Android Authority |
- Madfinger Games’ Dead Trigger for Android receives major update
- Lenovo CEO distributes $3 million of his bonus to employees. Why don’t more tech CEOs do this?
- Google buys email app maker Sparrow to bring “polish, ‘beauty’ and ease of use” to Gmail
- ASUS: Jelly Bean update for Transformer Pad (TF300T), Pad Prime (TF201), and Infinity (TF700) “in coming months”
- The Nabi 2 tablet for kids is now available only $199
- Jelly Bean gets ported to Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100
- Why XBMC for Android is the single best version of XBMC
- Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV now available
- Best grocery list apps for Android
- Batman takes his adventure to Android, as The Dark Knight Rises game hits Google Play
| Madfinger Games’ Dead Trigger for Android receives major update Posted: 21 Jul 2012 03:25 AM PDT
Dead Trigger, by Madfinger Games, is one of the top games available on the Google Play Store and with good reason. The zombie-themed FPS (first person shooter) boasts amazing graphics, full 3D characters and environments, and high quality audio and soundtrack, which is frankly quite scary. There is also a Tegra 3 optimized version available which introduces even more features and graphic enhancements. With numerous “zombie slaughter” weapons and a full mission-based storyline, the gameplay can go on for up to 40 hours. But if you’re getting bored already, although there’s no reason why you would be, the latest update for Dead Trigger should make you very happy. This update, that brings the game to version 1.1.0, introduces a host of new features including:
The new features are absolutely amazing with new environments, zombies to kill, and weapons. I can’t wait to try out the chainsaw! But I think the most important feature is the cross-platform cloud backup, which means continuing the game exactly where you left off, even if you switch devices or need to re-install the game for any reason. You can get the update to the latest version, or if you’re checking out the game for the first time, head on over to the Google Play Store page here. There is in-app purchasing if you want to weaponize and power up quickly, but if the game is downloadable for free, there is absolutely NO reason why you shouldn’t get on the zombie-killing fast track! What are your thoughts? Are you excited about the new features introduced with this update to Dead Trigger? If you’ve tried out the new weapons and environments, let us know your experience in the comments section below. This article, Madfinger Games’ Dead Trigger for Android receives major update , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Lenovo CEO distributes $3 million of his bonus to employees. Why don’t more tech CEOs do this? Posted: 21 Jul 2012 03:13 AM PDT
Lenovo is having a great year. In spite of falling PC shipments worldwide, the Chinese electronics mammoth is about to overtake HP and become the largest PC maker in the world. That would be a momentous event, because it would mark the first time in history when a Chinese company attains the first position in any major industry. Lenovo is not doing so well in the fast-growing tablet market, but in terms of global profits, they are killing it. As with any other international corporation, great quarters bring great bonuses to Lenovo's top executives. The company's CEO, Yang Yuanqing, has made the headlines yesterday, when it was revealed that he distributed $3 million of his own money to 10,000 low-level employees, including factory workers, sales staff, and assistants. Each of the employee has received 2,000 yuan (about $314), which is about the monthly salary of an average worker in one of Lenovo's factories. Wow, that's generous, you might say. Indeed it is, but we must note that Yang has earned $14 million in the last fiscal year. That's about 47,000 times the salary of a Lenovo junior employee. Anyway, Yang's act is an example of generosity that not many corporate bigwigs engage in. Let's take Foxconn CEO for example. Terry Gou (you know, the guy who said that the iPhone 5 will put the Galaxy S3 to shame) recently said he doesn't understand what's wrong with sweatshops. "We sweat and bleed, as long as we comply with the law,” he continued, while speaking at a company event where 126 of Foxconn's best employees received 5,000 yuan (US$800) bonuses and iPhones, as a reward for their hard work. But the bonuses were paid by the company, so it's not something that Gou deserves credit for. Moreover, many have accused the Taiwanese behemoth of giving the bonuses just to cover up some of the bad publicity it received for the working conditions in its Chinese mega-factories. Foxconn assembles devices for Apple, Nokia, Motorola, and many other companies, and has over 1 million employees. The company was heavily criticized for the work conditions in its factories, which have reportedly drove many employees to breakdowns and even suicides (enough for Foxconn to install nets on worker's dormitories to prevent them from jumping to their deaths). Ok, a comparison between Foxconn's and Lenovo's CEOs might not be fair. In spite of the runaway success of the iDevices, Foxconn makes relatively little profit per unit. With labor costs increasing steadily across China, the manufacturer has seen its profits dropping over the last year. Nevertheless, it would be nice to see that Terry Gou and other CEOs follow Yang's example, at least at a symbolic level. And don't get me started on the obscene amount of cash that Apple is raking in from the world's fascination with iDevices. This article, Lenovo CEO distributes $3 million of his bonus to employees. Why don’t more tech CEOs do this? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Google buys email app maker Sparrow to bring “polish, ‘beauty’ and ease of use” to Gmail Posted: 21 Jul 2012 02:03 AM PDT
