Actually, that's the good news. The bad news is that it's priced at $14.99 (AU$18.99 and £10.49), making it one of the most expensive iOS games around.
Is it worth it? As a longtime fan of the game, I definitely think BioShock is worth playing. However, the desktop version sells for just $5 more, and routinely goes on sale for under $10. (I've seen it as low as $4.99.) So $15 for the mobile version feels a little steep.
But I guarantee you it won't be that steep forever -- and maybe not even for long. Historically speaking, other "premium" iOS games that have debuted with higher-than-average prices have gone on sale -- or seen outright price drops -- within a couple months. Dragon Quest VIII, for example, debuted in May with a $19.99 price tag, but it's currently on sale for $14.99. Once the dust settles on BioShock, I'm sure it'll come down.
OK, but short of visiting the App Store every day, how will you know when that happens? As it happens, there are a couple ways to let bots do the work for you.
For starters, check out Jason Cipriani's recent tutorial on discovering when apps go on sale. It relies on two services, AppZapp and If This Then That (IFTTT), to deliver alerts when top App Store apps go free or on sale.
Use AppShopper to track BioShock price drops.Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
That's a handy option, to be sure, but it's not specific to BioShock. For that, head to AppShopper, sign up for an account, then search for BioShock. (Needless to say, you could do this for any other game or app as well.) In the search results (making sure to zero in on the "iOS Universal" version), click Want It to add the game to your wish list.
Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET
Now, click the Wish List tab up top and then look for the Price Drop Notifications box on the right. Enable "Notify me of price drops via e-mail" and you're all done! Now, as soon as BioShock's price drops, you'll know about it.
That leads to the following question: How low does the price need to go before you'll pull the trigger?
How the 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace' trailer made Web history
The "Phantom Menace" trailer wasn't only a treat for fans: it was a coup for Apple and, in 1998, one of the biggest tests the Internet had faced.
With incredible numbers of people devouring the videos online, "The Phantom Menace" previews were also instrumental in proving the next-generation technology that would help the Internet make a quantum leap forward.
At last, we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi
It's astonishing to think how much things have changed in the last decade and a half, and many of those changes began for me that very year. In 1998 I got my first email address -- Hotmail, of course. I hand-wrote my initial essays, until I got a word processor with a three-line LCD screen. My phone was a payphone at the end of the corridor -- you had to hope someone passing by would answer it and then knock on your door -- which is not coincidentally why I got my first mobile phone that year, an Ericsson T28.
We had the iTunes Trailers site and Ain't It Cool News, but no Facebook, no Twitter and no YouTube. Into this veritable stone age came the first teaser for "The Phantom Menace" on 18 November 1998, six months before the film's release.
The first trailer was shown before Universal's "Meet Joe Black", Disney's "The Waterboy" and 20th Century Fox's "The Siege" at 75 US and Canadian theatres. Fans queued around the block to get in, watch the trailer -- and then leave. Trailers were repeated after each movie, so some fans are reported to have ducked out before the feature presentation only to return at the end for a second glimpse of the preview.
But the real impact was seen online. Starwars.com offered a free download of the trailer in Real Video, Quicktime and AVI formats. After a decade and a half of anticipation, the world went crazy for the first glimpse of the new "Star Wars" adventures.
Always two there are
The second, longer, better-quality trailer was posted online as a two-and-a-half minute QuickTime video on 11 March 1999. According to Jonathan Bowen's "Anticipation: The Real Life Story Of Star Wars: Episode I", this was a major coup for Apple over rival digital video formats. Indeed, QuickTime was downloaded 600,000 times on the day the trailer went live.
From that opening rumble of a droid invasion force to the introduction of Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor as Qui-Gon Jinn and the young Obi-Wan Kenobi, from Natalie Portman's Queen Amidala to the double-lightsaber-wielding Darth Maul -- all set to the spine-tingling Imperial March by John Williams -- the second trailer was even more of a galactic-sized hit. It was downloaded more than a million times in 24 hours, 3.5 million times in the first five days, and 6.4 million times within three weeks. Steve Jobs himself described the second trailer as "the biggest Internet download event in history".
