What would Angry Birds look like if it was released 20 years ago, during the golden age of side-scrolling platformers like Mario? Well, probably a lot like this.

Fake screenshots spoofing the highly addictive mobile game ‘Angry Birds’ by Rovio Mobile Ltd. As a physics-based game, Angry Birds is similar to those well worn ’90s games Worms and Lemmings, and lends itself well to a retro reimaging with blocky pixels.

Personally, I find the retro pixelated style very appealing, and would absolutely love to see an Angry Birds mod that could make this concept a reality. Check out the source for the full set, it’s beautiful.

[Penney Design]

Loading up a 3rd party browser like Skyfire just to watch the occasional Flash video isn’t an ideal solution, and Frash seems to have hit a dead end. HTML5 is starting to replace Flash on many major video sites, but it’s far from ubiquitous.

iOSFlashVideo is a simple bookmarklet that allows users to view Flash videos from Vimeo, MegaVideo, Flickr, DailyMotion, Break, and Blip.tv (with support for additional sites coming soon) from within Mobile Safari. It’s unclear how exactly this bookmarklet works, but there doesn’t seem to be any server-side rendering or conversion taking place. My guess is that it’s forcing the video site to load the corresponding HTML5-ready video, instead of the embedded Flash version. (See, many sites support both Flash and HTML5 videos, but sometimes it can’t auto-detect the browser being used, so it loads the incompatible Flash version by default.)

It seems to be a hit-or-miss for most users, so don’t expect too much. Nevertheless, it’s completely free, so try it out and let us know how it works! Installation instructions can be found on the homepage.

[iOSFlashVideo]

Taking the iPad to a coffee shop, sitting down with a latte, and reading an e-book is one of my favorite leisure time activities.  The inevitable dilemma occurs when I need to step away from my table to pick up my order, get a refill, or browse the shelves.  Do I surrender my primo table and pack up all my belongings, or do I leave it behind and hope no one snatches my iPad? 

A new security device solves the quandry.  The iPad Lock, offered by Maclocks, is an integrated clear case with built-in stand and cable lock which secures your iPad.  Once installed, merely loop the cable around a table leg or chair back and your iPad is protected against theft.

The case and lock retails for $64.95 and includes a screen protector.  It’s pricey, but will provide some peace of mind when out and about.

At one point in history, photography was an art. Now, it seems that anyone with a smartphone can take beautiful pictures with minimal effort. But, of the biggest annoyances that plagues smartphones is the dreaded blurrycam shot that always seems to crop up at the most inopportune moments.

A recent patent filing by Apple aims to rid the world of these awful shots, and make every picture flawless. In addition to the HDR setting that produces stunning photos, an “anti-blur” feature may soon be making its way into iOS. When a picture is taken, the simple act of tapping the “take photo” button can inadvertently shake the camera, causing the picture to be blurry. Apple’s patent depicts a system that would buffer a series of pictures (anywhere from 10-20) before and after the user takes a photo. Software would then analyze the photos, along with data collected via motion sensing hardware, to determine at which point the camera was steadiest, and use the resulting picture as the ideal shot. Multiple pictures could also be previewed for user selection.

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The iPad is now available for purchase online at BestBuy.com. Previously, customers could only reserve a unit for in-store pickup from their online store. Buying direct from Apple is still the way to go, but many customers prefer BestBuy’s additional warranty options and rewards program. For some odd reason, Best Buy has tacked on an extra $.99 to the price, but they do offer free shipping in time for the holidays. (Note: the base model 3G iPad is currently on backorder.)

[Best Buy]

One of the advantages of using an e-book reader is privacy.  Strangers or youngsters glancing from across the coffee shop can’t immediately discern if the reader is browsing the web or absorbed in adult material.  I’m not talking Playboy or certain manga titles.  One of the fastest growing segments in the e-books market is romance novels.

In digital form, the romance genre has eclipsed general fiction, mystery and science fiction for market share growth rate.  It is as popular as the print editions, with some titles matching their hardcover sales.  Romance e-book sales jumped from 8 percent to 27 percent of total sales versus 9 percent for ebooks in general.  Nearly 75 million people read at least one romance novel in 2008.

While romance novels don’t interest me, I see how it would be preferable to have the digital version of Maxim or Cosmo on my iPad rather than laying around the house.  Self-help books regarding sensitive subjects might also be better suited for consumption in digital forms. 

For additional security of your iPhone and iPad apps, check out the Cydia app Locktopus, which password protects any app.  Read a full review here.

[NY Times]

HandBrake has been the go-to media converter for videophiles since its release, but development of this once-great program is slowing to a crawl, and many users are looking for an alternative. Having a plethora of settings and advanced configurations can be infinitely useful (if you know what you’re doing), but most users simply want to make File A work with Device B.

Permute is the perfect A/V conversion tool for those of us that are not A/V experts. With its drag and drop ease of use and simple, custom settings behind the curtain, it’s the answer to all the “other” confusing and complicated alternatives.

Permute accomplishes just that, without asking any questions. (Well, just one…) Drag the files you want converted into the application window, and select the output format from the drop down list. Presets are available for the iPod Touch, iPhone 4, iPad, Apple TV and more, and once finished converting, files can be automatically added to iTunes. Multiple items can be queued at once, and the program takes full advantage of 64 bit processors and multiple cores for speedy conversions.

Permute is $14.95, and a free demo with 10 conversions is available for lite users.

[Permute]

The following post was written by Appman the Magnificent.

I’m back! Sorry for no AOTW for a while there, but I finally have a new device and AOTW will start to become a regular article again. In this week’s article, I will be showing you the five apps I’ve been using quite a bit this week. Some you may have heard of, others maybe not. So anyways, here we go!

[Apps of the Week 9]

The next Apps of the Week article will feature the top apps of the year (a spinoff to Apple’s AppStore rewind) and I need YOU. Simply nominate ONE app (say so in the comments of this week’s article) from any AOTW article (you can view them in my sig), and if you want, nominate an app that may not be in a previous article, but that you think deserves a spot in the “MultiTouchFans Apps of the Year”, but make sure one app you choose is from a previous AOTW or you entry will NOT count. In order for an application to have a chance to be entered, its nomination must be nominated by at least two other users as well. Thanks!