xSpelled: A casual, school-themed word game (App Review)
Growing up, I was never expelled from school. In fact, it was not until I was well beyond high school that I ended up getting xSpelled. Ok, let me be clear. xSpelled is a word puzzle game that calls to mind Scrabble and Boggle. If you those types of casual board games, then you will appreciate this one.
xSpelled overview
The premise is not all that difficult in that you are given seven letters and 60 seconds to create or find as many words you can. Every time you get a word wrong, you get a strike. Enter a word you have already used and you will get a strike. Additionally, each round will have a required word you must find. Fail to do so and you will get a strike. If you get three strikes, you are xSpelled! The gameplay is not overly complicated: play until you are xSpelled.
Players tap on letters to spell a word whereupon the tiles turn green. At this point you can confirm the word and add it to your board. If the tiles are not green, and you hit confirm, you will receive a strike.
Uncovering select words results in unlocking apples. Said fruit can be spent on items that can help you obtain a better score. You can also use stars for certain items, but it wasn’t very clear if you can obtain these in-game, or through in-app purchasing only. To make in-app purchases, you can click on the shopping cart, from the main menu, to select what items you want. The price of these items will range from 99 cents to $2.99, depending on the type and quantity.
xSpelled gameplay
The graphics of this game are smooth, but not top notch, 3D quality stuff as in other games you may have played. The background is designed to look like a chalk board, and the pictures can best be described as cartoonish, so you should feel like you’re right back in school. You have basic buttons that will allow you to easily navigate through the game, make in-app purchases, check your scores, and even post to Facebook. Players are automatically signed into Google Play games upon opening the app. This will help you track your achievements and see how you’re doing compared others.
To start a game, all you have to do is select solo mode, then press the start button. However, the game does not provide any sort of clear objective or instructions to guide upon the first time(s) playing, nor does it tell you what each of the items can do for you. When you first start, I recommend pressing the question mark, to the right of the chalkboard. This will pause the timer and allow you to touch each of the other items and learn what they can do.
To play vs mode, select vs, from the main menu, and then start. You will then be paired with someone online. The gameplay will be the same as solo. Once the round has ended, your scores will be compared and the winner pronounced.
What we liked
- Gets players thinking; it’s not a mindless game
- Boosters and items increase odds of winning
- Potentially endless gameplay
What could be better
- Introductory tutorial would have helped getting started
- More clarification on stars
xSpelled summary
This is a great game for anyone who loves word puzzles. You will be challenged and you will be entertained. Just be quick or you’ll end up xSpelled!
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Startup launches smartphone-inspired camera to take on DSLRs
Not many people are aware that Android was originally meant to be an advanced operating system for digital cameras. But since the market was not ready for it, the early founders of Android started working on a software for mobile phones. Now when smartphones have largely gobbled up the point-and-shoot cameras’ market, the only kind of cameras that remain relevant anymore are the DSLRs. But a photography startup called, Light, claims that its Android-based point-and-shoot cameras are capable of taking better images than DSLRs.
The L16 – the company’s first camera – is inspired by the hardware principles a smartphone’s snapper. It uses multiple camera modules for higher resolution and a series of sensors of different focal lengths for the greater zoom. The compact camera combines 16 lenses of different focal lengths (five 35mm lenses, five at 70mm and six at 150 mm) to take 54-megapixel images and 4k resolution videos.
“We repurpose and leverage the billions of dollars invested in these little smartphone cameras. The economics and quality have become very compelling in these,” Light’s CEO Dave Grannan said.
The company has begun taking preorders for its first batch of L16 cameras, which will cost $1,299 until November 6 and $1,699 thereafter. However, the devices won’t begin shipping until late next summer.
As for the specifications, the L16 features a 5-inch touchscreen, 16 camera modules, Android OS and Wi-Fi. Clearly, editing and sharing a perfect shot will not be a problem with this unique snapper.
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SwiftKey’s newest keyboard uses an “artificial neural network”
SwiftKey, one of the best replacement keyboards around, now has another keyboard for people to tap away on. But this one uses what the company calls an “artificial neural network.” SwiftKey Neural uses artificial intelligence that is actually based on the human brain. So this keyboard will make word suggestions within the context of a sentence. It has been designed to go through a massive amount of language data and understand the relationship between words.
This type of technology is normally limited to servers, but SwiftKey seems to have found a use for it on mobile devices. SwiftKey does admit that this is a huge challenge on mobile devices due to limited resources.
SwiftKey Neural is currently available through SwiftKey’s Greenhouse for devices running Android 4.4 KitKat and above.
