Posted: 15 Feb 2012 02:22 AM PST  At the CES held last month, Motorola and Intel made an announcement for a multi-year, multi-device partnership. Less than a month later, the two companies are ready to unveil the very first device from that partnership—slated for the Mobile World Congress happening in Barcelona just a few days away. As of this writing, there has been no official information about said device. But luckily, PocketNow's Evan Blass shared the very first photo of the device. He also shared that the camera of the unit will be its major selling point; especially its 15 frame-per-second burst capture. Now we're excited to see what it's all about! Blass also shared that the unit is Motorola's first Android ICS-powered smartphone. Additionally, this is also one of the first Motorola smartphone to have Intel-powered hardware. It really is pretty exciting and we can't wait for February 26 already! YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, A Glimpse at the First Motorola Android 4.0 Intel Powered Smartphone , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 15 Feb 2012 01:34 AM PST Since the arrival of smartphones and tablets in the market, games have become more sophisticated to cater to the improving specs of devices to deliver uncompromised entertainment to users—hence, the rise of HD games. Here's a list of some of the top HD games for Android users: 1. Pinball HD for Tegra ($2.99) The classic Windows game made it first to iOS and won the 2010 Apple Design Award in Games. The Android version, compatible with the famed NVIDIA Tegra processor, boasts of realistic and detailed graphics and claims to be the best version on any device yet. 2. The Adventures of Tintin ($6.99) If you enjoyed and loved the movie, then Gameloft's movie tie-in app is a must-download. Unravel the secrets of the unicorn with amazing 3D animation and motion detection, all in HD. Good news, the latest update now supports devices running on Ice Cream Sandwich. 3. Fieldrunners HD ($2.99) Take your love for Plants vs Zombies to the next level with this tower defense game on Android and finish astounding 400 waves across 4 unique battlefields. It also has accolades under its tower: TIME Magazine's Top 10 Game of the Year and Gizmodo's Top Must-Have Game, among many others. 4. GRave Defense HD (Free) Here’s another tower defense game exclusively available for Android users for free! Without any charge, play up to 37 rounds of strategy and survival while following its post-apocalyptic storyline. The game is extremely addictive, even if you’re battling gory creatures like mutated zombies and monsters. 5. Air Attack HD Part 1 (Free) Gameplay and graphics rule this Android's top air combat shooting game of real-time physics, special effects, and broad weaponry. If you feel that 3 missions and 3 difficulty modes are too short, head on over to the Market where Air Attack HD Part 2 ($1.89) and its Full Version ($2.89) are also sold. 6. Cordy (Free) With this little robot making it to The New York Times Top 10 Best Games of 2011, helping to power up Cordy's little world might be worth it. The free version available at the Market features 4 puzzle levels, giving a glimpse of why it is the #1 app in United States, among other countries. 7. Farm Tower HD (Free) For a free HD app, Farm Tower is performing well with 4.5 out of 5 star reviews. Help the animals down their tower and get past through blocks in overwhelming 100 different levels. It is also connected to OpenFeint, which means you can compare your performance with other players. 8. Beer Pong HD (Free) If Angry Birds has finally bored you, Beer Pong HD is another realistic physics game you can try, taking after the official rules in the Beer Pong World Series (thus, your being champion is legitimate here). Bonus: it has multiplayer rounds, so play with your friends online or pass-and-play style. 9. Anomaly Warzone Earth HD ($3.99) Tower defense games are too mainstream, so how about a tower offense game? Upgrade weapons, shatter towers, destroy alien invaders—it is actually the same stuff, except that you are on the attacking side, and this game is nominated for IGN Best Mobile Strategy Game Award. 10. Triple Stack HD (Free) Our timeless favorite game, solitaire, takes on a new form with Triple Stack (or Tri Tower, Pyramid Solitaire, or Three Peaks) where you have to clear towers and remove cards with cards of higher or lower value. A similar version by the same developer is Tri Peaks HD, also available in the Market. How about you, what are your favorite HD games on Android? Let us know in the comments section below. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKENo related posts.This article, 10 HD Games on Android You Should Try , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 15 Feb 2012 01:28 AM PST  Now here's a chance to play with your smartphone using a real ball, Wii-style, with Physical Apps' latest development, TheO. Unveiled at the Toy Fair 2012 in New York, TheO is a smartphone accessory that is the size of a soccer-ball which allows users to play smartphone games physically. Do not be fooled by its soft foam structure—according to Physical Apps, your hardware is safe with the durable device, but water is its primary weakness. In one of its sides, TheO has a slot for your devices which can fit up to 4.0-inch phones; meaning, devices with large screens like HTC Sensation and Galaxy Note may not be perfect matches (although one might be able to work it out given that it is made of foam, but we doubt if you are willing to risk a phone like Galaxy Nexus). To fully enjoy TheO, it is advisable to connect your smartphone to a tablet or a smart TV on the same Wi-Fi network for a larger display. According to our friends from The Verge who tested the prototype, TheO "seemed to run smooth enough." We will discover by May if it will also run smooth enough in the market at $24.95. It will be offered with other apps, primarily games that will be fit for playing with TheO. See for yourself what you can do with your smartphone on a TheO: via The Verge YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKENo related posts.This article, Smartphone Gaming Gets Physical with TheO , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 15 Feb 2012 12:18 AM PST  Do you guys remember our recent report on 'Android app developers can win a PlayBook tablet?' We've got an update for you guys! If you wanted to join the contest but was unable to, or if this is your first time to hear about it; here's your second chance! RIM has just given an extension to the deadline of the contest. Initially, entries for the contest were only accepted until February 15. But because of the 'overwhelming interest' shown by the public, the company decided to extend the deadline for submitting an app until March 2. Apart from the intense number of people who showed interest in the contest, the company also said that the reason why they decided to extend the submission period was so they could have more time to process and approve all the apps. As of this writing, the company has received 1,500 new apps for review as well as 6,600 new developer registrations. We're not sure if the PlayBook really is that exciting to use, after all, we're Android fans. But well, we won't say no to a free tablet! YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, RIM Extends Deadline for Android App Developers , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 11:39 PM PST  In the market for an Android tablet? Amazon sent out an email yesterday to its customers with a link to Amazon.com stating that: “For a limited time, customers can save $80 or more on select Galaxy Tabs from Samsung. Order yours today and get FREE Super Saver Shipping when you buy from Amazon.com (click on link for restrictions). Offer good until February 18, 2012, or while supplies last. The discount is reflected in the price on the product detail page. Applies only to purchases that are sold by Amazon.com and does not apply to products sold by third-party merchants and other sellers through the Amazon.com site.”Although the message states that customers can save “$80 or more”, if you purchase one of the three selected models, you will be looking at a $120-$140 discount, and perhaps even more. The three selected models as of now are the Samsung Galaxy Tab (10.1-Inch, 32GB, Wi-Fi), Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus 32GB (Dual Core), and the Samsung Galaxy (8.9-Inch Screen) 32GB Tablet. All 3 of the models are 32GB and are priced $480, $380, and $430 respectively after the discounts. Amazon is also throwing in “FREE Super Saver Shipping” when you buy direct from them. Galaxy Tab 2?If you were already looking to buy a Galaxy Tab, this is clearly a steal. However, Samsung has also just unveiled the Galaxy Tab 2. This is most likely not a coincidence. Samsung is trying to sell out the rest of their Galaxy Tabs before the next version comes in.  Image thanks to Redmondpie.com Confused?Don’t worry, so are we. The Galaxy Tab 2 is nothing new. The specs are nothing above normal and there are already quad-core tablets on the horizon. But if you aren’t too concerned about the specs and just want to have a good tablet experience for a good price, the Galaxy Tab’s on sale at Amazon may be right for you. But before you buy anything, be sure to head over to our Android Tablet Comparison Page.Are you going to buy a Galaxy Tab for $140+ off? Let us know in the comments below. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, Save up to $140 on Samsung Galaxy Tabs at Amazon (Select Models) , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 11:37 PM PST  Image Courtesy of CBS News Despite the fact that both companies’ board of directors approved the deal, it was not until yesterday (Feb. 11) that the U.S. and European regulators approved Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion ($40 per share). Since the purchase was announced 6 months ago, Motorola has all but stopped releasing new products. The Droid 4, Droid RAZR, RAZR MAXX, Motorola Xyboards, and the MOTOACTV were all released after the deal was announced. What This Means for Android
 Only time can tell where this deal will go. Motorola started its journey into the market as the company that introduced the world's first portable cell phone nearly 30 years ago and also the smallest, lightest, and now thinnest phone (at least for a short amount of time). What do you think? Will Google be releasing any new Galaxy devices with Motorola any time soon? Let us know in the comments below. Anyone craving a Nexus tablet? YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, Google’s Acquisition of Motorola Mobility Finally Approved , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 10:18 PM PST  Just recently, we discovered the MEEP! tablet at the TIA Toy Fair held in New York. But apart from this tablet, we found another kid friendly tablet which was actually among the stars of the event. Techno Source has unveiled another kid friendly tablet, named the Kurio. Unlike the MEEP!, the Kurio has been revealed to currently run on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). By running on Google's OS, the Kurio offers a highly customizable way for parents to be in control of the tablet. Moreover, it is a tablet for the whole family; where every user has a password-protected profile they can create. As for the equally password protected parental controls, parents are the only ones who can specify what their kids can view on the internet, as well as allow access to the internet, and even the acceptable apps. Techno Source has provided apps appropriate only for kids up to 14 years old. Apart from running on ICS, the Kurio's own app store will be live once the tablet launches in the fall. As for the specs of the Kurio, the tablet will run on 1GHz processor, 640x480p webcam, HDMI out, USB port, and 4GB internal memory. The tablet has screen options of 7-inches, 8-inches, and 10-inches. The 7-inch tablet is set to retail for $199 and will be on sale in September. