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Archer Diaries lets you train around the world to become archery expert

With the popularity of several pop culture phenomenon like Arrow, Avengers, Lord of the Rings and Hunger Games, archery has suddenly become cool again (Robin Hood says, "Told ya!") in the past few years. Attendance in archery schools shot up, students in gym class no longer avoid the bows and arrows, and during Halloween, they've become a popular costume as well. A new game called Archer Diaries is set to take advantage of this continued popularity, this time, aiming (pun intended) it at mobile users.



No, this isn't the secret thoughts and inner feelings of Hawkeye or Legolas, but Archer Diaries is a game that lets you train to become an expert archer (at least digitally) while traveling around the world and going on adventures. Unless you're Katniss Everdeen or the Greeen Arrow, you start from the very beginning, as an entry-level archer. You work your way up, improving your skills, training hard, and taking up challenges as you visit several countries in your quest to become a legendary arrow expert.


The physics based adventure game has amazing 3D graphics and recreations of famous places in countries like France, Italy, Pakistan (where the game developers are actually from), and many more. Players will not just face having to hit their targets, but also overcome wind, gravity, and other elements while chasing both static and moving targets. There is also a time element involved, so you can't just leisurely go through your training.


Archer Diaries is free to download from the Google Play Store. However, there are in-app purchases available so be careful not to turn on the automatic purchase option when other archers in training will borrow your smartphone.


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Google Adds New Features to Drive, Sheets, Slides and Docs

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In the last few months, Google has been working very hard to adapt all its apps to the new Material Design UI paradigm. Overhauling the UI was a big deal, but one of the main goals in app development is adding new features. Everyone loves features, so Google stepped up and delivered quite a few to several of its first party Android apps.


Google has pushed out updates of the following applications: Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Slides. The first thing you’ll notice are full hamburger menu icons. In addition, Docs now allows users to specify line spacing in the paragraph section, where users select one of the predefined values. Unfortunately, they can’t be edited manually. Sheets also received some tweaks, seen in new scroll bars that should help you to find your location in the document.


Slides users can now also insert and manipulate lines, shapes, and text boxes. You can move those objects freely and do something like this:


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The above updates aren’t all–Google has good news for LibreOffice and OpenOffice users. Drive has gained the ability to import Open Document Format into the respective apps. You can even search for content by saying “OK Google, search for [something] on Drive”. Your results will then be available and opened through the Drive app.


These applications are now gradually making their way to end user devices via the Play Store. However, those who want to get in on the updates a bit early can head over to the via link below for the all important APK download.


[via Android Police]


The post Google Adds New Features to Drive, Sheets, Slides and Docs appeared first on xda-developers.


Tile App now available on Android to help forgetful people

A few months ago we talked about the Tile tag that will be the saviour of absent-minded people or those who just seem to always lose their stuff. The accompanying app that will make it easier for you to locate all these lost gadgets or umbrellas or wallets or handkerchiefs, are now available for your Android smartphones and tablets. Of course it will only work if you have one or more Tile tags so if you don't have it yet, you can still read on and maybe you'll get one afterwards.



To review, the Tile tag is a Bluetooth-powered tag that you can attach to anything that you always forget or has a tendency to get lost. For example, put one on your laptop (although how you can forget it is a mystery), your bag, or a precious umbrella. The Android app will connect to the tag using Bluetooth Low Energy and has two ways to connect with each other. If you lose that thing where your Tile tag is, the app will tell you when you're getting hot (and by hot we mean near). You can also program your Tile to play a sound so you can easily locate your lost car keys or whatever it is you have misplaced.


Since the tile has no GPS, it will only work when your device is near your Tiled object. So what if you're out of range? You can check out the last known location of the object from the app's map and then hopefully, you can look around that area until you find it. The description also says you can ask the "helpful" Tile community to help you find what you've lost, although how that works exactly is not fully explained.


The Tile app is free from the Google Play Store but of course you need to buy a Tile tag if you don't have one yet, which you can get for $25. There are also packages for when you want to buy more than one since you lose a lot of things. The app is optimized for use with the following devices: Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One, HTC One M8, LG Nexus 4, LG Nexus 5.


