Friday, May 11, 2012

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums


Cloud Music Locker and Streaming Service mSpot Acquired by Samsung

Posted: 10 May 2012 01:03 PM PDT

Samsung has made the announcement today that they acquired mSpot. That’s right folks. The Cloud Music Locker and Streaming Service is now apart of the korean company. Much like most cloud music services, you are able to upload your music to the cloud for playback on any compatible device. Add the fact that mSpot offers movie rentals within a day if their DVD counterpart being released for streaming purposes you’ve got one heck of a cloud media player. Given that Samsung is adding a Scan-and-Match feature to it’s music subscription service this could essentially be a one, two combination for a media player. Music in the cloud matched with matched higher quality versions of songs is a great combination. As Samsung puts it:

“The acquisition will provide a cloud-based entertainment experience of music, video and radio services for users of Samsung devices, while extending mSpot’s cloud and streaming solutions to a broader base of global entertainment fans. The combination will extend mSpot’s top class cloud and streaming services while further enhancing Samsung’s mobile and tablet device entertainment offerings. mSpot’s entertainment services will be a key integrated offering on newly announced Samsung mobile devices.”

While it’s safe to assume that Samsung paid a decent chunk of change for this acquisition there are no details on the exact figures. Samsung does plan to integrate mSpot in its future phones. Again though when that is happening is for the future to decide. Could we possibly see it in the Galaxy S III?

Check out the press release after the break:

Samsung Electronics Acquires mSpot

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 09, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced today it is acquiring mSpot, Inc., a leading mobile cloud-based content service provider based in Palo Alto, California.

The acquisition will provide a cloud-based entertainment experience of music, video and radio services for users of Samsung devices, while extending mSpot’s cloud and streaming solutions to a broader base of global entertainment fans. The combination will extend mSpot’s top class cloud and streaming services while further enhancing Samsung’s mobile and tablet device entertainment offerings. mSpot’s entertainment services will be a key integrated offering on newly announced Samsung mobile devices.

“mSpot shares our vision to bring a best-in-class cloud and streaming entertainment experience to consumers, and they’ve backed it up with innovative technical solutions from a great engineering team,” said TJ Kang, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Media Solution Center.

“Samsung is unparalleled in terms of global reach and cutting edge devices; with our combined resources, we are looking forward to redefining media consumption across the mobile universe with cloud services,” said mSpot Chief Executive Officer Daren Tsui.

The acquisition will include the full scope of technology, assets and human resources under mSpot. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$142.2 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company consists of nine independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, mobile phones and semiconductor chips. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com .

About mSpot

mSpot was formed in 2004 and is a provider of innovative music and video delivery service for mobile devices. The company has been providing white-labeled cloud entertainment services for major US mobile carriers. It also has its own brand services available in the Android Marketplace or App Store. For more information, go to www.mspotcorporate.com

SOURCE: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.



Contest: Win an ASUS Transformer Pad Prize Pack courtesy of ASUS, NVIDIA, and Talk Android [Week 1]

Posted: 10 May 2012 01:01 PM PDT

As we mentioned earlier, NVIDIA is hosting the Annual Players Choice Awards sponsored by ASUS. NVIDIA wants to find out what gamers think are the best games in the TegraZone for graphics, gameplay, and overall fun. To entice you to get your vote in, ASUS is giving away seven, yes that’s seven ASUS Transformer Prize Packs to voters. Let’s face it, I would be happy with just the Transformer Pad TF300 alone, but ASUS and NVIDIA are going all out by also including the keyboard dock, a Logitech controller, and a Jambox speaker. Are you kidding me? Make sure to head over to the Awards site to get your votes in so you will be entered for your chance to win.

But that’s not all!! Talk Android has partnered with the awards, which means that ASUS has provided us with the same Transformer Prize Packs for our readers. We have a total of three, so that means that each week for the next three weeks, we will give one of our lucky readers one of these packs. We are going to keep this really simple. We want your votes for the same three categories as well. This is the first of three weeks. All you have to do is comment below with your favorite TegraZone game in terms of graphics. You have until next Wednesday, May 16th at 11:59pm EST. We will announce the winner on Thursday, May 17th and start up the second giveaway as well.

For more info about the all the eligible games see our previous post or head over to the TegraZone.

Good Luck!!!

 



NVIDIA hosts the Annual TegraZone Players Choice Awards with a chance to win one of seven ASUS Transformer Pad Prize Packs

Posted: 10 May 2012 12:59 PM PDT

It’s hard to believe it’s been a full year since the birth of the NVIDIA TegraZone. After one year, it now has 38 high-caliber games, a four star rating in the Google Play Store, and over 3.5 million installs. Remember, these games are optimized for Tegra 2 and Tegra 3 devices, including the newest tablet from ASUS, the Transformer Pad TF300. Asus is redefining the future of mobile computing devices with the launch of the new Transformer Pad featuring the NVIDIA Tegra 3, the world's only quad-core mobile processor with a 5th battery-saver core. Running the latest Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the ASUS Transformer Pad is a value packed tablet with multi-color style and productivity with expandability when connected to the mobile dock. With a 1.2MP front and 8MP rear auto-focus camera with large F/2.2 aperture and exclusive office software, staying connected and productive has never been easier.

To celebrate the one year anniversary of the TegraZone, NVIDIA is hosting the 1st annual Players Choice Awards sponsored by ASUS. They’re asking all game players to vote on their favorite TegrzZone game in three categories: Best Gameplay, Best Graphics, and Overall Fun. The winners will be announced on June 6 at a special event at E3 in Los Angeles.

To make it worth your while, NVIDIA and ASUS have teamed up to award seven Transformer Pad prize packs over the next few weeks. The prize packs includes a Transformer Pad TF300, a keyboard dock, a Logitech game controller, and a Jambox speaker.

All you need to do is decide what your favorite TegraZone game is for each of  the three categories and vote for it at NVIDIA’s Players Choice Awards site. Once you vote, you’re automatically entered for a chance to win one of seven Transformer Pad prize packs.

There’s even more good news: Thanks to ASUS and NVIDIA, Talk Android has additional prize packs to give out to three lucky readers. We will post a different contest each week for the next three weeks, and all you have to do is comment and tell us your favorite games. It couldn’t be simpler right? Hit one of the links below to head over to NVIDIA’s Player Choice Award site and look for our contest post shortly.

NVIDIA Players Choice Awards

Even though I can’t win one of these amazing prize packs I figured now would be a great opportunity to let you guys know which game is my ultimate favorite. Demolition Inc. is by far the most frequented game on my Transformer Prime, and once I start playing it, I have a hard time putting it down. The game doesn’t have the best graphics out of all the games listed below, but it’s the gameplay that keeps me coming back for more.

