Subscribe:

Ads 468x60px

Labels

Titanium Backup gets updated, brings Lollipop improvements

Why do we keep using Titanium Backup even if it looks clunky and requires root access? Well, because it’s one of the best apps for doing what it does – that is, make backups of your phone data and system. Very few backup apps out there could claim to be able to do well what Titanium Backup offers to users (with rooted devices, of course).



The most recent update is a minor one, fixing some performance issues like the app crashing while detecting the SU and BusyBox processes. It also updated some language translations and worked on minor layout issues.


The really big update was the one that brought version 7.0, where the developers brought direct Android 5.0 Lollipop compatibility for the app. It also added support for saving backups to predetermined folders on your external SD card, something that Android KitKat was very, very bad at. External SD functionality is heavenly with Lollipop, so the developers took advantage of that.


titanium-backup1-710x404


Sad to say, the app still looks like it was developed in the early 2000’s – and that is putting it kindly. The developers have not brought it up to the level of Lollipop’s sleek and minimalist Material Design – heck, it’s even too homely to fit in a KitKat environment. I guess the developers can afford to take it slow on the redesign as they have an app that “just works” when it comes to backing up your phone data. Did we already say it requires root access? Well, it still does.


DOWNLOAD: Google Play Store





Son of Light Android game lets you shoot your way through space

Sometimes, at the end of the day (or at the beginning), all you want to play on your mobile device is a brainless yet challenging game where you can just shoot things. The "Shoot Them Up" type of arcade games were hugely popular back in the day, and now several developers have been bringing them back for your blazing enjoyment. Son of Light is one of the newest in the block, and you can shoot them all up while traveling at the speed of light.



The mission for the game is pretty simple: you just need to shmup (STG or Shoot'em up) them all (we assume they're the enemies right?). In just one go, you get to face all the enemies and bosses that are coming at you, and you need to overcome them in a row, meaning you need to finish all 10 levels. Along the way, you get to face bonuses that will explode in your face (think pinatas, rainbows, etc).


You also get to change your ship's weapons, shields, lasers, guns, engines, etc, all the while setting it up to achieve your objectives, which is really just to kill them all. To unlock new kinds of weapons, you need to complete the missions on the side and collect crystals as well. If you want to reach the speed of light, you need to collect speed bonuses. Don't worry there are no galactic police to pull you over since there are no speed limits in this universe.




This type of game is also called bullet hell or danmaku, and it is pretty easy to figure out if you're a newcomer to this genre. And if you're a hardcore shmup type of person, then it will also present certain challenges. You can download Son of Light from the Google Play Store and there are in-app purchases available.


son2 son1 son3 son4 son5 son6


NBA All Star app will give hoop fans best NYC experience

Hardcore NBA fans are already making their plans for the NBA All Star weekend at the Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. With that in mind, the NBA hopes to help hoop fans squeeze out every drop of hoop excitement with the NBA All Star NYC Android app – designed to give sports fans great insider access to all the action.



From cheering on the Three-Point competition where the Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will be going head to head, or watching in slack-jawed awe at the dunkers in the Sprite Slam Dunk Competition – the NBA All Star app aims to fill the gaps in between so you wouldn’t have to worry about missing any action, or getting lost, for that matter.


NBA-All-Star


The app aims to give venue attendees access to real-time location-specific notifications. It will also give you arena maps and seating charts, to make sure you never have to ask an usher where your seat is. Of course, there will be rapid replays of all the great plays bound to happen all over the place during the whole weekend.


NBAAllStar2014_V1_460x285


So if you’re going to NYC on February 7 and 8, get this app absolutely free (check source link below). Or for those of us not going, we can still download the app and silently follow all the action, or even pretending we’re there. Yeah, that’s kinda lame.


DOWNLOAD: Google Play Store





Humble Mobile Bundle features Cartoon Network games

The great guys over at Humble Bundle have something new for all you mobile and casual gamers out there – presenting the Humble Cartoon Network Mobile Bundle. This is a collection of more than a dozen Cartoon Network game apps available for you at the low, low price of somewhere around USD$8.00.



Of course, in the tradition of the Humble Bundle, you can give any amount you want to give. That will get you four games that are of course, Cartoon Network-themed – including Adventure Time: Treasure Fetch, Regular Show: Best Park in the Universe, Regular Show: Ghost Toasters, and Regular Show: Ride ‘em Rigby. If you have no idea what Adventure Time and Regular Show is, you have no business getting this bundle. Or you can go ask your kid what it is.


Adventure-Time-Humble-Mobile-Bundle-Cartoon-Network


Pay more than the average – which as of writing is around USD$6.25 – and you get these great games as well: Adventure Time: Jumping Finn Turbo, CN Superstar Soccer, Regular Show: The Great Prank War, Ski Safari: Adventure Time. Pay USD$8.00 or more gets you the top tier of games as well which includes – Adventure Time: Time Tangle, Monsters ate my Birthday Cake, and The Powerpuff Girls: Defenders of Townsville.




