Field Goal Tournament for Windows Phone, aiming for the middle of the uprights
Field Goal Tournament is a challenging, casual sports game that is available for Windows Phone. The premise of the Windows Phone game is, as you might guess, is to kick field goals. It may not be a full game of American Football but a fun game nonetheless.
There are two gaming modes, a variety of football stadiums to kick in and plenty of crosswinds to contend with. Available for low-memory Windows Phones, the game may not be something to sit down with for hours on end but if you are in the mood for a little pigskin action, Field Goal Tournament is a nice title to have in your Windows Phone gaming library.
Kick procrastination’s butt with your iPhone
Welcome to the first edition of our new experts column on iMore! Every Wednesday we’ll be bringing you the experience and insights of the very best people in health and fitness, productivity and accessibility, design and development, music and art, education and analysis, and much, much more! And to start us off — licensed psychotherapist Georgia Dow!
Our iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks can serve as magnificent distractions. They’re mobile, so we can have them with us anywhere, and they’re instantly accessible, so we can use them any time. Thanks to all our tech, Reddit, YouTube, and Candy Crush Soda — Oh, sweet, sweet Candy Crush Soda — are always right there, only a click or tap away… Yet our tech can also help us conquer procrastination and get things done. All it takes is the right strategy and the right apps!
We procrastinate when whatever we’re supposed to be doing feels too scary, too daunting, too challenging, or just too much. We’re adverse to negative emotions so we do everything we can to avoid them and seek out positive ones instead. We do it even if it puts us behind in the long run. Mortgaging our future for our present is something we’re really, really good at.
Since most of us no longer have to hunt and gather, plant and harvest, we’re no longer exceptionally good at dealing with suffering and boredom. Our technology has made for a safer, less strenuous world. As a result, life and death struggles with predators, blights, and the forces of nature have been replaced by more mundane struggles with taxes, work, and simple boredom.
That’s made it so that even the mildest of stress can be too much for our milder resilience to handle. So, instead of laughing at the relatively trivial problems we encounter most days, we distract ourselves from them with things like video games and social networking.
A few years ago I might have cleaned my desk to avoid doing the laundry. Now I’m even more likely to check Twitter, iMessage with a friend, or play Crossy Roads.
But I’m not doing that right now. Right now I’m getting this article done, and I’m using the exact same technology to do it. So, how did I make that change?
Turn off notifications
If your iPhone is continually bleeping and buzzing it will continually be distracting you. Turn on Do Not Disturb mode and put your iPhone down, screen side on the table. That way you won’t hear or see notifications.
Turning on Do Not Disturb, or turning off all but the most essential notifications in general, will let you stay calm and focused on the task at hand.
Real emergencies are few and far between and there are settings so that the people most important to you can still get through if they genuinely need to. Non-emergenices, however, are almost constant and if you’re looking for an excuse to avoid what you’re doing, you’re going to want it to be more than just the next notification away.
Set reminders. A lot.
Trying to keep everything in mind all the time is impossible. You will get distracted. You will get interrupted. You will forget. Instead of using your technology to help with the distractions, get it to help you with the remembering. Use Siri to set up a reminder for what you need to do and when you need to get it done by. Siri works via voice control, which makes reminders quick and easy to set up, and the quicker and easier it is, the more likely we’ll do it.
I actually set up multiple reminders so that if the first one doesn’t stick, or something else comes up, it’ll bug me repeatedly until it’s done.
It’s like putting notes on the refrigerator, the front door, and the computer display. The idea of being nagged becomes worse than the idea of getting things done, so we get them done.
Break big jobs up into small tasks
Big jobs are BIG JOBS. They’re intimidating. They make us feel they’re impossible to accomplish even before we try. To counteract that feeling, break big jobs down into smaller tasks. Make them manageable.
Take a job, open your favorite Notes or To-Do app, and break it down into 15 minute tasks. Make the first task: “Break big job down into 15 minute tasks”. It’s easy to accomplish and sets you up for success. Then set reminders for each task.
15 minutes is easy to do and even the staunchest of procrastinators will often keep working longer than 15 minutes because the sense of accomplishment it instills is emotionally rewarding.
I used this technique to get through my master’s thesis and I can’t recommend it enough.
Set timers. Also a lot.
It’s not really the big things that get us. They’re few and far between. It’s the little thing. The ones that add up. The ones we get stuck on. The ones we begin to dread, or feel the need to get perfect, or find unworthy of our time.
The 15 minute task helps here to. It’s short enough that we can easily see it being over. It’s short enough that we can’t overthink or overwork. It’s short enough that we don’t have to dwell on what we’re doing, we can just focus on getting it done.
