Love Android? Love Apps? Well, you've come to the right place. This site discusses various exciting apps from the Android Market. I hope this site can support our developers. Please view my previous posts by looking at the archives. You may see information about other apps found in the archives. If you have any questions, let me know =) If there are any wrong QR codes, I'll fix them.
I've been playing with it for awhile. I'm actually quite impressed with this whole saving your music on the cloud. The UI is silky smooth and very sleek. The newest update addresses several bugs and adds deleting songs the SD card. I've uploaded a very small portion of my library to try it out and it's just like having my PMP. I find the "offline caching" to be quite useful especially if you don't have a wireless connection.
The only thing I don't like about Google Music Beta is the album art. My album art is totally messed up. On my PMP, I deleted all traces of the album art because well...I don't like it. Now that I uploaded my music, the album art shows up. I have songs with and without album art now lol....Not really a complaint but rather a surprise.
Also, I have a tiered data plan of only 200mb/month. Streaming music via 3g would cost a bunch but I have settings configured to only stream via wifi. It's a quite useful setting especially if you don't have unlimited data.
Right now, I'm not sure if this will replace my PMP. I know the hard drive on that thing is going to go soon so I figured saving my music to the cloud just in case would be prudent. Overall, for a Beta release, it's quite good. For those hardcore music lovers out there, this release wouldn't replace PowerAMP. Though, if Google tweaks it a bit more, I think it'll be something great.
EDIT: It seems that since Google doesn't have any licensing from companies, you can only upload your songs. You can't redownload them. No biggie. I'm sure Google will find a solution to this.
I am quite excited to try it out. Actually I've had this invite for a couple days and I finally had some time to try it out. So far, I'm enjoying it. If anyone is wondering, this is Google's Cloud Drive and iCloud competitor. If you have the Android app, you can store your music to the cloud and stream it wirelessly.
If anyone has any questions about Music Beta, let me know =)
Recently, Amazon has been throwing out exclusives on their App Store such as TuneIn Radio Pro and Chuzzle. Tonight is the night we've been waiting for....PLANTS VS ZOMBIES has just been released! It's free for just 24 hours. After that, it'll be $2.99. It's not bad for the price especially since it offers hours and hours of gameplay.
The download is 74mb so it's recommended to have a wifi connection. Luckily it has the Apps2SD function enabled so you can move it to your SD card. After install, it'll only take up 700kb of your memory.
I'm tweaking out right now. I suggest you join me and kill some zombies in the process. Download it now before you have to pay!
Anyone who loves RPGs should definitely get this app. Amazon is currently offering the paid version for free!! That's a $5 app for free! I've played the free version and I must say, it's quite addicting. There's 4 classes: Paladin, Shooter, Magician, and Warrior. The superb graphics match the storyline well. I find the monsters to be a bit Pokemonish which is a nice touch. I think the best thing about the game is the PVP support. This is definitely a game you'd want to play while riding the bus or waiting for your girlfriend to finish work.
Well as you may know, Amazon is currently offering a free app each day. Thought I'd make a mention of it on my blog.
Today's app isX Construct. You can read a little overview I wrote about the game several months back here. This game is quite addicting because the physics are quite awesome. I also have to say some levels are a bit challenging too.
Believe it or not, a Nintendo DS emulator is currently in the works for our Android powered devices. Tiger King recently released his emulator app on the Android Market. It's only a demo and it doesn't work on all phones. Also it runs very slow even with my phone overclocked. As I understand, even the high end phones have difficulty running it. I wasn't able to get past the title screen. Though I was able to watch the intros for the games.There is no sound either.
Nevertheless, this shows the possibility of our phones one day being able to run Nintendo DS games. According to Tiger King, it'll be a while before it's fully optimized. Until then, all we can do is drool over the demo.
BTW: This app will only be on the Android Market for a limited time.
Here are a few screenshots (lol Professor Layton fan here):
Edit: PokeMon Game Ultimate Editionwas recently released.
It features:
-Online Battles and Social Interactions
-New attacks when Pokemon level
-New pokemon added in each update
Take some time and reminisce. Remember those days when you used to battle it out against friends via linkcable? What about those days when you tried to catch Moltres but ran out of Pokeballs? Anyone remember Mew and MissingNo? lol..
If you grew up during the 90's like me, you'd certainly know about Pokemon. Pokemon is short for "pocket monsters" which originated in Japan. Pokemon is a monster catching/battle game based on the manga and anime. During the 90's, Nintendo released the blockbuster hit games, Pokemon versions Blue and Red on the Gameboy handheld. Throughout the years, Nintendo and Gamefreak released many more versions of the game which followed the anime series. To this day, Pokemon still remains hugely popular.
