collecting

Bento is a database app from the makers of Filemaker offering plenty of great features, but its deliberate lack of focus may make it difficult for people to grasp its usefulness. Bento is loaded with templates to create databases of people, places, or things using nice-looking graphics. The interface takes some time to get used to, but with a little poking around (and once the major features become clear), the true power of Bento starts to materialize.

Bento can be used to catalog just about anything in any number of ways. Comic book collectors could use the program to catalog … Read more

What's better than 27 apps for 99 cents? Why, 27 apps for zero cents, of course.

That's what you get from iCatchall, which, like last week's App Genie, delivers more than two dozen tools under one app roof. Normally it's 99 cents, but in conjunction with previously mentioned Free App a Day, iCatchall is free on Monday (and only this Monday).

As you might expect, there's a bit of overlap between these two kitchen-sink apps--but less than you might think. iCatchall is actually a mix of tools, games, and sound effects.

Instead of cramming everything … Read more

This video, posted on YouTube by WorldCarFans, features several BMWs from the BMW art car collection. The artists include Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Jenny Holzer.

Artists have been painting cars for the BMW collection since the 1970s. According to BMW Drives, the concept for the BMW art cars was introduced by a French auctioneer and race car driver named Hervé Poulain. Since then, 17 cars have been added to the collection.

We know you Android fans love your smartphones, be they the original T-Mobile G1 or the brand-new Nexus One. But putting up a poster of your phone is probably a little weird. Why not purchase an adorable Android mini collectible and display that instead?

This series of vinyl Android toys is made by artist Andrew Bell, and there are 12 different Android designs packed in blind-boxed cases of 16. Each mini Android is 3 inches tall and has arms and head that rotate. Dyzplastic will offer them later this month as well as specialty retailers. No word on pricing, but … Read more

Regardless of how you feel about playing games on an iPhone--or iPad for that matter--Sega is bringing classic Genesis titles to the platform. We first told you about the Ultimate Genesis Collection app two weeks ago; here's a follow-up with some exclusive hands-on impressions.

Like most games that originated in the world of controllers, the Ultimate Genesis Collection relies on virtual buttons placed on the sides of the screen. You also have the option to play games in their original aspect ratio, which will put a graphic border around the game screen.

Sonic the Hedgehog looked great, though we did notice a slight dip in frame rate. There's a certain magic missing from the iPhone version that the classic was able to generate, most likely because the virtual controls aren't as solid as we would have liked. Precise controls are a must in games like Sonic, so it's going to take a lot of getting used to for those familiar with the speed of the original. A game like Ecco the Dolphin seemed slightly better in terms of control (it's a slower game), though a learning curve is still present here. … Read more

Apple makes extracting your music from your iPod unnecessarily difficult, which is where SharePod comes in. This fast freeware tool efficiently transfers your music collection to your hard drive, making it easy to back up or restore your music, videos, and photos. It also transfers playlists, album art, and ratings, both to your hard drive and directly into iTunes.

SharePod comes with features that many competitors lack. Not only can you transfer your files, you can also perform some basic editing. You can use it to delete art, playlists, music, and videos from your iPod, edit tags, and you can … Read more

Sony took some heat for removing backward compatibility from the PlayStation 3 so early in its lifetime, but the elimination of such functionality has opened the door for re-releases of classic PS2 games like the God of War franchise. We already chatted with John Hight, Director of Product Development for Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, at Santa Monica Studio about what to expect from the Collection, so let's see what we think after a week's worth of playtime with Kratos and the final version.

In the God of War Collection, both God of War I and II have … Read more

Souptoys is a fun and imaginative game in which users manipulate all kinds of onscreen toys with delightful effects. In a world where violent children's games are all too common, Souptoys is refreshingly innocent and surprisingly fun.

Souptoys isn't a game as much as a set of onscreen toys, as is suggested by the fact that its components are kept in a virtual toy box. What will you find in the toy box? Anything you'd find in a real one: balls, stuffed animals, blocks, roller skates, and much more, plus a few things you probably wouldn't … Read more