in difficulty by the fact that you have no key for Camilare â€" and that the game's strange, non-Euclidean architecture will lead you to unexpected rooms, or around in circles. (Credit: David Mondou-Labbe)So far, I seem to have ascertained that you must collect symbols from the characters that inhabit the labyrinthine spaces. Three symbols of a kind will change your character's shape â€" into a different bird, for instance, or a wee piggie. This, in turn, allows you to advance on to the next level â€" certain doors will only open for a particular iteration of your character.Beyond that, though, I'm still all at sea. There's a child-looking character painted in red and cyan who will show up only to disappear (the only colourful character in an otherwise monochrome game, illustrated beautifully by Rekka Bellum); I feel that s/he is the key to the entire game. Other elements seem to lead to this child-thing; a red floating obelisk, for instance.But the game does not feel impossible. It feels as though, if you can just crack the next level, you'll understand just a little bit more, and more of the game will reveal itself. It is like living in a foreign country where you don't speak the language; the longer you spend there, the more your comprehension grows.Aliceffekt's games are not the usual casual mobile affair, and if you're looking for something mindless to pass the time with, Oquonie will not be for you. But if you're willing to head down the rabbit hole, this strange, sweet, mind-bending game is deeply rewarding.Oquonie is available for AU$2.99 from the iTunes App Store.
Comodo Console makes any car connected
Comodo Console makes any car connected
BARCELONA, Spain--At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Israeli start-up Comodo Console debuted a low-cost, all-in-one infotainment system that turns any car--including a 10-year-old beater--into a cutting-edge, connected tech sled. Comodo's aftermarket product is a one-stop shop that goes way beyond your typical dash-mounted navigation system. For a flat monthly fee the company provides all the hardware, software, and data plan necessary to install and run the console in the vehicle. The package includes a rotatable console with a 4.3-inch touch screen, dedicated USB modem, GPS antenna, Bluetooth, backup camera, external microphone, speaker, and installation kit--devices that are normally reserved for the newest vehicles with top-of-the-line trim levels. But it's more than just hardware. There's a library of 100 applications and services for the device accessible within two clicks, and the company is open to third-party applications, according to a spokesperson. Giving Pandora a run for its money, Comodo has negotiated with entertainment labels to create dozens of music applications, each acting like a channel that streams cloud-based music into the car. It may not be as customizable as Pandora, but the best part is that a data plan is included in the bundle.Access to all the cloud-based app and services data is included in the monthly service fee, which is expected to run approximately $20 to $30 depending on the services the buyer chooses. The company says it is able to include services such as streaming music with the flat fee because Comodo Console will only be used for for the hour or two every day when someone is in the vehicle. The absence of a Web browser also keeps data consumption under control. But apps aren't just for entertainment while you're stuck in traffic. There's a wide range of convenience features, such as shopping, dining, traffic, and office apps that turn your car into a mobile ground control. The Comodo Console is installed in the vehicle, which according to the company is safer in accidents than dash-mounted devices.Liane Yvkoff/CNETWhile the out-of-the-box system would work in any car, it seems to be ideal for compact and economy cars, which often don't include high-end tech options. Comodo is already in discussions with manufacturers in Israel, such as Volvo and Honda, and it's also talking with Hertz as a potential customer. The console will debut in Israel, and the company is actively seeking international distributors, including in the U.S. But with smartphones that perform almost the exact same tasks, the product might be redundant for many buyers. However, no smartphone to date can work as a backup camera for your car.
BARCELONA, Spain--At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Israeli start-up Comodo Console debuted a low-cost, all-in-one infotainment system that turns any car--including a 10-year-old beater--into a cutting-edge, connected tech sled. Comodo's aftermarket product is a one-stop shop that goes way beyond your typical dash-mounted navigation system. For a flat monthly fee the company provides all the hardware, software, and data plan necessary to install and run the console in the vehicle. The package includes a rotatable console with a 4.3-inch touch screen, dedicated USB modem, GPS antenna, Bluetooth, backup camera, external microphone, speaker, and installation kit--devices that are normally reserved for the newest vehicles with top-of-the-line trim levels. But it's more than just hardware. There's a library of 100 applications and services for the device accessible within two clicks, and the company is open to third-party applications, according to a spokesperson. Giving Pandora a run for its money, Comodo has negotiated with entertainment labels to create dozens of music applications, each acting like a channel that streams cloud-based music into the car. It may not be as customizable as Pandora, but the best part is that a data plan is included in the bundle.Access to all the cloud-based app and services data is included in the monthly service fee, which is expected to run approximately $20 to $30 depending on the services the buyer chooses. The company says it is able to include services such as streaming music with the flat fee because Comodo Console will only be used for for the hour or two every day when someone is in the vehicle. The absence of a Web browser also keeps data consumption under control. But apps aren't just for entertainment while you're stuck in traffic. There's a wide range of convenience features, such as shopping, dining, traffic, and office apps that turn your car into a mobile ground control. The Comodo Console is installed in the vehicle, which according to the company is safer in accidents than dash-mounted devices.Liane Yvkoff/CNETWhile the out-of-the-box system would work in any car, it seems to be ideal for compact and economy cars, which often don't include high-end tech options. Comodo is already in discussions with manufacturers in Israel, such as Volvo and Honda, and it's also talking with Hertz as a potential customer. The console will debut in Israel, and the company is actively seeking international distributors, including in the U.S. But with smartphones that perform almost the exact same tasks, the product might be redundant for many buyers. However, no smartphone to date can work as a backup camera for your car.
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