Battlelore: Command turns board game into mobile visual feast

While minimalist and simple type of mobile games are sometimes needed, there are days when you want to just feast your eyes on excellent visuals or go all out medieval in battle. Battlelore: Command is a new game for your Android devices that mimics the adventure of board games but at the same time turns it into a visual feast to test your combat tactics and strategy to win the battle.

The mobile game is based on the board game Battlelore Second Edition. You are the leader of the Daqan army that is sworn to protect your homeland of Terrinoth from the invading hordes of demon barbarians called the Uthuk Y'llan (just don't ask us to pronounce that). Or if you prefer to be the bad guy in this one, you can lead the invading army as you dare to take the lands from their rightful owners.

The game has several features to prepare your for battle. You can train your armies and deploy them where you think they can best serve during the siege. You can also use the 360º view in order to see the battlefield from whatever angle you want. You also have several playing modes to choose from, like a multi-mission single player, where you're the good guy of the Daqan army. You can also choose from five different skirmish scenarios and fight against your computer or your friend.

Battlelore:Command is available to download from the Google Play Store for $11.12. Since it is graphically heavy, it will work best on newer smartphones or tablets with higher specs. You can check if your device meets the minimum requirements before purchasing the game.

The tiny StoneTether tracks your keys, devices, kids

People who constantly lose things (or people?) have much to thank technology for, since the invention of tracking devices and its like. But a new Kickstarter project can probably claim that it is so far the smallest of them all. StoneTether not only is tiny and portable, but it may also have the longest range as well.

The small, square device is easy to put on any device (tablet, laptop, other smartphone), electronic devices (remote control, headset), non-electronic devices (keys, your favorite shirt, jewelry box), and yes, even pets and people (hopefully, just kids and not your significant other). The makers also say they have "unparalleled range" as it can still track what you tagged up to 500 feet away, making it the first Bluetooth compact tracker to do so.

It works as simply as it looks. Download the app and configure your tiny StoneTether. Then attach it to wherever you want, either through its carabiner clips or the mounting adhesives included in the package. You then make the device sound if you're looking for something, or it will give you an alarm if your belonging is too far from you. For example, if you're going to be in a crowded area, yet you don't want to literally tether your child to you, then it would be a great idea to use this instead. You can set the distance that you'd allow your kid to be away from you, then it will send you an alert if they're straying from you.

There are still 11 days to go in their Kickstarter campaign but they have reached way, way, way, way beyond their target of $15,00. That must mean there is a huge need or demand for this kind of product. If you still want to support their product, you can head on over to their Kickstarter page. The estimated delivery is sometime March-April next year, so until then, be content with just finding your keys manually or shouting for your kid in the mall.

SOURCE: Kickstarter

Preview of Android Lollipop on Galaxy S4 GPE leaked

As some of us still await the arrival of the Android Lollipop 5.0 update, we have to rely on leaked previews to see what it will look like on our gadgets. Google Play Editions are usually next to the Nexus devices to be updated, but since there's still no definite schedule yet, preview builds are our only peek at how our gadgets will change once we receive the preview.

This time around, the guys from SAM Mobile showed us the beta build on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition. It was confirmed last month that the device, despite being last year's flagship and replaced this year with the Galaxy S5, would still be officially upgraded to Lollipop. This is due to the fact that it still falls into the 18-month update assurance that Samsung applies to its high-end smartphones.

There are no real surprises to the beta build for the Galaxy S4, with the same changes that we've seen in Samsung devices being applied here, particularly the Material Design UI. The L-type notifications on lock screens as well as the dark to light look on the menus can also be seen in the screenshots. The whole Samsung system will also be changing its fonts, making it slimmer and more apt for the Material Design.

The Galaxy S4 GPE shown on the preview is already reportedly running on a stable build, so more or less, what you see in the video is close to the final build. However, there is still no final date as to when they will be rolling out the updates to the Google Play Editions.

VIA: SAM Mobile

Story Timeline

• Android Lollipop brings new kill switch feature to smartphones


• Android Lollipop build on Samsung Galaxy S4 leaked


• Android Lollipop previewed on Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Leak outs possible HTC One M9 details, bigger screen, new camera tech

Chinese sources have leaked what they purport to be specs of the new HTC flagship phone that will be launched possibly during the Mobile World Congress in Berlin, March 2015. The possible HTC One M9 is said to bring a larger screen, or one version with a larger screen, as Apple did.

The specs are pretty straightforward and expected. But the main game-changer for HTC will reportedly be the huge (for them) 5.5-inch screen, packing a 2560x1440 resolution. This will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB RAM, and internal storage options of up to 128GB (wow).

