Huawei P20 Pro vs. the P20: Which smartphone is the right Huawei to go?
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
The fact that Huawei has repeatedly run into issues trying to break into the U.S. market hasn’t stopped the Chinese manufacturer from turning out some very impressive Android smartphones. The Huawei P20 and P20 Pro offer a compelling combination of cutting-edge hardware and software, but there are some big differences between the two. If you’re considering buying one of them, then this comparison will help you get a grasp on where they’re similar and where they diverge.
Specs
Huawei P20 Pro
Huawei P20
Size
155 x 73.9 x 7.8 mm (6.1 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches)
149.1 x 70.8 x 7.65 mm (5.87 x 2.78 x 0.3 inches)
Weight
174 grams (6.14 ounces)
165 grams (5.82 ounces)
Screen size
6.1-inch OLED display
5.8-inch LCD display
Screen resolution
2,240 x 1,080 pixels (414 pixels-per-inch)
2,240 x 1,080 pixels (428 pixels-per-inch)
Operating system
Emotion UI 8.1 (over Android 8.1 Oreo)
Emotion UI 8.1 (over Android 8.1 Oreo)
Storage space
128GB
128GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
Tap-to-pay services
Google Pay
Google Pay
Processor
Kirin 970
Kirin 970
RAM
6GB
4GB
Camera
Triple lens 40MP, 20MP, & 8MP rear, 24MP front
Dual lens 20MP & 12MP, 24MP front
Video
2160p at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 960fps
2160p at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 960fps
Bluetoothversion
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth 4.2
Ports
USB-C
USB-C
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Water resistance
IP67
IP53
Battery
4,000mAh
3,400mAh
App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Network support
T-Mobile, AT&T
T-Mobile, AT&T
Colors
Black, Blue, Pink Gold, Twilight
Black, Blue, Pink Gold, Twilight
Price
899 euros (around $1,100)
649 euros (around $800)
Where to buy it
Huawei
Huawei
Review score
Hands-on review
Hands-on review
Performance, battery life and charging
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Dissect either of these phones and you’re going to find Huawei’s own Kirin 970 processor inside, along with its special Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which is designed to offer all kinds of artificial intelligence (A.I.) enhancements without slowing things down or draining too much power. You get 6GB of RAM in the P20 Pro, while the P20 makes do with 4GB of RAM. Only serious multitaskers will feel the difference. Both phones have 128GB of storage, but there’s no MicroSD card slot.
It’s easier to separate these phones on battery life because the P20 Pro has a 4,000mAh battery, while the battery in the P20 is only rated at 3,400mAh. The P20 Pro has a marginally bigger screen and a few more tricks up its sleeve, but we can’t see that being enough to cancel out the extra capacity, so we expect the P20 Pro to have more stamina than its sibling. There’s no wireless charging here, but you can expect both phones to support Huawei’s SuperCharge fast-charging standard.
Winner: Huawei P20 Pro
Design and durability
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
The all-glass, curved design of these phones is extremely attractive and they come in some interesting finishes, particularly the twilight option, which shifts from purple to teal. Strangely, Huawei has put the fingerprint sensors on the front, in the old traditional spot beneath the screen, but the main thing that jumps out is that notch at the top. We’re not keen on the notch trend afflicting Android phones right now, but if you’re going to do it, there’s nothing wrong with Huawei’s implementation — the notch in the P20 and P20 Pro is much smaller than the iPhone X’s notch.
There’s nothing to divide these phones on the design front, but if we delve into durability, the P20 Pro is clearly superior. The P20 has a distinctly disappointing IP53 rating, while the P20 Pro scores an IP67 rating. In simple terms, this means that the P20 Pro can survive submersion, but the P20 probably won’t.
Winner: Huawei P20 Pro
Display
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
The Huawei P20 sports a 5.8-inch RGBW LCD screen, while the P20 Pro boasts a 6.1-inch OLED screen. Both of them have a 2,240 x 1,080 pixel screen resolution. Strictly speaking, this makes the P20 screen a touch sharper, but the P20 Pro has a much higher contrast ratio, with rich colors and really deep blacks.
