Pixelscroll Daily Deals for Thursday, 11/08/2012
PixelMan says: Save $13.01 (81%) on this KINDLE eBOOK!
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
Genre(s): Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
ivianne Rocher moves to the tiny French town of Lansquenet to open a chocolate boutique, and, suddenly, strange things start to happen. The townspeople begin to eschew the self-righteous gossip of small-town life, and they find the courage to break the rigid codes of provincial behavior. In short, they start enjoying life–all because of the sensual power of chocolate. But the hidebound local priest does not approve of Vivianne, and soon, a power struggle shapes up between the two of them.
PixelMan says: Save $6.00 (75%) on this KINDLE eBOOK!
The Secret Of The Sirens #1 (Companions Quartet) by Julia Golding
Genre(s): Children’s eBooks
hen eleven-year-old Connie is sent to live with her eccentric aunt by the sea, she’s not expecting anything great, not to make friends with Col, the coolest guy in town, and certainly not to discover that mythical creatures still exist, that an ancient society has protected them for centuries, and that a dark and treacherous force is lurking in their midst.
PixelMan says: Save $0.99 (100%) on this KINDLE FIRE APP!
Chess
Genre(s): Games
he game analysis Treebeard uses is unique and proprietary to AI Factory: unlike conventional programs, the engine does not search millions of positions to counter your moves. Instead, Treebeard uses a probability-directed search to examine fewer positions but with greater detail.
Rich features
With such a powerful engine driving AI’s Chess app, your mental mettle will be tested, and, when combined with the app’s well-designed user interface, you have the opportunity to hone your chess game to a sublime point.
Featuring 10 levels of difficulty, Chess is suitable for novice and expert players alike. Treebeard employs intelligent-weakening for the lower levels, which makes it perfect for beginning players, too. There’s also a complete chess-move manual included for those completely unfamiliar with the game.
While there are many unique aspects of the app, one in particular proves helpful in improving your game at any level: the Show CPU Thinking option. Once activated, Chess reveals which move Treebeard is considering next by placing a blue border around the piece the computer wants to move and another around it’s targeted square.
Customizable Play
If you want to try your moves against a person rather than a machine, the app also has a two-player mode. Just like when you play against the computer, the manual mode allows you to use a game clock that limits play from 5 minutes to 60 minutes and moves from 5 to 60 seconds.
Chess’s user interface presents players with three chessboard layouts and three choices of chessmen to customize the feel of your game. In a game’s Match Settings screen, the handicap adjustment feature offers an interesting twist, whether you’re playing against the computer or a trash-talking opponent. In both modes you can choose to handicap the white chessmen by removing a pawn, knight, rook or queen. If playing the black chessmen against the computer, this option is particularly handy when testing your skills against Treebeard’s higher levels.
After checkmate, you’re immediately presented with the option to step back through each of your moves to see how you won, or lost, the game. Chess also stores your gaming history and generates statistics based on your level of play against Treebeard.
The app features full touchscreen and trackball capabilities. The free version of the game is supported by unobtrusive banner ads.
Whether you’re playing against Treebeard or against a living opponent, Chess will help you continually push the limits of your game.
PixelMan says: Save $9.19 on this KINDLE FIRE MP3 ALBUM!
![Kaleidoscope Dream [Explicit] [+digital booklet]](http://cdn.pixelscroll.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Miguel-300x300.jpg "Kaleidoscope Dream [Explicit] [+digital booklet]")
Kaleidoscope Dream [Explicit] [+digital booklet] by Miguel
Genre(s): R&B
From an Amazon Top Reviewer:
wenty-five year old R&B singer/songwriter Miguel joins singer Frank Ocean in an elite league ushering in the new hipster/eclectic R&B movement. Miguel channels Prince on 2012′s excellent Kaleidoscope Dream in which the songwriting is superb, the production unique, and Miguel’s pipes soar. Kaleidoscope Dream follows up 2010′s All I Want Is You, which was brought to a wider audience thanks to no. 1 R&B single “Sure Thing.” Led by no. 1 R&B single “Adorn,” and continuing promotion through second single “Do You,” Kaleidoscope Dream is nothing short of a `treat.’