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, Kurio Tablet for the Family Launching in September , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 10:01 PM PST Whether it's waking up on the wrong side of the bed or being nervous about an upcoming client presentation, you have those moments when you need a little push in order to lighten your mood and get things done. Here are a few Android apps you can check out in case you need a bit of motivation in the middle of your daily grind. 1. Goal Tracker Start your day by setting short-term or long-term goals with this basic but nifty application. Put in anything from finishing the book you've recently bought to saving up for a new car, and Goal Tracker will give you a list of when everything is due and how much you've done for each. In case you get the urge to procrastinate, this app will be generous in giving you reminders .  2. Workout Trainer You want to be healthy, but you don't know where to start. If you don't have time to head to the gym, download this app instead. You'll get expert coaches who can help you start the right way with timed exercises that are complete with audio and video instructions. It's a great free app if you’ve just recently gotten off the proverbial couch, but if you want to advance, you'll need to get the Pro account to access more of its goodies. 3. Drinking Water With Carbodroid You may take drinking water for granted, but getting a healthy amount of it in your system everyday can definitely help you lose weight and give you a mental boost. Drinking Water With Carbodroid is an app that is too cute not to enjoy – especially since you can make the Water Droid smile if you get your two liters of water in daily. It even prompts you to get a glass of H2O in case you're too immersed in work to remember. 4. Get Inspired In case you’re having a bad day, this simple app can put a smile on your face with encouraging words of wisdom from people who have made it to the top. Having the option to share the good vibes with your friends is additional icing to the cake. 5. Motivation To Your Mobile If you need a virtual nudge to start you off your goals, this app has all the positivity you’ll ever need. Motivational speaker Derrick Hayes gives you a word and a message a day to inspire you to do your best on the things that you want and need to do. 6. Idea Generator You've probably experienced brainstorming with your creative and marketing team and hitting a mental block the size of the Great Wall. This app can most probably make things easier for you. By randomly combining words set under different and customizable categories, it may just switch on that light bulb above your head. You can even send the results of your thinking session to your email. 7. Mindjet for Android Once you have your ideas, you'll now need to organize them. Mindjet for Android is a great way to map them out and see your entire game plan. Suddenly lost? Just go back to your charts, and you'll see where you’re headed. You'll need to use this app on a tablet device though, as it's going to be hard to see and appreciate on a phone. 8. Build Confidence End your day with a pat on the back and reward yourself with quiet time. Build Confidence is an app from clinical hypnotherapist Andrew Johnson that will help you relax and prepare you for the following day through guided meditation. Do you use other apps that help you get going? Share them with the rest of us in the comments box! YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, The Best Android Apps That Can Help You Get Motivated , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 09:37 PM PST Everyone’s concerned about their health nowadays. That should be expected considering the sort of lives most people lead. However, it can be a pain to keep track of exactly what’s needed to stay healthy – calories consumed and burned, blood pressure, and all the other statistics also seem pretty intimidating. Add to that the fact that we all live lives that keep us on the go. Thankfully, there are quite a few apps that can help users maintain their trim and fit selves. Here are several of the best apps on the Android Market. 1. Nike BOOM First of all, users need something to get themselves pumped up to exercise. That’s where Nike BOOM comes in. App users choose a workout and music choice and the app will deliver encouragement so that they can reach that final mile. The music and the workout records aren’t just the only feature though – premier athletes will be giving inspiration as they tell exercisers to push themselves to the limit. Facebook integration also manages to update friends about real-time progress, hoping for those “likes” to rev users up. 2. Backpacker GPS Trails Running aimlessly won’t help nerds get back into shape – what they need is a plan. What better way to make that plan than via GPS? Backpacker GPS Trails helps organize that morning run. With this app, a smartphone becomes a GPS – which works independent of cell networks. Maps are easily reached and trails can be tracked. Users can even send out Facebook updates. More importantly, this app keeps a record of the trail runner’s performance, just in case they want to compare against their previous record. 3. Endomondo Sports Tracker For those with a more urban bent, Endomondo Sports Tracker is a great app for use in cities. Runners, cyclists, and walkers will find that this app will be an excellent workout companion. First of all is the GPS function – which makes sure the user is never lost in whatever city they are. Next is the audio feedback; every mile has the app giving encouragement, while friends can record pep talks for the user. It’s also got distance, time, and calories burnt recorded. For those with a more competitive bent, they can try to beat their friends’ times or the current champion’s time – which is a great way to put some fire in some people’s bellies. 