Spark Epic: High replay value, but it comes at a cost
For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed casual games on smartphones. Even dating back to pre-Android days I am fan of games that I can pick up, play for a few minutes, and then put down and forget about. Nothing passes the time as easily, in my opinion, as spending a couple of minutes with a game with high replay value.
Even with the advancements in today’s smartphones and all of the hardware performance at my fingertips, I tend to opt for the more laid back and casual title. Not that I would not mind playing some of these games that have hours and hours of campaign or head-to-head capabilities mind you. It is just that I do not have that much time to devote on a consistent basis.
I recently installed a game called Sparkle Epic by the developers 10tons Ltd. If you have spent much time in the Google Play Store then you will have surely seen this sort of gameplay mechanic. Players are tasked with the simple premise of matching up colored orbs as a “train” of them head towards a destination. Simply match three or more of the orbs together and they disappear from the train. You’ll have to think quickly because the group of them does not stop. It may pause temporarily, however it will get back in moving before long.
Once the line of orbs reach its destination, which is a hole in this case, you lose a life. Players are given five lives to start, with a new one regenerating every 30 minutes. If you go through all five of your lives, you can start fresh again in two and a half hours.
Sparkle Epic is a free game to play, however it can quickly cost you money if you are not careful. Read on for more about in-app purchases and how they can help you out… or chip away at your wallet.
I started out with this game and flew through the first 20 or so levels without any trouble. Although they did get increasingly harder, it took a couple dozen levels before I was running through my lives. To help you out, the game offers Boosts and Powerups.
Every so often players are given boosts as a reward which can then help gain the upper edge on a level. These are limited in quantity and are not given all that often so use them sparingly or only when you are struggling.
In the first few levels you’ll start out with one line of orbs heading toward one destination. Before you know it, there are multiple lines following after each other and/or two lines at one time heading to separate destinations.
The game requires quick thinking to be sure. If it were up to me, I would sell a $5 version of this that comes with a whole array of boosts right out of the gate. Alternatively, I would like to see chances to win more powerups along the way. The game can get frustrating so do note that you may return to a level time and again. I am not ready to buy my way out of labels all that quickly so I give it a good few days before I get so frustrated.
The game itself is quite vibrant and easy to play. You get a sense of real physics in this one as the orbs feel like there is a certain weight to them. The sound matches up nicely give the orbs a realistic and familiar sound.
The soundtrack reminds me a little bit of what you might find in the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. Having said that, it tends to get repetitive if you play this game often.
There’s an optional Facebook login for those of you who might want to hop around from one device to another. Once logged in, your game is synchronized to your account. This means you won’t have to start over from the beginning when you upgrade your phone or switch to a tablet.
Room for improvement
One thing that I would love to be able to do in this game is to go back and try my hand at earlier levels. Indeed, the game keeps track of how many orbs you use as well as your longest string of combinations. I would really like to be able to redo a level to see if I can get a quicker time or better combination. Alas, once you complete a level you are stuck with the spot.
I am currently in level 50 and have spent a few days of downtime here. I’d love to go back and practice a little bit on some earlier levels and try some different tactics, however that’s simply just not possible.
Playing the game can definitely lead to some impulse buying. You may find yourself getting close to finishing a level and ending up at, let’s say 80% completion. Not ready to start over or waste life? The game will essentially let you buy your way out of it. It is possible to continue to pay $1.10 at a time to keep from ending your turn. Be careful, this can get pretty expensive over time.
I am a fraction (1/6) of the way through the game’s 300 levels and I’ve already dropped a few dollars on this. Strangely, I would like to see more options for in-app purchases to where I can purchase groups of boosts to help along the way. I don’t care so much for purchasing them one at a time or in emergency situations. I would prefer to be able to buy a chunk of boosts to help me over a 24-hour period or 7 days … or something along those lines.
Conclusion
This is not the first game of its kind, and isn’t even the first of this style from the developer. But, after playing a few of the titles from 10tons, I like this mechanic the best. It’s not all that different from some of its previous efforts, but it’s enough to merit another game.
Although this one is available for both phone and tablet, I really think this works best on the larger displays. There’s just something about this one that doesn’t work as well and the four and five in size screen. Open it up on an 8 or 9 inch tablet, or even larger, and you’ll see that there is plenty of attention to detail and graphics. It also gives you a better sense of control over your orbs.
