andrways

Google Maps v7.7 For Android Rolling Out, Adds Public Upcoming Events To Place Cards

2014-03-14T15:15:00.000+00:00

Google's begun rolling out an update to the Maps app on Android today, bringing it to version 7.7. While not much seems to have changed, a full 0.X release typically denotes at least some kind of new feature or significant alteration, though thus far we've really only seen one.

What’s New

For the moment, all we're noticing in the new version of Maps are the "Upcoming events" listings populating some place listings. For example, search for "AT&T Park" in San Francisco, pull up the place card, and you'll see a list like the one below.

Update: You can now save pins dropped anywhere you want, even in the middle of an ocean (thanks, Adrián Ayllón):

We're not noticing any other user-facing changes in the update, but we did manage to pull the following new strings from Maps 7.7, so if you notice something that might be related, definitely let us know. One of those strings seems to indicate automatic dimming in turn-by-turn mode will be making a return at some point, though it's nowhere to be found right now:

    <string name="USE_POWER_SAVINGS_TITLE">Save Power</string>
    <string name="USE_POWER_SAVINGS_MESSAGE">Conserve power by dimming your screen between turns.</string>
    <string name="USE_POWER_SAVINGS_ACCEPT">Dim screen between turns</string>
    <string name="USE_POWER_SAVINGS_DECLINE">No thanks</string>

A few others seem to relate to the reviewing system, offering new options (reporting an owner's response to a review) and some new dialogues for exceeding character limits. Woo!

    <string name="REPORT_OWNER_RESPONSE">Report owner response</string>
    <string name="REVIEW_CHAR_LIMIT_INLINE">Character limit exceeded</string>
    <string name="REVIEW_CHAR_LIMIT_TITLE">Over character limit</string>
    <string name="REVIEW_CHAR_LIMIT_MESSAGE">Your review exceeds the character limit. Please shorten and try again.</string>

Otherwise, we haven't seen much in the way of changes. Regardless, you can get the new APK from the mirrors below.

Download

The APK is signed by Google and upgrades your existing app. The cryptographic signature guarantees that the file is safe to install and was not tampered with in any way. Rather than wait for Google to push this download to your devices, which can take days, download and install it just like any other APK.

File name: com.google.android.apps.maps-707001324-v7.7.0_API18.apk

Version: 7.7 (Android 4.3+)

MD5: abf5be0df4dc21fca562069a05b3584a

Thanks, Peter!

Tags: android google maps 7.7 download maps 7.7 google maps 7.7 apk maps 7.7 maps 7.7 apk maps 7.7 apk download maps for android 7.7

App Chromecast Updated To Version 1.5.3 With New Languages, Hints Of TV Offers, More

2014-03-14T15:11:00.002+00:00

One more app that took part in Update Wednesday yesterday is the official Chromecast app, which helps users set up their new Chromecasts to work with their phone or tablet. The app got bumped from 1.3.10 to 1.5.3 and while Google has published its own short change log, we of course couldn't resist doing a quick teardown to see if there were any other goodies. First though, here's what Google says is new.

What's New
- App available in over 50 languages.
- Improved support for Samsung devices.
- Additional Chromecast settings and bug fixes.

There are some more interesting tidbits hiding inside the APK, though. First up is TV offers. It's unclear right now how the offers will function (assuming they make it into the app at all), but the strings suggest that users will be able to check for offers themselves or show available offers.

<string name="toast_offers_tv">Check your TV for offers</string>
<string name="menu_offers">Show offers</string>

Additionally, there are separate strings for 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi. Chromecast doesn't seem to support 5GHz yet, but perhaps it will soon.

<string name="wifi_24ghz">2.4 GHz</string>
<string name="wifi_5ghz">5 GHz</string>

There's also a new string for Chromecast's time format, and "Help" and "Feedback" options have relocated to the slide-out navigation bar, fitting with a recent UI trend in Google's apps.

If you haven't grabbed the update already, hit the widget below.

Tags: apk app chromecast Google stream teardown update Wi-Fi

download

Google Play Store 4.6.16 With Batch App Install, New 'Require Password' Option

2014-03-14T15:06:00.001+00:00

Hey look, everyone - Google sent us all a treat tonight in the form of the first Play Store update in over 3 months. And we just love new things (hi, Kirill!). As usual, you'll find the apk for v4.6.16 towards the bottom of this post.

