Pumpkins vs. Monsters app - a nice game break from Stupid Zombies

I used to say that I wasn't really a game player, either on my computer or on my Droid. I considered both primarily productivity tools. Okay, I enjoyed an occasional game of Scrabble or some other word game, but wasn't really big on the race car driving, shoot 'em up, kill the aliens, find the secret world, popping balloon games.

However, as I continued to check out some of the games available for the Android and iPhone platforms I found myself getting hooked on a few of them (Stupid Zombies, YahtzMe, Words With Friends among others). 

When I ran across Pumpkins vs. Monsters in the Android Market, I had to scroll down through 15 reviewers before anyone gave it less than four out of five stars. That alone made it worth a download and look-see.

For me, one of the keys to any game is making it so that I can jump right in, start playing and figure out the intricacies later. Don't make me think or read lots of instructions.

I was throwing my pumpinks and killing me some monsters right out of the chute.

With each level getting just a little more difficult, it's the kind of game that, even after you're frustrated and shut the damn thing down, you'll find yourself coming back and trying to get past the level that's giving you difficulty.

I'm still a novice at Pumpkins vs. Monsters, but it really looks like they give you many, many levels to conquer and this game/app is totally free.

As it turns out, I'm starting to enjoy blowing up and killing creatures on my Android device. I'll give Pumpkins vs. Monsters 4.3922641 stars out of 5. It would have been a full five stars, but it took me a while to get my head around using pumpkins as weapons.

How to get free play on Android game Let's Golf 2 - App review

When I first got my HTC Thunderbolt 4G phone, there were a number of apps pre-loaded. The bummer is, unless you root the phone, there is no way to uninstall those apps.

One of those apps is Let's Golf 2 (also available for iPhone). If you choose to try it, which I did after I discovered I couldn't just get rid of it, I found it to be a pretty cool golf game as far as golf games go. Great graphics and an easy to use and understand interface.

Of course, it's not a free game. They only allow you to play a couple of holes a couple of times before the play option is grayed out and you need to click on the Buy button to continue. Well, sort of.

With just minor little hassles you can play all of the Let's Golf 2 games you want. Unfortunately, it's just those same two holes over and over, but with my attention span that's really all I need. If I want to spend more time playing a game, I dedicate my time to trying to advance on the really cool, full version of one of the best free games out there: Stupid Zombies.

Anyway, here's what you doafter you've played to the limit on Let's Golf 2 to get extra play:

Click on Settings.
Go to Applicatons.
Go to Manage applications.
At the top of that page, click on All (they hide the pre-loaded apps).
Scroll down to Let's Golf.
Under data, click on Clear data.

You have just re-set the game and you can play another couple of rounds of those same two holes before your forced to do it again.

If you're a gamer, it really is a good enough game to purchase and it's only $5, but if you like it just enough to want to play once in a while, then this will allow you to smack your balls around for free.

Speaking of free: You can now get some of the incredibly funny (but totally tasteless) jokes from "The Dirty Joke Show" (appearing nightly at Hooters Casino, Las Vegas) by clicking here. (NOTE: these jokes are for open-minded adults only.)

Android App Review - it's like a free radar detector..sort of

Android app review: Waze

UPDATE June 8, 2011 - I used the app today to get to an unknown location. After loading my destination, I discovered that I was wrong about the audible turn-by-turn instructions (or it was added in a recent update). They do have them, and they worked almost flawlessly. The building I was looking for was right off the main highway, so rather than informing me of my last turn the nice GPS computer lady said, "You have reached your destination." Where? I turned around and made a quick right and there it was. - GT

Waze is an app for your Android device which claims to be a free GPS navigation tool with turn by turn directions. The difference between Waze and all of the other traffic trackers is that it is updated in real time by the users on the road. And there are a number of other cool features to their app which allows you to report a condition live or inform others of a speed trap (hopefully not as you're being pulled over).

So, does Waze work as they claim? Absolutely, kind of.

I loaded the app, turned on my GPS (required) and hit the road. I switched the screen to the Me On Map mode which was perfectly tracking my location and displaying my speed. The short explanation is that when you hit a traffic jam of any kind, the Waze system notes your slowdown (along with others in your area) and notifies other members that that area is a problem. Unfortunately, I must have been the first, or only, member heading west on I-94 toward downtown Detroit when the completely shut down the expressway. Well, at least now other members may see that there is a big issue on that road. There is also a feature where you can take and upload a photo of your current situation. Since I was at a dead stop, I took a shot of the snafu and uploaded it. Quick. Easy. Pointless unless there's something cool to look at.

Although Waze boasts over 3 million users, I think most of them are outside of the United States. Once their numbers grow here, this app will become more and more useful.

There is also a Reporting option where Waze users can report accidents, speed traps, traffic jams, speed cams and more. There is even a Waze chat room where drivers can text in their road rage.

I need to explore the app more, but so far it works excellently as a GPS navigation tool, with the only drawback I see being that you don't get turn by turn voice instruction. Maybe on the next update.
The potential for getting real time information on everything that is going on the roads is incredible.

But, mostly, I want all of you to download and use the app so that you can let me know when I'm approaching a cop with a radar gun.

NOTE: Waze app is also available for iPhone and Blackberry.