3-d

Adventures of Robinson Crusoe is a fun game based on Daniel Defoe's novel. Each level is a treasure hunt to salvage items from Crusoe's shipwreck. As you progress, Crusoe builds a new boat to escape. Each vignette is richly detailed and visually entertaining, with beautiful graphics, music, and sounds.

You can choose to play the game either in "Relaxed Mode," which offers hints and untimed play, or "Survivor Mode," which has fewer hints and a timer to keep you on your toes. We chose "Relaxed Mode." To play, you search for hidden … Read more

Dream Chronicles - The Chosen Child chronicles the journey of Faye as she travels a fantastical landscape seeking her daughter Lyra, who has been captured by the Fairy Queen. The game uses dreams as a motif to enhance and propel the story as it unfolds. The graphics are rich and detailed, and the game play presents a fun challenge.

Dream Chronicles - The Chosen Child is challenging and engrossing. The story begins in a beautifully decorated tree house full of interesting and unusual items. Some items are clues; others are there to be used for special purposes, and some are … Read more

Navteq announced a partnership Monday under which it will supply 3D map data for Microsoft's newly expanded mapping online services.

Last week, Microsoft took its first steps building 3D imagery into Bing Maps with data from about 100 cities to start with in the Streetside feature that gives a driver's-eye view of the world. But slogging down innumerable streets the world over is an arduous process--Google has been doing it for years with Street View and still has a ways to go to add its first data, not to mention the challenge of keeping views up to date. … Read more

Google is offering a public DNS service (DNS is the address book for Internet domains) that will resolve the domain names you type into a Web browser to servers you want to visit. But that could really give Google a complete picture of who you are. Do you want that? We also chat about the World Cup coming in 3D and the effects of BitLocker encryption being broken.

Google Public DNS service not ideal for everyone http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2009/12/google-public-dns-service-not-ideal-for-everyone.ars … Read more

Screen savers these days tend to give users a lot of options: adjust the speed of one element, change the quantity or color of something else, add your own music, and so on. Coral Reef screen saver downplays customization in favor of really, really good graphics, and we can't say it's a bad trade-off.

The screen saver doesn't do a whole lot. As the name would suggest, it's an underwater scene, with fish leisurely swimming past a shipwreck. Sunlight streams through the water, creating a ripple effect on the sea creatures in the foreground. Users can … Read more

Unique's 3D Salt Water Fish Tank is an attractive screen saver that transforms your computer into a burbling aquarium. Some aspects could be better, but it's soothing and not a bad simulation overall.

The screen saver's graphics aren't going to fool anyone into thinking that they're seeing real fish, but on the whole, they're pretty high quality, with smooth and realistic movement. We like that you can customize the look of the aquarium to some extent, such as setting the tank lighting for high noon, dusk, or night. You can also adjust the tint … Read more

There was some excitement about trying 3D Desktop Bunny Rabbits Screen Saver. We like bunnies, and it sounded like it might be cute. Unfortunately, this program didn't quite live up to expectations. Although this screensaver is somewhat entertaining, the mediocre graphics really undermine its quality.

The first strike against this screensaver was the terrible interface to the program's options and settings. Although 3D Desktop Bunny Rabbits functions well enough, and all its commands are pretty basic and fairly easy to understand, the interface is a cluttered mess of italics and exclamation points, an immediate turn-off. We did like … Read more

There will be no episode of Gadgettes this week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday here in the US. So, have a listen to a classic episode from the Gadgettes archive. Remember to read this entire blog post in your own "hot breath" voice for the full effect. Go ahead. You know you want to. Enjoy!

Robotic snake surgeon tinkers with your heart via your mouth

Power Shirt charges gadgets as you walk

Ergoskin: Underwear that makes you sit up straight

Remember Ring (Thanks, David!)

The Body-laptop interface is knitted from Thneed which nobody, Nobody, NOBODY needs

3D Tattoo is like a secret between you and people with funny glasses

Giant mouth exhibit is just one stop on a gross, informative journey… Read more

FarmMania is a hectic time management game in which Anna must help her grandfather save the family farm. By raising produce and livestock and producing other goods, all while racing against the clock, users help Anna earn enough money to make the farm a profitable venture.

The program's graphics are cartoon-style and not particularly impressive, but they're not bad for what they are, and overall the game is fairly attractive. Users start off by planting vegetables, which must be watered, weeded, harvested, and sent into town to be sold. As players advance the game becomes more complex, with … Read more