Titanfall’s mobile debut is a ‘Hearthstone’ with mechs
If I told you Titanfall was coming to smartphones, what kind of game would you envision? A side-scrolling shoot-em-up similar to Metal Slug? A Titan customization tool? Or a portable-friendly strategy game like Advance Wars? Well, I’ve got bad news. Titanfall: Frontline is none of those. It’s a digital card game similar to Hearthstone. But wait! Before you dive back into Blizzard’s tavern, hear Respawn out. The company has teamed up with Nexon, best known for the MMO Maplestory, to build out new cards and mechanics that could feel authentic to the Titanfall universe.
So maybe, just maybe, it’ll be more than an uninspired reskin? Titanfall: Frontline has “hundreds” of pilots, robots and special ability burn cards, which players can accrue and incorporate into their own decks. The game will accommodate different play styles too, so you can choose to rush your opponents with a group of light, nimble pilots, or wear them down with slower, defense-oriented troops. Oh, and of course, you’ll be able to drop a titan onto the field, turning the tide of battle in decisive moments.
Titanfall: Frontline is coming to iOS and Android this fall, no doubt to coincide with the release of Titanfall 2. It’s a common tactic employed by the video game industry — with so many players on mobile, it makes sense to target them first, or simultaneously with a free-to-play title. With their interest piqued, the hope is that they’ll then drop the cash on the premium console experience. Square Enix is making a similar play with Justice Monsters Five, ahead of the release of Final Fantasy XV this November. Titanfall: Frontline is a trickier proposition, however, as the card-dueling genre is so far removed from its adrenaline-fuelled mech shooter origins.
Source: Titanfall Frontline
Action Launcher brings Google’s rumored Android tweaks early
Why wait for Google’s rumored Pixel / not-Nexus phones, when you could use some of their software right now? The latest release of Action Launcher has arrived, and it cribs some of the features noted in Android Police’s leak of the software Google is apparently preparing for its Android devices. According to its developer Chris Lacy, the new release is entirely inspired by the leaks. The reason? As soon as Google makes a change, many of his users request similar features in Action Launcher, but this time, he’s getting out ahead of the curve.
I’ve been trying out the latest version of the app and honestly, I still think the QuickBar widget that brought apps to the search bar is more useful than the Google Search button / weather widget / swipe up dock combo. There are also “Nougat-inspired” outlined folder presets, and the folders themselves can get backgrounds that match your wallpaper. Lacy figures Google will eventually move on from this UI too (remember when it pushed Lollipop tweaks to older devices via the Google Now launcher?), but at least this way you can give it an early shot.
Along with the other new tweaks, it’s available now in the Play Store, but unlocking everything takes a $5 in-app purchase.
Source: The Blerg, Action Launcher (Google Play)
Your smartphone could soon act as a glaucoma testing device
We’ve seen smartphones work as electrocardiograms, so why not use them to test for glaucoma at home? That’s the idea behind Cambridge Consultants’ Viewi headset. Rather than hitting the hospital or optometrist’s to monitor your vision, you could simply slide your phone into a head-mounted Gear VR-like holster. From there, a mobile app reproduces the flashing light patterns used to test for open-angle glaucoma. A Bluetooth remote acts as the input device for patients to press when they see a flashing light and, really, that’s about it, according to the press release.
It should only take about five minutes per eye, and the results are supposedly straightforward and easy enough to understand. They’re even shareable with your eye doctor. The idea here is to make it easier to monitor the progress of the disease and augment, rather than replace, traditional testing methods. The folks at Cambridge Consultants also hope that it’ll have a positive impact in developing countries where traditional medical procedures and facilities aren’t readily available. At around £20 ($26.53), it could be the most cost effective method, too.
Source: Cambridge Consultants
Google fixes two serious Android security flaws
Google’s mobile security team has definitely been busy cleaning house this week. The company has released an Android update that closes two security holes that could pose a major threat if intruders found a way to exploit them. The first was only designed for “research purposes” and would only have been malicious if modified, Google tells Ars Technica, but it wouldn’t have been hard to detect or weaponize.
The other flaw behaved similarly to the well-known Stagefright exploit, letting an attacker send an altered JPEG image through Gmail or Google Talk to hijack your phone. The issue, as SentinelOne researcher Tim Strazzere explains to Threatpost, is that it’s both easy to find and capitalize on this vulnerability.
There’s more. Security company Check Point also revealed that Google Play had been hosting apps containing two forms of malware (CallJam and DressCode). CallJam both steered phones to websites that made bogus ad revenue and, if you granted permission, would call paid phone numbers. DressCode would also visit shady ad sources, but it could also compromise local networks. Google has since removed the offending apps, but the infection rate may have been high when users downloaded the software hundreds of thousands (or in a few cases, millions) of times.
