Moto 360 5.1.1 update delayed due to performance issues
You can lay off checking for updates on your Moto 360 for the time being. A tweet from Motorola Mobility has revealed that the long-awaited Android Wear 5.1.1 update isn’t yet ready for prime time.
“@davidcstevens_ Performance is not quite there yet. We’re working with Google to ensure the software works great on #Moto360. Thanks.“
This is pretty disappointing considering that 5.1.1 for smartwatches was announced back in April, and that several devices have been updated already, including the original LG G Watch. But at least Motorola provided some insight and has not remained silent.
I have to question whether the performance issues stem from Motorola’s decision to use the aged TI OMAP 3 chipset for the Moto 360, while other manufacturers were going for the newer Snapdragon 400.
Android Wear 5.1.1 brings some significant updates, such as always-on apps and Wifi support.
Hopefully with Google’s help Motorola can quickly get the update up to speed and on our wrists.
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Google Street View takes to the undersea
Ever since Google introduced Street View, they have been trying to cover as much land as possible. Adding to their ever growing collection, Street View now has a wide number of scenic spots and historical monuments covered for all to see and admire.
In a bold new move of expanding the horizons of Street View, Google has taken to the ocean now. The World Oceans Day is soon approaching on June 8 and with only days left to spare, Google has been preparing a different kind of Google Street View. It is the result of 4 years of partnership between Google and XL Catlin Seaview Survey, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the Chagos Conservation Trust.
Two humpback whales swimming in the Cook Islands in the South Pacific
The main idea behind this project is not just to give a ‘swim with the dolphins’ feeling but to highlight the under sea damage that humans have been causing all these years. Google commented:
“Home to the majority of life on Earth, the ocean acts as its life support system, controlling everything from our weather and rainfall to the oxygen we breathe. Yet despite the ocean’s vital importance, the ocean is changing at a rapid rate due to climate change, pollution, and over-fishing…”
Google already has 40 locations around the world ready to view, including the American Samoa and Chagos Islands and underwater dives in Bali, the Bahamas and the Great Barrier Reef.
Although, this is not something new for Google. We have seen earlier this year when an underwater footage from Brazil’s UNESCO World Heritage sites was unveiled.
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Phiaton BT 220 NC noise-cancelling wireless earphones review
Up for review today we have the Phiaton BT 220 NC noise-cancelling wireless earphones. We’ve reviewed a handful of products from Phiaton in the past and have always been pleased with the results. Spoiler alert: we really liked these, too. But, that doesn’t mean they’re perfect.
When reviewing headphones, earbuds, and things of this nature there are typically two things consumers look for. Are they comfortable? How do they sound?
Comfort
In short, we found these earphones to be very comfortable to wear, even for longer periods. My wife likes to wear them when she goes for runs while I typically use headphones for mowing and bike rides.
We went with the default ear tips that came with the earphones as they fit quite nicely. Should these not feel good to you there are others in the box. In fact, the Phiatons come with four sets of silicon ear tips and one set of memory foam. Regardless of ear size or shape there’s something for everyone.
There’s also an included neck strap however we didn’t bother with them. The main unit itself has a clip on the back which allows wearers to attach it to a sleeve or neck of a shirt. Your experience and preference may vary, but we couldn’t think of a solid reason to attach the strap.
Sound
As is the case with other models we’ve tested with Phiaton, the sound is excellent here. Whether it’s corded or wireless, noise-cancelling or not, this brand consistently delivers a solid sound experience.
This particular model offers noise-cancelling which can be accessed by sliding a little toggle on the side. Whether you want or need to use this feature remains to be seen, however, I like to enable it when there’s some sort of ambient noise to contend with. To me it’s like when your ears pop on an airplane and suddenly everything is so much clearer.
Lawnmower engine, air from riding a bicycle, or general traffic noises are essentially turned off. Don’t get us wrong, things work well even if you don’t bother with it. In all fairness, my wife didn’t realize this was even an option. Beyond that, she doesn’t use the earphones in situations which might merit the noise-cancellation.
