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Welcome to Digital Blend, your one-stop-shop for coverage and recommendations of all things relating to mobile gaming, digital marketplaces, and indie titles (for the week ending April 1).

Welcome back to Digital Blend, our weekly look at the world of downloadable video gaming that exists at the fringes of the mainstream. That means we look at the hottest new mobile game releases, downloadable content drops on consoles and PCs, indie darlings that deserve your love and attention, and the best gaming values under $20.

Keep your comments and feedback coming. We want to hear from you! Did you try something you read about here and enjoy it? Is there a particular game you think weve overlooked or news you want to share? Any questions you are dying to ask? Let us know! Your thoughts, feedback, suggestions and (constructive!) criticism are welcome, either in the comments section below or directed at yours truly on Twitter, @geminibros.

* While this may not specifically relate to games, it does speak to Apples unrelenting advance into the role of platform manufacturer. The results of CNBCs All-America Economic survey show that 51 percent of U.S. households contain an Apple product of some kind. That includes Mac computers as well as iOS devices, but it still stands as a powerful example of how fundamentally Apples mobile initiatives have impacted the gaming space. [via CNBC]

* The never-ending war of black spy versus white spy will rage on this summer! Mad Magazines Spy Vs. Spy is coming back in a big way. Theres a new movie reportedly in the works and, prior to that, an iOS revival of First Star Softwares 1984 set for release this summer. A teaser trailer briefly surfaced online earlier this week, confirming an iPad and iPhone release. [via PocketGamer]

* New information continues to emerge on a weekly basis for Beamdog and Overhaul Games forthcoming Enhanced Edition release of Baldurs Gate, for iPad and PC/Mac platforms. Both from BaldursGate.com and from the Twitter feed of Trent Oster, Beamdog founder and BioWare vet. The latest news reveals that the summer iPad launch will carry a sub-$10 price tag. This will presumably also hold true for the Enhanced Edition release of Baldurs Gate 2 later this year as well. The mobile version of both releases will sport newly redesigned user interfaces that take advantage of the touch interfafce.

* Rovios latest bird-flinging game of destruction and pig-killing, Angry Birds Space, hit the ground running when it launched, an update on the games official Twitter feed confirms. In less than three days, the latest Angry Birds outing saw more than 10 million downloads. You definitely ought to grab it if you havent yet done so; the iPhone version costs $0.99, the iPad version costs $2.99, and the Android version is 100 percent free.

* Temple Run, the ridiculously popular free-to-download iOS running game from Imangi Studios, is finally up and running on Android devices. The reason its here in the headlines section and not in the weekly recommended buys section is simple: its broken. Many players are reporting that the game, available through Google Play, are running into compatibility issues and bugs that render it unplayable. To get a sense of things, just check out the Temple Run Facebook page. Well be keeping an eye on this story; hopefully Temple Run will claim its rightful place as a recommended (free) buy next week.

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Digital Blend: Apple products have a presence in more than half of all U.S. households

BOSTON (CBS) Change-counting machines seem as quaint as dialing a rotary telephone, but theyre making a comeback with some banks whose executives see them as a way to get people into branches and snag new customers.

TD Bank, the states fourth-largest by assets, has coin counting machines in 1,113 of its branches, which range from Maine to Florida.

About 97 of those are in Massachusetts.

Every time TD opens a new branch, it puts in a coin machine, named Penny Arcade.

Most branches have one machine for adults and another closer to the ground for children.

Why is TD so keen on installing Penny in its branches?

The coin machines bring in new business.

In 2011, TD opened 85,212 new accounts by turning non-customers into bank members following a Penny Arcade experience.

Using the machines is free for bank members, while non-customers pay a 6 percent fee. The bank started installing the coin machines in its branches in 1999.

They are very popular, Marion Colombo, TD Banks senior vice president of retail banking told the Boston Business Journal.

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Banks Use Coin Counting Machines To Attract Customers

ClubstoHire.com has extended its innovative business to nine outlet stores with the acquisition of Lisbon and Isle of Man.

The Lisbon branch will open on April 1 and marks the third capital city - Dublin and Edinburgh - in which Paul McGinleys golf club hire operation has launched a store.

McGinleys fellow ClubstoHire director Tony Judge said: Lisbon airport serves around 13 million passengers per year and is the seventh-most-visited city in Southern Europe, so its an ideal site at which to open our ninth outlet.

