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HERE update: building footprints, better Chicago transit info

Nokia's mapping app HERE continues to try and best the previously unbeatable Google Maps and this latest update will bring them even closer to that goal. Their blog post says the new features per continent is "too many to practically list," but two new special ones are worth talking about. HERE can now give you a more accurate footprint of buildings in areas in several countries, while the Chicago transit system is getting a more visually accurate feature.



When you're in an unfamiliar area, specifically a city with a lot of high-rise buildings around, knowing where you are exactly and where the place you're looking for is crucial. HERE now has "building footprints" or outlines of individual buildings in selected cities in 11 countries, including the US and several in Europe. New additions to this feature are cities in Belgium, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands. This is very helpful especially if you're on foot and HERE wants to assure users that they are not just catering to the driving folk.


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Another major update concerns the massive transport system in one of the busiest cities in the US, which is of course Chicago. They have replaced the algorithm connecting the transit stops with each other to make it more geographically accurate. They promised they are also working on improving transit information in other cities and countries as well, although an undertaking this big will of course take a bit more time.


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Another update that is not visible for "regular" users is new information for attributes of roads and POIs for assisted and autonomous driving solutions. The updates are being rolled out to users on both Windows and Android, but the former need to do it manually, while the latter should wait for a message from the app when it's time to update it (manually as well). Don't forget to restart the app for the updates to take effect.


Download Nokia HERE Maps here


SOURCE: HERE





Metal Skies brings aerial combat to Android

A new game landed on Android this week called Metal Skies that fans of flight games will like. The game puts players behind the stick of several types of aircraft used to blow the enemy out of the sky. The game offers a one-touch aircraft interface making it easy to get right into a battle.



Aircraft are controlled using the phone's accelerometer, turning the device in your hands controls the airplane. There are 22 planes that players can choose from and they can all be customized.


Available weapons include machine guns and missiles. There are multiple pilots to choose from, each with unique skills and the pilots can be leveled up. A solo campaign pits players against the Shadow Jaegers. The game also has boss battle events.


Players can enter PvP combat against other gamers. Graphics are up to 1080p and the game was optimized for Android to work on more devices. The game is 36MB in size and has been installed as many as 5000 times in the last few days, Android 2.3 or higher is required to play. The game is a free download with in-app purchases ranging from $1.99 to $99.99.


DOWNLOAD: Google Play


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EE upgrades 4G+ LTE-A speed in London, now up to 150Mbps

EE first launched its 4G LTE service in London a couple of years ago but the network has since proven to be one of the best in the UK. Users of the fast mobile Internet will be happy to know that they will get some boost in connectivity, thanks to the new 4G+ network.



The 4G+ Internet also called the 'LTE-Advanced' promises a maximum of 150Mbps download speed. Only those in central London can take advantage of the fast 4G+LTE-A connection at first but the network is expanding its reach in Greater London and some areas in the UK by 2015.


While a super fast 4G/LTE-A is much appreciated, there are not a lot of compatible devices yet. Some models we know that support Cat6 LTE-A are the LG G3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Even the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus won’t benefit from this development because the two Apple phones support up to Cat4 only.


According to EE, the speed improvement is a result of carrier aggregation. It should actually be 300Mbps in theory because of the combination of 20MHz in each of the 2.6GHz and 1800MHz bands. But whether 150Mbps or 300Mbps, even a slight increase in the current speed is always welcome. At 150Mbps, I promise I won't complain.


VIA: TNW





Star Wars Galactic Defense: tower defense with Star Wars twist

If you have an Android device and do not know what a “tower defense” game is, then this post might not be for you. Then again, if you are a Star Wars fan (we realize these two might not necessarily be inclusive of each other), you might want to check this new game out. Star Wars: Galactic Defense is very much a Star Wars take on the classic tower defense game format. And it’s fun.