I’m not the tech and spec guy so I won’t talk up things too much here. But, looking through the Phiaton page I find they offer the following details:
- Frequency Range: 10 Hz ~ 27 kHz
- Impedance: 32 Ohm
- THD: Less than 1% at 1 kHz
- Sensitivity: 100 dB at 1 kHz
Both highs and lows are very clear and I never encountered something that seemed muddy or tinny. I listen to a wide assortment of musical genres and nowhere did I find that sound came across as lacking. Even at high volume levels, the Phiaton is able to deliver a consistent and enjoyable audio experience.
Battery
According to Phiaton you should end up with up to 16 hours of calling time, 17 hours of music-listening, and upwards of 300 hours of standby. We typically don’t measure the actual hours but suffice it to say these are not a pain in the butt, charging-wise.
Given we’re prone to charging phones over night and carrying around portable power supplies for in a pinch, we didn’t have to worry about these earphones. Between my wife and I we were able to use these a few times each before one of charged them up.
One area of improvement, however, comes in the notification of life. Although there is a notification of a low battery we didn’t know exactly what percentage we were at our how much longer we had. Would they last for a quick couple mile run or are they gonna die in the next ten minutes?
If there were some sort of audible alert that mentions “50% or 25% battery remaining” we’d have felt more at peace. But, even in the few weeks we played with these we never got stuck with a pair of dead earphones halfway through an activity.
Functions
Everything you might expect in a pair of Bluetooth headphones is present, including volume, track advance, play and pause. What’s more the noise-cancelling option (see above) is a nice added touch.
We like that we’re able to pair two smartphones to the device at the same time. This makes for a hassle-free experience which lets both of us grab them and go without slowing down to pair or reset.
Many modern smartphones feature NFC connectivity of which the earphones are able to take advantage. Simply tap the earphones to your phone and you’re paired and ready to go. It’s quick, easy to do, and worked every time we tried.
One area we weren’t totally in love was the overall shape and design of the controller. Not that we didn’t appreciate its sleek design and lightweight presence. Essentially we were accustomed to another pair of Phiaton headphones and liked that setup better.
As one of our favorite Bluetooth headphones of the last few years, we really liked the egg shape and directional toggle of the now-discontinued PS 20 BT. To us, at least, it was easier to control tracks and volume without looking. Reach down and you have the D-pad joystick-like thing which works great. On the other hand, the BT 220 NC is more polished and sophisticated looking.
Price
Expect to pay somewhere between $160-$180 for these headphones; they don’t come cheaply. But, having spent the better part of three years with a different pair of Phiatons we know they’re built to last. We’re not saying you can be lazy or treat them roughly but we know they can take moderate abuse with no problem.
There’s nothing here in this model to suggest they are not worth the money. Everything is put together soundly and the entire experience is solid.
You can find the BT 220 NC online through a variety of retailers including Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy.
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‘Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lion’ lands on the Google Play Store
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lion is now available on the Google Play Store, after a two year exclusive stint with iOS.
As far as differences between the Android and iOS platforms go, there really isn’t any besides new multi-touch controls. All the same content from its launch on the PSP in 2007 is pretty much all there.
Keep in mind that this isn’t your usually Final Fantasy game. As the title of the game suggests, it puts more of an emphasis on strategy over its traditional turn-based style.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this game is that it was originally a 1987 title and his made its way over to mobile systems 25+ years later.
You can pick up the game on the Google Play Store for $13.99. It’s certainly a steep price, but it’s packed full of content. If you’re interested, be sure to scan the QR code or hit the download link below.
Come comment on this article: ‘Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lion’ lands on the Google Play Store
Platinum Edition of Vivo X5 Max to sport 4150 mAh battery
Slim phones are all the rage these days as smartphone manufacturers try to find new and interesting ways to market their latest flagships. If they are not trying to make them run faster with beefier specs, increased their screen resolutions with HD display, then they are trying to make them slim and sleek. While at the moment it does not appear that you can have everything in just one device, Vivo has come a bit closer with their latest offering, The Vivo X5 Max Platinum Edition.
