I’m currently in love with the One and we teamed up with HTC to do a series of Q&A posts about their upcoming flagship phone. If you leave a comment with any question about the HTC One, and we pick your question to highlight in an upcoming post, then you will be entered into a contest to win your own One. Sounds simple, right? So what do you want to know about the HTC One before you buy it?
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Ask me a question about the HTC One and I’ll buy you One
Ask me a question about the HTC One and I’ll buy you One
Run for your Life in PikPok’s Into the Dead for Android
Run for your Life in PikPok’s Into the Dead for Android
PikPok is well known for their flick kick sporting games, but they switched things up last week with their release of Into the Dead. It’s about as different as you can get from the developers previous titles, and it’s one of the coolest Zombie games you’re likely to find on Google Play.
Into the Dead is an endless runner set in a world where the dead have taken over. It’s a dark world, full of sorrow (and zombies) and it’s also a world where there are no second chances â€" if you falter you’re zombie food. The gameplay is pretty straightforward in as far as running games are concerned as you can tilt or touch to move side to side and away from the zombies. What makes the game really stand out is the atmosphere. Into the Dead is the spookiest zombie game you’ll find and the setting reminds me of a few of those creepy Slender Man games which definitely isn’t a bad thing. Another thing that sets the game apart from the pack is the use of weapons. You will be able to fight back somewhat, but ammo and weapons are in short supply just as they would be in a real zombie apocalypse. It’s definitely not wise to blast away with abandon as you’re going to want to conserve your precious ammo.
I make it a point to play every (decent) zombie game that hits Google Play, and Into the Dead is a breath of fresh air. The game is very well done and running towards or through zombies instead of away from them is a nice touch. The controls have felt a little sticky at times, but overall it’s a cool zombie game and something you’ll definitely want to check out if you dig the undead or endless runners. You can pick up PikPok’s Into the Dead for free on Google Play.
Into the Dead
Filed Under: Articles
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Laser Dog Games releases PUK for Android
Laser Dog Games releases PUK for Android
Air Hockey is a blast to play on your Android device, and Laser Dog Games PUK proves that there’s more than one use for those pucks. There are no goals to be made or opponents to play against in PUK, but it’s just as infuriating as Air Hockey and twice as fun.
PUK is a game about portals and pucks. Each level requires you to blast one into the other, and that’s basically all you need to do to reach the next stage. Sound pretty simple doesn’t it? Well it’s not as you have a timer to contend with and some portals are pretty damned tricky to get to. Needless to say, unless you have nerves of steel you’re going to get frazzled sooner than later. PUK does have stages, but the layout is a bit different considering you’re trying to clear as many stages in one run as you can. There are around 1,000 levels PUK, and if you fail you’ll start from the beginning, but it won’t get old as the levels are randomly generated each go round. You will see some of the same stages, but you’re unlikely to see them in the same order.
PUK is an inventive quick play game that will frustrate you to no end while keeping you coming back for more. It may look simple, but its most certainly not; I’ve been at it since it was released and have yet to make it past 32… tough game. I do wish it had multi-touch support as it would be great to fling a few PUK’s at once, but it’s a minor complaint to an otherwise perfect game. If you’re looking for a game to challenge you, PUK definitely fits the bill and you can pick it up for $ 1.05 on Google Play.
PUK
Filed Under: Articles
Top 10 Android game releases this week: Frontline Commando D-Day, Puk, Duck Retro Hunt
Top 10 Android game releases this week: Frontline Commando D-Day, Puk, Duck Retro Hunt
Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap to focus on new releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games you can install and start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know if you have any suggestions for next week in the comments below.
Frontline Commando: D-Day
Description: Lead the charge on D-Day as the tip of the spear in the largest Allied invasion of WW2! Defeat the occupation forces and take back France; storm the beaches, clear the trenches and liberate towns as you battle through the countryside of Normandy. Experience the ultimate 3rd person shooter with stunning console quality visuals, precise controls, advanced physics, destructible environments and full voiceovers.
Puk
Description: PUK is a fast paced pure action puzzler requiring skill dexterity, nerve and endurance. Pull back and ping to obliterate portals in 1000 unique, quick-fire levels that are endlessly generated and different every time. Forget everything you’ve played this year, you won’t be able to put PUK down. Clear a space on your home screen.