If you need extra motivation, or want to add some sense of competition, open the Clock app and set the timer for 15 minutes. That way you’ll know there’s no time to waste, only to work. It is fun to see how much you can get done in a small amount of time and that might even inspire you to keep at it. You’ll impress your self with how much can be done in a small amount of time.
Get music and get moving
If you find yourself getting too tired, too bored, or too distracted to power through your 15 minutes, change it up. You can put on some inspirational music to rock out to while you work. If you find it helps, you can make an inspirational playlist in the Music app or iTunes.
I’m doing that right now. I’m listening to Take me to Church by Hozier and it is been on repeat the entire time I’ve been writing this. It’s drowning out my inner critic and preventing me from perseverating about things that don’t need to be done right now.
If music isn’t your thing, try exercise. Get up, do 5 minutes of jumping jacks or dancing or whatever cardio it takes to get your heart rate up. Cardio not only eats stress, it improves focus and retention. That makes it especially great for studying, but it can really benefit anything that needs you concentrated on the task at hand.
When you’re done, take a breath, and then get to work.
Keep on rolling
Tech is neither good nor bad. Yes, our iPhones, iPads, and Macs can distract us and let us procrastinate, but they can also help focus us and keep us on task. Get your 15 minutes done, then get the next 15 minutes done. Soon you’ll be on a roll and the momentum will make it easier to keep on rolling.
Best of all, the feeling you get from your accomplishment will turn your old, vicious cycle into a shiny new virtuous one.
Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!
Cortana can now predict the results of English Premier League football matches
Cortana is bringing her popular Bing-powered predictions to the world of British football. After the 2014 World Cup and the NFL, Windows Phone owners will be able to see what results Cortana will predict.
U.S. iPhone sales top Android for the first time in two years
The latest report from research firm Kantar World Panel claims that sales of iPhones jumped ahead of Android devices in the US for the final quarter of 2014. Apple claimed 47.7% of the smartphone market, barely beating Android’s 47.6% share. It’s the first time that iOS has been ahead of Android in the US since the fourth quarter of 2012.
Compared to the same time period a year ago, Apple’s US share jumped up by 3.8%, while Android was down by the exact same percentage points. Not surprising, Kantar’s ComTech chief of research Carolina Milanesi said the sales success of the [iPhone 6]http://www.imore.com/iphone-6) and iPhone 6 Plus was the reason for the boost in iOS’s market share. She stated:
“While the success of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is unprecedented, this quarter’s performance also points to Apple having its strongest portfolio ever. With a range of devices available at different price points in both contract and pre-pay Apple was able to take advantage of a weaker Android offering at the premium end of the market.”
iOS was also ahead of Android in Japan and Australia for the fourth quarter of 2014, and made big gains in other countries. In Great Britain, Apple’s share went up by 13.1% to land at 42%, but is still behind Android’s 50.5%.
Source: Kantar World Panel
On the iPhone’s profit distortion field and Apple TV
Though I have faith that Apple isn’t shunting the iPad due to its less-than-measurable sales against the iPhone, it’s not the only other product in the company’s wheelhouse. The Apple TV in particular hasn’t seen a whole lot of love in recent years, even as company CEO Tim Cook proclaimed it no longer “a hobby” product. Jason Snell makes a good argument for why the Apple Watch might be more appealing to ship before a new Apple TV. From Six Colors:
The Apple Watch is the smart play for Apple right now. I recognize that. But I still have to lament the lack of progress in a product like the Apple TV. This is a product that’s seen very little hardware improvement in ages, with software that’s in desperate need of a rethink. It’s been passed by in every way by its competitors. The only reason I keep my Apple TV around is because it’s the only way to watch stuff I bought on iTunes and use AirPlay. I keep it around because it uses Apple’s stuff, not because it’s good.
Could Apple TV be the best TV-attached box on the market right now? Sure it could, and maybe there’s even an update in the wings that will make it that. Maybe it’s even been a priority at Apple—just not the top priority. Could you look at the iPhone numbers and choose differently?
It’s absolutely true that Apple TV has been on the slow track for several years, lacking in hardware upgrades while its potential competitors beefed up. Could that have hurt its chances to dominate in the market? Probably. But when you consider all the shifting pieces in play on Apple’s board, that delay might actually be a good one — even if we believe that it’s been done in part to bolster the iPhone.
For one, there’s been a steady influx of superstar talent to the Apple TV team over the last eighteen months, and they seem to be staying with the product rather than being shuffled around to different departments. That points to significant work being done, even if that work is behind the Cupertino curtain.