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Major Fleksy update brings virtual keyboard extensions to your phone

Virtual keyboard apps have become an in thing for those dissatisfied with their device's native typing pad. One of the most popular ones out there is Fleksy and we think they're about to become even more popular with their biggest update to date, bringing keyboard extensions, including the (almost) always fun world of GIFs to your fingers. And if "extensions" sounds like such a boring feature, wait til you see what you can now do without leaving the app you're currently typing on.



Probably one of the best extensions available with the latest update is their GIF extension, which makes them the first keyboard app to support this form of communication that has rivaled that of the emoji. Why use words to express yourself when you can now use meme-type GIFs to best say what you want to say? Another fun extension can turn your keyboard into an Android Launcher so that you can switch to any of your most-used apps from Fleksy itself. Other extensions include Editor/Cursor control, Number Row, Keyboard Shortcuts, Rainbow Key Pops (when you want your keyboard to colorfully pop everytime you type) and Invisible Keyboard (make your keyboard transparent!).


Fleksy gives you 3 free "slots" in your virtual keyboard so you can choose the 3 initial extensions you want to use. You can easily activate and deactivate the different extensions, depending on your mood or which you find most useful to you. If you want more slots, you will also be able to purchase additional ones in the Fleksy store. There are also new themes available, including Frozen (which rival SwiftKey also has), Hunger Games, and a Chameleon theme which changes the color of your keyboard depending on the app you're using.


The update also brings an almost complete redesign because of the extensions and customizations. If you're not yet a fan of Fleksy, you can try it out by downloading it for free from the Google Play Store. You can also buy themes and other features on their Fleksy store.


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SOURCE: Fleksy



Install Any Watch Face on Android Wear

Install Any Watch Face on Android Wear


When Google rolled out the 5.0 Lollipop update for Android Wear, it brought with it a number of cool features, not least the ability to install any watch face from Google Play (rather than just the ones pre-installed on your device). What's more, you can now manage them from your smartphone more easily. Here's how to change the look of your smart wristwatch.


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Amazon Fire phone software update identifies artwork with Firefly

Amazon has announced a new software update for its not so popular Fire smartphone. The latest software update brings AT&T branded version to Fire OS 3.6.5 and the unlocked GSM version to Fire OS 3.6.8. While the OS versions are different for the two device models the updates bring the same exact features to the smartphones.



One of the more interesting features that comes with the new update is the ability to translate text and identify famous artwork using Firefly. Users can also now see three versions of a given photo with the Best Shot feature to allow them to choose the perfect picture.


Users can now enable and disable SMS/MMS settings and select more keyboard languages. The ability to block unwanted phone numbers has been added along with the ability to add custom ringtones. Users can now view more information from the lock screen of the device.


Documents can be written and edited using WPS Office and VPN connections are now supported. Synchronizing calendars across Amazon devices is now possible and reading Kindle books can be done in one long continuous scroll. Various improvements for battery life and bug fixes are also featured. The updates are available right now.


SOURCE: Amazon


Sony develops hi-res micro-OLED suitable for eyewear technology

With the seeming demise of Google Glass, pioneers of the eye-wearable smart device, it’s a wonder why manufacturers are still pursuing products in this niche. Maybe they see an “opportunity missed” here rather than a huge risk. Enter Sony’s new development of a OLED microdisplay that can ostensibly be used for smart eyewear.



The display technology will be one placed over existing eyewear, quite similar to Google Glass, with 640x400 resolution from a tiny 0.23-inch color OLED screen – probably one of the smallest in the world today. Smaller pixel size and advancements in light shielding technology give the screen capabilities of displaying better colors – deeper blacks and a more vibrant gamut of colors.



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The screen – due to its small size – is extremely lightweight and Sony thinks that it would be a good fit for existing eyewear today. To move this forward, Sony is preparing a software development kit (SDK) that will be released soon to facilitate app development.



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Sony is also arming the kit with a compass, an accelerometer, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi connectivity, and a touch sensor – all powered by an ARMv7 processor. This piece of technology is scheduled to be displayed and made public at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 in Las Vegas.



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SOURCE: SONY