Trains, cars & games for kids app review: A tale of two reviewers
It was the best app, it was the worst app,
it was a fun app, it was a boring app,
it was hard to use, it was easy to use,
it had good graphics, it had bad graphics,
in short, the enjoyment that one gets from
this is app is directly proportionate to their age.
First let me tell you that this is the free version of the paid app Tootooni! for Toddlers & Kids. As this app is geared toward children and I will try to be forgiving of what I see as the apps shortcomings.
Graphics:
Daddy: I understand that this is geared towards children and the art work is supposed to look like a child drew it, but I think they could have put a little more effort into polishing the artwork and the interface of the app.
Son: Daddy, I like it!
Games:
Daddy: These are all generic rehashes of old games that all have better stand alone interpretations in the Google Play store.
Son: Daddy, look I won! I wanna play the trains.
Ease of Use:
Daddy: This isn’t too hard for me, but I’ll need to help my son get to the games. I hope he doesn’t inadvertently change the settings.
Son: Um, Daddy? Can you put the game back on? I want the train tracks!
Features:
Daddy: There are 19 different languages to choose from on the main screen, but these would be better placed in the settings. There is also an option to customize the app, which takes you to a gallery of your images. I selected one, saved it, and I have no idea what it did. A little explanation here would go a long way. The child lock didn’t work for me either. The 1st time I tried, it locked up my phone and I had to reboot. The 2nd time it didn’t work at all.
Son: Daddy, please put the train tracks on!
Overall:
Daddy: This app seems like it needs a lot of work. It doesn’t really inspire me to drop $2.99 on the premium ad free version. Although, part of the disappointment for me was the ads. The last thing I want is my child to be clicking on the ads. So, if you get the app, it’s probably worth paying the $2.99, because you could end up paying more if one of the ads takes your child to a site like Amazon and he/she starts one click buying things. This isn’t an app that I would install on my child’s device. The main interface is too complicated. It is a better app to keep on your personal device to use when your child needs to be distracted.
Son: Daddy? Can I play games on your tablet? Pleeeeaaase!
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HTC pours cold water on Asus rumor
HTC doesn’t have any interest in an Asus acquisition, says the Taiwanese handset maker. According to HTC, it has not had any contact with Asus and will not even consider merging with them.
“We strongly deny the news. We didn’t contact Asusteck and will not consider the acquisition. As an international brand, HTC will continue to design world-class innovative smart devices through its pursuit of brilliance brand promise.“
In a statement posted to investors on its website, HTC says it is an international brand and will continue to make smartphones.
There you have it, HTC doesn’t want anything to do with an Asus merger. That is, as of today. This does not definitively rule out the possibility of such a deal with Asus (or anyone else) down the road.
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ASUS Chairman says the company is entertaining the idea of ASUS acquiring HTC
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Simply put, Taiwanese device manufacturer HTC is not doing well. In the past week, it announced its revenue was going to take a 30% hit compared to its predictions and as a result, 20% of its share price was wiped out. With this in mind, it’s no surprise to hear murmurs of other technology players eyeing HTC as an acquisition, the latest of which concerns the ASUS (Asustek) Chairman, Johnny Shih, speaking about the possibility of ASUS acquiring HTC at the ASUS annual general meeting. ASUS is a global manufacturer of smartphones, tablets, laptops and plenty more, however their smartphone division lacks true global reputation, unlike HTC’s devices – in this way, ASUS acquiring HTC would make a whole lot of sense.
However, speaking with Reuters, ASUS CFO David Chang said that while the idea has been floated within the company, the actual chance of this happening is “not big as Asustek is a company that has depended on organic growth.” Even so, we’ll be keeping an eye out in case something does happen in this space as we have a feeling it would definitely change the landscape of the smartphone market.
