Thursday, April 26, 2012

Apple : Apple 'ten years behind Microsoft,' says Kapersky boss

Apple : Apple 'ten years behind Microsoft,' says Kapersky boss


Apple 'ten years behind Microsoft,' says Kapersky boss

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Apple 'ten years behind Microsoft,' says Kapersky boss

Mac OS X users will come under increasing threats from malicious software, as Apple's market share continues to rise, according to a leading security firm.

Following the recent Flashback scare, which infested over 600,000 Macs, Eugene Kapersky, founder and CEO of Kapersky, says cyber criminals will further target Mac users.

Furthermore, Kapersky reckons that Mac OS X, for so long considered virus-proof, is actually more susceptible to infection than Windows.

'No difference between Mac and Windows'

He says because Microsoft has built up years of experience in tackling viruses, Trojans and other malware through software patches, it has a distinct advantage.

He said: "I think they (Apple) are ten years behind Microsoft in terms of security. For many years I've been saying that from a security point of view there is no big difference between Mac and Windows.

"(It's) just a question of time and market share. Cyber criminals have now recognised that Mac is an interesting area.

"Now we have more, it's not just Flashback or Flashfake. Welcome to Microsoft's world, Mac. It's full of malware.

"Apple is now entering the same world as Microsoft has been in for more than 10 years: updates, security patches and so on. We now expect to see more and more because cyber criminals learn from success and this was the first successful one."

Apple recently used a Java software update to rid infected Macs of Flashback trojan, but the company attracted criticism over how long it took to acknowledge the problem.

Updated: 50 best free iPad games

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Updated: 50 best free iPad games

Best free iPad games 1 - 25

So you've got an iPad and come to the dawning realisation that you've no cash left to buy any games for it.

Have no fear, because the App Store offers plenty of iPad gaming goodness for the (unintentional or otherwise) skinflint. Our pick of the 50 best free iPad games is listed below.

Note that apps marked 'universal' will also work on an iPhone or iPod touch, scaling down controls and graphics accordingly.

You can also check out some of the entries in our TechRadar video:

brightcove : 968441153001

1. Aurora Feint 3

Aurora Feint 3 is essentially Puzzle Quest (Bejeweled welded to a basic RPG). Slide gems and match three to gain energy or smack your foe during battles. The horizontal-only sliding combined with accelerometer-based gravity-shifting in the well means you have to think fast in this game, which is well-suited to the iPad.

Aurora feint

2. Bub - Wider

This curious creation is a tranquil arcade game, where you tilt your iPad to guide a bubble around forests. The aim of Bub is to snare strangely named seeds and avoid foes. There's little new here over the iPhone release, and the fuzzy graphics desperately need an upgrade, but Bub works well on iPad due to the precision the larger device offers.

Bub wider

3. Checkers Free HD

It's checkers. On an iPad. For free. What more do you want to know? Oh, OK, then – Checkers Free HD is a pretty decent version of the popular board-game, with a variable difficulty level, configurable player names, an 'undo' function for wusses, and a toggle for forced captures.

Checkers free

4. Cliffed: Norm's World XL (universal)

This race-to-the-bottom vertical platform game lacks depth but Cliffed is fun for a quick high-score blast. Use the chunky controls to make your guy dash left or right to avoid rocks and leap down holes. If the screen catches up with him, it's game over.

Cliffed

5. Air Hockey Gold

Air hockey games work much better on the iPad than the iPhone, simply due to the iPad's larger screen. Air Hockey Gold isn't the only free game of this type, but it was the one that felt best during testing, and the two-player mode works nicely.

Air hockey gold

6. Compression HD

Compression HD is roughly what you'd end up with if you used a hammer to smash Puyo Puyo into the garbage compactor scene from Star Wars. Pieces fall, and you move and rotate them to fashion lines of three. All the while, the walls are closing in.

Compression hd

7. Dizzypad HD

Dizzypad is a one-thumb game which has you tapping the screen to have your frog leap between rotating lily pads. If he falls in the drink, he dies (pollution, eh?), but extra lives can be gained by munching bugs or bravely skipping lily pads. Extra modes are available via in-app purchase.

