Category Archives: Applications

Zynga Brings Hanging With Friends To The Android Market

Posted by on September 16, 2011 No comments

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The creative force behind the insanely popular Words with Friends has now released another one of their hits, Hanging with Friends, to the Android Market. The game is based of the classic “hangman” but thankfully with better visuals than that stick character you used to draw with pen and paper.

Like Word with Friends, you can play with up to 20 people simultaneously no matter if they’re rockin’ Android or iOS. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the game is available in all markets (couldn’t get it on my Evo 3D) but keep checking back as I’m sure Zynga will fix this issue soon enough. Click the Market link below and let us know in the comments if it’s working for you.

Thanks, Gregory!

[Market Link]

Square Enix Set to Bring Classic RPG Chrono Trigger to Android

Posted by on September 16, 2011 No comments

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The Tokyo Game Show is going on and while we didn’t expect much coming out of Android, Square Enix had a few biggies to drop. They’ve revealed they’ll be bringing classic Super Nintendo RPG Chrono Trigger (one of my personal favorites) to Android. We’re also getting Dragon Quest Monsters and Ithadaki Street, likened to Pokemon and Monopoly.

We hope these will make their way out of Japan, but they didn’t give any insight into where these would be released. They simultaneously announced their own marketplace for Android but it looks like that one won’t make it too far out of the east. Fingers crossed that Square Enix localizes these titles for the rest of the world. But I’ll just go back to playing it on my PSP if they don’t. [via Droid Gamers]

As Twitter’s Influence on TweetDeck Becomes Clear in Latest Update, Users Seek More Options

Posted by on September 16, 2011 1 comment

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If you didn’t hear the news way back when, Twitter bought TweetDeck. We didn’t know what this meant, initially – they’ve bought third-party Twitter developers before and we saw them merge those people into their software team. For TweetDeck, their existence (at least in the way we once knew it) wasn’t wiped off the face of the internet.

Users are starting to feel the effects of the acquisition, however, as recent TweetDeck updates have been to transform the client into a way Twitter sees most fitting for their service. In the most recent update, they didn’t add or fix anything, but instead removed a feature everyone loved – deck.ly support.

Deck.ly is a competitor of TwitLonger and is basically a solution for long-winded users who don’t like breaking their thoughts up into several 140 character tweets. Above you is the graph on TweetDeck’s Android market page showing installs in the past 30 days. As you can see, their changes have resulted in a sharp decline.

The motive is clear – Twitter wants people to express themselves in 140 characters or less. That gimmick is what got them to the promised land, after all, so we can’t be too slighted by the move. And while TweetDeck remains largely the same since it was introduced last year, their new, snail-paced development cycles and their willingness to remove features to appease to Twitter has users worried and looking for other options.

For those not in the know, there definitely are several nice alternatives in the Android market. While they may not offer the unique columns-based experience TweetDeck does, they are all excellent Twitter clients in their own light. We’ve got offerings such as Plume, TweetCaster, Seesmic and Twidroyd sitting at the top of our list. Do you have a Twitter client to suggest that we haven’t? Let us know below!

Google Voice Actions Gets 5 New Countries and Languages Across Europe

Posted by on September 16, 2011 No comments

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Google Voice Actions hasn’t always been the most friendly to non-US languages, dialect and accent. Hell, even some US accents are hard for the software to pick up. Fortunately, we all know Google isn’t ever just sitting around and doing nothing.

They’ve added five new European languages to Voice Actions including UK English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. If you need a refresher, here are some of the terms you can use the next time you need to go hands free:

  • send text to [contact] [message]
  • call [business]
  • call [contact]
  • go to [website]
  • navigate to [location/business name]
  • directions to [location/business name]
  • map of [location]

Languages will vary by country, of course, but I’m sure all of that will be translated in the actual application on your phone. And this not only supports those new languages, it also tightens up the local aspect of Voice Actions so you’re not getting Pizza Hut in the USA instead of an actual Italian pizzeria (sorry Pizza Hut – you’re far too “national”). You don’t even have to head to the market and update it – this one’s already available if you have it installed. If you don’t, be sure to grab it here. [Google]

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron Coming Soon To Android

Posted by on September 16, 2011 No comments

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Not satisfied with the rave reviews El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron has been seeing on home consoles, Ignition Entertainment will soon be bringing their legendary master work to Android devices as well. Screenshots were revealed yesterday courtesy of Famitsu showing the Android version of El Shaddai to be more of a sidescrolling action platformer (think Mario Bros. but with a lot more butt kicking) than the 3D action of its console brethren.

Storywise, the game is (very) loosely based on the non-canonical Judeo Christian Book of Enoch and puts players in the role of Adam’s great grandson, Enoch, who takes on the role asked by God of hunting down rebellious fallen angels.