Opener “Adorn” mixes 80′s sensibilities and soulful cues. Miguel’s vocals are beautiful characterized by superb nuance and killer falsetto. The songwriting is chivalrous and thoughtful, with the chorus being a highlight: “You just gotta let my love…adorn you…know that I adore you/just that, baby). Overall “Adorn” is nothing sort of excellence epitomized.
“Don’t Look Back” features more top-notch production including keyboard synth pads and dusty drum programming. Vocally, Miguel to allure with irresistible falsetto. The valedictory songwriting is capped off by a notable chorus: “If I (If I), Don’t make it back before the sun (the sun)/all you have to do is run (run)/just promise you’ll run (run) and don’t look back…and promise me you’ll run…” An outro, lifting off classic “Time of the Season” closes cleverly.
“Use Me” remains consistent and notable for excellent songwriting form. The production is busy, dusty, and mysterious, with eclectic sensibilities. Miguel passionately croons “And every wall I built up/has come crashing down/don’t the waves pull the sand/don’t the moon pull the tide baby…” Miguel is incredibly sensual here.
Second single “Do You” opens with an inquiring Miguel: “Do you like drugs?” His questions continue (“…Have you ever felt alone/do you believe in love”) prior to the chorus (“But do you like drugs…Yeah, well me too…do you like love?… Yeah well me too…” Slated in neo-soul idiom, rhythmic electric guitar carries the groove before pummeling drums and a fat bass line `hold it down.’ Nothing short of exceptional.
On “Kaleidoscope Dream,” Miguel and Salaam Remi work together establishing a production that is unapologetically retro in quality (Labi Shiffre is sampled). Miguel’s vocals are exceptional, particularly the harmonized portions. Well written, the portion including lyrics “Yeah, body language like piano keys/allow me to provoke thee/like you sing a melody/every single stroke baby…” is nothing short of clever. Proceeding cut “The Thrill” is solid if eclipsed by the heaviest of hitters. More infused with Miguel’s pop/rock influence, it effectively contrasts more the more soulful-leanings of “Do You” or “Adorn.”
“How Many Drinks” adds some contemporary swag, perhaps most confirmed by its 808 thuds. Miguel’s falsetto and assured vocal nuances continue to allure. The songwriting ditches chivalrous fare in favor of the sensual, but Miguel pulls it off incredibly well, particularly the spoken-word bridge. On the Alicia Keys co-written “Where’s The Fun in Forever,” the drums are indicative of the hip hop-soul idiom. Additionally a heavily compressed bass line buttresses providing a firm foundation. Miguel’s vocals are incredibly overt, particularly on the memorable chorus: “Tomorrow’s just a day away yea/tomorrow’s just a day away…and tomorrow isn’t promised/where’s the fun in forever? Celebrate!”
“Arch & Point” couples pop and soul with prominent use of guitar and humongous clapping drums. Miguel keeps up his sensual persona: “Yeah baby, you know I don’t suppose/oh that every good girl know, yeah/oh all that every bad girl know/baby arch your back and point your toes…” He’s more overt on “P***y is Mine,” perhaps Miguel’s most salacious showing. That said, Miguel’s ode is more subdued than one would expect for such a liberal title. Miguel is accompanied by electric guitar, the occasional synth, and conservative 808. Closing cut “Candles in the Sun” opts for a socially conscious direction, appropriate given its placement.
Overall, Miguel’s Kaleidoscope Dream is easily one of the year’s BEST albums. There are no misses and no notable flaws ultimately. Like Frank Ocean’s exceptional channel ORANGE Miguel has more than exceeded expectations; This is a REAL R&B album.
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