Android apps

Humor: Google Maps 8-Bit coming to NES gaming platform

2012-04-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

Many of you may still have your OG Nintendo (NES) consoles laying around. That is, assuming you are old enough to have owned one of them. But if you are still a proud gamer with 8-Bit graphics, you may be glad to hear that Google is “soon to release” a cartridge that will bring all the benefits that Google Maps has to offer.

It seems the Search Giant has decided to get ahead of April Fool’s day to make a good joke out of this. But honestly, it looks rather cool. Of course, it is unknown if we will actually see a cartridge for the OG Nintendo console, but they might just go through it.

If that is the case, users will be able to play around with Google Maps 8-Bit. The video demonstrates how to fix bugs by blowing on the cartridge (if only Android bugs were so easy to fix). There is also a tutorial and demonstration of the service.

As for the millions of people that no longer have access to a NES console, we can go ahead and test it out straight from the Google Maps website. Simply click on the top-right corner, where it says “Quest,” and you are in for the adventure.

There are dirt roads, castles and monsters. And the navigation system shows your location with an awesome knight! Go take a look and let us know if you find anything interesting! What are you guys planning for tomorrow’s flurry of April Fool’s pranks?

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Super fast HTC One X camera tested against Galaxy Nexus and Sony Xperia S

2012-04-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

by Edgar Cervantes on March 31st, 2012 at 4:32 pm

The HTC One X has been showing some amazing performance. The device is arguably the best device unveiled at Mobile World Congress. And one of the factors HTC tried to emphasize the most in Barcelona was the device’s camera performance. We have already done a quick test, and the HTC One X won against a Galaxy Nexus. Further proving its capabilities, the guys from Soyasincau have decided to put it to the test against an Xperia S and a Galaxy Nexus, and the results are rather impressive.

The Xperia S happens to outperform the HTC One X at taking a picture straight from stand-by mode. But such result is mainly due to the fact that Sony’s smartphone has a dedicated camera button. One can simply press it and take a picture at any given time.

Having to unlock the device and access the camera app takes multiple more steps. But when the unlock factor is taken out of the equation, the HTC One X is clearly faster and better than the other high-end devices. Said smartphones are also very well known for camera performance, so this really makes the HTC One X ImageSense camera stand out from the crowd.

To see the multiple tests performed, simply go ahead and check out the video embedded below. But what do you guys think? Is camera performance that relevant to you? Are you getting you waiting to make this your next device?

Android 4.0 build leaks for the Motorola Droid RAZR

2012-04-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

We know that the Android 4.0 update might be coming to the Droid RAZR (and other devices) as soon as next week. Such rumors are shaking up the inter webs, but if you want a bit more of proof, a new build for the super-thin device has just been leaked.

Infographic: Do you use your smartphone for job searching?

2012-04-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

Smartphones have become our go-to devices for a plethora of tasks. Undoubtedly, we have become much more productive when on-the-go. And according to an infographic provided by JIBE, this is also the case for those that are looking for employment.

It is usual to find companies that have gotten rid of paper applications. But the process has started to turn mobile, as well. According to a study conducted by Kelton Research, about 86% of job-seeking smartphone owners use their mobile device to find employment.

This comes as a rather surprising statistic – job searching may be convenient when done via a smartphone, but what is more surprising is the amount of people applying to jobs directly from their phones. According to this study, 47% of mobile job seekers will not wait until getting home to apply. They will simply apply straight from the device.

Also, 55% will sign up for available job alerts. And 23% share the information via e-mail, while 19% does the same via social networks. But while the convenience of mobile job searching can be enticing, it has its downsides.

Users complain that most career sites are not yet optimized for mobile, making the experience a bit more tedious. Furthermore, multiple tasks are hard to perform. Such discrepancies may cause the other 14% to find other ways of looking for a dream job.

As these issues start getting fixed, though, we can see a much larger transition to the newest way of finding employment. More and more sites are starting to optimize their sites for mobile, and multi-tasking is being improved by features like the Galaxy Note 10.1′s multi-screen functionality.