So, you fancy having some adventure time of your own? Or is this game something you’d want to get for your kids? Whatever the case, you’d probably be in a win-win situation – score great dad or mom points, and donate some cash to charity as well via Humble Bundle’s charity work.


SOURCE: Humble Bundle





Charge 8 devices at once with OctoFire USB hub

With the many gadgets that we bring with us everyday, like smartphones, tablets, external hard drives, ebook readers, cameras, wireless mice (mouse), etc, etc, our computers' or laptops' USB hubs and wall sockets seem to never be enough. A new Kickstarter project called OctoFire 8 Port USB 3.0 hub will solve charging and data transfer problems that normally plague the multi-gadget users, promising to deliver even more than the normal wall charging gives your devices.



In terms of charging, the hub gives you 2.4 amps (12 watts) for each port and also has intelligent device detection so that it will bring optimal power to the devices you attach to it. Another great thing about this port is that even if it is not connected to a computer or laptop, it can serve as a stand-alone charger. It also has protection against over-heating, over-charging, over-current, and over-voltage so your gadgets will be as safe as they can.



photo-1024x768



In terms of data transfer, it has a rate of 5GBps and is equipped with USB 3.0, so bringing files from your hard drive or flash drive to your computer and vice versa will be a breeze. And because it is designed orthogonally, there will be no wire crossing or messy cords all around, even if there will be more than one person using it. The 100-240OV AC input makes it compatible with most international standards.



1d61971eb9118a5f164b55b875aa5cf4_large



They've already reached their funding goal of $20,000, with still 23 days left in their campaign. You can pledge as low as $66 (or more) to be able to get the OctoFire 8 Port USB 3.0 hub before it reaches the retail market. Estimated delivery date for backers is April this year.


VIA: Kickstarter


Android 5.0 finally reaches the Android Distribution chart

It was a long time coming, but finally it's here. Google's sweet Lollipop has finally reached enough numbers to qualify for inclusion in the Android Distribution chart as of February 2. This marks the version's stronger push in the market. The question now is how fast will the adoption be, given Android 5.0 is already experiencing a few technical difficulties in rolling out to devices, even among Google's own Nexus ranks.



Despite the initial fervor surrounding Android's biggest release yet, it isn't exactly surprising to see Android 5.0 take some time before it reaches even 0.1 percent of the market, the minimum share required to gain entry into the pie chart. The changes that it brings are quite significant, both under the hood and in design, that it was bound to hit a few bumps on the road when it comes to rolling it out to existing devices.


In fact, it was only a few days ago that Google finally released Android 5.0.2 factory images for its own Nexus 7 mobile versions, both 2012 and 2013 editions, hinting that there might have been some issues with adaptation. Even HTC hints at problems when it announced that carrier versions of its HTC One M7 and M8 smartphones wouldn't be getting Lollipop within its 90-day promise.



android-distribution-2015-02



Despite those issues, Android 5.0 finally managed to break through the 0.1 percent barrier, even going as far as capping out at 1.6 percent. The sudden bump up sparks hope at a faster rate in the coming months. As for the rest of the gang, Android 4.4 KitKat unsurprisingly but only minimally increased its numbers, from 39.10 percent to 39.70. All the rest went down, even old timers like Jelly Bean and Gingerbread. All except Android 2.2 Froyo, which didn't move at all and still surprisingly remains on the chart at 0.40 percent.


SOURCE: Google





Verizon brings Android 5.0 Lollipop to Samsung Galaxy S5

The different variants of Samsung Galaxy S5 has been receiving Android 5.0 Lollipop updates albeit slowly. Those in the UK recently got their software update last month. We saw a video before 2014 ended that showed off the Lollipop sweetness in action on the Galaxy Note 4, Note Edge, and the Galaxy S5. In the US, Verizon Wireless subscribers are lucky to receive an update to the Android 5.0 Lollipop this week.



The Galaxy S5 getting a taste of the Lollipop means new features for the smartphone. Runtime has been improved and the mobile OS now features 3D views and complex animations, all thanks to Material Design elements. The update also allows the phone to access more apps and Android services on other connected screens like wearables, cars, and TVs. This also means a wider reach for the flagship smartphone from the South Korean giant.


With Material Design in mind, the Samsung Galaxy S5 gets more vivid colored themes, more fluid animations, and 3-D views. The on/off toggle button style has also been updated. For quicker access, shortcuts for Camera and Phone have been added together with Material Design-inspired notifications. As with most notification apps, you can now set privacy and priority for notifications that you want to appear on the lock screen.


With the Android 5.0 update, you can now control sound settings with advanced options. With priority notifications, you can set such for messages, phone calls, events, and reminders. You can now even set downtime for certain times and days, as well as, automatically control notification sounds.


Lastly, you can now access recently accessed or favorite Chrome tabs from the Recent apps page. No need to open Chrome app to view old tabs because you can access them easily from the Recent apps. For those who like to multi-task, there are multi-window icons for more convenience.


SOURCE: Verizon Wireless





Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)