While the likelihood of running into this malware is relatively small, it underscores an issue with timely Android security updates. Only Nexus owners get first crack at the fixes — most everyone else will have to wait, provided they’re in line in the first place. Google’s monthly security updates help, but this won’t do much if your phone maker either hasn’t committed to those updates or has left you running an older Android version that can’t get those patches. You may have to either be patient for a more conventional update or move to a newer device if you’re determined to stay current.
Via: Ars Technica, Threatpost
Source: Android, Project Zero, Check Point (1), (2)
‘Animal Crossing’ and ‘Fire Emblem’ mobile apps delayed to 2017
Nintendo’s Super Mario Run for iPhone, iPad and Android made big news during Apple’s event yesterday in San Francisco, but in all the fanfare it seems two additional planned Nintendo properties were pushed back.
Previously, it was announced that apps based on two fairly hot Nintendo franchises, Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem, would be due out on smartphones in fall 2016. Now, with Super Mario Run on the horizon for December, that date has been moved to the end of March 2017.
According to Polygon, Nintendo confirmed that the delays are indeed related to Super Mario Run’s impending holiday release.
“Based on a variety of factors, we felt it was most appropriate for Super Mario Run to launch ahead of these other two apps,” the company said in a statement. “Our Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem titles for mobile will launch before the end of our fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2017.”
Super Mario Run is an endless runner featuring familiar Mario stages, characters and mechanics in which players attempt to clear stages while collecting as many coins as possible. Rather than adopting a free-to-play model it’ll be be “one set price,” as Shigeru Miyamoto attested on stage yesterday during the Apple event.
It remains to be seen what sort of pricing models we can expect from either Animal Crossing or Fire Emblem games.
Via: Polygon
DirecTV now streams many more channels on your phone
AT&T is pushing hard to get you streaming DirecTV on your smartphone. An update to the DirecTV iOS and Android apps mean you can now stream many more of the TV channels you can get at home. In The Verge’s testing, the only big exceptions were most local channels and a handful of sports channels like the NFL Network. Oh, and you now have an easy way to watch recorded shows — you can either download them to watch offline or stream them directly from your DVR.
The move isn’t completely surprising. DirecTV is gearing up to launch dedicated streaming services that won’t require a satellite subscription, and a large chunk of the provider’s existing selection will be available on mobile. It only makes sense to offer a similar mix to customers who do subscribe to satellite TV.
The update doesn’t come without some concerns. AT&T is also promising that DirecTV mobile streaming won’t count toward your data cap if you’re one of its wireless subscribers. While that’s good news if you like catching up on TV during your commute it’s also bound to raise eyebrows among net neutrality advocates. They’re concerned that exemptions like this may violate net neutrality by effectively punishing customers who prefer competing services.
AT&T tells us that it’s “not treating our services differently” than other data and is merely “saying thanks to customers” who use both services (you can read its full statement below). Other companies can do the same through the Sponsored Data program, the carrier says. However, there’s no denying it — this still means that you’ll have to limit your viewing for the majority of services that don’t participate in the program, like Hulu or Netflix, and won’t face that restriction with DirecTV.
“We are not treating our services differently from any other data. This feature is simply our way of saying thanks to customers that purchase both video and mobility services from AT&T. Other content providers can do the same thing through our sponsored data program.”
Via: The Verge (1), (2)
Source: App Store, AT&T
Don’t worry, ‘Super Mario Run’ is coming to Android too
Super Mario Run, Nintendo’s first Mario-centric release for the iPhone, is coming to Android, too.
So if you were feeling left out with your Galaxy S7 or Note 7 (just kidding, those were all recalled) you can rejoice! You too can enjoy Mario’s one-handed adventure, hitting the App Store this December.
There’s no word on when Android owners can expect to see the game on the Google Play Store, however. When speaking with Kotaku, Nintendo noted that the game would be released on Android devices “at some point in the future.”
In the meantime, you might want to get some practice in with New Super Mario Bros., since that seems to be where Super Mario Run seems to have drawn most of its inspiration, at least minus all of the one-handed stuff.
Via: Kotaku
Nintendo loses a little piece of its identity with ‘Super Mario Run’
Today, Nintendo announced Super Mario is going mobile — Super Mario Run will launch on iOS and Android before the end of the year. We knew the company was making more content for smartphones, but for long-time Nintendo fans, this announcement still feels like a shock. For years, Satoru Iwata rallied hard against bringing Nintendo characters to the small screen. “If we did this,” he said in 2011, “Nintendo would cease to be Nintendo.” The company’s leader was adamant: putting Mario on mobile would make good short-term profits, but would ultimately devalue the property. Now that it’s here, we have to wonder — is Nintendo still Nintendo?
The answer to that question might lie in Nintendo’s motivation in taking Mario to iOS. At the 2011 Game Developers Conference, Iwata described Nintendo as a company that makes “platforms designed to demonstrate the high value of high-quality video game software.” Like the seal on your old NES cartridge says, Nintendo means quality. Can that quality persist on a mobile device? At the time, Iwata didn’t think so. “These platforms have no motivation to maintain the high value of video game software.”