Based on a demolition theme, you travel around to different worlds (levels) and use various tools to complete as much destruction as you can. The more destruction you can create, the more points you get. I mean, how fun does that sound? You begin the game with oil slicks and glue, and have to manipulate moving traffic into the surrounding buildings (Yes, your goal is to bring all the buildings to the ground so that you can plant more trees). From there, you earn tools such as exploding cows, a giant wrecking ball, and the awesomely destructive “earthquake bomb.” You can eventually get the ability to remotely control cars so that you can drive them straight into buildings and even off ramp into various structures! Awesome!

Now don’t go thinking this game is a simple and destructive walk in the park. As the game goes on you will definitely need to form a strategy because if you don’t bring everything to the ground before you run out of tools, you will have to start the level over. Demolition Inc. is almost a puzzle game in that way and one that I find highly addictive. So if creating your own path of demolition through various levels sounds like your cup of tea, then I highly suggest you check out Demolition Inc. for Tegra 3 devices. You can find the game’s description and download link in the following list.

Seriously though, there are so many great games in the TegraZone, it’s hard to decide on your favorite. Here’s a complete rundown of all the games. I’m sure there are some that you haven’t tried, so I encourage you to take a look at the list and pick at least one or two new games to try this week.


Big Top THD

Ever wanted to run away and join the circus? Well now you can! Big Top THD has been developed specifically to utilize the NVIDIA® Tegra® family of mobile processors. Practice your skills at high diving, plate spinning, juggling, knife throwing, you even get to throw custard pies at the clowns! Lots of levels and lots of laughs with this awesome looking circus game. You get beautiful animation, vibrant characters and smooth frame rates on Tegra 2 powered devices, whilst owners of the powerful new Tegra 3 powered tablets and phones will see additional effects, such as real-time shadow generation and advanced per pixel lighting. It's all the fun of the circus in your hand!

Download Link

NVISION

NVISION is a FREE app for your Tegra-powered TABLET that highlights the coolest entertainment across Gaming (including Android, PC and console), Movies, Gadgets, and Technology with an eye toward cutting-edge graphics. Updated daily with in-depth stories and hi-def video, NVISION covers the spectrum of digital entertainment through features on the newest games and effects-driven movies to articles detailing how visual technology is redefining entertainment. In addition, we’ll bring you roundups of the Android Apps that will make your life a little easier, detailed looks at the hottest gadgets, and must-read stories on innovative technology that affects your digital life. And it’s free. Actually, really, genuinely, free.

Download Link

Arma II: Firing Range THD

Game developer Bohemia Interactive relied on the power of the NVIDIA® Tegra® processor to deliver the award-winning Arma II PC video game visuals to mobile devices without sacrificing quality. By using the same high-resolution textures used in the PC game and high polygon weapon models, Arma II: Firing Range THD is the ultimate firing range simulation.

Pick a weapon from dozens available. Examine it within an interactive 3D preview and study its specs – or try it out immediately! Several highly detailed firing ranges with different game modes wait for you to show your best. Compete with other players in online leaderboards. Unlock all the achievements.

Download Link

Auralux

Auralux is an abstract, essentialized, and simplified real-time strategy game. But don’t let the minimalistic graphics fool you. This game is full of complexity and strategy!

You command only one type of unit and have only one type of order to give those units. You and your opponents start the game with precisely equal resources. Quick reflexes will get you nowhere. The only path to victory is through clever strategy.

Auralux features a slow, floating feel and vibrant minimalistic graphics. The entire game pulses to the rhythm of ambient music, and the player’s actions evoke sounds that smoothly coalesce into melody.

This game is designed to provide a relaxing, cerebral experience. Every choice matters, and only the best strategies will succeed.

Download Link

Backbreaker THD

Providing the richest combination of video effects including dynamic self-shadowing, high-resolution textures, and more detailed stadiums than any other mobile version, Backbreaker THD was ported by IdeaWorks using their Airplay SDK and is an enhanced version developed specifically to be played on NVIDIA® Tegra® -powered mobile devices.

Backbreaker THD also maintains a silky smooth frame rate no matter what’s being thrown on screen while providing an intense, arcade football experience.

Sprint, juke and spin past waves of oncoming defenders, racking up score multipliers on your way to the endzone! Backbreaker features bone-crunching tackles, a stunning 3D stadium, and multi-angle instant replays.

Download Link

Bang Bang Racing

Bang Bang Racing THD delivers a home console racing experience by employing NVIDIA® PhysX® technology for real-time dynamic vehicle physics. The game has also been optimized for NVIDIA® Tegra® to keep the race moving along at a blistering 60 frames per second.

Bang Bang Racing THD is a fun, action-packed racing game that has cool visuals and pumped-up sports cars. But underneath its playful exterior, it has the pumping heart of a true racing game. Real-time physics allow for finesse and control – drifting through corners and clipping every apex delivers huge player satisfaction. The game also features a unique control system perfect for mobile devices allowing you to simply point where you want the car to go, as if you are drawing a racing line for the car to follow.

Download Link

Dark Meadow: The Pact

By incorporating high resolution textures and atmospheric real-time lighting effects, The Dark Meadow offers a haunting experience for your NVIDIA® Tegra® powered mobile device.

By maximizing the graphic and gameplay horsepower of the Unreal Engine 3, The Dark Meadow by Phosphor Games Studio delivers a stunning first-person, action/adventure game where players fight to escape a dark fairytale world filled with fantastical creatures bent on destroying them.

Download Link

Demolition Inc.

The popular PC action-strategy game arrives on Tegra! In Demolition Inc. THD, assume the role of the daring alien demolition worker "Mike" as you start a devastating chain reaction on Earth, using crazy tools and weapons to expand your destructive demolition powers!

Navigate Mike’s UFO over the cities of Earth, from one brain-teasing level to the next, while you unleash comedic chaos – make cars drive into high-rise towers and watch them collapse, or use exploding cows to bring entire rows of houses tumbling down!

Demolition Inc. THD. uses real physics so that destruction isn't predetermined and every time you play will be a unique experience!

Download Link

Dungen Defenders: Second Wave

You get more on-screen enemies, more special effects, and more levels – no other mobile version can make this claim. Due to the graphics capabilities of the Tegra processor, this version of Dungeon Defenders: Second Wave is the only mobile version that rivals the graphic quality of its PC and console counterparts.

In an original hybrid of two hot genres: Tower Defense and cooperative online Action-RPG, Dungeon Defenders puts players in the role of one of four distinctive hero classes, tasked with fending off hordes of invading beasties by strategically summoning a variety of Defenses & Traps throughout their castle.

Download Link

Eden to Geeeen

Eden to GREEEEN is optimized for Tegra-based devices and features high resolution textures, the highest quality shaders, tons of on-screen characters and beautiful effects galore.

Alien machines from another planet have come to steal the natural resources of Eden. They've all but destroyed the beautiful settings of Eden and there are only a small handful of plants, flowers and trees still alive. Euphoria, the natural energy of Eden needed for life to survive is dwindling fast.

