This week may have been all about new phones, but that doesn't mean your current glowing rectangle is left in the lurch. We've got some fine new apps for your Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone, because we like you just the way you are.
Foursaken’s Phantom Rift is another turn-based RPG for Android
Foursaken Media, an all-sibling outfit which brought you the mildly addictive Block Fortress on iOS, now tries its hand at Android RPG gaming with Phantom Rift, a turn-based grid-driven RPG that would be as at home on your Gameboy Advance as on your Android device. The game is loosely based on the Mega Man Battle Net, a grid-based action game on the aforementioned legacy console.
In the game, all character battles take place on a 6-by-3 grid. The gameplay is a hodgepodge of elements from other fantasy-based action and RPGs – you basically have a set of spells which you can use at in any given battle. In game, there are over 300 spells you can use, so that makes for a lot of variety and less boredom, or so we hope.
When your character is not battling around, you explore the grid universe around you and like any RPG worth its salt, the environment is filled with loot for your collection. The game allows for lots of equipment on your character, so we can be sure you’ll at least have fun collecting loot.
The game comes with a multiplayer element and also supports gameplay with the NVIDIA Shield console. The game costs USD$2.99, and despite the description saying that there will be in-app purchases, Foursaken Media’s track record is otherwise good in this sense – you will surely enjoy the game even without spending more money. Check out the source link.
SOURCE: Google Play Store
City Rush is Crazy Taxi’s newest installment on Android
Not a lot of us will have memories of Sega’s Dreamcast, because it was never as big as Sony’s Playstation. That said, most of us might remember Sega’s cool titles from its arcade incarnations – and we remember one such arcade gaming classic in Crazy Taxi (also ported magnificently to Android). Sega is now releasing the newest incarnation of the classic with Crazy Taxi: City Rush, a free-to-download game for your Android devices.
The gameplay premise is relatively simple, and it captures all the elements of its classic predecessor – drive through the city, pick up fares, and get them to their destinations as quickly as possible to gain tips and money bonuses. The game now allows Android users to customize their taxis as well, a welcome addition to the gameplay.
The SEGA classic game seems to have found new life on mobile, as its premise seems to be great for short gaming sessions. Getting passengers to their destinations is the ultimate goal, but to beat the timer and gain the bonuses, you’ll have to drive crazy (hence the game’s name), soar over ramps, go through obstacles, and do stunts like Crazy Drifts, Brakes, and U-turns.
The game is free to play, but there will be in-game purchases for new taxis, upgrades, decals and other cosmetic upgrades. Did we mention that the game now allows you to import your own Crazy Taxi playlist? That’s just one of the new features that allows this franchise to find new life on mobile. Go and grab it at the source link.
SOURCE: Google Play Store
ASUS Nexus Player makes GFX Bench appearance, first Android TV?
Google has announced at this year’s IO Developer’s Conference that it was working on an Android OS for smart TVs and set-top boxes which will be called Android TV. This will launch presumably side-by-side Android L, the company’s newest operating system. Recently, a device called the ASUS Nexus Player showed up at GFX Bench, giving fuel to rumors that this could be the first Android TV device.
Google has made no secret of its plans to partner ASUS in this market space, so we can be relatively confident that ASUS is indeed coming up with an Android TV device. The device itself flaunts an Intel 1.8Ghz quad-core processor supplemented by PowerVR G6430 graphics. The device also has 1GB of RAM and 6GB of storage, has WiFi connectivity and runs an operating system described as Android L.
We still don’t know what type of device it is – it shows 1080p resolutions for two screen sizes, a 23.7-inch screen and a 31.9-inch screen. While it could be two different sizes for HD LED TVs, we’re leaning more towards a set-top streaming box that supports these screen sizes via HDMI output.
As we’re anticipating Google’s big announcement for Android L soon – and Android TV by extension – we can confidently say that most of Google’s announced partners for Android TV would most likely be in late stages of designing their devices as of now. These partners include Sony, Sharp, Philips, and TP Vision for smart TVs, and Razer for set-top boxes as well. Watch this space, eh?
VIA: Liliputing
‘Pure Edition’ is Motorola’s unlocked, direct-sale Moto X
Straight from its launch at IFA 2014, we already have the notion that the new Moto X will be one of the darlings of people looking to upgrade their Android devices this holiday season. Most people will get it under contract, with the USD$99.99 price tag looking very nice indeed. But there are those who will want the unbranded, unlocked, direct-sale version straight from Motorola – that one will be called the Moto X Pure Edition.
Most Android fans will see this as a nod to devices having a “pure Android” experience – which usually means a UI that is not heavily tweaked (we’re looking at you, Samsung). Motorola’s Android version is tweaked, but less so than others – maybe a variable for picking the “pure” marketing name.
The Moto X is visibly a flagship level device with flagship level specs – including the Snapdragon 801 SoC that runs four cores at 2.5GHz. That is supported by 2GB of RAM running on the previously mentioned tweaked version of Android 4.4 KitKat. The screen is larger than its predecessor in a big way – with the new device sporting a 5.2-inch full HD screen. Users have the choice of 16GB or 32GB internal storage.
While the pricing under contract has a very nice affordable ring to it, those who want the Moto X Pure Edition will have to trump up USD$499 to get it direct from Motorola. I don’t know is its worth all that just to have a phone that says “Pure Edition” on it. And hey Motorola, what do you then call the ones under contract? Impure editions? (we kid.)
VIA: The Verge
Japan and Italy residents can now join Google Opinion Rewards
If you like letting corporate entities know things about you, you like having money in your Google Play account and live in the Far East or in the borders of southern Europe, then what we’re about to tell you might probably be the best news you’ve received today. Google announced that Opinion Rewards is now available in Japan and Italy, joining several other major countries where answering marketing surveys from the tech company is now monetized.
In case you didn’t know it yet, Google Opinion Rewards was launched late last year and lets you earn Google Play credits just for answering opinion and marketing surveys from companies or brands or entities that would like to hear more from Google’s extremely large database. The app targets users, depending on the profile that the researchers and marketers want, with each survey lasting not more than 10 questions and takes just a few minutes.
Previously, it was only available for those residing in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. But now they have opened the doors for those who are living in Italy and Japan. Once you’ve installed the app, you’ll get a notification every time there is a survey match for you and you need to answer it through the app itself. The credits will then be sent directly to your Google Wallet account.
Researchers and marketers have to wait a little more to be able to target those in Germany, the Netherlands and the recently added Italy and Japan. But Google assures that it will be finalised in the next few weeks. To download the app in Italy, go to this link and click install, while for Japan, you need to follow this link and install it.
SOURCE: +Google Consumer Surveys
EyeEm 4.0 photo app filters and effects make pics standout
If you use your smartphone camera to take lots of pictures an interesting app has been updated that will give you camera and photo filters to apply. The app is called EyeEm: Camera and Photo filter and it is on Google Play right now. The app has a number of unique filters and effects that can be applied to photos you shoot on your device.
Twenty free filters are offered including Boost, Vintage, Black & White, and others. The app also allows users to follow other photographers and see the photos they are taking. Photo albums can be shared from within the app on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, foursquare, and Flickr.
Users of the app can also explore new albums based on interests like street photography, fashion, architecture, and lots more. The app was updated to version 4.0 recently bringing with it a new interface with bigger images.
After the update, users can also add cover photos to their profile and explore missions. Missions allow users to submit photos to win prizes and be featured in campaigns around the world. The update landed yesterday and the latest version varies with the device you are using.
SOURCE: Google Play
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)