Dizzypad

8. Escape - Norm's World XL (universal)

IUGO's puzzler Escape has you swiping to make your silhouette leap between circles, which vanish when you leave them. The idea is to jump on every circle, whereupon you move to the next level. in-app purchases are available for tougher levels and two-player modes.

Escape

9. Frotz (universal)

Although it works on an iPhone, Frotz isn't great on the smaller screen. But on the iPad, with its larger keyboard, the interactive fiction player is a revelation. It uses the Z-Machine format, and you can download a selection of freely available text adventures (including the original Zork) using the app, or upload your own files to the app via FTP.

Frotz

10. GodFinger All-Stars for iPad

There are quite a few open-ended god games for the iPad, but most are pretty charmless affairs (we're looking at you, We Rule). GodFinger All-Stars takes you in close, enabling you to interfere with your subjects in detail. The interface is interesting, the game is full of character, and while it doesn't last forever, it'll provide you with plenty of entertainment.

GodFinger allstars

11. Harbor Master HD

This game might look like Flight Control in the drink, but the gameplay mechanics are subtly different. As with Firemint's effort, Harbor Master is a line-drawing game, this time with you drawing paths so boats can dock. However, once they've unloaded, they must leave the screen or sometimes visit another dock, ensuring things rapidly become complex and frantic.

Harbor master

12. Tiny Tower (universal)

Tiny people in a tiny skyscraper need you to feed then tiny sushi and do other tiny tasks. Things can, inevitably, be sped up by not-so-tiny IAP cash infusions, but if you're a patient sort, and keen on micromanagement games, Tiny Tower is a charming, enjoyable title that will eat many tiny moments out of your day.

Tiny Tower

13. Crimson: Steam Pirates

This turn-based strategy game comes complete with an engaging story and a healthy dollop of yo-ho-ho. You command pirate ships, setting their courses and then watching the action unfold. Crimson: Steam Pirates gives you eight free voyages and further adventures can be bought via IAP.

Crimson: Steam Pirates

14. Labyrinth 2 HD Lite

Another demo for a paid-for title (and one that made our best paid-for iPad games list), Labyrinth 2 HD Lite's definitely worth downloading if you don't have the full game. It's the digital equivalent of tilt-based marble games, but with crazy designs. You get a small selection of mazes here, but they're playable and varied, and there's always a high-score to beat.

Labrynth

15. Frisbee Forever (universal)

With almost limitless possibilities in videogames, it's amazing how many are drab grey and brown affairs. Frisbee Forever is therefore a breath of fresh air with its almost eye-searing vibrance. The sense of fun continues through to the gameplay, which is all about steering a frisbee to collect stars strewn along winding paths. Initially, you explore a fairground, but soon you're soaring above the wild west and sandy bays.

Frisbee Forever

16. Pocket Legends (3D MMO) (universal)

Most iPhone OS MMOs are dreary text-based affairs, so it's nice to see Spacetime Studios creating something a bit more ambitious with Pocket Legends, providing us with an iOS-specific 3D world populated by the usual motley collection of fantasy characters. As always with MMOs, the game demands you invest plenty of time to get anything out of it.

Pocket legends

17. Solitaire Ace

After a few hands of Klondike, we actually ended up preferring this free app to several of the iPad solitaire apps with hefty price tags. Solitaire Ace might be simple (no undo, only one theme, just three solitaire variations), but it's fast and responsive, with intuitive controls and extremely clear cards.

Solitaire ace

18. Tilt to Live HD

The basic aim of Tilt to Live is simple: avoid the red dots, either by cunning dodging and weaving or by triggering explosive devices in the arena. The game stands apart from similar releases due to its polish and sense of humour. You get the basic mode for free, and others can be unlocked by in-app purchase.

Tilt to live

19. Tap Tap Radiation

The Tap Tap rhythm-action games are popular, but they're also a little staid. Tap Tap Radiation takes the game off the rails, with hit zones meandering around the screen, occasionally snapping into new formations. The result is a much more exciting and fun game that will excite long-time Tap Tap fans and newcomers alike.