But now it's PAYBACK time!!

Rise against the machines and restore Eden to its once beautiful vistas! Increase Euphoria by planting flowers. As Euphoria increases, nature will be restored and you'll be able to plant more and better plants that will allow you to launch an all-out counter-attack and win the war against the machines.

Download Link

Fruit Ninja THD

Fruit Ninja THD is the definitive version of the best-selling game and adds special graphic detail and effects including more detailed fruit models, higher resolution textures, and a new gameplay mechanic that slows down time.

It was specifically designed and developed to take advantage of the processing power of your NVIDIA® Tegra® -based mobile device and offers an unmatched graphically-rich experience that can’t be found in any other mobile version.

Swipe your finger across the screen to deliciously slash and splatter fruit like a true ninja warrior. Be careful of bombs – they are explosive to touch and will put a swift end to your juicy adventure! This Tegra-enhanced version also allows for there to be more onscreen fruit at a time without having to sacrifice frame rate!

Fruit Ninja THD is the messiest and most satisfying fruit game ever and uses OpenFeint, so players can unlock achievements and shoot for the top of the global leaderboards while racking up OpenFeint points!

Download Link

Galaxy on Fire 2 THD

Galaxy on Fire 2™ THD on the NVIDIA® Tegra® processor doesn’t skip a beat and renders the action at a consistently smooth frame rate that other mobile devices struggle to display, regardless of how many onscreen ships there are, how many explosions are going off, or how many other various special effects are happening.

Galaxy on Fire 2 THD has been heavily optimized to utilize the eight-core rendering power of Tegra's GeForce GPU, bringing console-gaming quality to mobile devices. All meshes have been re-created from scratch as if they were to be used for a proper console game and new details have been added to the design of each of the over 30 spaceships and 100 space stations. Also the space background images as well as all planets have been carefully re-painted at 2048 x 2048 pixels resolution. Compared to the iPad version, the game now features four times higher texture sizes on all in-game textures and four times higher polygon count on its spaceships, space stations, jump gates and asteroids. Furthermore, Galaxy on Fire 2™ THD features sophisticated OpenGL ES 2.0 specular and displacement shaders on all in-game assets.

The epic sci-fi action trader is available free to download from the Tegra Zone app on the Android Market and can be played for unlimited time offering full functionality within the first solar system. To access the whole galaxy with over 20 solar systems and to complete the six to ten hours, fully voice acted storyline, players have to unlock the game via in-app purchase for $ 14.99.

Download Link

Glowball

You'll find charm and menace of the midway in Glowball: Tegra 3. . . an interactive demo created to showcase the power of the NVIDIA® Tegra 3® chip. Tegra 3 runs effortlessly at top speed; efficiently delivering the power needed for nuanced and complex 3D graphics. The Glowball: Tegra 3 environment is rich in geometric complexity, texture detail, and graphic effects and could not have been built with previous generation hardware. All four cores are kept busy with PhysX® collisions, multiple cloth simulations, particle effects, and dynamic scene lighting. Step right up, folks.There are two levels in the demo; Carnival and Sea Floor. In each case, tilt the tablet to maneuver the ball around the different environment. Be careful where you go and what you hit as some things will undoubtedly hit back. For the Carnival level you'll need to trigger the jack-in-the-boxes in proper sequence, without any missteps, and the maniacal clown will give you an escape route. For the Sea Floor level, simply collect four keys, available from the treasure chests located around the maze, and you'll be able to leave through the sunken pirate ship. Use the minimap to help find your way around the maze.

Download Link

Guerilla Bob THD

Guerrilla Bob THD delivers the best version of the game available by taking advantage of the NVIDIA® Tegra® processor. This definitive version includes effects like glows, blooms, and real time lighting shaders not previously available. The game also includes higher resolution textures not found in any other mobile version.

Dive into the Story Campaign where Guerrilla Bob fights through dangerous canyons, steep deserts and dreadful towns. Alternatively, engage in Survival Mode where endless enemies come at Bob from all directions in a closed arena environment. There are extra difficulty modes for players who think they're an expert!

Guerrilla Bob THD offers stunning visuals, cross-platform multiplayer, an arsenal of kick-ass weaponry, unique enemies, explosive ammunition and non-stop humor.

Download Link

Hamilton’sGreat Adventure THD

Take part in an amazing journey, guiding the splendiferous adventurer Ernest Hamilton and his brilliant bird Sasha as they co-operate to crack crafty conundrums and challenges!

Progress through 60+ levels set in four unique and visually stunning environments. Immerse yourself into the fantastical storyline filled with extravagant escapades and memorable characters. Join in on the fun as Hamilton's Great Adventure delivers an exhilarating experience of exceptional family entertainment!

Download Link

Hardwood Backgammon THD

Designed specifically for NVIDIA® Tegra® devices, Hardwood Backgammon THD breathes new life into your favorite classic board game by incorporating high-resolution textures, dynamic lighting, and real-time shadows. Enjoy a game by yourself of play online against people from around the globe.

In addition to the traditional game, Hardwood Backgammon THD also offers a beautiful way to play by adding other unique variants. Various achievements, an online leaderboard, and the ability to purchase additional boards, environments, and dice will keep this backgammon game exciting.

Download Link

Hardwood Solitaire IV

Hardwood Solitaire IV takes advantage of the NVIDIA® Tegra® processor by incorporating real-time lighting and shadows in their game enviroments and adding new 1080p high resolution textures for the card faces and backs.

Hardwood Solitaire IV offers a flurry of beautiful solitaire games. Escape from your day with more than 100 exciting solitaire games to play. You can enjoy favorite solitaire games like Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, Yukon, and a whole lot more, including original solitaire games you won’t find anywhere else!

Use your device’s camera to bring your world right into Hardwood Solitaire and use that image as the game background. You can also apply photo filter effects to stylize the camera image.

Download Link

History™ Great Battles Medieval

War Drum Studios has accurately ported the full-featured PC strategy game, HISTORY™ Great Battles Medieval, to NVIDIA® Tegra® mobile devices. By taking advantage of the dual-core processor, the game recreates the epic feel of huge historical battles by displaying hundreds of onscreen soldiers at the same time while never dropping frame rate. The game also boasts cutting edge graphics and an unprecedented level of detail.

Great Battles Medieval is a unique blend of Real-Time Strategy and Role-playing that allows you to develop your army; gaining experience, abilities and equipment to customize your troops.

This is the Hundred Years War. Each man must stand tall. Each man's mettle will be tested. But amongst all men there are leaders, there are those who will not be cowed. Can you be that leader? In this epic strategy RPG you will lead your army through the greatest of medieval wars and make history live again.

