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Posts tagged with "seaempty"

APP HEADS UP: GOOGLE CURRENTS

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Google Currents is a new app from Google that lets you explore online magazines and other content with the swipe of a finger.

The app renders the content of a select number of site to best suit your device, and make it easier to read and navigate.

Content is optimized for smartphones and tablets, allowing you to intuitively navigate between words, pictures and video on large and small screens alike, even if you’re offline.


Sounds a bit similar to the work Opera have been doing with the Opera Reader.

The app looks to be US only at the moment, but if you want to give it a whirl, it can be found here.

GAME HEADS UP: GRABATRON

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Every once in a while, a game comes along that really grabs your attention. For me, Grabatron did just that! I'm not sure if it's the cool 1980s styling, or the pretty unique gameplay, but it's got me - I really want to give it a go.

Take control of a UFO with a retractable claw and destroy the puny humans!

Terrorise them anyway you like: Toss them, crush them, abduct them - it's up to you.

Explore a huge and varied environment with hours of action packed gameplay.

* Beautiful HD Graphics
* Realistic Physics
* Huge world to explore
* Find hidden power-ups
* Upgrade your ship
* Over 30 different missions
* Global Hi-scores
* Tilt control



Luckily, it's on offer right now, and costs just $1 (£0.64). I think I may just go and pick it up! If you want to do the same, the game can be found right here.

[UPDATE] APP HEADS UP: ONLIVE

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OnLive, the cloud gaming platform, now has an official Android app.

The app is free to download, but you'll need to buy the individual titles to take advantage of playing console-class games on your Android devices. It's also limited to devices sporting at least Android 2.3, and many of the games require you to have the OnLive controller, or mouse and keyboard. There is a growing library of touchscreen compatible games, however.

It's also important to note that OnLive is currently only available in the US and UK.


On Demand Gaming

No big downloads, no limits on performance. With OnLive, gamers have instant access to console-class games, running on OnLive’s powerful servers in the cloud, and streaming video to your tablet or phone. You can start playing a high-end game within seconds of signing on. Even if you don’t own any games, OnLive provides free demos of nearly all games offered on the service.

Access Everywhere

Play OnLive games anywhere, anytime on almost any OnLive-compatible device, whether tablet, phone, TV or computer. Your games, saves and user profile are always stored in the cloud so you start a game on one device, and continue where you left off on another—even multiplayer gameplay is cross-platform. Build your library without taking up any space on your Android device.

Unique Game Platform Experiences

Watch live games being played worldwide in OnLive’s exclusive massive spectating Arena, find your friends and set up multiplayer matches, or post Brag Clip™ videos of your greatest moments to your OnLive profile or Facebook wall. With OnLive you never have to worry about game updates, backups or the performance capabilities of your local device. Just play games. Instantly.

Play with Touch or OnLive Wireless Controller

Play OnLive’s growing library of touch-compatible games on your Android tablet or phone, or get the Universal OnLive Wireless Controller (check compatibility list above) at www.onlive.com/store for a full hands-on console experience compatible with most OnLive games.


The app is available right here, and whilst I don't think OnLive is fulfilling its potential at the moment, I can't help thinking that cloud gaming is going to be a big part of the future.

UPDATE

Having downloaded the app (I was already a member of OnLive), I got an email telling me that I had a free copy of LEGO Batman waiting for me to play!

You can't really argue with that! It plays OK, but the controls are a bit fiddly. But it's a great taster of the system - hopefully you'll get the same freebie if you sign up.

GAME HEADS UP: WOLF TOSS

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Hot on the heels of Boom Bugs comes another physics-based puzzler. Wolf Toss may have a dubious title, but it looks a lot of fun.

In the free-to-play Wolf Toss game , players shoot the Big Bad Wolf from cannons on his carnivorous quest to get ham and bacon by demolishing the Three Little Pigs-engineered huts, houses and mansions. Wolf Toss combines the addicting gameplay of popular knock-em-down game and the deeper experience of an old-school D-pad platformer’s power ups, collectibles and cheats. The game features moving obstacles, 144 playable levels, large indoor areas, 3 distinct worlds to explore and over 15 different power ups and cheats. Use strategy and power-ups to burn, roll, float, blast and even teleport past rubber walls, moving platforms and spinning propellers to delicious victory. To give players a little boost, the game offers in-app purchase of Cheats found on a carnival-type roulette wheel that give the Big Bad Wolf supreme advantage over his porky nemeses.



It's a free game, with optional in-app purchasing, if you want to get an advantage over those pesky pigs. We'll look to review it soon, but if you try it out in the meantime, let us know what you think!

GAME HEADS UP: RUN LIKE HELL

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Canabalt is a great game, in which you have to simply outrun impending danger. With elegantly simple controls, it's feindishly addictive, and great fun to play.

It's unlikely to ever find it's way onto the Android Market, however, so if you're looking for a similar game, you might want to look at Run Like Hell.

Run Like Hell! is a frantically paced run-and-jump platformer – slide, climb, string, jump and crawl your way to safety as you are pursued by hungry looking savages with spears. Dash through ancient ruins, along nighttime jungle trails and sun-kissed beaches dodging obstacles as you go - every collision brings you a step closer to your doom... and their meal!


It features:

  • Three game modes: endless, story and timetrials
  • Over 30 levels in Story Mode in 3 difficulty modes
  • OpenFeint support: Leaderboards, Achievements and Challenges
  • Colorful vibrant graphics and smooth animation
  • Varied locations: jungle, village, beach at sunset and more...
  • Simple and fun game mechanics
  • Hours of addictive gameplay!
  • XPERIA PLAY optimized!