Sparrow is a Gmail client for OS X and iOS developed by a five-person team based in Paris lead by Dom Leca. The app is quite popular on the iPlatforms, thanks in part to Google's non-combat in this area. The Gmail app for iOS is notoriously underpowered when compared to the Android version, while Google doesn't have a native Gmail client for OS X. This gave Sparrow a chance to seize the niche. But the success of Sparrow can also be attributed to the quality of its design and to the amount of polish that Leca's team has poured into the user experience. Now, that polish and design excellence might come to Google's own Gmail applications. Yesterday, the Sparrow team announced that they would be joining Google "to accomplish a bigger vision". The terms of the acquisition were not revealed, but according to The Verge, the deal went down for less than $25 million. Moreover, the buyout was not the result of a bidding war (some have speculated that Google bought Sparrow to snatch it from Apple). The Sparrow iOS and OS X apps will continue to be available on the App Store, but Dom Leca said that development for the app will be ceased. Customers can expect some level of support and maintenance updates. The Verge's sources say that Google wants to bring some of the "polish, 'beauty', and ease of use" that characterize Sparrow's apps to Google's own Gmail apps. Rather than creating a new product, the Sparrow team will help bring polish and consistency to the Gmail experience, which is something that we certainly stand behind. No word so far as of when will see a new and improved Gmail app, but we'll keep you posted. No related posts. This article, Google buys email app maker Sparrow to bring "polish, 'beauty' and ease of use" to Gmail , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Posted: 21 Jul 2012 01:28 AM PDT Over the past months, ASUS has consistently led the pack when it comes to Android updates. The Taiwanese manufacturer was among the first to update their tablet lineup to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and, from the looks of it, they are about to extend their lead with the Jelly Bean updates. Last night, ASUS send out an email to customers that states that the Transformer (TF300T), Transformer Pad (TF201), and the top-of-the-line Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700) will receive their Jelly Bean update in the coming months. Here's the full message.
As you can see, it seems that there is some uncertainty about the updates for ASUS' other products, like the TF101 (the original Transformer) or the Padfone. We don't worry too much about it, though, as ASUS has previously confirmed that the TF101 (at least) will get Jelly Bean. Plus, the difference between ICS and JB is not that significant, so we can't imagine why ASUS (or any manufacturer for the matter) would choose not to upgrade their ICS lineup to Jelly Bean. With this announcement, ASUS has now joined a growing stable of Android OEMs that have partially revealed their plans for the Jelly Bean rollout, including Samsung, HTC, and Toshiba. No related posts. This article, ASUS: Jelly Bean update for Transformer Pad (TF300T), Pad Prime (TF201), and Infinity (TF700) "in coming months" , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| The Nabi 2 tablet for kids is now available only $199 Posted: 21 Jul 2012 12:51 AM PDT
The full list of specs is as follows:
The device is currently available at Walmart, Bestbuy and GameStop. Beginning July 22nd it will also be available on Amazon and Target stores. One main disadvantage of the Nabi 2 tablet is that it doesn’t have access to the Play Store. But the good news is that you can sideload apps including the Amazon App Store app, which has quite a few games, books and quality apps, although not as many as the Play Store itself. It also comes with an interface that is specifically designed for kids, so this is the advantage over another off-the-shelf tablet, that might not be as intuitive or as fun-looking as the Nabi 2. All in all, the tablet looks very good for the price, and seems like a perfect tablet for kids. This article, The Nabi 2 tablet for kids is now available only $199 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Jelly Bean gets ported to Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 Posted: 21 Jul 2012 12:25 AM PDT
Since it's still a work in progress, it's to be expected that not all features of the phone are working properly. You're bound to find the usual quirks of an alpha build. As listed on the original thread, here's the rundown of what works and what doesn't: (+)
(-)
Hit the link above if you want a preliminary feel and taste of Jelly Bean. You can help the developer out by notifying him of any bugs. Note that this is only for the Exynos-variant of the Galaxy S2. As always, proceed at your own risk. If you own the OMAP-variant, or the Galaxy S2 i9100G, you can go to this thread instead to get your bowl of Jelly Bean. This article, Jelly Bean gets ported to Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Why XBMC for Android is the single best version of XBMC Posted: 21 Jul 2012 12:02 AM PDT
What this means is that if you have a cheap Android-based box, you can tweak it so all you ever see is the XBMC interface. At that point you have a true media center box; this hasn’t been achieved with XBMC since the first Xbox. On other platforms like Windows, Linux or iOS, you usually have to see the underlying OS first, before you get into the XBMC app, which tends to be a slow and more confusing experience.