Tap tap radiation

20. 10 Pin Shuffle (Bowling) Lite (universal)

We're big fans of 10 Pin Shuffle, a universal app that combines ten-pin bowling and shuffleboard. Of that title's three game modes, the best one is included here in 10 Pin Shuffle Lite, for free. Called 10 Pin Poker, it adds a card game to the mix. Get a spare or strike and you're given one or two cards, respectively. At the end of the tenth frame, whoever has the best hand wins.

Ten pin shuffle

21. Pilgrim's Punch-Out (universal)

Become a 1980s NES-style Scott Pilgrim in Pilgrim's Punch-Out, a movie tie-in that isn't at all a massive rip-off of (sorry, tribute to) Nintendo classic Punch-Out!! Decent controls enable you to fight your way to glory, and although the game's over pretty quickly, there's always a high-score to beat.

Pilgrims punchout

22. Fowlplay HD

If you ever wanted to poop on someone's head from above, Fowlplay HD is the game for you. Taking on the role of a pigeon that should really cut back on fibre, you zoom around a stylised forest that appears to be populated by refugees from Minigore. Aim your deposits at their heads, avoid the trees, and grab any power-ups that come your way.

Fowlplay hd

23. Tetari (universal)

Tetari is a lovely puzzle game which plays a little like a claustrophobic Tetris. Using familiar pentomino pieces, your aim is to clear coloured squares from the board through making solid lines, which vanish. Higher levels start with more 'debris', forcing you to think hard about where to lay each and every piece.

Tetari

24. Choice of the Dragon (universal)

It might look like it's been repeatedly beaten with an ugly stick, but luckily the magic of Choice of the Dragon is in its witty prose. Playing as a multiple-choice text adventure, akin to an extremely stripped-back RPG, this game is an amusing romp that perhaps lacks replay value, but you'll enjoy it while it lasts.

Choice of the dragon

25. Lux Touch (universal)

There are several Lux games on the App Store, but the original is now free and works very nicely on the iPad. Essentially, this is Risk, and while the computer AI isn't terribly bright, Lux Touch should nonetheless keep fans of the original board game quiet for a short while.

Lux touch

Best free iPad games 26 - 50

26. New York 3D Rollercoaster Rush HD Free

25 of the full game's tracks are on offer in New York 3D Rollercoaster Rush HD Free. The game's a simple arcade title: tilt your iPad to control the coaster's speed, aiming to keep it on the track, and take risks to ensure the crazy riders have a great time (and, presumably, give the health-and-safety guy a heart attack).

New york 3d rollercoaster

27. iLifeGame (universal)

John Horton Conway's famous Game of Life cellular automaton exists for practically every platform, and this simple iOS version, iLifeGame, gets things right with clear graphics, the ability to draw your own starting points, and a small collection of predefined patterns.

ilifegame

28. Pukk HD

Given that it's another Pong clone, Pukk HD isn't the best game to play if you've no friends, because the single-player mode is extremely dull. However, with another player, it becomes an exciting battle of digital tennis - and it looks a lot nicer than Tap Blaster HD, too.

Pukk hd

29. Grim Joggers Freestyle (universal)

When we think of extreme sports, jogging isn't the first that comes to mind, although it might be now we've experienced Grim Joggers Freestyle. The game's essentially Canabalt, but instead of one guy leaping across grey rooftops, you get a string of joggers trying desperately to survive in a surreal alien world.

Grim Joggers Freestyle

30. Pilot Winds (universal)

With Tiny Wings having spent a large amount of time troubling the App Store charts, we're surprised it never made it to the iPad. But Pilot Winds is the next best thing. Instead of a fat bird sliding down hills, you're a daredevil penguin skier, and while the game's inspiration is clear, it has plenty of tricks of its own.

