Android News App Games Update Daily: August 2014

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Google Search on Android can now understand multiple spoken languages at once

Google has announced that its Search app on Android devices can now handle a number of different spoken languages at once, in an effort to help people who speak more than one language.

Food, Health, Beauty, and more magazines, all from Yahoo

As Yahoo continues to refashion itself as a media and content portal, they're making even more improvements to their app — which now includes Yahoo's digital magazines. The magazines, which bring more long-form content to the Yahoo app then their previous news offerings, span the gamut of food, tech, beauty, movies, and health.

A new MOBA game similar to Dota 2 and League of Legends is coming to Android called The Witcher Battle Arena, and sign-ups for the closed beta have just launched. The Witcher role-playing games previously followed a monster hunter named Geralt. You made all sorts of moral decisions while also getting some medieval ass-kicking in. The Witcher Battle Arena is all action and includes many familiar faces from the games and novels.

Bitdefender announced a new update to its Android app that enables support for Android Wear devices as well, in an attempt to give owners of smartphones some extra help in preventing the possible theft of their product.

Just when you thoughts the world was just starting to get over Flappy Bird, the developer behind that title has returned with yet another game, today launched launched on both iOS and Android. Dong Nguyen's latest hit, titled Swing Copters, puts players in charge of a dude with a 'copter helmet. The object of the game is to avoid the swings and progress as far as possible, much like its predecessor.

We'll not spoil the gameplay for you — though if you've played Flappy Birds you'll have a good idea of the difficulty involved — so be sure to head into the Play Store and download the title. Is it addictive? Absolutely, we've tried it already. Will it be as successful as Flappy Bird? We'll have to see, but Nguyen no doubt hopes so. Let us know how you get on in the comments.

Download Swing Copters for Android

Google+ Notifications: How and why to use them

Too many notifications can quickly overwhelm your brain

MediaFire for Android now automatically backs up your photos and videos

The MediaFire cloud storage service now has a new version of its Android app available to download from Google Play that has a number of new features, including automatic photo and video backup.

Uber has just announced a developer API, allowing developers to integrate the car service into their own Android apps. Apps will be able to do things like send an address to Uber's own app, as well as display pickup times, provide fare estimates, and more.

Soon Skype will only bother you on one device at a time

Skype will soon be doing more to curb notification noise on your devices. The company has announced a new feature, known as "active endpoint" that will contain chat notifications to the device that you're using, rather than alerting every single device. For instance, if you're chatting using Skype on your phone, your computer and tablet will remain silent.

Verizon wants you to buy apps from them, not Google

The next Android phone you buy from Verizon might just come with a Verizon-branded app store. If that sounds familiar, like something from days past, you're not alone in that feeling. Apparently Verizon is working on a "different kind of app store", promoting app discovery in a way that Google Play has yet to grasp.

SNK Playmore has been steadily releasing ports of some of their most popular franchises and games in their catalog onto Android for awhile now. This includes the King of Fighters franchise, the Meta Slug franchise, the Raiden franchise and so on. If you've missed picking any of these games up for whatever reason, you might want to consider grabbing the ones you want now.

Mobile-first transportation service, Uber, is dabbling in deliveries with a new service called Corner Store. Those inside of two limited Washington D.C. delivery zones can now order from a catalog of over 100 items Uber has in stock, and have the items delivered to their precise location. This service will only go for a couple of weeks to see what the reception's like.

Spellfall is a puzzle RPG to be released on Android by Backflip Studios. For those not familiar with the relatively recent hybrid of match-three with RPGs or action games, picture the following: You're playing a Final Fantasy, or some other RPG with a spell casting mechanic, and you decide to cast a spell in battle. Only instead of selecting a spell from a list and paying for it out of your available MP, Candy Crush pops up on the screen and you attempt to match three or more tiles a row.

The Simpsons: Tapped Out is taking Clash of Clans head on in its latest update. Now your Springfield citizens can take up bows and swords and raid the cities of your friends similar to the Clash of Clans mechanism. Obviously you'll need to put up your own defenses to keep invaders out as well.

Neon Caves, a retro-styled arcade shooter, is now available on the Ouya. Developed by Force of Habit,there is no free-to-try option which found in many other Ouya games, but you can own it for $2.99.