This is the latest Play Store version.

You can find previous versions here:

What's New?

So, what's new in Play Store 4.6.16 compared to 4.5.10?

Batch install in My apps -> All tab

Update #1: Rather than batch removing (note: I'm talking about removing apps that aren't installed from the All list here, not mass uninstalling) multiple apps in My apps -> All tab, we can now mass install them. This makes installing familiar apps on new devices a whole lot easier, though still very much time-consuming. The batch remove functionality was, well, removed. (Thanks,AudioAw2015 and Jeremy Smith!)

Removing apps from My apps -> All no longer jumps to the top of the list

Update #2: Previously, simply removing an app from the My apps -> All list forced you all the way back up to the top of the list, which was extremely annoying and unnecessary. No longer the case - the app now disappears from the list, but your position remains the same. (Thanks, David Coiner!)

New Require password option

Following the recent class action lawsuit over in-app purchases, we now have a new option to always require the account password for purchases, not just once per 30 minutes. If you have kids, you should probably turn this on now.

^{Left: old Play Store. Right: new Play Store}

Settings and Help finally moved to slideout nav

Settings and Help have moved - you can now find them in the slideout navigation drawer. Other Google apps were updated in a similar fashion recently, so we completely expected the Play Store to follow suit. In related news, this means that the unnecessary overflow menu on the start screen is gone.

^{Left: old Play Store. Right: new Play Store}

Confusing Auto-add widgets setting renamed

The "widget" part of Auto-add widgets was really confusing since it was actually adding icons and not widgets. It's all fixed now, finally.

^{Left: old Play Store. Right: new Play Store}

We can finally force Play Store self-update

Finally, we can trigger a self-update action on the Play Store itself - just tap the Build version in the settings. This will come in super handy for fresh OS installs that ship with outdated Play Stores.

IAPs now included in the App permissions screen

Following the IAP indicator added in the previous version, another warning about IAPs is now included in the App permissions list when you press Install.

Google+ +1 counts are now exact for large quantities

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you still don't get it... drugs are bad, mkay?

^{Left: old Play Store. Right: new Play Store}

Continuous security verification

There are a bunch of strings and code for continuous app verification that we learned about several weeks ago:

<string name="package_malware_cancel">"Don't install"</string>
<string name="package_malware_install">Install anyway</string>
<string name="package_malware_keep">Keep anyway</string>
<string name="package_malware_uninstall">Uninstall</string>
<string name="verify_app_removed_notification_title">Uninstalled %1$s</string>
<string name="verify_app_removed_notification_message">"This app isn't safe. Touch for details."</string>
<string name="verify_app_remove_request_notification_title">You should uninstall %1$s</string>
<string name="verify_app_remove_request_notification_message">This app may be harmful. Touch for details.</string>

Tweaked styles

Add buttons are now blue, the names are bold, and there's a white border around the profile

^{Left: old Play Store. Right: new Play Store}

For those of you with multiple accounts, the account selector looks a bit different now and no longer makes all the nav items disappear:

^{Left: old Play Store. Right: new Play Store}

If you spot something else that I haven't, please drop a comment below.

File Size History

com.android.vending-4.0.27.apk 5.89 MB (6,181,458 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.1.6.apk 5.75 MB (6,036,474 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.1.10.apk 5.76 MB (6,040,792 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.2.3.apk 5.76 MB (6,046,580 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.2.9.apk 5.84 MB (6,129,144 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.3.10.apk 5.75 MB (6,036,657 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.3.11.apk 5.75 MB (6,038,575 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.4.21.apk 5.84 MB (6,126,172 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.4.22.apk 5.84 MB (6,126,834 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.5.10.apk 6.62 MB (6,951,714 bytes)
com.android.vending-4.6.16.apk 6.21 MB (6,520,554 bytes)

Download

File name: com.android.vending-4.6.16.apk

Version: 4.6.16 (Android 2.2+).

MD5: de29d98de5f239d844abcaef3b18cc93.

Thanks to Ray Wells for the APK!