With incredible numbers of people devouring the videos online, "The Phantom Menace" previews were also instrumental in proving the next-generation technology that would help the Internet make a quantum leap forward.
At last, we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi
It's astonishing to think how much things have changed in the last decade and a half, and many of those changes began for me that very year. In 1998 I got my first email address -- Hotmail, of course. I hand-wrote my initial essays, until I got a word processor with a three-line LCD screen. My phone was a payphone at the end of the corridor -- you had to hope someone passing by would answer it and then knock on your door -- which is not coincidentally why I got my first mobile phone that year, an Ericsson T28.
We had the iTunes Trailers site and Ain't It Cool News, but no Facebook, no Twitter and no YouTube. Into this veritable stone age came the first teaser for "The Phantom Menace" on 18 November 1998, six months before the film's release.
The first trailer was shown before Universal's "Meet Joe Black", Disney's "The Waterboy" and 20th Century Fox's "The Siege" at 75 US and Canadian theatres. Fans queued around the block to get in, watch the trailer -- and then leave. Trailers were repeated after each movie, so some fans are reported to have ducked out before the feature presentation only to return at the end for a second glimpse of the preview.
But the real impact was seen online. Starwars.com offered a free download of the trailer in Real Video, Quicktime and AVI formats. After a decade and a half of anticipation, the world went crazy for the first glimpse of the new "Star Wars" adventures.
Always two there are
The second, longer, better-quality trailer was posted online as a two-and-a-half minute QuickTime video on 11 March 1999. According to Jonathan Bowen's "Anticipation: The Real Life Story Of Star Wars: Episode I", this was a major coup for Apple over rival digital video formats. Indeed, QuickTime was downloaded 600,000 times on the day the trailer went live.
From that opening rumble of a droid invasion force to the introduction of Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor as Qui-Gon Jinn and the young Obi-Wan Kenobi, from Natalie Portman's Queen Amidala to the double-lightsaber-wielding Darth Maul -- all set to the spine-tingling Imperial March by John Williams -- the second trailer was even more of a galactic-sized hit. It was downloaded more than a million times in 24 hours, 3.5 million times in the first five days, and 6.4 million times within three weeks. Steve Jobs himself described the second trailer as "the biggest Internet download event in history".
According to Empire, the trailer "created online congestion not seen since the publication of the Starr Report" -- and it landed at the same time as the US sporting frenzy known as March Madness, making this an insanely busy period for Web traffic. But the success of the trailer proved a new technology for handling such colossal traffic much more efficiently.
Previously, if lots of people would suddenly visit a site it was likely to become overwhelmed and crash. But a company called Akamai had come up with a way to more efficiently distribute the load. And it worked: between Entertainment Tonight hosting the "Phantom Menace" trailer and ESPN covering March Madness, Akamai handled 250 million hits on just those two sites -- up to 3,000 hits per second -- while other sites covering the same ground crashed under the strain.
Akamai was founded by MIT graduate student Danny Lewin and his advisor Professor F. Thomson Leighton, who came up with an algorithm for optimising Internet traffic in response to a challenge from Web pioneer Tim Berners-Lee. Akamai's FreeFlow system distributes online content so that high demand for a particular site doesn't overwhelm the site, solving the problem of "hot spots" -- a solution so dramatic that Wired at the time compared it to the development of seafaring or written numbers.
In 2001, Lewin, a former officer in the Israeli Defence Force, was flying on American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles when he confronted other business-class passengers and was stabbed to death. The date was 11 September; Lewin was the first person to be killed in the 9/11 attacks.
Akamai's technology was one of many important steps forward in enabling the Internet to become the global communication tool it is today. Vast numbers of people are able to keep in touch and enjoy even intensive processes like watching video online -- which is how millions of people will no doubt spend the time while they wait for "Episode VII: The Force Awakens" to land in movie theatres in December 2015.
