Jetpack Joyride iPad Game App Review
Jetpack Joyride is a new and exciting game from Halfbrick Studios, the same developers that made the highly popular Fruit Ninja. But instead of cutting up flying fruits with a katana, this new game features a game character named Barry Steakfries. Not only that, this game involves Barry suiting up jet packs to move around in a one-way adventure.
In this game, Barry breaks into a secret laboratory to get the experimental jet packs off the hands of the evildoers and successfully escape. Players simply tap on the screen to make Barry and his jetpack fly and remove the fingers from the screen to descend. But there are also obstacles that Barry faces along the way as bullets, lasers, rainbows and even bubbles rain all around along with guided missiles and electricity fields. There are also other stuff that Barry can obtain along the way such as coins, power and speed boosters.
Over the course of the game, players can also upgrade to other jet packs that provide added features to make Barry’s adventure even more exciting. For those with the new iPad, this game now provides Retina support, making gameplay even more unique. The Jetpack Joyride iPad Game App is available at the Apple App Store for free download.
Introducing a “Self-Guided” Bullet
I recently read a novel titled “Moondogs,” where one of the main characters is a sniper with extraordinary powers: Efrem Khalid Bakkar can shoot at anyone anywhere in the world as long as he knows the name of the target. That, I think, is one crazy ability.
So imagine my surprise when I learned about a bullet that comes with a built-in processor that guides its own flight. Developed by Sandia National Laboratories (a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin), the bullet travels with the help of tiny adjustable fins.
The laboratory aims in creating a bullet that would go exactly where it should go. The shooter would no longer worry about several factors such as wind and gravity while adjusting the sights. A researcher of Sandia Labs told BBC that their bullets would help soldiers not only hit the bad guys with utmost precision, but also avoid civilians.
The bullet uses a technology similar to guided missiles, but in a smaller mass and a relatively shorter path. The center of gravity is moved toward the front, adding an optical sensor in the nose, and placed fins to keep the bullet from spinning. Inside the bullet is a tiny 8-bit processor that adjusts the position of fins up to 30 times per second.
Despite the promising development, Sandia seeks for a partner to overcome its engineering challenges.
Source: Sandia Labs, via TechCrunch
Categories: Gadget Tags: “SelfGuided”, Bullet, Introducing