Tags:4.6.16 Android apk download latest link market mirror play play store series_google_play_store_download store update

Pocket - Applications Android sur Google Play

2014-03-09T15:45:00.002+00:00

Time’s Best Android Apps of 2013

*****Google Play Best of the Best for 2014*****

Pocket lets you take your content with you. Whenever you come across an interesting article, video, or website you want to check out later, you no longer have to send yourself links or bookmark items in your browser. Simply put it in your Pocket.

Once something’s in your Pocket, it automatically syncs across your phone, tablet, and computer so you can view it anytime on any device, without an Internet connection. You can read an article during a flight, see a web page while you wait in line, or watch a video while relaxing at home.

WHAT YOU CAN POCKET
Articles, videos, recipes - anything you find online. It’s easy to save to Pocket from your favorite apps or desktop browser.

VIEW EVERYWHERE
If it’s in Pocket, it’s on your phone, tablet, and computer.

EASY ON THE EYES

See your articles, videos, and everything else in a beautiful, easy-to-view layout.

ALL NEW HIGHLIGHTS
Calls out the best and most relevant content in your Pocket for quick browsing.

SAVE FROM ANY APP
Save to Pocket from any app on your Android device. Just tap ‘Add to Pocket’ when sharing a page.

SHARE WHAT YOU LOVE
Easily send to a friend’s Pocket, or share via Facebook, Twitter, or email.

Pocket is free to download and use, and is available on any Android device or tablet.
Save to Pocket with our Browser Extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

Questions about requested permissions? See http://getpocket.com/permissions

Learn more: http://www.getpocket.com/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideashower.readitlater.pro

hike messenger - Applications Android sur Google Play

2014-03-09T15:38:00.000+00:00

Keep your friends close to you

hike is a new messaging application that lets you send free his friends and family messages! With hike you can send messages to your friends hike ... and others too! Forget all other messaging apps . And besides, it is FREE.hike uses the 2G , 3G or WiFi (when available) to send messages to your family and your friends .WHY USE HIKE :

HOLO : hike finally welcomes Holo. With this major update to its interface , the app hike is easier , faster and even more beautiful than before . UPDATES OF ARTICLES & MOODS : Sharing updates your status with your close friends. With 20 super cute moods at your disposal , never change status was also fun . CIRCLE OF FRIENDS (formerly Favorites ) : Sharing updates your status with your circle of friends. Post what you want , your parents and your boss will never know anything :) RECENT UPDATES : A central space to see the updates to all your circle of friends. STICKERS : Sends too cute stickers on hike . Express yourself easily ... and otherwise ! gab FREE : Download the application for free and gab with friends . The hike to hike messages are free worldwide . CHAT RACK : Creates a grouped chat with friends and family on and hike with everyone via SMS free hike . Brings everyone together ! SHARING PHOTOS / VIDEOS : Send pictures, videos and more to your friends hike ! OFFLINE MESSAGES SENT : Sending messages to your contacts hike that are not online! LAST LOGIN : Only your circle of friends can know when was your last login.WALKIE TALKIE : easily exchange messages with the walkie- talkie hike ! SHARING LOCATION / CONTACT : Share your contacts and your location with your friends. FAST , EASY , CONFIDENTIALITY : hike is super fast . With alerts delivery, reading and writing , it is as if you talked with someone. NI NI USER PIN CODE NAME : Like SMS, hike use your phone number and integrates with your phonebook. A real breeze. ALWAYS ON: hike NEVER stops . Do you demand more if you are connected ( e) or not . With hike , the connection is permanent . OPEN SYSTEM : hike with no need to add "friends". Your address book can automatically connect to your friends and relatives. You can send messages to all your friends , even those who are not on hike , EMOTICONS : hike offers beautiful emoticons to share with friends . Uses more funny and moving emoticons than ever ! HIKE2SMS FREE TO INDIA : We also offer FREE hike > Non- hike SMS . Your friends are not on hike ? Write them anyway. And besides, it's free! The free shipping is for SMS to India. OFFLINE MESSAGES : Your phone is off? hike saves your messages until you rekindle the . 128-bit SSL ENCRYPTION : The messages on hike are now encrypted Wi -Fi TRANSFER TO SD CARD: The app can be stored on the SD card !Problems *** PIN : Contact for any problem support@hike.in PIN We will reply to you within the hour! ***

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bsb.hike

9gag APP photos et vidéos drôles

2014-03-09T15:29:00.002+00:00

Free for a limited time only ! Download Now

Forever Alone no more!9GAG best funny pictures , GIF, videos, memes , cute, cosplay pictures on the web. We are your best source of happiness and illuminated . Share what you find interesting , get real answers from people all over the world, and discover what makes you laugh !

