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Namco: “Freemium” Games Hurt Quality, Do Gamers Really Need Them?

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by Roy Alugbue on
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There’s no doubt about the impact of gaming in our society today. Much of pop culture and our social lives are impacted by gaming to a certain extent. Angry Birds went from being a small app to a pop culture reference in the form of mentions from celebrities and clothes with Angry Bird characters being sold in designer stores now as noteworthy examples. We see celebrities and famous figures discuss how they play Modern Warfare or Grand Theft Auto and the impact it’s had on their lives’, which in turn affects our lives. Let’s face it, we play games on our Android devices. What once was an afterthought because of our Sony PSPs, Nintendo DS systems, Xboxes— is now very much status quo and the norm to even the average and simplistic Android user.

The continuous advancements from the development of games allows for users to have respectable Android gaming experience at the very least. One significant thing about the Android platform is the significance of the choice of apps that users want to use: paid apps or free apps. This is especially relevant with gaming on Android. The Android platform caters to two main categories of Android gamers: the recreational gamer and the hardcore gamer. The recreational gamer (and even Hardcore gamers to a certain extent) can enjoy popular gaming series such as Angry Birds, Words With Friends and Shoot The Apple, at no cost to them generally speaking. The hardcore gamer can enjoy such games as Modern Combat 3, Grand Theft Auto III, Madden ’12 and Need For Speed just to name a few, for a premium price that is more than reasonable especially with the vast amount of content included in the various games. There’s a consensus that both gamer types love seeing games that are free, especially when they are free games that look and play at a high level. Knowing that, there’s a troubling trend growing among developers of Android games found in the Market— the “Freemium” model. Read on to find out why this is not only a bad practice among developers, but why it turns me as a gamer off to certain games, even if they look and feel great.

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Contest: Submit the best caption and win a Samsung Galaxy S II compliments of Three Mobile (Updated with Winner)

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by Robert Nazarian on
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Update: See the bottom of the post for the winner.

2011 has been the year of the Samsung Galaxy S II. With its huge Super AMOLED screen and a powerful 1.2 GHz processor, the Galaxy S II is a smartphone powerhouse. Its sleek form factor has won it legions of fans and has picked up a multitude of awards in 2011.

Boosted by Three’s all-you-can-eat data, you’ll now have all the internet you will ever need. Talk Android is offering one lucky reader the chance to get their hands on this cool smartphone compliments of Three. It comes with a Pay As You Go SIM pre-loaded with all-you-can-eat data so you’ll be free to stream, download, tweet and surf the web without ever worrying about the cost – there literally are no limits.

The rules are simple:

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Hands-On With Edifier’s Bluetooth Spinnaker Speakers, Works With Smartphones and Tablets While Adding Some Style (Video)

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by Joe Sirianni on
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While perusing the CES show floor we happened to come across Edifier’s booth, the company who is well known for manufacturing high-end speakers and other audio products.  And this go-around they’ve brought their A-Game as far as the wireless speaker dept goes.  So what makes Edifier stand out from the rest?  Well, the company definitely offers some unique and interesting designs.  While there were many designs available which offered great functionality and a fantastic look, one set of speakers particularly caught my eye.  The Edifier Spinnaker Speakers standing at 15-inches tall and touting front-facing tweeter and mid-range speakers along with downward-facing sub woofers located at the bottom.

The speakers allow you to pair any Bluetooth enabled device such as a tablet or smartphone seamlessly and with ease.  There’s also a wireless remote control included which offers a ton of functionality and interaction.  It can be used to play, pause, regulate the volume and skip tracks. These bad boys are clear, loud and take the shape of a horn believe it or not.  A bit unorthodox we know, but damn if they don’t look cool next to my Galaxy S II.  You can purchase this particular model in both Black or Burgundy.  Check out the demo below of the hands-on touting the crystal clear sound of OneRepublic’s “Good Life” and don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments below.  In addition to the Spinnaker model, we snagged some screen shots of some other oddly but cool designed pairs of speakers as well.  So be sure to hit the break to give them a one-over.   » Read the rest

My favorite tech from CES 2012 is Liquipel

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by Jim Farmer on
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Water, the precursor for all life on Earth and yet, incidentally,  looming doom for the gadgets we can’t live without.