If you want or need to see more than a Web page's domain name in Safari, there is an easy fix.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
OS X Yosemite introduced Safari 8 and a flatter, more streamlined design. Jason Cipriani offered four tips for Safari 8 last month, and I have a quick fifth tip for you.
As part of its embrace of sleek simplicity, Safari 8 does not by default show the full Web address for Web pages in its address bar. Instead, is shows only the domain name. If this lack of information bothers you or disrupts your workflow, there is an easy fix.
1. Go to Safari > Preferences (or press Command-comma).
2. Click on the Advanced tab and check the box at the top for Show full website address.
3. Close Preferences and go about your business.
Even without this change in preferences, you can see a Web page's full URL by clicking into Safari's address bar, which highlights the page's address and shows it in full.
How to wipe your phone or tablet before you sell it
Here is how to wipe your personal data from a mobile device the right way before trading up to a new model.
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Trading in or selling your old mobile device? Wipe it the right way to reduce the risk of personal data falling into the wrong hands.
Remember that no method apart from physically destroying the device and its storage is 100 percent foolproof -- data may still be recoverable with the right tools.
These tips are for the three main mobile operating systems, but if you have an older phone or an alternate OS, check the manual for full details on how to wipe your device.
Before you start:
Back up all your data, including contacts
Remember to remove the SIM card and any external storage such as a microSD card
Log out of services like email and social media, then clear the data from these apps if you can
Perform a separate encrypt and wipe of data on the microSD card as well if you don't plan to use the card in a new device
Keep the serial number of the phone or tablet on file for your records.
Android
Lexy Savvides/CNET
The simplest way to wipe your Android device is to perform a factory reset. However, this often only clears data at the application level, and other information such as SMS and chat messages can be restored with some standard data recovery tools.
Instead, CNET's Dan Graziano has a full rundown on how to effectively wipe data on your Android phone or tablet which begins with encrypting your device first through the Settings menu.
You won't need any special tools, just a bit more patience than simply pressing the restore option within the settings.
Once the wipe is complete, remember to also revoke access to the phone from services such as Facebook and Google. To remove devices from your Google account, head tosecurity.google.com/settings/security/activity, click on the model you have wiped, and press Remove next to the Account Access option.
iOS
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Apple devices that support iOS 5 or later include hardware encryption when you set a passcode. If you perform a wipe using the method below, the encryption key is also overwritten which makes it very difficult for anyone who wants to recover the data.
Step one: Before starting the reset process, make sure to turn off all services, starting with Find My iPhone. Do this by heading to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted.
Step two: Sign out of iCloud completely. Head to Settings > iCloud and find Sign Out at the bottom of the page. For iOS 7 devices, choose Delete Account.
If you delete all your data manually without signing out of iCloud, it will also delete the content from iCloud as well -- which is something you definitely don't want.
Step three: Turn off and sign out of other services including iMessage and Apple ID.
For iMessage, go to Settings > Messages > toggle the iMessage option. For your Apple ID, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > tap your Apple ID email address and then Sign Out.
For added peace of mind you may also want to sign out individually of any other linked services and apps, such as Facebook or Twitter.
Step four: Start the wipe process. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Confirm the selection.
Step five: If you have registered your device with Apple by its serial number, remove it from your support profile by logging in with your Apple ID at supportprofile.apple.com
Windows Phone
Josh Miller/CNET
At the time of writing, Windows Phone only offers encryption for business customers. The easiest option to wipe a Windows Phone 8 device is to perform a factory reset and then load dummy data to overwrite traces of the original data.
Step one: Open up Settings from the main apps list. Find About and then tap Reset Your Phone.
Step two: Confirm the action and then wait for the phone to wipe.
Step three: Connect the phone to a PC and open My Computer. If you are connecting via Mac, download the Windows Phone app. Find the phone, which should show up as a removable device, and open it.
Step four: Load dummy data onto the phone by dragging and dropping from another folder. Don't use your personal photos or documents here, instead try with files that contain no identifiable metadata that could be traced back to you, such as video or music files. Try and fill the phone with as much dummy data as possible.