The only difference between the 2 platforms is that you can’t play Xbox games on Android. Instead, you can play any of the many Android games, as well as those from cloud gaming services such as OnLive, that help you run much higher quality games like Assassin’s Creed. All of these benefits make Android the best platform that XBMC has ever been on, and make devices such as the Vizio Co-Star Google TV box or the OUYA console a whole lot more compelling. No related posts. This article, Why XBMC for Android is the single best version of XBMC , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV now available Posted: 20 Jul 2012 11:36 PM PDT
You know television technology is changing when “live tv” is talked about as an unassuming, almost secondary feature. That is the growing trend with the advent of Smart TVs, and set top boxes that are now being called internet players. One such “internet player” is the Sony NSZ-GS7 set-top box with Google TV. We’ve been hearing a lot about the Sony Google TV since its announcement during this year’s CES back in February. Late last month, we finally got our hands on some release dates for the UK, Australia, and the US. In line with the announcement, and in fact, a few days earlier, the Sony NSZ-GS7 is now available and being shipped from Amazon, for only $199. What does $199 get you? Feature’s of the Sony Google TV include:
If all these features seem worth it to you for just $199 (it does to me), you can buy the Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV from Amazon here. What are your thoughts? Will you be buying the Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV? If you’ve already done so, let us know your experience in the comments section below. This article, Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV now available , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Best grocery list apps for Android Posted: 20 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT
A body without a soul is like a house without the necessary supplies for everyday living. One of the important tasks of household owners is maintaining and monitoring the supplies inside the house. We don’t want sour milk at breakfast or an empty fridge when your tummy starts grumbling. That is why many people flock to the grocery stores and supply themselves for the days to come. Smart shoppers bring paper-and-pen lists while buying the groceries. But, wise and resourceful individual use their Android devices in the grocery store. With the expanding and rapid improvements of smartphone technology, you can now virtually fit your grocery list inside your Android device. We have scoured the Google Play Store and selected some of the best grocery list apps. So without further ado, here are the best grocery list apps for your Android device. Out of Milk Shopping List The Out of Milk Shopping List is your grocery list, pantry list, and to-do list app inside your Android device. Using this app will save your list on your Android device and make it available wherever you go. To begin adding an item on a list, just launch the app and tap the Shopping List button. Tap the button with a plussymbol above to add a new item to the list. You can also add an item by voice or scanning the item’s barcode. If the app cannot identify the item’s barcode, you will have to manually add the item. Doing so will allow the app to recognize the item’s barcode when you scan it again. Aside from adding your grocery list, you can also add additional information for each item on your grocery list. You specify the quantity, item price, and add your personal note. You can also rearrange the items on your list. The app also features a Pantry list. Here you can compile your spices, condiments, and anything found in your kitchen’s pantry. The Pantry list will help you remember which ingredients are still available in your kitchen and which item needs to be bought. You can also save other tasks on the To-Do-List menu. Food Planner and Groceries Food is one of our basic needs. We need food to survive and make it throughout the day, that is why it is very important to supply the house with a sufficient amount of food. If you’re looking for an app that can be used as a food planner and takes note of your grocery list, download and install the Food Planner and Groceries app on your Android device. This app can be used to take note of your grocery list. To open your grocery list, just tap the basket icon on top of the screen. You will be directed to your grocery list. To add an item to the list, you can either manually type the items on the list, or scan the items’ barcodes. You can also add more details for each item such as its quantity and price. Aside from being used as a grocery list, the app can be used as your virtual meal planner. Add a meal plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Name a menu, identify its recipes, and place the instructions on how to prepare the meal. I find it convenient to find a meal planner and a grocery list in one app. Make a grocery list and plan your meals with the Food Planner and Groceries app. Mighty Grocery Shopping Lite At first glance, the Mighty Grocery Shopping Lite seems to be an ordinary grocery list app for your Android device but when I tried its voice recognition feature, I was totally amazed with how smart this app could be. Just like the usual grocery app, the Mighty Grocery Shopping Lite records a list of groceries right on your Android device. What makes this app stand out is its smart voice recognition feature. You can access this feature by tapping the microphone icon on top. The app worked flawlessly as I dictated my grocery items one by one. The app can also identify the item’s quantity and price such as “5 carrots” or “300 g of meat”. You can also add multiple items at the same time. Just make sure to separate each item with “and” for improved results. Your voice quality and English accent may also affect the app’s voice-recognition results. I’m satisfied with the the lite version