Android

Rockmelt has officially launched for Android and while this had previously been available for iOS users, it was made clear that this release is “not merely a port.” In fact, the Rockmelt Blog tells the story about how the whole company moved over to Android so they “could all live the experience.” That being said, while this is not an iOS port, the Rockmelt app does have a familiar feature set. For those not familiar with Rockmelt, this app provides a relatively easy way for the user to discover viral and newsworthy items. Some of the key features include smooth scrolling through and endless stream of content, the ability to add any site you want, an ad-free reading experience and simple sharing to the social network of your choosing. The Rockmelt app also has the reaction buttons that will allow the user to share what they are thinking. Otherwise, a tap of the “R” button will bring up an Explore and Popular browsing option as well as the ability to quickly navigate home. Users also have a “Kept Items” section to store favorites. And keeping those favorites is as easy as long pressing a title. Anyway, upon downloading and installing the Rockmelt app you first create an account or login using an existing social site such as Facebook or Twitter. From this point you choose five (or more) categories that will be used to populate your stream. The app promises to put the “best of the web, news and blogs at your fingertips” and well, while your opinion of the best may vary, we can say that the Rockmelt app does have ease of use going for it. Rockmelt for Android is currently available in the Google Play Store and sitting at version 1.0.0.3. The app is free to download, free to use and has support for devices running Android 4.0 or later. Or more specifically, the app supports Ice Cream Sandwich or later and has been optimized for 4-inch phones as well as 7 and 10-inch tablets. SOURCE: Rockmelt Blog Story Timeline Opera's webkit based browser launches in beta, we go hands-on Chrome Beta browser update aims to improve page rendering AOL and Verizon partnership will bring a new browser bookmark Next Browser hands-on: GO Launcher team customizes the web Dolphin Browser v10 arrives with new design, improved search and more

Verizon has apparently begun the process of retiring two of their DROID-branded devices. Both the HTC DROID DNA and the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE are now to be sold off, according to promos sent to sales reps. It seems Verizon wants to get rid of their remaining stock, but why? With the DroidLanding Twitter account  reaction and the HTC One to hit shelf sometime this summer, it’s easy to assume that they’re making room for new devices. One of those is definitely the HTC One, but from what we know, it won’t be a “DROID” branded device. If they’re ridding their lineup of DROID devices, something should replace it. Given the HTC Butterfly S announcement, we have a suspicion that we might see a successor to the DROID DNA on Verizon. (The original Butterfly, or HTC DLX, was released in the US as the DROID DNA). We have spotted mentions of the DLXPLUS in Verizon systems, so the release of the Butterfly S may bring Verizon one step closer to releasing the DROID DNA+, or whatever they choose to call it. We don’t know exactly what’s coming, but it’s going to be pretty big. And of course, we’re excited. What device would you like to see come to Verizon? Leave a comment!

