Aramation Mobile

MSN Direct has been available for certain devices such as watches and GPS navigators, but it has never found a proper place on a mobile phone. Microsoft is remedying this by launch MSN Direct for Windows Mobile, a home screen plugin and application for Windows Mobile devices (WM5 and over, smartphone devices only so far). At the moment, weather, news and stocks channel are available. Instead of relying on FM transmissions, MSN Direct for Windows Mobile wisely relies on the phone’s data connection such as wi-fi or 3G, allowing you to receive updates in any cities whether you are covered by regular MSN Direct or not.

The interface looks very pleasant, and it integrates well to existing home screens. Pressing left and right while highlighting the plugin will let you scroll between weather, news and stock. Press ok to get more detailed information. There are plenty of third-party options available, but they are not easy to install nor to configure. This new MSN Direct for Windows Mobile is a must install for all users, especially given the fact that it is free.

Point your mobile phone’s browser to http://phone.msndirect.com or go there with regular browser and use ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center on Vista to install the application.

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SPB Brain Evolution is a collection of loosely-affliated games that are supposed to evolve your brain by following through the daily training. Wheter you believe these claims or not, the game nonetheless gives us a few good games.

• Arithmetics: simple calculations
• Quadronica: create rectangles
• Memorics: memorize where different shapes are located
• Sudoku
• Numbers: create sums of several numbers
• Minesweeper
• Balltracker: guide a ball to the exit point through a maze
• Guess Who: use a series of clues to find the right shape
• Encyclopedia: memorize useless trivia
• Matches

Some of the games such as Minesweeper and Sudoku offer a great amount of replay value whereas others are simple one time diversion. Each game has 4 difficulties ranging from Easy to Maximum. The goal is to play each game and level up in order to unlock new ones. It is a pretty nifty idea (albeit lifted directly from Brain Age series) but the latter games aren’t compelling enough to struggle through the game.

 In the end, if you really need some sort of daily brain training on your Windows Mobile device, this is probably the best and the most compelling package out there. At $20 USD, it isn’t the best purchase you could make (especially considering there are free alternatives to most of the games in the package).

Rating: 50%