Step five: Reset the phone again using the same method in step one. Repeat the dummy data load a few more times to ensure all your original data is overwritten.
With some simple tips, make shopping online a safer experience this holiday season
Lexy Savvides/CNET
As holiday season approaches, shopping online is an attractive option for grabbing plenty of bargains.
Like any transaction, there are security issues to keep in mind when buying online, but with some common sense you can minimize the risk.
Even if you consider yourself a seasoned online shopper, it's always worth a reminder to make sure your experience is the safest it can be.
General tips
Don't send your credit card details via email, post them on social media (even in a private message), or enter them on an unsecured website
Don't give away more information than you need. Retailers generally don't need to know details like your date of birth or social security number, so why disclose it if you don't have to?
Check for a physical address and contact details like phone numbers for the vendor before buying
Remember to log out of your account after making a purchase
Keep your PC, Mac or mobile device up to date
This means regularly checking for updates to your operating system, as well as ensuring apps and browsers are also kept up to date with the latest version. Running regular antivirus and malware scans is recommended to help avoid compromising your personal details to tools such as keyloggers.
Also, get into the habit of using strong, unique passwords for each online store you buy from. If you haven't changed your password for an existing account in some time, do it now. Password managersare a great tool if you have trouble generating and remembering unique passwords.
Keep it private (and separate)
Avoid using public Wi-Fi or public computers when shopping online. This includes library or airport PCs.
If you have to make a purchase when out and about, turn on cellular data on your mobile device rather than using Wi-Fi. A VPN is also a great option for adding another layer of security.
Firefox on the left and Chrome on the right.Lexy Savvides/CNET
It's worth using a separate browser that you regularly keep up to date for shopping and banking online, and another for everyday web use.
Consider opening a second email account specifically for online shopping purposes to help minimize spam, and keep a track of which service is using your email address for what purpose.
If you have a Gmail account, you can append a plus symbol (+) to the end of your username to help filter your email. For example, you could enter your email address in the format of "johndoe+amazon@gmail.com" and then set up a filter within Gmail so everything sent to that address goes straight to a label called "Amazon".
Research your retailer
Make sure to fully check out the retailer's credentials if it's not a big name you have heard of before. A quick search of the site name should turn up results and reviews about the service, but keep an eye out for overly positive reviews on user forums that might not be legitimate.
Both a lock and https in the URL show you that the site is using a secure connection via SSL.Lexy Savvides/CNET
Ensure that the site is using a secure connection, which is marked by https:// in the browser bar and a number of other indicators including an image of a lock. Some sites have an icon called a trust indicator or security seal that shows that the retailer is independently verified by a third party, such as an antivirus provider.
Use a payment method with buyer protection
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Although debit cards ensure you are using your own cash to make a purchase, many do not offer the same robust buyer protection as other options if something does go wrong. A credit card, PayPal or a virtual wallet option give you more flexibility when it comes to requesting a chargeback.
A chargeback is when a transaction is reversed and a refund is given to you as the buyer. It can either be initiated by your bank on detection of fraudulent activity, or you can initiate a chargeback depending on the situation. Check with your bank for details.
Another option that you might consider using to add another layer of protection is a single-use credit card number. These are tied to your regular credit card but provide a unique number to be used for one transaction so your actual credit card number is not compromised. This is particularly useful if there is a breach somewhere along the chain that might reveal your credit card details. Again, check with your bank to see if this is an option.
Although it makes it very convenient to make repeat purchases, it is worth unchecking any option that lets the retailer store your credit card details on file. This way if your account is compromised, at least your financial details are not revealed.
Shopping on your smartphone or tablet
Apart from the tips outlined above, there are a few things to be aware of when shopping on a mobile device. Set a password, pattern or PIN lock on your smartphone, and adjust the settings so the screen locks automatically after a set period of inactivity.
The vendor's own app might be a convenient way to make a purchase, but find out if it is using a secure connection to transmit your personal information and transaction details. If unsure, it's best to use the website through a mobile browser.
