WEBA Better Way to Get Animated
Shockwave, the premier web animation tool, has gotten even better. Starting next month Shockwave Remote (shockwave.com) will allow you to store up to five games or movies on your local hard drive free. That way you can replay (or fast forward, rewind and pause) offline, without having to download each time you want to use it. Better yet, for a flat fee of $19.95 you can get Shockmachine. It takes up only two to three MB of drive space and allows you to download as many games as you want. The rotating carousel lets you search and catalog games, or e-mail URLs to friends.
PETSIt’s a Dog’s Life
Dog owners have separation anxiety, too. Kennel cams may help. Doggie View Day Care Center in Studio City, Calif., charges $25 for all-day Web cam (plus nail clipping and bottled water). For $6 extra a day, owners can leave Fido at the Bokhara Pet Care Center (bokhara.com) in Elk Rapids, Mich., and log on to watch him play. Bokhara’s Richard Smith designed his own doggie-cam software and hopes to install it in at least 50 more pet centers by next year.
GAMESThe Cat’s Meow
Hello Kitty, the ultrahip Japanese cat mainly known for her stationery supplies, has gone techno. Cube Frenzy, a new PlayStation game (newkidco.com), brings the mouthless Kitty’s charm alive in a 3-D candy-colored fantasy world reminiscent of the classic game Tetris. The best part: Hello Kitty’s 11 personas, from cowgirl to snowboarder.
