Friday 5 October 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Rovio teases incoming Angry Birds Star Wars tie-in

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 10:50 AM PDT

You may be building all kinds of crazy vehicles in Bad Piggies at the moment, but thanks to a new tease from Rovio, it looks like it won’t be long before the focus is back on Angry Birds. Yesterday, Rovio tweeted a rather dark image of a hooded bird, and at the time, it wasn’t immediately apparent what was being teased. Today, Rovio shared a GIF on the Angry Birds Tumblr that cleared everything up.


In the GIF, we see the hooded bird standing there in darkness for a moment before activating a blue, Angry Birds-sized lightsaber. You know what that means: Angry Birds Star Wars! Details are still pretty slim – as in nearly non-existent – but Rovio has some kind of event going down in New York City on October 8. The event will kick off at the Toys R Us in Times Square at 10 AM EST, but Rovio is telling eager fans to get there at 8 AM. Mark it on your calendars, folks.

We’re at a loss when it comes to what Rovio is actually teasing here, but we’ll take a few shots in the dark. It’s quite possible that a new Star Wars-themed Angry Birds game is in the works, and if that’s the case, then maybe it’s meant to tie-in with the Blu-Ray release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menance 3D? Alternatively, maybe Rovio and Lucasfilm are about to launch a new line of Angry Birds Star Wars toys? The event is at Toys R Us, after all.

Personally, we’re hoping for a Star Wars Angry Birds game, simply because we’d be interested in seeing how something like that would play out. If it is a new game, then it should be releasing on the Google Play Store relatively soon – Rovio has never been known for taking a lot of time between announcing a new game and releasing it. In any case, we’ll find out what exactly is being teased soon enough, as October 8 is only three short days away. Stay tuned.

[via SlashGear]


Snapseed for Android teased by Google’s own Vic Gundotra

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 10:28 AM PDT

In what looks like a normal photo posted to Google+ by Google’s very own Vic Gundotra, you’ll quickly notice how the photo was shared to the social network site — Snapseed. For those that aren’t familiar, Snapseed is the Instagram competitor that’s available for iOS only, until Google bought them out last month.

Snapseed is more than just an Instagram competitor, it’s like Instagram on steroids. The popular photo editing and filter system has been extremely popular on iOS, and it looks like the Android version is well on its way to the Google Play Store. Google purchased Snapseed back around the end of Sept. so it’s unlikely they’ve build an Android app already — which leads us to believe it was already in the final stages.

Interesting thought here. Google’s big boys like Vic all enjoy plenty of benefits of working for Google — and one is Project Glass. This is a bit of a stretch here, but could Vic Gundotra be taking that picture with Google’s Project Glass and then sharing the photo instantly to Google+ using Snapseed? That would be epic.

The photo looks pretty full of filters and has a nice Instagram look, only it was made and shared using Snapseed for Android — unless Vic has an iPhone which is extremely unlikely. While the thought of Google Glass here is a stretch, it’s safe to say Snapseed for Android is coming extremely soon so stay tuned for more details.

– Thanks to everyone who sent this in!


Google Music Fall Flash Sale offering fresh albums for $2.99

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 09:46 AM PDT

Is it just us or does it seem like Google is having a sale on music on a daily basis? Every time you head to the Play Store you’ll be greeted with a few new albums for $3.99 and sometimes even less. This time around the sales are impressive though. Their Amazon approach offering free daily songs, good deals, and low prices should hopefully be helping Google Play Music grow. Today they’ve announced a new “Flash Sale” offering fall classics for just $2.99 per album.

Like we said above, Google’s been busy putting up great deals and sales for music almost weekly. However, today they just dropped us a quick note in our inbox that they’ve got a whole slew of deals where you can get entire albums for $2.99, and many for just $3.99 too. Sure beats $1.29 per song that iTunes is asking right?

The image above is just 4 of around 50 deals going on right now. Sadly I already own the first three listed or I’d get them. Oh and if you don’t have Makaveli and are a 2Pac fan — you should certainly snag that deal. For sure! If those few choices don’t do it for you musically, they’ve got about 50 entire albums on sale for $2.99 so surely you’ll find something you like.