What do you think about ASUS acquiring HTC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Reuters via Phone Arena
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Lucky Number 66: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man edition sold for $91,000 in China
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A few weeks ago, we covered the story of how early preorders of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man edition were being listed for more than $3,000 USD on eBay, and onwards up to $9,000. That seems cheap by comparison to this story out of China which says that a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man edition sold for $91,000 USD, or 568, 788 Yuan in the native currency. The unit in question was number 66 (of a planned 1,000 unit run), and garnered so much attention because “6” is a lucky number in Asian cultures, as are the colours red and gold – no less than 92,429 bids were seen during the online auction before the unit was sold. I can’t wait to see how much unit 888 is sold for (another set of auspicious numbers in Asian culture).
Considering the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man edition is retailing for $1,079 USD, it seems a bit ludicrous that someone would buy one for 90 times that amount, but considering that there is only a limited run, and is basically an Iron Man fan’s dream with its Iron Man theming and Arc reactor charging pad, it’s not surprising that people are going just a little bit crazy over it.
Would you pay $91,000 for a smartphone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Business Korea via Phone Arena
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Android-based BlackBerry smartphone with slide-out keyboard could be coming in the future
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We don’t talk about BlackBerry much here at AndroidSPIN so it’s even more unusual when we have to say the words “Android-based” and “BlackBerry” in the same sentence. According to a report from Reuters, however, that’s exactly what is happening as BlackBerry is allegedly planning an Android-based BlackBerry smartphone for release sometime in the future and could come with BlackBerry staple features like a slide-out keyboard. Whether this would be running pure Android or a forked version of Android (like Nokia and Amazon) remains to be seen.
BlackBerry has all but faded into obscurity in the mainstream smartphone market so changing to Android as its operating system could just be the drastic measure the company needs to claw back some of its long lost market share. Enterprise software (and hardware) is remarkably weak on Android so there is definitely a place for BlackBerry to succeed, so we’ll see if, and when, such an announcement comes from BlackBerry in the near future.
What do you think about BlackBerry making an Android-based BlackBerry smartphone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Reuters via Android Police
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Razer looking to buy Android gaming company, Ouya
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Remember Ouya? I distinctly recall visiting E3 2013 and being excited to visit the Ouya stand which included a giant outdoor setup to show off the crowdfunding wonder that was the Ouya Android gaming console. Two years on, the name Ouya has all but faded into obscurity (as has the industry of Android game consoles) but they’re going to make headlines once more. According to reports, Ouya is currently in talks with PC-peripheral maker, Razer, to get acquired, allegedly for a sum in the region of $10 million.
Razer, who is well known in the PC gaming industry, could be looking for an outlet to diversify its portfolio and finally branch out of PC gaming – a cheap Android gaming console company does make sense in this respect. However, it could be a hard sell as Razer would have to single-handedly revive the Android game console industry, and Ouya is additionally trying to make a deal where all its employees are kept on. We’ll have to keep tabs on this one as gaming in Android could take an interesting turn if this deal pans out.
What do you think about Ouya possibly getting acquired by Razer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will have 5.7-inch dual curved display and Android 5.1.1
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If you’ve been holding out for a larger Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, this is the news for you. According to SamMobile, they have exclusive information which says that the rumoured Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, which is essentially a larger S6 Edge, will have a 5.7-inch dual curved edge display and come with Android 5.1.1 out of the box. None of this is particularly surprising seeing as we expected the S6 Edge Plus to be a bigger device and Android 5.1.1 is basically the industry standard for the time being.
For those wondering, the display on the original S6 Edge was 5.1-inch so an upsize to 5.7-inch with the S6 Edge Plus would appease those who find that the curved edges take a little too much away from the flat part of the display. The device will allegedly be released some time in Q3 this year, which could be anytime before September really, so we’ll have to see when and where the S6 Edge Plus is released.
What do you think about the rumoured Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: SamMobile
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Torchlight Mobile coming to Android in 2015, to be unveiled at E3 2015
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PC game Torchlight has had a remarkably successful run after its 2009 release, emulating the gameplay style of other classic PC RPGs like Diablo to great effect. After an equally successful Torchlight II, developer Runic Games has decided to turn their attention to mobile platforms, announcing Torchlight Mobile just prior to the start of E3 2015 which will arrive on Android and iOS sometime in 2015.
