Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Android World Update # Ballistic SE – Dual-stick shooting comes to Android with a light show

AndroidGuys
Android news and opinion 
Ballistic SE – Dual-stick shooting comes to Android with a light show
Jul 30th 2013, 16:39, by Ben Crawford

Ballistic SE brings a smooth, welcome addition to the much-hyped, but ultimately lacking, catalog of twin-stick shooters on Android.  With the proper setup, Ballistic SE will have you frantically whizzing around your phone’s screen dodging a fireworks display’s worth of missiles and bullets.

unnamed (7)The fast-paced action and wave level structure of dual-stick shooters lends itself well to the mobile platform, and Ballistic SE wraps these together in an easily consumable and aesthetically pleasing package.  Whether you want wave after wave, a little practice, or a few quick challenges, Ballistic SE has all this covered plus the inherent replayability of these types of games.

Starting the main game of wave after wave of enemies, you control a disc-shaped ship that shoots singular bullets.  After accomplishing a few goals, you can upgrade your ships bullets, its speed, and even drop mines as you move.  These upgrades can give you a big advantage, and you will want to take the chance to make your ship faster as the enemies relentlessly pursue you in the later waves.

The enemies are a myriad of colors and sizes, though they are all disc-shaped.  The different colors denote what attacks an enemy has in its arsenal.  For instance, a turquoise enemy will doggedly track you while purple enemies are more numerous but remain semi-stationary.  To combat these enemies, you can upgrade your ship as mentioned or use the ballistic mode which slows down time so that you can gather your bearings or find the bombs littered throughout the stage to explode any enemies within the bomb’s blast radius.

Aside from the bombs, there are point multipliers that pop up on the map during that level that you can move your ship over to get the bonus.  These features make Ballistic SE exceptional as not only do you have to avoid enemies during the wave, you can also nab bonuses to ramp up your score.  Unfortunately, there are no online scores to match yourself against other, and Google’s Game service would be a welcome addition here, but Ballistic SE does have achievements that you can aim for.

With the proper setup, Ballistic SE will have you frantically whizzing around your phone’s screen dodging a fireworks display’s worth of missiles and bullets.

The game screen shows you tons of information while playing without being intrusive.  You can see your score, how many lives you have, the wave number, when your next 1UP is, your multiplier, and how many more enemies you need to defeat to get to the next level.

If you are used to playing Super Stardust or something similar, you will absolutely want to change the control settings.  I found the ship move far too slow, and I changed my sensitivity settings to very high.  This improved my playing exponentially and felt much closer to a physical controller’s sensitivity.  I would also like to see the challenge levels be more creative instead of only pitting you against certain enemy types.

Ballistic SE is a standout dual-stick shooter for Android.   While Ballistic SE does not have varying weapons or completely different enemy types, the enemies do vary their tactics and there are multiple tactics you can use to destroy them.  The mobility, dazzling lights, and upgrades keep the game interesting even after you have beaten a high number of waves.

Click to view slideshow.

What we liked

  • Dazzling light show.
  • Good controls once you update the controller settings.
  • Challenging with a hint of tactics.

What could be improved

  • Google Play Games support.
  • Challenges could be more imaginative.

Download Ballistic SE (Google Play)

The post Ballistic SE – Dual-stick shooting comes to Android with a light show appeared first on AndroidGuys.

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Android World Update # Nexus 7 (2013) now available in Canada – if you can actually find one in stock

Android Authority
Android News, Reviews, How To 
Nexus 7 (2013) now available in Canada – if you can actually find one in stock
Jul 30th 2013, 16:21, by Andrew Grush

nexus 7 2013 aa 18

Recently we reported that the Nexus 7 (2013) would arrive in Canada via Staples on July 31st. It seems we were a day off, as the 16GB version of the tablet has now arrived to Future Shop, Best Buy, Staples and several other Canadian retailers for the price of $249!