As you may recall (its okay if you do not) the Vivo X5 was released in November of last year and was lauded as being the thinnest smartphone on the market. A different approach to marketing, as most smartphone manufacturers are currently more preoccupied with filling their phones with as much as they can without really trying to make their phones any thinner. This though does not mean that the X5 Max was a slacker when it came to specs, as it released with Android Kitkat, 2GB of Ram, and a 615 Snapdragon Processor. Not too shabby, minus the 2000 mAh battery.
Now Vivo is back and is building on the Vivo X5 with a Platinum Edition by fixing one of its predecessors biggest issues, the battery. The Platinum Edition comes with a massive 4150 mAh battery, bigger than the Droid Turbos already impressive 3900 mAh battery, and a new processor chip, the MediaTek MT 6752. Vivo did have to sacrifice some of the slim factors of the X5 Max to be able to fit everything inside, however though, at 7.2 mm thick, it is still a super slim smartphone.
The bigger battery requires little explanation, bigger battery equals longer life. So now you can watch all of those episodes of Game of Thrones since you have been too busy hitting your head on the wall because your Vivo X5 Max kept dying on you as you attempted to sneak an episode in during your lunch break. Regarding the upgraded chipset, the MediaTek MT 6752 comes with 8 processor cores clocked at 1.7 GHz.
| Vivo X5 Max Platinum Edition | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 4150 mAh |
| Chipset | MediaTek MT 6752 Octa-Core processor, 1.7 GHz |
| Display | 5.5-inch 1080 x 1920 Super AMOLED |
| Memory | 2GB of RAM |
| Color Choices | Gold and White |
With all of these improvesmnes, the Vivo X5 Max Platinum Edition offers some worthwile improvesments if you want a super thin phone with some great specs. The Vivo X5 Max Platinum Edition has not gone on sale just yet, but you can bet that we will let you (our amazing readers) know when it does.
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Lara Croft: Relic Run – an intense runner game review
Lara Croft, this very name will remind anybody of Angelina Jolie as the adventurous treasure hunter. And that’s what this game is about. If you like to spend hours on endless running games and still come back for more then Lara Croft: Relic Run is the game to have on your device.
Since the introduction of Temple Run, countless running games have been released. Each offering something different, but all the more a same running style sequence where you collects coins and duck or jump to keep running. Also, the usual power ups. It gets boring after a while and we stop playing them. Lara Croft: Relic Run is all that and much more. It will keep you coming back for more. It’s got weapons, ATV’s and motorcycles and of course our dear Lara.
It’s a whole new twist to behind-the-back running games. Every time, I played the game it showed me something new. The variety of obstacles is absolutely crazy! This game is incredibly well made and you’ll find yourself parkouring over obstacles , wall-running over pits, and riding a motorcycle or even an ATV! You may even ride a T-Rex at some point in the game (No, I’m not kidding). There are also some boss fights and light combat. The game has you find and collect relics. Each relic requires some components to complete, all of which have to be found in one single run. If Lara dies, you have to start over again.
Lara Croft: Relic Run totally beats the crap out of some popular runner games like Spider-Man Unlimited and Despicable Me: Minion Rush. Those games are great, agreed. But none of them have the character firing weapons at prehistoric lizard people or even battling a damn T-Rex! I have got to give credit to SQUARE ENIX Ltd for developing such an awesome game.
With all that being said, the game currently has two maps, with more to come soon. Its also got a wide range of items in the store such as diamonds, weapons, armour and health packs. Almost everything can be purchased with coins and upgrades are fairly easy to get. There is also something called ‘Resurrection Ankh’ which keeps Lara from dying and can be purchased with diamonds. Also, there are no other characters, but different outfits can be bought from the store so you can customize Lara.
