All racing sim fans should buy this Android game right now!
The quality of Android games is steadily increasing, as is the appeal of Android itself, which has in-turn lured some lucrative iOS developers to release their games on the Google Play Store.
One such game is Motorsport Madness by Christian West who has brought his hit game over from iOS, and boy is it good!
FEATURES
• This is your racing team. Hire drivers, develop your car and invest in technology.
• Work with your drivers to achieve the perfect qualifying lap.
• Formulate the ideal pitstop strategy to win races.
• Watch the race in real-time or jump into the strategy screens to take control of the action.
• React to weather changes, crashes and safety car periods.
• Win championships across the world to reach the pinnacle of motorsport.
If you’re an F1 fan, or even just share an appreciation for motorsport racing and simulation games then you need this game on your Android device.
Download it now from the link below.
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Accessory of the Day: RAVPower 3000mAh portable charger, $9.99
Increase your battery life on just about any smartphone imaginable with this extremely portable 3000mAh portable charger from RAVPower. Sleek, powerful, and backed by hundreds of 5-star reviews, this charger boosts your phone’s life duration for just $9.99 (Prime eligible).
Join Prime and get this deal with FREE two-day shipping!
Also worth checking out:
The post Accessory of the Day: RAVPower 3000mAh portable charger, $9.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
WhatsApp web client now supports Firefox and Opera
Last month, WhatsApp launched a desktop version of its popular messaging service, which arrived as a web app for Google’s Chrome web browser. The company has now updated its web client to work with Firefox and Opera browsers as well.
As before, the desktop client mirrors your conversations and messages from your mobile device and still requires you to scan a QR code on your computer via your phone in order to get started.
To use the service, simply head on over to web.whatsapp.com through Chrome, Firefox or Opera and scan the barcode. If you aren’t using the online messaging service yet, you can try out the app for free from the Google Play Store.
WhatsApp Web: https://t.co/BPQLxqKDSj – Firefox and Opera browsers are now supported! pic.twitter.com/D4aQiy5IC6
— WhatsApp Inc. (@WhatsApp) February 25, 2015
Report: Google to launch Android Pay at I/O
Google has been trying to push its mobile and online payment options over the past couple of years, but still hasn’t implemented a universal payment mechanism for Android users. However, that could be about to change this year, as sources are suggesting that Google will announce a new payment API, named Android Pay, at its I/O conference in May.
Unlike Google Wallet, the Android Pay API will be “built from the group up” for Android. It will apparently allow developers to easily integrate mobile payment options into their apps, which users can pay for through registered credit or debit cards. The aim seems to be to create a simple one-tap payment option for Android developers and customers. The API will be based on Google’s Host Card Emulation (HCE) technology, which is linked to your smartphone’s NFC chip.
Less than a week ago, we also heard similar rumors regarding a revamped Google Wallet service, to also be unveiled at I/O later this year. According to the report, Google is attempting to bring device manufacturers, carriers, banks and payment networks together to support its payment platform.
Interestingly, the source states that Android Pay and Google Wallet APIs will continue to co-exist side by side, but that Wallet will be supported by Android Pay. Google Wallet’s existing “Instant Buy API”, for example, already allows for app developers to implement a “Buy with Google” button, but this could be integrated to receive payments from both of Google’s services.
True or not, Google definitely appears to be stepping up its efforts in the mobile payments space this year. Third party developers, such as WePay, continue to integrate its APIs, Google is reportedly working on a Bluetooth based mobile payment service and also recently acquired Softcard (formerly Isis).
Meizu will show off the MX4 Ubuntu Edition at MWC
Canonical has been promising Ubuntu for mobile devices for as far back as we can remember, even releasing limited ROMs for installation on select Android devices. As far as commercial devices with the OS pre-loaded? Last week BQ and Canonical brought the world (well, Europe at least…) the first Ubuntu phone, a modified Aquaris E4.5. Now it seems that Meizu is finally getting in the game as well.