Now for the bad news: it seems that initial stock is quite low.

The device is already pretty much sold out online, so your best chance of getting the tablet is to trek on over to your nearest retailer. Additionally, retailers like Best Buy and Future Shop offer the option to reserve your device for in-store pickup through their website.

While you probably already know what to expect with the new Nexus 7, we'll give you a brief recap just in case. The next-gen Nexus 7 is powered by a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro and has 2GB of RAM. The display resolution is 1920 x 1200. Other features include a 1.3MP front cam, 5MP rear cam, dual back-facing speakers, wireless charging and a battery capable of delivering roughly 10 hours of use.

If you still aren’t sure whether the Nexus 7 (2013) is right for you, you also might want to check out our post detailing how Google’s latest tablet compares to the competition.

So how about it – anyone out there lucky enough to already snatch one up? If so, from what retailer?

    


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Android World Update # Here are some closeups of Motorola’s ‘Magic Glass’

Android News, Rumours, and Updates
The latest in android news, rumours, and updates, including device news and apps! 
Here are some closeups of Motorola's 'Magic Glass'
Jul 30th 2013, 14:18, by Robert Nazarian

moto-x-magic-glass-1

Last week we got word that the Moto X will feature Magic Glass as in you won't find a gap between the Gorilla glass and the back. Now we have some really nice images of the front plate of the phone to feast our eyes on. We actually got to see very similar images earlier in the month, but these are much better quality.

Rumors have the phone at $299, but I have a feeling Google and Motorola will shock us with a $199 to $250 price point. I know the specs aren’t wowing the hardcores, but if you think about it, they are more than enough for the average Joe. What matters most is the performance and user experience. 1080p and/or quad-core means nothing to most people walking into their local carrier store. Hit the break for more images.

moto-x-magic-glass-2moto-x-magic-glass-3

sourcemoto-x-magic-glass-4

source: fanaticfone
via: BGR

 


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Android World Update # According to benchmarks there will be a successor to the ASUS PadFone Infinity

Android News, Rumours, and Updates
The latest in android news, rumours, and updates, including device news and apps! 
According to benchmarks there will be a successor to the ASUS PadFone Infinity
Jul 30th 2013, 14:58, by Robert Nazarian

ASUS_PadFone_Infinity_A86_AnTuTu_698

When ASUS first unveiled the PadFone a couple of year’s ago, I thought it was one of the coolest devices. At the same time, I didn’t think anyone would ever buy into it. I just didn’t think we would be still talking about it in 2013. Earlier this year, they followed up with the PadFone Infinity A80, which most agree was a huge improvement over the original. It appears ASUS isn’t done yet. According to AnTuTu benchmarks a new one is in the works and could be announced later this year. It’s going under the name of ASUS PadFone Infinity A86 and includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, a 1080p display, and Android 4.2.2.

If you want further evidence of the said device, it also cleared the National Communication Commission (NCC) in China under the codename T004. It showed compatibility for LTE/W-CDMA and GSM (GSM 900/1800MHz and W-CDMA 2100MHz).

source: Techkiddy


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Android World Update # Thanks to ‘adjustment problems with TouchWiz’ the Samsung Galaxy S II won’t see Android 4.2 afterall

Android News, Rumours, and Updates
The latest in android news, rumours, and updates, including device news and apps! 
Thanks to 'adjustment problems with TouchWiz' the Samsung Galaxy S II won't see Android 4.2 afterall
Jul 30th 2013, 14:31, by Robert Nazarian

Android-4.2-Jelly-Bean_901

Well we have some Debbie Downer news for Galaxy S II owners today. It looks like the GS2 won’t get the Android 4.2.2 update afterall. It was originally going to get the update, but "due to adjustment problems in the TouchWiz interface," it isn’t going to happen. I know this might be a disappointment for many of you, but when you consider that the GS2 is already two years old, it’s not a shocker. It’s very rare to see updates on devices with that kind of age. Thankfully, it received two major updates, and that is darn good in the Android world. Now if you are lucky to have a Galaxy S II Plus, it looks like you might be enjoying Android 4.2.2 in the near future.