Duck Retro Hunt
Description: Augmented Reality meets 8-bits. Retro Spirit with Cutting Edge Technology. Be prepared to hunt ducks everywhere: in your home, on the bus, at work or even lying on your sofa. Thanks to the latest technology we bring you this unique gameplay.
Catapult King
Description: Take down forts, castles and even a fire-breathing dragon in Catapult Kingâ€"the King of castle crushers! Rescue the Princess and defeat the enemy in this beautiful, 3D fantasy adventure. The Nasty Knights are helping the Dragon keep the Princess captive. Teach them a lesson in 96 fun and challenging Levels.
Strategy & Tactics: WW II
Description:Â Relive the greatest battles of WWII in this grand strategy masterpiece. In Strategy & Tactics: World War II, you battle impressive AI enemies in three campaigns with a classic turn-based battle system and serried ranks of historically-accurate troops. Fight your way through eighteen missions with an ex?iting storyline and charismatic characters across Europe, Asia and Africa, research new technologies to improve your troops and build industry, and lead your armies to victory.
Magicka
Description: From the publisher that brought you Magicka, it’s more Magicka! Featuring the innovative and dynamic spellcasting system from the critically acclaimed PC hit, Wizards of the Square Tablet brings to your Android those lovable robed rascals from the popular RPG spoof. Now you can bring them with you wherever you go, in a brand new campaign set before the original tale of Magicka.
Ninja Village
Description: Rewrite the history of feudal Japan with an army of the ultimate guerrilla warriors: ninjas! The shogun has fallen from power, plunging the land into chaos as feuding feudal lords scramble to take his place. But the shogun has an ace up his sleeve: you! As the head of a leading ninja clan, it’s up to you to rally your followers and help unify Japan!
Trainz Trouble
Description: Trainz Trouble challenges you to keep the wheels in motion as trains speed to their various destinations. Plan the route, change the junctions, time the stops, and avoid the trouble…it all sounds so simple! Rock-piles, level crossings and runaway trains are just a few of the obstacles in your way. Use your sharp mind to figure out the right path, and your fast fingers to tap in the right place at the right time.
Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor
Description:Â You are a spider. One afternoon, you discover an abandoned mansion. Where is the family who lived here? What happened, and why did they leave? Search for clues as you adventure from room to room on the hunt for your next meal. Build webs of your own design: in the corners, under the furniture, and in the forgotten places too small for humans. Are you a shrewd enough sleuth to decode the mystery and uncover the Bryce family secret?
Reign of Amira: The Lost Kingdom
Description: The Reign of Amira has begun as she fights the ultimate battle to save her lost kingdom from being overtaken by hordes of vicious enemies. Use ancient artifacts known as the magical crests to destroy everyone that gets in your way. Stunning graphics and effects, fast-action and episodic gameplay, and richly detailed environments.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Developers Don’t Like Programming Android Games
Developers Don’t Like Programming Android Games
The reason that so many more developers will be more willing to work with the Android OS in the coming years is mostly because Android is dominating the mobile technology market, and this isn’t expected to change. Since there are more Androids out there, it makes more sense in a marketing aspect if developers design more for the OS that is the most popular.
Matt C | Mar 29, 2013 | 0 comments
It might sound hard to believe, but at currently most programmers don’t like developing games for Android or its devices. Why? Two main reasons: Firstly, many developers just find it difficult to program games on Android, but that is attributed to the fact that Android is still a fairly young mobile OS. Developers had said the same about the Apple mobile OS when it was young, between Apple and developers working at it the Apple OS became a great mobile OS to develop games for. The second complaint that many developers have with the Android OS is that the graphics aren’t the best for many types of mobile games. Android might have 3D abilities now, but compared to the graphics of an iPhone they aren’t great.
So that’s the current complaint that many mobile game developers are having with Android. As of now only 26% of developers actually prefer working with Android. But that number is expected to change to 60% or more within the next couple of years.
So expect a few things to start happening in the next few years with Android: One, more developers will design bigger and better games because Android is the most popular OS and that’s holding strong. Two, more Android devices means more places for markets to target consumers. And Three, Android will likely become more ‘developer friendly’ to allow developers to design the greatness they can.
Some users just haven’t yet grasped the fact that Android as a mobile Operating System is still new and young compared to its competitors. In time, (probably not too much time) an Android device will be capable of things never dreamed of by developers.