Onto the issues, the game is a tad hard to play. Twisty paths, with the game constantly shoving new obstacles in your face will make you lose concentration and die very quickly. It requires instant reflexes. Also, I experienced a slight lag sometimes with the game not registering my swipes when I did them quickly.
Lara Croft: Relic Run has surely given new meaning to its genre of games. A challenging runner game which shows a lot of promise. Enhancing the gameplay and variety to another level, giving new legs to the endless running spectacle.
What we like:
- Nice graphics
- Immersive gameplay
- Variety in playability
What needs improvement:
- Game optimization
- Difficulty level
Did you check out Lara Croft: Relic Run? Tell us what you thought in the comments!
Screenshots
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Organize your life with Centrallo, a fresh look
Just about eight and a half months after my original Centrallo review, Centrallo has released a material design update. I am going to take a fresh look at the app with its updated design!
Centrallo is an organizational app that aims to add order to your life.
It is actually an ingeniously simple concept. You can add lists and notes. Each list can contain more lists and notes.
Usage
The Good
The simplicity of the app is the real attraction here. Centrallo has the easiest to use interface. Everything is intuitive to use, but some of the glyphs for images are a bit tough to decipher. After playing around, it is very easy to use.
Centrallo is perfect for organizing projects or thoughts.
As stated in the previous review, the cross platform usability is also a nice plus. It works on desktop, iOS and Android devices. Another thing being done right is each app has been specifically designed for the particular platform.
The Android app isn’t an iOS port, it is a full fledged app with material design and all things that Android users love.
The Middle Ground
Sharing capabilities could be better still. While people can now view lists or notes without a Centrallo account, the in-app sharing is a bit buggy. This will most likely be fixed in future builds.
Actually, sharing doesn’t work at all. I have to copy the link provided and share that to others. It isn’t a bad thing, it is just that there is an option for sharing to things like Facebook or Google Plus, but they don’t actually work. Yet.
Update: The sharing functionality now works as it would be expected to! Once again, the Centrallo team is very quick when it comes to user concerns and suggestions..
The Bad
There really isn’t anything that bad. The only thing I miss is a checklist type function. You can make lists, but there is no real way to make it a checklists.
In order to make a checklist, I have to use lists and notes. From there, I change all items that are done to one color and the items not done to another color. It is a crude but effect solution.
You can always archive or delete items that are done, but I prefer to keep them so that I know what I have and haven’t accomplished.
Interface
The Good
Material design! Really, is there anything else to say about it? A year after Android L previews and material design debuted, material design is still hard to come by. Only two of my daily apps have material design implemented excluding Google apps and including Centrallo.
The interface is snappy and beautiful. It actually makes the app even more enjoyable to use.
The Middle Ground
There really isn’t middle ground to be had about material design. Some love it, some hate it. Some really don’t care. It is just kind of like “Tada, I’m pretty now!”, and Centrallo is definitely that, pretty.
The Bad
The update to material design removes the ability to change the color scheme. That isn’t a big deal though because the current look is amazing and has no need to change.
Only other thing I have to complain about is the timing. Really? An entire year? Oh well, I guess it takes time to look this good.
![Screenshot_20150604-231844[1]](https://i2.wp.com/www.androidguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Screenshot_20150604-2318441-169x300.png?resize=169%2C300)
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Striiv Fusion: Minimalist smartwatch and fitness tracker
Everybody wants to live a happy and fulfilled life full of fun activities and good health but when you begin throwing in the stresses of work, chores, appointments and scheduling, taking care of yourself can get lost in the shuffle. By neglecting a routine workout and restful sleep, we’re only exacerbating the issue and heading toward a cycle of unfulfillment and depression. With a little bit of wearable tech on your side, you can break that cycle and start feeling alive!