of this app. But, if you want to unlock more features, you will need to purchase the premium version of the app. Unlocking the app will let you use its extended features such as cloud backup, syncing to other devices, barcode scanner, recipes, and many more. Create your grocery lists, hands-free, with the Mighty Grocery Shopping Lite app. Shopping List Before going to the grocery, it is very important to list the things you need to buy. You don’t want to end up purchasing goods in the grocery and later realize that you forgot an item or two. Making a list can also help you sort out and prioritize the items you need to buy. If you want a simple app that lists your groceries, you can download the Shopping List app on your Android device. Although it doesn’t have complicated features, this app can allure users with its easy interface. The app features a pocket notebook design, which makes it look like your virtual pocket notebook on your Android device. The app can let you add items on the list in three different ways: manually typing a product, speaking to the phone, or scanning the product’s barcode. The app allows you to add a barcode for each item. Doing so will allow you to scan an item and instantly add it on your list. You can also highlight important items. You do that by tapping on an item and selecting Mark Out.To scratch off an item from the list, just tap and hold on the item. You can also sort and rearrange the items on your list. Carry a portable virtual grocery list with the Shopping List app. OI Shopping list If you are not satisfied with a simple grocery list, you can try using the OI Shopping list app and enjoy features that let you customize your grocery list. The app has a theme option that lets you add and change the appearance of the app. The app contains three themes: Default, Classic, and Android. You can buy additional themes from the Google Play Store for a price. Aside from changing themes, you can also customize the app via it settings menu. You can adjust the font size, shake the phone to clear the list, toggle fast scrolling, and much more. You can also add and save the prices of items from different stores. This will help you track the prices of each item when buying groceries from different stores. You can also enjoy extended features by download and installing the app’s plugins. You can add a voice comment in each item with OI Voice Note. Import and export your shopping list with OI Convert CSV. Scan the item’s barcode and add it your list with the Barcode OI Plugin. Grocery iQ You might want to consult the intelligence of Grocery iQ before buying your groceries. This app can be your personal buddy while buying your groceries. You can make a list of things to buy, scan barcodes, view coupons, share your list, create multiple lists for different grocery stores, and many more. You can add an item onto the list by manually typing it in the app. No need to waste paper when there is Grocery iQ to keep your grocery list. The app will also organize your list by grouping items into categories. For instance, your potatoes, carrots, and tomatoes will be placed under Fruits and Vegetables. In this way, you can easily check your list when browsing a particular section in the grocery store. You can also create your list from your desktop computer by going to http://groceryiq.com. There, you can easily create a list and sync it to your Android device. The app also allows you to create multiple lists for a specific store. Under that list, you can add a unique set of items and specific details such as the item’s price and quantity. In this manner, you can easily switch between your grocery lists intended for a particular store. You can also view coupons and enjoy big discounts with this app. OurGroceries Doing the groceries can be a pain in your behind, but not if others help you out. Using the OurGroceries app lets you share your grocery list with everyone: your partner, family members, friends, and many more. In this manner, you can easily update and share your grocery list. Just like any ordinary grocery list app, OurGroceries allows you to make a list of things you need to buy in the grocery. You can organize your list by grouping items into categories. Since the app doesn’t automatically group the grocery items, you will need to manually add the item to its specific category. But, after grouping the items, the app will automatically group the items you have added in its respective category. You can also create food menus and ingredients lists with this app. The OurGroceries app also allows you to share your list to the other members of the household. Each member should have the same app installed on her or his device and must use the same email address. In doing so, everyone can easily update and view the grocery list. This feature is useful when you want to ask your partner to buy some groceries before going home from work, or let the kids add their favorite snacks on the list. The app can also send your grocery list as an email or as an SMS message. What’s more is that you can enjoy all these features for free. You can buy the premium version of this app and remove the ads running in the background. Share your grocery list easily with the OurGroceries app. Grocery Smart – Shopping List Buying groceries is made fun and easy with the Grocery Smart – Shopping List app on your Android device. The app features an intuitive user-interface that lets you easily create your grocery list. Its main interface consist of two menus: New List and My Cards. Tap New List to create a grocery list. To add an item on the list, just tap the plus symbol on the lower left corner of the screen. You will then see a list of grocery categories. Tap a specific category and choose an item you want to add to that category. You can also manually add new items and assign them to a specific category. If have a grocery loyalty card, you can store the data from your card via My Card menu. Here you can get updates of the latest offers, freebies, and