For any Pokemon fan with an Android phone, I suggest giving this app a try. The app is called Pokemon Game created by XDA member, Jeno Manickam D. This game is a text-based RPG that follows Pokemon Red and Blue version quite closely. In other words, you won't see Gameboy animations but you will be able to fight gym leaders and heal your Pokemon when it gets hurt. It's almost like a Pokemon "lite" tribute.
Some of the features found in this game are:
-8 cities (Gym leaders and Elite Four included)
-58 Pokemon to catch
-PC box to store unused Pokemon
-Pokecenter and Pokemart
-Save and Load options
-Ability to catch and tame Pokemon
Oh look Pikachu..I chose Charmander as my starter hehe
First Gym Leader battler against Brock
Overall, I find this game to be quite entertaining. It is almost reminiscent of the original Pokemon games found on the original Gameboy. This game is considered a Beta version so there may be a few bugs found throughout. Also, names of the Pokemon have been altered to avoid copyright issues. It can be a bit difficult when battling at higher levels. The game itself can be a bit repetitive because of grinding to the next level but then again, all Pokemon games require some grinding ;-P
Check this app out. It's free on the Android Market. If you're a huge Pokemon fan, I'm sure you'll enjoy this game.
You can also follow the development of this exciting app on xda-developers. From what I understand, the developer is working on another version that will include online battles and many more features.
Recently, Google made news when the Android Market hit the 200,000 mark. I've been following Android for quite sometime now and I've seen quite a few interesting apps. One of the newer apps is a game that was just recently released. This game takes London Bridges to a whole different level. Although quite simple, it is entertaining with a hint of difficulty. I'm sure this game will encourage Android lovers to get their build on.
X Construction Lite by CrossConstruct is a game where you build a bridge over a valley to help the train get to the other side. Yes it sounds painfully simple but there's a catch. One needs to take into consideration the weight of the train since it can cause structural stress. You are also given a limited amount of girders to build with. Finding the right foundation for building the bridge can be quite difficult (well for me at least since I'm not an architect lol).
Choo choo!!
Red girders mean structural stress
Overall, I find this game to be quite addicting. The graphics look quite appealing and the sound effects are a nice addition. People scream for their lives if the bridge breaks from a poorly constructed foundation. The physics in this game is interesting. I find it quite amusing how the bridge's parts "pop" and rip through the air. There is an "Undo" button so if you used one too many girders, you can click undo to re-tweak your bridge. Some levels can be very challenging and it really gets your mind working. One level in particular racked my brains out when I trying to find a solution.
6 challenging levels
This game is in Beta so it is quite short (6 levels to be precise). If I were to guess, since this game is in Beta and this is a "Lite" version, full release Lite and Paid versions will eventually hit the market. The dev definitely has an addictive game that can potentially be quite popular (it already has >250,000 downloads in such a short amount of time). Anyway until then, check out this Beta release on the Android Market. It doesn't hurt to try especially since it's FREE!!
If you were a gamer during the 1980's, you'd probably know about Nintendo's Game and Watch handhelds. It was one of the marvelous handhelds created by the late Gunpei Yokoi (created the original Game Boy). One of the cool things about this handheld is the fact it is a game with the function of a watch (hence Game and Watch). Many of these games were later ported to various Nintendo consoles but the beauty of it lies within the original handheld. You can definitely see the resemblance found in the Nintendo DS.
Original G&W on the left, DS on the right
Interestingly, a developer (sorry I can't remember the name of the dev from the top of my head) created one of the many Game and Watch games for Android. The game is called Parachute. You're a person in a rowboat trying to catch parachuters from a helicopter. If you miss, they'll fall into the water only to be eaten by a shark. The object of the game is to save as many parachuters as possible.
Overall, it's a short sweet game. It has two modes along with a watch mode. The game can be a bit cumbersome as it gets quite difficult (my highest score was 22). The sound is reminiscent of the 8-bit gaming era. The skin definitely brings some nostalgia since it is designed after the original Nintendo Wide Screen series.
Sadly this game was taken off the Android market possibly to prevent a lawsuit from Nintendo. I have the .apk if anyone is interested. Thought I'd share some of the nostalgia with anyone who is interested. Just leave a comment. =)
Do you find your phone's screen to be too bright at night?
Do you happen to use a brightness control app yet find it inadequate?
Do you find your phone's battery dying quickly due to it's display?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, I found an app that will adjust the brightness of your phone while helping you save some battery life in the process. (Wow I sound like a crummy salesman haha ><) I'm willing to bet many Android users surf the net or play games while in the dark. The brightness of the screen is quite irritating and overpowering to some. One solution is to use a brightness adjustment app. Using such an app has a drawback. Many brightness adjustment apps on the Android Market only adjust the brightness down to 10%. Yes, 10% sounds low but even at low brightness, the screen is still blinding in the dark. Staring at such brightness may damage your eyes in the long run.