Source â€" venturebeat.com
Filed Under: Articles
Raft Pirates Review: A Swashbuckling Good Time
Raft Pirates Review: A Swashbuckling Good Time
Pirate games come in many shapes and forms. Some games let you play as a pirate while others let you control the pirates’ ship. 6waves Raft Pirates does the latter, and it’s a soul sucking game that will whittle away at your free time and pull you in with its fun turn-based battles.
Pirate games come in many shapes and forms. Some games let you play as a pirate while others let you control the pirates’ ship. 6waves Raft Pirates does the latter, and it’s a soul sucking game that will whittle away at your free time and pull you in with its fun turn-based battles. Raft Pirates is a turn-based strategy game set on the open seas where you’ll work to build up your fleet and duke it out with other players and big bad bosses. Yup, there’s online multiplayer as the game is an MMO of sorts, and as the name implies your fleet is a bit unusual as well. Your motley crew is comprised of quirky robots with even quirkier weapons, and your fleet consists of rafts. Definitely not the usual fare…
Raft Pirates requires a lot of strategy as you’ll need to customize your fleet regularly so you can attack and defend, and you’ll constantly have to totally alter your setup when you take on a boss. There are only two parts of your “fleet†that can’t be changed which are the “hub†and diving platform. Everything else is fair game as long as you make sure all your rafts are connected.
Stringing together rafts is simple, but fitting all your weapons onto each platform isn’t as easy. Each raft can only hold a certain amount of funky weaponry, and you’ll have to piece it together like a puzzle to maximize you’re attacking power. Each weapon has a set amount of BP and this affects your attacking power and defensive capabilities. You’ll have to cram a lot onto each raft to get things going at first, but later in the game you’ll get some smaller weapons with big BP.
The actual fighting is just as interesting as building. You roll dice against your opponent in battles; the higher your BP the more dice you get to roll. The same goes for your opponents raft, and your BP also counts as HP so when it hits zero that piece of your raft is sunk. You can seek out players to fight or you can sit out in deep, dangerous waters and wait to be attacked. Why would you do this? That’s how you level up in Raft Pirates and it’s a nice little twist.
If you stay in deep water you’ll level up, but you can be attacked at any time. If you idle in the safe zone however, you won’t level up (or get good salvage), but you’ll obviously be safe. The timer keeps running when your offline as well in deep water which makes it rewarding to live dangerously in Raft Pirates. It can also be costly as some of the crucial parts you need to rebuild are hard to come by or very pricy. Therein lies the rub as Raft Pirates is a blast and you want to keep playing, but if you want to play continuously you’ll have to come out of pocket.
Verdict
Raft Pirates is an over the top pirate game with a unique sense of style and plenty of action. It’s not hard to get a battle going, but if you play religiously you’re going to hate the wait times. The IAP setup is in full effect, but it’s not horrible as it really just depends on how you play and how much you like the game. Overall, Raft Pirates is definitely a game I think people will enjoy, and there’s a lot to take in as well. From the cool robotic pirate attacks to the simple sound of the waves, it’s all very well done. I highly recommend checking out the game for yourself, and can do just that by picking it up for free on Google Play.
Raft Pirates
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Glu Mobile releases Frontline Commando D-Day for Android
Glu Mobile releases Frontline Commando D-Day for Android
Shooters are hit or miss on a Mobile device, so it’s always nice to see a solid new one come along like Glu Mobiles Frontline Commando D-Day. The original Frontline Commando pitted you against the troops of a ruthless dictator, but the follow-up takes a different approach as it drops you on the beach right smack dab in the middle of D-Day.
Frontline Commando D-Day lets you lead the charge against the Axis powers as you step into the role of a soldier on that infamous day in June of 1944. The game takes a 3rd person approach to things which works well as there’s a lot going on when you storm the beaches and hit the trenches. Frontline Commando D-Day has 5 different campaigns, each with its own set of missions and objectives. There are 135 missions in all so it’s pretty safe to say the game’s going to keep you busy for a while. I’m my brief play through last night I got to do a bit of trench fighting using the games “cover†system and even nailed a few planes with the Ack-Ack guns. Good stuff.
I’m a sucker for historical war games, and was pretty damned excited to see Frontline Commando D-Day drop. The gameplay is nothing groundbreaking, but it’s one of the better looking shooters you’re likely to see this year. It looks great, and the WWII has been very well done from what I’ve seen so far. As it’s a freemium game you can bet the IAP setup will rear its ugly head, and we’ll let you know how bad it is when we run our full review next week. Needless to say, if you’re into mobile shooters you’ll definitely want to give Frontline Commando D-Day a look.
