Better late than never: Alto’s Adventure is coming to Android and Kindle Fire
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By now, it should be no longer surprising when games are released on iOS before they come to Android. That’s exactly the case with Alto’s Adventure, which came out in February on iOS and has since sauntered along towards and Android release. Well, thanks to Noodlecake Studios, Alto’s Adventure is coming to Android and Kindle Fire, though an exact date for the escapade has yet to be defined.
According to the reviews, Alto’s Adventure is quite a tranquil, unique title in its depiction of snowboarding, which is something we’d love to see on Android. Of course, we’ll be seeing it soon enough – all we need to do is wait, as usual.
Are you excited for Alto’s Adventure on Android and Kindle Fire? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Noodlecake via engadget
The post Better late than never: Alto’s Adventure is coming to Android and Kindle Fire appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Qualcomm introducing Kryo CPU with the Snapdragon 820 – 2x performance and power efficiency
Qualcomm likes to tease us with periodic updates on its upcoming processors. This is why they usually don’t have a solid announcement for their chipsets; they just tell us the new SoC is on its way and then give us all the details as we approach the release date. Today we get an idea of how powerful the upcoming Snapdragon 820 processor will be, thanks to new details on the all-new Kryo CPU.
Kryo is the company’s first custom 64-bit quad-core CPU. It will be tightly integrated with the Adreno 530 GPU and Hexagon 680 DSP, which we have recently learnt more about. It’s important to note the Kryo chip is made on the 14 nm FinFET technology and can achieve clock speeds of up to 2.2 GHz.
But what does all this tech talk even mean? Well, this processor is optimized for heterogeneous computing and will be tightly integrated with other parts of the system. Ultimately, this makes for a significant bump in performance and power efficiency. In fact, Qualcomm claims Snapdragon 820 performance will double when compared to the Snapdragon 810, at least in those two specific fields.
Qualcomm then goes on to introduce their new Symphony System Manager. What this does is organize tasks and assign them to either the CPU, GPU or the DSP. It can determine which component should perform any function better and more efficiently. This will help the Snapdragon 820 chipset reach performance levels and power efficiency at much higher levels.
I can’t wait to test a Snapdragon 820 device! It will still be a while before we see one, though. Let’s sit tight and keep waiting for more details to come from Qualcomm!
Sony settles with employees affected by massive data breach
Sony Entertainment has reached a deal with its employees affected by the security breach that rocked its world in 2014. If you recall, that incident led to several waves of data leaks, including unreleased movies and juicy emails between its execs. Turns out the hackers also snatched present and previous employees’ information in the process, because some of the affected individuals reported seeing their info for sale on the internet. Others claimed that someone tried to use their credit cards to make purchases — in short, the data breach made them easy targets to identity thieves and credit card fraudsters.
A number of people brought their complaints to court, and since there were quite a few of them, their attorneys proposed filing a class action lawsuit against the company. Sony attempted to block the lawsuit by claiming that none of the complainants suffered financial loss. Since the judge denied the request for dismissal, the company probably decided that settling the issue out of court would be the better option. It might take a while before we hear the settlement details, however, since both parties still need to prepare and submit documents for approval.
It’s still unclear who’s exactly responsible for the attack, but investigators suspect North Korea, as the hackers specifically demanded Sony to cancel The Interview’s showing, among other reasons. That’s the same Seth Rogen and James Franco starrer about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Source:
Bloomberg, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
Tags: databreach, hack, law, lawsuit, sony, sonyentertainment
IFTTT updates its Do Button application with support for Android Wear
IFTTT has now updated its extremely-popular Do Button application in the Play Store. In terms of added functionality, this upgrade transports compatibility for Android Wear which enables users to control tasks from their list, as well as the standard multitude of bug fixes and stability improvements.
The full changelog can be seen below:
- Introducing DO Button for Android Wear
- Designed for simplicity and ease of use, DO for Android Wear places the control of hundreds of apps right on your wrist.
- New Channels include: Adafruit, Amazon Cloud Drive, Camio, dondeEsta Family, iSecurity+, Wattio, Wolfram Data Drop
- A few wrinkles were ironed out
To install the update on your smartphone, simply open up the Play Store, toggle the hamburger menu by swiping in from the left-hand side of the screen, select ‘My Apps’ and click on ‘Do Button’. Then all that’s left for you to do is hit the update button.
Come comment on this article: IFTTT updates its Do Button application with support for Android Wear
Deal: Amazon Fire Phone only $125 from eBay, includes warranty and 1 year of Prime
Looking for a good deal on a smartphone? Nevermind that the Amazon Fire Phone is already an affordable alternative, we have seen this handset drop to prices as low as $159 lately. Today we have an even better deal for you. You can get yourself a new Fire Phone for only $125. If that wasn’t enough, customers also get a whole year of Prime membership and a full manufacturer warranty.
The phone can be purchased straight from eBay, but try to act quickly. The sale may be ending in 27 more days, but there are limited quantities and over 92% of all available units have been sold. You will be out of luck if their inventory empties out!
Just in case you have forgotten all about the Amazon Fire Phone, the handset comes with a 4.7-inch 720p screen, a 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, a 13 MP rear camera, a 2.1 MP front shooter and a 2400 mAh battery.
It certainly wasn’t a bad phone, but its operating system made it a bit limited, not to mention the fact that it was an AT&T-exclusive and there were definitely better options out there. Even Amazon admitted that pricing was their biggest mistake and later reduced the tag to $200. Now, at $125 and with Prime included, the Fire Phone sounds like a much better offer.