Thankfully, Android is very good at multi-tasking (while not perfect). I know I have found multiple jobs thanks to my phone (of course). But what about you? Have you used your smartphone to find a job? Do you prefer filling out a paper application and make direct contact with your employer?

Android 4.0.4 for Nexus S 4G leaked

2012-04-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

The Nexus brand has taken quite a bit of a hit over the recent few weeks, with Google failing to provide what we have all considered the defining feature for the handsets (quick and timely updates).

Its disheartening to see that only a subset of the Nexus S users are on ICS, but weve finally got some good news: BriefMobile has managed to get their hands on all the files for an upcoming 4.0.4 OTA. Head over to their website to get all the files and instructions.

Thanks, Korey Nicholson!

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ICS for the Droid RAZR/MAXX and HTC Rezound coming next week, says Best Buy memo

2012-04-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

We don't want anyone to get too excited and set themselves up for a heartbreak just yet, but a leaked document from Best Buy pins the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX for April 4, and the HTC Rezound on April 6. Anyone with a HTC Thunderbolt can tell you more about dates provided through Best Buy, and Motorola still hasn't given any type of ballpark date for the update for the RAZR and RAZR MAXX, which are still listed as being in the "evaluation and planning" stage. We've seen ICS leaks for both devices (the RAZR and RAZR MAXX run the same software) but nothing official from anyone involved. Both phones were to have ICS "soon" after release, but so far we're still waiting.

We want it to be true. We hope it's true. We're just naturally skeptical, especially when a third party like Best Buy is involved. We're sure nobody is trying to troll the Internets, but anyone who has worked in a corporate environment knows how things get fouled up. Here's hoping, and we'll know next week!

Source: Android Police

Related devices:HTC RezoundMotorola Droid RAZRMotorola Droid RAZR MAXX
Filed under: SmartphonesNewsRumors
Tags: androidbest buyhtcice cream sandwichicsleaksmaxxmotorolaRAZRrezoundsmartphoneupdate 4

How I do it: Working from my Transformer Prime

2012-04-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

You'll need to find the right tools to do the job. I spent a bit looking at what Android had to offer, and soon found the essentials that I need to get things done. You may find different tools work better for you, and that's OK. The Google Play store is chock full of similar apps to the ones I'm using, and you'll surely find something that works best for you. What works best for me:

Chrome Beta. Remember when I said Ice Cream Sandwich was a must-have for me? This is why. Chrome Beta for Android holds all my bookmarks, my logins, and most importantly renders our blog-writing software correctly. It takes a lot of code and a little bit of magic to bring you the news, and Chrome Beta can handle it. File Manager HD. There are a lot of good file managers available, but I prefer File Manager HD on a tablet. It works great, ties in with my Samba shares on my home network, and a $2.49 in-app purchase disables the ads. Any good file manager would work, File Manager HD is the one that works for me.RawDroid. I shoot my pictures in RAW format. RawDroid (still considered a demo/beta) can open my Sony .ARW files without crashing and export them to any image editor. If I remember, I switch my camera to convert to jpg format, but RawDroid is a life-saver for those times I don't remember.PicSay Pro. There's a lot of different apps that will crop and edit photos. I like PicSay Pro. You should use the one you like best. But be sure to try the free version of PicSay before you decide, it does just about anything you'd need from a lightweight photo editor. Gmail. Chances are you're using this one anyway. You'll need it to talk to your boss and co-workers throughout the day.Riptide GP. All work and no play might make Jack a dull boy, but I wouldn't know. There's always time to play.Getting it done

Android Central Editors' app picks for March 31, 2012

2012-04-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

Northwestel to be the exclusive carrier of the BlackBerry Curve 9350 in Northern CanadaReview: Protect your BlackBerry 9900/9930 in style with the Case-Mate Tough CaseGreat Little War Game comes to the BlackBerry PlayBookHow to use Battery Saving Mode on your BlackBerry Smartphone