It’s almost unexpected that a family wouldn’t own a smartphone, tablet, or even an iPod. Even though they’re very popular among teenagers and adults, kids take great interest in these devices, too.  Thankfully, the Google Play Store is full of kid-friendly applications, and we’ve put together a list of apps that all kids should find interesting. In a rush? Head to the bottom of the article to watch the video, otherwise, stick with us as we look at these few kid-friendly apps. Table of Contents: Duolingo Angry Birds Turbo Kids Kids Doodle Kid Mode Video Review Wrap Up Duolingo First up on our list is Duolingo, This fun and simple app helps both adults and kids of all ages learn how to speak a second language. The only pre-requisite here is that you can read. Duolingo offers Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese. It’s pretty much most of the Latin based languages. Each lesson is broken up into a bunch of smaller exercises, and in some cases, this can be a good thing. As adults, it doesn’t take long to speed through them, but as you know, little kids tend to take a bit longer. All in all, Duolingo is a great way for parents and kids to bond and learn a second languages. It’s also educational, which is a win-win situation, in my book! Angry Birds There are billions of people who love Angry Birds, and seemingly, there are another billion people who don’t like Angry Birds. While many types of people play this game, Angry Birds is without a doubt also a good game for kids, given it’s colorful and cute nature. Angry Birds is awesome, and has virtually no content that could make parents blanch at the idea of letting their kids take the game for a spin. We’re not going to go into the mechanics, since basically everyone know how Angry Birds works. Given the fact that there are 6 games, there’s hundreds of levels to wade through, and that’ll no doubt keep your child occupied for a long time. They’re hard to pass up, being free and all. Turbo Kids Turbo Kids is a fun racing games that all kids will enjoy, perhaps because of the vibrant colors and cute creatures. You can play as either a boy or girl, and the goal of the game is pretty simple — you race against the AI players and try to finish in first place. Instead of the classic 3-star point system that you would find in Angry Birds, this game gives you stars based on how you place. If you come in fifth place, you get one star, third place will net you two stars, and first place will get you all three stars. It’s not just a racing game, as powerups are placed on the track to spice things up a bit. Some powerups will increase your speed, make you jump higher, and restock your freezing bullets, which, as implied, can freeze other players in place for a short amount of time. It’s a very simple game, and it can be a lot of fun. Kids Doodle Most kids enjoy drawing and doodling, especially when there are bright colors involved. If you’re looking for an app to do just that, then Kids Doodle is something you might want to consider. Like most of the apps on this list, Kids Doodle is very simple so little minds can easily grasp it. It’s actually a pretty fun doodling app though. Each new canvas is a different color, and there are over a dozen options for your brush. Don’t worry about changing the colors, as the brush rotates colors on its own. Finally, there’s an option to play back all of the strokes on the canvas so kids can watch themselves draw. Kid Mode Kid Mode may sound like an app, but it’s not. It’s actually a home screen replacement, more commonly known as a launcher. To activate, you simply set it as your launcher, just like you would when using Action Launcher or Nova Launcher. Inside this particular launcher is a myriad of activities and apps for kids to enjoy, including the ones already downloaded on your device. You̵

Auralux offers a slight deviation from the standard RTS fare.  The background music is out of this world, and it differs depending on the way you play the game.  Aside from the dazzling light show, Auralux can set up monumental battles that can last for hours. You can compare Auralux most directly with another RTS mobile hit, Eufloria.  The gameplay centers around small balls of light (red, green, blue, and purple) trying to capture bigger planet-like balls while defending against other light- and music-filled enemies.  Offense and defense are continuous, similar to Eufloria, and you can upgrade the planet-sized spheres to help produce more warrior-balls. As you begin, the tutorial level is fairly simple and gets you acquainted with the mechanics.  However, Auralux ramps up the difficulty and tactics immediately afterward.  There is no story or linear progression, and you can choose at which difficulty you would like to play right after the tutorial level.  This is surprising and almost unwelcome as the tutorial in no way prepares you for the warfare that follows. That is not to say that the levels are not fun; you just have to think a few more steps ahead than you generally would.  Instead of your warrior-lights immediately attacking the objective that you select, they tend to dawdle melodically as they hunt out enemy balls.  This allows the enemies to mount an attack and even a counterattack against you while your entire army is attacking.  Note, sending your entire army against a single enemy is a recipe for disaster. You must think about capturing planets and in what order you want to do it.  You must think about how many soldiers you have and are willing to throw against the enemy.  For example, capturing an objective in the middle of the map can and will lend itself to massive attacks by both of your enemies.  Sending your fleet from one planet to an enemy’s allows the enemy to gather a ton of resources while your light-balls are making their way, musically, toward the enemy base. The melody they create cuts deep into your psyche as the notes are your soldiers’ lights being extinguished. All these elements lead to a war zone that is reminiscent of trench warfare in WWI.  Someone has to win, but it is costly, overly dangerous, mentally taxing, and you are probably not going to conquer anything for very long.  That being said, you can win; you just have to think ahead and have enough patience to gather your forces. The music and sounds of Auralux are dynamic and soothing.  Each interaction of the balls of light causes a musical note, and when you have dozens of balls battling, the melody they create cuts deep into your psyche as the notes are your soldiers’ lights being extinguished.  You must play Auralux with headphones to get a sense of every tiny light-ball’s signature melody. Auralux offers a few options to deepen and, honestly, make the game better.  You can purchase extra levels (there are only eight to begin with) and a speed mode to give the game a boost.  I would suggest getting the speed mode as you can turn it on and off within the game, and it can make the game much more interesting.  Luckily, you can also pause and resume your game in progress, making Auralux a great mobile game.  Auralux also offers achievements, although they are not Google Play Achievements. Click to view slideshow. What we liked Great music and melodies. Truly tough RTS gameplay. What could be improved Speed mode is almost mandatory. More levels and opponents in the basic mode. Download Auralux (Google Play) The post Auralux – The trench warfare of RTS games appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Google Glass may be cool and all, but it just isn't fast enough. No, it's not too laggy, it's just intended for people who have both feet planted firmly on the ground. Okay, Google may have launched Glass with a skydiving demonstration, but that was about recording video. If you want something that is genuinely useful while moving at 80 mph, you'll need something a little more dedicated. Now that I have your attention, I present to you the LiveMap motorbike helmet with navigation currently attracting attention over at Indiegogo. This helmet actually aims to scratch a particular itch. Done With This Post? You Might Also Like These:Video: Google Finally Shows The World What It's Like To Wear And Use Project Glass, And It Is Amazing Minuum Keyboard Finishes Its Indiegogo Campaign With A Staggering 873% Of Its Initial Goal, Android Beta Coming In June Google Shows Us 'The Basics' Of Using Glass In New Video [APK Teardown] Google Glass XE5 - A "Take A Note" And Menu Voice Commands, More Wink Work, And Localization Progress LiveMap Is An Android-Powered Motorcycle Helmet With HUD, 4G LTE, GPS, And An Indiegogo Campaign was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

