Android Phone Fans |
- Review: Avengers Initiative by Marvel Games [VIDEO]
- Nexus 10 root toolkit now available
- LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 now available from Verizon
- Big money on the line as Microsoft v. Google patent trial wraps up
- Mint for Android update adds enhanced UI for phones, split transactions and more
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City launching December 6th for $5
- Nexus 7 shipment expectations double through the holiday season
- Delays in Samsung’s 1080p AMOLED manufacturing process could push back Galaxy S4
- Now available: HTC Droid DNA from Verizon
- Android Overload: Nexus 10 now in stock on Google Play, CyanogenMod making progress on 4.2 update, and more
| Review: Avengers Initiative by Marvel Games [VIDEO] Posted: 21 Nov 2012 03:45 PM PST
Good news for those looking to do a little gaming on their Androids this Thanksgiving. Marvel Games has finally released Avengers Initiative into the Google Play Store. The first episode in a series of updates that will eventually unlock Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor (not necessarily in that order) — Avengers Initiative puts you in the shoes of the Hulk (and his fancy new Jordans) as he battles enemies like Wendigo, Kronans, Skrulls, and the Abomination. Once locked up in a secret tower, these baddies have escaped and it’s up to the newly assembled Avengers headed by Nick Fury to round ‘em up.
Gameplay
Avengers Initiative plays eerily similar to titles like Infinity Blade or Blood & Glory. Think of AI as a boxing game on steroids (it’s all about the 1-0n-1 matches). That means players will have to execute well timed blocks, dodges and combos to take down the baddies. Attacks are performed by swiping in different directions on the screen, and you’ll need to perform combos to rack up the maximum amount of damage onto your opponent. A large portion of AI’s battles are all about that D — defense, that is — and involve either swiping the opposite direction of an enemies strike, dodging, or blocking to stun the opponent and leave them open for the counter attack. So much of the game involves reacting, that it was a little stressful for me (I’m used to playing a good offense in my video games) and tough for me to adapt. Here’s a quick list of available combos at Hulk’s disposal
Players wont be able to directly control Hulk as he walks around various landscapes and backdrops in search of evil doers. Instead, tapping on enemies just leisurely hanging out will result in Hulk strolling up to them and initiating a fight. Scattered through backgrounds are items used to power up Hulk and/or regain health, and can be tapped during the games many “walking cutscenes,” or right before a battle with an enemy. Similar to bonus levels in games like Street Fighter (where you have to pummel a car), Hulk can initiate quick battles by tapping on crystal pillars made of ISO-8′s (Avengers Initiative’s form of currency). From there players will be given a set amount of time to wallop the crustal pillar and tap on the ISO-8′s that come popping out.
There are some RPG-like elements to Avenger’s Initiative and defeating opponents results in XP (experience points). You can gain bonus XP by fighting well during a battle and by performing finishing moves (almost like a mini game in themselves). Once leveled up, players can upgrade Hulk’s total health points, stamina (used for blocking), Rage (used for power moves), and damage (self explanatory). It’s pretty much up to the player and his/her’s own fighting style to decide where the points will be distributed. Once you reach higher levels, Hulk gains access to new “Powers” (supermoves), so you can see how it definitely behooves players to do well in battle.
Hulk can also soup up his stats by the use of Augments (crystals of varying levels of power that can be equipped to a slot), and through snazzy alternate costumes. You can either work hard, perform well, and earn enough ISO-8′s to purchase these costumes, or they can also be bought with real life monies through in-app purchases — not by any means necessary, just for those that don’t want to work at powering up their character the hard way. GraphicsGraphically, the game looks great. Visuals look crisp on a tiny 720p display, and character models are well detailed featuring a variety of lighting effects and normal mapping (the Skrulls even have individual teeth!). Both the main character and enemies are well animated and don’t have the typical stiff movement plaguing titles of less-funded games in the Play Store. Apparently, there’s some extra visual effects that are enabled on Tegra 3 devices. Things like varying levels of body damage that are represented on enemies, flowing clothing, and even ISO-8 effects. Since I couldn’t actually test the game on my ASUS Transformer Pad Tegra 3 tablet (there’s only a handful of supported devices at launch), I wont be reporting on those aspects at all. There is, however, a nice little comparison shot showing the battle damage portion of the Tegra 3 effects (see below). The only thing I didn’t like about the visuals was the lack of detail in the environments. Textures were often flat and blurry, but this could have something to do with me playing the game on a non-Tegra device.
VerdictAvengers Initiative is a fun title that scores high marks in almost every area. Perfect for quick gaming sessions on your smartphone or tablet, the included RPG elements give players something to work towards while keeping things fresh. The in-app purchases are done the right way, and the prospect of even more Marvel super heroes and enemies to be revealed in later updates ensures you’ll be coming back for more. Marvel Games did a slammin’ job with this one. You can download Avengers Initiative right now from the Google Play Store for the introductory price of $5. Still not convinced? Check out my video below for the first 12 minutes of gameplay.