Download Link

Hockey Nations 2011 THD

By incorporating improved skin meshing, specular maps, and increased polygon count on player models, Hockey Nations 2011 THD is the most visually enhanced version of the game on any mobile platform. Distinctive Games took advantage of the NVIDIA® Tegra® processor even further by adding player reflections on the ice and animated crowd behavior.These added graphical features continue their mission of bringing the ultimate experience of international hockey to the hands of hockey lovers – first and without compromise.

Pick your team from 18 international teams or play as your favorite team from anywhere around the world by customizing any of the 40 available city teams. Jam-packed with hockey action across 6 game modes from practice to World League, Hockey Nations 2011 THD will turn any puckhead into an international ice warrior.

Download Link

Jet Tailfin Racers THD

Jett Tailfin Racers THD brings the exciting playful world of the sea to life with lovable characters, challenging races, and fun gameplay. Join JETT TAILFIN and his friends as they compete for Top Finn in a Magical underwater environment and the right to challenge Tom Tsunami for legend of underwater speed!In Jett Tailfin Racers THD, the tracks represent marine ecosystems. They are modeled after street race tracks, where the racer is forced to interact with characters and objects which are part of the world in which the race takes place. That makes the race more challenging and the environments more interesting.Play with friends via multi-player LAN support or progress through each race in single-player to unlock new tracks. Each new track introduces new friends and enemies.

Download Link

Mass Effect 3 Live Wallpaper

NVIDIA and BioWare have teamed up to bring you this live wallpaper.

Are you excited to take Earth back in Mass Effect 3? NVIDIA and BioWare have teamed up to bring you the best Mass Effect 3 experience on PC. In anticipation of playing the game themselves, NVIDIA designers developed this live wallpaper and made it available on Google Play.

Mass Effect 3 is like a Hollywood blockbuster where you get to be the lead actor and director in the beginning, middle, and end of an all-out war to take Earth back. How you wage this war is entirely up to you. Mass Effect 3 delivers ground breaking interactive storytelling, adrenaline pumping gameplay, and integrated co-op multiplayer. Mass Effect 3, in stores now.

Experience everything. Sacrifice nothing. Gear up with GeForce GTX.

Download Link

Meltdown on Mars THD

The swarm is arriving…get ready for the final encounter! Designed to take full advantage of the graphics capabilities of your NVIDIA® Tegra® powered phone or tablet, Meltdown on Mars THD features realistic particle effects like smoke, gas and explosions, gorgeous high-detail enemies and environments, and real-time lighting effects.

Meltdown on Mars THD is an action tower-defense style game where the player has to defend himself using turrets, barricades and his own weapons. The game is divided into waves and within each wave the player is attacked by more and more difficult groups of aliens. Can you survive the meltdown?

Download Link

Monster Madness: Grave Danger THD

Taking advantage of and utilizing NVIDIA® PhysX® technology, the mobile version of Monster Madness was developed for NVIDIA® Tegra®-powered mobile devices and is graphically identical to the console version in every regard – something that can only be achieved with Tegra. Nothing was sacrificed. This definitive version of the game is truly a benchmark title that demonstrates the graphics capabilities of the processor.

Life in suburbia for four teenagers just took a turn for the worse because in a world where brain-hungry zombies run rampant, nothing's the way it used to be! Take on wave after wave of staggering zombies and foul creatures with upgradeable weapons; power-up accessory items and vehicular combat without ever dropping your framerate. Explore 5 massive and detailed environments in this top-down shooter full of panic-inducing pleasure! It's up to you to purge the world of the undead in a blast of Unreal® Engine 3 powered arcade exhilaration! You'll be lucky to survive, but if you do, you'll save the 'burbs from a fate worse than un-death.

Download Link

My First TRAINZ Set

NVIDIA® Tegra® helps bring My First TRAINZ Set to mobile devices for the first time and enhances the game with graphical enhancements like bump mapping and dynamic specular lighting throughout. It also takes advantage of the performance capabilities of dual-core processing to deliver a much greater visual experience with streamlined gameplay.

Get the creative juices flowing as you build winding tracks up, around and through real life rooms in a house! Sit back and take in the view as you watch trains steam around your masterpiece. You can even interact with different industries to pickup and drop off passengers and inventory.

My First TRAINZ Set brings the joy of model train building to touch devices in a format that is kid-friendly, creative and fun

Download Link

Pinball HD for Tegra

The masters of portable pinball gaming, Gameprom, have taken advantage of the NVIDIA® Tegra® processor to create the best version of Pinball HD on any device! Praised for its mission-based gameplay and attention to detail, Pinball HD has been a top seller on the iOS platform and won the 2010 Apple Design Award in Games. This version adds to the realism with enhanced graphics, realistic physics, and stutter-free gameplay.The game features three unique pinball tables – Wild West, The Deep, and Jungle Style – each with its own genre and mission system. Pinball HD will change your concept of Pinball. You’ll be stunned by the degree of realism. This is a REAL Pinball simulator with stunning 3D graphics, with or without 3D glasses.

Note: Phone or tablet needs to have internet access when first run or you may receive an error message.

Download Link

Princess Punt THD

Japanese development studio GungHo has combined the puzzle and RPG genres to create a unique game that also incorporates graphical enhancements only available on devices with NVIDIA® Tegra® processors without sacrificing framerate. Bloom effects, enhanced lighting and shading around characters, weather effects and high-resolution textures add to the already distinct visual style of Princess Punt THD.Level up your characters and devise a strategy to defeat the monsters. Improve a multitude of items such as swords, bows, spears, staffs and armor or buy new ones as your character grows. Tapping at the proper instant while the solders are flying unleashes various skills depending on the unit type. Defeating the bosses at the final stage at each area allows you to go on to the next area!

Download Link

Renaissance Blood THD

Renaissance Blood THD is a shooting game built on the Unreal 3 Mobile Engine and is based on Renaissance period. Developed specifically for the NVIDIA® Tegra 3® chip, this face-paced shooter incorporates complex geometric environments, high-resolution textures, realistic dynamic lighting effecs and real-time physics simulations.After Leonard DaVinci's death, heroes of Renaissance started to fight a battle for capturing 'DaVinci machine' which DaVinci designed. Using the heroes' powerful weapons with various DaVinci's inventions motif, you will experience thrilling action shooting.

Download Link

Riptide GP

Designed from the ground up to take full advantage of your NVIDIA® Tegra® powered phone or tablet, Riptide GP features super-realistic water physics, real-time reflections, and gorgeous high-detail vehicles and environments.Riptide GP is the first ever console-quality water racing game for mobile, created by Vector Unit, the developers of Xbox 360 hit Hydro Thunder Hurricane.

Rev up your supercharged jet ski and take a wild ride through twisting canals and rivers, futuristic cityscapes, and mysterious research facilities. Skill, stunts, and speed will be your best allies as you grab massive air off huge waves, kick out death-defying tricks, and boost your jet ski to victory across a dynamic, ever-changing torrent of foam and spray.