Still no release date but Famitsu is also reporting that the game will see an Xperia Play optimized version as well. Can’t say I’ve ever been more jealous of that device than right now. As always, we’ll keep you posted.

[Via Andriasang]

Apps of the Day: Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack, Teddy Tumble and More

Posted by on September 15, 2011 No comments

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Wouldn’t you be frightened if a gun were in your pocket? I mean, I know I’m sane enough to not take it out and shoot anyone, but the idea that I can possibly shoot myself while looking for a dollar for the soda machine doesn’t really bode well with me. Of course, Plaxico Burress ended up surviving but I’m sure those two years he spent in jail for being so awesomely stupid could have better gone to other things (such as convincing the world that he’s not a one hit wonder). Apps of the day!

Messy Pocket – Ever wanted a pocket on your phone even if your phone should really be in your pocket? Messy Pocket simulates, well, a pocket. Not that it’s the most exciting simulation in the world, but you can put many things inside. You can put anything from the common stuff like coins, keys, photos and candies to the you-might-be-crazy-if-you-have-this-stuff-in-your-pocket stuff like guns, bullets and condoms. It’s a free download – try it out and see if you can’t get that last one out of your pocket. [Market]

Teddy Tumble – What a unique puzzle game this is. One of your cheery stuffed teddy bears are stuck in a washing machine, and instead of crying about it he’s willing to help you scrub those clothes clean. Guide him around 90 levels inside the washing machine so he can collect all the detergent he needs. Once you get it, help him get to the clothes so you can start your laundry. It looked weird at first, but you won’t want to put it down after trying it. It’s free, too. [Market]

Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack – Need a helping of Serious Sam on your Android phone? The folks at DevolverDigital have released it in the Android market for a low $.99. Here’s one of the sale lines in the market: “Direct your kamikaze horde toward certain death in more than 40 levels of mobile action. Either fall at the hands of Serious Sam’s bombs and rockets or go out in an honorable blaze of glory in the service of Lord Mental. ” That alone should do it for you. Get going! [Market]

Emergency 911 App Aims to Transform the Way You Call for Help

Posted by on September 15, 2011 No comments

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I know we’ve all thought to ourselves: what would we do in a situation where we can’t dial 911? Whether it be because your assailant would hear you or because you don’t have enough time to get the phone out and dial, it’s a valid question.

How about an app that not only alerts the authorities, but allows them to see and hear everything your phone is seeing and hearing? Oh, and it’ll also get your GPS location in order to make it easier for help to find you. The police dispatcher can then send this information to those in squad cars who are close to you.

I imagine it’s not much more than a widget or a simple app. Initially, select students at College Park’s University of Maryland will be able to participate, but the police department aims to make it available to all Android and iPhone users at the end of trials.

Chief of Police for the campus, David Mitchell, says you can use the app as a preventative measure, as well. If you need to walk back to your dorm late at night and you’re uneasy, simply activate the app and allow them to monitor you. You then simply turn it off if you happen to make it back to your dorm safely.

He also assures everyone that the app is not “Big Brother” in disguise and that they have nothing to worry about as far as privacy goes. It’ll be interesting to see how accepting users are of this and to see if the tool really is effective.

Unfortunately, even if it is successful a majority of safety-conscious citizens probably won’t be seeing something like this from their local police department for a long time, if not at all. The app will be called M-Urgency and will be a free download and service once it does launch. [WTOP, Thanks Greg!]

Sony Hopes Release of PlayStation Suite SDK Will Bolster Games Catalog

Posted by on September 15, 2011 No comments

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Sony has announced today that it will begin offering a PlayStation Suite SDK to Android content developers in an effort to grow the platform as it become available on more devices. Currently the PlayStation-certified Xperia Play is the only device to offer PS Suite compatibility, but that will change with the release of Sony’s Tablet S and Tablet P. The PS Suite SDK, which becomes available in November, will provide developers with the tools necessary to create new games and experiences on these devices as well as the the Sony portable PlayStation Vita. Sony hopes to expand the lineup of PlayStation-certified devices further over the coming months.

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT TO OFFER SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT KIT FOR PLAYSTATION®SUITE STARTING THIS NOVEMBER
SCE to Provide Strong Support to Content Developers for PlayStation®Suite With the Distribution of the Newly Developed Content Starting Next Spring

Tokyo, September 15, 2011 - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it will offer software development kits (SDK) for PlayStation®Suite (PS Suite), called "PlayStation®Suite SDK," * for content developers starting this November. PS Suite is an initiative solution to deliver the world of PlayStation® to Android™ based portable devices.

Through PS Suite SDK, content developers can create content for PlayStation™Certified (PS Certified) devices, hardware certified through the PS Suite license program, as well as for PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita).