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| Nexus 10 root toolkit now available Posted: 21 Nov 2012 03:21 PM PST Some device owners tend to have to wait weeks for a root toolkit, but things are a bit different when it comes to Nexus devices. Just a week after its launch a root toolkit has already been released for the latest edition to the tablet side of the Nexus family, the Nexus 10. These toolkits make it easy to apply root and perform root-related functions for users who aren’t too savvy with a command line. You can do things like unlock your bootloader, root the device, install proper USB drivers to your PC, flash a recovery, backup certain parts of your system and more. The tools are so valuable that many donate for full access whether they need it or not. I know I did for several of my devices, and while I could have just gone the manual route for many of these functions the toolkits save a lot of time and headache.
It’s a great asset for those who have never rooted a device or seen a command prompt before, so if that describes you then you’ll definitely want to grab this download. The following are just a few of the features you can expect to find:
If you head to the source link you’ll find that this excerpt is very small compared to the full list. Be sure to glance over that, read the instructions three times over, grab the download links and set your device as free as it can be. And don’t worry about praying to the gods about not bricking your Nexus 10 — it’s so hard to do that you probably won’t need divine intervention. [via XDA, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
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| LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 now available from Verizon Posted: 21 Nov 2012 12:22 PM PST
Verizon is the latest carrier to pick up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, and just in time for the holidays. Priced at $499, the LTE-enabled version of the slate is set to ship by November 26th. Verizon is not offering the tablet (or any, for that matter) with subsidized contract pricing. Instead, a month-to-month data plan or Share Anything plan with tablet access is required to take advantage of the device’s cellular connection. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 features a 10.1-inch 720p HD display and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The version Verizon is selling comes with 8GB of internal storage (thankfully, microSD expandability adds to the total storage capacity). The tablet also features a 3.2MP rear camera and VGA front-facing camera. You can use either or transfer your own photos from another source to take advantage of the slate’s photo sharing features, which Verizon is touting this holiday season. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 recently launched on T-Mobile’s network and is also available from AT&T and Sprint. You can catch up on what’s good with the slate by heading over to our very own AndroidForums.
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| Big money on the line as Microsoft v. Google patent trial wraps up Posted: 21 Nov 2012 10:49 AM PST
The final testimonies in a week-long trial in which Google has sought up to $4 billion per year in royalties from Microsoft have wrapped up. In a trial that could decide just how much leverage the patent library obtained through the purchase of Motorola last year affords Google, an expert witness testified that Microsoft will earn nearly $94 billion using the company’s patented technology through 2017. Michael Dansky of Motorola Mobility made the claim, citing sales of Microsoft’s Xbox and newly released Surface tablet, as well as a wireless adaptor no longer produced by the company. How far back in time his calculations extend are not clear. Microsoft is arguing that at most it should pay Google a little over $1 million per year for a licensing agreement, but the decision of US District Judge James Robert will extend beyond a simple monetary value. The trial wrapping up in a Seattle courtroom is one of the first instances that sees Google attempting to use its Motorola patents to strong-arm the competition. A ruling in Microsoft’s favor could significantly weaken Google’s ability to pursue other claims based on their proprietary wireless technology. In his testimony, Dansky asserted that without the use of Motorola’s tech, Microsoft would “have a difficult time selling smartphones or tablets,” a warning that extends beyond the initial foundation of the suit as the Windows Phone maker pushes further into the mobile market. Judge Robert will take the next few weeks to mull over the hearings as well as additional briefs submitted by the parties involved before delivering a verdict. In the meantime, we can all look forward to the next phase of another monumental patent suit: Apple v. Samsung. [via Yahoo]
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| Mint for Android update adds enhanced UI for phones, split transactions and more Posted: 21 Nov 2012 09:53 AM PST
Mint, one of my personal favorite finance apps, has gotten a pretty useful upgrade in the Google Play Store. New features have been added for both phones and tablets, with the former receiving a much needed boost in its ability to manage budgets. Specifically, adding and editing budgets has now been enhanced on the phone side of things. It’s something that should have been done a long time ago but, as usual, it’s better late than never. Another big change for phones is an upgraded UI. The UI now fits Android 4.0′s new design guidelines so those of us on modern versions of Android will have a prettier, faster and more efficient experience. The tablet app already had these changes so there was no need to do anything on that front. Other changes include an updated widget for the phone version, the ability to split transactions for both versions, and the ability to see your net income over time in the tablet version. This 6.2 megabyte upgrade is waiting for you in the Google Play Store now, so be sure to head over there to get the goods. And if you’re wondering what this Mint business is all about be sure to head to the company’s website to see how it aims to help you keep tabs on the status of your finances.
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| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City launching December 6th for $5 Posted: 21 Nov 2012 08:44 AM PST Last month we reported on news that Rockstar Games would be bringing its highly-regarded Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to Android as a way to celebrate its 10th year anniversary. Already flanked by its predecessor Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City takes the Grand Theft Auto story back to 1980s Miami to follow the story of a man you know as Tommy Vercetti. Vercetti’s job is to set up shop in this foreign location, but things get interesting between himself and his boss, Sonny Forelli, as his operation gets bigger and bigger. It’s a very nice tale that is told with interactive gaming bliss, and it’s one of the most iconic video games released in the early 2000s. It’s 10 years old, and it may not have aged great for today’s console standards, but it’s a game that I’m sure many people won’t mind having on their phones and tablets.
