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SimCity BuildIt game available for all city builders everywhere

Fans of the SimCity franchise that live outside Canada might have been bummed when SimCity BuildIt launched on Android and was available only to Android gamers inside Canada. We have some good news for you today, SimCity BuildIt is now available in the US and other countries via Google Play.



The video game is a free download, but is supported by in-game purchases. In the game players will get to create their own city to lure in new citizens. The larger the city gets, the more needs the virtual mayor will have to meet.


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The game features 3D graphics and the ability to strategically place buildings to keep tax income coming in. The game supports gesture control for pinch to zoom and the view can be rotated 360-degrees. SimCity BuildIt will work online and off.


Players can team up with friends to trade resources and unlock natural disasters. The game was updated on December 8 and is a 221MB download with up to 500,000 installs so far. Android 2.3.3 or higher is required to play. Those in-game purchases cost 99 cents to $99.99 per item.




SOURCE: Google Play


NVIDIA’s SHIELD Hub updated, gets Material Design love

The NVIDIA SHIELD mobile gaming device has been around for over a year now, gaining a cult following as one of the best mobile gaming platforms around. Today, this device is getting a relevant update to the SHIELD Hub app which serves as the game launcher platform for the device – some Material Design aesthetic and the addition of 1080p at 60FPS streaming from the device to your TV. Naturally, this update is also available for the SHIELD tablet.



The first part of the update is an aesthetic one – the graphic user interface of the SHIELD Hub launcher updated to conform to Android 5.0’s Material Design. The update does make the app more efficient use, which was a problem before due to the device’s limited screen real estate. The update now allows the app to show more of your games at once, reducing the need for constant scrolling.



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The other update concerns the use of Console Mode on the NVIDIA SHIELD device – this allows users to connect the SHIELD to a television through a WiFi network. In the past, the quality in this mode was limited, but the update has made it so that users will be able to stream 1080p content at up to 60 FPS from the SHIELD device to your TV. The caveat is that users will need to be connected to a 5 GHz 802.11n or 802.11ac network to be able to stream at 1080p.



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The update is available right now for download, just check the notifications area of your device. NVIDIA also recommends that users also update to the latest version of GeForce Experience so that they can use this release of the SHIELD Hub launcher app without any issues.


SOURCE: NVIDIA





Still looking for a smartwatch? Now’s your chance to get one [DEALS]

Despite some detractors, unbelievers, and naysayers, smartwatches are becoming quite the fad. With a total of six models to choose from just from the Android Wear catalog, it's kinda hard to decide which one to spend your money on. But what if you could get one for free? Sounds like a dream? Now you can make that a reality with Android Community Deals' Choose Your Own Android Watch giveaway.



What can be better than a smartwatch? Why a free one, of course! While you won't have the full roster of smartwatches to choose from, you do get to pick from three. You have the no-nonsense LG G Watch, the Tizen-powered Samsung Gear 2, and the round and stylish Moto 360.


Joining the raffle is as easy as as previous offers. Simply click on the huge Enter Now button to get started. To gain even more entries, you can refer others (21 years old and above) to join the sweepstakes via the Additional Entry option. If you're still undecided, do make up your mind soon as the promo ends in 7 days.


Android Community Deals is brought to you in cooperation with StackSocial. Generated revenue helps fund this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial and are not representative of the opinions of the Android Community staff.


Todoist adds productivity to your wrist via Android Wear

Among the many justifications for Android Wear and smartwatches, getting prompted about your appointments and due tasks rank high, next to a call or message notification. Popular todo list app Todoist, which has been included in Google's 2014 Top Apps, is taking that goal to heart. The latest update to the app brings support for Android Wear, but the integration with your smartwatch does more than just tell you when you're task is due.



Of course, notifications will be where Todoist's Android Wear support will get used the most. But with the service's wide array of notification options, which include location-aware reminders, those notifications become even more meaningful. Walking by the supermarket? Todoist will make your smartwatch vibrate to remind you to buy eggs. As with any Android Wear app, Todoist interaction, in particular providing text input, happens through voice commands. Just say the magic phrase "OK Google, start Todoist, add task" and you're well on your way to productivity heaven.


One interesting and admittedly quite ingenious feature is sending lists to your Android Wear smartwatch. From your smartphone or tablet, simply pick any Todoist view and send the whole list to your smartwatch. That todo list will appear in the same correct order on your wrist, making it easy to flick through items without having to dig out your phone. Perfect for hands free shopping!