It really doesn’t even make sense when you figure Earth is 70% covered by water. So why aren’t are gadgets water proof already, or at the very least safe from sweat and rain. Alright so there are a few of those devices, but realistically every electronic device should be impervious to water. Up until recently the best way to accomplish this feat has been to take rigorous measures to seal the device, but seals wear and impair wireless usability. There’s got to be a better way. Enter Liquipel.

Liquipel repels water at the molecular level. Now we’re talking! The process entails placing your device in a vacuum chamber then subsequently pumping it full of Liquipel formula as a vapor, allowing it to permeate all aspects of the device. After which the vapor is molecularly binded to your device’s materials and what you’re left with is a device not unlike any other of the same type, to the naked eye. The Liquipel treatment is only visible under a microscope.

Trust me, as cool as that sounds, its even more fascinating on video. Take a look at this.  » Read the rest

Swappa – Buy and Sell Gently Used Android Devices

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by Jim Farmer on
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Well CES has come and gone and we saw a lot of great new devices as well as some questionable ones. That being said, many of you are itching for some new hardware. There’s been quite a few blockbuster Android releases here lately and a handful more in the immediate future, so…what happens to your current Android? Being the Android fans that you are I’m sure many of you have well kept devices and the fact of the matter is, there’s a market for them. You have likely sold items online before, but let me introduce you to a tool you may not be acquainted with. It’s called Swappa, and its a market dedicated solely to exchange of used Android devices. If you have ever tried selling a phone on ebay the ordeal can really be likened to a chore. Swappa streamlines the process dramatically, you can even log in with just your Facebook account if you wish and from there its only a matter of time. How much time you ask? In some cases not long at all.

Swappa user Shelby writes,

I posted my Nexus One for sale on Swappa.com. It was bought in under 30 seconds. Yeah. Wow. I am still in shock.

What are others saying? Well, Swappa user David now lives without that dilemma many of us have experienced,

So what happens if you just bought your Android phone and are already pining for another? Have no fear, Swappa.com is here.

As easy as it is to sell on Swappa, its arguably even easier to buy. One thing that’s particularly nice about Swappa is that it acts like a store. You don’t have to spend any time negotiating or connecting with the seller. You just buy the product like you would at any online store.

Swappa is indeed special in that it is a site by Android lovers for Android lovers. So if you’re perhaps trying to ditch your device for the latest and greatest or looking for that barely used phone released last month, Swappa may be the end of your troubles.

*By the way, every device sold on Swappa that has CyanogenMod installed results in a $5 donation to the developers of CyanogenMod AND If you are a Reddit user and you buy or sell a device on Swappa they will buy you a month of Reddit Gold to show their appreciation.

IconBit announces Four new Android TV/Media Player Set-Top Boxes at CES, Two with 3D Functionality

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by Stacy Bruce on
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Most of you are familiar with Google TV, but I am sure not that many of you have heard of an Android TV. Yes, Android TV. Imagine having the capability of a full blown android experience on your television just by adding a neat little set top box. A Russian based company called IconBit has created just that — a line of set-top boxes that will bring the Android OS to any HDMI compatible television.

We had a chance to meet with the IconBit team at CES and got a rundown on their latest Android endeavors. They have created 4 different boxes that all access the Android Market and a couple that come with a gesture controlled remote (think Nintendo Wii). One of the more exciting bits of news was the announcement that all 4 devices will be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in the near future. All units provide a tablet-like experience on your home television and can be linked up with an external hard drive for storing your favorite media files. » Read the rest

Like Fast Paced Puzzle Games? Check Out Speedx 3D For Android (Video)

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by Joe Sirianni on
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If you’re into fast paced arcade & action games and you want to make the best out of your CPU, GPU and accelerometer, then boy do we have the game for you.  While Speedx 3D for Android isn’t new, it has received some hefty updates to be optimized for running optimally on your Android device.  The game offers stunning 3D graphics as you use the accelerometer driven controls to tunnel race your way through various objects in an attempt to whiz by unscathed.

“Challenging and addictive gameplay” – AndroidAndMe.com

“A slick, stylish and addictive Android exclusive” – PocketGamer.co.uk

“Like many excellent games, Speedx 3D starts with a simple premise that quickly becomes addicting”. ***** review – PCWorld.com

As you make your way through the 3D tunnel, your challenge is to avoid, as best you can, a multiple array of colorful blocks all using tilt motion functionality on your device.  But be aware, as you progress, the level of difficulty only increases with every level.

