First Need for Speed: Most Wanted trailer released, coming soon to Google Play

Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX HD & Jelly Bean for ASUS Pad Transformer

EA has released the first teaser trailer for the mobile version of Need for Speed: Most Wanted, which is due to land on Android and iOS in the next few weeks. It's a short, 30-second affair showing some gameplay highlights, including the kind of nitrous-fuelled disregard for road safety we've come to expect from one of EA's leading racing franchises. As we'd expect from a big-budget title, it's visually impressive, and we hope high-powered Android handsets will be able to enjoy this level of eye candy when the game lands on Google Play later in October.

Check out the trailer for yourself above. We'll keep you updated when the game eventually arrives on Google Play.

Smart Launcher Will Greatly Improve App launcher Experience on Android

Droid bionic ICS update & Download shadowgun deadzone for android

Developer GinLemon has brought some very useful and entertaining apps for Android in the past, like Drum Loops - musical accompaniment for Android or some very nice ADW themes, including Faenza. However, by far his most popular app is Smart Launcher, a unique way to interact with your Android device.

When first launching the app, if you have more than one app to open a specific function (e.g. for images – QuickPic or Gallery), it will ask you which you want to choose as the default. Another thing that you will find very useful is clicking the time will automatically activated the clock function in full screen. The bottom left icon with the six points leads to the apps installed independently and classified into five sections. In case of errors in the automatic cataloging system, you can easily move an app to your desired position (within the six sections on the left).

The application offers backgrounds with a specific item or color selections of six different types. Also you will be able to change the icons, through the use of sets of icons for Launcher Pro and ADW Launcher. The launcher is capable of handling Live Wallpaper and screens of different sizes. Unfortunately, only the PRO version gets widget support. Smart Launcher is both fast and lightweight, using very few resources, even with a bunch of customization options activated. It also borrows some UI elements from Honeycomb and ICS to make the design more appealing.

Picsay Photo Editor app is the best on Android for editing pictures

It is quite confusing to choose a good photo editing app for android as there is no shortage of photo editors on the Android platform. While most are packing lots of features, filters and effects, they’re lacking some unique features to make them stand out from the crowd. PicSay Photo Editor is the tittle you will ever need to challenge your photo editing skills.

PicSay android app has been available on the Play Store for a long time and while many new apps have been developed to challenge it it’s still among the best for photo editing. We recommend it to anyone who wants maximum quality with minimum effort. There are many modes available in the app depending on image size and pixels. Even at the highest quality editing is quite fast. Basic editing tools includes resizing, cutting, change of perspective, and more. Adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, temperature and even retouch Red-Eye effect.

Interestingly  Picsay photo editor got a large number effects in it. We can paint on the picture or add text and stickers with many fonts and other items available and even more downloadable. Once users done with editing, the finished photo can be saved or share on any social network.  It’s a pleasure working with the app because of simple and effective interface. PicSay stands out because of how it’s applying all the adjustments and effects. The manufacturer of Picsay Photo editor experienced in developing tools for Adobe Photoshop, so you can expect outstanding results.

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Bad Piggies : Rovio’s New Android Game, Best After Angry Birds Era

After they have created one of the most popular franchises of all time in the mobile, Rovio decided to explore the “dark side” of angry birds and makes a different product. And here is Bad Piggies, the game that put us on the side of the green pigs in their plan to take revenge on those damn grouchy Angry Birds.

Bad Piggies is strikingly different than the previous Rovio titles. There are physical elements each with its own specific weight and interaction level. We get the traditional system of three stars to certify the level of our performance. For the rest we are faced with a puzzle action itself, refined in some of its mechanical properties, which starts with almost a hundred levels. In the coming weeks the developer will further enrich the content, perhaps pointing with even greater emphasis on those that are its extraordinary strengths.

There are three ways that Bad Piggies provides us with: “Ground Hog Day”, “When Pigs Fly” and “Sand-box”. The first sees us build and land vehicles with the aim of collecting certain items to reach the “finish line” in each level. The second way explores possibility of air piglet and thus endows them with balloons, and other assets necessary for flight. Finally the third provides us with all the materials released in the first two to deal with very demanding mixed levels, which should be studied through several sessions of “trial and error” to figure out what form to give our means. 