Sparkle Epic draws you in and sinks its teeth into you pretty quickly. But, once you start to spin the wheels in the mud, you’ll be facing an uphill battle from that point out. You can try to go it alone, but I’m betting you’ll drop a few dollars along the way. As to how much you really want to invest in this one, though, that’s debatable. Once I get to about $10 invested in the game I am likely calling it quits.
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Pre-orders begin for the consumer Samsung Gear VR
Pre-orders for the consumer version of the Samsung Gear VR are finally live to reignite our interest in virtual reality, and just in time for the holiday shopping season too.
Gear VR pre-orders are now live over at Best Buy in the US. The headset comes with a $99.99 price tag and the release date is scheduled for November 20th. If you’re interested in one, remember that the Gear VR only works with a small selection of Samsung Galaxy smartphones, which are also responsible for generating the content. The Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and Note 5 are supported with the consumer version, thanks to the adjustable slider that holds the phone in place.
The Gear VR was originally announced back in September 2014 and has seen a couple of developer hardware revisions since then. While the consumer version still presses down on the cheeks a little, we found that it is lighter than the previous models, which is a major bonus.
See also: Samsung Gear VR reactions at Oculus Connect
To sweeten the deal, Best Buy is also throwing in a 16GB microSD card that comes preloaded with 3D movie trailers and a selection of 360 degree videos, more of which will be available through Samsung Milk VR. Owners will also be able to stream videos from Vimeo, Hulu, Netflix and Twitch while sitting in a virtual theater. This is something that we found pretty captivating during our latest hands on time with the Gear VR.
Are you planning to pick up the consumer version of the Gear VR?
Nitpicking the Nexus 5X: Gosh the grievances!
Now that the LG Nexus 5X has hit the hands of some of the more hardcore haves, I thought it would be a good time to sound off on some of the sour spots. Make no mistake, the device is a fantastic product and a worthy upgrade from the original Nexus 5. Still, I tend to test out a lot of phones for evaluative purposes and suffice to say there have been a number of issues I’ve had with the 5X in the days I’ve spent with it so far. Some of these are device-specific, some are OS-related, however, given that the two are one-and-the-same, both will be addressed in this piece.
Also, I feel it pertinent to mention that this is not intended to be a thorough review of the hardware by any means. Those interested in a more objective, in-depth look at the device and all it has to offer should check out our official review here. With that said, let’s get this train started.
The “Misunderstandings”
Call it strange, but unless I’m specifically required to know relevant information for purposes of a post or debate, I tend to shy away from full-disclosure when it comes to IT products. Basic specs are fine, but I want to know the ins and outs for myself, kind of a pseudo sense of discovery. With that said – and especially regarding the 5X as opposed to the 6P – my prior knowledge of the spec sheet was limited so as to be potentially surprised. Indeed I was, but in both good – and bad – ways.
To this end, the first formal section will address those “darling discoveries” I have encountered:
Sour about the speaker
Before I had my hands on a 5X, I was under the impression the prominently visible dual “grill” setup along the top and bottom bezels were for stereo speakers. Nope. Sound comes only from the bottom vent, and the sound quality is really lacking for 2015, especially with companies like ZTE making it a sound priority.
YouTube videos for example, are harder to enjoy due to this problem, and I really wish LG could have put a better sound system in the hardware. At the very least, at this point in time if companies are going to make it look like there are front-facing stereo speakers, they ought to actually do it.
This is not to say the Nexus 5X is horrible, but in all honesty I’ve heard better sound coming from rear facing speakers than the one pointed flat at my face on this device. Oh well, that’s what headphones are for perhaps.
Bravo about the build
Some of the other aspects of the 5X are, in my humble opinion, fantastic. I happen to love the design, even the camera protrusion on the back. It hearkens back to the days of the HTC One X, of which I have fond recollection. At least on a personal level, I feel the 5X looks more modern than the original Nexus 5.
Additionally the screen is excellent. Shortly before the 5X arrived I stared in total disbelief at the spec: it’s “TFT”. And yet, the screen is – as far as non-AMOLED goes – bright, vibrant, and colorful. It is perhaps a testament to LG’s own display prowess.
…but those buttons…
On the other hand, I have nothing positive to say about the flimsy power and volume buttons along the right side of the phone. They are every bit as bad as those on last year’s Nexus 9. In the case of said tablet, the issue was gradually resolved with later builds, and seemed to be better – on the whole – with the white variant.