Winner: Huawei P20 Pro
Camera
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
The camera war in smartphones has reached new heights recently, as the battle for supremacy has spilled beyond megapixel count and led many manufacturers to adopt secondary lenses. Huawei is taking things a lot further with the P20 Pro by packing in three lenses: There’s a 40-megapixel main lens with A.I. Image Stabilization (AIS), a secondary telephoto lens rated at 8-megapixels, and a third 20-megapixel monochrome lens. This camera offers 3x optical zoom, which can be enhanced digitally to 5x. It also delivers incredible detail and solid low -light performance.
By contrast, the P20 combines a 12-megapixel primary lens with a 20-megapixel monochromatic lens. It may not have as many tricks at its disposal, but we still expect it to be a good performer. Both phones have front-facing cameras rated at 24-megapixels, which should be enough to elevate your selfie game to the next level.
Winner: Huawei P20 Pro
Software and updates
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
You’ll find the latest Android 8.1 Oreo on the P20 and P20 Pro, with Huawei’s EMUI 8.1 user interface on top. It’s quite a departure from stock Android, and it means you won’t get the latest software updates as soon as Google rolls them out. Huawei’s software is packed with clever A.I. tricks, enabling things like keyword search in the photo gallery app. There’s no real difference between the two phones in this category.
Winner: Tie
Special features
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Huawei is firmly focused on the triple-lens camera as the standout feature of the P20 Pro, but everything else you might point to as a special feature can be found on both phones. There is a face unlock option on the P20 and P20 Pro that uses 2-D mapping to authenticate users in only half a second, but it’s not as secure as the iPhone X’s Face ID, so you can’t use it for payments.
Winner: Tie
Price
This has been a very one-sided battle so far, but the P20 is able to score a win on price, because it’s significantly cheaper than the P20 Pro. The Huawei P20 costs 649 euros (around $800), while the P20 Pro costs 899 euros (around $1,100).
The phones are available globally now. The bad news is that the P20 and P20 Pro will not be released through carriers in the U.S. after they were pressured to drop Huawei phones by Republican politicians, due to security concerns.
Winner: Huawei P20
Overall winner: Huawei P20 Pro
There is absolutely no doubt that — as the name would suggest — the Huawei P20 Pro is a better phone than the P20. It has that triple-lens camera, a superior display, a bigger battery, and it’s more durable. The P20 is still a decent device, offering the same level of performance, A.I. smarts, and gorgeous design, but it falls well short of the P20 Pro. All you really have to decide is whether you can stretch your budget.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Huawei P20 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus: Are three better than two?
- Huawei P20 Pro hands-on review
- Here’s everything you need to know about the Huawei P20
- Here’s absolutely everything we know about the Huawei Y9
- Huawei Mate 10 Pro review
Smartphone speed demons! Is Samsung’s Galaxy S9 Plus the fastest off the line?
The Galaxy S9 Plus is Samsung’s newest flagship, and it packs some imposing tech under the hood. With a newfangled Snapdragon 845 processor — comprising an 8-core CPU with 2.8GHz clock speed, and Adreno 630 graphics processing unit — and 6GB of RAM, the S9 Plus can run the latest mobile games with ease. In our review of the phone, we noted that it’s “the first phone we’ve tested with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, and we’re happy to announce the new chipset delivers great performance. Apps open quickly, and moving throughout the user interface is mostly smooth,” and that “games like Tekken, The Sims: Mobile, and Sonic Forces run without flaw, offering a fluid experience,” although there was occasional stuttering.
Given how crowded the smartphone market is these days, one may wonder how the Galaxy S9 Plus stacks up against other notable flagships. That’s why, in an effort to determine which is the quickest smartphone on the market, we pitted the S9 Plus against a host of competitors — including the iPhone X, Mate 10 Pro, Note 8, OnePlus 5T, and Pixel 2XL — in a test of speed, seeing how quickly each device could launch different apps and games.
We launched each app on each phone, and recorded the amount of time required to do so. It’s a simple test, yes, but illuminating. The S9 Plus was the quickest to launch Twitter, and tied with the Pixel 2XL when launching Google Maps. In most other cases, it finished near the top of the pack, though not in first. In a couple instances, it even lagged behind the Note 8, which has a Snapdragon 835.