From the Editor's Desk: More quick hits

2012-04-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

SAWS | The Puridium War - first look

2012-04-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

(How to use this QR code)
Android Market Google Play web link

Filed under: Software ReviewsFeatured
Tags: acvideoandroidapplicationsgamesopen glsawsshootersmartphonetabletthe pruidium wartower defense 6

Motorola DROID Bionic Lapdock On Sale for $80 Today Only

2012-03-31T20:08:00.000-07:00

1SaleADay has posted another great Android related deal. Motorola DROID BIONIC owners who have been waiting to pull the trigger on the device’s lapdock will be happy to know that the site has it on sale for $80. Its condition is new so you won’t have to worry about any bad refurbishes. Of course, there’s one tiny catch: you only have until today to take advantage. If you’ve got the funds stored up and have been waiting for a good deal, now is your best shot. Get started here.

Pocket Legends Celebrates Second Birthday With Free Access to Premium Areas

2012-03-31T19:53:00.000-07:00

Pocket Legends has just turned two, quite a long time in the world of technology, and they’re celebrating it with free access to premium levels! Those who are playing the game without paying will get access to the following:

Sandstone CavesSkeller’s ReturnCroc FeudFrozen NightmaresShadow CavesWyldwood

Those who bought these levels prior to this sale will get something for their trouble, as well: a Frozen Crown of Gratitude. Take a look inside your Stash and you should be able to find it.

Finally, for a limited time, you can purchase the party hat. Players who come across you will automatically wave and receive a free, smaller party hat of their own. After it’s gone, it’s gone so be sure to purchase one before it’s too late. Download the game here.

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Imangi Studios Says New Environments, Characters, Objectives and Power-ups to Come to Temple Run

2012-03-31T19:38:00.000-07:00

by Quentyn Kennemer on March 30th, 2012 at 9:58 am

Since its launch on Android (literally only a few days ago) Temple Run has enjoyed tremendous success on the Google Play Store. With somewhere between one million and five million downloads, I’m better they could be happier with the way things turned out.

The buck doesn’t stop here, of course. PocketGamer had a quick chat with Imangi Studios regarding the hit game, and one interesting tidbit to come out of the interview was regarding new content.

TurboTax Giving Free State and Federal Filing on Android App; This Weekend Only, Tablet Owners Only

2012-03-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

TurboTax for Android is out, if you haven’t heard, and they’re trying to promote it by offering a sweet offer to those filing this year’s taxes. You can file both your state and federal taxes completely free if you use the TurboTax app to do it this weekend. The obligatory caveat? Sure – you have to have an Android 3.2

Sony Targets Mid-April for First Xperia ICS Updates

2012-03-31T19:08:00.000-07:00

Sony’s bringing the sweet taste of Ice Cream Sandwich to all their 2011 phones, and it seems we’ll have to wait just a tad longer. It’s only a two week wait (give or take a few days) because they’ve now pegged mid-April for the first set of rollouts. Of course, we imagine the unlocked and unbranded versions will get the upgrades right away, but carrier-specific versions will depend on each specific carrier.

Most European and Canadian carriers tend to get the update out rather quickly, while it may be a more tough wait here in the United States. The roll-out period will stretch 4-6 weeks so if you have an eligible handset and you don’t get the update right away, be cool and be patient – it’ll get there eventually. Hit the source links to see which devices are included.

Verizon DROID Incredible 4G Enters the MAP Process

2012-03-31T18:53:00.000-07:00

We’ve long heard rumors of one HTC Droid Incredible 4G ready to make its way to store shelves, but outsides mere mention of the device’s name we’re not exactly sure what to expect. We’re expecting a variant of the HTC One X with LTE, of course, but anything could be the case. The device has just been subjected to MAP (minimum advertised price) which usually means Verizon is getting close to figuring out an advertising campaign (and, by association, that the device is nearly finished and ready for mass production).

ZTE Fury Review

2012-03-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

While most Android diehards would scoff at a device like the ZTE Fury, the Sprint handset offers proof that a quality Android experience can be delivered alongside affordable pricing. Launching for only $20 on contract, the Fury could be mistaken for something (slightly) pricier. A surprisingly good 5MP camera, snappy Qualcomm CPU, and Sprint ID features give the entry-level handset plenty to offer. Coupled with a solid design, the Fury has some potential within its compact frame. Does it put other budget models to shame? Read on for the full review.