Click here to view the embedded video.
And here is what Swiftkey believes neural networks can do for keyboards of the future:
Source: SwiftKey
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The HomTom HT6 smartphone with a 6,250mAh battery is up for pre-order
Chinese manufacturer Doogee is preparing to launch the HomTom HT6 smartphone with a massive battery. It has a behemoth of a 6,250mAh battery packed inside the phone that will no doubt last you a couple of days. And for how much? Just a shockingly low $149.
Those interested can pre-order through TinyDeal.com, which lists an expected ship date of November 15. Some of its other specifications are much less impressive, sadly.
It has a 5.5-inch 1280 x 720 HD IPS display, a quad-core MediaTek MTK6735P 64-bit 1GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, microSD support, a 13-megapixel rear Sony camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, the aforementioned 6,250mAh battery, and Android 5.1.1, although there’s no telling what skin it’s running atop of Android.
Unfortunately, and according to the product page, the device will only work on Sprint. But if you’re interested in it, you can find out more details at the source link below.
source: TinyDeal
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If the Priv fails, BlackBerry might be forced to abandon hardware
Today, BlackBerry CEO John Chen sat down with Re/code at the publication’s Code Mobile conference. And of course the main talking point was BlackBerry’s upcoming Priv handset. Chen explained during his session at the conference that BlackBerry is moving to Android because of the company’s need for apps. With that, he feels that BlackBerry can produce a device that masters software, security, and productivity.
BlackBerry shared a bunch of Chen’s comments from his Code Mobile session today:
.@JohnChen at #CodeMobile: #BlackBerry software business can do “security magic” on #Android
— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) October 8, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
.@JohnChen at #CodeMobile: 2 new releases of #BB10 coming to support government and high-security users
— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) October 8, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
.@JohnChen: for #PRIV Android, “we’ve created patching mechanism that will address attacks a lot quicker than others” #CodeMobile
— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) October 8, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
.@JohnChen: As far as #PRIV is concerned, audience goes beyond enterprises. Will focus on high-end #privacy and #productivity. #CodeMobile
— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) October 8, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Offstage, Chen told The Verge that BlackBerry must sell at least five million smartphones per year in order to be profitable and keep everything running. If that does not happen, BlackBerry may be forced to abandon the hardware business completely and focus on software alone. Because if your own mobile operating system fails and so does the use of another company’s, it may be time to give up. But, in all honesty, the Priv does look like a decent device that can capture the attention of consumers in and outside the enterprise space. Chen’s comments during his Code Mobile session do reflect that the company is looking at those who typically look at Apple and Samsung phones as their first choice.
Chen also confirmed that BlackBerry 10 will remain alive for the foreseeable future. Moving all security features from BlackBerry 10 to Android would be the only thing that leads to the company’s own mobile operating system to fold.
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Gameloft launches ‘CSI: Slots’ for mobiles and tablets
French game publishing company Gameloft today announced the launch of CSI: Slots for smartphones and tablets running Android, iOS and Window Phones. CSI: Slots is a popular mystery and suspense game that the leading gaming company has created in collaboration with the writing team at CBS Interactive.
“We’re thrilled to partner with CBS Interactive to offer an all-new and totally interactive game concept. Featuring action and nail-biting intrigue,CSI: Slots promises many hours of gameplay,” said Gonzague de Vallois, Senior Vice President, Publishing at Gameloft.
The game is inspired by CSI or Crime Scene Investigation, which is a police procedural drama series that ran on CBS from 2000 to 2015.
Based on a Las Vegas casino theme, CSI: Slots offers plenty of adventures for players who must examine crime scenes, interrogate suspects and solve crimes by spinning slot machine reels. Each spin leads them closer to the killer and earn rewards. As the players continue to solve cases with help of CSI characters, they unlock new levels, which allows them to play with special themed slot machines.
Full Press Release
Gameloft Announces the Launch of CSI: Slots on Smartphones and Tablets
An innovative game combining criminal investigation and slot machines
PARIS, October 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ —
Gameloft, a leading digital and social game publisher, in partnership with CBS Interactive, today announces the launch of CSI: Slots on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android and Windows Phone. CSI: Slots releases with exciting mystery-seeping cases written in collaboration with the CSI: writing team. Ultimately resulting in a dynamic and interactive slots game that engages players on a whole new level.
