An Update To Duck Hunt For The Wii I'd Like To See

Nintendo recently released an updated version of the original Super Mario Brothers and put it on the Wii.  What about Nintendo's other pack in game, Duck Hunt?  Can't it be updated too? Of course it can, here's what I would like to see from a Wii version of Duck Hunt

Let me shoot that damned dog: That four legged anti-hero in Duck Hunt that celebrates every duck killed but laughs when the ducks fly away won't be laughing so smugly when he gets a taste of hot lead.

Interchangeable weapons: The Zapper used in the original is an equivalent to a rifle or a shotgun in the original Duck Hunt, but wouldn't it be cool if  those ducks could be killed with a bazooka, rocket propelled grenades, or even yes a flame thrower.  Heck even throw in a chainsaw so those ducks cannot hide behind that tree for very long.

Extra Wildlife:  Sure shooting ducks maybe fun, for a while, but if a moose came into the scene once in a while, would it be nice to have an additional use for the already mentioned chainsaw.

Those are just a few things that can make Duck Hunt Wii a game that even the Halo nerds can enjoy

What Windows Phone 7 Means For Canadians

In order to regain market share lost to Apple's iPhone and to hold off a challenge from Google's Android, Microsoft has unveiled a new smartphone operating system with a new name.  Windows Phone 7 was unveiled at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona, Spain.  Windows Phone 7 key features include a new user interface, and integration with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter (who isn't doing this) digital media with the Zune Marketplace (never came to Canada) and online games through Xbox live. 

For Canadian Smartphone users access to phones running Windows Phone 7 should be pretty easy.  For subscribers to regional carriers MTS and Sasktel who have seen iPhone, Google Android, and Palm WebOS devices pass them by, Windows Phone 7 will be the next generation smartphone operating system that they will finally get a chance at getting.  For Canada's new cell carriers Wind Mobile and Mobilicity, smartphones running Windows Phone 7 could potentially hold a place at the top of the lineups along with Blackberries and Android based smartphones.  On the big 3 national carriers it's most likely that Rogers will be most likely to carry Windows Phone 7 since their lineup doesn't have a Palm WebOS device at this time, Bell and Telus will have Windows Phone 7 as well but could be pushed to the sideline to promote iPhones.

Unlike the recent past where potential smartphone users had to choose their cell carrier based on which smartphone they wanted, Windows Phone 7 may not be the smartphone OS that everybody wants, but it will be a smartphone OS that current cell phones can upgrade to a smartphone without changing carriers.

Wish list for iPhone 4.0

With the speculation and hype surround the iPad subsiding now that it's an official Apple product, attention turns to the next announcement that comes in just four months.  For the past few years Apple has used the World Wide Developers' Conference to announce updates to the iPhone.  Some rumors have already surfaced as what the fourth version will bring. Here's just a few things that Apple can and should do to update the iPhone:

Replaceable batteries: Cell Phones, like many other devices often outlive the rechargeable batteries they come with.  Make the batteries replaceable will help people keep iPhones longer and will be better for the environment.

Advanced Wireless Spectrum (AWS ) support: Putting in support for new frequency bands for cellular systems collectively known as Advanced Wireless Spectrum will help Apple expand the reach of the iPhone to more carriers.  T-Mobile runs their 3G on AWS bands, so when the exclusivity with AT&T runs out and Apple looks to more carriers having AWS support on the iPhone will be necessary to operate on T-Mobile.  In order to get the iPhone on Canada's new carriers Wind Mobile and Mobilicity AWS support will be required.

A change in display screen technology:  Changing the display screen on the iPhone from a traditional LCD to a LED backlet LCD or making a complete change to OLED will allow Apple to make a claim better battery life than previous iPhones, since these newer technologies are more power efficient.

WiFi Tethering: Using the iPhone as a 3G modem for use with a laptop computer has been high on wish lists since the original iPhone launched back in 2007.  Newer Palm and Android smartphones have Tethering using WiFi for sharing 3G data service with up to five computers.  Maybe it's time for Apple to catch up.