The Striiv Fusion is a smartwatch crossed with an activity tracker that packs the best of both worlds into a single sleek product. It tracks your physical activity, monitors your sleep patterns, supports text/e-mail/phone notifications and is even water-resistant. Everything you could need, condensed into a minimal form factor that’s as comfortable as it is stylish. Striiv Fusion regularly sells for $100, but AndroidGuys readers get 39% off and can snag this lifestyle companion for only $59.99!
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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Retailers Cite ‘Insufficient Customer Demand’ as Biggest Reason for Not Supporting Apple Pay
Despite Apple dubbing 2015 “the year of Apple Pay” in its January earnings call, a number of big-name retailers remain skeptical over the contactless payments service, according to Reuters. The service launched last October in the U.S. and has steadily gained support from numerous banks and retailers in the months since.
Working through the National Retail Federation’s top 100 United States merchants, of which Apple said “about half” would begin to accept Apple Pay this year, Reuters found the company’s predictions may be “too optimistic,” with many retailers remaining skeptical about Apple Pay.
Since then, the company has aggressively courted retailers – and claimed significant success. “We’ve spoken to all of the top 100 merchants in the U.S., and about half will accept Apple Pay this year, with many more the following year,” a company spokesperson recently told Reuters.
After questioning and interviewing a total of 98 of the top 100 NRF merchants, it was discovered that fewer than a quarter of the retailers currently accept Apple Pay while nearly two-thirds of the companies confirmed they would not be supporting the mobile payments service this year. Just four retailers confirmed to Reuters that they would in fact be joining the support of Apple Pay in 2015.
Apple has still made significant progress since the service’s debut last October, increasing retail acceptance to over 700,000 points of sale as of the last financial Apple Pay update in March. According to one retailer not accepting Apple Pay, the Cupertino-based company comes on strong when pitching to possible partners.
Interviews with retailers suggest that the company has relied on aggressive marketing to recruit participants. “They have been pushing hard and it’s been that way for months,” said the representative of one large retailer that has no plans to accept Apple Pay. “They have called and tried to persuade us even after we communicated our decision to them.” The company hasn’t adopted Apple Pay, he said, because not even a “small percentage” of its customers have asked for it.
When searching for a reason why so many companies were against backing the service, “insufficient customer demand” was the biggest reason cited by merchants. This was followed by lack of data access granted to customer buying habits, cost of installation, and support of other contactless payments solutions like Current-C. Twenty-eight total retailers noted that lack of data access, and the inability to send customized advertisements to individual users like traditional credit cards allow, is a “key reason” they won’t accept Apple Pay.
Despite questions about the future of Apple Pay, its current partners echo enthusiasm in customer satisfaction and ease-of-use with Apple Pay. Whole Foods spokesperson Michael Silverman told Reuters that Apple’s mobile wallet accounted for 2 percent of its sales dollars as of March, with an expected increase in the future. “Our shoppers are really enjoying the speed, convenience and security of Apple Pay,” Silverman said. With WWDC around the corner, and rumors of much-requested features such as a rewards program coming to the platform, its likely additional companies will come around to Apple Pay as Apple beefs up the still fairly nascent service and consumer traction continues to improve.
Going Android: How Nintendo could learn from Amazon
Nintendo may have quashed rumors that its next-generation “NX” console will run Android, but that isn’t enough to stop the speculators. After all, the company has a history of denials that weren’t entirely forthright. Remember how the console maker downplayed talk of a supersized 3DS in early June 2012, only to announce that very device weeks later? Yeah. Whomever you believe, the scuttlebutt raises a big question: Just what would Nintendo do with Android? Would it see much of a benefit versus handling everything in-house? If Amazon’s experience building a heavily customized version of Android is any indication, the answer is yes — but it wouldn’t be the cure-all that you might hope for.
More games, but not always better
Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata (right) announces mobile game partnership with DeNA.