If 2Pac and Rap music isn’t your style, don’t worry because Google has you covered. They’ve also got some U2, Beck, David Bowe, Pink Floyd (yes please), Toby Keith, Stevie Wonder, Fun., Sting for all you Poison fans and more. Google’s seriously offering a pretty wide variety here. It’s hard to say no to awesome music deals when it costs less than a Starbucks — music lasts forever folks!

Google Play Music Fall Sale Link

Screen Shot 2012-10-05 at 9.32.00 AM Screen Shot 2012-10-05 at 9.31.52 AM Screen Shot 2012-10-05 at 9.26.58 AM


Galaxy S III-controlled Nissan appears with self-parking abilities

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 08:51 AM PDT

Google may have another competitor hot on their heels for the title of leader in self-driving cars. At CEATEC, Nissan showed off a modified version of its Leaf called the NSC-2015. It has new self-parking technology built-in. This new technology works with a smartphone, and Nissan showed it off with a Samsung Galaxy S III.

According to Toru Futami of Nissan’s IT & ITS Development Department, “With 90 percent of accidents caused by human error, we aimed to make a machine that could reduce error to as close to zero as possible.” While a car that parks itself may not do much to prevent accidents, it is surely a step in the right direction. Searching for an empty parking space and returning via a user-issued command on a smartphone is certainly nice, and could lead to greater advancements down the line.

Another emphasis of this invention was saving time. Futami went on to say that parking causes “about ten minutes lost door to door.” It is like having a personal valet parking attendant in the palm of your hands.

The NSC-2015 also has an all around view camera that can be used to prevent theft. If the car detects suspicious activity, it will alert the owner on their smartphone and let them see what is happening. If the owner of the vehicle chooses, they can set off an alarm remotely. As the name implies, this vehicle should be ready to go by 2015.

[via 9to5google]


Galaxy Note II firmware update drops with Multi-View

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 08:07 AM PDT

The Samsung Galaxy Note II in Europe today received a new firmware update that adds a multi-view function. What is multi-view? It is a slick feature that allows users to have two windows open on one screen. This opens up tons of options for multitasking in a more computer-like way.

Imagine watching a movie on your device and having an IMDB window open at the same time to find out who the stars of said movie are. The potential uses for this new feature are nearly limitless. Of course, not all Android apps support this feature, but as more devices have the feature we expect more apps to start using it.

New Galaxy Note II devices in stores had this feature installed already, and it is good to see Samsung issuing the feature for devices already in the wild. Right now the new firmware is available in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Besides multi view, it is not clear what else is included in this updated firmware.

Users can update their devices over the air or using Samsung KIES. Either way, if you live in one of the supported regions, you should be able to get this new firmware right now. Let us know in the comments how you like the new feature.

[via Sam Mobile]


LG Nexus Android smartphone details emerge in waves

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 07:33 AM PDT

LG‘s Nexus device has had a slew of details emerge recently. New details about the processor, RAM, storage space, and some limitations have made their way to the public eye today. Some of these should have Android fans quite excited, but one or two might leave a bad taste in their mouth.

First, let’s talk about the good news. The LG Nexus will have a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 2GB of RAM. This should offer plenty of speed and performance for even the most demanding users. It will feature a 1280X720 True-HD screen, but the size of said screen has not been confirmed at this time. It is based on the Optimus G, but does not look the same. It will feature an eight megapixel camera and have wireless charging built-in.

Of course, there are some rather baffling decisions being made with this device. First, it will only be available in 8GB and 16GB with no SD support. This is quite low when compared to other devices on the market. They also elected to go with a built-in battery, which is not the end of the world, but many users enjoy the ability to swap batteries when one dies.

No official retail name has been given to the new Nexus device as of yet. It is targeted for a mid-November release, so there is still plenty of time for that, and other key details to emerge. Keep your eyes locked to Android Community for the latest developments on the LG’s Nexus device.

Have a look at our hands on with the LG Optimus G below.

[via MoDaCo]


Motorola thwarts Microsoft in latest Android ban attempt

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 07:05 AM PDT

Microsoft had a claim in German courts that Google-owned Motorola infringed on its patents, but German counts ruled its claim invalid. Microsoft claimed that the way Motorola’s devices used radio and apps infringed on its IP. Specifically, Microsoft was claiming that the way Motorola’s Android devices accessed contacts and other elements was a direct infringement on their patent.