At the beginning of each stage we see an overview of the route that we cover, then switch to a simple editor “in boxes” in which we can move objects that are located at the bottom of the screen: cells that may place our pigs, wheels, the aforementioned balloons, fans, bellows, motors etc. After some initial hesitation, it will be a real pleasure to find ways to reach our goal, maybe gently blowing the engine of the vehicle to avoid the pitfalls of the scenario. The technical sector, as usual, is functional to the gameplay: no revolution, but Rovio is now using its recognizable style which is in itself a plus.

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Rigonauts Finally Arrives On Android With 2 Week Verizon Exclusivity And Snapdragon Optimization

We were originally told that Rigonauts would be out on Android last Spring, but it has just now dropped. If you were waiting on this title, there is yet another barrier to entry. Rigonauts is a Verizon exclusive for two weeks, after which it will be available on other carriers. The kind of ARM chip in your device will also figure into your enjoyment of this game. Aren't exclusivity deals grand?

Rigonauts is essentially a strategy building game where you have to construct a fighting machine capable of turning back the bad guys in each of 30 unique levels. The graphics are really interesting, and it appears to have a great sense of humor. This is also one of the increasingly rare top-tier games that charges you a flat fee up front with no in-app purchases.

The game is being called "Snapdragon-optimized" but we're not completely sure if that means only Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips. I have a Nexus on Verizon and cannot download the game. The HTC Thunderbolt (a Snapdragon phone) is eligible, though. This makes me lean toward this being a Snapdragon-only game, just like all those Tegra-only titles. That would make it rare indeed. If you're one of the lucky few that can buy it, it looks neat from a distance.

More: Play Store Subscription ::: New Angry Birds Star Wars

SlingPlayer Apps On Sale For $14.99 (Half Off) After A Long-Overdue Update

 

Android users tend to balk at apps that cost more than $5 or so, but in this case it might be worth shelling out, at least if you're a SlingBox owner. The mobile client for the popular media streaming gadget has been given a temporary price cut: a whole 50% off! ...which sounds a lot better than $14.99, half its normal price of $30. On top of that, there are separate versions of the app for smartphones and tablets. The smartphone version should work on any device (tablets included) running Froyo or later, while the tablet app is only for Honeycomb and above.


Both apps were updated last week, for the first time since May of 2011. The phone version gets a new photo streaming feature and program guide, as well as better picture quality when streaming from the SlingBox 350 or 500 models. The tablet app can now stream in HD over WiFi, along with better responsiveness in the remote feature (which displays a digital version of your cable/satellite remote) and custom reminders for the program guide. Both versions have been given a visual refresh, with special attention paid to the Nexus 7 on the tablet app.

Sure, it's a little expensive, but SlingBox users swear by their time-shifting gadgets, and the mobile app is a must-have for TV addicts. There's no telling how long the reduced price will last, so go get it while the getting's good.

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New Feature In Android 4.1.2: Expanding/Collapsing Notifications With One Finger

Buried deep within the changelog of Android 4.1.2 that arrived today is a very welcomed change to the way expandable notifications are handled by the OS. Introduced in Jelly Bean, expanding and collapsing notifications originally required two fingers to operate. Not anymore! A handy gesture now allows easy expansion and collapsing with just one finger, making it easier to perform this task while holding a device in one hand.

Collapsing is a little tricky at first and requires first pulling down and then up. Once you figure it out, it becomes a no-brainer, but is a little confusing if you don't know what you're doing. I think it would have been much easier to collapse by pulling up on the left side of any given notification where its icon resides, but the Android team chose a different approach.

The new feature is best demonstrated on video - let's take a look:




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No Ice Cream Sandwich for Atrix 4G, Electrify and Photon 4G, Motorola reveals

A few days ago we told you that the Motorola Atrix 2 will be getting the Ice Cream Sandwich update at some point in the future, but we have some bad news for Motorola fans that still use other older Motorola devices such as the Atrix 4G, Electrify and Photon 4G.