Download Link

Samurai II: Vengeance THD

On par with console 3D brawlers, Samurai II: Vengeance takes advantage of the raw processing power of NVIDIA® Tegra® with four times more texture resolution on characters, increased number of objects in the scenes, and increased quality and quantity of effects in the environment and combat.Screenshots don't do Samurai II justice – the fluid action has to be seen running at 60 frames per second. But looks alone won't carry a game – the developers listened to fan feedback and improved gameplay throughout. With a new virtual d-pad, dynamic camera, environmental puzzles, traps, and vicious new enemies, Samurai II is brand new experience for hack 'n' slash gamers on the go.

Download Link

ShadowGun THD

Shadowgun: The Leftover DLC is now available for download and includes 4 new levels that continue the story directly following the events of original SHADOWGUN. The game also features a new enemy creature, gun, soundtrack, and new types of gaming interactions including camera shake, bullet trails, and the ability to roll!

The Tegra 3-optimized version of SHADOWGUN features console-quality water, enhanced rag-doll physics, particle effects, enhanced shaders and dynamic textures. These are only possible using Tegra 3′s multi-core capabilities, and they make for a truly immersive and realistic gaming experience.

The year is 2350, and corrupt intergalactic corporations are the rule of law, hiring bounty hunters and mercs to do their bidding. The best of the best are known as SHADOWGUNS.

SHADOWGUN (Tegra 3) puts you into the role of John Slade, the galaxy's most infamous bounty hunter. Your mission: hunt down Dr. Edgar Simon, maniacal genius and leader of his own mutant army. Infiltrate Dr. Simon's mountain fortress and fight his personal guard of cyborgs, battle droids, and genetically-enhanced humanoids. Using state-of-the-art weaponry, ships, and the assistance of S.A.R.A.—Slade's personal android assistant—SHADOWGUN (Tegra 3) combines intense tactical combat with 3rd person action.

Download Link

Shine Runner

With stunning HD visuals, fully destructible environments and a detailed boat physics simulation, Shine Runner is specifically optimized to squeeze every drop of multi-core goodness out of your NVIDIA® Tegra® processor…and it includes extra features like camera splash and normal mapped water exclusively for Tegra 3!Throw your flat-bottomed fanboat into high gear and slip and slide through the muddy waters of the backwoods bayou. Smash and crash through a destructible world filled with rickety swamp shacks, fishin' boats, chicken coops, gators, and more. Pack your cargo hold to the brim with moonshine, tobacky, snake oil and other contraband and then sell 'em to the highest bidder in a rampagin' 10-day race for profit and glory. Just make sure you keep an eye out for Smokey–the more notorious you get, the more cops will come gunnin' for you.

Download Link

Siegecraft THD

By incorporating improved high resolution textures, complex shaders, realistic weather effects and higher polygon models, Siegecraft THD offers a substantial visual improvement compared to other versions of the game on any mobile platform. In addition, the developers at Blowfish Studios have included unique levels which leverage the increased processing power made available by the NVIDIA® Tegra® processor.Siegecraft THD is the ultimate 3D physics-based game that’s simple to pick-up and play with plenty of content to keep you entertained for hours. Lay waste to your enemies using crossbows, catapults, battering rams and more. You are the best siege team money can buy. Work for each race as they rage war on each other. Perform well to get paid more and buy awesome power-ups and upgrade your siege machines!

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SoulCraft THD

SoulCraft THD harnesses the power of the NVIDIA® Tegra® family of mobile processors to produce a graphically-rich free2play Action RPG. The game is still in beta – this means they will be major changes down the road and we will constantly add lots of exciting new stuff.With humans on the brink to discover the secret of eternal life, angels and demons make a pact to proclaim the apocalypse to be able to materialize into the real world, fight the humans and keep the circle of life intact. SoulCraft THD lets you play as an angel, demon or human – it is up to you who will win this fight.

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Sprinkle

Ready, Aim, Squirt! Using the power of the NVIDIA® Tegra® processor to simulate some of the most realistic water physics seen on a handheld device yet, Sprinkle is a brain-teasing game that will have players straining to figure out each puzzle and obstacle.Using a water cannon mounted on a crane, players must adjust the height and angle of the cannon to fight fires, move obstacles, spin wheels and activate traps in this challenging water-physics based puzzler! But squirt carefully as you will run out of water and the less water you use, the more stars you earn!

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The Elder Scroll V: Skyrim – Live Wallpaper

NVIDIA's engineers worked with the team at Bethesda to bring the best Skyrim experience to the PC and we became such fans of the game we thought we would get some live wallpaper made and provide it for free to the Skyrim fans in our Tegra community.Skyrim reimagines the open-world fantasy epic, pushing the gameplay and technology of a virtual world to new heights. Explore this amazing landscape with GeForce GTX and bring rugged mountains, bustling cities, ancient dungeons, and deadly dragons to life like never before. Experience everything. Sacrifice nothing. Gear up with GeForce GTX.

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Trainz Simulator THD

The performance of NVIDIA® Tegra® and its dual-core CPU allows for much more streamlined gameplay and greater visual experience. In addition, Trainz Simulator THD takes advantage of Tegra enhanced features like bump mapping, specular, and dynamic lighting throughout.

Build and operate the railroad of your dreams.

We are pleased to give each and every Android Tablet user the opportunity to have Trainz at your fingertips. With Trainz custom built input system to get the most out of the touch functionality you’ll find driving Trains, laying tracks, creating layouts and completing scheduled tasks a breeze. Trainz Simulator THD is packed full of content, routes and sessions to give you the best Train experience on any mobile platform. Trainz Simulator THD is a world first for Android!

Trainz Simulator THD includes everything you need to build and operate your own dream railroad. You can build a fun layout in minutes, faithfully recreate a railroad from days gone by or develop a fully fledged prototypical route; the choice is yours.

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Vendetta Online

Specifically targeted to be played on NVIDIA® Tegra®-powered mobile devices with a dual-core or greater processor, Vendetta Online is a technical intensive PC-style space combat MMORPG.Vendetta Online is a subscription-based title, with a recurring cost of between $7 and $10 per month. Although the game is available for Mac, Windows and Linux all versions play within the same galaxy. The Android version also includes several exclusive benefits including a single-player “Free Play” mode that lets you perfect your flying technique and enjoy minigames while offline. This feature will be expanded in future patches, and will permanently be available to anyone with the game installed, regardless of whether they ever choose to subscribe. The Android version also includes 8 hours of in-game trial time. Play an hour a day for 8 days, or 8 hours all at once. No strings attached, find out if the game is for you. (Note: previously paid customers still get the special 16 hour extended trial.)