While we’ve known that Meizu was working with Canonical for a long while now, this morning we received word from the Chinese OEM that it will be introducing the Meizu MX4 “Ubuntu Edition” at MWC. Unlike the low-end Aquaris, the MX4 packs reasonably decent specs including a 5.36-inch 1080p display, a MediaTek MT6595 octa-core processor with 2GB RAM. Other specs include a 20.7MP camera with dual LED, and Flyme 4.0 OS (based on KitKat).
We can’t say for sure if the MX4 Ubuntu Edition will feature any changes to the spec sheet, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it remains largely the same device with the exception of the OS. No details on pricing just yet either, though you can probably expect pricing similar to the Android variant, which is currently offered for around $350 on Amazon.
We’ll be on the floor at MWC and will bring you more details about the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition as we learn them. What do you think, interested in the idea of a mid-range Ubuntu-powered device or is the effort doomed from the start? Let us know what you think in the comments.
A closer look at Samsung’s new UFS memory and why it’s important
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1
Following on from its recent eMMC 5.1 and ePOP mobile memory chip announcements, earlier Samsung announced that it is to begin mass production of in-house memory packages based on the Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 2.0 standard. This technology could soon become the default memory technology in high-end mobile products.
UFS is pegged as a successor to the current eMMC standard for embedded NAND flash memory, and aims to offer some of the benefits of faster SSD memory in a lower-energy chip. The package contains the NAND flash memory and controller, designed for small, mobile products. According to Samsung, UFS offers high performance benefits of the SATA interface used in PCs and the flash-optimized low power consumption of eMMC.
In terms of speed, UFS 2.0 comes in two types – HS-G2 allows for a bandwidth of 5.8Gbps, while HS-G3 has a peak bandwidth of up to 11.6Gbp/s.
Samsung’s UFS solution claims to achieve 19,000 Input/output operations per second for reads, almost double the 11,000 IOPS offered by eMMC 5.1. Samsung also claims that bandwidth can scale to 1200MB/s, three times as fast as eMMC 5.1, and that latency can fall to 50us, although we will have to wait and see if these claims make their way into products. Furthermore, UFS’s serial interface and Full-Duplex data transfer can offer two to four times the peak bandwidth of eMMC’s parallel 8-bit interface. Different manufacturer implementations of UFS will produce slightly different speed results, but you can read a full breakdown of the technology here.
Essentially, UFS will make any task requiring memory access that little bit faster. Memory bandwidth is very important for recording high-resolution video content and other memory intensive reading or writing tasks, which are becoming increasingly common operations in mobile devices. Downloading data through a fast WiFi or USB connection and installing apps can also be bottlenecked by slow memory, but UFS’s scalable 6GBps bandwidth should overcome this issue.
Samsung claims that data transfer times between PC and mobile can be reduced by 50 percent compared with eMMC, and UFS can provide about a 60 percent reduction in latency compared to eMMC, if app swapping is supported by the host. With networking speeds constantly increasing, UFS is a more futureproof solution for mobile products.
Via: AnandTech
Samsung also boasts a 50 percent reduction in energy consumption, meaning that devices should be able to run for longer, especially when playing back from large files, such as video. This could be particularly beneficial in devices with higher resolution displays which can make use of high-end content.
Samsung aims to provide the new memory type in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities, another sure sign that this technology is destined for the premium tier of mobile products in the near future. Toshiba and Qualcomm are also known to be working on UFS memory technologies, suggesting that the standard will eventually be integrated into a wider range of mobile SoCs.
Given the timing of the announcement and the fact that the Galaxy S6 is rumored to come in 32GB, 64GB, an 128GB versions, there’s a solid chance the new flagship will feature this USF memory module. That should help with performance and battery consumption, though other factors weigh in the balance as well.