discounts from your trusted grocery stores. You can also create your list on your computer via www.grocerysmart.net. Syncing is also possible by using the same app and logging in to your Grocery Smart account on your devices. Buy your groceries the fun and easy way with the Grocery Smart – Shopping List app. Grocery Tracker Shopping List Maintaining an adequate supply of goods is one of the primary tasks of household owners. You never know when you need an item, only to find out that you’ve run out of supply. The Grocery Tracker Shopping List app helps you keep track of your home supplies. You can use this app to list the supplies you need to buy at the grocery. You can list the item’s name along with its specific details such as the price and quantity. Aside from being used as a grocery list, this app can be used to monitor and track the supplies inside your house. Under the Inventory tab, you can add an item, its quantity, and where that item is used. You can monitor and keep track of the supplies from your home, work place, businesses, and many more. The Grocery Tracker Shopping List app can also be used as a recipe book. You can add your own menu, identify the ingredients, and place the procedures on for preparing the menu. You can also sync your grocery list to the cloud or securely save them on your device’s external SD card. Have a virtual grocery list, inventory book, and recipe book with the Grocery Tracker Shopping List. My Shopping (Grocery) List Another simple and easy-to-use grocery list app is the My Shopping (Grocery) List app. Although this app doesn’t have advanced features such as voice-recognition and syncing options, its simplicity and easy interface can be plus points to users who don’t need complex features. To begin adding an item, just tap the Plus button at the upper right corner of the screen. You can then place the name of the item and its quantity. You can also mark out an item from the list by tapping on it. Long-tap on an item or tap the button at the right side of each item to edit it. Aside from making your grocery list, you can also use this app for any kind of list. You can add a new list and name it as an errands list, to-do list, food list, and many more. The app also has the option to send your list via email or as an SMS message. Handy shopping list – Listonic Another easy grocery list app is Handy shopping list – Listonic. Just like the apps mentioned above, this app saves your grocery list inside your Android device, making it available wherever you go. What amused me were the animated category icons and the home screen widget that the app features. After launching the app, you can immediately make a list. You can make a list for your home’s groceries, supplies for the office, personal things, food, and much more. Adding an item on the list can either be done by typing, or through the app’s voice recognition feature. The app can also automatically group the items into their respective categories. Categories are represented by animated icons, bringing more color to your list. You can also add the Listonic widget on your Android device’s homescreen. With the widget, yYou can instantly add new items in your list without having to open the app from your app drawer. What’s more is that you can enjoy all these features for free. You may also enjoy extended features such as syncing to other devices and making your list on your desktop computer by creating a Listonic account at http://www.listonic.com/en-us/home. Monitoring and maintaining the supplies inside the house is an important task. With these grocery list apps, you can easily keep track and make your shopping experience fun and easy. Make sure to equip yourself with these apps before buying your groceries. How do you keep track of your to-buy and grocery lists? Do you use an Android app for that? If so, what? And, what makes you like that app? Share your thoughts in the comments section. This article, Best grocery list apps for Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Batman takes his adventure to Android, as The Dark Knight Rises game hits Google Play Posted: 20 Jul 2012 08:59 AM PDT
Keen on taking on the role of the caped crusader on your Android device? To coincide with the theatrical release of one of this summer's most hotly anticipated blockbusters, The Dark Knight Rises, the Android version of the companion game is now available to download from Google Play Store. As the Dark Knight, you'll get to roam in the nooks and crooks of the dark and gloomy Gotham City to fight crime and ultimately face your worst nightmare, Bane. Thankfully, Batman never comes unprepared without an arsenal, which range from the Grapnel to the Batarang and more. You'll also get some help from allies like Lucius Fox, Commissioner Gordon, and perhaps even the catwoman herself, Selina Kyle, along the treacherous journey. Check out this The Dark Knight Rises gameplay trailer, courtesy of Jojopetv: The game boasts plenty of missions to keep you occupied, as you'll have to deal with hostage situations, bomb squads, jailbreaks, and car chases. Speaking of cars, here's your chance to be the pilot of The Bat and the Bat-Pod. The Dark Knight Rises game costs $6.99 on Google Play, and it's somewhat a good thing that Gameloft decided to not make it a freemium one. Do note that the cinematic graphics and vast nature of Gotham City in the game come at a price. The file size of the APK is a huge 1.8GB, and you'll have to download an additional 1.8GB game data – bringing them to a whopping 4GB. Make sure you got enough space in your device before purchasing. This article, Batman takes his adventure to Android, as The Dark Knight Rises game hits Google Play , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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Everyone seemingly wants a piece of the sweet Jelly Bean on their device, thus folks are turning to developers for help. It's no secret that waiting for the 
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