4. Calorie Counter Now for the other part of the fitness equation: nutrition. Healthy eating makes sure that people don’t chow down more than they burn – which is a basic principle of losing weight. For that, smart phone owners should go for fatsecret’s Calorie Counter. This app has several features that will definitely help keep people’s weights down. First is the food diary, which schedules meals. This feature in combination with a diet calendar, which tracks calories consumed and burned, will help greatly in lowering calorie intake. For those who like eating out, there’s also some current nutritional info on popular restaurants and food chains, as well as a barcode scanner for those shopping at their grocery store.5. BMI Calculator A person’s Body Mass Index is their key to making sure they’re not overweight. It can be a bit complicated to total it all up, but with Woytek’s BMI Calculator, users should be able to determine their BMI. Note this app is for normal people and not super-athletes – if someone wants to know how he or she measures up to the average then this app is it. It handles both metric and imperial units, so with a simple option switch people don’t have to scramble for their conversion tables. 6. Soleil Organics Another way to eat healthy is to eat organic. However, it can be a bit difficult to understand some of the labels on these products – also, there are some products that masquerade as “organic” but really aren’t. Soleil Organics is an app for discerning buyers to make sure they aren’t fooled by organic labels. It also provides tips on what food to choose. The food list is a bit limited right now but expect an update to that as this app becomes more popular. 7. Instant Heart Rate Pro The heart is one of the body’s most important organs. With Instant Heart Rate Pro, smart phone owners can be assured that their ticker is doing great. Right now, this app is the most accurate way to measure a person’s heart rate on the platform – and this is without any added equipment. All it needs is for the user to place their index finger on the phone’s camera and in a few seconds a real time heart monitor will be available. This is very useful when tailoring workouts or for those with heart conditions. Plus, its accuracy is constantly being tested, so users can be sure that the app works perfectly. 8. First Aid Being healthy isn’t just about keeping fit. It’s also about being able to handle medical emergencies. First Aid, an app from Health Team, is the best bet for anyone in an emergency. A simple guide for any situation, the app is a boon for anyone trying to treat someone in need or participating in a rescue effort. Proper application of first aid can mean life or death in some situations and this app makes sure that whatever help can be given is given properly. 9. ePocrates Proper diagnosis and treatment is another side of keeping healthy. For those times that someone needs medical info on their condition or some drug info, ePocrates is there. Used by a majority of US physicians, this app is the leading drug reference on the market. It’s essentially a pharmacist in an app and would be a great help for anyone taking regular medication. 10. Pocket Yoga With all the physical sides handled, let’s talk about the mental side of health. Pocket Yoga lets users have access to a detailed Yoga instruction guide to ease their bodies and minds. With over three different practices, three different difficulty levels and three different durations, it totals up to twenty-seven different sessions. All of this is clearly presented with detailed instructions and images – it’s like having a portable Yoga instructor. This is a great help for anyone looking a bit of peace of mind in their daily life. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, 10 Best Android Apps For Your Health , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 08:14 AM PST  Because smartphones are both handy and useful, we tend to toss them into our bags and bring them with us anywhere we go–at our bedside, in our offices, at dinner dates, and back to the bedside as we retire for the night. While your Android phone can alert you to incoming notifications, calls, text messages, or important reminders, there are certain circumstances when you’d need to use audible alerts, and there are certain situations when you need to place your phone in vibramode or silent mode. But, having to switch between sound profiles can be pesky and can chew up your time. It’s often easy to forget to switch from silent mode to audible mode, or vice-versa. In such a dilemma, the Auto Vibrate app for Android can be of help. This app automatically switches your phone's sound profile based on where you are or what time of the day it is.  The Auto Vibrate app is so easy to use. Its simple interface contains two main tabs, one for Location and the other for Time. Under the Location tab, you can add a specific location, and set its radius in meters. You can add your desired location by pressing the Add button. Once the specific location is set, your phone will automatically switch to silent/vibrate mode when you enter the premises. Your phone will know when to shut its mouth, for instance, when you enter cinemas or attend a meeting in the office. You may also unmark a location from the list to prevent the phone from automatically switching to silent mode whenever you’re in the area. Take note that you will be needing an Internet connection before you can add a new location to the list.  Aside from assigning a specific location, you can use also use the time to automatically switch your phone into silent mode. Under the Time tab, you can set the appropriate time frame for your phone to stay in silent mode and when not to. You can set the starting and end time, as well as the number of days it will be repeated in the week. Your phone will automatically toggle from silent when the assigned time strikes. So, whether it’s time to wake up, or time to retire for the day, your Android phone will know what to do. If you want to try this app, download Auto Vibrate free from the Android Market and use it for automatically toggling normal or silent mode according to the place or time that you specify. Do you frequently switch between sound profiles on your phone? How has Auto Vibrate made profile switching more convenient for you? |
Friday, February 17, 2012
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