6tag 4.0 temporarily pulled due to crashing bug, fix due soon
This morning, Rudy Huyn released 6tag 4.0, bringing some of the latest Instagram features to Windows Phone like new filters and finally being able to edit posts.
One issue many of you are noticing is that after you update your existing 6tag app, the program fails to load. Instead, it back out and goes back to your Start screen (or menu). Turns out it is a cache incompatibility problems and uninstalling and reinstalling the app appears to fix it.
OEM Leather Flip Cases for BlackBerry Passport are 38% off today only!
This leather case opens like a book, leaving access to all the essential functions of your BlackBerry Passport while closed. Even with having both front and back protection against scratches and impacts, this leather flip case keeps your Passport pretty slim overall. There’s even a BlackBerry logo embedded in the leather on the front flap that shows off the case’s authenticity. Available in black or tan today for just $27.95
Fable Legends will be free-to-play on both Xbox One and Windows 10
Lionhead Studios has announced that Fable Legends, the upcoming multiplayer game for Xbox One and Windows 10, will be free-to-play. The studio explains that everything will be balanced to ensure those who opt not to purchase anything in-game will be able to be just as strong as those who invest in their characters. They want you to have fun.
Brikk Announces Diamond-Studded Apple Watches Costing Up to $75,000
While the Apple Watch is not expected to be released until April, luxury and couture product design company Brikk today announced a line of 30 luxury models for the upcoming smartwatch that they claim, “will afford unmatched opulence to an exclusive clientele worldwide.”
Similar to the Apple Watch in terms of sizes, the line of Lux Watches will be available in 38mm and 42mm, with color options of 24-karat yellow gold, 18-karat pink gold, and 950 platinum alongside varying band options. There are also three editions to the line: Standard, Deluxe, and Omni. All versions of the Lux Watch are prepared through disassembling Apple Watches that the company then repurposes with their luxury materials in a “state-of-the-art laboratory.”
The basic Standard edition offers a single row of diamonds (.50 carats) and a leather strap, while the mid-tier Deluxe has multiple rows of diamonds (2.3 carats), diamond encrusted buttons, and a diamond studded clasp on its leather strap.
The Lux Watch Omni edition in 24k yellow gold with 12.3 carats of diamonds
“For the ultimate in exclusivity,” Brikk offers the Lux Watch Omni edition with a fully diamond-emblazoned case resulting in over 12 carats of jewels on the device. The company promises only the highest end of luxury and satisfaction in purchasing one of their new line of high-end devices, which they’ve done before with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
The Lux Watch line stands out thanks to its meticulous production processes. Each piece is disassembled inside Brikk’s state-of-the-art laboratory in Los Angeles by a team of skilled engineers. They are hand polished, then plated with five layers of diverse metals before their final plating in either two layers of gold or platinum. High quality diamonds (color D, clarity VVS1) are set with a microscope in a custom-machined bezel. Each piece is then reassembled and tested before shipping to clients.
The line will set those interested back $7,495 for the Standard, $11,995 for the Deluxe, and $69,995 for the Omni, and all prices fluctuate slightly higher for larger sizes. Brikk promises that each comes in a “Zero Halliburton aluminum case with carbon fiber interior”, with a user manual, the expected accessories, a 1-year warranty, and a diamond-studded certificate of authenticity.
While Apple has taken a decidedly fashion-skewed angle in beginning to market the Apple Watch, Brikk’s new diamond-encrusted offerings appear to be a more straightforward answer to those looking for more of a statement with the new wearable.
Pricing guesses have jumped between $10,000 and $20,000 for the high-end Apple Watch Edition, so while the Lux line’s lower-end models could fall in line with Apple’s own mid-to-upper tier models, the Omni edition offered by Brikk may in fact be the most expensive version of the Watch on the market when the device launches this Spring.
Those interested in the Lux Watch line can visit Brikk’s official website to place a pre-order, which requires a deposit and is expected to ship between 4-6 weeks following the official Apple Watch launch in April.
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