source: connect.de
via: SamMobile


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Android World Update # Chinese manufacturer BBK to release Vivo X3, the world’s thinnest smartphone

Android News, Rumours, and Updates
The latest in android news, rumours, and updates, including device news and apps! 
Chinese manufacturer BBK to release Vivo X3, the world's thinnest smartphone
Jul 30th 2013, 15:28, by James Gray

The-worlds-new-thinnest-phone-BBK-Vivo-X3side

Chinese phone manufacturer BBK is plotting to dethrone Huawei as the king of slim smartphones. Their newest offering, the Vivo X3, is the first smartphone thinner than 6mm (0.236 inches) making it slimmer than an iPod Touch 5th Gen and Huewai’s record-holder, the Ascend P6, which measures at 6.18mm.

BBK, while not a wildly popular brand, release extremely solid, cutting-edge phones with an emphasis on high-fidelity sound. Expected to launch in China sometime in August, we still know very little about BBK’s ultra-thin device, although we can assume that it will have a low-capacity battery and will be more expensive than your average Chinese smartphone. Let us know what you think in the comments and hit the break for more pictures of the Vivo X3 next to other smartphones.

vs iPod Touch 5G vs iPhone 5 vs Ascend P6 innards back vs Galaxy S 4

Via: PhoneArena
Source: Weibo


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Android World Update # Samsung reportedly working on a true eight-core processor in wake of Exynos Octa criticism

Android News, Rumours, and Updates
The latest in android news, rumours, and updates, including device news and apps! 
Samsung reportedly working on a true eight-core processor in wake of Exynos Octa criticism
Jul 30th 2013, 16:01, by Harrison Kaminsky

Exynos_Octa

Not to say that Samsung’s Exynos Octa Processor was marketed as an eight-core processor, but it certainly came off that way, and was probably part of the marketing strategy for the tech-giant. (Only four cores of the processor can be active at once, meaning that it truly isn’t an eight-core processor.) However, the company seems to be working on a true octa-core processor which is scheduled for mass production later this year, and is expected to compete with MediaTek’s new octa-core CPU.

Samsung’s new CPU is also rumored to feature custom ARM cores, which could make this processor an absolute beast. Although we don’t have any other information on it at this time, we can expect to find it in the Samsung Galaxy S 5 next year. (Yes, we are already talking about it.) It’ll be cool to see what Samsung can do this time, as their past processors haven’t really panned out to what they could have been.

Via: SamMobile
Source: RBMen

 


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Android World Update # Verizon Droid RAZR experiencing some Chromecast bugs, unable to cast through Play Movies & TV and Play Music

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Verizon Droid RAZR experiencing some Chromecast bugs, unable to cast through Play Movies & TV and Play Music
Jul 30th 2013, 16:16, by Jared Peters

droid-razr-post-image1

When Google introduced Chromecast, one of the biggest selling points was that it was device-independent. It didn’t matter what version of Android you were on, as long as you had the Chromecast and updated your apps to support it, you were good to go. For the most part, that holds true, just not for Verizon Droid RAZR owners.

Apparently, there is some kind of bug with the RAZR that prevents it from casting anything from Google Play Music or Google Play Movies & TV. The icon for casting simply doesn’t appear. The bug doesn’t affect YouTube and Netflix apps, and other Verizon and Motorola devices are seemingly unaffected, so this is specific to just the RAZR, and likely the RAZR MAXX. It’s tough to tell if this bug is because of Motorola software on the device or simply a quirk in the updated versions of Google’s Play apps. I guess we’ll find out soon.

source: Droid Life


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Android World Update # Panasonic announces Android-powered home phone for European markets

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Panasonic announces Android-powered home phone for European markets
Jul 30th 2013, 16:23, by Jared Peters

panasonic house phone

You can literally find Android powering any type of device, from GPS units to cameras to kitchen appliances. When you think about it that way, it sort of makes sense that Panasonic would slap Android on a house phone, even if that does seem a little backwards in this market. The new phone, dubbed the KX-PRX120, is a simple landline phone running Android 4.0. It has a measly 1450 mAh battery (which I guess wouldn’t be so bad considering you would never be far from a charger) WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth connectivity, a 3.5 inch screen and even a front-facing camera for video calling.