This is what Todoist lead Android developer Gonçalo Silva has to say about the new features:



“Wearables are revolutionizing the way people use technology. Being at the forefront of this revolution means you completely understand the platform and optimize extensively for it– this is exactly what we've done with Todoist. Gorgeous, glanceable information with very low interaction, right on your wrist. So much power in such a small form factor. We love it!”



Todoist Android Wear support should be starting to roll out to users but don't sweat it if it doesn't immediately reach your phone or your smartwatch. Of course, you will need an Android Wear device to take advantage of these new features, but that really isn't a requirement to enjoy the productivity benefits that Todoist has to offer.





Pebble now has Android Wear support

Pebble is a week early in giving digital presents to their loyal users who tether their smartwatches to Android devices. Version 2.3 now gives you the ability to reply and act on notifications from apps that have Android Wear support and it will give your Pebble a whole new lease on its digital life.



If before your Pebble can only view notifications from the apps, you can now respond to several actions, which some of them cannot be done by Android Wear smartwatches. If you receive a message on Hangouts and you want to respond just by sending an emoji (which is how some people communicate now), then you can now do it on your Pebble device.




If you and your friends are on SquareCash and one of them needs a few bucks from you, either as payment for something you bought from them or as a loan, you can also now send it through your Pebble. Your friend has to request the money from you and through your smartwatch, you can approve it (or reject it, if you're not feeling that generous). The actions are baked into the apps if they're already supporting the Android Wear platform, so no need to make extra work for developers.




To access and beta test Pebble version 2.3, all you have to do is join their Beta Testing Group and you will be given free access to the APK. They also have a few job openings for developers as they try to expand their teams and consequently, their services as well.


SOURCE: Pebble


T-Mobile Announces Un-carrier 8.0 – Data Stash

Remember the days when we waited till 7pm to start calling our friends? Or the days of being careful who to call because they weren't with the same phone provider you were? Or constantly keep track of how many minutes we had left before the bill cycle ended? You get the point. Today we're still worrying about the same thing but with data. T-Mobile has introduced a new concept of data rolling over and it's called the Un-Carrier Data Stash. Data Stash lets you save your unused data and re-use it at a later time when you do need it.



With Un-carrier 8.0, you get to keep your unused data and actually bank it into what is known as the Data Stash. The unused data stores up to a year from the month it rolls over allowing you to tap into it when you're running low on your current bill cycle. All unused data will be rounded up to the closest megabyte and there is no limit to how much you can store. You also start off with a hefty 10 GB of free data - that's good for every line in the family. All this data includes 4G LTE.


According to T-Mobile, Data Stash is free. There is no charge for any current or new customers - this includes individuals, families, and businesses. However, you do have to be on T-Mobile's postpaid Simple Choice plan and buy extra high-speed data for your smartphones or tablets.


Most phone providers require us to buy some sort of data plan when we're signing up for a 2-year contract to get that new smartphone. The downside is that not everyone uses the data and some of us are even sold into buying more than we even need. By the end of the bill cycle, all that unused data that we paid for vanishes and we start over. It's unfair and frustrating knowing that we cant keep what we paid for. Data Stash will be starting in January 2015 and as stated by T-Mobile - continues to expand and improve on its network.


SOURCE: T-Mobile





Blizzard’s Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft now out for Android tablets

One big problem we all had with Blizzard’s Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft card game was first that it was only for tablets, and second that it was only out on iOS (so that meant the iPad or iPad mini) – so, “no, thanks”. Good thing that they understood how big a market there was for Android tablet users, that now the hugely popular card game is now out for Android tablet devices.



The rollout to Android tablets began in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, but is now available globally, as Blizzard has announced. The app will now be available globally via the Google Play Store, with a later rollout for the Amazon Appstore for Android.


Blizzard is putting out some bonus love for you early adapters as they will be giving out a pack of free “Classic” cards for you to use in game. To redeem your free pack of cards, you just need to complete a game of Hearthstone in any mode – be it on Play, Arena, or Practice mode, win or lose. Pretty nice, huh?


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So if you have your Samsung Galaxy Tab S out, go give this one a go. It should be nice. Then tell us all about it in the comments section. You don't own an Android tablet? No worries, Blizzard is also bringing the game to Android phones soon!


DOWNLOAD: Google Play Store

SOURCE: Blizzard





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