Frontline Commando D-Day
Filed Under: Articles
An Official Chuck E. Cheese App hits Google Play
An Official Chuck E. Cheese App hits Google Play
If you were a red blooded American child, you probably made a trip to Chuck E. Cheese growing up. If you were unlucky enough to never get a pizza party there, today’s your lucky day as an official Chuck E. Cheese App has just hit Google Play.
If you were a red blooded American child, you probably made a trip to Chuck E. Cheese growing up. If you were unlucky enough to never get a pizza party there, today’s your lucky day as an official Chuck E. Cheese App has just hit Google Play. The Chuck E. Cheese App is officially called “Chuck E.’s Say Cheese!â€, but for simplicity sake we’re going with the Chuck E. Cheese App. While the app won’t magically transport you back to your childhood, it can make visits to the pizza place more enjoyable for the kids with the magic of augmented reality. You can use the app in conjunction with In-store “hotspots†to snap a photo of your kid with Chuck E. Cheese himself. Once you’ve captured the magic, you can do the social thing and send out your glorious new pics across the usual social media channels and via email. Needless to say, it looks to be a great app to have on hand when you go to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.
Normally this is where I give you the outro, but this is one of the rare occasions I get to talk about something I think is awesome outside of Android… The Rock-afire Explosion! Before ol’ Chucky came into play, there was something called Showbiz Pizza, and it had an awesome animatronic band with cool characters like Dook LaRue and Billy Bob Brockali the official mascot for Showbiz. It was replaced over time in the 90s by Chuck E. and his gang, but the memories live on thanks to their creator Aaron Fechter and awesome videos like the one below…
Now that we got that out of the way, the Chuck E. Cheese app is definitely a cool app for kids and their families to try out when they hit the restaurant. I don’t have kids and didn’t want to look like a creepy old guy at Chuck E. Cheese so I wasn’t able to try this one out yet, but you better believe I’ll give it a go next time my niece has a Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. If you want to check out the Chuck E.’s Say Cheese! app you can pick it up for free on Google Play.
Chuck E.’s Say Cheese!
If you want to relieve a few more childhood memories you should check out the killer documentary The Rock-afire Explosion. Great flick!
Filed Under: Articles
Android Rookies: 10 new apps worth checking out this week
Android Rookies: 10 new apps worth checking out this week
New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of new entries on the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. We have shown in the past that this community can discover great apps and launch them to new heights, so we’re bringing back our weekly column Android Rookies that highlights new apps with less than 100k installs. Browse our new Android app picks below and let us know which ones you enjoy.
Pitch:Â Fynch enhances your Twitter experience by automatically analyzing your timeline for interesting patterns of activity. It is intended to be a tool that decomposes your timeline into smaller sets of tweets that are easier to consume. Fynch is great for identifying extremely high rates of activity, trending topic mentions, and the tweets of less active users in your following list.
Pitch: The most beautiful and versatile System Monitor for Android. This application provides real time system load statistics in the form of text and graph. This app is a full 5 in 1! You will be able to monitor CPU,RAM,I/O,Network and top apps from notification bar, floating app, or widgets.
Pitch: Throughout your day, the 7-Eleven app keeps up with you, customizing and personalizing your experience from the minute you open it. There’s always something happening at your neighborhood 7-Eleven, like , Special Edition Slurpee Flavors, and more. Did we mention there are coupons? See what products you can save on and tap to redeem at any 7-Eleven.
Pitch:Â Join the newest social network and the only one that has your voice. Dub with Mac Miller, Paris Hilton, Common and other celebs! Dubbler is a fun, free, way to share your personality with your friends on Facebook and Twitter without worrying about word counts. Go beyond text or typing, and share your full personality by recording a Dub, transforming it with one of our fun filters, adding a cool photo, and then sharing it with your friends.
Pitch: MediSafe is a beautiful, visual and easy-to-use medication reminder. It will help you take your medicine in time and safely. As an addition, if you are a caretaker for a parent, child, or patient, you know how stressful it is not knowing for sure if your loved one took their medications on time. If you are on more than one medicine, you know how difficult it is remembering to take each one at the right time.