The lower regional court of Mannheim ruled in favor of Motorola and decided not to go forward with banning its devices or forcing Motorola to pay Microsoft licensing fees. Many other Android OEMs have been forced to go into licensing agreements with Microsoft, but Motorola is not giving in so easily. Motorola and Google, who have yet to comment on the ruling, are one of the few who continue to fight Microsoft.

Microsoft intends to make this an uphill battle for Motorola. According to David Howard, associate general counsel at Microsoft, “This decision does not impact multiple injunctions Microsoft has already been awarded and has enforced against Motorola products in Germany.” Microsoft has already won some legal battles against Android, and if this quote is accurate, this ruling has no effect on those previous rulings.

"It remains that Motorola is broadly infringing Microsoft's intellectual property," Howard says, "and we hope it will join the vast majority of Android device makers by licensing Microsoft's patents." It appears as though Microsoft is not going to let this defeat stop their attempts to collect licensing fees Motorola, and we can only assume they will keep coming for more.

[via SlashGear]


Samsung confirms all time high $7.3bn profit for Q3 2012

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 05:44 AM PDT

Samsung has put up a new personal best $7.3bn profit for Q3 2012. This is the highest quarterly profit in the companies’ history, and much of it is likely fueled by the popularity of the Galaxy S III and other Android devices. Of course, being one of the leaders for high-end TVs certainly did not hurt their bottom line either.

Samsung actually doubled their profit from Q3 last year. However, they do not expect that to continue through next quarter. Samsung is indicating high levels of competition from the iPhone 5 will play a major factor in their expected profit going forward. There is also the potential billion dollar bill Samsung could face if none of their appeals in the Apple trademark infringement case work.

Besides possibly paying a large sum to Apple, Samsung also intends to ramp up marketing, which can prove quite costly in the short term. The $200 billion smartphone market is obviously competitive, and marketing plays a key role in making a device stand out.

Because Samsung is expecting to turn $25bn in profit for the entirety of 2012, they will also be faced with much higher performance bonus payouts for its employees. This will cause Samsung’s bottom line to take yet another hit. Still, a record setting quarter is most certainly not a bad thing, and Samsung is clearly in a position to remain among the top electronics companies in the world.

[via SlashGear]


Sony stops selling Xperia tablet due to water defect

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 05:21 AM PDT

Sony has found a defect with some of its Xperia Tablet S units that is forcing it to stop selling them. It turns out some units have a small gap between the screen and the case. This makes the device susceptible to water damage. Obviously, a tablet claiming to be water resistent cannot have an gap where water can seep in easily.

Sony says the flaw is occurring during the manufacturing process at the Chinese plant they are using. Unfortunately, Sony does not have a time frame for when the Xperia tablet will be available to consumers again. The tablet has been on the market for just over a month.

Sony says that it has shipped over 100,000 units of the Xperia tablet. Sony fully intends to fix any units that are suffering from this defect. While annoying, at least users with defective tablets will be able to address the situation and make sure their unit is properly water resistant again.

Sony says that the recalls from these tablets should have no significant impact on their earnings. This implies that the percentage of defective units must be rather low. If something like half of units were defective it would certainly cost Sony a pretty penny.

[via Slashgear]


LG Optimus L9 headed to T-Mobile

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 04:21 PM PDT

Yesterday the folks from LG announced their impressive new Optimus G smartphone was headed to a few US carriers, including AT&T with 4G LTE. One thing they didn’t mention but was leaked to Twitter was their LG Optimus L9 mid-range smartphone. The popular leakster @Evleaks has shown us the device with the T-Mobile branding and all.

LG is looking to make a pretty strong push here in on the tail end of 2012. With the Optimus G flagship, the Optimus L9, the Optimus Vu hitting Verizon, and of course all the rumors about the LG Optimus G Nexus device. While we aren’t sure on that last one — we can add the L9 to the list for T-Mobile handsets.

Overall the LG Optimus L9 is a decent device, although certainly isn’t ground-breaking like its older brother. With the L9 you’ll still get an impressive 4.7-inch IPS display only it is qHD (960×540) resolution and not HD. Then we’ll be working with a 1.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 (from last year) processor, 1GB of RAM, 5 megapixel camera, VGA front, and a measly 4GB of internal storage. Certainly not the best but a pretty well rounded smartphone.