There will also be front-facing speakers possibly designed by Bose, and a generous 3500mAh battery. There is much speculation on whether HTC will finally drop the UltraPixel technology it has continued to market up until the HTC One M8 – we hope they do. The new camera is supposedly sporting a 16MP rear cam, although with HTC’s selfie phone out, we should expect something new with the M9.

This phone is physically big, that we can be sure of, but we are not doing away with the rumor that there will be an HTC One M9 “Prime”, possibly a bigger version of the smartphone. More on this as details become available.

VIA: SlashGear

Story Timeline

• HTC One M8 running Lollipop and Sense 6.0 leaked


• HTC Desire Eye Review: Welcome to the (selfie) machine


• Desire 620 rumored to be HTC's newest mid-level smartphone

Get the Windows Taskbar and Start Menu on Android OS

A lot of users of Windows 8 were angry when they took away the classic Start Menu and replaced it with the more touchscreen friendly “Modern UI” start screen. Demand for the return of the Start Menu has been so strong that there are numerous programs out there that recaptures this element of the UI, and in fact, has forced Microsoft to bring it back in a future Windows OS update. Now it seems like there are some folks who like it so much that they’ve brought it over to Android.

XDA Senior Member leducbao has managed to develop an Xposed module called TaskBar that enables a task bar and start menu very much like those seen in Windows OS to run on your Android device. Once downloaded and enabled, the module inserts a hovering Start button on your screen, which once tapped, brings up a taskbar and a Start Menu. The taskbar displays tabs of all your running apps, and can be customized with three preset themes, and can have its position and notification icon changed. The Start Menu displays all your apps, and have a couple quick settings which you can toggle and change if you wish. Customization options further include editing start menu items, layout and button among others.

TaskBar is quite a nifty app serving as a sidebar with a very familiar and much adored interface. If this sounds like something you want to try out, you can find out more at the TaskBar Xposed Module thread.

The post Get the Windows Taskbar and Start Menu on Android OS appeared first on xda-developers.

Cicret brings Android goodness onto your skin

The Cicret bracelet won’t be a secret once you use it. People will know that you have it.It’s a simple wearable bracelet alright but you’re projecting the display screen right on your arm.

Impressive? This smart wearable features a pico projector to display a user interface similar to what you see on a tablet or smartphone. It’s neither a smartphone nor a tablet as it is a mobile device on its own. It also comes with 8 long range sensors and all the specs required to run Android OS and the compatible apps.

Watch the video below and you’ll be amazed at how this works.

Tap the wrist and a touchscreen user interface will show up. The projected image from the pico projector is good as the same thing you see on mobile devices. You can tap, click, and slide on the screen to do many things. It still is in its prototype stage but the concept is just promising.

The team behind Cicret isn’t gathering funds through crowdfunding but is accepting donations. You can directly send any amount through Cicret’s webpage. The team doesn’t want crowdfunding ventures because they cannot give any guarantee to the consumers. Cicret has not been put up for production yet so don’t believe people who say they have the wearable bracelet in stock before launch.

The maker of Cicret also developed an app called Cicret. It's not related in any way to the wearable bracelet but it's a messaging app made for a more secure data transfer. You can download the Cicret app from the Google Play Store.

VIA: Slashgear

Story Timeline

• Reign fitness tracking wearable available by October 26


• Razer outs Nabu apps ahead of launch of fitness wearable


• GoGlove wearable remote controls your phone

Red Bull Racer goes winter in newest game update

For the past few years, the Red Bull brand has evolved from being just a high energy brand to a full-out media entity, from racing events to magazines, short films and even a record label. What may not be that well known yet is that they have also been developing apps and games for the mobile market with Red Bull TV, Red Bull Kart Fighter and Red Bull Air Racer.

Another game that they have developed and have now updated is Red Bull Racer, an arcade racing game (obviously) where you can choose to race with motorbikes or cars, using the personas of actual Red Bull racers, but with even wilder and more challenging race tracks. The game has over 100 Offroad, Formula or Street-Track events and you also get the chance to pimp up or upgrade your bikes and cars.

The latest game update is just apt for the season as the winter theme gets in high gear. Winter tracks have been added and you can race the cold away with three new vehicles. The KTM X-Bow Winter Concept concentrates on horsepower; the Peugeout 2008 DKR does well on snow; and if you want things simple, you can always use a snowmobile. And don't forget that snow might look fun, but it also makes things more slippery and difficult with its icy roads and snowy turns and loops.

Red Bull Racer is available for free from the Google Play Store. There are in-app purchases as well, so if you don't want to spend more than you should, don't activate the one-click purchase option, if you know what's good for you.