Collect bonuses to increase your shield resistance, destroy blocks, break warnings or to slow your speed. In addition, Speedx is a first game on the market which supports red-cyan and green-magenta 3D glasses!

Ready for the challenge?  Head on over to the Android Market for the download or hit up the QR code below for an added convenience.  Don’t forget to hit the break to check out some more screen shots and to watch a quick demo of the game in action.  Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.  Happy racing. » Read the rest

CES 2012 Breaks All Prior Records

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by Stacy Bruce on
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This year was my first year in attending CES and what an event it was. According to CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) 2012 was the biggest CES event to date, bringing in more than 153,000 attendees which included 34,000 people from overseas. Talk about BIG! The show floor(s) consisted of 1.861 million net square feet of exhibit space which was filled with more than 3,100 exhibitors who all wanted to show you what great things they have in store for 2012. While it was my job to focus solely on Android, I found it difficult to pass by all the other great technology advancements that were on display at this years show. From amazing TV’s to 20MP pocketable cameras, I was a kid in a candy store.

Among the thousands of people in attendance to this year’s CES, more than just techies and journalists made the trip. Many government leaders from the US and other countries were present, as well as some well known Hollywood stars including Eliza Dushku, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Ludacris, 50 Cent, Wil.i.am, Wayne Brady, Jillian Michaels, LL Cool J, Ryan Seacrest, Will Smith and Kelly Clarkson.

All in all, after returning home from a grueling work filled week in Vegas, I can honestly say I loved every minute of it. Not only did I get to see awesome gadgets and meet some really influential people, we were able to complete a couple months worth of work in a matter of 4 days. In an effort to keep you guys, our readers, up to date, it behooves us to attend events like these and we will continue to do so whenever possible. After all, you are the reason why this team works so hard and we appreciate having you around and hope you enjoyed all the cool videos and write-ups we gave you throughout the week of CES 2012. :-D

Jump past the break to read the full CES stats press report.

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Google Shortcuts, A Quick And Easy Way To Access All Of Your Google Services In One Interface

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by Joe Sirianni on
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If you’re checking out this site, chances are you have an Android device (or you’re an iPhone fan-boy scoping out the competition).  And if you have an Android enabled device, you most likely utilize quite a number of Google services.  That’s the case in my situation.  I use so many Google products that it only makes sense for me to use an Android device where I can seamlessly sign into my phone and bam, all of my services are accessible from my mobile device while on the go.  On any given day I can be found using services like Google Search, Gmail, Currents, Music, Images, Goggles, Maps, Reader, News and Docs.  Nothing is more convenient that to be able to access these features on a daily basis without being confined to an office or PC.  So, this is why Im taking the time to tout the application Google Shortcuts, by dev Pauland, an application that allows you to access any of the 45 different offerings from Google in one simple, intuitive interface while on the fly.  You can modify the shortcuts as you see fit as well as sort, display and even hide them.

Services supported:

G. Plus, Gmail, Android Market, Android Market Console (for developers), Google Music, Picasa, Maps, Youtube, Earth, Books, Docs, Reader, Translate, Blogger, Analytics, Admob, Contacts, Cloud Print, Checkout / Wallet, Calendar, Adsense, Adwords, AppEngine, Google Apps, Goo.gl, Finance, Orkut, Shopper, Talk, Remote TV, Offers, Catalogs, News, Currents, Goggles, etc …

If you’re a Google freak such as myself, you’ll definitely want to give this app a try.  It could wind up saving you invaluable amounts of time over its day to day use.  If you’re ready for the download you can head on over to our popular apps database where you’ll also find a QR code for convenience or you can simply point to the Android Market for the download as well.  Either way, let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

 

 

First look at LG’s Google TV at CES [Video]

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by Robert Nazarian on
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Just when everyone thought Google TV was dead, Boom, LG, Vizio, and Samsung came in with strong support, along with Marvell and MediaTek for chipsets. I had a chance to stop by the LG booth at CES and they gave me a quick glimpse. Google TV is becoming like Android in that the manufacturers may start skinning it a little to differentiate themselves. You can see Google TV has a new look with LG Televisions, but the core is essentially the same. The other area of differentiation is the remote control. LG designed a really nice remote called the Magic Motion Remote, which includes three gyroscopes, three accelerometers, and RF control.

Checkout the video after the break

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