CSI: Slots allows players to combine the heart-pounding adventures of the CSI: team with Las Vegas casino settings. Players must examine crime scenes, interrogate suspects and solve captivating investigations by spinning slot machine reels. Each spin will lead them closer to the killer and earn them all-new rewards, or help them strike it rich with huge wins. Fans of the CSI: Franchise can interact with iconic characters of the series to solve the crimes, and then play through special, themed slot machines, which can only be unlocked by solving the cases.
“We’re thrilled to partner with CBS Interactive to offer an all-new and totally interactive game concept,” states Gonzague de Vallois, Senior Vice President Publishing at Gameloft. “Featuring action and nail-biting intrigue, CSI: Slots promises many hours of gameplay.”
CSI: Slots is now available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android and Windows Phone.
View the launch trailer here: http://gmlft.co/CSI-Slots-launch-trailer
Download the game on App Store, Google Play and Windows Store.
About Gameloft:
A leading digital and social game publisher, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, including mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (including Apple® iOS, Android® and Windows® devices), set-top boxes and connected TVs. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Order & Chaos, Modern Combat or Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including Universal, Illumination Entertainment, Disney®, Marvel®, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Mattel® and Ferrari®.
Gameloft is present on all continents, distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs over 5,200 developers.
Gameloft is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (Euronext: GFT.PA, Bloomberg: GFT FP, Reuters: GLFT.PA). Gameloft is traded OTC in the US (sponsored Level 1 ADR ticker: GLOFY).
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[Deal] Power A’s MOGA Pro Power controller is discounted at Amazon
Now is the time to get a mobile gaming controller if you don’t already have one. Power A’s MOGA Pro Power controller is available through Amazon for just $32, a discount of 60%. It offers full-size control for supported games and even has a built-in 2200mAh battery so that you can continue gaming even when your phone’s battery is begging for mercy. The controller connects to mobile devices via a Bluetooth connection, but you can place it into the controller’s stand for easy use.
[Amazon]
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Google privately buys abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz.com because they were “missing” a few letters
Google recently went through a major restructuring under newly formed parent company Alphabet. Since the forming, the company has gone through some controversy with its abc.xyz domain, but now, Google seems to have bought the entire alphabet as a domain.
Yes, folks, the entire alphabet. Google is now the owner of abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz.com. Why? Well, Google hasn’t given us a reason besides “missing” a few letters between abc and xyz in their URL. Here’s the official statement by way of a Google spokesman:
“We realized we missed a few letters in abc.xyz, so we’re just being thorough.”
In reality, Google probably purchased the domain to stop someone else from doing it in the future, as is commonplace. Right now the domain just points towards a dead page, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Google had the URL redirect to its actual abc.xyz domain.
Interestingly, the domain was already taken. In fact, someone bought it way back in 1999 and its been parked ever since. That said, this was a private sale that no doubt involved a lot more money than just your standard $12 or $13 for a new .com domain.
source: Domain Investing
via: Re/code
Come comment on this article: Google privately buys abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz.com because they were “missing” a few letters
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Launching in Belarus, Guam, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine on October 23
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus sales will expand to several additional countries on October 23 as part of a fourth wave launch, with the device becoming available in Serbia, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, and Guam.
There are no Apple retail locations in those countries, but various Apple Reseller Stores and carriers will begin offering the two new iPhones on that date.
Starting tomorrow, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus sales are expanding to more than 40 additional countries around the world. Currently, the devices are only available in first wave launch countries that include Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, and the United States.
Launches in various countries will happen on the following dates:
- October 9: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan
- October 10: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates
- October 16: India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, South Africa, and Turkey
- October 23: Belarus, Guam, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will continue to expand to additional countries throughout 2015, as Apple has said it plans to make the two devices available in more than 130 countries by the end of the year.
Netflix raising standard plan by $1 come November 11th
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Tis’ the season to raise some prices. Netflix will increasing their standard monthly subscription fee from $8.99 to $9.99 a month come November 11th. The cost increase is fairly marginally when you consider the amount of commercial free binge watching content you get from them when simply streaming. The last monetary change was in 2014 when Netflix added went from $7.99 to the current $8.99. Prior to that they kicked in a 4 device streaming limit plan in 2013 for $11.99.
The Netflix website is already showing the price change and is likely due to the standard 30 day free trial offer they always offer. If you aren’t a Netflix subscriber then you can look at the pros/cons of the various packages. The gap between subscriptions is now $2 each, but you gain quite a bit between them with the Premium package being the best bang for your buck if you have multiple HDTV’s and tablets.
For all you current subscribers, nothing will change. If you currently sport the $8.99 plan, your monthly payment won’t change in the slightest. All new subscribers going forward will be the only ones effected by the small increase.
Source: Bloomberg
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