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Turn off Bluetooth if you are not using it, and check what permissions applications are asking for before you install them. Also, jailbreaking or rooting your device may open up more features but it can leave it more open to threats.
Finally, if you lose your device and it has personal information on it such as credit card info, or you left it logged in to an account which has access to your credit card or bank details, make sure you can remotely wipe and disable your device. For iOS, enable Find My iPhone from the settings. Androidusers can use Google's Android Device Manager to remotely lock and erase the handset or tablet. Windows Phone owners can use the Find My Phone feature on windowsphone.com to erase the handset if lost.
Calculate the total cost
Take into account shipping, sales tax and any other taxes or charges that might apply, especially when importing goods from overseas. Product doesn't suit or you need to get a refund? Check the retailer's policies before making the purchase to work out if you need to cover return costs and any extra fees or charges you need to pay.
It's also worth shopping around to find the best deal on the same product. Don't just assume your favourite online retailer is always going to have the best price, as you might be able to find a better deal elsewhere.
Something went wrong?
Your first port of call if something goes wrong with an online transaction should be the retailer. If you need to report identity theft or fraud, each country has a local service where you can report the issue.
Living a healthy lifestyle is easier than ever before thanks to an array of fitness apps, wearable devices, and other smart products. Here's how you can harness the power of technology to lose those extra pounds.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Hundreds of thousands of people make resolutions to start the new year off right. Given today's society, which puts an increasingly amount of emphasis on appearance and self-image, the most popular resolutions deal with losing weight or living a healthier lifestyle. Every January the treadmills and ellipticals are filled with eager gym-goers. Like clockwork, however, after a couple of weeks the gym returns to its normal state of isolation.
Resolutions are hard to keep and living a healthy lifestyle can be even harder. With the demands of work, raising a family and other obstacles we are met with, it's just too much of a hassle for most people to count calories, make healthy food choices and get to the gym a couple of times a week.
Luckily, we are in a golden age for technology. Companies big and small are creating devices and services to help simplify our everyday lives, and that includes numerous technologies that can help you achieve your health goals.
From various apps to wearable devices, here are some of the best tools to help you lose weigh and maintain a healthy lifestyle:
Apps
We use smartphone applications to connect with friends and family, meet new people, and even order food. It would only be natural that we also use these devices to help us stay in shape. There are numerous cross-platform applications that can turn any smartphone or tablet into the perfect personal trainer and help you shed those extra pounds.
There's an old saying: perfect abs aren't made in the gym, but are cooked up in the kitchen. Lifting weights and cardio are important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but eating right is just as, if not more, beneficial as working out.
Calorie tracking There are hundreds of fitness apps out there, but one of my favorites for keeping track of the foods I eat is MyFitnessPal, an app that simplifies the process of counting calories. MyFitnessPal is free and available on all major mobile platforms: iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone.
Dan Graziano/CNET
After supplying the application with information about your weight, goal weight, gender, height, birth date and daily activity level, you will be ready to go. MyFitnessPal gives users all the tools they need to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle with features such as meal tracking and daily calorie intake recommendations.
Calorie counting has never been so easy. Food can be entered in manually, chosen from a user-generated catalog of more than 1 million items or even scanned with your smartphone's camera. You can also set reminders to ensure that you never miss logging a meal.
Dan Graziano/CNET
MyFitnessPal is just one of the many calorie-tracking applications available for mobile devices. Similar programs you can check out include Lose It, Calorie Counter by FatSecret and Noom Coach, all of which are available for Android and iOS.
Running partners
RunKeeperWhen I was in college I always had friends and coaches to train with. It's easy to lose motivation for working out, especially on cold or rainy days, but a training partner can help fix this. While a physical person is best for training with, there are also apps available to those of us with lazy friends.
Apps like RunKeeper, Runtastic, and Endomondo (to name a few) are perfect for runners with years of experience or even newcomers. All of these apps track your distance, time, pace, and calories burned, the downside being that you must run with your smartphone. They also provide you with vocal updates regarding your pace and speed after you reach a certain distance.