Pilot Winds

31. Drop7 Free (universal)

Drop7 is one of the finest puzzle games on iOS. You drop numbered discs into a grid, and if the number matches the number of discs in its column or row, it vanishes. Grey discs are destroyed by twice removing discs next to them. Three modes are on offer, each demanding a different strategy. And now the game's owned by Zynga, it's free, with only the occasional unobtrusive advert.

Drop7

32. TinkerBox

Myriad physics puzzlers exist for iOS, but most are twitch-oriented games where you fling objects around, and repeat with slight variation until you succeed. TinkerBox is different, because it demands you carefully consider the task at hand and then construct machines and tools using engineering concepts. It's great for educating kids and also perfect for anyone who used to love the likes of Meccano.

Tinkerbox

33. Trainyard Express (universal)

Trainyard Express is a puzzle game which tasks you with getting trains to stations by laying track. It starts simple, but the logic puzzles soon test you, with colour theory and other complications. In all, you get 60 puzzles, and there's no overlap with the app's 59p commercial sibling Trainyard. Note that technically this isn't a universal app - it automatically uses high-res graphics in 2x mode on the iPad. However, it is brilliant, so download it now.

Trainyard express

34. Doodle Jump: HOP The Movie (universal)

Lima Sky's Doodle Jump is one of the most recognisable games on iOS, with a strange hopping creature bounding ever upwards, avoiding foes and trying not to plummet to his death. This kid-friendly movie tie-in instead has you control a bunny, and the levels are finite, although there is an endless mode available via in-app purchase.

Doodle jump

35. Paper Toss: World Tour HD

The original Paper Toss was pretty dry and throwaway, but in dumping the wastebasket in absurd surroundings (within a volcanic pool, in the desert, by the Taj Mahal), it gets a second wind as Paper Toss: World Tour HD and is a far more satisfying flick-based arcade game.

Paper toss

36. NinJump - HD

NinJump is a quickfire one-thumb game which has your ninja rapidly climbing, leaping between two endless towers. As he leaps, he knocks obstacles from the air, dispatching killer squirrels, deadly birds and throwing stars lobbed by enemy ninjas. Simple, addictive fun.

NinJump

37. Chuck's Challenge (universal) (replaces AlexPanda)

Chuck's Challenge has a long pedigree, being heavily based on ancient Atari Lynx game Chips Challenge. The idea is to use your brain and swiping skills to solve tile-oriented puzzles, keeping your strange purple-haired avatar alive. For no money, you get 25 puzzles, but more are available to buy.

Chuck's Challenge

38. Parsec (universal)

On playing Parsec, we had to check a couple of times that it was free, because it's one of the best shooters on the App Store. The game boasts retro-style neon visuals, slick touch controls, and an exciting 20-level time-attack structure that begs you to regularly attempt to beat your high score.

Parsec

39. Flick Kick Field Goal Kickoff (universal-ish)

Flick the football in precision or sudden-death mode, taking into account wind speed and direction before you belt the ball goalwards. Flick Kick Field Goal Kickoff is a simple game, but the stadium looks great, and it's always a fine title to waste a few minutes with.

Flick kick field goal kickoff

40. BIT.TRIP Beat Blitz (universal)

The love-child of Pong and a drug-fuelled hallucination, BIT.TRIP Beat Blitz has you deflecting hundreds of balls, in time to crunchy industrial-style dance beats. This is dazzling and pure but demanding arcade gaming, with long, tough levels. Miss too many beats and you're plunged into Nether, a soulless black-and-white realm where you must chain multiple beats to escape from.

BIT trip

41. Triple Town (universal)

In Triple Town, you have to think many moves ahead to succeed. It's a match game where trios of things combine to make other things, thereby giving you more space on the board to evolve your town. At times surreal, Triple Town is also brain-bending and thoroughly addictive. Free moves slowly replenish, but you can also unlock unlimited moves via IAP.

Triple Town (universal)

42. Pinball HD Collection

If you're a fan of spanging a metal ball about, Gameprom's iPad pinball tables are as good as they come. Pinball HD Collection is the freemium incarnation of the company's output, and you get the simple but playable Wild West entirely for free. Yee-haw!