If you’re a long-time gamer, you know that one of Nintendo’s ages-old challenges has been getting third-party developers to make games for its TV-based consoles. Big-name brands either skip the platforms entirely or jump ship after deciding that the low sales aren’t worth overcoming the technical hurdles of Nintendo’s frequently eccentric hardware. And there’s no doubt that Nintendo could use some help from outside. It’s so heavily dependent on its own titles that its profits are frequently linked to its flagship games’ release schedules — if there isn’t a new blockbuster on store shelves, it loses money. In theory, a richer library would prevent that financial roller coaster ride.
That’s precisely why Nintendo would embrace Android with open arms, according to the Nikkei rumor. There are already legions of developers writing Android apps for mobile devices, so it wouldn’t be a big stretch for them to either port existing apps or write new ones. Moreover, it would open the doors to developers who hadn’t even considered living room apps before. Make a few tweaks and that phone app potentially reaches millions more people.
Amazon’s experience with its Fire TV media hub would suggest that there’s some wisdom to this strategy. Although it launched primarily as a media player with a very Amazon-centric interface, its use of a modified version of Android (Fire OS) opened the door to 1,600 apps and services that, in many cases, are adaptations of mobile titles. The device is likely more flexible than it would have been, especially when it comes to gaming; witness the big-screen versions of Minecraft Pocket Edition and Candy Crush Saga if you need proof. Could Amazon have persuaded at least some of these firms to write apps for a completely proprietary Fire TV? Probably, but Android meant the company didn’t have to. A seasoned studio can release Fire TV apps without investing a ton of development time and taking on additional risks.
Amazon’s heavily skinned Fire OS runs on Android.
However, that same virtue has also been something of a vice for Amazon. Android might make it easier to write apps for a device, but it offers no guarantees that you’ll get better apps. In fact, it frequently encourages quick-and-dirty conversions that do little to take advantage of hardware. The Fire TV version of Game of Thrones isn’t really different from what you’d get on a good Android tablet with a gamepad. Even on NVIDIA’s Shield devices, some of the biggest releases are straightforward conversions of older PC games like Portal. About the only advantage is playing in your living room instead of your home office.
For Nintendo, these straight-up ports probably wouldn’t cut it. The company might appreciate filling in some of the gaps in its catalog, but what’s the likelihood that an Android developer would go the extra mile to make a game that shines on the NX? Not high. Although set-top boxes like the Fire TV and OUYA certainly prove that Android games can work on the big screen, there are few compelling reasons to get them if you can afford a higher-powered console or a decent computer. Nintendo won’t get you to forgo a PlayStation or Xbox with the same game catalog you could play on your phone, and a title that truly does justice to a system will take a lot of special code. That’s certainly possible with Android, but there isn’t much incentive to using a ready-made platform if studios still have to bend over backward to offer support.
Tie-ins with other devices
Nintendo’s New 3DS and 3DS LL (XL outside Japan) portable consoles
Of course, it’s important to remember that Nintendo, Amazon and other big companies don’t make just one gadget; they have whole ecosystems, and that’s where a common platform like Android can come in handy. Amazon’s Fire lineup is strong evidence. Even if you don’t like Fire OS, it’s safe to say that its take on Android produces a consistent, yet distinctive experience as you hop from device to device. There’s no mistaking that the Fire HD 7 tablet comes from the same company that made the Fire Phone and Fire TV, and there are shared features like ASAP instant streaming or Second Screen sharing. If you like one product, chances are that you’ll like the others… most of the time, anyway.
For Nintendo, that consistency is all-important. Although the 3DS and Wii U are wildly different in some ways, they share the same kid-friendly experience. Android’s support for heavy customization would let Nintendo preserve that whimsical look and feel, not to mention device-independent features, without giving up Android perks like the broader app library, smarter networking and touch support. Whether or not this hypothetical NX was directly compatible with older games, you’d know who made it.
