Addictive game Agar.io now available on Android
If you haven’t heard of the popular browser-based multiplayer game called Agar.io then you’ve been missing out. In the game, you are a cell that splits and absorbs other smaller cells to grow larger and you compete against players around the globe to become the biggest cell of them all.
“Play online with players around the world as you try to become the biggest cell of them all! Control your tiny cell and eat other players to grow larger! But watch out: players bigger than you will be trying to make you their lunch. Survive and eat long enough to become the biggest cell in the game!“
The game is incredibly addictive and a great time-killer, and because it’s in your browser can be played anywhere. Now, the addictive game just got even more addictive and accessible since it just got an Android companion app.
“With new controls developed especially for touchscreens, agar.io offers the same addictive gameplay that millions have already enjoyed on PC. Play online in free-for-all action and use splitting, shrinking and dodging tactics to catch other players – or avoid them! Use a variety of special secret skins with the right username!“
You can download Agar.io right now using the link below.
The post Addictive game Agar.io now available on Android appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Editior’s Picks: 13 apps we think you should try right now
One of our favorite things to do here at AndroidGuys is to help Android users get the most from their devices. Whether in the form of app reviews, news and rumors, or something else, we aim to please.
Our Editor’s Picks column is designed to help existing Android owners discover apps and games. What you’ll find below are some of the apps that we at AndroidGuys enjoy using ourselves. Some of what follows are new titles while a few are classics we can’t let go of. We understand that we won’t get every single app that crosses our path but we hope to filter things a bit and pass them along to you. Whatever the case we’re certain you will find something fun to play with this week. Let’s get to it!
Wallmax
Wallmax is another awesome wallpaper aggregator with a wide range of wallpapers. From opening to loading of the wallpapers, the animations make this app deligthful to use. You also have the ability to sort wallpapers by resolution, which is great for those rocking a QHD smartphone. It’s a free app and We definitely recommend you try this out.
Ghostery Privacy Browser
As the name implies, Ghostery Privacy Browser is a privacy-oriented browser by Ghostery, Inc. that is much like its desktop counterpart. This browser is able to detect tracking scripts on web sites that are visited and block them. Also, the user can pause blocking or whitelist sites by clicking the Ghostery icon next to the tabs icon. Individuals can opt-in (opt-in by default) to Ghostrank, which sends anonymous statistics to Ghostery, Inc. about the trackers that are blocked but no information about the sites they are on or the sites themselves. Lastly, privacy search engine Duck Duck Go is the default, however, users have the options to change it to Google, Bing, Yahoo, Yahoo Japan, Naver, Baidu, and Yandex.
Periscope
Periscope is another livestreaming app brought to you by Twitter. Periscope lets you broadcast live video to the world. Going live will instantly notify your followers, who can join, comment and send you hearts in real time. You can also make your videos available for replay so viewers can watch it later. If you want to explore the world while sitting in your chair then this app is definitely for you.
Netflix
We all have heard of this app and yeah, there is a good chance you already have a Netflix account. If you don’t have one, you might want to consider picking up an online streaming account for $7.99 per month. Netflix has been producing more original content than ever and surprisingly there are a few shows that are very entertaining. Netflix has produced over 20 new shows and continued fan favorite shows like “Arrested Development” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”. The biggest benefit to watching Netflix Original content is that they release entire seasons in one fell swoop. Rather than waiting every week to watch your show, you can veg out over a weekend and watch an entire season of “BoJack Horseman” or “Chef’s Table.”
They also have quite a selection of movies for you to watch too. If you have more than two members of your family who want to watch Netflix at the same time, you can upgrade to the $11.99 plan which allows 4 members to watch at the same time in addition to Ultra HD access.
SD Maid – System Cleaning Tool
System cleaners have become a necessary evil on mobile devices. The more you use a device, the more junk keeps piling up. When you uninstall apps and delete files, they can often leave traces behind especially on internal storage or external SD card. SD Maid is an app designed to clean this unnecessary junk from your internal/external storage. The app comes in free and paid versions. Keep in mind that it is a very powerful tool. Please be sure to read full description before digging into its advanced features.