Its also the gateway to an outstanding golfing area, with 19 courses within a 45-minute drive from the airport, including Praia del Rey, Bom Sucesso, Oitavos Dunes and Penha Longa. So clearly a large number of golfers will be heading there.

The decision to open further branches of ClubstoHire has been driven by outstanding results with bookings for January 2012 up by 250% on the same time last year.

And golfers heading to the delightful and historic Isle of Man can now benefit from the service after it opened on the Crown Dependency.

Isle of Man Golf Tours, the islands first dedicated tour operator, is acting as agent for ClubstoHire and will offer the same high-quality equipment and levels of service that have seen 25,000 customers use the service since it launched in Faro in July 2010.

There are nine golf courses on theIsle of Man including the renowned Castletown Links.

Bookings for Antalya, Alicante, Murcia, Dublin, Malaga, Edinburgh, the Isle of Man, Lisbon and Faro can be made online at http://www.clubstohire.com

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by Jessica Wilkinson

Creechurch Private Wealth, part of Creechurch Capital the Isle of Man-based investment boutique has forged a new partnership with promising young Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship racer, Daniel Lloyd.

As part of the new arrangement, the business will become a key sponsor as Daniel looks forward to a successful season in 2012. Having grown its assets under management to over 100 million in its first year of trading, Creechurch has now introduced two new brands - Creechurch Private Wealth and Creechurch Advisory Services - to define growth areas within the business. Commenting on the deal, Daniel whose grandfather lives in Ramsey on the Isle of Man - said: "Im absolutely delighted to have the support of Creechurch for my first season in Porsche Carrera Cup GB. This is going to be the biggest year of my career so far, so to have the backing of Creechurch is really fantastic."

John Greenwood, CEO at Creechurch Private Wealth, commented: Were delighted to have teamed up with Daniel, as he looks to progress towards a very exciting season. The Isle of Man has a long and illustrious motor sporting history as its home to the internationally renowned TT motor bike races. We were keen to reflect as we grow our business in the UK. As a company, we like to work with up and coming talents, such as Daniel, particularly those at the start of their career."

Creechurch is currently extending its reach in the UK market through organic growth and strategic business partnerships. This will provide a real boost for business on the Isle of Man, while helping to raise the profile of the wider financial expertise that exists on the island. - Ends -

we like to work with up and coming talents, such as Daniel, particularly those at the start of their career."

John Greenwood, CEO at Creechurch Private Wealth

If you'd like to send any information or news releases to us then please feel free to do so and we would be more than happy to consider sharing your news with the Isle of Man!

Send your Isle of Man news to:webmaster@manx.net

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Wealth Management Boutique Supports Championship Driver

by Kim Etherton

The Planning Committee of the Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival is delighted to announce that celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott will be attending the Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival on Saturday 22nd September 2012 at the Nunnery Gardens, Douglas.

Ainsley trained at Westminster College and worked as a chef in many of Londons leading hotels before starting a long and successful TV career, beginning with Good Morning With Anne & Nick in 1994 and continuing through his series Ready, Steady Cook (a 17-year run), Ainsleys Barbecue Bible, Ainsleys Gourmet Express and many others, including BBC1s current Great British Food Revival. He has starred in TV cookery programmes the world over and makes regular guest appearances on a variety of programmes; recently, he featured on Who Do You Think You Are? making some surprising discoveries about his West Indian ancestry.

Ainsley will give 2 cookery demonstrations at the Festival, using local Manx produce, judge the I Love Manx Professional Chef competition and meet some of the Manx food and drink producers who will be exhibiting at the Festival. On the previous evening, he will give an entertaining cookery demonstration at an Isle of Man Hospice fundraising event at the Mailbox, Douglas.

Ainsley is known for his ebullient personality and his passion for creating fresh, fun, accessible meals which are easy to prepare and cook. He is a familiar face on supermarket shelves with his successful food range and is an author with sales of over 2 million cookbooks worldwide, including the popular series of Meals in Minutes.

Ainsley said: this will be my first visit to the Isle of Man and Im really looking forward to it. Its always exciting to discover quality, fresh local produce and to create delicious recipes which are healthy, easy to cook and taste great.

DEFA Minister, Phil Gawne, MHK said the Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the very best of Manx food and drink and I am very pleased that we will be welcoming such a respected and well known chef to it. Im sure that we will all learn new and innovative ways of cooking some of our wonderful Manx produce and Im really looking forward to the event.

- Ends -

this will be my first visit to the Isle of Man and Im really looking forward to it."

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Ainsley Harriott to attend Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival 2012