• We are the official 9GAG Application• Feature the best collection of funny, awesome , omg , safe, cute, cosplay photos , GIF , memes, rage comics and viral videos• Vote on "musical" and "Fresh" page to determine what will be "hot" day on internet• Join in discussions with the community and make friends from around the world• Share your enjoyment of Facebook , Twitter , Email , Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram• Enjoy a complete experience on your Android devices 9GAG• And much more ...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ninegag.android.app

We have no idea what this case for the HTC M8 is supposed to be

2014-03-09T15:19:00.000+00:00

It could be a Lite-Brite. Or it could be one of those magic-erase drawing things you buy for the kids. Or it could be a case that shows relevant data. It might even be bullshit. All we know is:

Holes. Time. Colors.

And we only know that because @evleaks told it to us. The suggestion of the Internet at large is that it's some sort of magic flip case that will display the time and weather while it's closed, and have a way to do it with an LCD screen that doesn't eat your battery like delicious candy. Alex says maybe it only works if you push a button. But we really don't know what to think of it, and anything we (or anyone not working for HTC or unboxing phones on their bed) says is a wild-ass guess.

Anyhoo, it's a neat picture. Sort of retro-looking and playful. We almost want to see it in real life. Look for it at the big HTC shindigs this month in New York and London, I reckon. In the meantime, what do you think we're seeing? Comments are open.

Source: +@evleaks

Deal of the Day: Amzer TPU Hybrid Case for LG Nexus 4

2014-03-09T15:16:00.001+00:00

Made of highly durable material that feels great when gripped, this sleek looking case features anti-slip properties that give your Nexus 4 more grip on all types of surfaces. Plus, this case has a special anti-dust coating and cut-outs for all of your device's features!

The Amzer TPU Hybrid Case for LG Nexus 4 is available for just $4.95, 67% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping!

Find more great deals on LG Nexus 4 accessories at ShopAndroid.com

Flappy Bird 2

2014-03-06T18:09:00.000+00:00

Flappy Bird comes Back as BirdFlap

Win with the highest Score 100.000$ Send a Pic on Facebook
2th 5000$
3th 2500$
4the1000$
5th 500$

First it is slow and if you reached a higher Highscore you will always get faster.
You can see the dead birds of your friends to become the best. You can share your score on facebook and show your friends! You can connect to Facebook!

So have Fun with this awesome Bird

.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.lindenvalley.FlappyBird

Twitter Beta Official Now Supports Immersive Mode For Images On KitKat Devices

2014-03-06T17:48:00.001+00:00

Say what you will about the official Twitter client, at least they're trying. The UI is still a little odd, but the beta is showing signs of improvement. For example, a recent update added support for immersive mode on KitKat devices.

Immersive mode is different that the transparent system bar interface, so don't get too excited. Immersive mode hides both the navigation and status bar for a full screen experience. The current beta includes immersive mode when you open a picture from the stream.

The beta version is 5.2, and 5.1 didn't have this as far as we know. So it's a fairly recent change. If you want to get on the beta bandwagon, you'll have to be part of the beta program.

Tags:app updates apps immersive mode twitter

Top Gear Race The Stig Speeds Into The Play Store, But It Doesn't

2014-03-06T17:46:00.002+00:00

The Stig isn't your average racer. Actually, the character is. Hidden behind the same black visor that prevents us from knowing who is behind the wheel of any racecar before their helmet comes off, the character is both no racer and every racer at once. What does this matter? It doesn't, really. Here's what does - despite its name, Top Gear: Race The Stig isn't actually a racing game. Instead, it's a pretty straightforward endless ~~runner~~ driver.

The game is more adorable than you would expect given the subject matter, but that's predictable for the genre. Race the Stig isn't completely neutered though, as it still lets you take control of several vehicles from the series and speed them through familiar locales.

That said, it's still an endless runner where your primary task is collecting golden nuts. That means one thing - IAPs. How bad are they? See for yourself.