LG still makes some internally produced hardware with buttons along the side, one of which I used just last month, released in Japan as the LG Spray. This device had the same tactile, responsive buttons that LG used to make on all their phones, thus I begin to wonder if this is something Google-related given the HTC Nexus 9.
Could LG fix this with later production runs, as it did with the Nexus 4’s sliding siding? Sure. But it’s not going to do diddly squat for me, or the potentially hundreds of thousands of early adopters who potentially are less than pleased with the issue. Sure the Nexus Imprint negates the need to use the power button, but that’s hardly justification. Speaking of which…
I can’t quite place my finger on it…
The Nexus Imprint sensor is cool, without a doubt. Rather than requiring a prior press to turn on 5X’s screen (or a pressurized push), a single print does double duty and will both power on the device and immediately unlock it.
This works wonders, especially given the aforementioned build quality blues regarding the power button. You simply place, and presto.
The problem is that…any time the device is turned off and something presses against Imprint, the sensor will try to read it. Wrong. It makes handling the device somewhat troublesome because of the two quick haptic feedback responses that occur for bad scans.
At least for me, it’s like I’m always accidentally touching the Imprint sensor by “accident” and constantly get the vibratory feedback error. Likewise depending on the finger(s) registered, you may inadvertently turn wake up and unlock the display simply by mistake.
It kind of makes me wish the sensor was on the front of the device, a la Samsung, though obviously nothing can be done about this now.
The force returns in full
Related to this is the problem of the 5X’s forceful feedback. In all my years and experience, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a device with haptic feedback this strong. Indeed many have said that the actual audible vibration from the part itself is stronger than the sensation itself.
And it is loud. Even on a semi-crowded Tokyo subway with people talking next to me, I could still hear the mechanical “noise” emitted by the build as I typed this very sentence.
This brings up two specific issues for concern:
1. If haptic feedback is this strong, will the internals wear out over time due to too much use?
2. Why isn’t there a way to manually adjust the haptic feedback intensity in the Usability settings option? Given that high intensity might be best for people who have certain disabilities, it seems fundamentally relevant.
Mushy Marshmallows
Concluding this list, I am also not particularly happy with the fact that the home screen now has 5 columns instead of just 4. The icons seem almost too small, despite the fact that their text labels are permanently enlarged. This is a stark contrast to the Google Now Launcher’s typical presentation wherein it usually has gigantic icons.
I am also somewhat surprised that the font size on the 5X is so small. Even when set to Large, it looks small. Extra Large, which is usually comically gigantic, is basically what I’d consider to be just “large” standard.
And on a final note, I’m not too keen on the new font. What was wrong with Roboto…
Wrap up
And there you have it, my general grievances about the Nexus 5X. Is it a good phone? Yes. Is it a worthy sequel to its predecessor? Definitely. Is it the best product it could be? No, not really. Given that rumors persist that the 5X had 3GB of RAM until the last minute, I am inclined to lean towards the belief that it was once much more, but stripped of its superiority due to possible competition with the 6P.
Still, assuming you want a Nexus, one must be happy with what they have, as that’s all we’re going to get, this year at least. With that said, I’d like to ask for your thoughts. Are any of you sporting the Nexus 5X? Do you have similar feelings or is everything perfect as far as you’re concerned? Leave a comment below, or yell at me on Google Plus!
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Deal: Walmart has the Fitbit Charge HR for just $104
If you have been looking to make the jump into fitness wearables then you’ll struggle to find a better time than now. Walmart is selling the Fitbit Charge HR wristband for just $104, including free in-store pick up.
This deal saves $46 off Walmart’s regular retail price and is also notably cheaper than an offer currently running on Amazon too, where you would pay $141 for the same device. If you want extra protection for your new Fitbit, Walmart also offers a 2 year care plan for an extra $14.
The Fitbit Charge HR features the usual step, stair and distance traveled statistics, as well as an additional heart rate monitor that can also be used to track your sleep patterns. Pairing the hardware up with the Android app allows wearers to keep on top of their daily activities, set targets and even monitor their calorie intake and output.
It’s not clear how long Walmart will be selling the Charge HR for at this price. Click the big orange button below to head on over to the deal.
