20 best iPad games

Yes, pinball plays well on the iPad.

(Credit:Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET)

Updated: 06/18/2010

Wondering what games to buy for your newiPad? Well, this early in the product's life, it's actually pretty hard to sort the really good stuff from the just decent stuff, particularly with the prices for many games being so much higher than theiriPhone counterparts. But we took a shot at putting together a list of top titles that we feel meet the criteria for a good iPad game.

Just what does make a good iPad game? We debated it for a while and narrowed it down to these four factors:

Ergonomics (are gameplay and control scheme well-suited to the iPad?)Show-off quotient (does it impress people when you demo it for them?)Uniqueness (though many iPad games play well as upconverted, higher-resolution versions of their iPhone predecessors, we respect new iPad-exclusive games)Value (some of the best iPad games currently carry high price tags, but we also tried to include titles we believed were simply a good value).

With that in mind, here are our favorites so far, displayed in alphabetical order. Feel free to sound off with your own picks (or criticize our choices). With new games coming out almost daily, we will be updating this list frequently and taking your suggestions to heart. As more games are released, we may also expand the list to include more titles and, hopefully, surface some hidden gems.

Click on any image to start the slideshow.

(screenshots)

ViewSonic NexTV VMP75 network media player

ViewSonic is more often than not associated with LCD monitors which are easy on the pocket, alongside HDTVs which fall under the cheaper, more affordable range that do not skimp on quality. Well, the company is back this time round with a device that will surely make people do a doule take – after all, what they are offering has nothing to do with displaying moving images on a display on your work space or living room, but it comes in the form of the NexTV VMP75 network media player instead. This network media player is touted to deliver the ultimate entertainment experience to consumers’ HDTVs with Full HD 1080p playback from external storage devices, with the option to stream media from home networks and the Internet.

One of the available Internet options on the NexTV VMP75 network media player would be Netflix, which is a leading online movie subscription service that allows members to instantly watch thousands of movies and TV episodes that are streamed directly to your living room. Of course, this would mean having a decent Internet connection so that your movies and TV shows will not be buffered constantly with constant pauses in between.

Apart from that, the NexTV VMP75 also sports the iMedia feature that offers a whole world of Internet entertainment to HDTVs, complete with quick and easy links to media content a host of other websites such as YouTube, Live365.com, SHOUTcast Radio, Flickr and more. It also sports an integrated web browser that lets you surf the Internet without missing your desktop, and you can also set up your favorite RSS feeds to have instant news and world events of interest delivered straight to your living room (or wherever you decide to place the NexTV VMP75 network media player). Social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook are also supported, letting you know what they’re up to anytime, anywhere. Want to shar your latest photo collection with friends who drop by? Stick in an USB memory stick or hard drive via its USB port – that’ll do just fine. No idea on pricing or availability though.

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Sony Ericsson Cedar takes on a greener approach

Companies these days want to be seen to do their part when it comes to keeping the environment around us green, and every slight effort is trumpeted so that their efforts are not lost on anybody. Most recently, we have Sony Ericsson touting their GreenHeart initiative which sees products that fall under the GreenHeart movement to be degrees “greener” than regular ones, with the Sony Ericsson Cedar being the latest cellphone to fall under that category. This handset will target those who want to stay connected to family and friends through phone calls, text messages and social networking sites without breaking the bank while keeping their consciences clear that the phone itself has some green features along the way to leave a better planet for our kids.

With a name like the Sony Ericsson Cedar, you will be able to enjoy an easy-to-use social networking experience with the Widget Manager 2.0, where this application lets you access a bevy of social networking sites through its stand-by screen. Not only that, the Cedar is also a joy to hold and look at, thanks to its human curvature design which is now a consistent feature across the Sony Ericsson portfolio. Other features and specifications are as follows :-

UMTS HSDPA 2100GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900UMTS HSDPA 850/1900/2100EDGE 850/900/1800/1900Widget Manager 2.0 allows easy access to your favourite social network and applicationsSocial network applications

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At E3: Wiretape, a super-thin cable you can paint

(Credit:Josh Lowensohn / CNET)

LOS ANGELES--At a show that's as large as it gets for video games, in a corner of E3 the was a product designed to be hidden from sight entirely.