You’ll be working with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a powerful 2,150 mAh battery under the hood for all day battery life too. We’ve seen this smartphone a few times in the past but it’s currently only available in Korea and a few international markets. If this leak shows us anything we can expect this budget-aimed device to head to T-Mobile this fall.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Optimus L9
    Manufactuer : LG
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : August 29, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution :
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.19 Inch
  • Width : 2.68 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 125 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2150 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : MSM8225
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 4 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
  • A2DP
    Location Features:
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via PhoneArena]


T-Mobile Galaxy Note II spotted in the wild

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 03:41 PM PDT

The Samsung Galaxy Note II is headed to the US in a big way, being announced as coming to 5 major US carriers by the end of the month or early November. Today the T-Mobile version of the popular phablet has been spotted hanging out in the wild. We already knew the Note II was headed to T-Mobile, but this is a good sign.

The original Note was for AT&T only, and other carriers customers have been hoping for something similar. Now the Note II comes along and Samsung confirmed it was headed to all major US carriers last month — which eased the minds of many. That makes this leak not all that important, but it is a good sign for T-Mobile customers.

Being out and in the wild already means T-Mobile is pretty far in their testing stages, and are most likely on track for a late October launch, possibly early November. US Cellular is the only carrier so far that has announced a date, which is in October, and that’s all we know at this point. Another good sign is there’s no branding on the home button. Verizon’s Galaxy Note II leaked with their logo plastered on the home button — but most likely it won’t ship that way.

So for now this is nothing more than a sighting of the T-Mobile flavor. While we still don’t have additional details on pricing or release dates — from any other carriers — this is a sure sign that we’ll be hearing something from Magenta soon. Will you be getting the Galaxy Note II? If you’re still not sure check out our two hands-on videos linked to below.

NoteII-Tmo Screen-Shot-2012-10-03-at-7.05.25-PMwtmk Screen Shot 2012-10-04 at 3.18.10 PM
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Note II
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : August 29, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : GT-N7100
Display
  • Screen Size : 5.5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : HD Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.95 Inch
  • Width : 3.17 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 180 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4412
    CPU Clock Speed : 1600 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via TmoNews]


Nexus 7 32GB shows up again, could ship October 24th

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:53 PM PDT

Yesterday some rumors were floating around that Google and ASUS were preparing to offer a 32GB version of their highly popular Nexus 7 tablet. Then we showed you a leaked screenshot from Carphone Warehouse showing the device in their inventory. It looks like they aren’t the only one, as it’s appearing in multiple other sites inventory too.

The folks from Droid-Life got an anonymous tip after a reader tried to purchase a Nexus 7 on an unknown site which clearly also showed the Nexus 7 32GB as an option coming soon. After further digging the tipster mentioned the online site gives a shipping date of October 24th for the 32GB flavor of the Nexus tablet.

While they didn’t mention what site specifically was listing the device, a quick Google of the product number (nexus7 asus-1b32) will bring you multiple results for a 32GB Nexus 7. Including Buy.com and multiple other smaller sites. Some list it as “new product,” “coming soon” and others just have it listed as out of stock. Now Google could really be planning a 32GB Nexus 7, but at the same time this could just be inventory listings for the device that never got removed once Google announced there would only be an 8 and 16GB option.

The Nexus 7 is an awesome tablet, but our only complaint is the lack of storage options. We’d love to see Google and ASUS release a 32GB Nexus 7, then drop the price of the 16GB model to better compete with the new Kindle Fire HD. Most likely that is exactly what will be happening, but for now we have no official proof yet. Hopefully Google makes an announcement soon — or it appears on the Google Play Store. For now take all of this with a grain of salt. Oh and we’re still waiting on that rumored 3G Nexus 7 too.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Nexus 7
    Manufactuer : Asus
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : June 27, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : Google Nexus 7, MeMo 370T
Display
  • Screen Size : 7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 7.81 Inch
  • Width : 4.72 Inch
  • Depth : 0.41 Inch
  • Weight : 340 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 4325 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 3
    CPU Clock Speed : 1300 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 8 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : NA
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
  • A2DP
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


AT&T Samsung Galaxy Camera confirmed with 4G

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 02:03 PM PDT

When Samsung announced their Galaxy Camera earlier this year at IFA with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and a massive 4.8-inch AMOLED display many were wondering what carrier would snag it first. Just yesterday we reported it was headed to AT&T with HSPA+ on board and today it has been confirmed. AT&T and Samsung have just announced the Galaxy Camera will be AT&T’s first 4G shooter.