Carbon for Twitter
Carbon is a Twitter client, but unlike other Twitter clients available in the market. All of your Twitter content is present on one screen. A screen that doesn’t get you drilling down to many other screens to reach what you want. Timelines, Lists, Favourites, Searches, Trends, Profiles, are all there. The Black theme is just a bliss to the eyes. Overall, it’s “THE” best free Twitter client for Android and We definitely recommend you to give it a try.
Joyride Podcast Player
Joyride is the smart podcast player that makes podcasts easy to use. Way easier to use than other podcast apps! Gone are the days of confusing UI and a bazillion taps to add podcasts and play episodes, Joyride Podcast Player lets you listen instantly to all your favorite radio shows everywhere!. The app has a great user interface and options to either download or stream a podcast.
YouTube
Everybody has heard of YouTube and knows what it is. If you don’t know then its worth checking out. YouTube is a cross platform video streaming app that lets you watch the latest music videos, movies trailers, tech related videos and much more. You can upload videos, subscribe to various channels, share videos to other social networks and can also comment on videos. With the current update, it now streams videos at whopping 60fps, turning a Smartphone into a high quality TV.
Domino’s Pizza USA
The Domino’s pizza app is a ‘must have’ app if you’re into pizza. Domino’s Pizza is definitely not going to win awards for best New York style or Chicago style pizza, but their pizzas are still tasty and definitely affordable. The Domino’s Pizza app is one of the best apps for ordering food and other delivery chains should take notice. Every current coupon offered by Domino’s is within the app in the “coupon” section so you don’t have to worry about searching for coupons online just to get the best price. The app can use your location to match you up with the nearest Domino’s store, and you can order for delivery or pickup if you want to save on tips and delivery fees.
You can save your favorite order, including a coupon associated with that order, for one-click reordering in the future. In addition, the Domino’s app also allows for payment with a credit card, cash on delivery, or even payment with Google Wallet.
BombSquad
BombSquad is a multiplayer cross-platform game that can be played by up to 8 players. Players can throw punches, fuse bombs and mines. There is never any shortage of explosives and powerups to throw and assist your way into an unflinching mission to whittle your opponents to a minimal pile of dust. Tournaments are also held to win tickets which can be used to buy things in the store. You can also use various wireless controllers for the game play. The game is free, there are in-game purchases, and it’s definitely worth a try.
Manuganu 2
Manuganu 2 is a 3D side- scroller running game, in which you control the boy “Manuganu”. The traditional “three-star” mechanic is here, with each level offering stars for picking up a certain number of the small collectables, picking up three big coins and reaching the goal under a certain time. Trying to hit all of those at once brings a very welcome extra challenge for the hardcore gamer. The game experience is also worth mentioning as you can swim, fly, jump and more. There are over 40 levels to complete and the occasional Boss fight definitely makes it challenging.
Shoot The Zombirds
Shoot The Zombird is a fun little shooting game that follows a Halloween theme. Basically, you are a pumpkin boy and you have to stop the Zombirds from kidnapping the pumpkids. The game is fairly easy to play with interesting and kinda scary music playing in the background. The game also features dozen of challenging objectives to complete. The game is free and offers in-app purchases for various upgrades.
PAC-MAN Friends
PAC-MAN Friends is a new, original fast-paced game using classic PAC-MAN characters! With simple tilt controls, you can maneuver PAC-MAN through progressively challenging mazes to rescue his friends from the Ghosts’ Castle. You can explore 95 levels in 6 worlds and unlock 8 uniquely powered friends. You also have to collect keys and fruit to unlock the next episode and explore the world of PAC-MAN Friends.
Last week’s Editor’s Picks
Essential Productivity Apps
The post Editior’s Picks: 13 apps we think you should try right now appeared first on AndroidGuys.
A closer look at Sony’s first crowdfunded products
It could be the start of a new Sony — a company that’s trying to recalibrate its new product compass by throwing nascent ideas and projects to the public… and asking for money. Perhaps Sony’s most interesting move might be launching First Flight, its very own crowdfunding platform-slash-online store expressly for its employees’ pet projects. These projects have passed auditions in front of senior execs: In fact the Seed Acceleration Project (SAP) has even been granted a fair amount of autonomy from Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai. Even if it still feels a little odd for a firm this size to be asking you to fund its next hit, some of those seeds are now taking root. We visited the company’s “Creative Lounge,” where employees and outsiders work on pitches as well as prototype products. We got to take a look at three of the most developed projects. Here’s what we thought.