Given that it placed close to first for most of these apps — Facebook and Super Mario Run included — it’s clear that the S9 Plus is a premier smartphone. Although it lost out a few times to the Pixel 2XL and OnePlus 5T, that makes some sense, given that those phones run stock Android, which tends to be more efficient than proprietary versions.
In general, if you’re looking for a phone to play Fortnite on, the S9 Plus is one of your best options.
David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr.com, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him over at Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Who makes the fastest phone of 2018? We tested the best, side by side
- The Galaxy S9 Plus vs. Galaxy Note 8: Samsung’s heavyweights slug it out
- Here’s how to buy the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus
- Meet the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, the power behind next-gen phones
- Frequent flyer? These are the best dual-SIM phones you can buy in 2018
Baidu’s pocket translator is a ‘Star Trek’ dream come to life
Chinese search giant Baidu has long been investing in artificial intelligence research, whether it’s hiring away the creator of the Google Brain project, building autonomous cars or creating a recent A.I. which can mimic your voice after listening to it for only a short period of time. At this week’s MIT Technology Review’s EmTech Digital conference in San Francisco, Baidu gave a demo of one of its most impressive consumer-facing examples of A.I. to date: A Star Trek-style pocket universal translator that is able to translate spoken sentences from English into Mandarin and back again.
Shown off on stage, the device was used to facilitate a conversation between English speaking senior editor Will Knight and Baidu chief scientist Hua Wu. The device appears to be capable of easily translating questions like “Where can I buy this device?” and “When will machines replace humans?” into Mandarin, and the Mandarin language responses back into English. To do this, it draws on Baidu’s deep-learning neural networks: The same technology which drives Google’s ever-improving machine translation and voice-recognition technology.
The gadget has reportedly been available since December, although right now it can only be leased at travel agencies and airports in China. Its immediate goal is to use its English, Chinese and Japanese translations (more languages will follow in the future) to help people navigate around cities. However, MIT Technology Review claims that other markets are planned for expansion in the future — hopefully meaning that it won’t be too long before we can get our hands on one of these devices.
While a number of mobile devices can carry out impressive machine translation at present, that doesn’t diminish how impressive Baidu’s achievement is. Not only does it underline how successful the company has been at taking on the Silicon Valley tech giants, but its apparently straightforward ease of use absolutely makes this a gadget we would be interested in picking up. Especially if, at some point, Baidu can combine this with its aforementioned voice soundalike technology.
Along with Google’s in-ear translation earbuds, it seems that we’re living in an incredibly exciting time for machine translation.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Facebook’s translation methods are faster — including at catching violations
- Baidu’s new A.I. can mimic your voice after listening to it for just one minute
- Say what you mean the first time, every time, with the best translation apps
- What does Grindr’s acquisition by a Chinese company mean for users?
- ‘Pokémon Go’ is finally heading to the world’s largest mobile market
Netflix orders King Arthur series from comic legend Frank Miller
Netflix’s fondness for comic book industry veterans isn’t cooling off any time soon. The streaming giant has ordered Cursed, an Arthurian drama based on an impending novel co-authored by comic legend Frank Miller (of 300 and Sin City fame) and producer/screenwriter Tom Wheeler (no, not the former FCC chairman). The series flips the usual King Arthur story by focusing on Nimue, a teenage girl whose tragic heroism leads her to become the Lady of the Lake.
It’s not certain when the initial 10-episode series will air, but the book (announced just the week prior) is due to hit shelves in fall 2019.
There’s no guarantee of success just by having big names attached. The adaptations of Miller’s 300 and Sin City went well, but the Miller-directed take on Will Eisner’s The Spirit flopped at movie theaters. Still, it’s a potentially powerful creative duo in charge, and it’s hard not to wonder how well Miller’s storytelling experience translates to a streaming-only production.
Via: Deadline
Source: Netflix
‘Far Cry 5’ review: Destruction and doomsday in America
By Daniel Howley
The Far Cry series is known for dropping players into huge, open-world settings and letting them sew chaos and destruction as they take on each title’s menacing villain. But those settings and enemies have always been based in largely poor, tropical areas of the world, leading to criticisms of the franchise serving as a tourism simulator gone wrong.
For it’s latest entry, Far Cry 5, however, developer Ubisoft Montreal took the tried and true staples of the series — massive, explorable worlds and sandbox-style gameplay — and dropped them in the heart of Big Sky Country: Hope County, Montana.