Shoot first, enjoy Android second is what we have here. Samsung’s done a great job offering some of the quality specs of their impressive Galaxy S III into a camera, then tossed a 16 megapixel lens on there to do all the heavy lifting. The FCC reports from yesterday only stated 3G and 4G HSPA+, with no LTE on board, and today AT&T has seemingly confirmed that.

The press release simply states “4G connected camera” but doesn’t mention 4G LTE anywhere. If you’re shooting full 1080p video or 16 megapixel images you’d like to have 4G LTE to upload those pictures and videos, but I guess they’ve decided against that route. The Samsung Galaxy Camera specs include the 16 MP BSI sensor mentioned above, 21x optical zoom, and of course runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Other specs include a 1280x720p HD 4.8-inch display, Samsung’s quad-core Exynos processor at 1 GHz, and of course we now have AT&T 4G HSPA+ speeds on board.

You’ll want to check out our hands-on coverage here, as well as the video above. AT&T and Samsung didn’t reveal full pricing or release dates — or how you’ll be paying for that 4G data on the camera. We have a feeling they’ll add it to their shared data plans for $5 or $10 extra a month, but can’t confirm that at this time. AT&T says the Samsung Galaxy Camera will be available “in the coming weeks” so stay tuned for additional details.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Camera
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : August 29, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.06 Inch
  • Width : 2.79 Inch
  • Depth : 0.75 Inch
  • Weight : 305 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1650 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.x
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4412
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 8 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 16.3 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Shadowgun: Deadzone multiplayer hits private beta, coming soon

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 01:08 PM PDT

The awesome developers behind some of the best shooter games on Android like Shadowgun and Dead Trigger have been teasing their new Shadowgun: Deadzone multiplayer for far too long. Today, however, we’ve learned that the awesome shooter classic has reached the final beta stages and is currently in testing.

Shadowgun is one of the most popular and best third person shooter games on Android. Its been highly talked about for the stunning graphics, and recently even won a few awards from NVIDIA. They’ve been teasing an all new and improved Shadowgun: Deadzone multiple version for Android and we’re happy to say that it’s almost here.

MadFinger Games has just let us know the multiplayer action is finally being tested in closed beta in parts of Europe, and it should be coming to the US soon. Soon being within the next two weeks users will get a chance to enjoy the beta before they launch it nationwide for Android users.

Currently the beta is only running on NVIDIA Tegra 3 device, to ensure an optimal experience, and testing is going extremely well while they iron out a few more bugs. They hope these closed betas will lead to an awesome multiplayer online gaming experience once the game is available to all. Apparently the open beta for the US will be free-for-all (as long as you have a Tegra 3 device) and will be available right in the Google Play Store. As soon as we get additional details or a release date we’ll update.


Source code for Open webOS Galaxy Nexus port goes public

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 12:34 PM PDT

When it comes to Open webOS on Android, things seem to progressing rather quickly. Open webOS isn’t even a week old yet, but within a few hours after HP released it, it was already booting on the Galaxy Nexus. Just a couple of days later we saw it booting on the Transformer Prime, and today, the source code for the Galaxy Nexus port has been posted online, so the open source community can officially go nuts.


Of course, just because the source code has been posted doesn’t mean the port is ready for prime time just yet. Obviously, there are still some problems that need to be worked out, with developers on the webOS-ports Twitter account talking specifically about video acceleration. It’s there, but as one tweet puts it, pre-alpha video acceleration is “like a baby bird…it crashes a bit after takeoff.”

Still, progress is always good, and the source code going public shows that progress is indeed being made. Though webOS Nation points out that things like camera and Bluetooth functionality are still missing from the port, we should see its development progressing at an even faster rate. After all, now that the source code has been posted online, eager developers can get their hands on it and see what improvements and tweaks they can make.

In short, expect to be hearing a lot more about these ports very soon. The floodgates have been opened, so to speak, so it won’t be long before we’re treated to more updates on the port’s development. Stay tuned.


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