Supporting C# as the programming language, PS Suite SDK can run programs developed in C# on virtual machine equipped on both PS Certified devices and PS Vita. By supporting development for multiple devices and by adopting libraries to create a variety of content not only limited to games, PS Suite SDK will not only help developers save their cost in creating new content but also allow them to efficiently create their content on one SDK and without having to create on several different SDKs.

Through PS Suite SDK, SCE will provide to game developers and publishers the potential to further expand their business opportunities to Android based portable devices. In addition, SCE can approach to a wider range of content developers, non-gaming developers and individual programmers. The detailed information of PS Suite SDK, including how to download, will be announced via a dedicated PS Suite section on SCE’s official website.

As of September 15th, 2011, PS Certified device line-up includes Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB’s Xperia PLAY, Sony Corporation’s “Sony Tablet” S, “Sony Tablet” P, and SCE will continue to further accelerate the expansion of PS Certified devices in addition to the current hardware line-up.

Furthermore, SCE will provide a variety of content towards these PS Certified devices from end October through PlayStation®Store*2 on PlaySation®Network, starting with original PlayStation games (PS one® classics). The service will start in nine countries including Japan, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia and with more countries to follow. In next spring, SCE will enhance the PS Store for PS Certified devices and provide content created by PS Suite SDK, further prevailing the world of PS Suite.

Through PS Suite, SCE will deploy various measures to support content developers in their business for rapidly prevailing Android based portable devices and will expand the PlayStation entertainment experience on an open operating system.

*1 Software Development Kit is a set of development tools and software libraries. Developers are able to obtain this SDK by signing a license agreement with SCE and by purchasing tool products.
*2 Users can download vast digital content including games through PS Store for PS Network for PS3, PSP, PS Vita and PS Certified devices.
*3 Number of content differ by regions.

Banned From The Apple App Store – Phone Story Is Now Available In The Android Market

Posted by on September 15, 2011 No comments

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Indie-developers Molleindustria have just released their satirical game Phone Story onto the Android Market today. The game isn’t without controversy, however.  The satirical collection of mini-games in Phone Story are aimed at exposing “the dark side of your favorite smartphone” (ie: Apple’s iPhone) by explaining the process that goes into making the device. From the mines in the Congo, the suicidal Foxconn factories in Taiwan to the inevitable release of the iThing Beta, Phone Story holds nothing back.

 

Of course, the game hit too close to home for Apple and even though they approved the app for sale in their App Store on Sept 9th, they promptly removed it a few days later on Sept 13th. But other than a five-finger slap to the face of Apple just what terms did Phone Story violate? Apple claims that the game violated four iOS app rules with its depictions of child abuse (code 15.2), objectionable or crude content (16.1) and promises to turn over a portion of the money to charity (21.1 and 21.2). Faced with either censoring the app to conform with Apple’s standards or releasing their “educational” game onto the Android Market, Molleindustria decided on the latter.

If you want to check it out (I already beat it), the game is available right now in the Android Market for only $1 and don’t forget to hit up their website here for more info. Molleindustria promises to donate all proceeds to “organizations working to solve the issues mentioned in this game.” Keep in mind the game does require Adobe AIR which is a good 6MB download.

Thanks, Sam!

[Market Link] [Via WiredUK]

Apps of the Day: Manilla, Help Out, and More

Posted by on September 14, 2011 1 comment

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Every day we peruse the Android Market looking for the best, worst, interesting, and most unique apps in an effort to sift out a few gems. We call it Apps of the Day. We can’t guarantee that every app featured below is a real winner, but each is worth at least a quick look. It’s all in an effort to help you, our faithful readers, get the most out of your Android handsets. Read on to see what we found today!

Manilla - Weighed down by bills? Can’t always remember when your next payment is due? It’s a challenge for many, and quite a few services have emerged to help folks tackle the mountain of accounts and bills, but not many do it as easily and efficiently as Manilla. With a simple interface and quick setup time, you will be on your way to managing your accounts in no time. Now instead of checking many sites or filing through the mail, one quick look at Manilla is all you need. Set up alerts and you will never get hit with a late fee again. [Market]

Cave Escape - Perhaps I’m just nostalgic for the days when I used to play games on my TI-83 calculator during high school algebra, but I’m a sucker for any sort of Fall Down-type game. Cave Escape follows the basic concept but spruces it up with a new look. You control a spider diving deep into caves, discovering powerups and avoiding hazards along the way. [Market]

Help Out - Help Out is a deceptively simple puzzle game with graphics reminiscent of something from the Katamari franchise. In help out you are faced with colorful puzzles, the goal being to free a big-eyed, smiling block in the middle. A focus is on customization, allowing you to mix up which of the goofy characters greet you during each puzzle. What looks like an easy solution can often take much longer than anticipated. [Market]