On the other hand, innovation is core to Nintendo’s identity. Last year, Iwata told TIME that company’s philosophy is rooted in being unique and different. “That philosophy has been passed down to us,” he said. “For us to be able to do something unique that is different from others, being able to design the hardware in order to create unique software experiences gives us the best option.”
He was reaffirming the company’s focus on building dedicated console hardware — but in almost the same breath he praised smartphones as a platform for innovation, describing the mobile market as an opportunity to bridge the gap between casual gamers and Nintendo’s dedicated game console. Again, the idea was focused on high-quality, innovative games “We will be able to deliver unique experiences to the users of smart devices,” he concluded.
So, let’s recap: Nintendo is quality. Nintendo is innovation. Will Super Mario Run hold enough value in either to keep Nintendo… Nintendo? Without actually playing the unreleased game it’s hard to tell for sure, but at a glance, it fails on at least one count — innovation. Super Mario Run looks fun. It looks well made. It has good graphics and might have some fun hooks to keep players interested. Buyers even get the whole game at once: Nintendo hasn’t priced it yet, but says there are no in-app purchases to nickle and dime you. Sadly, none of that is innovative. Super Mario Run is essentially an perpetual runner game — a title where the main character always moves forward, no matter what. There are hundreds of those.
This puts Mario in good mobile company, but it makes Nintendo’s biggest property a me-too game. Games like Canabalt, Temple Run, Subway Surfers and Jetpack Joyride have already saturated the mobile market with high quality runner experiences. Even Mario’s long-time rival has one: Sonic Dash. Mario’s running down a road well travelled.
We could give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt and assume Super Mario Run will be a high-quality representation of a well tread genre — but it’s hard to tell how innovative it really is. Nintendo says players will be able to change Mario’s direction and perform other movements by hitting special blocks, and i’s levels certainly look more complicated than what you get in your average procedurally generated endless runner title. It’s possible the company could be preparing to launch the magnum opus of running games — the best possible use of the genre. That would be at least a little innovative, if a little less so than we’re used to from Nintendo.
Android Pay hits the web via Chrome
Android Pay is about to work in many, many more places. As promised, Google is bringing Android Pay to the web. If you use Chrome to shop at online stores like 1-800-Flowers and Groupon, you can soon rely on Android’s official mobile payment system to check out faster and more securely than usual (it doesn’t share account info with stores, for one thing). Also, you may want to get in the habit of using Android Pay if you’re fond of ridesharing. It’s the first mobile wallet to tie into Uber’s Payment Rewards program, giving you discounts when you use Android Pay. Uber is marking the occasion with a US promo that gives travelers half of 10 of their rides when they use Android Pay with the service.
This latest expansion also adds some much-needed support for major banks. Americans can finally use Chase’s numerous Visa cards with Android Pay, while British users will get to add Santander or TSB cards in the “coming weeks.” Google’s tap-to-pay tech still has a limited reach at this stage (just ask anyone outside of the US and UK), but it’s definitely growing.
Source: Android Official Blog, Uber
The £499 Moto Z and Moto Mod accessories come to the UK
This week may well be dominated by the launch of the new iPhone, but that doesn’t mean Apple’s smartphone rivals are holding things back. After a few months of US exclusivity, Lenovo has finally brought its super-customisable all-metal Moto Z to the UK.
The 5.5-inch quad HD smartphone is now available on the Motorola store for £499, offering a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 2600mAh battery with TurboPower charging and a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera. Oh, and it’s ditched the headphone jack in favour of a USB-C connector.
Like its predecessors, the Moto Z can be run through Lenovo’s Moto Maker service. However, if you’re looking to create a truly bespoke masterpiece, you’re going to be disappointed. Colour options are limited to White & Fine Gold or Black & Lunar Grey and there’s no scope to increase the onboard storage. The company does have an ace up its sleeve, though, and that’s Moto Mods.
Moto Mods are Lenovo’s answer to the LG G5’s swap-out modules. There are four magnetised modules — the Incipio offGRID Power Pack, JBL SoundBoost Speaker, Hasselblad True Zoom and Moto Insta-Share Projector — that attach to the back of the Moto Z and give it more battery, better sound or clearer optics. The accessories start at £60 and range up to £250.
It was only announced last week, but the mid-range Moto Z Play is also live on the Motorola store, although it is currently out of stock. The 5.2-inch £370 Android device houses an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, 3GB of RAM, 16-megapixel camera and a 3,510mAh battery. More importantly, it does have a headphone jack.
If you put your order in today, your Moto Z should be with you by September 14th, just before the iPhone 7 hits stores. The Moto Z Play, on the other hand, should be widely available later this week.
Source: Moto Z
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