That change in scenery pays off in a big way for Far Cry 5, which is one of the most stunning titles in the franchise to date. It also allowed for the game’s creative team to build a story about a doomsday cult building its own outpost in the middle of the U.S. at a time when the country is dealing with a resurgence in white nationalist hate groups.
But while the narrative initially captures your attention with the charismatic cult leader Joseph Seed, it never truly reaches its potential.
America, the beautiful
It’s impossible to talk about Far Cry 5 without mentioning just how spectacular its world looks. The team at Ubisoft Montreal built a version of Montana that allows the player to genuinely feel like they’re experiencing the grandeur of the American West. Traversing forests, running through open fields, fishing in streams and exploring small towns are a joy.
Driving an ATV across a mountain trail reminded me of the summers I spent biking through the woods with my brother, while riding around in a pickup truck on dirt roads and crossing rickety bridges took me back to road trips in the mountains around western Pennsylvania with my family.
The fact that Far Cry 5 was able to coax such specific emotions from my memories is a testament to how impressive this game looks and plays.
That said, there are occasional pop-in issues, and load times are long even on the PlayStation 4 Pro. I also wish Ubisoft added more variability to the cultists’ character models. At this point I’ve taken out so many shaggy-haired men wearing white sweaters that I’m starting to think the game is about a cloning experiment gone horribly wrong.
Peggies and preppers
Of course, that’s not the case. Far Cry 5 revolves around a cult, the ominous-sounding Project at Eden’s Gate, run by David Koresh stand-in Joseph Seed and his siblings John, Jacob and Faith.
At the game’s outset, you, a deputy with the Hope County Sheriff’s Department, another deputy, the county sheriff and a U.S. Marshal try to take Joseph into custody on a warrant. But after slapping the cuffs on him and get him into a waiting chopper, Joseph’s followers manage to take the craft down and rescue their dear leader back.
After escaping the wreck and evading capture by the cult, you meet up with a prepper named Dutch who helps get you started on your mission to crush the Project at Eden’s Gate cultists, or Peggies, as the townsfolk call them, who have taken over the county.
How does a cult take over a county in modern day America without drawing the attention of, say, the National Guard? By buying off the police, blocking the roads and cutting off all communication to the outside world, that’s how.
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but at least the game tries to explain how and why the cult wants to take over. What it doesn’t do, though, is make you feel any kind of emotion for the endless number of cultists you kill.
It’s a shame, because Far Cry 5’s atmosphere and environments seem purpose built to tackle the issues of drug addiction, manipulative leaders and the existential fear Americans seem to feed on. The game’s big bads are interesting, and the side characters are fun to chat with, but the narrative never really takes you anywhere particularly new or insightful. It’s not a bad story, but it hits many of the same notes we’ve seen before.
Leaning on its strengths
Where Far Cry 5 excels is in the open-world combat that is a hallmark of the series and allows you to tackle virtually any task as you see fit. Need to take down an outpost? Why not sneak up on it and eliminate the enemies with your compound bow? Or, you could lure each enemy away one-by-one and take them out with your bare hands.
Not destructive enough? You could always go in with guns blazing, or run over every enemy you see with a big rig. Heck, Far Cry 5 even gives you the chance to pilot WWII planes armed with rockets and bombs, letting you rain destruction down on the Peggies. Sure, the planes’ controls are incredibly simplistic, but nothing is more satisfying than jumping into your plane to down the annoying helicopters and enemy pilots that have been harassing you on the ground for the last two hours.
Further upping the firepower level, is Far Cry 5’s new Gun for Hire mechanic that allows you to hire non-player characters to serve as your backup. You can hire everyone from a sniper to a pilot to a very good dog named Boomer to help you pulverize the Peggies. Co-op availability also lets you fight through the game with a friend or friends.
Naturally, it wouldn’t be a Far Cry game if you didn’t have to capture a seemingly endless number of enemy outposts. But unlike previous series entries you never feel like you’re capturing the same plot of land over and over again. That’s because each outpost has its own unique characteristics whether it be a junkyard or pumpkin farm.
If you don’t want to spend your time blowing up a small chunk of U.S. soil, though, you can always turn to recreational activities like hunting, fishing or simply taking in the beauty of rural Montana.