Though HTC One Max users on Sprint got their hands on a Sense 6 update back in May, Verizon has just started its OTA rollout. We've received several tips and there are some responses in our forums indicating that the Verizon One Max is indeed finally getting its Sense 6 update, bringing it in line with the software you'd find on the One M8.

ALONE is an upcoming endless runner game to be released by the UK based Laser Dog Games. They've already posted a video of what the gameplay will look like, and the game appears to hinge on reflexes and split-second decisions working in tandem, as it seems to be played at a relatively high speed.

The survey app from Project Ara is back, and it's paying out

Humble Mobile Bundles have happened a few times on the Humble Bundle website, but now they should be a more common occurrence, with a dedicated Mobile tab added to the Humble Bundle Website. The first Bundle being offered is one from SEGA.

Simple has released a major update for its finance app for Android devices, including an all new interface and a few new features to help people manage their money.

If you are not familiar with the series (then you obviously have never met my brother..) it is a hack and slash style RPG based on the novels of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The mobile adaption takes the role playing game- something difficult to perfect on a mobile device, and turns it into a MOBA- a more sympathetic genre for tablets and phones.

Google Drive and Google Sheets for Android got some decent feature additions recently. Google Drive now lets users view changes made to files and folders from the details panel, along with a few new file management functions from the same pane.

Hungarian games developer isTom Games has a few games in the Play Store. They include Paper Train Reloaded, Ship Breaker, Nyan Cat: Lost in Space, Flappy Nyan, Nyan Cat: Jump and a few others. A few months ago, they released an arcade rail shooter on iOS titled Mad Bullets. Mad Bullets became available in the Amazon App Store recently and we expect it to arrive in the Play Store soon, though no date has been confirmed at this point. The game design for Mad Bullets is a blast from the past. It is a vivid and action-filled arcade shooter that is meant to test your reflexes and visual acuity.

Microsoft has released a major update for its OneNote note taking app for Android devices in the Google Play Store, offering tablet owners a full and native experience for the first time, along with other features.

Crescent Moon Games adds to their impressive list of titles available in the Play Store. If you have played Neon Shadow, Shadow Blade, Paper Monsters, Aralon Sword and Shadow, Gear Jack, Redline Rush, Blocky Roads or Slingshot Racing, just to name few of their games, you know Crescent Moon Games. Crescent Moon Games in collaboration with Sakis 25 Games has released Angel in Danger yesterday in the Play Store.

Angel in Danger is inspired by Nintendo 64 platform games. It involves a cute little boy named Angelo, who must enter the evil portal and fight to rescue the Angel Princess. The Angel Princess was captured by Lord Debol when he broke into the Bright Kingdom. Your goal in each level is to make it through the pearly gates.

Angel in Danger is a 3D platform game with colorful environments, unique characters and lots of action. Inspired by the early days of Nintendo 3D games, it brings back the classic platform formula that was missing from many of today’s mobile games.– Crescent Moon Games

Angel in Danger definitely reminds me of earlier platform games. The graphics are bright and crisp and the music full of mirth. The environments are sparse with just enough detail to help propel the story. Angelo will encounter a host of characters that he must fight if he is to rescue the Angel Princess. Currently there are twenty-four levels, comprised of four worlds and six levels in each world to complete. The final level in each world is a boss level. In the menu, there is another world that says coming soon, which means it could be a free update or paid downloadable content. Each level has three stars to obtain and there are countless halos to grab throughout your journey. The stars unlock the next level and the amount of halos you collect are used to choose different characters to play like Angela, Devil Minion, Devil Knight, Tiger or Pumpkin Head.

The game controls include a d-pad on the left and two buttons on the right. The buttons are used for jumping/flying or using your bow and arrow to shoot minions and other characters. In true platform game design, there are moving clouds, landings, swinging spikes and multi-tiered environments. The game is challenging to say the least. If Angelo dies, he has to start back at the beginning of the level. There are no check points or save points to be seen in this game, which hearkens back to the early days of gaming. An external controller would be a great option for this game.

The price for the game at launch is $0.99. It will stay that price for a week and then go to the regular price of $1.99. The game is integrated with Google Game Play Services. It has leader boards and eleven achievements. There are no in-app purchases. If you enjoy old school platform games with a challenge, you should check out Angel in Danger. Be warned, the game can be difficult and cause your halo to tilt just a little. Once the game is available we will update this article.