Motorola has updated its software upgrade page to reveal that these three handsets will remain on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. That’s certainly disappointing news considering that all three devices were launched last year. The Atrix 4G hit AT&T in early 2011, while the Photon 4G was released by Sprint a few months later, in July 2011. The Electrify, which is U.S. Cellular’s Photon 4G version, hit stores about a year ago.

You’d think that more Motorola devices, especially not-so-old ones, would be upgraded to ICS especially now that Google owns the company. But that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Naturally, you can always look for ways to manually install Ice Cream Sandwich on these devices yourself, although not everyone is comfortable customizing in such a manner their Android handsets. Moreover, we’re not encouraging you to install custom firmware on your devices, so in case you choose to go down that path you will be the only person responsible for whatever happens with your smartphone in the process.

Getting back to unofficial updates, we will remind you that Motorola promised to give its customers $100 back when trading in their handset that’s not upgradeable to Jelly Bean in order to get one that’s running Google’s latest Android version.

Now, considering that the Atrix 4G, Photon 4G and Electrify won’t make it to ICS, they’ll certainly not get Jelly Bean either, which mean you could be entitled to $100 credit when upgrading to one of those shiny new RAZRs. Of course, we can’t really say whether the three devices are included in the program, as Motorola is yet to provide such details.

New York Times for Android & Expedia Hotels for Android

HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE now $99

The Motorola DROID Incredible 4G didn’t launch as one of HTC’s 2012 “Hero” devices (meaning a top of the line flagship device), but it sure was priced like one. While the device wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination many people felt like it was worth Verizon’s original asking price.


Welp, the device has come down to a more reasonable $99 following a new two-year agreement. It features Qualcomm’s 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and although the chipset was enough for most of the HTC Sense 4 features it left out the ImageSense chip that allows continuous/burst shooting.

That was the only major flaw under the hood, however. It also had a 4 inch qHD display, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and more. Take a look at Verizon’s site if you’d like to take advantage.

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ZTE Engage headed to Cricket October 2nd

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Cricket looks set to offer another affordable Android smartphone for the users of its no-contract service. The device comes from long-time ally ZTE, and it’ll be marketed as the ZTE Engage. The device looks to be fairly decent under the hood as it has a 4-inch WVGA display, a 1.4GHz processor, an 8 megapixel camera, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and more.

You’ll have to plop down $250 at the counter but don’t forget that there’s no contract attached to that price — once you get it, it’s paid for. It honestly doesn’t look bad for the price and we’re sure a few of you will at least give it a fair shot. It will be available starting October 2nd.

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Springpad For Android Updated – Brings Revamped UI, Smart Notebooks, and Social Features

We’ve been seeing a nice trend lately from Android developers sprucing up their apps with flashy new UI’s and recently it was Springpad’s turn. It was a few weeks ago the popular note-taking app was updated in the Play Store, bringing about a revamped menu system designed to make saving everything in your life easier than ever. More like a “life-taking app,” Springpad was updated yet again, addressing user concerns by removing some permissions, reducing memory usage, and adding an all new app icon (again). Cheap tablet Eken

I have to admit, it’s been awhile since I gave Springpad a go, and I was pleasantly surprised at all the new editions. With the ability to share and discover public notebooks, it’s blurring the lines between your typical (boring) note app, and something more… social. Users can share their notes (Springs) with the community, letting other users follow and even comment on the notes. Kinda neat. For instance, one user in particular has made a public notebook filled with his favorite Android apps. A novel idea, one I myself have decided to give a shot.

Springpad can downloaded from the Google Play Store for free, so give it a shot — especially if you haven’t tried it in awhile. Given that there are so many options and customizations, the app does have a bit of a learning curve. Don’t forget to let me know what you think once you’ve given it a download.

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Qualcomm to release two new budget quad-core S4 chips

Qualcomm has announced that two new Snapdragon S4s are on the way, with both touting quad-core CPUs with a budget-friendly price. The MSM8225Q and MSM8625Q both build on the S4 design, complete with support for LPDDR2 memory, Wifi, Bluetooth 4.0 and FM connectivity using the Qualcomm Atheros AR6005 and WCN2243 chips.