The game is currently free, so check it out!

GAME HEADS UP: BOOM BUGS

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Boom Bugs is another physics-based puzzle game, that has you blowing up different types of explosive insects in order to destroy some nasty spiders.

The peaceful forest has been invaded by grumpy spiders looking for a tasty snack. All the other forest bugs have decided to join forces to get rid of them. Each bug has a unique explosive talent and players need to position them to destroy the spiders’ defenses and squish them.



Featuring 54 challenging levels (with the promise of more to come), simple gameplay, and high-res graphics, it might be worth your while trying out.

The game is available right now for absolutely nothing! As always, we'll try and get a review for you soon.

GAME HEADS UP: COLOSSEUM HEROES

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Do you like side-scrolling titles featuring satisfying combat action, smooth cartoon-style animation and intuitive, streamlined controls that can be enjoyed by hardcore and casual gamers alike? Then you're in luck! Colosseum Heroes is now available in the Android Market for FREE!

Colosseum Heroes expands on the original with even more upgradable weapons, monsters, and stages. Existing and new players can now choose to be a Knight or Vampire character, blitz through the all-new Challenge Mode, and slice and dice endless waves of monsters – all without spending a penny.


It looks pretty good fun, if a little shallow. If you download it, let us know what it's like!

ANDROID MARKET ADDS DEVICE INFORMATION

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The web version of the Android Market has received a little update, and you can now see which device people have (and app version) when they write a review.

It'll be very useful when you want to know how an app or game will run on your device, but I'm waiting for the first complaint about privacy issues...

You can also link directly to individual reviews, which isn't quite as useful, but a nice addition.

APP HEADS UP: AVAST! MOBILE SECURITY

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I don't know about you, but I use some sort of antivirus protection on my phone. At the moment, my AV of choice is Lookout Mobile, but I'm interested to see that avast! have now released their own app.

It's pretty feature-rich, and is currently free. It's also currently in beta, so expect there to be some rough edges. avast! are welcoming feedback in their forums, so hopefully any kinks will be ironed out in due course.

If you want to give it a try, the app can be found here. Here is a list of the features:

Antivirus

Performs on-demand scans of all installed apps and memory card content, as well as on-access scans of apps upon first execution. Options for scheduling scans, virus definition updates, uninstalling apps, deleting files, or reporting a false-positive to our virus lab.

Privacy Report

Scans and displays (grid) access rights and intents of installed apps, identifying potential privacy risks, so you know how much info you are really providing to each app.

SMS/Call Filtering

Filter calls and/or messages from contact list using set parameters based on day(s) of the week, start time, and end time. Blocked calls redirect to voicemail, while blocked messages are stored via filter log. Also possible to block outgoing calls.

App Manager

Similar to Windows Task Manager, it shows a list of running apps and their size (MB), CPU load, used memory, and number of threads and services – with an option to stop or uninstall.

Web Shield

Part of the avast! WebRep cloud, the avast! Web Shield for Android scans each URL that loads and warns you if the browser loads a malware-infected URL.

Firewall

Add a firewall to stop hackers. Disable an app’s internet access when on WiFi and 3G and roaming mobile networks. (Works only on rooted phones.)

avast! Anti-Theft

App Disguiser

After downloading avast! Anti-Theft, user can choose a custom name that disguises the app (e.g. call it “Pinocchio game”) so that it is even harder for thieves to find and remove.

Stealth Mode

Once anti-theft is enabled, the app icon is hidden in the app tray, leaving no audio or other trace on the target phone – the app is ‘invisible’, making it difficult for thieves to detect or remove.

Self-Protection

Extremely difficult for thieves to remove (especially on rooted phones), Anti-Theft protects itself from uninstall by disguising its components with various self-preservation techniques. On rooted phones it is able to survive hard-resets and can even disable the phone’s USB port.

Battery Save

Anti-Theft only launches itself and runs when it needs to perform tasks. This preserves battery life and makes it very difficult for thieves to shut it down.

SIM-Card-Change Notification

If stolen and a different (unauthorized) SIM card inserted, the phone can lock, activate siren, and send you notification (to remote device) of the phone’s new number and geo-location.

Trusted SIM Cards List

Establish a ‘white list’ of approved SIM cards that can be used in the phone without triggering a theft alert. You can also easily clear the trusted SIM cards list, to leave the one present in the phone as the only trusted one.

Remote Features

SMS commands provide you the following REMOTE options for your ‘lost’ (or stolen) phone: Siren, Lock, custom Display properties, Locate, Memory Wipe, covert Calling, Forwarding, “Lost” Notification, SMS Sending, History, Restart, and more.

GAME HEADS UP: BROTHERS IN ARMS 2: GLOBAL FRONT

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Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front is now available in the Android Market for absolutely nothing! It's the full game, so if period shooters are your thing, grab it while you can! I will say, however, that the "Free+" element in the Market listing suggests some sort of in-app purchasing, so look out for that.

On these battlefields, soldiers become heroes. Download Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front Free+ and start playing for free in Story mode or Multiplayer. Earn Dog Tags and XP as you play, which can be used to unlock tons of extra features and gear to customize your soldier, or purchase Medals to unlock content faster. In single player, experience every front of the war with 50 missions to unlock across 5 locations: the Pacific, Normandy, North Africa, Germany and Sicily. And in multiplayer challenge up to 5 friends to multiplayer battles on five maps in 3 different modes (Free For All, Team Deathmatch and Domination) - all in stunning 3D and inspired by real-life battlefields from WWII.