The game will allow players to interact as the pilots of ships in a vast, persistent single-universe alongside PC, Mac, and Linux players. Users may build their characters in any direction they desire, becoming rich captains of industry, military heroes, or outlaws. A fast-paced, realtime “twitch” style combat model gives intense action, coupled with the backdrop of RPG gameplay in a massive online galaxy.

Three major player factions form a delicate balance of power, with several NPC sub-factions creating situations of economic struggle, political intrigue and conflict. The completely persistent universe and detailed storyline add to the depth of immersion, resulting in a unique online

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Zen Pinball THD

Available for the first time on any mobile platform, Zen Pinball THD harnesses the power of Tegra's GeForce® GPU and dual-core CPU to produce a hyper-realistic, graphically-rich pinball gaming experience. The game sets a new standard for realistic ball physics and graphical detail in pinball video games employing cutting-edge visuals, challenging tables, true-to-life ball and table physics and combines them with innovative features not found in any other pinball game.From the creators of Zen Pinball, Marvel Pinball, and Pinball FX2, comes Zen Pinball THD, the most exciting mobile pinball game experience available! Featuring interactive 3D models, the most advanced ball physics, rich social features and hot seat multiplayer, Zen Pinball THD continues the rich pinball tradition established by Zen Studios, the definitive leader in pinball videogames.Zen Pinball THD is available for NVIDIA Tegra powered Android devices running Android 2.3 or greater!

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Grand Theft Auto III

Welcome to Liberty City. Where it all began.

Rockstar Games celebrates the 10th anniversary of one of the most influential games of all time. The critically acclaimed blockbuster Grand Theft Auto III comes to mobile devices, bringing to life the dark and seedy underworld of Liberty City. With a massive and diverse open world, a wild cast of characters from every walk of life and the freedom to explore at will, Grand Theft Auto III puts the dark, intriguing and ruthless world of crime at your fingertips.

With stellar voice acting, a darkly comic storyline, a stunning soundtrack and revolutionary open-world gameplay, Grand Theft Auto III is the game that defined the open world genre for a generation.

Download Link



Google Introduces The New Google+: An App With Sense And Soul

Posted: 10 May 2012 12:04 PM PDT

 

Google+ is no doubt one of the more revolutionary social networks available– and that’s why Google is taking the steps necessary to evolve its mobile app for its users. Specifically— Google is interested in transforming the Google+ app into an application that fully utilizes a device’s touchscreen capabilities and high-resolution display. That means users of the app will be able to see a revamped homescreen, crisper fonts, more fluid UI (such as improved response when swiping the screen) and important actions like +1 now float atop the stream, which makes it easy to endorse all your favorite items. The end result of this is “an app with sense and soul” according to Google.

While the new version of the app is available for iOS to begin, Google highlights the app will be available for Android within a few weeks— which will include “extra surprises”.

source: Google Blog



Why the Galaxy S III is a great phone (but why I will not be buying one)

Posted: 10 May 2012 11:46 AM PDT

 

The dust has finally settled in London after Samsung finally unveiled its next flagship phone at the Unpacked event at Earls Court. After month upon month of hype, rumours, mocks-ups and supposed leaks, the most anticipated Android phone of all time showed its hand for the world to see. The Galaxy S III had arrived. It was inevitable really that, in some areas, the specifications weren't quite as spectacular as many of the rumours had hyped. We were promised quad-cores, Super AMOLED plus screens, state of the art graphics processors, 2GB of RAM, dual boot OS, 12 MP cameras, ceramic finishes and many more bleeding edge features. The response from the tech world was positive for the most part but as ever there were claims that the phone was underwhelming, not a true upgrade from the Galaxy S II and that it was just plain ugly. I was fortunate enough to attend the launch in person where I got the chance to visit the demo stands showing off many of the news features as well as getting a reasonable amount of hands-on time to make some judgements for myself. I'll come back to that later.

 

I had two agendas when I attended the Unpacked event, first of all I was there to represent TalkAndroid and report on the event however I was also there as a potential customer. I've been a fan of Android phones since the original G1 and have owned or used numerous different devices from LG, Samsung, Motorola, Asus, HTC and many others. Most recently it has been Samsung that has really captured my imagination. I moved from the original Galaxy S to the Nexus S and now use a Galaxy Nexus as my daily driver. Whilst I still absolutely love my Galaxy Nexus, it's the affliction of any true gadget lover that as soon as you have a new toy you're already looking ahead to see what's coming next.

Will the Galaxy S III be the phone to replace my Nexus? The quick answer is no it will not, and there are a number of factors that I considered when making this decision many of which I fully acknowledge will be unique to me. Do I think the Galaxy S III was a let-down? Absolutely not, I was hugely impressed overall and I am already suffering from tech envy due to many of the awesome features that it brings to the table. I have already convinced a few friends and colleagues to pre-order the device and in most cases I am likely to recommend it over my beloved Galaxy Nexus. In order keep things simple I have broken down my thought process into the two areas that were key to my decision, hardware and software.

 

Hardware

Hardware is the headline grabber for most consumers. How big is the screen, how thin is the profile, how many megapixels is the camera, how fast is the processor. These are the questions that the average person will be asking when tuning in to the next big phone unveiling or when they walk through the door of their local mobile phone retailer.

Some tech sites felt that the S III fell a little short with what it brings to the table in terms of hardware but, for the most part, I disagree. The quad-core Exynos processor is cutting edge, it's already blowing everything out of the water in benchmarks but most importantly it performs wonderfully in real life use. The presence of the Mali-400 GPU was greeted with a collective groan from numerous tech sites however the chip has been optimised and the clock speed increased to produce significant improvements to the extremely capable original chip from the Galaxy S II. How many applications or games in the Google Play Store are truly stretching the original Mali chip to its limits? Very few, the negativity surround the use of the Mali GPU really is much ado about nothing.

Cue the predictable criticism from the usual suspects when the screen technology was announced as a 4.8", HD Super AMOLED display. Let me start by saying that I was slightly disappointed not to see HD Super AMOLED plus technology make its long awaited debut however it's far from a disaster. I'm not going to go into the technical details of the pentile matrix display and its lack of sub-pixels as I'm sure the majority of you have read about it many times before. You can literally take your pick of tech sites showing photos of the S III screen blown up under a microscope, which I suppose is important as you just never know when you might need to use that microscope in your pocket to browse the web on your phone. The fact is that Samsung's HD Super AMOLED display is a great display, one of the best on the market and at 4.8" it really is a marvel to watch videos, view photos and browse the web and surely that is what you want from your display.

The camera has also come under scrutiny for supposedly not improving on the module from the Galaxy S II. The megapixel wars are so 2008 and in all honesty, do we really need more than 8MP in a phone. It's not often that I offer out praise to Apple however with the iPhone 4S, Apple showed that there's so much more to a superb photo or sharp video than megapixel count. A high quality lens coupled with top notch software is so much more important for everyday use. The Galaxy S III has adopted the zero shutter lag feature from the Galaxy Nexus and added further features such as burst mode with best photo. From the samples that I managed to take in London last week it was clear that the S III takes great photos and videos. The S II did a wonderful job in the first place and the new tweaks do a great job of taking the imaging capabilities of the S III to the next level.

