I’m always looking for new games on my Android phone. Right now I’m addicted to a simple word app called Target and still waiting for an Android version of Jewel Quest. However, a 3D gem popped up the other night while I was surfing through the marketplace. Remember those old Magic Eye pictures? Magic Eye was a short-lived fad back in the nineties, and even made it big enough for an iconic reference in the Kevin Smith flick Mall Rats. If you didn’t catch Magic Eye stereograms back in the day, there’s now an Android app for that.

There’s a free Magic Eye app available for Android with six trial pictures, and a pro version for 99 cents with 102 pics. Stare long enough and hard enough, and you’ll see the hidden 3D image behind the chaos of colors and shapes. Perhaps most importantly, the new apps give you tips on how to see the hidden 3D images. If you gave up on Magic Eye last decade, maybe it’s time to try it again. And if you’re really a glutton for punishment, Download Squad discovered a Magic Eye Tetris game last fall. Haven’t seen it on Android yet, but surely it won’t be long.

Don’t have an Android device? No worries. Magic Eye is available for the iPhone too.

As a casual video gamer, sports has always been one of my favorite genres. I like being able to play an entire game from start to finish, without devoting a month of my life to beat the title. My natural love for sports probably also contributes to this preference, but whatever the case, it’s safe to say that they’ve been a staple of my entertainment system for a very long time. Unfortunately, when it comes to innovation in gaming, the sports franchises seem to lag the rest of the field.

I’d argue that this is due to the monopolies surrounding most major professional sports, but it may also have something to do with the temptation to release a new game every single year. After being burned too many times, I did finally cut my upgrade cycle from every year to once every 2 or 3 years. However, even with less frequent purchases, I still notice that there are pieces of each game that seem to be endlessly recycled year after year after year.

Specifically, I’m talking about the commentary in EA Sports games. Whether you’re playing NBA Live or John Madden football, having live commentators lends a certain amount of realism to the experience. Sure, their puns are cheesy and sometimes there are glitches where they’ll tell you how bad you did on a great play, but overall I enjoy having someone critique my every press of a button.

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Netflix and Nintendo have come up with a solution that will allow you to stream Netflix movies and shows to the Wii game console this spring. The initial solution works much like PS3 streaming, requiring you obtain a disk from Netflix (you have to be a Netflix member to do this). Many already have Netflix streaming capabilities on other devices like the PS3, Xbox 360, or one of the multitudes of Blu-ray streaming devices. But there are a ton of folks out there with nothing more than a Wii machine connected to their TV. So this ultimately expands Netflix’s reach to more households, albeit via standard definition content only, and gives Nintendo a competitive feature to add to their sales pitch.

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.

As I’m not a AT&T U-verse customer, I don’t follow Microsoft’s Mediaroom television platform/experience too closely. EXCEPT when it comes to the Xbox. And I was pretty fired up when possibility of IPTV on the 360 was first announced at CES a few years ago (01/07?). However, on the consumer-front we’ve seen very little movement. During my CES briefing last year, I was told it’d be rolling out on BT (UK) in 2009. An initiative appears that appears to have died. However, here at CES 2010, Microsoft has announced that AT&T will be deploying the Mediaroom module to current or new U-Verse customers this year. And I spent some time looking at the unbranded version of Mediaroom on Xbox at this years CES briefing.

The downloadable app tunes live television and provides access to recorded content from the central unit in a whole-home U-verse household. Think of it as a thin client. For example, when you schedule a recording from the Xbox, the request is actually sent to the primary U-verse unit and the programming would ultimately be saved to that harddrive. I don’t have any hard information on pricing and timing, other than perhaps we’ll see U-verse on Xbox midyear.

In other Mediaroom news, a significant upgrade (dubbed 2.0) has been announced for the platform. There’s tons of elements, including a video-on-demand interface redesign that emphasizes content discovery, but it’s the idea of a cloud-based DVR that interests me the most. Whole-home becomes whole-world. Access your VOD or time shifted recordings at home, from a remote computer/browser (Silverlight), or from a mobile device. Unlike Cablevision’s frequently contested (by the studios) remote storage “network” DVR, subscribers of Mediaroom 2.0 create local copies of recordings in their home. However, when on the go, they’d be granted access to similar copies of their content via the provider’s servers.