Star Wars mania is totally upon us, and Disney is totally hyping up the marketing machinery – hence the deluge of games that bear the “Star Wars” label. And not unlike the Star Wars: Commander strategy game that we recently reviewed, you get to pick sides – whether you side with the Rebel Alliance or the Imperial forces. Choosing a side will dictate some gameplay aspects and the heroes you can use.




Bottom line, it’s still a tower defense game, and you still need to strategize what turrets and upgrades you need to field in a specific level. The game also has references both to the classic Star Wars and the prequel movies – so balance of good and bad, you see (*wink wink*).


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The game is a free download from the Google Play Store – check out the source link – with in-app purchases. If you like tower defense games, you should give this a try for some variety – we know good TD games are hard to find. If you’re a Star Wars fan, add this to the gamut of Star Wars games you’ve already collected.


SOURCE: Google Play Store





Secret of Mana now a 16-bit wonder again in Android

If you're a child of the 90s and grew up on Nintendo video games, then this "old new" game on Android will thrill you. Secret of Mana is back in all its 16-bit glory and this time you can play it on any Android mobile device. Nostalgia seems to be the theme for a lot of pop culture these past few months (maybe years!) and you will definitely feel that as you play this old fashioned Super Nintendo game.



"Good and evil battle for a young warrior's heart," says the RPG favorite and it is as simple and as complicated as that, both story-wise and with the gameplay as well. You will play the protagonist Randi, who together with his two companions Primm and Popoi travel around the world and eventually fight the empire who is trying to control the mystical force known as Mana. You will meet the eight elementals that are part of the life force of Mana. You'll get a Zelda-like top down-view, real-time battle systems, 360-degree character movement in this game.


One of the gaming innovations that Mana brought before was the use of the Ring Command menu system, where you can click it in the middle of a game and you can change weapons, use your existing items, and change settings, without having to exit or even switch the screen. Of course you don't expect state-of-the-art hi-res visuals here, since the point is to have a nostalgic feel and so it remains 16-bit, but slightly enhanced to match the current display of gadgets.


If you don't like paying a lot of money for games, then you'll probably want to skip this one. You have to pay a relatively larger amount to be able to relive your childhood or even just discover what the fuss is all about. You can buy the game from the Google Play Store for $9.00.


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The Best Free Android Apps in Amazon's Hallowe'en Giveaway

The Best Free Android Apps in Amazon's Hallowe'en Giveaway


The Amazon Appstore already gives away one free app each day, but today it's decided give away 30 apps, worth a combined total of $115, for free to anyone with an Android phone. Here are the pick of the bunch that you should download first.


Read more...
















Gresso Regal R1 titanium Android phone: you can’t afford it

Looking at the specs of the Gresso Regal R1 smartphone and you might be tempted to think “what’s the big deal?” But the whole thing is made out of one solid slab of premium grade 5 titanium – think of the HTC One M8, only that the material is a precious metal in itself and would be more expensive than the internals of the device itself. Sure, if you have USD$3,000 lying around for you to spend – this might be the luxury phone for you.



With a price tag like that, you would have to think that this is one heck of a luxury phone – and all the appointments and external features of the Gresso Regal R1 seem to be just that. Aside from the titanium case, the phone will be one of 999 units that will be made – so it would be pretty rare and you’d be in the company of all the other people who have USD$3,000 to spend on a phone. The external of the device is hand-assembled by Gresso’s craftsmen, as well they should be.


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The specs of the phone itself are nothing to call home about – a quad-core 1.5Ghz processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 5-inch Full HD display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. Nothing special, you see – even down to the 13MP/5MP camera combo. The phone even runs a lower version of Android in version 4.2.1. These say that you are clearly not buying the phone for the spec list.


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In Gresso’s defense (as much as we hate defending luxury devices), the design and aesthetics of the phone is clearly sleek and uber corporate in its approach – so you know that the target market is not just the ordinary Joe looking for an Android phone. To its detriment though, we thing Gresso could have worked on the specs a bit so that we don’t feel shortchanged at the phone you pay for.


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