It’s unknown exactly what form Torchlight Mobile will take, whether it’s the purely single player experience of the first Torchlight, or multiplayer fun of Torchlight II, but it is hinted that Torchlight Mobile will feature “highly robust online gameplay in the unique art style of the series”. Torchlight Mobile is due to be shown off at E3 2015 so we’ll have to wait and see if some gameplay footage drops sometime next week.
Are you excited for Torchlight Mobile? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Press Release
Torchlight Coming to Handheld Devices Later This Year!
Bestselling action RPG to feature online play, makes its debut at E3 2015
San Francisco–June 12, 2015–The award-winning action RPG series Torchlight is heading to mobile devices in 2015! Torchlight Mobile is an entirely new game from Perfect World due to release in 2015 for iOS and Android.
Similar to its predecessors,Torchlight Mobile is an action RPG featuring highly robust online gameplay in the unique art style of the series.
Torchlight is an award-winning action RPG franchise originally developed by Seattle-based Runic Games Inc., a veteran team composed of designers and project leads on titles such as Diablo, Diablo II, Mythos, and Fate. Torchlight’s 2009 release was met with a shower of accolades, including numerous review scores of 90% and above. The highly anticipated 2012 sequel, Torchlight II, introduced new classes and multiplayer support for both online and LAN play. It was met with similar acclaim and has sold over 3 million copies.
As a much-beloved classic series, Torchlight’s appearance on mobile platforms will surely be a well-received event by RPG and action fans alike.
For more information, please visit the Torchlight Mobile website:
www.torchlightmobile.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/torchlightmobile
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TorchlightMAbout the Torchlight Series
Torchlight is an action role-playing game released in 2009 by Runic Games, Inc. Set in a mining establishment called Torchlight, players set out into the depths of the mines to discover the full extent of Ember’s influence on the civilizations of ages past. Torchlight II, which debuted in 2012, launched players into a multiplayer adventure that spanned the continent of Vilderan. Torchlight Mobile, set for release in 2015, takes place in another faraway land where Ember is still being harvested by powerful civilizations. Players begin their adventure as one of three new character classes charged with fighting off the corruption that has maligned this land.
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Your phone is probably filthy so you might just need the PhoneSoap Charger
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When you really think about it, we put our phones through hell. Not torture tests per se, but we never really consider the kind of germs and filth that our phones pick up over the course of a day – who doesn’t use their phone in the bathroom? For those that are now concerned by their phone’s hygiene, PhoneSoap says they have exactly the right product for you, the PhoneSoap Charger. Basically a ultraviolet light bed for your device, the PhoneSoap Charger allows you to feed through your devices charging cable into the chamber and let your phone be cleansed by UV rays, a process which PhoneSoap says completes in 4-5 minutes. It’s also designed so that you can hear notifications from inside the chamber and is designed so that the UV lights are never on when the Charger is open.
It would be extremely interesting to know exactly how much the PhoneSoap Charger helps in cutting down possible hazardous germs and grime, but you get the feeling that there is at least some truth to the story. Seeing as some devices, tablets in particular are quite large (and used quite frequently), we’re disappointed not to see a bigger version for these devices, but as it stands, the PhoneSoap Charger is available in the one size for $59.95 USD.
What do you think about the PhoneSoap Charger? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: PhoneSoap
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Pelican ProGear Protector Cases for Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Review: Streamlined, yet protective
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Pelican cases live in the same realm as Otterbox cases do when it comes to ultimate protection for your electronic technology. If you’re the type of person who braves the elements, or is unfortunately clumsy, a heavy duty case is usually what you’re looking for. And if you’ve just bought a Samsung Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, and you live one of the two aforementioned lifestyles, then you’ll probably be looking for a case like the Pelican Protector cases, which we’ve been taking a look at.