Well, we now know when, exactly, to expect this digital masterpiece on Android. Rockstar has confirmed a December 6th launch, and it’ll be just $5 to play instead of the $7 Grand Theft Auto 3 was originally priced at. Unfortunately not every Android device will be able to get in on the fun, but this was to be expected. Here’s the official list of supported devices:
In a perfect world every game would work on every device, but this is the life of an Android user so don’t be too bummed if you don’t see your device on this list. There’s a chance you may still be able to play this game if you don’t own one of these devices, however, as Rockstar hasn’t stated they would flat-out deny access to devices not on this list. We’ll be working to get further confirmation from the studio, but for now these are the only devices they’re promising. The game features enhanced visuals so your playing experience should be even better than it was on the original Xbox and PS2. Higher resolution graphics, updated character models, lighting, tighter mobile controls, fully customizable controller layout and more are just a few of the things you can expect. Be sure to mark your calendar for December 6th if this is something you’ve been waiting for. [via Rockstar Games]
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| Nexus 7 shipment expectations double through the holiday season Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:57 AM PST The Nexus 7 was bound to be a popular device throughout the tech community. For starters, it’s Nexus — geeks everywhere watered at the mouth for one, and it was the first device of the Nexus line in tablet form. Secondly, it’s friggin’ cheap — why not spend $200 (at minimum) to own a great tablet that’s going to have great support straight from El Goog? Well, even Google didn’t anticipate how popular their tablet would be as sales have apparently doubled through the holiday season. Google originally expected to sell through 2.5 million shipments in 2012, but DigiTimes reports that another 2.5 million has been added to its sales expectations, and that orders have been made as recently as this month to help keep up with that demand.
Demand tends to begin to dissipate this late into the holiday season, but it appears the Nexus 7′s cheap base price makes it an attractive buy at any point in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Google recently launched a version of the Nexus 7 with 32GB of storage and HSPA+ radios, and stock has been up and down since the week or so it’s been available. Things seem to have stabilized for now, but Google is no doubt happy with the results they’re seeing. All of this is fascinating, but it makes us wonder why Google didn’t see the same type of demand for the Nexus 4? With the way the Galaxy Nexus performed, and with initial sales of the Nexus 7, Google had to see the same type of response coming for the Nexus 4 from a mile away. Instead, many orders remain in limbo and customers are having money held with little to no response from Google as to when the situation will be rectified. It seems Google didn’t implement a hard cap for its Play Store ordering process. Instead, they let orders continue to be placed despite demand clearly outweighing supply. The company has taken a lot of heat for that, but most people would be happy if Google would be just a little more vocal and transparent with the state of their orders, but alas the company — as it has admitted before — is not too savvy when it comes to customer service. Regardless, Google’s looking at a very successful holiday season despite lost revenue on each device sold. Their goal is not to make money on the device themselves, but to make money by getting as many devices in as many hands as they possibly can. Search and ads drive their revenue, and at this rate they’ll make their money back ten-fold. [via DigiTimes]
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| Delays in Samsung’s 1080p AMOLED manufacturing process could push back Galaxy S4 Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:40 AM PST
Last week we got our first Samsung Galaxy S4 rumor with any meat on the bone, a report that stated the Korean manufacturer’s display division had developed a 5-inch AMOLED display with a full 1080p HD resolution. Reports now state that Samsung doesn’t possess adequate technology to mass-produce the 441 ppi display, an issue that could lead to a shift in plans to launch the next member of the Galaxy S family. We likely will still see the screen tech shown off at CES 2013 as initially reported with the Galaxy S4 debuting later in the year. Following Samsung’s recent trend, most expect a launch sometime around May. However, Samsung is working to outfit their manufacturing lines with new 3M tech that would aid in the production of the 1080p display on a mass scale, but issues persist. How, exactly, the outlook for the Galaxy S4 will change is anybody’s guess, but it’s hard to imagine Samsung abandoning plans to go with the new display in their flagship device, especially with devices like the HTC Droid DNA already on the market. Until we have hard details on the new phone, though, all is conjecture at this point.
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| Now available: HTC Droid DNA from Verizon Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:24 AM PST
HTC’s latest flagship device has made its way to the US under the guise of the HTC Droid DNA for Verizon. The carrier’s latest Droid model is available now for $199 with a new two-year contract. The Droid DNA features a 5-inch, 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, and an pair of HD cameras located on the front and rear. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the DNA ships with the latest version of HTC Sense, which features camera and audio enhancements in the form of ImageSense and Beats technology. Picking up the Droid DNA today? Head on over to AndroidForums to chip in your two cents. We’ll be adding ours with a full review, which will be served up shortly.
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| Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:14 PM PST
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