MESH Creative DIY kit
MESH raised its funds through Indiegogo, surpassing its goal back in March. It’s a DIY smart project maker that Sony reckons can be up and running in mere minutes. The team created a simple, clean “visual design” app to combine and tie together inputs and outputs. Those inputs and outputs are realized through tags: brightly colored bricks that look like stumpy USB drives. At the moment, the set includes an accelerometer, button, LED and slightly more complicated GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) tag, which has digital and analog input/outputs that can connect other detectors or actuators such as light sensors, motors and circuit boards.
It’s geared toward kids, and at Sony’s seed event we saw brightly colored combinations that tied the tags to tabletop games, or smart notification systems that ping your smartphone. It’s now up for preorder on Amazon in the US, as well as Sony’s First Flight. But the building blocks of invention don’t come with an entry-level price: Each tag is currently priced at $50 (and up) apiece. In its favor, designing and programming the tags was straightforward, and at least from a cursory play, the learning curve is a shallow one. You’ll get out of the kit what you put in, and while it may not have the depth of a Raspberry Pi or BBC’s new tiny computer, it has a breezy design and simple interface. The system also reminds us of SmartThings‘ smart home-centered collection of sensors and connectivity. (That’s a company now owned by Samsung.)
FES Watch
The FES watch houses an e-paper display in the watch face, which then stretches across the watch strap too. Users can cycle through 24 different combinations of watchband designs, all monochrome, and a lot of them oddly cartoony, with big, bold faux-stitching or outlines. Does it look familiar? We reported on the watch when it launched on Japanese crowdfunding site Makuake. It may not be a smartwatch, but it’s pretty darn smart looking. It will apparently run for two months on a single charge; your mileage will obviously vary depending on how many times you’re cycling through those designs. The screen refreshes and displays the time as you lift your wrist. The watch is described as a canvas — apparently that’s the design inspiration. It’s meant to show what users wants to show — on both the face and strap, although at the moment, that only ranges from block monochrome to black-and-white patterns. The watch is on sale to Japanese backers for 30,000 yen (around $245), but it won’t be dispatched for a few months.
The price could be a sticking point, but as outlined by SAP’s head Shinji Odajima as he showcased the devices and how the accelerator program will work, one of its aims is to drum up support from early adopters: a crowd willing to pay a price that may seem excessive to others. Depending on the reception of the watch, however, the possibilities don’t have to stop there. As seen above, the same e-paper technology could be easily transferred into other wearables: from smaller bracelets and rings to an eye-catching pair of glasses — our top pick for a sequel FES product.
HUIS custom remote
Universal remotes are nothing new. However, the HUIS remote (pronounced “haus”) is a thoroughly modern take, with barely a button on it, even if there’s something a little bit “OG iPod” to that e-paper touchscreen. The primary feature here is a very customizable interface, one that not only simplifies your Blu-ray remote control down to a handful of buttons, but also includes another remote “page” a swipe away that offers up switches for everything that the HUIS connects too — and that includes fans, air-con and compatible lights. There’s also haptic feedback as you interact with the touchscreen, which is as responsive as the e-paper touch display on a Kindle. It worked well in the demo situation, and while the controller has a fair bit of junk in the trunk at the base (It charges through micro-USB; no more batteries!), we reckon it could benefit from being a little slimmer. The team also says it’s working on a charging dock — which sounds very Sony.
Through a PC interface, you can transfer new remote layouts: an accessibility-friendly one with giant channel buttons and a giant off switch, or maybe a monochromatic teddy holding a single button. The crowdfunding round, done exclusively on Sony’s own platform, has raised over 17.5 million yen as of writing — that’s around $142,000 from Japanese early adopters willing to pay roughly $200 for a programmable controller. It’s also the most traditionally “Sony” device we’ve seen so far. Despite its prototype status, the function, feel and look of it struck a chord with this editor. That price, however, didn’t.
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Wearables, Sony
Trees with email addresses get into strange conversations
Think you get into some oddball email threads with your coworkers? That’s nothing next to what’s happening in Melbourne, Australia’s green spaces. The city gave email addresses to trees in 2013 to help deal with broken branches and other issues, but it now finds that many people are striking up conversations with these leafy residents about everything from their looks to the weather. In some cases, the trees (okay, city staff) reply back. Want to know what a cedar thinks of the Greek debt crisis? Ask it — you might just get an answer.