Confirming the earlier rumors and leaks, Boost Mobile has confirmed the upcoming availability of the LG Optimus F7 smartphone. The handset will be available beginning on June 27th and will arrive priced at $299.99. And just to make it clear, that is a contract-free price. Those considering a purchase will be getting 4G LTE connectivity along with Jelly Bean and a 4.7-inch True HD IPS display. More specifically, the Optimus F7 will arrive running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with LTE connectivity for those in a location covered by Boost Mobile. Otherwise, the handset will fall back to 3G coverage. LG has the Optimus F7 powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Plus processor with GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. The rear-facing camera has a BSI sensor and is capable of capturing 1080p HD video. There will also be an LED Home Button for alerts. As we often see with LG handsets, there will be plenty of apps to consider such as QSlide 2.0. The Optimus F7 also has the VuTalk app which can be used to brainstorm and collaborate with friends, family or co-workers. Those creations are then saved in the Notebook app. The Optimus F7 also has QuickMemo along with a dedicated QuickMemo button on the side of the phone. This button will allow users to quickly retrieve notes and also capture and share new notes. Aside from the handset features, users will be able to grab a Boost Mobile plan for $55 per month. This is the Android Monthly Unlimited plan and it can eventually drop to $40 per month. The Boost Mobile plans have shrinking payments which means a $5 drop for every six on-time payments. This Android Monthly Unlimited plan includes (as the name would imply) unlimited nationwide talk, messaging and web. Bottom line here, Boost Mobile users (or those considering becoming one) will soon have another handset to consider when it comes time to make a new device purchase. SOURCE: Business Wire Story Timeline LG Optimus F7 and F5 images leak ahead of MWC announcement LG Optimus F7 and F5 smartphones officially unveiled LG Optimus F7 heads to Korea as the Optimus LTE III LG Optimus F7 tipped for release with Boost Mobile LG Optimus F7 launches with US Cellular

The very popular iOS application Scribblenauts Remix landed in Google Play today, being sold by Warner Bros for just $1. The game is a huge word puzzle, forcing players to use their noggins to come up with various nouns to solve the riddles/puzzles. For example, you need to make a love potion that needs “sweet, [...] Scribblenauts Remix Hits Google Play, Currently Only Supported by Tablets... Click the post title to continue through and join the conversation!