Each app also has unique features that may appeal to you. RunKeeper allows you to set workout reminders, Runtastic has a "Story Mode" feature to make runs more entertaining, and Endomondo hosts numerous challenges that puts you head-to-head (virtually) against other members of the app's growing community.
RunKeeper, Runtastic, and Endomondo are available in free and paid versions on Android and iOS; all three also offer monthly/yearly subscriptions for premium features. Other running apps you may want to check out include Nike+ Running and MapMyRun, both of which are available for free on Android and iOS.
Fitness games
What better way to stay in shape than to play a game? Apps like Zombies, Run! and Fitocracy offer a fun and entertaining way to stay active. The Zombies, Run! app is one of the most unique fitness apps available today. Not only are you told a story while running, you are living it.
Along with tracking your distance, time, and pace, the app includes numerous "missions" for runners to complete, such as picking up virtual supplies. The app takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, which means you will sometimes hear and be chased by zombies, and the game doesn't end once your workout does. The virtual supplies you picked up on your run can be used to help strengthen your base and community to survive the hordes of zombies.
Zombies, Run! makes running and working out more enjoyable than ever before. The is available on Android and iOS for $1.99 with additional in-app purchases.
Screenshot by Dan Graziano/CNET
Another app you may want to check out is Fitocracy, an MMORPG-inspired fitness gaming app and social network. Each time you log a workout you earn points that will help you level up. The idea is similar to a game like World of Warcraft, but rather than controlling an orc or an elf, you are the character.
The company's extensive database also explains how to do a vast amount of workouts, which makes Fitocracy more appealing to first time gym-goers. Fitocracy can be accessed on the Web and from the company's free Android and iOS apps.
Wearables
Wearable devices are slated to become the next big thing in tech, and we here at CNET have embraced the future. Numerous devices have come our way, many of which are aimed at fitness and helping you live a healthier lifestyle.
Activity trackers
Activity trackers are becoming smarter, more accurate, easier to use and (at least in some cases) more affordable. Most trackers can track things like steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned and sleep. There are also some other trackers with unique features. Fitbit's trackers can track the amount of steps you have climbed, while others (such as the Fitbit Charge HR, Microsoft Band and LifeTrak Zone C410) can track your heart rate monitor.
Sarah Tew/CNET
These devices provide an endless supply of data that can be used to track your daily activities. You can even set goals to ensure that you are walking 10,000 steps per day. Most activity trackers tend to be compatible with iOS and Android devices, although there a few (Microsoft Band and Fitbit) that also work with Windows Phone.
These devices are perfect for the average consumer that, although they can be a bit pricey. Most activity trackers range from $100 to $200, although some can be had for as little as $50.
GPS running watches
For runners, I recommend checking out either the the Garmin Forerunner 15 or Polar M400. Both of these watches include tracking for daily activities like steps, distance and calories, in addition to a GPS chip to track time, pace and distance when running. These bands also include support for wireless heart rate monitors, although some watches, such as the Adidas MiCoach Smart Run, includes optical heart rate monitors right on the watch itself.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Smart scales
You've heard of smartphones, smartwatches, and maybe even smart socks, but did you know there are also smart scales? That's right, a scale that is smart. What does this mean? These scales, depending on the specific product, can calculate your body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and weight. Two products to consider are the Withings Smart Body Analyzerand the Fitbit Aria, both of which have their own benefits.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Smart Body Analyzer is capable of measuring heart rate, indoor air quality, and is compatible with apps such as MyFitnessPal, RunKeeper, and Endomondo, among others. The Aria syncs wirelessly with Fitbit's Web site and mobile apps, and also integrates with the company's wearable devices like the Force and the Flex.
The Smart Body Analyzer is available for $150, while the Aria can be had for $129, both a relatively steep price to pay for a scale...no matter how smart it is.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Internet
The last and most effective tool that can help you lose weight is arguably the most important piece of technology from the 20th century. It's the Internet, the single greatest resource for discovering new information and connecting with others.
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