Hardware

The ZTE Fury offers a compact design with just enough fine touches to allude to something outside of its price range. A textured, soft-touch back, chrome accents, and rounded edges give off a certain sense of class. It isn’t the thinnest device ever, but it still manages to come in at less than half an inch. The phone sports a 3.5-inch IPS LCD display at 320×480 resolution.

Inside the Fury lies a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of on board storage. It’s some impressive power for such a squarely mid-range phone and the benefits can be felt when navigating throughout the phone’s software. A basically stock build of Android 2.3 helps in this department. The Snapdragon CPU is appreciated when it comes to flicking between homescreens, rendering and navigating webpages, and playing back video. The phone never seems to struggle or lag behind all that much.

New HTC ad shows their latest phone as the only One for you

2012-03-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Krause on March 30th, 2012 at 2:38 pm

HTC is taking their One series and running with it. At the unveiling event at Mobile World Congress we were given a good idea of how the name would tie into marketing, emphasizing the new phone as the only “one” designed to meet the desires of individual users. In another way, HTC wants folks to walk into stores and say “that’s the one I’ve been looking for.” Get it? It’s kind of cute. Kind of clever.

The One branding concept is extended in the latest ad from HTC, showing all sorts of folks taking full advantage of the improved hardware and software found in the One X, One S, and One V. Want another idea of just how the pairing makes for one heck of an experience? Check out this head-to-head camera battle between the One X, Galaxy Nexus, and Xperia S.

ICS Public Beta for the MEIZU MX or M9 now live

2012-03-31T18:08:00.000-07:00

Rock the Meizu MX or the M9? Then we got good news for you, people, the public beta for the ICS firmware is now a go, after a little over a month of private testing. You can get more info from the press release attached at the bottom of the post.

Its really good to see news pouring through of Ice Cream Sandwich updates rolling out for another device at a more regular rate now. Needless it say most of us have been disappointed with the pace up until now. Heck, not even all the Nexus S users are on ICS yet.

MEIZU releases stock Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich firmware for MX and M9

HONG KONG - March 30, 2012 - MEIZU has today released a public beta testing version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the MEIZU MX and M9. The newly released firmware will be based on stock Android 4.0 without any customizations.

The Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade brings an entirely new look and feel to Android on MEIZU MX and M9, with a redesigned user interface as well as new design and usage concepts.

Prior to the public beta testing, MEIZU launched a private beta testing program for Android 4.0, which began mid-February for the MEIZU M9. During the private beta, users were amazed at the speed and responsiveness of the testing firmware. The newly released public beta firmware brings many bug fixes and also the support for MEIZUs flagship device, the MX.

With the release of the public beta testing stock Android firmware, the company continues supporting the MEIZU M9, a device that has been on the market for more than a year. By doing so, MEIZU once again displays its focused commitment to the user experience and satisfaction of its many customers and fans.

The ICS beta firmware is available as of today for the MEIZU MX and M9.

About MEIZU

Founded in 2003, MEIZU began producing music players which later came to be world renowned. Since 2008, all efforts have been focused on creating great smartphones, which has made the company one of China’s most loved smartphone brands. As a company, MEIZU seeks to transcend convention and imagination, with the ultimate goal of making products worthy of dreams. For more information, please visit http://en.meizu.com

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Google releases Translator Toolkit for developers looking to localize apps

2012-03-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

Want to translate your app into as many languages as possible? You may want to check out the Google Translator Toolkit, which provides auto-translation of strings stored in your resource files.

Now, we know Google Translate often provides some hilarious responses, and the limitation to translate your stored list of resource strings means a more limited implementation, but I can imagine a lot of developers who may find it useful.

Case in point is an app Ill be releasing very soon myself, which aims to assist users in boosting their vocabulary. Those who dont have English as their first language may find it useful to have the meanings provided in their mother tongues.