Pitch: Proven Job Search helps you find and apply to the latest Craigslist and Indeed jobs using your resume and cover letter. Millions of jobs are available. Beat the crowd by applying as soon as you see the job. Unchain yourself from your home computer. On a quick break? On the bus? In a waiting room? Apply to jobs and improve your life.
Pitch:Â Sidewalk Buddy is the first app that will allow you to safely use most apps with a clean and resizable pop-up which shows a live video feed from your rear facing camera as you walk. Texting and walking safety issues are gone! Navigate busy streets with ease, get more work done and be able to multi-task with safety in mind. Unlike transparent screen based apps, this app provides a clean separation between the video and the app you are using without getting too busy.
Pitch: Better Homes and Gardens brings you the best-of-the-best recipes, secrets and tips â€" all inspired by our beloved Red Plaid cookbooks â€" absolutely free! In all, more than 500 recipes, with photos of every one. See 75 how-to videos and step-by-steps that guarantee success in your kitchen. Personalize the app with bonus chapters (100+ recipes each) for just 99¢.
Pitch: Conquer workout excuses and earn cash rewards for exercising â€" paid for by non-exercisers. Make a Pact of how many days you’ll workout, set the Stakes of how much you’ll pay if you don’t, and check-in via GPS at the gym. Or count running, biking or walking with RunKeeper. GymPact helped our users succeed on 86% of the workouts they committed to do in 2012.
Pitch:Â Search, Try & Install sums it all. The best way to search for new apps, in addition to that the best way to try the app before installing it. Lastly if an app passes through all of your likes then you can go ahead and install it. Make the Android market more try friendly. Avoid confusing reviews, screenshots and videos. Cut the judgement process short and just try the app.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Humble Mobile Bundle for Android is Live
The Humble Mobile Bundle for Android is Live
I always enjoy seeing a new Humble Bundle for Android arrive, and the last one brought some great games into the Play Store. The Humble Mobile Bundle has just been released, and things are just a little bit different this time around…
The previous Android Humble Bundles offered up killer Android games, but threw in PC & Mac copies of the game as well along with soundtracks whenever they were available. The new Humble Mobile Bundle still offers up great games, but sans the extra platforms. Everything else is the same, and you still get to choose how you want to divide your donation. As for the games in the new Bundle, here’s what you can get. Contre Jour, Anomaly Korea, Plants vs. Zombies, and Bladeslinger will go to those who pay the average price, and if you pay a little bit more you’ll “unlock†two additional games with Metal Slug 3 and The Room. Not too shabby eh?
At the time of this writing the average price of the Bundle is $ 5.53, and while we’ve seen most of these games before, The Room is making its Android debut and Bladeslinger hasn’t been out long at all. If this bundle falls in line with the previous ones, you can also expect to see a few new games added sometime next week. You’ve got a little less than two weeks to get in on the deals; if you’re ready to get your game on you can hit the link below and pick up the Humble Mobile Bundle.
Filed Under: Articles
Gameloft looks to be gearing up for an Iron Man 3 Android Game Tomorrow
Gameloft looks to be gearing up for an Iron Man 3 Android Game Tomorrow
Yesterday Gameloft dropped an interesting tweet, followed by an even more interesting picture. Recognize those glowing eyes in the picture? If you don’t, you’re obviously not a fan of old Shellhead and are in the dark about the upcoming Iron Man 3 movie.
Gameloft has released several movie tie-in games over the past few years, and if the twit-pic and message of “Warming up the main core…†is to be believed we’ll be seeing an Iron Man game in the very near future to promote the upcoming film Iron Man 3. Gameloft had a huge leak late last year when its 2013 catalog of upcoming games was leaked online. While the list was quickly yanked from every site on the web, there we’re several movie tie-in games on there and it’s something Gameloft has done before.  No further information has been released, but it’s a pretty safe bet that Gameloft will drop an Iron Man game sometime tomorrow just as the date in the picture implies.
Gameloft did a great job with their Batman & Spider-Man games so taking on Iron Man is only natural. The type of Iron Man 3 game we’ll see is what’s up in the air as it could be anything from an Action & Arcade game to a Building game or a Flying game… my money’s on the last one. We’ll let you know as soon as the game is released; hopefully it’ll be a game that keeps ol’ Shellhead’s fans happy…
Source â€" Gameloft via Twitter
Filed Under: Articles
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
T-Mobile’s contract-free HTC One priced as low as $99
T-Mobile’s contract-free HTC One priced as low as $99
Before we get started, we need to clear a few things up. T-Mobile will not be selling the HTC One for $ 99. Our title is blatantly misleading to show you what consumers will see when the walk into a T-Mobile store in April to purchase the HTC One. As part of T-Mobile’s new Un-Carrier strategy, T-Mobile will no longer lock consumers into two-year contracts in an effort to recuperate the cost of subsidized phones.