Hitech Innovation's Wiretape, which the company claims is the world's thinnest wire at 0.16 millimeters, has been designed to de-clutter the usual mess of wires that can stretch down from high-mounted televisions, or across rooms.

It works like a roll of tape, running as long as it's needed before consumers can cut it with a pair of scissors. Then, the loose ends can be fed into a small box that has whatever type of connection is needed.

Apple to sell unlocked iPhone 4 in Canada

Unlocked? We want one too!

(Credit:James Martin/CNET)

All right, this really isn't fair. Though you've never liked it,iPhone users in the United States have accepted that your counterparts in other countries can use Apple's handset on multiple carriers and (better yet) get an unlocked device. When those countries are far away--say across an ocean--it's not so bad, but when you have to see it right next door then it's really tough to watch.

I speak, of course, of our Canadian friends who will join customers in the United Kingdom in having the opportunity to buy the iPhone 4 completely unlocked and contract-free. That's right, they'll be able to use it with any GSM carrier, whether they're north of the border or traveling abroad. Sure, there's the matter of using a micro-SIM card, but you can get creative with scissors and use a normal SIM.

Pricing for an unlocked iPhone 4 isn't avaialble just yet, but you can get an unlocked 8GB iPhone 3GS for $549 Canadian dollars (around $534). True, you can buy an iPhone without a contract in the United States, but that handset will come securely locked to AT&T.

Samsung adds Galaxy 3 and Galaxy 5 to Android arsenal

Samsung Galaxy 3

(Credit:Samsung)

The stream of new Samsung handset continues with this week's announcement of the Galaxy 3 and Galaxy 5. Currently being shown off at CommunicAsia, both handsets are slated for European and Asian markets starting next month. The i5800 Galaxy 3 is aimed at the younger, social networking market and the i5500 Galaxy 5 should appeal to the style-conscious customers. Both feature Android 2.1 although I expect updates to 2.2 Froyo before too long.

Looking very similar to a Corby handset, the Samsung Galaxy 3 has a 3.2" (240x400) WQVGA TFT touch display in addition to a very average 3.0-megapixel camera with autofocus. The phone has 170MB of on-board storage in addition to a 1GB microSD card. One area where the Galaxy 3 shines, however, is its variety of connectivity options. Users have the luxury of connecting via 3G (HSDPA 7.2 Mbps), Bluetooth v3.0, or Wi-Fi 802.11 (b/g/n).

Whereas the Galaxy 3 only resembles a Corby phone, the Samsung Galaxy 5 actually gets branded as "Corby Smartphone". With a slightly smaller form factor, the handset has a 2.8-inch QVGA TFT touch screen, but nearly identical specs to the Galaxy 3.

If adding expandable memory to your handset is a concern, it's worth pointing out that the Galaxy 5 is reportedly supports up to 16GB while the Galaxy 3 handles up to 32GB cards. Also, the Galaxy 5 has a 1200mAh battery while the Galaxy 3 has a 1500mAh power source. I suspect that Samsung is trying to keep the costs down for both phone being that neither features AMOLED or Super AMOLED displays.

For more of the action in Singapore, check out CNET Asia's full CommuniAsia coverage.

Scott Webster has spent the better part of his adult life playing with cell phones and gadgets. When not looking for the latest Android news and rumors, he relaxes with his wife and son. Scott also is the senior editor for AndroidGuys. Scott is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. E-mail Scott. Topics: Phones Tags: samsung, galaxy 5, galaxy 3 Share: Digg Del.icio.us Reddit Facebook Twitter Recent posts from Android Atlas Shazam-rival SoundHound in action (video) Move fast: Speedy Swype keyboard for Android now in limited public beta Android Atlas Weekly 3: Android iPhone 4 killer and Android viruses (podcast) Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 does Android for cheap Samsung touts new tablet, smartphones Samsung gets Android first with Galaxy Beam Verizon to unveil next Droid device June 23 Add a comment Comment SUBMIT Click here to add another comment. Popular discussions on CNET: Is it time to pull the plug on home phone service?

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