Normal
Now without further ado, here is the solution to prevent your phone from burning holes in your eyes. This app is known as Screen Filterby Haxor Industry. This helpful app applies a nightshade to your phone thus dramatically reducing screen brightness. Unlike other apps, the developer claims Screen Filter uses a logarithmic scale to adjust brightness which allows for fine-grain control. This creates a tint rather than just adjusting the brightness of the screen which does not hinder legibility.
46.7% Setting (dark)
41.6% setting (darker)
If you click the app in the notification bar, it'll toggle settings
Some of the features found in this app are:
-Tasker/Locale plug-ins (this allows the ability to automate your phone using Tasker or Locale)
-Toggle on/off ability (If you put a shortcut icon on your desktop, you can use the icon to toggle on/off)
-Confirms very low brightness settings (Nifty feature so you don't accidentally make your screen too dark)
One of my favorite features found in this app is the ability to turn off the soft-key backlight. The softkeys are your hardware buttons which glow in low light due to the ambient sensor. Sometimes even these softkeys can be quite bright so it's nice to have an option to turn it off. It works great on my phone (HTC Aria) but the developer mentioned it doesn't work on all phones.
Filter adjustment and ability to disable softkey backlight
Overall this is a very nice app. I've been using it for about a month. I've noticed my battery life lasts a little longer since using this app. I'm not sure if it's a placebo effect but I'm guessing since the screen isn't pumping out as much juice, some battery life is spared. There are a few bugs but it's to be expected from a work in progress. I noticed on a few occasions where the app would revert back to normal settings. It's not a big deal as you can re-enable it. The developer is quite prompt with updates so many bugs have been ironed out.
Check out this great app. It's FREE on the Android Market. Perhaps you'll save some battery life and help prevent damage to your eyes in the process.
Here's the Minigore.apk I promised to post. Now you can enjoy the popular iphone game on your Android phone. Just download it and install it from your sd card or sideload it. Check it out!
From what I understand, it was a sanctioned leak by the Minigore developers. Multitouch works great but this seems more like a beta so it's not optimized for all screens. It does not fit my HTC Aria's screen well. Other than that, it's a pretty fun game. Reminds me of Super Smash TV for the SNES. I love how there are different power ups. The soundtrack is awesome and the graphics look great as well.
Edit: One of the permissions asks to look at your Contact information..I'm sure the developers will address that once this game reaches full release.
You can check out a vid in my previous post. Enjoy =) It's quite addicting !!
When it comes to gaming, many legends to mind. Pacman can be considered one of the most influential games in gaming history. I'm sure everyone knows of this hungry, yellow circle being chased by colorful ghosts. I'm also sure many people blew many quarters at the local arcade hangout. This game stood the test of time thus it is considered a classic.
Pacman was influential but Metal Gear Solid was a game changer. The Metal Gear series has its roots traced back to the late 1980's. The gaming world was changed once Metal Gear Solid hit the Playstation console. Some of the most memorable moments include hiding in the shadows from guards and having your memory card read by Psychomantis. This game was definitely another classic.
So you may be wondering why I'm talking about Pacman and Metal Gear Solid. Interestingly there's a game on the Android Market that utilizes a couple of concepts from these two iconic games.EVACby Hexage Ltd makes use of the "run from the bad guy" concept from Pacman and also the "sneak and hide" stealth concept from Metal Gear. By the way, Hexage Ltd is a prominent player in mobile gaming on the Android Market. They have various hits such as Radiant and Totemo to name a few.
This game originally caught my eye because I have a thing for bright, vibrant graphics. Honestly I didn't know what to expect but after playing this game for a bit, I immediately became hooked. Some information about the game: You are a cute little block on the run from an evil empire trying to capture you. Each level is a maze/puzzle and you need to utilize your problem solving skills all while staying alive. As you progress through each level, you will find more difficultly. Each level has a couple of power ups ranging from ghost mode to a homing spinning missile barrier. I found it quite interesting how several levels make use of a "hiding area" so if enemies spot you, you can hide in the shadows until they calm down (very Metal Gear-like). To pass a level, you must collect all the dots to open the portal to the next stage (Pacman-like).
Now you see me
Now you don't ;P
Ghost powerup
Homing Barrier Powerup
Kicking some ass
Overall I find this game quite addicting. The neon graphics are vibrant and eye catching. The soundtrack is also very pleasant. Unlike other games, there's actually a story involved. The concepts used within this game are also quite intuitive. I love the random powerups.