Plain and simple. No more contracts. No more phone subsidies.
The $ 99 price tag for the HTC One that you see in the title is actually the minimum down-payment you’ll have to make when you agree to a 24 month equipment installation plan to purchase the phone. Customers with questionable credit history will be required to increase their down-payment, but their monthly installment will be decreased. The monthly payment gets added on top of your regular bill, but once the phone is paid off, the extra charge disappears.
T-Mobile has not disclosed the full retail price of the HTC One, but we can assume that customers will be asked to pony up $ 20 for 24 months (the same amount T-Mobile will charge for the iPhone 5), bringing the final sticker price to $ 579.
We applaud T-Mobile for its efforts in changing the way service providers do business, but we’re hoping they can find a simple way to educate consumers and show the value of their new pricing structure. Most people would love to pay $ 100 for the HTC One, but we have a feeling that confusion will settle in when T-Mobile reps start telling them that their monthly bill is going to increase.
What’s your take on T-Mobile’s new pricing and phone payment options? Will consumers be able to easily identify the long-term savings they would get by switching to T-Mobile?
Herocraft goes Tactical with Strategy & Tactics World War II for Android
Herocraft goes Tactical with Strategy & Tactics World War II for Android
From Farm Frenzy to KiKORiKi, you never know what Herocraft is going to release next, and this week it’s a cool new strategy game by the name of Strategy & Tactics: World War II.
From Farm Frenzy to KiKORiKi, you never know what Herocraft is going to release next, and this week it’s a cool new strategy game by the name of Strategy & Tactics: World War II.
Strategy & Tactics: World War II lets you replay some of the greatest battles of yesteryear as you’ll take control of the Axis Powers in order to conquer Europe, before taking over as the Allies to take it back. Definitely a different approach to things, and very cool if you’re into historical turn-based battles. By the numbers Strategy & Tactics: World War II offers up 3 campaigns with 18 missions, hot seat & WiFI multiplayer modes, and a skirmish mode which helps to extend the gameplay.
I haven’t had a chance to check out Strategy & Tactics: World War II yet, but I’m a sucker for WWI games so it’s definitely high up on my “to play†list. It’s also a great looking Strategy game which certainly doesn’t hurt. I have no idea if the bikini clad bombshells from the main pic are included in the game, but I always appreciate some patriotic eye candy. If you want to take it for a spin you can pick up Herocraft’s Strategy & Tactics: World War II for $ 4.99 on Google Play.
Strategy & Tactics: World War II
Filed Under: Articles
The MiiPC brings a kid friendly Android PC to the table for $99
The MiiPC brings a kid friendly Android PC to the table for $99
There are a lot of Kid Friendly PC’s out there, but the MiiPC is looking to change the game with its tiny footprint and choice of operating system. It’s going to run Android 4.2, and it’s got some great features that will make sure your kid stays on track and doesn’t end up in the darker parts of the internet.
The MiiPC gives kids easy access to the internet where they’ll be able to do all the usual things like play games, watch videos, browse the web, and run Android apps. Yup, it comes with Google Play installed which is pretty darned awesome. The MiiPC has several features to make parents feel better when they’re out and about, including the ability to let parents switch the PC off remotely and monitor what’s going on why their kids are online. Being able to remote-kill your kids’ Android computer is a pretty slick move, but the MiiPC mobile app ups the ante.
When you buy a MiiPC you’ll get a companion app that lets you monitor usage in real-time from your Android or iOS device. You’ll be able to see the sites or apps they’re using while you’re on the go, and you can even monitor individual usage across multiple devices to ensure everyone gets their own time at the PC. If you’ve got kids, you already know how nasty they can get over computer usage. Not fun.
Under the hood the MiiPC will have a Marvell ARMADA Family Series Dual Core 1.2GHz processor, with 1GB of DDR RAM, and 4GB of internal flash storage. The device is designed to give you a “big screen†experience in a small package as it has an HDMI port for 1080p. It’s also equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 so you can use your favorite wireless mouse & keyboard setup from the comfort of your couch.