The form and design of the S III has probably been the single most criticised aspect of the phone so far. The tech world seems to be convinced that flagship phones absolutely must be made from brushed metal and glass. Personally I'm on the fence with this one as there are pros and cons for different build materials. Plastic builds are lighter, more durable and less likely to mark but don't have a premium feel when held in the hand. Metal phones offer that premium feel but tend to be heavy and less forgiving if dropped or bumped. Contrary to popular opinion there is no right or wrong when it comes to build materials, it's all about choice and what works best for the individual. The build of the S III feels solid and its curved form sits comfortably in the hand. Aesthetically, it's closer to the Galaxy Nexus than the S II which is no bad thing. If I was to offer any criticism it's that the phone is so big it can often lead to a bit of finger gymnastics if you're a fan of one handed texting and browsing. I was a touch disappointed to see that Samsung opted for a physical home button flanked by two capacitive buttons. The on screen virtual buttons on the Nexus just seem so much more intuitive and make more sense.

So how does all of this compare to my Nexus? Well in almost all cases it compares extremely favourably. In terms of hardware, I believe that the S III has surpassed the Nexus in virtually every area. The quad-core Exynos with Mali-400 GPU runs rings around the dual-core OMAP in the Galaxy Nexus. The displays share the same technology however the S III sports a 4.8" screen over the 4.65" of the Nexus, another point for the S III. The S III camera improves on the Galaxy Nexus camera in both megapixels and software but most importantly it's clear to see when comparing the captured images side by side that the S III does a better job. You'll also find a 2,100mAh battery in the S III compared to 1,750mAh in the Nexus. The Nexus offers a maximum of 32GB internal memory where the S III offers storage of up to 64GB with expansion available via a microSD card. The S III offers Bluetooth 4.0 compared to the Galaxy Nexus with 3.0 and did I mention that it supports wireless charging!

Not only does the S III managed to cram in all this extra technology, it manages to do it in a phone that's pretty much the same size, thinner and weighs less than the Nexus. That is an achievement in its own right. It's no contest when it comes to hardware, the Galaxy S III is a clear winner here.

 

Software

Software is a tricky subject to tackle when it comes to Android. Straight away you have the battle of the User Interface, is stock Android better than skinned Android and which skin is best? Motorola has been working hard on Motoblur, HTC Sense probably makes more sense than it ever has and Samsung's TouchWiz seems to improve with every new update. Every manufacturer has its own idea on what will work best for the end-user and each UI brings with it different features and benefits.

The Galaxy S III runs Samsung's TouchWiz interface and it's fair to say that since it debuted on the original Galaxy S it split opinions, and I'd hazard a guess that this latest version will too. I wasn't a fan of the original TouchWiz at all; it just looked and felt too much like iOS and for me that was not a good thing. It also never really ran quite right on the Galaxy S, it seemed to suffer from lag, random reboots and unexplained battery drain. I gather a lot of the issues were ironed out via subsequent software updates however it was such a problem for me that I couldn't tolerate it, I swapped my Galaxy S for the Nexus S as soon as it launched. The Nexus S despite running pretty much identical hardware just ran so much faster and smoother. To quote an irritating but appropriate phrase "It just works". My experience with the Galaxy S was bad enough that I grew wary of non-Nexus phones and of the Galaxy S II in particular. I can say now, with hindsight, that I was wrong to be so sceptical. Although I haven't owned one myself, I've had a chance to use the S II on a number of occasions and found that although TouchWiz still wasn't to my taste, it worked as it should. Lag was gone, random reboots gone and the phone seemed to fly through the most widget intensive, live wallpaper laden home-screens without a hitch. I was assured enough by my experience with the S II to have confidence that TouchWiz shouldn't hinder the S III experience. I'm pleased to report that during my hands on time with the S III, TouchWiz behaved admirably.

The user interface is only part of the story here. All manufacturers like to bundle in some of their own unique features and applications. They look at as a value-add, many of us look at it as bloatware. The reality is that it's probably somewhere in between.

The majority of the additional features and applications on the Galaxy S III are impressive. SmartStay in particular really stood out for me in how it builds on the facial recognition software in the Galaxy Nexus. I regularly use my phone to read and browse and quite often you will find yourself focused on the same page for a period of time, it's extremely irritating when the screen switches off particularly if you have a lock screen to negotiate to get back in. Sure you could go to settings and set a longer delay before the phone enters sleep mode but you don't need to if your phone is smart enough to check and see if you're still looking at it!

S Voice is an interesting application too. Voice control features have been present on Android for a long time, Google also seem to improve the technology slightly with each new Android release. I have a hard time looking at voice control as anything more than a gimmick and the arrival of Siri on the iPhone 4S has done nothing to convince me otherwise. This is only my opinion and it's clear that a lot of consumers out there do enjoy voice control and are using the feature. With this in mind, Samsung S Voice is the Galaxy S III's answer to Siri and it stacks up well. Earls Court was packed to the rafters for the Unpacked event and the noise in the arena was loud and constant. In spite of all this, the Galaxy S III breezed through various requests and had an extremely high success rate in completing the requested action. For those of you who will use the feature, you won't be disappointed.

There are loads of other features that I could go into detail over such as S Health and the ability to pin a video to your screen whilst you continue to use the phone but I don't want to steal any thunder from the full review so I'll cut it short for now. In summary, the S III passes with flying colours when it comes to software but how does it compare to my Galaxy Nexus.

To answer that question we need to head back to where we started when discussing software, the User Interface. It comes down to stock Android versus TouchWiz. There is no winner here either; it can only ever come down to personal choice. One man's meat is another man's poison as the saying goes. With that in mind, regardless of the wonderful advancements and new features that the S III has introduced, I still prefer stock Android and by a large distance too. A lot of people scoffed at Google's hyperbole surround the new Holo theme and Roboto font but seeing is believing and it really is, in my opinion, the best looking version of Android to date. Stock Android 4.0 feels next generation, it's polished, it's intuitive, it's attractive and it's quick. I can't quite put a finger on why it is, but Android Ice Cream Sandwich on the Galaxy S III just looks and feels more like a Gingerbread build. It just isn't as elegant or refined in my opinion. Another key factor for me is the Google suite of applications, it stands to reason that Google's own applications should be the crème-de-la-crème of Android applications and that is very much the case. Nexus phones come pre-loaded with the full suite and they run beautifully. I just don't enjoy Samsung's own music player as much as Google Play Music and find it irritating that I can't even grab Google’s native music from the Play Store, I have to seek out an APK and side load it. When Google Chrome launched I couldn't wait to run my favourite browser on my mobile, luckily I had a Galaxy Nexus and not a Galaxy S II otherwise I'd have been stumped for a few weeks. These issues may not be a big deal to some people but they are to me.

