Like Google wasn’t going to celebrate Halloween.

In what is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the search engine giant, Google has released yet another Google Doodle today on its homepage, this time celebrating the spooky season.

Instead of just a picture, this Doodle – like Star Trek and others before it – is clickable and interactive. For those not afraid of a little fright, click behind each of the five doors for a little trick or treat. Make sure you have your volume turned up to really get into the spirit.

Since this is now obviously recurring, what pop culture days in November would you like to see Google honor? I’m personally hoping for some history of Bond around Nov. 9.

Read more:
New Google Doodle celebrates Bob Ross
Happy birthday, ‘Little Nemo’! Google celebrates with dream-inspired doodle
Avast! Google Doodle celebrates Herman Melville and ‘Moby Dick’

Two weeks ago, beloved universe-denting tech giant Apple sold its 100 millionth iPad. That might sound impressive. But we all know the sad truth. Around this miserable world, Apple consumers are using their iPads in 100 million different ways — reading books, surfing the internet, playing Angry Birds, playing Angry Birds Space, trying to find the one specific place in their apartment where the Wi-Fi won’t cut out while they use FaceTime, checking Twitter during the presidential debate so they can tweet about how annoying Twitter gets during the presidential debate. And they are all thinking the same thing: “Truly, this iPad is indeed a fine device. But why must it be so grotesquely obese? Would that Apple could create a beautiful new iPad! Would that I could replace this pot-bellied butterball of a tablet with something thin!”

Well, Apple CEO Tim Cook has a message for you. READ FULL STORY »

It’s a communication contraption! It’s an mp3 player! No — it’s Samsung’s new smartphone, a mobile device designed specifically for music lovers. The Galaxy Music boasts a host of features sure to please audiophiles — dual stereo speakers, built-in FM radio, a state-of-the-art Sound Retrieval System meant to mimic 5.1 surround sound, and SoundAlive technology, which “intelligently makes automatic adjustments to sound quality by analyzing the source.” Sounds simultaneously Jetsons awesome and 2001: A Space Odyssey terrifying.

The Galaxy Music runs on the Android 4.0 operating system — adorably called Ice-Cream Sandwich — making it a great option for anyone who loves music but doesn’t want to be led to their death by Apple Maps. But even those who have sworn off physical Apple products will likely be using iTunes to populate their shiny new Samsung phones; it’s going to be tough for any other tech company to encroach on Apple’s musical monopoly.

READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Rovio

Just when you thought you had conquered your Angry Birds addiction, the game is getting a Star Wars makeover.

Launching worldwide on Nov. 8, the new Angry Birds mobile game will adopt the stories and settings (including the deserts of Tatooine and the depths of the Death Star) of the legendary film.

“This is the best Angry Birds game we’ve ever done,” Peter Vesterbacka, CMO of Rovio Entertainment, which has partnered with LucasFilm for the project, said in a statement. “It’s the best parts of Angry Birds with all new cutting-edge gameplay set in in a galaxy far, far away. As a big Star Wars fan myself, I’m really excited about this new universe. The Force is definitely strong with this one.”

The game will be available on iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, Mac, PC, Windows Phone, and Windows 8. Hasbro will launch an Angry Bird Star Wars line of merchandise ranging from Halloween costumes to collectible plush toys on Oct. 28.

We don’t know yet what scenes from the saga will be incorporated into the game, but we certainly hope the five moments below are included in some capacity.

1. The defining moment of the series: Darth Vader telling Luke Skywalker “Luke, I am your father” in Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back.

2. The gold bikini: Princess Leia being held captive in Jabba’s court, sporting the most iconic two-piece in movie-nerd history in Episode VI — Return of the Jedi.

3. The killer opening:  The opening crawl of “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” in Episode IV — A New Hope.

4. The ultimate race against the clock: Wedge, Biggs, and Porkins joining Luke to take on the Death Star in Episode IV — A New Hope.

5. Han Solo offing Greedo at the Cantina: Let the Who shot first? debate continue on a whole new platform.

What Star Wars worlds and iconic scenes are you hoping to rediscover in Angry Birds?

Watch the trailer below:

Read more:
‘Star Wars’: The men who played Boba Fett reunite and talk about what makes the bounty hunter so cool
25 Best (and Worst!) ‘Star Wars’ Moments
‘Star Wars’ Day: May the 4th Be With You!