Who is signing up for one of these? I mean, you are pretty much getting a phone for $26, as Prime memberships cost $99 a year. I say that is definitely a steal!
Buy the Amazon Fire Phone for only $125!
Google Docs gets updated with new integrated research tool and voice typing
Docs is part of Google’s productivity suite along with Sheets, Slides and Forms. Today, the app received a major update that will bring a number of new features aimed at getting work done.
Google’s newest version of its Docs application will be rolling out to Android users starting today. The update is aimed at making tasks more seamless and effortless for students. In addition, changes will also be made in Google’s Classroom product as well as the company’s Sheets and Forms applications.
Google’s newest version of Docs includes dictation in 40 languages. Google’s voice typing will make it easier to input phrases and even sentences when trying to get something done in a hurry. Google was happy to announce these enhancements will be coming to Android, the Web and iOS users.
Unlike the previous feature, this update will only take effect on Android. With Google’s next version of Docs, it will include an all-new resource tool for integrated search. Users will be able to pop open a tab and conduct research all within the Google Docs application. This will make the lives of students much easier and hassle free. Google has included a new insert button for inserting text from outside sources as well as images and URL’s. With this new feature, it will be easier than ever to get work done in a timely manor.
On top of this, Google will now let users check over their revisions in a snap. After you save a Doc, the next time you open it, all the changes the user made will be highlighted. This can all be done with a simple click. You can even do this with multiple people. Each person editing the Doc will be given a specific color and the edits made by that user will appear highlighted in their assigned color.
Google’s update to its productivity suite will also bring many stability improvements, more templates, a refreshed interface for Forms and easier ways to implement charts in Sheets. Professors can also easily share web pages with students in no time.
Google is always keeping its eyes open for ways to improve the lives of its users. We’re very excited to see what the company has in store for us next. For more about the update to Google’s productivity suite hit the source link down below.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google Docs gets updated with new integrated research tool and voice typing
Starting today, Hulu subscribers can pay an additional $4 per month for no ads
Hulu is running a new trial for subscribers that want a no ad version of their video streaming service.
If you can’t stand watching ad’s on Hulu, you can now pay an additional $4 per month to enjoy ad breaks. The regular subscription it still available for $8 per month, but if you’re feeling annoyed by ads it will set you back $12 per month. Hulu wants us to note that certain programs will still require ads before and after episodes. It’ll be interesting to see which subscription becomes more popular next month when we get the official numbers. Only time will tell.
Source: Hulu
Come comment on this article: Starting today, Hulu subscribers can pay an additional $4 per month for no ads
PlayStation 3’s free-to-play ‘Soul Calibur’ shuts down in November
There was a brief period when Bandai Namco was trying a free-to-play model for its bigger franchises like the venerable Soul Calibur fighting series and its arcadey Ridge Racer. The latter shut down in 2014, and the former will suffer a similar fate pretty soon. Come November 30th, the PlayStation 3 exclusive Soul Calibur Lost Swords closes its virtual doors while sales of in-game items stop about a month prior on October 27th, according to GamesIndustry.biz. From September 16th to September 30th though, Bandai Namco is hosting some commemorative “ranking quests” to mark the occasion. Are you among the game’s over two million players and are already mourning its passing? Let us know in the comments. And hey, who knows, this could point toward a Soul Calibur hitting modern consoles sometime soon — possible silver lining and all that.
Filed under:
Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source:
Bandai Namco (YouTube)
Tags: bandainamco, freetoplay, hdpostcross, online, playstation, playstation3, psn, shutdown, soulcalibur, soulcaliburlostsword, video
The new Nexus smartphones will be announced on September 29th
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There’s been so much happening at IFA 2015 that this one almost skipped by us. A rumour being circulated is saying that the new Nexus smartphones will be announced on September 29th – we’re expecting a LG and Huawei device to be announced, presumably as the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6. This is the second time that the September 29th date has been dropped – the other time was in a report out of Korea, so we’re assuming this rumour, or at least the date, has some credibility somewhat. Quite unlike recent Nexus smartphone releases which have been quietly pushed to the Google Store, the latest rumour suggests that the LG and Huawei Nexus devices are going to be announced at a press conference in San Francisco.
The two Nexus smartphones will no doubt be launched in conjunction with the latest build of Android, Android Marshmallow, with a roll-out of the update to older Nexus devices coming soon after that. With so many rumours flying around everywhere, we’re excited to see for certain what Google has in store for us – the 29th can’t come soon enough.
What do you think about Google holding a press conference on September 29th? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: CNET via Droid-life
The post The new Nexus smartphones will be announced on September 29th appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Taking a leaf out of Google’s book: Verizon has a new logo too
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Hot on the heels of Google announcing its new look logo, American telecommuncations provider Verizon has done exactly the same thing. The logo itself is significantly simplified though the Verizon tick is still present but in a different location now – our primary concern is whether “Big Red” is still an appropriate nickname for the telco giant. As for why the logo is changing, Verizon says that after 15 years, it’s time for a change:
“The new visual identity marks the beginning of the next chapter to distinguish Verizon in the minds of consumers and signals our revitalized purpose of delivering the promise of the digital world — simply, reliably and in a way that consumers want.”
It seems pretty coincidental that two of America’s largest and recognizable companies were working on new logos at the same time, but it’s happened, and Verizon’s probably kicking itself that Google got to announce theirs first. Expect the new logo to start rolling out over the next few weeks, but it seems pretty ironic that Verizon’s own website doesn’t have the new logo installed yet.
What do you think about Verizon’s new logo? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Verizon via TalkAndroid
The post Taking a leaf out of Google’s book: Verizon has a new logo too appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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