Temple Run, races towards 20 million downloads - those crazy skull topped monkeys!

If you havn't succumbed to the adrenalin rush of the Temple Run game, then you are not one of the 20 million who have downloaded the app for iPhone and iPad.

The game is free, and pretty simple.  You get to run at increasing speed to avoid the sinister death threatening monkeys. You collect coins, which buy you special powers and different personalities along the way. If your impatient, you can part with actual money to fast-track your upgrade into additional powers.

The model pursued by makers Imangi Studios, is to get maximum take up by offering the app free, and taking a much lower percentage of monetisation by players than most game producers usually do.

Many games make it extremely difficult to complete the later levels or competing directly against other players if you haven’t paid. In contrast, Temple Run focuses on an accessible user experience that boosts retention and sharing, with just 1% choosing to pay. This allowed it to become the top grossing iOS game through massive traction, instead of topping out around 1 million DAU with 4% monetizing like other games.

As the developers say, a hit like this game could fund their endeavours for years.

If your platform is Android - don't worry, the game will be available on that platform soon.

Scource: TechCrunch

Android apps designers to toe the google line

Arguably, one of the reasons fans love apple is the consistency of the user experience across applications and devices.  It looks like Google has realised that this is an important aspect of success for the Android operating system as well:

Google won’t pull apps from the Android market just because they’re fugly and do things weirdly—in fact, Apple won’t either—but even Google recognizes the value of a consistent interface and design across the Android platform, particularly as it extends itself to embrace not just smartphones but tablets and even television. To that end, Google has unveiled it’s first design guide for Android apps—and it was created by Matias Duarte, formerly the lead designer at Palm and (before that) Helio and Danger.

If they get this right, and police it right, Android could convert some of those 'Appleofiles'

Scource: Digital Trends

The Guide: Android Design

T o t a l G e e k F u n - The Restart Page

Some of these onscreen messages are going to take you back a ways, and others may fill you with horrific memories - like me, when you saw one of these massages, but your computer never did quite 'Restart'

Try it: The Restart Page

The American Primary election system explained in 5 minutes

Not really about design, but my fascination with USA politics.  Here is one of the best short explanation of how the Primary system works in the USA - Currently - Primaries and Caucases are being run for the Republican Party ('GOP' - for Grand Old Party) starting with Iowa (Caucus) and New Hampshire (Primary).

Anyway - look here for a great explanation with appropriately tacky visuals.

I want your head on a 3D Platter using Sculpteo

3D printing has come along way.  Now you can create things on an App for your iPhone/iPad, and have them rendered in 3D, with finishes including coloured plastic, ceramic, and even sliver and sent back to you.  It's not cheap, but it is amazing!

"The designs are based on photographs you take of yourself or a friend. Sculpteo’s app turns your face’s profile into a 3D object, such as the vase shown here. You can also transform it into a number of other objects, such as a bowl, plate, or mug. Once you’ve completed the design, you upload it and Sculpteo sends it to a local 3D printing facility which manufactures the object using a ceramic printing process."

This is not a full on 3D design tool - rather a range of products available in the iPad/iPhone application that you can personalise, and have made for you.

Be warned - these objects are not cheap. I'm not sure I want to spend over $400 on a 22cm plastic vase I personalised on my iPhone.

The Sculpteo.com website has an even broader range produced in association with various designers, at every kind of pricepoint starting from under $10.

This is a wonderful innovation - and as the price of 3D modelling drops, this is going to become a wonderful app and service.

Scource: iTunes, VentureBeat