From the Wireless Device Independence Act to the Unlocking Technology Act, there have been several bills proposed that aim to tackle the issue of cell phone unlocking in the United States. While the various forms of proposed legislation have yet to get very far, it remains clear that not only is most of the U.S. public in favor of making cellphone unlocking legal again, so are many U.S. politicians. The latest politician to speak up in favor of cellphone unlocking is the newly nominated chairman of the FCC, Tom Wheeler. Recently Wheeler was nominated by President Obama to become the new FCC head, and today the would-be Chairman appeared in front of the Senate Commerce Committee for a nomination hearing. During the hearing, Wheeler made it clear that he feels that cellphone locking should be legal and that library of congress shouldn’t have had the reach to ban unlocking in the first place. “I am a strong supporter of intellectual property rights. At the same point in time, I believe that when I as a consumer or you as a consumer, or anyone have fulfilled our commitment and we’ve paid off our contract, that we ought to have the right to use that device and move it across carriers as we see fit. I look forward to working on this issue and resolving this issue to give consumers flexibility.” While Wheeler claimed interest in changing the law here, he also admitted he’s not exactly sure how the issue should be handled. “I don’t know whether it [should be] a permanent exemption [to the DMCA], whether it is a rewrite of the Copyright Act, or what the appropriate solution is, but I do believe there needs to be a solution and consumers should have the right to unlock their phones after they’ve lived up to their side of the agreement.” What do you think of the issue of cellphone unlocking? How should it be handled going forward?

We have all been there guys. You get out of the car with your phone in your lap and it decides to go all Man of Steel on you and fly. It’s like this slow motion dramatic moment as you scream, “Noooooo!!!” Plus, add insult to injury, it’s raining hard outside. So in about 10 seconds we have a cracked screen with major water damage. Well, AT&T and NEC plan to change that with the upcoming NEC Terrain. This phone has some stuff going for it for the more accident prone consumer. It meets military grade specifications (MIL-810G) for water, dust and shock resistance. Plus, if you need something more, it features Enhanced Push-To-Talk for better instant messaging. Outside of that, the phone is fully 4G LTE Capable, equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass, and with access to AT&T’s 32,000+ publically accessible WiFi hotspots, can be as connected as you want it to be. Other features include: ·         The dedicated Enhanced PTT key means immediate communication when it counts most without cumbersome menus or the need to change applications. ·         Speedy 4G LTE connectivity makes it simple to pull up plans, records or email from virtually anywhere. ·         Wi-Fi availability giving U.S.-based customers improved in-building coverage and access to the service via compatible Wi-Fi networks. ·         A dual core 1.5GHz QualComm® Snapdragon S4 processor and Android 4.0 makes multitasking simple and easy. ·         earSmart™ technology by Audience and NEC Terrain’s dual speakers ensure communication is heard loud and clear with echo cancellation and noise suppression. ·         Physical QWERTY keyboard with a 3.1” high resolution screen places a virtual office in your hand when you’re on the job or just on the move. ·         5 MP rear camera and 0.3 MP front camera. ·         Up to 8GB of internal memory and MicroSD up to 32GB of expandable memory for ample file and photo storage. The goal of this phone was to essentially revolutionize the work world. While I have never been in this situation, I’m sure that companies investing in tens of thousands to supply their employees with iPhones and crappy Blackberry’s with no guarantee of it lasting gets pretty old. The goal of this phone is to house a phone for rock climbers, construction workers, white collar employees and entrepreneurs under the same roof. Based on the photo above, it’s running Android 4.0 at least. The final crown that this device boasts is it’s $99 price tag. While I would not use this phone preferably, when I see phones like this appear on the market, they run at $200 easy. So if you are looking for a top notch device with a good price tag, look no further. Would you consider this phone? It comes out June 21 so you have some time to decide, let us know in the comments below.

Press RSS reader, among others, also updated to support new Feedly services Feedly, one of the leading Google Reader replacement services, announced major restructuring of its services today with a new cloud infrastructure and web interface. Posted on its official blog, Feedly unveiled what it calls "Feedly Cloud", a scalable infrastructure it says is ready to replace Google Reader. The new Feedly Cloud provides several benefits, the first of which is one-click import from Google Reader -- new users to the service can now simply pull everything over seamlessly from their Google account and start using Feedly right away. Existing users will simply have to make sure that they have the latest version of Feedly installed, and their accounts will be migrated to Feedly Cloud over the next few days. Additionally, the new service allowed Feedly to create a stand-alone web interface (found simply at cloud.feedly.com) that works in all major browsers without plugins or extensions. read more