Should you get it?
Far Cry 5 is a fun, downright gorgeous game to play alone or with a friend. The combat is fast-paced and the ability to pilot a plane or helicopter adds new levels of verticality to this insane game world. But while there are plenty of interesting characters ranging from alien-obsessed preppers to townspeople excited for the local Testy Festy, the game’s plot doesn’t quite reach the heights it sets out to.
Fans of the Far Cry series should absolutely dive into this entry, while more casual players will have a blast exploring the game’s open world and then blowing it to smithereens. Just don’t expect a particularly moving story.
Reviewed on the PlayStation 4 Pro
What’s hot: Gorgeous environments; chaotic sandbox-style gameplay; fast-paced combat
What’s not: Narrative falls short despite promising setup; enemy characters lack variety
More games news:
- ‘God of War’ could be 2018’s first must-have game
- ‘Kirby Star Allies’ review: How to make friends and eat them
- Despite Trump’s meeting, video games and violence still don’t add up
- ‘Far Cry 5’ preview: Exploring cults and terror in the American West
- The 10 best iPhone and Android games of the month
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Boeing: Reports of WannaCry outbreak ‘overstated and inaccurate’
This afternoon a report by the Seattle Times cited internal messages showing that aircraft builder Boeing had been hit by the WannaCry ransomware and there were fears it could affect production. Boeing VP Linda Mills tells Engadget in a statement that its network security “detected a limited intrusion of malware that affected a small number of systems,” and it shouldn’t affect deliveries.
Issues with ransomware have not tailed off since last year’s worldwide outbreak of WannaCry/NotPetya, and the city of Atlanta’s government is still recovering after “SamSam” ransomware locked down some systems last week. Even if this occurrence is as controllable as Boeing believes, it’s surely not the last time we’ll hear about a large organization suddenly locked out of its own computers.
Linda Mills, VP of Boeing commercial airplanes communications:
A number of reported statements on this are overstated and inaccurate. Our cybersecurity operations center detected a limited intrusion of malware that affected a small number of systems. Remediations were applied and this is not a production or delivery issue.
Statement: A number of articles on a malware disruption are overstated and inaccurate. Our cybersecurity operations center detected a limited intrusion of malware that affected a small number of systems. Remediations were applied and this is not a production or delivery issue.
— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) March 28, 2018
Source: Seattle Times, Boeing Airplanes (Twitter)
Quick Takes: What Wasn’t Announced at Apple Event, CarPlay Vehicles at New York Auto Show, and More
In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.
Wednesday, March 28
What Wasn’t Announced at Apple’s Event
Yesterday, we shared a video recap of everything Apple announced at its education-themed event, including a new entry-level 9.7-inch iPad, a new Schoolwork app for classrooms, and other education-related software updates.
Apple’s invite made it very clear that the event would be focused on education announcements, but there were still quite a few hardware and software possibilities that had a slim chance of being—but ultimately weren’t—mentioned:
- Lower-priced MacBook Air: KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a more affordable MacBook Air will launch in the second quarter of 2018. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said the notebook probably wouldn’t be ready for Tuesday’s event, which proved to be the case.
When to expect it: Apple has refreshed the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro in April or May before, and announced the updates via press releases, so that’s one possibility. Otherwise, the new MacBook Air will likely debut at WWDC 2018 on June 4, near the end of the second quarter.
- AirPower: A trio of reports claimed Apple’s multi-device charging mat will be available to order by the end of March. However, despite Apple’s online store going down ahead of Tuesday’s event, the AirPower wasn’t anywhere to be found when the site came back online.
When to expect it: There are still two weekdays remaining in March, so there’s a possibility the AirPower could be added to Apple’s online store within 48 hours. Otherwise, the reports may have been off the mark. Apple has only confirmed that the AirPower will be available at some point in 2018.
- A second-generation iPhone SE: Apple unveiled the current iPhone SE in March 2016, and given multiple rumors about a so-called iPhone SE 2, the new version could have debuted at the Chicago event. However, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had already cast doubt on the idea.