There’s also content deals to think of. Right now, all of the major set top competitors — Apple TV included — are using their own proprietary rental and purchasing system along with deals from various third-party services like Hulu, Netflix, and more. So far, most of the cable channel apps have required a cable subscription to use, but HBO’s reputed stand-alone service is coming in spring 2015… and wouldn’t that be a coup if a new Apple TV launched with HBO as its exclusive partner?
HomeKit is another consideration: The home automation service is just starting to see MFi materials for its hardware partners, and having a new Apple TV as, say, a June centerpiece for all those devices would be a great way to introduce people to HomeKit in the flesh.
Perhaps the silliest reason of all to focus on the Apple Watch before the TV is to offer its customers a new, hopefully better remote system. We know that Apple has an Apple TV remote app in the works for the Watch, and I suspect that the work being done on the device will actually feed the development of the set top box — especially when it comes to any potential Siri interactions or gesture-based viewing. In that way, the Watch might serve not only its profit-laden master, but also provide a strong hook into Apple’s upcoming tertiary products and services.
Whatever Apple’s reasons for the Apple TV’s stagnation, it’d be hard to imagine the device doesn’t have a significant upgrade in the works. But probably after the Apple Watch, and for good reason, too. After all, the company only has so many overworked engineers.
Sonos unveils limited edition Blue Note speaker to celebrate 75 years of jazz
Sonos has today unveiled its first limited edition speaker, the Play:1 Blue Note. Identical to the Play:1 but with a new lick of paint, this special limited edition speaker brings to the table an elegant new look with a gorgeous blue gradient effect. It’s a perfect representation of Blue Note’s style matched with Sonos speaker design.
Sonos unveils limited edition Blue Note speaker to celebrate 75 years of jazz
Sonos has today unveiled its first limited edition speaker, the Play:1 Blue Note. Identical to the Play:1 but with a new lick of paint, this special limited edition speaker brings to the table an elegant new look with a gorgeous blue gradient effect. It’s a perfect representation of Blue Note’s style matched with Sonos speaker design.
Setting purchasers back by $250 (compared to $199 for the normal version), this version of the Play:1 had its blue shades applied by seven gravity-fed atomizing spray nozzles (airbrushed), which makes you want to stare at the sound system just that little bit longer.
But why blue, you ask? As highlighted in the title, this is a special Blue Note Records edition speaker. Blue Note is an American jazz record label, established in 1939 deriving its name from the “blue notes” of jazz. The detail is literally in the color, but that’s not all you’ll receive for the investment.
A full year’s worth of Blue Note programming is available through the Sonos app, with three channels on offer – Artist Selects, Born in Blue and Blue Note 101. Interested? Head over to the Sonos store where the limited edition speaker is exclusively listed. Be sure to act quickly once it’s available as only a certain amount of units will be on sale (around 4,100).
Source: Sonos
This durable spring clip holster for BlackBerry Z10 is 50% off today while supplies last
The Seidio Spring Clip Holster holds your BlackBerry Z10 securely in place, and then lifts for quick access. Both the felt liner and the face-in design protect your screen from scratches, too. The rear clip can be rotated in both vertical and horizontal positions for optimal comfort. Yours today for just $14.95
The Elder Scrolls Online rebrands, drops subscription fee
Bethesda Softworks’ massively multiplayer online (MMO) game The Elder Scrolls will be dropping its pay-to-play subscription fee starting in March, according to a new announcement. It’s being rebranded as The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.
The game was released last April for OS X and Windows; it’s based on the popular role-playing game franchise The Elder Scrolls. Players create a character from one of four classes comprising many different races present in the fantasy realm of Tamriel.
Up until now, The Elder Scrolls Online has required a purchase which grants players 30 free days of in-game play time; to continue beyond that, you needed to subscribe. The company is changing the model prior to a console launch anticipated for June.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited includes all the great gameplay from the original PC/Mac game, plus all the updates and content additions, including the exciting new Justice and Champion systems. If you’ve ever played ESO, you’ll be invited to return to the game and experience everything new in the world without game subscription fees. If you’re new to ESO, you’ll make a one-time purchase of the game and then continue playing without restrictions for as long as you like.
Source: The Elder Scrolls Online
Save 50% today on these iPhone 5/5S flip cases with kickstands!
This iPhone 5 flip case is a combination of an Italian polyurethane and a cloth-like texture to provide impact protection while giving your device a snazzy look. What’s more is you even have a slot for credit cards on the backside of the front cover! Yours today for just $19.95