Perhaps the biggest factor of all when making my decision was software updates because the two experiences really are worlds apart. Nexus phones receive the latest and greatest Android updates and they receive them right away. If you're using a non-Nexus phone you're at the mercy of your manufacturer and your mobile service provider as to how quick you're likely to get your update and in most cases it can be months. I remember when Google pushed out a small incremental update to Gingerbread for the Nexus S which brought with it Google Talk video calling. A great addition in what was a fairly minor update which I was able to utilise right away, my old Galaxy S took 5 months before it got the update. Chances are that if you're a fan of Android then you'll be looking forward to the Google I/O and the announcement of Android 5.0 Jellybean. By sticking with my Galaxy Nexus I know that I'll get the update right away, I wouldn't want to guess how long the delay will be on the Galaxy S III. The speed of the updates is important but so is the simplicity and again the Nexus devices just do it better. You receive a notification that there's an Over The Air update available for your device, you click the link and your phone starts to update. What could be easier? With the Galaxy S range of phones you're tied into Samsung's Kies desktop software which is second only to iTunes in how horrendous it is. Having to hardwire your phone to your PC to update the software just feels like something I stopped doing 3 years ago. The first time I tried to use Kies on my Galaxy S it took about 3 days of research across various tech sites just to establish how to overcome the universal error where the phone wouldn't pair with the desktop software. It was a disgraceful customer experience from such a huge company and it wasn't a one off either with literally millions of Galaxy S users suffering with the same problem.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that I have the Galaxy Nexus as the winner when it comes to software. With the S III winning out on Hardware and the Nexus winning out on Software I had to ask myself which was more important and for me it was simple. Having the best hardware is great and I will always prefer to have the latest and greatest where possible but not if it's at the expense of the software. It's the software that has the greater impact on the user experience and therefor it's the area that I'm just not willing to compromise on. That's not to say that the Galaxy S III offers a sub-par experience as it most definitely does not. For the average consumer who is simply looking for the best smartphone on the market I'll be recommending the Galaxy S III. For the geeks like me who just have to live on the bleeding edge of technology, the Nexus is still the king… for now.

 

Let me know your thoughts on how you think the Galaxy S III compares to the Galaxy Nexus in the comments below.



Samsung SPH-L300 Smiles For The Camera, Sprint Bound

Posted: 10 May 2012 11:16 AM PDT

The folks over at Pocket Now managed to get their hands on a screen shot of the UAprofile for the Samsung SPH-L300.  And then our friends over at Brief Mobile managed to dig a little deeper into the RDF uncovering a few new tidbits.  Their source graciously provided a nice pic of the device and overall, it looks promising.  Under the hood there’s the same MSM8960 CPU found in the Evo 4G LTE and the speculated SPH-L710 device (Sprint GSIII).  Some folks are dubbing this as a slight Nexus One look-a-like but Im not seeing it.  There are three hardware buttons that seem to be embedded into the device’s chassis which also looks like an artificial metal coating.  In addition, we know based on the screen shot of the battery that NFC capabilities will be included. The source also claims the device will have the following dimensions, H=12.19cm, W=6.38cm and D=1.204cm.  Furthermore, there will be 4GB’s of internal storage and 1 Gig of RAM.  The display will be WVGA (800 x 480) and there will be a 5 mp camera on board.  Toss in LTE radios & ICS 4.0.4 and we’re looking at a decent little competitor here.  The size of the screen itself is yet to be known but stay tuned, because we’ll certainly find out.  Feel free to speculate further on the device in the comments below or in our forums.

source: Brief Mobile



[Rumor Mill] Is Google in the Process of Developing a Game Center for Android?

Posted: 10 May 2012 10:37 AM PDT

Is Google building a Game Center service like Apple’s iOS equivalent? According to inside sources for Business Insider it’s doing exactly that. Like the iOS version Google’s will have leaderboards, a friend finder and will come with an achievement system. It’s suspected that Google+ integration will be at the heart of this social gaming hub. As Google loves to connect all their services together this would make sense. While there are third party game centers like OpenFeint it appears that Google is starting to recognize the need for a native client.

There aren’t details on a name or when this service would see a release however if these rumors have any weight then maybe it would arrive with Google’s new OS Jelly Bean. However only time will tell and as soon as we get something more concrete we will let you know. Again, stay tuned!

source: Business Insider
via: ubergizmo



Hands on with Gestures by Qualcomm for the Snapdragon S4 [Video]

Posted: 10 May 2012 10:03 AM PDT

Qualcomm was on hand at CTIA this year and they were showing off their new application called Gestures. This really isn’t anything totally new since Sony is introducing something similar with the Sola. I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot of this from all device manufacturers towards the end of the year. I don’t see a huge need for this except for maybe the kitchen when you’re browsing a cookbook with messy hands, so it’s nice to have the option. Qualcomm showcased this on a prototype tablet, and it’s still in the development stage. They ‘re targeting a late 2012 launch in the Google Play Store, and of course it will only be compatible with Snapdragon S4 devices.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s been a great CTIA this year. In case you missed anything, checkout our full coverage here.



Test your Visual Skills in the HTC One Photo Challenge

Posted: 10 May 2012 09:46 AM PDT

HTC is very proud of the shooter on their latest phones the HTC One S and HTC One X. And they should be. There's been a lot of buzz around the quality of this camera. HTC has taken the opportunity to set up a challenge, should you choose to accept it.  All that is required is for you to head over to the HTC Blog and start the challenge. You'll be choosing which photo was taken with the HTC One X and which was taken with a professional digital camera. Personally I did not do all that well. I won't reveal my score, but I could probably think of a few decent excuses why my score was bad. All joking aside, give it a shot yourself and let us know how you did.

source: htcblog



Ice Cream Sandwich for the Galaxy Note Rolling Out Now

Posted: 10 May 2012 09:43 AM PDT

You read the title right folks. Android 4.0 is starting to roll out now for the Galaxy Note. However as it is in Samsung fashion it appears that it’s rolling out a region at a time. So while you folks have been waiting for over a month since its first announcement you’ll have to wait just a little bit longer. The download is a whopping 319MB in size. Presumably, this is because TouchWiz is onboard.  It does come with the premium productivity apps Samsung’s been toting.

According to the folks at XDA the build is the XXLPY 4.0.3 build leaked on May 4th. For those of you in Germany, it’s available via Kies so that’s good news for you folks. There isn’t word on when we’ll see it in the U.S. but the good news is, given the roll out in other areas, the wait can’t be too much longer.  We’ll keep you updated when it’s available though so stay tuned!

 

source: Sammyhub



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