What’s in the box
We’ve got one of each of the Pelican Protector cases to look at: one for the Galaxy S6 and one for the S6 Edge. Both are relatively simply affairs packaging-wise with a simple box containing only the case itself. Pelican lists the cases as constructed from “PC ABS + TPR” which I can only assume means the hard parts of the case are made from an Acrylanitrile Butadiene Styrene Polycarbonate alloy and the softer rubbery parts are made from Thermoplastic Rubber. What this translates as is a very hard outer shell with rubbery, malleable insides which act as a cushion.
The look of the cases themselves is not unlike the Otterbox Commuter series – a hard case with a hard polycarbonate shell and rubbery insides. However, while the Commuter manages to be quite bulky, the Protector cases remain quite streamlined and even thin. That’s quite rare in a heavy duty case so it’s a welcome design choice.
How does it perform
To put your phone into the Protector case, you’ll need a bit of elbow grease – because the case is so rigid and thin, there’s actually very little give in the case itself, meaning you’ll need to press quite hard to get your phone inside. You’re instructed to put one end of your device into the case first and to press the other end in – this wasn’t a trivial task and it concerns me that it’s so difficult to put your phone in, particularly if you’re the type of person who likes to change cases a lot.
Once it is in, however, your Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge will be firmly snuggled into the Protector case with not a care in the world. The Protector cases provide impressive protection for all access ports (audio, microUSB, speaker), covers for all side buttons, and there is ample room for the camera to be operated.
If you own the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, you will already be aware that the camera actually protrudes quite a long way from the body of the device. One of my primary concerns with another Galaxy S6 case we reviewed, the Moshi iGlaze, was that the back of the case wasn’t raised enough to prevent the camera possibly stratching on the surface it was put on. There’s no such concern with the Protector cases – the rubber ring around the outside of the back cover provides an extra lip which provides enough leeway for your camera if you’re putting the phone on its back.
One of the other main concerns of any smartphone user looking for a case is whether the screen is protected, and much like the back of the case, the front of the Protector cases have a raised lip which protects the screen from harm when putting the phone on its face. This is even true for the S6 Edge case which has the lip on the top and bottom edges. An additional note about all this rubber around the outside of the case is that it makes it quite good to grip, which is a big plus if you’re the type of person with butter fingers.
What I like about the Pelican Protector cases
I mentioned earlier that the Protector cases felt quite slimline despite being quite heavy duty. This is especially obvious on the S6 Edge version which really minimizes the additional bezel that is added to the sides so as not to impeded your use of the curved edges. I can’t confirm just how easy since I was only using a dummy unit, but it really looks like it was a consideration for designing for this unusual form factor.
What I don’t like about the Pelican Protector cases
There’s not much to dislike about the Protector cases, but if there is one criticism, it’s that it’s so hard to get your case into the case. Removing the case is relatively easy – pushing on the camera and pulling on the top lip will pop out your phone quite quickly – but I was expecting an easier time getting the phone into the case, particularly seeing as the phone is generally perceived to be quite fragile. It’s definitely not a deal breaker seeing as there are much more difficult cases to use out there, but it’s just something to be mindful of.
Final thoughts
The Pelican Protector cases for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are definitely top choices if you’re looking for a heavy duty case that’s protective, yet still streamlined. It’s not waterproof or dustproof, but if you’re looking for that case to give you that extra little insurance when you’re heading into the great outdoors, you’d be hard pressed to find better cases than these.
Availability-wise, the Pelican Protector Cases for Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are apparently only available from the American telco, AT&T, who is offering the cases for $29.99 USD as an online special. If that’s you’re cup of tea, you can check out the Galaxy S6 product page here and the S6 Edge product page here. We’ll update this post in future if they become available elsewhere.
- Heavy duty
- Design for use
- Protects all parts of phone
- Difficult to use
- Not available everywhere
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AIVAnet 