Although the file size is a bit large (7mb), if you have Froyo, you can move it to your SD card (it'll shrink to ~400kb). I find the game a bit short because the Lite version only has 7 levels. All of which are quite challenging. Though, if you get addicted, you'll find yourself asking for more. Luckily there's a full version (EVAC HD $2.84). This version has more levels and is optimized for higher end devices i.e. Desire, Nexus, Galaxy S. The one minor complaint about this game is the controls. Controls on the touch screen can be a little cumbersome but if you have an optical pad or trackball, all will be good. Other than that, this is an especially fun app to pass the time. Check out the free version first if you plan on getting the paid version. =)
Back in 2004, Blizzard changed the gaming world by introducing the mega popular hit, World of Warcraft. MMORPGs began to take the spotlight. I admit, I was addicted to WoW. I remember many on occasions where I would hastily finish my homework so I could join a guild run of Molten Core (Only played until Burning Crusade). I stayed up hours and hours hoping for an epic drop from Onyxia. Although it was fun and all, WoW burned a hole in my pocket. With the advent of high end mobile phones, I began to wonder when would a MMORPG hit the scene.
Fast forward six years. Spacetime Studios, LLC broke new ground in the mobile world by releasing Pocket Legends for the iPhone and iPod touch this past April. It was considered the first ever mobile MMO. With rave reviews, Pocket Legends took the mobile MMORPG genre by storm. Only time would tell when Pocket Legends would hit Android. Android definitely needed a nice MMO for it's 100,000+ library of apps.
Finally, that day has arrived. Pocket Legends finally arrived on Android. Spacetime Studios has taken the liberty of porting the hugely popular game to the Android Market. Let it be known this app is still in the Beta stage so things can change before it's release version. I have been playing with this app for hours and here are some impressions.
At first glance this game has somewhat of a WoW-like feel. In the beginning, you take up the role of three unique animal classes; a bear-like warrior, mystical elf, and a bird-like archer. The warrior can be considered a close combat character while the elf is a caster and the archer is a long range attacker. You accept quests and complete them to acquire powerful weapons and some nice pocket change. You also battle bosses while level skills and attributes along the way. As your character grows in strength, you become worthy enough to take on even stronger bosses. If you're bored, you can duel some people on your downtime (player versus player).
Some of the features found throughout the game include (sorry I can't remember all the features but these are some of the many):
-Leader boards
-Customizable characters
-Capture the flag arena play
-Various open worlds and towns
-Many quests and events
-Ability to trade, sell, or give loot as gifts
-Stash loot away for safe keeping
-PvP (player versus player)
-In game chat
-Ability to make friends and quest with them
-In game store for paid items (Special items you can buy with real money)
Stats Page
Special Skills Page
In Game Market (Buy Items Here With Real Money)
Pros:
-Quite addicting
-Reminiscent of WoW
-Quick continue feature (It's easy to continue by loading from a quest)
-Nice graphics and sound especially for a MMO on a phone
-Catchy storyline
-Customizable characters
-Controls are pretty responsive and concise
Quick Continue Feature
Cons:
-Surprisingly large file (almost 14mb after installing to SD card. 40mb in total)
-Depending on what phone you have, controls may feel cumbersome (Trackballs should be implemented)
-Lag in some areas due to high populations (Just like WoW)
-If you die, you start from the beginning of the level
-No in game saving feature (when you load a quest, you start at the beginning though all attributes are saved)
Gameplay Screens
Other Players Chilling
Casting Spells
Quest Dude
Overall, Pocket Legends seems to be a quite competent MMORPG even in the Beta stage. The mechanics of the game seem similar to WoW but instead you have pocketability. You also have a pretty interesting story line in an enchanted world. The graphics look rich and detailed. I was actually surprised my HTC Aria handled this game quite well. I have not experienced any lag whatsoever except for crowded areas (possibly due to servers). The user interface is fairly easy to use especially when casting special spells/attacks. I do enjoy playing this game and I am happy it finally made it's way onto Android. Oh yea I must not forget, this game is a MMORPG so it's an online game. You need internet connection whether it be 3/3.5/4G or Wifi to play this game. If you have a limited data plan like me, I suggest playing on Wifi because it is quite easy to rack up bills especially if you don't have an unlimited plan.
If you enjoy WoW and want a cost effective alternative or just want an exciting app to pass some time, definitely check out Pocket Legends especially since it's FREE!! Beware Pocket Legends is quite addicting =P
Edit: From what I understand, there have been quite a few fixes after I posted this. Consensus shows rating have improved since then.