Anyhoo, heres the announcement made on the Android Developers official Google

doubleTwist releases a gorgeous alarm clock app that will make you hate your favorite songs

2012-03-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

There are quite a few alarm clock apps around on Google Play that let you set songs or playlists to wake you up to, but Ive got to say: none of them are going to be nearly as gorgeous as doubleTwists. They have also thrown in a sleep cycle mode, so you wake up fresh (how they know when exactly you fall asleep is beyond me).

In my eyes, the killer feature are the clock-faces. I love analog clocks, and I really dig doubleTwist’s offerings. But, reading the user comments that have poured in, Ive noticed that it can also potentially drain your battery, taking up nearly 20 MB RAM.

If thats OK with you, head over to Google Play as soon as possible, because the first 10,000 downloads can get it for $1 (after that, the price doubles). Also, if you buy the app then tweet about it and/or like doubleTwist on Facebook, within roughly the next 80 hours, you can get this wall clock that costs $1100.

T-Mobile apologizes for inadvertently sending out notification bar ads

2012-03-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

Ive mentioned my hatred for ads pushed to notification bars before. Theyre downright intrusive, and Ill uninstall any app that does it, no matter how good it is.

Unfortunately, you dont quite get that kind of option with your carrier, so I really hope all of them learn from T-Mobiles little error. The carrier sent out notifications to users regarding their free VIP zone, mistakenly by the sound of their response. As expected, the user complaints flew in, and the issue was resolved.

In a mail to TmoNews, they said:

During a recent software update, a message to promote T-Mobiles free VIP Zone was mistakenly sent to certain customers and appeared on the notification bar for some Android devices. After T-Mobile was made aware of this mistake, the company stopped the notifications. T-Mobile apologizes for the inconvenience this may have caused customers.

CM9 Nightly Builds for Galaxy S i9000/i9000B now available

2012-03-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

There was an understandable hue and cry when Samsung announced that the original Galaxy S would not receive an Ice Cream Sandwich update. Manufacturers love for their custom UIs had won again, and all that Samsung promised to calm down the mob was a value pack.

But, as we all knew, the developer community wouldnt let such a popular phone die an early death. There are a few ROMs on XDA already, and users can also now get a taste of CM9 with their nightly builds.

Do remember this is for the international (and the Brazilian) version only. The builds for the various US versions shouldnt be that far off, though.

Droid Razr, Razr Maxx and HTC Rezound users to taste ICS next week?

2012-03-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

Well, look at what we have here. Some naughty fella decided to leak the above document, belonging to Best Buy, which states that the Droid Razr and the Razr Maxx should get an OTA update to Android 4.0 on April 4. HTC Rezound users arent left too far behind, with OTAs scheduled to be pushed out 2 days later on April 6.

Flurry claims Amazon App Store provides 3X revenue compared to Google Play

2012-03-31T16:38:00.000-07:00

Mobile app analytics company Flurry has just released a report, studying per-user revenues generated by various apps that use their services across the Amazon App Store, Google Play and the Apple App Store. While it isnt much of a surprise that Apples App Store leads the way, what really is worth noting is that the Amazon App Store is not only ahead of Google Play, but is smoking it.

The revenue model used for the study was solely in-app purchases, so the data provided here doesnt apply to paid or ad-supported apps (the latter of which are an overwhelming majority in Google Play).

The simple reasoning for such a result is, in my eyes, the fact that Google Play has a ton of users who just dont pay for apps. In-app purchases are primarily implemented by those developers using a freemium model, and hence a significant number of users download the app, but never make an in-app purchase. This ends up diluting the "per-user revenue" that is used in Flurrys study. Additionally, on a gross revenue scale, I guess its safe to Google Plays returns should be in the vicinity, if not more, of the Amazon App Store.

As such we cant really come to a conclusion for every model, but I think it would be safe to say that the Amazon App Store should certainly be on the thoughts of all developers. If theres any developer reading this, whos got his/her app on both Google Play and Amazon App Store, could you please share with us your experiences in the comments?

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