Halloween 2009: Google Doodle Goes Click or Treat [PICS]

If you’ve hopped over to Google.com this Halloween, you might have spotted the world’s favorite search engine has a special Halloween logo.

Actually, it’s not just one logo: clicking on the Google () image delivers a series of images related to Halloween candy.

Another thing to notice from these shots: Google is trying a new layout with a subset of users that removes the “Search” button entirely, reminding visitors they can just hit Enter to search for something. That’s spookily simple, we think.
October 31st, 2009 | by Pete Cashmore

Nokia Gives Up on N-Gage Mobile Gaming Phone

On October 7th, 2003, Nokia made a splash as it attempted to challenge Nintendo’s dominance of the handheld gaming market. Its entry was the N-Gage, a dual mobile phone and gaming system. However, the funny look it had when you used it as a phone (”taco phone” was a popular comparison), as well a weaker game library doomed it from the start.

Today, Nokia announced that it is ending the N-Gage line of phones and games, instead opting to push forward its gaming agenda via the Ovi app store.

October 30th, 2009 | by Ben Parr

Marvel Comics on the iPhone

Comics lovers, rejoice (to a varying degree, depending on where you live)! Comixology, the creator of free comic reader for the iPhone, Comics, have added a bunch of Marvel titles to the library available for in-app purchase.

The comics cost $2 each; the 71 currently available titles include the Astonishing X-Men, Captain America, Marvel Zombies, X-23 and X-Men Age of Apocalypse.

Unfortunately, as is so often the case due to copyright restrictions, all of these are only available in the US. The folks at Comixology wrote only a short post about the addition to their catalog, which also includes comics by publishers such as Arcana, Asylum Press, Evil Twin Comics, Red 5 and Studio 407, so it’s hard to say when (if ever) the US-only limit will be lifted and whether any additional Marvel titles are coming.

Twitter Launching “Twitter Wine”

http://mashable.com/2009/10/15/twitter-launching-twitter-wine/ Twitter co-founder Biz Stone announced today that Twitter will launch two wines – a Pinot Noir and a Chardonnay – in partnership with Room to Read, a San Francisco-based non-profit that helps improve literacy rates in poor countries.

Stone describes the project, titled “Fledgling Wine“, in the video below. It’s certainly a departure from the site’s microblogging roots, but all for a good cause.