^{Twenty bucks? Let me tell you where you can put those nuts.}

If you want something that feels a bit more like a racing game (though, technically, it's all about pulling off stunts), consider checking out Top Gear: Stunt School instead.

Tags:bbc racing game top gear Top Gear: Race the Stig

The Voice: On Stage StarMaker Interactive

2014-03-06T17:39:00.001+00:00

This is The Voice: On Stage! The official game for the worldwide hit TV show The Voice. Sing your way through your favorite songs from The Voice to unlock more songs and free music!

• Karaoke + Auto-Tune™! • See which notes you need to hit and then listen to your song with real Auto-Tune™! • Can you turn all 4 chairs?

StarMaker's apps including the “The Voice: On Stage” are the only karaoke games with genuine Auto-Tune™. Sing, record, and compete with over 250 hit songs, then share your recordings using Facebook, Twitter, and email! Get started with free tokens and sing to earn more. Then subscribe for as to sing every song! Score high by singing your favorite song lyrics and hitting the right notes. Earn tokens for free songs and work your way up the ladder to pop stardom!

New hit songs released weekly, including songs from The Voice:

• Miley Cyrus - "Wrecking Ball"
• Lorde - "Royals"
• Miley Cyrus - "Adore You"
• OneRepublic - "Counting Stars"
• One Direction - "Story of my Life"
• Eminem featuring Rihanna - "The Monster"
• Imagine Dragons - "Radioactive"
• Bastille - "Pompeii"
• Passenger - "Let Her Go"
• A Great Big World w. Christina Aguilera - "Say Something"
• Taylor Swift - "22"
• Daft Punk - "Get Lucky"
• Capital Cities - "Safe and Sound"
• Katy Perry - "E.T."
• Rihanna - "Stay"
• Selena Gomez - "Love You Like A Love Song"
• Beyoncé – “Halo”
• Ariana Grande - "The Way"
• Robin Thicke - "Blurred Lines"
• Ellie Goulding - "Burn"
• Drake - "Hold On We're Going Home"
• Anna Kendrick - "Cups (You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone)"
• Justin Bieber - “Heartbreaker”
• Macklemore - "Same Love"
• Lady Gaga - "Applause"
• Bruno Mars - "Grenade"
... and many more!

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
The Voice: On Stage has songs that span a broad spectrum of musical genres:
- Pop sensations like Miley Cyrus & Bruno Mars
- Hip Hop stars such as Drake & Nicki Minaj
- Classic karaoke ballads like the Cranberries & Whitney Houston
- Electronic music such as Calvin Harris & David Guetta

Better than yesterday's karaoke, now sing your way to the top of the charts and see how many votes your recordings earn on www.StarMakerStudios.com.

NOTE: Headphones with a microphone are recommended for recording on any device.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
"The Voice: On Stage" app offers a subscription package that unlocks unlimited access to the app’s Weekly Songblast including new songs we release every week as well as the entire existing vast catalog of songs.

1. Payment will be charged to your Google Play account upon confirmation of the purchase.
2. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off before the end of the current period.
3. You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renew by going to your Account Settings after purchase.
4. Subscriptions are non-refundable and may not be cancelled during an active subscription period.

Privacy Policy: http://www.starmakerstudios.com/privacy
Terms of Use: http://www.starmakerstudios.com/terms
Under License: Talpa Media Holdings

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.starmakerinteractive.thevoice

The Cave Double Fine's Platforming Adventure

2014-03-06T17:36:00.000+00:00

The Cave was released way back in January as a downloadable title for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Steam, and probably everything else that can slap together an Internet connection and a few polygons. Adventure game aficionados were thrilled, because it's got quite a pedigree, coming from the designer of classics The Secret of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, along with being developed by the much-loved Double Fine. Now it's out for Android, and you can pick it up on the Play Store for five bucks.

The Cave follows a handful of protagonists who are lured to... well, a cave, so I suppose you can't fault the game for untruthful advertising. In a series of platforms and puzzles you'll unravel the backstories of your chosen characters, switching between them to advance through the stages and get past traps and monsters. The eclectic story forces each one to confront his or her past as the narrative swings from black humor to drama like a pendulum, which is something that should be familiar to fans of Double Fine games and their progenitors.