Google Maps adds offline turn-by-turn navigation, search, and more
During this year’s Google I/O we learned that fully featured offline navigation would be making its way to Google Maps before 2015 was over. Now Google is making good on its promise, as they have announced that offline navigation and search is rolling out!
While it was possible to use Google Maps offline in a limited fashion before, the newly upgraded offline functionality gives you the power to select entire cities, counties, or even countries to download. Once downloaded, you’ll have the ability to get turn-by-turn navigations, search for locations, and more.
Whereas before you could simply view an area of the map offline, now you can get turn-by-turn driving directions, search for specific destinations, and find useful information about places, like hours of operation, contact information or ratings.
While offline functionality is exceptionally important for those with limited data or for those in countries where data speeds are slower, this is also a welcome addition for those who find themselves travelling country roads, small towns, and other areas where data connections might be spotty. As someone who has family in a neighboring city and has to pass a dead spot that lasts about twenty minutes every time I visit them, I certainly am very excited about getting access to fully-featured offline maps! Of course, in usual Google fashion, you can expect the functionality to start rolling out gradually.
What does everyone think, do you see yourself using this regularly? Or are the data connections in your area strong enough that it is really a non-issue? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Tim Cook warns UK government against weakening encryption
Following the UK’s Investigatory Powers Bill, which was released last week with new and extended surveillance powers for the government, Apple CEO Tim Cook has defended strong encryption. Speaking to the Telegraph, Cook reiterated that Apple believes “very strongly in end-to-end encryption and no back doors.” He pointed to recent data breaches (hello, TalkTalk hack) and emphasised that they can endanger both public privacy and national security. “To protect people who use any products, you have to encrypt.”
Hollywood FX artists help doctors practice child surgery
Boston Children’s Hospital has formed an odd partnership with a practical special effects company to create more realistic surgery simulator models. Santa Monica-based Fractured FX is well acquainted with human anatomy (and gore), having worked on FX’s bloody American Horror Story. It also helped recreate surgeries performed in the early 1900s on the Cinemax Series The Knick. For its part, Boston Children’s Hospital has had a surgery simulator program for quite awhile, but decided it needed to up the realism quotient and give doctors a better “haptic” feel for patient’s organs.
Source: Boston Children’s Hospital
We hate Valve’s Steam Controller because it’s different
My stomach tied itself into a knot as I read the gaming community’s first impressions of Valve’s final Steam Controller. “It’s cheap feeling,” many of them said, “difficult and frustrating to use.” Forum posts, tweets and reviews all bemoaned how different the touchpads felt compared to traditional analog sticks, accusing it of fixing something that wasn’t broken.
The general consensus seemed to be that the Steam Controller was a mistake: A drastic, unnecessary step away from the tried and true layout of the 16-button, dual-analog gamepad standard. I felt betrayed and even a little offended — but it wasn’t Valve’s experimental gamepad that let me down (I love that little thing), it was the gaming community that decided to turn a cold shoulder to innovation.
Samsung’s improved Gear VR is available for pre-order
Samsung said its improved, cheaper Gear VR would arrive sometime in November, and it’s clearly making good on its promise. Best Buy has started taking pre-orders for the virtual reality headset — plunk down $100 and you should get your Gear VR on November 20th. It’s not quite as low-cost as it sounds, since you’ll need one of Samsung’s 2015 flagship phones (such as a Galaxy S6 variant or the Galaxy Note 5) to make it work. Still, it might be worth the investment if you’ve been itching to try modern VR at home.
Via: I4U News
Source: Best Buy
Talking it out: Do I buy a console or the Oculus Rift?
So my old Xbox 360 finally gave up its ghost last weekend and presented me with the most dreaded of error codes, the ‘Red Ring of Death’. It wasn’t an entirely shocking turn of events, mind you. I’d had that console since 2006 — it survived four intra-state moves, countless roommates and a bitter ex armed with a croquet mallet (seriously Ashley, if you’re reading this, you still owe me a croquet set) — but the increasingly common and severe loading screen freezes made it clear my 360 was reaching the end of its operational service life.
Now I’m faced with a difficult choice: What gaming platform do I buy next? Do I suck it up and embrace Microsoft’s current console, Xbox One? Should I jump ship to the PlayStation 4 which all my own friends own and use? Or, do I say goodbye to console gaming altogether and get one of those fancy new Oculus Rifts?
AIVAnet 