When to expect it: A sketchy Chinese report recently claimed that Apple will unveil a new iPhone SE at WWDC 2018 in June. While certainly a possibility, Apple hasn’t introduced a smartphone at the event since the iPhone 4 in 2010. Beyond WWDC, a new iPhone SE could conceivably be announced in September alongside a new iPhone X and iPhone X Plus.
iPhone X in gold rendered by Michael Flux - Gold or (PRODUCT)RED edition iPhones: Rosenblatt Securities analyst Jun Zhang and Twitter account OnLeaks said Apple may release a (PRODUCT)RED edition of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and/or iPhone X. Ben Geskin and Japanese website Mac Otakara expect a gold iPhone X.
When to expect it: On March 21, 2017, Apple unveiled a special (PRODUCT)RED edition of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. If it plans on doing similar this year, then perhaps we’ll see a wave of press releases highlighting availability of the new colors and the AirPower very soon.
- iOS 11.3: Apple could have used its event to mention when the software update will be publicly released, but it elected not to do so.
When to expect it: Apple said iOS 11.3 will be available in the spring, which began last week. There has already been six beta versions, and iOS 11.3 was released for the new iPad just hours ago, so it’s very likely the update will be available in a matter of days.
Teacher Reactions to Apple’s Event
Apple’s last education-focused event prior to Tuesday was in January 2012 in New York, where it announced iBooks 2 with interactive textbooks, iBooks Author, and a new version of iTunes U for iPad.
Just over six years later, many teachers and IT directors for school systems were eager to see what Apple had in store for them. And now that the event has concluded, many of those individuals have shared their initial thoughts, which aren’t entirely positive. We’ve rounded up some articles below:
- What educators think about Apple’s new iPad by Engadget’s Edgar Alvarez
- Making The Grade: Why Apple’s education strategy is not based on reality by 9to5Mac’s Bradley Chambers
- Quick thoughts on Apple’s education event, from a real teacher by BrianMadden’s Jack Madden
CarPlay Vehicles at New York Auto Show
CarPlay in 2019 Lexus UX
Today is press day at the New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public on Friday. Many automakers have unveiled vehicles compatible with CarPlay, including the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and 2019 Lexus UX:
- 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
- 2019 Toyota RAV4
- 2019 Lexus UX
- 2019 Audi A6
- 2019 Audi RS5 Sportback
- 2019 Acura RDX
- 2019 Acura MDX A-Spec
- 2019 Cadillac CT6
- 2019 Cadillac XT4
- 2019 Ford Fusion
- 2019 Subaru Forester
- 2019 Honda Insight
- 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2019 Hyundai Tucson
- 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric
- 2019 Kia K900
- 2019 Kia Optima
- 2019 Kia Sedona
- 2019 Nissan Altima
For more coverage of Apple’s event, visit our Front Page, Mac Blog, and iOS Blog. Also visit our forums to join in the discussion.
Tag: Quick Takes
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Seven cat games every kitty lover needs to try out
In case you haven’t noticed, cats are big on the Internet. There are many kitty pics and videos cluttering up the world wide web and game developers have definitely taken note of people’s affinity towards the furry creatures.
So cat lovers who want to further pursue their love for kitties in the virtual world, have the option of installing a wide range of cat games on their mobile devices.
If playing with cats it’s what keeps you entertained, then you might want to check out our list of best cat games to try out on your Android smartphone or tablet.
Cookie cats
What it is:
A fun, little puzzle game in which you help Belle, Ziggy, Smokey and other adorable kitties find delicious cookies.
Why we like it:
- An easy-to-play 3-match/puzzle game where you connect cookies of the same color to get through the levels. Use the cookies to fight against villains such as Buster the Drooly Dog or Birthday Bear.
- You get hundreds of challenging levels to play and six different game modes.
- Players will be surrounded by cute kitties who can also sing. Add new characters to your list of friends and customize your band.
Install Cookie cats
Cat condo
What it is:
An addictive game which allows cat lovers to build the cat condo of their dreams and populate it with as many fluff balls as they want.
Why we like it:
- You start with a small cat friend, but soon you’ll be combining, mixing and matching kitties in order to upgrade them to majestic felines.
- Players can discover and unlock many types of cats.
- Create and furnish your cat condo with kitty-friendly objects such as a big tower and toys.
Install Cat condo
KleptoCats
What it is:
This is a cat-collecting game from HyperBeard Games. For those who want even more fun, KleptoCats 2 is also available.