Don't expect Sonic-level platforming or Zelda-level puzzles here - The Cave isn't interested in making you die fifty times to reach the end of the stage. Though the game has these mechanics thrown in to keep things interesting, it's an adventure title at heart. Decent 2.5D graphics and character designs infused with personality make it look unique, though older Android devices may struggle to keep up. The Cave is compatible with phones and tablets running 2.3 or higher, and there are no in-app purchases.

Tags:adventure adventure game console double fine platformer puzzle

Threema

2014-03-06T17:32:00.000+00:00

Threema is a mobile messaging app that puts security first. With true end-to-end encryption, you can rest assured that only you and the intended recipient can read your messages.

Unlike other popular messaging apps (including those claiming to use encryption), even we as the server operator have absolutely no way to read your messages.

Features:

• End-to-end encryption of text messages, images, videos and GPS locations
• Contact synchronization (optional): find other Threema users automatically
• Send images and videos
• Share your location on a map
• Verify your contacts' public keys by scanning a QR code from their mobile phone, all within the app

Threema is Made in Switzerland, and all servers are hosted there as well for maximum privacy.

*** Please use our support form (https://threema.ch/support) to report problems or to send questions. Do not use the review feature to contact us, as we're not able to provide support there. ***

Keywords: secure instant messaging messenger encryption end-to-end

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.threema.app

Colossatron Crash Lands In The Play Store To Wreak Havoc

2014-03-06T17:23:00.001+00:00

From points unknown, comes the one and only Colossatron. Like all giant serpentine robots, Colossatron is mainly concerned with destroying lesser civilizations, and you can take control of the action in the newest game from Halfbrick Studios.

This title is a sort of casual robot builder, if there is such a thing. Colossatron goes about its business, rolling around the screen, shooting at everything in range. Most of your interaction with the game comes in the form of adding new modules to the robot. If you connect three of the same color, they collapse into a single more powerful subunit. Match two of the primary colors, like blue and red, and you get a third color with a different power (purple in this case).

The game has clean graphics and a fun cartoony style with full support for immersive mode on Android 4.4. The developers also framed the game as a series of amusing, goofy news reports. Also, your enemy is called General Mustache – what more could you want? Still not sold? We're pretty sure Colossatron's core is made of a decapitated Power Ranger Dinozord.

Uncanny, right? Colossaltron is a buck, but there are some in-app purchases built-in.

Tags:Games halfbrick new games

App IMDb Updated To Version 4.0 With Oscar Coverage Editorial Lists And Trivia

2014-03-06T17:19:00.000+00:00

The Internet Movie Database is one of those invaluable tools that defines the Internet age... at least for movie and TV addicts. Today's app update 4.0 isn't quite as dramatic as some of the previous additions, but it should help you keep on top of the upcoming Academy Award smorgasbord, and might just help you kill some time 'round the holidays too.

First of all, IMDb has added a selection of lists from the site editors. These aren't the "1000 actresses I'd really like to go on a date with" written by pathetic, bored movie fans... these are "Ten Best Movies of 2013" lists written by professional, bored movie fans. There are also a few more useful lists, including a neat feature on shows that have been cancelled or renewed. Also notable is a list of shows available on Amazon Instant Video... which would be a lot more useful if IMDb's owners would actually release an Amazon Instant Video app already.

According to the description, the app has added even more biographical information to actor and crew pages, though of course some will have more than others. You can also vote on movie and TV trivia, though looking through the app, I can't actually see where you do this. As always, the app is free and includes some relatively tame advertising.

Tags:amazon app update imdb movie app movies

Cyanogen Inc Scores Another $22 Million In Funding

2014-03-06T17:16:00.000+00:00

When the CyanogenMod folks announced the formation of Cyanogen Inc. back in September, the young company had secured $7 million in funding to help it get off the ground. Now, with a few months of momentum behind it, the company has secured an additional $22 million. This money comes from the California-based venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz along with pre-established partners Benchmark and Redpoint.

These new funds will help Cyanogen Inc. throw more resources at cranking out code, sponsoring events, and growing its team of engineers and designers. Yet money isn't all the company has acquired lately. Peter Levine from Andreessen Horowitz is joining the company's board of directors. Tencent, China's largest Internet company, will also serve as a strategic partner. More symbolically, though, the team has picked up a large showing of support from sources other than its users, and that's nothing to shake a stick at.

