XCOM: Enemy Unknown makes its way to Android for $10
2K Games has finally brought their extremely popular turn based strategy game, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, to Android users. It is the present day successor to the original XCOM that I am sure many of you enjoyed growing with the original release landing back in 1994. With a number of follow up releases MicroProsm HasBro and Infogamers. The series went offline between 2001 and re-emerged in 2012 when 2K games brought back the classic to Windows, PS3, Xbox 360, OSX and iOS.
With a lengthy, and successful, history over the last 20 years, it only makes sense for the current publisher, 2K Games, to bring the classic back to consumers across m,multiple platforms. Sadly it took quite a while for them to bring it to Android, but at least they did.
The whole game is centered around you as the commander who needs to take charge of an alien invasion. You will need to build up squads of soldiers, recruit and level-up, discover new weapons and tech, engage in strategic combat, build up your base and a whole lot more.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown will set you back a whopping $9.99 and consume 3.6GB of space to get it installed and running. It is a pretty graphically rich title that is sure to keep you busy for a very long time, but it might not be suited for that 8GB device without some serious cleaning up first. We also see a number of comments in the Play Store that it has been crashing on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) edition.
If you are ready to fight off the alien invasion hit the button below to get to the Play Store and pick it up. I hope you have been saving those Reward Survey dollars.
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Now you can play XCOM: Enemy Unknown on Android, too
Android gamers who’ve been yearning for XCOM‘s deep, turn-based tactics just got their wish: 2K has released a version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown for Google’s mobile platform. Much like last year’s iOS edition, you’ll get to fight off invading aliens and build your bases in an interface optimized for touch. This is one of the pricier Android games on the market at $10, but our pals at Joystiq are already fans of the mobile version. It’s likely worth the cash if you’re looking for something engrossing to play on your spring vacation — especially if you can’t get enough of it on your PC or console.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Mobile, Google
Via: XCOM (Twitter), Joystiq
Source: Google Play
Xbox One and PlayStation 4 support added to Unreal Engine 4 in latest update
Moving a game from one platform to another — from iOS to PC, from Xbox One to PlayStation 4 — isn’t as easy as it seems. Just change a few button prompts and you’re all set, right? Not so much. There’s a lot to consider: how do you control the game (mouse/keyboard/gamepad/touch/etc.)? does it sync up with online leaderboards? does it have the proper logos/attribution? Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 4 aims to circumvent as much of that as possible, and today it’s enabling two more platforms: Xbox One and PlayStation 4. In terms of Xbox One peripheral support, that includes Kinect, and in terms of PlayStation 4 peripheral support, that includes the Project Morpheus virtual reality headset.
The update brings UE4 to version 4.1, and is part of the same $19/mo. monthly subscription fee that customers are already paying. The engine itself is actually being certified directly by both Sony and Microsoft right now, which should help with game certification down the line; Sony’s PS4 is already ready-to-go and Microsoft’s Xbox One is in the works (though game makers can submit UE4-made games for publishing on either console before the process is complete for the engine itself).
With today’s update, the folks at Epic are actually running out of platforms to support: it already supports PC, last-gen consoles, current-gen consoles, SteamOS, Linux, and the Oculus Rift. They’re still working on Windows Phone 8 and, though there’s no “concrete roadmap,” a full version of the UE4 editor is in the works for Linux. The game industry’s most prolific engine is quickly becoming the game industry’s most widely available as well.
RunKeeper’s Goal Coach helps you keep pace without all the yelling
Just a week after introducing its newfangled step-tracking app Breeze, RunKeeper is updating its iOS training software with a new jogging partner. With the latest version, you’ll have access to Goal Coach: a motivational feature that helps with goal setting, sticking to training plans and exceeding your own expectations. If you’ve splurged for the Elite version, the aforementioned trainer will serve up weekly updates — in addition to RunKeeper’s other stats — keeping you longing to hit the trail. Haven’t opted in yet? Well, the price for new users on May 1st increases to $10/month or $40/year, so you may want to decide quickly. Of course, NikeFuel is said to be on its way to the app as well, so you’ll have that extra bit of motivation tossed in, too.
Source: RunKeeper (iTunes)
Facebook buys smartphone fitness-tracking app Moves
Facebook may already be tracking your usage to serve you ads, but how would you feel if it was able to log your movement? That’s exactly what could be on the cards after the company confirmed it’s bought Moves, the always-on fitness-tracking app that automatically records your daily activities using your smartphone’s sensors. Moves’ mission? It says it’s joining Facebook to “work on building and improving their products and services with a shared mission of supporting simple, efficient tools for more than a billion people.” Zuckerberg and co. intend to keep the iOS and Android apps independent, and the Moves team says there are currently no plans to “commingle data with Facebook.” The social network employs a similar policy with Instagram and Whatsapp, which is no surprise given their huge user numbers and combined $20 billion price tag.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Facebook
Source: Moves
One of Activision’s top moneymakers gets a new entry in Skylanders: Trap Team
Like taxes, iPhones and, well, Madden, you can count on a new Skylanders game every year. If you’re unfamiliar with the franchise, that may just be a symptom of not being around kids — the toy / video game series is a dominant force in the kids gaming market, sharing responsibility with biggies like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft for bringing in 80 percent of Activision’s earnings in 2013. Each new entry in the game series comes with a new physical device for reading toy figurines; when said figurines are placed on the device (called a “portal”), they’re transported into the game world and playable in-game.
Between the figures ($5 – $7 apiece, on average) and the games (anywhere from $7 to $60), it’s easy to understand why the franchise is so profitable. Thankfully, the franchise is also lauded by most critics as a pretty decent game, too. The next entry, Skylanders: Trap Team, arrives this October — the first time the series is on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One — and it’s the largest game in the franchise to date.