Why we like it:
- The game has a funny storyline: you start out in a room with your cat who is good at stealing things. So you simply send your kitty into the world and wait for him/her to come back with stuff.
- You’ll be able to decorate your apartment with the items brought in by your cat companion. Although be warned, there’s a lot of waiting involved with this game. You have the option of petting your cat, so you can shorten the amount of time it takes for him/her to find things.
- Dress your kitty up in thousands of different ways to spice things up.
Install KleptoCats
Simon’s Cat – Crunch Time
What it is:
This game was inspired by the animated cartoon and book series by British Animator Simon Tofield which features a perpetually hungry house cat.
Why we like it:
- Simon continues to be hungry, so the goal in this Match 3 adventure puzzle is to feed him with as many Tasty Treats as possible
- Simon is joined by furry buddies Maisy, Chloe and Jazz and other kitties in his quest to get Treats.
- Players are also tasked with fighting off angry villains. Play in six different game modes with hundreds of levels awaiting you.
Install Simon’s Cat – Crunch Time
Nyan Cat – Lost in Space
What it is:
Inspired by the YouTube video sensation, this game brings the animated cartoon cat with a Pop-Tart for a body to your Android device.
Why we like it:
- Explore space and fly to multiple planets with Nyan Cat – Lost Space. On the way make sure you drink milk, eat ice cream, collect coins and upgrade your gear.
- The game also has players fighting evil enemies who stand in the way of kitty space exploration.
- Players can take advantage of 5 games modes including Nyan Wings.
- Nyan cat takes several different forms including Supernyan and Zombienyan.
- The game includes a Nyanagotchi room to make sure your kitty stays happy.
Install Nyan Cat – Lost in Space
Purrfect Spirits
A game featuring super-adorable graphics in which you play a ghost who doesn’t know how to pass over, so it’s taking care of cats in the meanwhile.
Why we like it:
- A cat-collecting game in which you play a ghost stuck in the mortal realm. So you try to fill your time by taking care of the cats that visit your home . Feed and entertain them by buying additional items such as food, scratches, and towers.
- Decorate your room will beautiful, pastel-colored designs.
- Become the ultimate cat whisperer by attracting a variety of rare cats to your layer.
Install Purrfect Spirits
Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
What it is:
A very simple game in which you try to attract cats by placing food offerings and toys around your yard.
Why we like it:
- The game features cute graphics and more than 40 varieties of cats including black and white, tabby and calico that you can attract to your house.
- Buy food and entertainment items to convince rare breeds of cats it’s time to come over for a visit.
- Each furry visitor will be logged in your Catbook. Fill it up and become a pro.
Install Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
Have you tried any of these cat games before? If not which one would you try first?
Snapchat might let third-party apps connect to user accounts
Yesterday, Mashable discovered that the latest beta version of Snapchat had a new feature category called ‘Connected Apps.’ While it didn’t display any, the placeholder text said “These apps are connected to your Snapchat account. Choose an app to control what it has access to.” In essence, this could let third-party software harness your data, though a Snapchat spokesperson assured Engadget that its current practices wouldn’t allow this feature to spread personal data the same way that Facebook’s third-party access led to the Cambridge Analytica mess.
Of course, that’s still speculation at this point — who knows how much data Snap would theoretically let third parties access. When reached for comment, a Snap spokesperson assured that the company doesn’t share user-identifiable information with advertisers and doesn’t offer a service similar to Facebook’s Graph API or share friend network information with third parties, which is what enabled the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Those policies, and the company’s approach to privacy, won’t change, the spokesperson concluded.
As Mashable pointed out, Snapchat currently only allows users to connect their accounts to two external services: Bitmoji, which Snapchat bought in 2016, and Shazam. Currently, users can’t use their Snapchat accounts elsewhere — but Facebook has let its users do that for years, Recode noted. And while the social media titan has tightened up how much personal data external companies can access today, earlier relaxed rules allowed companies to access user information without their consent, which is how Cambridge Analytica harvested 50 million users’ data. While Snap didn’t comment on the record about the very formative ‘Collected Apps’ feature, it’s likely paying close attention to what policies led to Facebook’s privacy debacle.
Via: Recode
Source: Mashable
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