Twisty Hollow’s weird characters need your help in new Android game

What do you get when you bring together eccentric characters, simple but weird tasks, an evil mayor and a mobile device? Well, you get another productivity killer with this new Android game called Twisty Hollow. You are needed to help these "unbelievable" townsfolk as you fulfill their unusual and demanding needs.

Their self-appointed mayor has been demanding weirder and weirder things from his constituents, like banning bacon (how dare he!) or giving out fashion tips for ghosts. So what you need to do is help the townsfolk, who themselves are also out of this world, in getting their resources right and living day-to-day in the weird town of Twisty Hollow. All you need is twist and match what they need to make sweaters, houses and even food, all to sustain their livelihood.

There are 50 levels in this game, all with varying levels of wackiness and weirdness. Both humans and animals (and even ghosts) are a bit impatient here so you need to give them what they want and need as fast as you can. There are all sorts of eccentric characters that pop up in each level, so deal with them as wisely (and as fast) as you could.

This game is a universal app so as long as you play signed in to Google Play Game Services, you'll be able to continue where you left off on your smartphone or tablet, and unlock achievements as well. Twisty Hollow is available for download on the Google Play Store for $2.99.

Dragonfly transforms into an Android tablet, Slingshot phone, and dual display ultrabook

The smartphone era won’t be over just yet and phones are expected to be smarter than ever. They may share the market with wearables now but smartphones are expected to transform into something else. Take for example this project currently on Indiegogo, the Dragonfly Futurefön.

The Dragonfly Futurefön is a smartphone that can transform into a mini laptop. The design team of this innovative mobile device wants to reach global mobile domination with their product. Dragonly is a folding mobile device that works as a smartphone, tablet, and a dual-display ultrabook. We’ve seen similar gadgets already but this looks more handy and more convenient to use since it runs Windows and Android.

Dragonfly Futurefön is made of high-quality aluminum uni-body body so you know it’s tough. It features a special illuminated keyboard, slide-out touchpad, and dual monitors. What’s good about this 3-in-1 device is that it can use one data plan. No need to get three separate ones.

The right display is called the Slingshot. This part detaches to work as an Android phone or tablet. It’s a phablet that works with a Smartpen and docks to the Dragonfly. When the Slingshot part is detached, the base can still work via WiFi or Ethernet.

Another reason why this is a winner is the Quad Folding design. It’s very mobile and portable when folded but is still a space saver even when unfolded. There are three sub-systems that are charged by one cord but LED lights indicate the individual sub-system.

As described by the Dragonfly designers, the components work synergistically and symbiotically. While you stream media files to a TV or bigger screen, the Slingshot phone can work as a remote control. Of course, the device also makes social computing easier. You can simply share files by giving your friend the other half of the display. It’s that easy.

Crowdfunding campaign started on Indiegogo last October 20 and it will end on December 19. Goal was only $10,000 but more than $500,000 dollars have already been given as donation. You can still give any amount you want but $400 will already bring you a long way. View all perks and options over at Indiegogo.

SOURCE: Indiegogo

Run Sackboy Run is weird but fun endless runner game

Endless runner games have taken on many incarnations the past years. You have the early incarnations through arcade games like Donkey Gong to side scrollers like Super Mario to the current generation of Temple Runs and the like to movie companion runners like Brave, Iron Man 3, Guardians of the Galaxy, etc. But have you ever played an endless runner with a boy made from knitted sack?

Meet Sackboy from the award-winning LittleBigPlanet Playstation game. The object of the game is to run as fast as you can to escape from the Goo and the Negativitron. If you're familiar with the PS game on which it is based on, then these words will not be of another language to you. Characters and places from LittleBigPlanet make their appearances in this game as well.

As you let Sackboy run through his handcrafted world, you can change and customize his costume and collect stickers along the way to unlock prizes. You can also have several power-ups and upgrades to help him get more points. If you're feeling competitive, you can challenge your friends and check out the leaderboards, as long as you sign it through your Facebook account.

You can download Run Sackboy Run! for free from the Google Play Store. But there are a few in-app purchases like Save Me Hearts (to get more lives) and power-ups. Now if you don't want to "accidentally" buy stuff or if someone else will use your phone to play Sackboy, better deactivate the one-click buy setting.

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