Source: Cyanogen Inc.

Tags:company Cyanogen funding partners venture capital

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Hits The Play Store For $6.99 Go West, Young Man

2014-03-06T17:13:00.003+00:00

We've already cruised through Liberty City and significantly lowered property values in Vice City, now it's time for a west coast vacation in San Andreas. The third Grand Theft Auto game of the PlayStation 2 era just landed on the Play Store in its blocky, polygonal, sandbox glory, and you can pick it up for a cool $6.99. No in-app purchases, no time-outs, just good old-fashioned Rockstar madness.

San Andreas takes the GTA action to California with a huge, fictional city amalgamating Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, and some rural backcountry that hadn't been seen in the series up to that point. Like Vice City before it, San Andreas moves the clock back, this time going to a slightly larger-than-life version of the early 90s. You play as CJ, a young African American making his way through the various facets of the criminal underworld. You steal cars. You kill people. You do other things that kids probably shouldn't be allowed to do in video games.

This was the last GTA game on the PS2 and Xbox, and for a lot of players, it was significantly better than Grand Theft Auto 4, which tended to lose focus with too much to do in the fictional city. Improvements over Vice City include slightly better graphics, more vehicles, customizable cars and player avatars, an entirely new genre-spanning soundtrack, and expanded mini-games. The Android version features adjustable graphic settings and compatibility with MOGA and other Bluetooth controllers.

The game is an enormous 2.4 gigabytes, so clear away some space on your phone or tablet before buying it. Also, it looks like a number of early buyers are having download issues. The game is also available for at least some Kindle Fire models over on the Amazon Appstore.

Tags:action grand theft auto gta rockstar san andreas sandbox

XFINITY Remote With Voice Commands TV X1 Comcast Releases Remote With Voice Commands For Controlling

2014-03-06T17:10:00.001+00:00

The concept of using your smartphone as a remote isn't a new one. Modern flagship devices such as the Galaxy S4, HTC One, and LG G2 all have built-in IR blasters and ship with pre-installed apps for controlling your TV. The Play Store even has a few downloadable options with more features. Now Comcast is rolling out a remote of its own intended specifically to control its new generation of XFINITY boxes. You know, the ones with the sleek black UI, not the aging blue one

Not only does the app have the obvious ability to change channels and pause whatever's on, it comes with voice commands to make searching for shows easier. Just tap the mic and name what you're looking for. If you're not sure, you can also ask for genres, sports teams, or TV schedules to guide you in the right direction.

Given that this is an initial release, be prepared to exercise patience as the company works out any kinks. The app's available below for free to current customers.

Tags:app comcast new app remote xfinity Xfinity TV X1 Remote

Adobe Revel Comes To The Play Store To Provide Adobe Flavored Photo Sharing

2014-03-05T13:03:00.003+00:00

If you're entrenched in Adobe's creative ecosystem, or just want to try a new photo editing and storage solution for your mobile devices, you may be interested to learn that the company has brought an official Revel app to the Play Store.

Before discussing the app, it would be prudent to remind readers that Adobe Revel works on a plan system with free and paid options - for free, you get unlimited photo and video imports for 30 days. After that you're limited to 50 total imports per month. For $5.99 per month, you unlock unlimited imports. Those interested in finding out more can check out Adobe's official Revel site.

Adobe pitches the Revel app as the latest extension of the service, which is reaching Android for the first time (excluding of course Adobe's Revel Importer app). The service, for those unaware, is essentially a cloud photo backup and storage platform. The app adds minor photo edits to this (think filters, cropping, and red-eye removal), and touts Revel's collaborative prowess, inviting users to share with family members, encourage relatives to share their own photos, or automatically sharing daily moments with simple settings. All of this, of course, is done securely.

The app also plays nice with Photoshop Elements 12 and Premiere Elements 12, allowing for expanded editing in those programs and easier importing of results into your Revel library. Revel might be worth a look from anyone who hasn't already landed on a photo storage solution, but the limit on free accounts doesn't really foster the kind of free-flowing photo collaboration Adobe touts, so it may not be an appealing solution for everyone.