When Skylanders: Trap Team launches on October 5th in North America (the 10th in Europe), it arrives with a new portal, and also even larger Skylanders figures than before. The hook this time around (beyond the whole “putting a toy from the real world into a game” thing) is the ability to “trap” in-game enemies. Using one of eight “Traptanium Traps” — that’s eight colored real-world toys that must be purchased — you can “trap” enemies (store the character data from the game). That enemy can then be used in-game, just like a Skylander. This enables players to quickly switch between two characters, one Skylander and one boss character, on-the-fly. There’s also a neat interactivity aspect wherein the portal now has a speaker and the boss character, once captured, will comment on the game in real-time.
We spoke with Toys for Bob’s Paul Reiche, head of the studio that both created the Skylanders franchise and headed up development of Skylanders: Team Trap. Before you ask: yes, all previous Skylanders toys work with this new one. All the parents in the crowd say “Yay-a!” Reiche (pronounced “Richy”) walked us through the new game, the scope of the series, and spoke to the design of the new characters. What’s with the new traps? Why are the characters larger? And what the heck is “traptanium”? Allow him to explain in the video above, and get a much closer look at all the new hardware while you’re at it.
Video produced by Edgar Alvarez and Daniel Orren.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo
HD Widgets 4 Beta testing commences with official roll-out May 1st
There is always something seemingly gratifying about beta testing an update or a completely new app. Cloud.tv has just released a a new HD Widgets 4 update for their beta testing community to fiddle about with and check out prior to the May 1st official public roll-out. The new HDW 4 brings in a lighter and fresher UI with a major under the hood revamp.
The new update also brings in a side menu, hourly forecast graph and a 7-10 day forecast. Cloud.tv also has a new colourform in testing as well. The colourform app is an add on app that offers up a larger variety of color options and widget styling. Cloud.tv also makes mention of new preferences, support, guides, widgets and more that will be announced next week.
Getting involved in the beta is a s easy as joining the beta Google+ test group and following a few simple instructions. Below are the links you will need to visit to get involved and get to testing.
HD Widgets Google+ Community PC link
If you’re on mobile:
HD Widgets 4 beta:
Colourform 2 beta:
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Sony releases Background Defocus App for Xperia Owners
Ever since the release of the Google Camera app, everyone has been all googly eyed over the DSLR like blur effect that can be produced in images. I know you have seen a number of test shots from people with the Google Camera app, the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. Sony has had the same feature in their devices since the Xperia Z1, near as I can tell any ways, called Background Defocus. I know it wasn’t present in the T-Mobile Xperia Z but it might have been in international variants. Anywho, Sony has now released that camera setting add-on to the Play Store for Sony device owners.
The Play Store listing says the Background Defocus app is compatible on Android 4.2+ devices. It will only work if you have the stock Sony camera app still. If you are rooted and stripped then it is pointless for you to get it unless you get the original camera installed first. It is interesting to note that the defocus app will only go to a 9MP resolution on the Xperia Z which contains a 13.1MP camera. Even more interesting is the Xperia Z1s only lets you push the same app to 8MP in 16:9 or 4:3 ratio.
I took a couple test shots with the Xperia Z to see how well it fared. I ran into a number of instances where it was unable to process the image correct and failed to blur the boackground. I would assume it was due to the various little suggestions made in the info box like the background object needing to be 5 meters away. I was able to snap one that didn’t fit that parameter though.
It seemed to work out just fine. Additionally, it seems the location of the defocused images are saved in a separate folder on your device. You will still look in your DCIM folder, but there will be a new folder called XPERIA and with in that one is where you will find the BACKGROUND_DEFOCUS images.
Feel free to go pick up the add-on Background Defocus app for your Sony device via the link below. If you find that your device is not compatible with it, and is should be, let us know.
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Microsoft offers a peek at Remote Desktop to Windows Phone 8.1 users
Microsoft promised that it would put out a Remote Desktop app for Windows Phone, and it’s making good on its word — provided you’re an early adopter, anyway. The company has released a Remote Desktop Preview that requires Windows Phone 8.1 (which itself is considered a preview) just to run. If all the stars align, though, you’ll get fairly advanced remote PC access that lets you perform Windows 8′s multi-touch gestures and stream “high quality” media. The folks in Redmond haven’t said when the finished app will arrive, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it launches after Windows Phone 8.1 rolls out in earnest.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: ZDNet
Verizon and Google have spent over $6 million on lobbying in 2014
Two of the biggest names in American communications, Verizon and Google, are also two of the highest spenders in the world of political lobbying. In the last two years alone, the two spent a combined $63 million attempting to sway legislation in their favor, and 2014 is gearing up to be another landmark year in Silicon Valley’s profits flowing into Washington: the two are already $6 million deep in 2014, with Comcast and AT&T nipping at their heels. Google leads contributions, with over $3.8 million already spent in 2014.
Not that anyone’s surprised; Google’s been involved with politics for some time now, even openly joining the lobbying group The Internet Association in 2012.
Some of the company’s subtler tactics were recently uncovered by The Washington Post, such as hosting a conference at George Mason University and stacking the invite list with Federal Trade Commission regulators and other folks instrumental in deciding the fate of Google’s 2011 FTC investigation (which ended in a settlement).
Verizon’s also no slouch in the world of politics, having previously thrown its weight into the ongoing battle between the companies using wireless spectrum and the government agency which regulates said spectrum (the Federal Communications Commission). Both Verizon and Google are on track to match and exceed previous contributions — the only question is which company will contribute more.
[Image credit: Getty Images, Brand X]
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Handhelds, Tablets, Internet, Software, Google, Verizon
Source: Consumer Watchdog
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