Reminder: 1Password premium features go on 30-day trial starting tomorrow

1Password made a massive update to their Android app earlier this summer, and though it's been free since June, tomorrow they start charging for a few things. It's worth grabbing now to get some of the premium features like creating new password/website combinations, editing what's currently in your vault, and organizing favorites and folders. Regardless of whether or not you're an existing user, you'll have a 30 day trial starting tomorrow to see what the app offers before needing to pay.

Activision's non Call of Duty mega-franchise, Skylanders, is coming to Android tablets with a full retail release of the Skylanders: Trap Team Starter Pack being made for the mobile platform. This version is said by developer Toys for Bob to be "pixel for pixel the same" as the Xbox 360 Version.

Microsoft has updated the official, non-beta, version of the Xbox One SmartGlass Android app with a number of new features, including a way to remotely purchase digital games for the game console from an Android smartphone or tablet.

Grimwar is an action/adventure game that will be coming soon to Android by Silly Cat Studio, based in Paris, France. Players will be tasked with reaching the top of a tower, under the premise that you will be needed to clean house for some wizards that own (or stole) the tower in question by dealing with the likes of blobs of malicious jelly, skeletons, black knights, and presumably more, according to their video.

There will always be a need for padlocks to secure doors and other items and today a company called FŪZ Designs revealed a new kind of lock, the Noke, that supports Bluetooth and can be opened with the help of an Android app.

The newest LEGO game to be released on Android is LEGO Fusion. The app combines real life brick building with the games, as you scan your own creations for use in the game.

Weather Channel Android app gets major redesign in latest update

The highly popular Weather Channel Android app got an update late on Friday in the Google Play Store, presenting its users with an all new user interface and other features.

Plex is an amazing tool to access your media content on all your devices, here's a quick beginners guide to getting up and running

Afterlight photo app finds its way to Android

Afterlight is a great new app for Android photographers now available in the Google Play Store. Afterlight enjoys a ton of popularity on iOS thanks adjustable filters, fine-tuning tools, textures, and cut-out frames.

It was only a matter of time after Motorola started pushing out an Android 4.4.4 soak test that non-testers would have the update, and it seems that now's the time for the widespread updating of devices. We've received a couple tips now and seen posts in our forums that indicate AT&T is rolling out the update to those who weren't part of the pre-release soak test.

Last week, the Humble Bundle team launched their latest "pay what you want" deal for up to six Android games. This week, the team has added three more games to the mix and also revamped its Android app to boot.

App provides a one-stop shop for sharing and remixing your video stories

Publisher 2K Games, who currently own the rights to release video games based on World Wrestling Entertainment's properties, have just launched WWE SuperCard for Android, which is supposed to combined the hard hitting action of pro wrestlers with the rather nerdy world of collectible role playing card games.

After removing the ability to listen to tagged songs on Spotify in the UK, Germany, Mexico and Brazil earlier this year, Shazam has restored the feature in the latest update for Android and iOS.

Tasker is a wonderful app to have in your toolbox

Android is an enigmatic and wondrous ecosystem in which many, many things are possible. Unfortunately, many of those things aren't possible out of the box. That's where automation apps like Tasker come in.

Field Trip makes travel information available in Google Now for Android

Field Trip, the location-based information app by Google's Niantic Labs, has been updated with support for Google Now on Android phones and tablets. This means that when you show up at a new place all the interesting details about that place are ready and waiting for you to access, right in that convenient, card-based interface.

Uber has announced today that they've added two new features to their latest mobile app. Riders can now easily enter their destination into the rider app, and drivers can take advantage of turn-by-turn navigation within the driver app. Both are aimed to help make for a seamless, efficient ride for both driver and passenger.

Zen Studios will add yet another major franchise to its Zen Pinball series when it releases The Walking Dead Pinball table on August 28 for Android devices via Google Play, along with the Amazon Appstore.

A small update has been pushed out for Google Search today. Besides the obligatory bug fixes (fix all the bugs!) we should expect to see two new features — train and bus reminders from your Gmail reservations, and changes to flight cards that bring information about alternatives when there is a delay. The app is updating in typical trollout fashion, but it's worth checking to see if you hit the new-app lottery.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Too many notifications can quickly overwhelm your brain

The survey app from Project Ara is back, and it's paying out

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Plex is an amazing tool to access your media content on all your devices, here's a quick beginners guide to getting up and running

Friday, August 15, 2014

App provides a one-stop shop for sharing and remixing your video stories