ZeroDesktop is the company behind the MiiPC, and they’ve already raised $ 27.000 of their $ 50,000 goal with 44 days left to go. If you’re interested in the kid friendly PC you can pledge $ 89 bucks for an early bird special while spots still remain or you can check out the other backing levels. The first early bird specials are set to roll out this July. The MiiPC will be sold through other channels after the Kickstarter campaign is completed, but no price point or dates have been set.
MiiPC Kickstarter
Source â€" Pocket-Lint
Filed Under: Articles
Monday, March 25, 2013
Evernote for Android gets an Update and New Features
Evernote for Android gets an Update and New Features
Evernote is one of the most popular Android apps around and today it just got a nice update to Evernote 5.0. The Android app is getting a new look, and some cool new features to boot.
Evernote is one of the most popular Android apps around and today it just got a nice update to Evernote 5.0. The Android app is getting a new look, and some cool new features to boot. Evernote 5 is a big update that gives the app a slick new look, and adds several cool new camera features including Multi-Shot and Page Camera. Multi-shot lets you take multiple pictures and save them to a single note while the Page Camera mode allows you to take pictures of text which turns your phone into a mini-scanner. You can tweak the settings to line things up properly and remove any shadows from your “scanned†text so it will be easier to read.
They’ve also upgraded the Evernote app to work with the Evernote’s Smart Notebook line by Moleskin, and have added Document Search for Premium users. Last but not least, everyone will have access to “shortcuts†which will let you jump to notes, tags, and notebooks in the blink of an eye. Shorcuts will also sync across all the platforms you use Evernote on.
The Evernote update is a doozy, and it’s being released a week after Google dropped their note taking app Google Keep. Its good timing, and a great way to keep Evernote users from making the jump. If you don’t have it installed already, you can pick up Evernote for free on Google Play.
Evernote
Filed Under: Articles
Google+ for Android updated for better mobile experience
Google+ for Android updated for better mobile experience
Available now in Google Play, Google+ for Android will see its first major update in a while to version 3.6. The update features a handful of usability tweaks, including enhanced community management, some small changes to your newsfeed, and changes to the way media and links are handled.
Fully detailed on the Google+ blog, the latest version of the Google+ app for Android ushers in some welcome changes to the service. A lot of the changes are subtle, but together add up to a much better experience. For example, posts in your timeline now include more text, in both the original message and comments. And media, including things like links, pictures and videos, are now instantly accessible right from your timeline with a single tap. You no longer have to open the original message, then tap again. Neither are exactly earth shattering changes, but both are essential to making your time spent within the app more enjoyable.
Other changes include the ability to limit the amount of content seen from communities directly from the app, send community invites, and use the full suite of community moderation tools. You can now share your location, with customized visibility options. And finally, there have been some layout changes involving the +1 and share button. iOS users have gained access to basic Snapseed-style photo editing from directly within the app, but at this time, Android users have been left behind.
The update to Google+ for Android is available for download now. Be sure to check it out and let us know what you think.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Unigine brings a Different Kind of Naval Warfare to Andriod with Oil Rush
Unigine brings a Different Kind of Naval Warfare to Andriod with Oil Rush
Oil Rush 3D Naval Strategy is a killer new Android game from the folks at Unigine. It’s a game about a worldwide flood and mankind’s rush for oil in the wake of disaster; it’s also eerily similar to Waterworld which isn’t necessarily a bad thing…
Oil Rush is a real-time strategy game that puts you to work taking over oil platforms in a world savaged by an environmental apocalypse. You’ll take control of a fleet (jetski’s included) and fight against raiders and other enemies in an epic storyline that spans 16 challenging missions. Some missions will have you rescue people while others have to simply trying to survive; there are boss battles as well to go along with several types of environments including underwater cities and the Antarctic. In addition to the lengthy campaign you’ll also get 15 maps you can use in quick play mode against up to three AI enemies.
Oil Rush is a top-notch RTS that doesn’t look like it belongs on a mobile phone. I’ve only scratched the surface of the game, but the controls have been surprisingly well done and the graphics are just something you need to see for yourself. If you want to experience the game in all its glory you’ll definitely want try it out on a high-end device. There’s a demo version of Oil Rush you can try out for free, and if you like what you see the full version can be yours for $ 7.99. Both versions of Unigine’s Oil Rush are available to download on Google Play.
Oil Rush
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