Let’s not forget the elephant in the room, for that matter: Nintendo has already committed to making mobile games. Basing a console around Android, however customized it might be, would make it far easier to bring those games to your TV. Just as the Fire TV gives you reassuringly familiar apps from your phone, you wouldn’t have to completely reset your expectations when picking up the NX edition of something you’ve already played. Cross-platform features would get a lift, too. You could see PlayStation-style continuity where you stop playing on one system and resume on the other, or Windows 10-like universal games that you buy once and run on different device types. In that sense, going Android would be as much about catching up on the kind of synergy that Microsoft and Sony have sought for years.
The Google Play problem: missing services
Modified Android could mean an off-limits Google Play store.
Unfortunately, there’s a price to pay if you modify Android as heavily as Nintendo would likely want. While Android is very flexible, only the core operating system and a handful of basic apps actually have open-source code that you can tailor to your liking. If you want Google’s official apps, you have to get a license and meet certain compatibility requirements (such as app support and branding) that limit what you can change. Without those, you lose access to not only key apps like the Chrome browser and Hangouts messaging, but also the entire Google Play Store. Just like that, about 1.5 million apps (as of June 2015, according to AppBrain) are off the table — you have to either create your own store or use someone else’s if you’re going to provide a one-stop software shop.
If you want to see the problems this can create, you just have to ask Amazon, whose Fire line gave up that Google licensing. The Amazon Appstore took years to amass a relatively modest 250,000 titles, and while you’re going to see a lot of familiar apps these days (think Instagram, Netflix and Spotify), the odds are still high that something you use on another Android device is missing. And as good as 1,600 apps may be on a video-centric device like the Fire TV, that still limits your entertainment options. You’ll get YouTube, but you won’t be streaming your Google Play Music collection or playing that hot new game. Amazon mostly counts on its own services, such as Music and Instant Video, to fill in the gaps.
Nintendo would run into a similar app deficit with an Android-powered NX, and might even face worse troubles growing its catalog. Although it has years of experience with online services thanks to the eShop and Nintendo Network, it’s new to the mobile world — it’s only just building its first mobile apps and the service that will link them together. You’re not likely to see Nintendo-made music and video services, and the console maker might not lure in as many Google Play Store developers as an internet giant like Amazon. Nintendo’s trouble adapting to the online space could work against it. Case in point: Consumers can’t simply re-download 3DS or Wii U content if they change consoles and must, instead, resort to a system transfer or juggling SD cards.
Whether or not you’d miss most Google services on this potential machine (you’re probably not going to check Gmail on your TV), you would likely notice the absence of many Google Play apps, and even some of the offerings on Fire TV. In other words, an Android-based Nintendo console probably wouldn’t be the app paradise you’d like it to be. You might get more software than you would if Nintendo went its usual proprietary route, but not nearly as much as you’re used to in the mobile realm.
So would Android make sense?
Mario Kart 8 for Wii U
It’s possible that Nintendo could pull off an Android-powered gaming system. As you’ve seen through Amazon’s example, though, it would be far from a guaranteed hit. Satoru Iwata and crew would have to work overtime not only courting app developers, but also making sure that at least some of them produce games that are a cut above what you can find on your phone. Amazon managed the former, but has frequently tripped up on the latter. And Nintendo would definitely have to emulate at least some of Amazon’s interface approach, introducing its own flourishes and taking advantage of Android’s internet-savvy code.
The biggest danger for a Nintendo/Android mash-up would be complacency. Amazon’s overall success with the Fire range came through years of fostering a unique, complete ecosystem that gives you at least a few reasons to buy one of its devices versus a run-of-the-mill Android gadget. If Nintendo does indeed pursue the Android route, it can’t just resort to putting a friendly face on Android and then expect the apps to come flooding in. If it did, it would risk repeating the problems we’ve seen with Android consoles so far, where there’s precious little to draw you in. Android would merely be the launching pad for bigger and better things — Nintendo would still need to build the rocket.
[Image credits: Bloomberg via Getty Images (DeNA/Nintendo); Amazon (Fire TV); Google (Google Play); Nintendo (Mario Kart 8)]
AIVAnet 