Combined with the new Mediaroom integration into Windows Media Center, it had me wondering if someone could take this whole experience over the top (OTT). Meaning, could AT&T offer television services nationwide over any broadband connection? Technically, with the integration of Microsoft’s Smooth Streaming, it can be done. However, it’s anyone’s guess if AT&T would choose to go down this path. As, in addition to a variety of other technical challenges and implications (think cap), there could also be various licensing issues (studios, municipalities) that would have to be overcome.

The one thing that I don’t get and that Microsoft didn’t have a good answer for, is why is the company building up two separate products/interfaces (Mediaroom, Windows Media Center) that are designed to do very similar things? Seems to me they’d conserve resources and possibly produce a better product by merging these groups/initiatives. Similarly, I sure hope we see a Zune media experience on Windows Mobile 7 whenever that’s announced.

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While racing through the South Hall for one more look at the D-Link Boxee Box, I saw a UFO. Parrot, best known for Bluetooth accessories and digital photoframes, is flying this crazy contraption in a tent. I didn’t get a whole lot of details, but the AR.Drone will be taking off later this year in the neighborhood of six or seven hundred dollars. The “quadricopter” is remotely controlled via iPhone and, as you can see from the video, responds to environmental stimulation and colored objects. Wild!

With the last holiday shopping weekend of 2009 upon us, it’s probably time to list my favorite home entertainment boxes of the year. This list is by no means exhaustive, these are just some of my faves – top picks, suitable for mainstream audiences and geeks alike. Keeping in mind, that for the second straight year, the Xbox 360 ($300) is still my #1 digital media powerhouse – the one box I cannot part with. Take my TiVo. Take my Roku. But you better come armed if you want this 360. Not only does it feature the best online gaming experience, it also boasts THE best Netflix instant streaming client – in addition to offering a variety of other media playback options.

Video

In the video category, there are two standouts for those sticking with physical media – and a higher quality of HD. But the snappy LG BD 390 set-top box (<$300) and the redesigned PS3 gaming console ($300) are much more than capable Blu-ray players. Both offer a variety of connected services (and 802.11n), including Netflix instant streaming. Those who have current or potential gamers in the house should probably look to the PS3 (and budget another 20 bucks for a remote), while everyone else would be quite happy with the Vudu-streaming LG. If you’re less picky and/or on a tighter budget with a higher tolerance for networking pain, look to the Samsung BD-P1600 (~$150) for similar features.

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At least 24 hours late to the party, I’ve finally (ha) picked up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. After logging only about two and a half hours in combat, I like what I see. In multiplayer. While sacrificing literally days over the last couple years playing CoD: MW and WaW, I’ve never played more than a few minutes in the solo campaign mode. I just wasn’t into shooters (no Doom, no Quake) and online play (other than some dialup Daytona on Dreamcast) until landing up my first 360. And, now, it’s about the only way I use the console.

Modern Warfare 2 shows a whole lot of visual polish. Maybe a bit too much, in fact. And the maps are more complex and multidimensional, which I’m digging. The loadouts, perks, and kill streaks see a whole new level of sophistication and customization. In my limited exposure, player control and gun accuracy seem spot on. But, while Infinity Ward indicates they’ve taken steps to balance the gameplay, it’s only going to help seasoned veterans. As I seriously doubt a newbie would quickly find their way or hold their own. Of course, CoD still features the best online gaming lobby and matchmaking experience. However, I’d like to see the new Accolades (pic below) mirrored somewhere on the web. I won’t win too many matches as a sniper, but my kill/death ratio is usually amongst the best. So let me geek brag with a badge of some sort. Halo implemented in-game screengrabs two years ago; I assume IW can get some of their (my) content online too.

As someone who typically sneaks and snipes, I’ve fared better than expected (k/d = 1.0+) early going in MW2. After leveling up just a few times, you’re presented with the pre-configured Scout Sniper class. Not only do you wield the powerful and accurate .50cal Barrett, but you also carry your own rifle-mounted radar while simultaneously blocking the enemy’s UAV. But wait, there’s more. An awesome new “tactical insertion” perk let’s you mark and respawn at your preferred sniper roost. Even more devastating (to your foes)… I discovered towards the end of my initial round of gameplay that a basic “overkill” perk is standard on all classes. Without having to sacrifice the “stopping power” perk. So I’m now building out a custom sniper class (pic up top) with a fully automatic sub machine gun to more effectively blast my way to a a sniping perch. See you online?

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