And in case you’re wondering, the city doesn’t mind. This shows that locals are fond of their trees, Councillor Arron Wood tells Citylab. It also suggests that the internet of things is having an unintended effect: when you can talk to inanimate objects (even if there’s a human pulling the strings), that changes how you care for and interact with them. The best way to preserve something valuable might just be to give it a digital personality.
[Image credit: Edwin Lee, Flickr]
Filed under: Internet
Source: Citylab
Ex-‘Assassin’s Creed’ lead joins EA to build ‘Star Wars’
As a producer at Ubisoft and founder of Ubisoft Toronto, Jade Raymond had a hand in creating some of the most notable AAA experiences of our time, including Assassin’s Creed II and Watch Dogs. She left the company in October to pursue “new opportunities,” and now those ambitions have a name: Electronic Arts. Raymond has joined the company and opened Motive, a new EA studio in Montreal. Motive’s first project is the new Star Wars game coming from Uncharted series writer and Creative Director Amy Hennig. Raymond now also oversees Hennig’s studio, Visceral Games, and she says Motive will “work in close quarters with the BioWare team,” which is responsible for Mass Effect and Dragon Age. No pressure.
“I’m thrilled that the first big project that we will work on in Montreal will have Amy as Creative Director,” Raymond writes. “An opportunity to work with her and the Visceral team, and to play in the Star Wars universe, is once-in-a-lifetime stuff.”
Raymond is now a mastermind behind Star Wars, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and whatever else Motive and Visceral dream up. With a solid background in creating large, innovative experiences, it will be interesting to see how much Raymond can shake up EA’s established franchises.
Source: EA
Android 5.1 Lollipop now rolling out to Sprint’s Galaxy Note Edge
Although some variants of the Galaxy Note Edge have just recently received the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, Samsung’s curved screen phablet on Sprint’s network is now one big update ahead of the pack. Sprint has just started rolling out the Android 5.1 Lollipop update to the Galaxy Note Edge, which will bring the device’s software version up to N915PVPU4COFE.
Along with various bug fixes and software enhancements on Sprint’s side of things, this update brings a few user interface changes, factory reset protection, as well as a ton of performance improvements. Be sure to check out our “What’s new in Android 5.1 Lollipop” post for more details. Unfortunately Sprint’s changelog for this update isn’t very helpful, so we’re not entirely sure what changes are present in this new software version.
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Android 5.1 may take a few days to make its way to your Note Edge, as is the case with most other software updates. If you’d like to check for the update manually, head to Settings>About device, then choose the “check for updates” button. And once you receive the update, be sure to let us know how you like it!
Download now: Android M Developer Preview 2 OTAs for Nexus 5 and 6
If you’re like me and absolutely want and need the latest updates, you might have already flashed Android M Developer Preview 2 onto your Nexus when it arrived last week. For those that were waiting for the OTA links, we have your back.
So far the only devices with captured OTAs are the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6:
Installing OTA updates manually is perfect for those that don’t want to wait for the OTA to hit their devices automatically and yet don’t want to bother with doing a clean install.
As for what’s new with Android M Developer Preview 2? We’ll be bringing you a post that better sums this up soon, but honestly don’t expect much different from the first preview in terms of major new features or revisions. In fact, unless you are actually a developer that needs the new version for testing out the (now more finished) M APIs, there’s not a lot here for you that makes it a “must have now” download.
So how about it, anyone flashed this yet? How do you feel about the latest preview so far?
Apple Constraining iPod, iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air Inventory Sent to Third-Party Retailers
Insider inventory constraint information from major retailer Target hints at some possible end of life timelines for various products like the iPod, iPad mini 2, and iPad Air, many of which may be discontinued in the near future following the launch of new products.
According to a screenshot of an internal inventory system shared by a Target employee, all models of the iPod are currently constrained by Apple ahead of a rumored update that could come as soon as tomorrow.
Images of unreleased iPod touches, nanos, and shuffles were first discovered hidden within iTunes 12.2, and a rumor has suggested the iPod touch could receive a processor upgrade and new color options while the nano and the shuffle might be available in new colorways.