The device is exclusive to European markets, but it’s interesting. Would you pick one up if it was available in the States, assuming you still even have a landline?

source: Connected Digital World


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Android World Update # Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Specs Confirmed In Benchmark Leak

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Specs Confirmed In Benchmark Leak
Jul 30th 2013, 15:51, by Edwin Kee

Much has been said about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, where we did touch on the possible hardware specifications just last week, but here we are with what is most probably the real deal - thanks to the Galaxy Note 3 appearing over at a Gfxbench leak. A couple of Galaxy Note 3 models were spotted in the tests, and they include the SM-N900S for SK Telecom and the SM-N900L for LGU+, with both of them being South Korean carriers.

gsnote3 gfxbench
The Galaxy Note 3 is shaping up to be a pretty zippy device. / © Gfxbench

 

(This is a preview - click here to read the entire entry.)

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Android World Update # Samsung caught gaming benchmarks with Galaxy S4

Android Authority
Android News, Reviews, How To 
Samsung caught gaming benchmarks with Galaxy S4
Jul 30th 2013, 15:55, by Bogdan Petrovan

galaxy s4 vs galaxy s4 active aa benchmark

Tech savvy readers know that benchmarks have little significance in real life. They are a relatively good way to compare devices in relation with each other, but other than that, benchmarks tell us quite little about the real life performance of a smartphone or tablet.

Here's another reason we should collectively give up our obsession with benchmarks and leaderboards – they can be gamed.

Gaming benchmarks has been a time-honored tradition in the PC GPU industry, but so far, we haven't seen the practice adopted in the mobile world. Until now, because it looks that Samsung has just been caught red-handed.

Here's the story – a user on the Beyond3D forum noticed that the GPU of the Exynos 5 Octa processor in the Galaxy S4 runs at a higher frequency when running benchmarks than it does when it runs games or other regular apps.

galaxy s4 benchmark gamed

Screenshot of AnTuTu benchmark with the GPU frequency in the background (Credit: AnandTech)

The folks over at AnandTech investigated the claim and their conclusion is that Samsung does indeed set the GPU of the Exynos 5 Octa version of the Galaxy S4 to run at 533MHz during benchmarking, as opposed to 480MHz during normal operation. The benchmarking apps that trigger the behavior are GLBenchmark 2.5.1, AnTuTu, and Quadrant.

AnandTech spotted a similar behavior when it comes to the CPU – when running GLBenchmark 2.5.1, AnTuTu, Linpack, and Quadrant, the cluster of Cortex A15 cores @ 1.2GHz kicks in. When running GFXBench 2.7 (a benchmark that wasn't whitelisted in the firmware), the lower-powered A7 cluster clocked at 500MHz is used. Moreover, it appears that the CPU of the Snapdragon 600 version of the Galaxy S4 is also set to maximum speeds when benchmarks are ran.

In addition to these empirical observations, AnandTech also analyzed the firmware of the Exynos version of the Galaxy S4 and found the hard code that instructs the GPU and CPU to kick into high gear when specific benchmarks are running.

While Anand Lal Shimpi and Brian Klug of AnandTech elegantly call the behavior "benchmark optimization", it's clear that we're looking at Samsung's underhanded attempt to make the Galaxy S4 look better in benchmarks.

The moral of the story? Don't ever make buying decisions based on benchmark scores.

    


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