Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Humor, Software, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
CubeCheater solves that Rubik's Cube for you
It's not built from scratch -- the app uses an algorithm already developed for solving the Cube -- but it does take advantage of a surprising amount of the iPhone's features. You can draw the colors on the virtual cube yourself, or even take a picture of your cube's sides and the app will recognize where the colors are. The latest update adds support for non-standard cubes, so if the colors aren't quite the same on your cube as on the screen, you can change things around.
Impressive, even if it is a little limited in practicality. It's in the App Store right now for 99 cents. Obviously, the point of a Rubik's Cube is solving it yourself. And if you really want to cheat, you don't need an iPhone. Just do what I do: take the little stickers off and replace them in the right places.
[via Cult of Mac]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
psilver said 12:19AM on 1-29-2009
I love the last sentence. I am so guilty of that! What a cool app!
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Nick K. said 12:43AM on 1-29-2009
Hahah I have xCube... It's for actually TRYING to solve the Cube (I like that it doesn't really have an auto-solve button, no cheaters can claim to solve it).
What're your times, everyone?
Real cube, average around 35 (Haven't timed in a while)
xCube all my times on the 3x3 are around 53 seconds.
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Israel Torres said 1:22AM on 1-29-2009
I just bought this and solved a rubik's cube that haven't solved in weeks and did it in a few minutes with CubeCheater!!!!! WAY COOL!
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Mike said 5:04AM on 1-29-2009
How pointless. takes all the fun away... and on the net there is thousands of videos that do the same. youtube it.
Greetz Mike - http://www.sitelogr.com
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Rembert said 5:20AM on 1-29-2009
Solving the Rubik's Cube just isn't too difficult. I learned to do this back in the eighties and got pretty quick in it (30 - 45 seconds for a random cube). Just recently I tried to solve one again and surprise, I could still do it, although quite slow, say 3 to 4 minutes. With a bit of exercise brought the solving times back to say 60 seconds. Don't think the software will beat this although photographing the cube's size is really cool.
Just for those interested in learning to solve the cube:
the first side + upper row should be done without any standard algorithms. Just do it quick.
The second row is solved with just two different algorithms
On the last row is completed together with the bottom side. I always start with the middle blocks, ie. creating a +. This is done with two different standard algorithms. The last 4 blocks are also done with two standard algorithms.
And that's it. You only need to learn 6 standard algorithms from head.
Checked that http://kociemba.org/ website containing the math algorithms to solve the cube. Here a disney cube is shown. Wonder if my algorithms would be able to solve that one as well. Probably not... Will this iPhone program solve that one?
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coolmaddy said 5:57AM on 1-29-2009
that game's awesome. also - how to play iphone rubik's cube online on your computer -
http://www.techreviews4u.com/2009/01/29/play-iphone-rubiks-cube-online/
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now4real954 said 2:10PM on 1-29-2009
I used to break mine apart when i couldnt get it to work...and put it back together with the colors in the right place
taking off the stickers makes it look messed up...but this what i did when i was a kid...back when the Rubics Cube first came out...lol
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Nonsanity said 2:36PM on 1-29-2009
No, no, no... You don't peal the stickers off! You can never get them all back on exactly. What you do is stick a screwdriver between two parts and give it a twist and pry. Taking the whole thing apart and putting it back together again is a lot more fun. It's like a second puzzle. More so for the 4x4 or larger versions.
I remember back in the Rubik heyday when a kid from school showed up with his parents at my house - unannounced - just so that I could solve his cube for him. My father had to make smalltalk with them while I sat on the steps and spun madly. It was probably among my best times - if only for the pressure of ending the weird encounter as soon as possible.
I'd have gladly bought him this app and sent him on his way - but I don't think there was an equivalent app for the Apple Lisa....
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