As for the iPad mini 2 and the iPad Air, replenishment of existing stock is currently constrained, with Target aiming to have 1 color in stock at each of its stores. Dwindling in-store stock suggests Apple could be planning to discontinue the iPad mini 2 and the iPad Air following the release of new models, which is expected to happen in the fall.
The iPad mini 2 and the iPad Air may be replaced by the iPad mini 3 and the iPad Air 2 as lower-cost older-generation models following the launch of a third-generation iPad Air and a fourth-generation iPad mini. We haven’t heard much on what a third-generation iPad Air might offer, but an A9 processor and Force Touch are solid guesses.
A fourth-generation iPad mini has been rumored to be in the works, with an iPad Air-style redesign that eliminates the mute switch and introduces larger speaker holes. An updated iPad mini would also likely incorporate a much-improved processor, more RAM, and possibly Force Touch.
It is not clear when Apple plans to introduce new iPad mini and iPad Air models, but Target’s guess of fall 2015 is a safe bet. For the last several years, Apple has updated its iPad lineup in October or November, and that’s when we’re likely to see new iPads in 2015. This year’s iPad update may include an all new model, the much-rumored larger-screened iPad Pro.
ZTE sells 26M smartphones in H1 2015, still eyes top-3 handset spot in the US
Chinese smartphone maker ZTE has been on the up and up as of late, especially when taking into account the last two years of its smartphone business. Back in March, the company announced a 94-percent increase in its net profit in 2014, along with an increase in worldwide smartphone shipments by more than 50 percent that same year. Now company officials have released some numbers for the first half of 2015, giving us a good look at how ZTE is fairing in the handset market.
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ZTE has just reported that it shipped 26 million smartphones worldwide in the first half of the year, roughly 39 percent of those being high-end devices. Total shipments of smartphones, tablets and smart home products totaled around 46 million. The company has of course been focusing on international markets such as the U.S., and it looks like its hard work has paid off – ZTE has announced a 41-percent increase in its United States smartphone shipments in H1 of this year.
As it stands, ZTE plans to sell roughly 60 million units worldwide throughout the entire year, though it may run in to some stiff competition as we make the jump from H1 to H2. New flagships from popular OEMs like Xiaomi, Huawei and Meizu are expected to launch within the next few months, potentially making it difficult for ZTE to sell as many units as it originally forecasted.
ZTE’s big plans for the U.S. might not be as attainable as it once thought
In March, the Chinese device maker announced its goal to make it into the top three U.S. smartphone vendors by the year 2017. From a numbers standpoint, this is entirely possible. The company has seen major growth in its smartphone business over the past two years, and it already holds the fourth place spot in North America, behind Apple, Samsung and LG. But as time goes on ZTE is now realizing this goal may not be as attainable as it once thought. The new target date to become a top-three device seller in the U.S. has just been pushed back to 2020. In addition to the U.S.-based achievement, it also plans to become the number one Chinese brand in overseas markets by the same year.
ZTE has been making a push into the United States over the years, and we’ve already seen some fruits of its labor. Not only is the company relying on high-end smartphone sales in the U.S., it’s also going through an aggressive branding push that will hopefully court more users away from manufacturers like Apple and Samsung. Although ZTE hasn’t confirmed this information, we know that the company is behind the mysterious Axon Phone that’s set to launch in the U.S. on July 14th. This device will undoubtedly face some challenges when it launches, but maybe that’s all part of the plan to increase brand awareness.
ZTE has some big ambitions for the next few years, and that’s exactly what it has to do in order to move up the ranks.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 continues to drive the spec war with 4GB of RAM
Samsung continue to push the boundaries of specifications in mobile devices with a recent report stating that the new Galaxy Note 5 will have 4GB of LP-DDR4 RAM.
In addition, Samsung are expected to bring the first all-in-one ePoP solution to the Note 5, which will see the Exynos 7422 CPU bring a 64-bit Octa-core CPU, GPU, RAM, internal storage, and the Shannon 333 LTE modem all in one chip.
Perhaps Samsung are trying to solve the TouchWiz performance issues that have plagued generations of Galaxy devices by bumping up the RAM to 4GB? Whatever the reason, Samsung always use the Galaxy Note line to showcase the capabilities of their engineers and continue to demonstrate the powerhouse of the Note series.
Source: SamMobile
The post Samsung Galaxy Note 5 continues to drive the spec war with 4GB of RAM appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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