Pinball HD Collection

43. Temple Run (universal)

There are many endless running games for the iPad, but this is the only one where you're being chased by deadly evil demon monkeys. But then you did nick a priceless trinket from a temple. Tsk! The tilty swipey gameplay's perhaps a tad tiring after a while of holding up an iPad, but Temple Run is great in short bursts on the larger screen.

Temple Run

44. Candy Train (universal)

Leaves on the line? Pfft! Here, you're more likely to find candy and giant cherries. Not that such hazards stop the little train—but broken tracks will. Your job is therefore to plan out a route for the cartoon chuffer, until your brain seizes up and your Candy Train journey comes to a sticky end.

Candy Train

45. Bejeweled Blitz (universal)

Bejeweled Blitz is the online incarnation of PopCap's hugely popular gem-swap game, and it looks fab on the iPad's screen. As a freemium title, there's a whiff of IAP (either grind or buy coins to unlock power-ups, or you've no chance of topping the high-score tables), but you'll still be addicted all the same.

Bejeweled Blitz

46. Jetpack Joyride (universal)

Another endless game, Jetpack Joyride is a witty, polished take on the iCopter format, with one-thumb controls dictating the hero's attempts to avoid death that comes increasingly rapidly from the side of the screen. The real gems here are the power-ups, including the amusing Profit Bird (depicted), which isn't at all a swipe at Angry Birds and Tiny Wings.

Jetpack Joyride

47. Fairway Solitaire HD

Fairway Solitaire HD is a perfect example of what happens when you marry simple gameplay with a bit of character. On its own, the basic card system would be fine: unlock face-down cards by selecting those one higher or lower than the current one in the draw pile. But the addition of golf scoring and a crazed gopher out for blood turns this into a surprisingly enjoyable and original title. You get nine courses for free.

Fairway Solitaire HD

48. X-Motorcycle (universal)

X-Motorcycle happily offers two videogame cliches for the price of none: the speeding hero (this time on a motorbike), who cannot slow down, and inexplicably giant fruit that appears to be an immensely important currency. The result is a fast, playable game reminiscent of old-school thrills filtered down to their essence and squirted into your iPad.

X-Motorcycle

49. Orbit1

One thumb per person and one glowing neon ship is the premise behind Orbit1. You grab points, aim to destroy your opponents, and just hope someone doesn't flip out, grab the iPad and fling it out of the window in a huff.

Orbit1

50. Zen Pinball (universal)

More pinball! This one's a bit less realistic than Gameprom's efforts, but Zen Pinball is very pretty, with a bright and exciting free table, Sorcerer's Lair. Further tables are available via IAP, including some Marvel-themed efforts, but the sole freebie should have pinball addicts happily sated for a while.

Zen Pinball

If you liked this, then make sure you check out our best free iPad apps roundup!

Apple sells out WWDC 2012 show in two hours

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Apple sells out WWDC 2012 show in two hours

Apple did West Coast developers no favors on Wednesday morning by announcing tickets to this year's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco at 5:30 a.m. PST - only to sell out two hours later.

iOS and Mac developers were happy to hear that Apple finally committed to a date for its annual four-day Worldwide Developers Conference, to be held June 11-15 in San Francisco.

There's just one problem: A whole lot of developers won't have a ticket.

Sold out in 2 hours flat

Apple announced the dates and began selling tickets - at a cost of $1599 each - to registered developers on their website at 5:30am PST on Wednesday.

By 7:30 a.m. PST, the tickets were gone, despite Apple limiting sales to one per customer for individuals and five per business.

"Sorry, tickets are sold out," the WWDC 2012 web page now reads. But developers shouldn't despair - Apple promises to stream the more than 100 technical sessions free of charge when the conference wraps up on June 15.

"We have a great WWDC planned this year and can't wait to share the latest news about iOS and OS X Mountain Lion with developers," said Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing Philip Schiller.

"The iOS platform has created an entirely new industry with fantastic opportunities for developers across the country and around the world."

That is, assuming you live in a time zone where one is awake early enough to buy them, of course.

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