Source: Adobe

Tags:adobe app editing filters Photo photoshop revel

Play Store TV Shows Go Live In The Australian

2014-03-05T02:04:00.001+00:00

Big news down under – Australia has become only the fourth country to get access to TV shows through the Play Store. This will give you Australian folks one more thing to do instead of going outside. Really, why would you want to go out there? The country seems to be crawling with poisonous... umm... everything. I kid (mostly).

Our Australian friends will get a selection of international and local content, all priced in Aussie-bucks. Videos can be watched on a computer or via your Android device, where you can also pin for offline viewing.

[Google Play Support]

Tags:australia google play play store tv

Ouya Confirms Ouya Everywhere Program, Will Embed Its Platform In More Devices

2014-03-05T02:00:00.001+00:00

There were rumblings earlier this week about something called 'Ouya Everywhere.' You can take a guess at what that entails just based on the name, and you'd probably be pretty close. Ouya boss Julie Uhrman has now confirmed Ouya Everywhere is about expanding the platform beyond that one little cube.

Details are extremely limited right now. The confirmation on Ouya Everywhere only came at the end of a blog post about recent efforts to beef up the Ouya's games and software. What we do know is that Ouya has some partners lined up for the Ouya Everywhere initiative, so you might be seeing the Ouya store in more devices. We don't know what kind of devices, though. Other micro-consoles? Phones? Hardware specifics will probably figure in.

Uhrman clarified that Ouya plans to continue making its own hardware going forward, but there's nothing concrete on that front. The Ouya came out last June, and the company did say there would be yearly hardware revisions. If Ouya is doing as well as hoped, it shouldn't be too long until we get more information about both sides of its gaming ventures.

Tags:gaming ouya

win RAR Official For Android Arrives To Archive All The Things

2014-03-05T01:58:00.001+00:00

Too many files? No problem – RAR them. You can do that now that there's an official RAR app on Android. This is a fabulously useful app on Windows, where it costs cash money. On Android, it appears to be completely free.

The RAR app for Android lets you create ZIP and RAR archives, but you can unpack RAR, ZIP, TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ, 7z, ISO, ARJ archives. There are also options to repair damaged archives and it supports encryption for creating and unpacking archives. It even comes with device benchmarking.

The app isn't particularly lovely, but it follows the Android design guidelines with a minimum of clutter. There's a holo light theme that looks a little more modern, in my opinion. It's definitely something to look into on the basis of features alone.

Tags:apps new apps rar

Kingston Joins The Dual USB/MicroUSB Flash Drive Craze With Its Own DataTraveler MicroDuo

2014-03-05T01:54:00.001+00:00

It wasn't too long ago that I would have thought of a dual USB/MicroUSB flash drive as a dream accessory. Now the landscape has changed so quickly, I'm nearly embarrassed that I have yet to buy one. When we first heard about the Leef Bridge Dual-USB/MicroUSB flash drive, the idea was still novel enough that its quirky name wasn't off-putting. Since then the more traditional players have jumped into the ring, with SanDisk and Sony both coming out with their own drives. Now add Kingston's name to that list. Its DataTraveler microDuo is available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB doses.

One side of the flash drive can plug into your PC while the other goes into your phone (though not at the same time). This allows you to move files between devices without having to rely on an internet connection, even if your handset doesn't have a microSD card slot. Your phone will still need to run Android 4.0 or higher and have USB OTG support in order to enjoy the gadget, so before you run out to get one, be sure to hit up this compatibility list beforehand.

Kingston DataTraveler microDuo

Source: Kingston Press Release

Tags:flash drive Kingston MicroUSB microUSB/USB USB

Google+ Community Moderators Can Now Pin Posts Via The Site And The Latest Version Of The Android App

2014-03-04T14:53:00.000+00:00

The Google+ Android app jumped to a new version last week, and shortly after, its Play Store page updated with a change log topped by one problematic item:

Here's the thing, moderators couldn't yet. We hit up the app, searched the site, and even asked around. The feature simply wasn't live. Now it is. Moderators can pin posts to the top of a community stream regardless of if they're using the app or the website.

You can see the feature used within the app below.

^{Note the green thumbtack icon.}

Here's how a pinned post looks on the website.

Voila! There's no update to wait around for here, so enjoy pinning those posts.

Via: Google+

Tags:communities community Google pin posts pinning posts