The major difference between the two chips is that the Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8625Q features Qualcomm's integrated multimode UMTS/CDMA modem, and the MSM8225Q has an integrated UMTS modem. In layman's speak -- the MSM8625Q will work on Verizon and Sprint. The real difference, and likely where the cost cutting comes into play, is in the GPU. Snapdragon "Pro" models feature a stronger graphics processor, though the exact model in tonight's new chips hasn't been disclosed.

If you're a hardware nerd, the long version is in the press release after the break. If you're not, just know that Qualcomm is making a slightly cheaper, yet still high-end quad-core CPU to power the next generation of mid-level handsets. It's good news all around.

Next: Jelly Bean for ASUS Transformer Infinity

Battery Doctor: Diagnosing your phone’s battery health

The more powerful the phone, the more things it can do. Unfortunately, the more things a phone can do, the faster its battery will drain. You can’t expect a person to multitask and not get tired, after all. It’s easy to abuse our phones. When you have a powerful processor and a lot of storage space available, it’s pretty hard not to install and use a lot of apps at one time. Though theoretically a device can last, say, up to 12 hours, you might find it kicking the bucket at only 8. It isn’t a device malfunction, but it’s the way you’re burning through your battery power. What’s an Android user to do when she or he has to stretch the phone’s life to more than 8 hours? Why, see the doctor for a diagnosis, of course.

In this case, the Battery Doctor is an excellent and comprehensive battery health app that will give you an idea of how you’re using your phone and ways to extend its life. This one app certainly got through medical school because it’s extremely comprehensive. Samsung Galaxy S III

When you launch the app, you’ll immediately notice its clean interface. You start out on theSaver tab which shows you how much battery life you have left in the top portion of the screen. The lower half of the screen shows you the various functions you’re currently using and how much battery life you can save when you disable them. Syncing, for example, eats up 76 minutes of your battery life. Tap on Sync to disable it and you’ve just saved yourself 76 minutes. You can turn off other functions too, such as Wi-Fi, Data, adjust Brightness, toggle GPS, Bluetooth, Touch and toggle between Vibrate, Mute, and various levels of Volume.

When you’re charging, Battery Doctor gives you an extra something. Tap on the little pull tab on the right side of the screen to get a special lock screen. It’ll show you your battery level, its status (a la electrocardiogram) and how much time you have left until it’s fully charged. Though this lock screen isn’t a real one and can be easily exited by hitting your device’s Home button, it’s still a very nice touch.
The Consume tab shows you the top 10 apps you have that consume your battery life. Tap on an app and you can easily uninstall the battery vampire.

Battery Doctor gives you a small battery percentage indicator on your taskbar. It’s surrounded by a green ring when it’s in good health but when it’s in the mid-range, it’ll be in yellow. That way you can just glance at your screen quickly to assess your battery situation.

The app is available for free and to my great surprise, not a single ad was present in the app. Give your device’s battery a check up with Battery Doctor today.

For more Android app news, visit DroidStar

Motorola brings us up to date with Android upgrade schedule, DROID Bionic finally seeing ICS

Motorola has been annoyingly silent when it comes to its Android upgrade schedule. As a result we’ve seen quite a bit of anger and frustration from Android users. Well, they’ve now broken the silence by releasing a refreshed upgrade schedule. While this is definitely good news, the information contained in the schedule may not be.

Taking the spotlight is the DROID Bionic. It was supposed to have its Ice Cream Sandwich update in Q3 of this year. Now Motorola is claiming that it will be a Q4 release instead. In addition, the DROID Xyboard 8.2 and XOOM Family Edition are also slated to receive ICS updates in Q4. While this is great, there are still some troubling facts about Motorola’s other phones. The Atrix, Atrix 2, Photon 4G and Electrify are all displaying a status of “Further Plans Coming Soon.” This is very disappointing as it appears these devices won’t be seeing ICS until at least next year, if at all.

While it’s no secret that Bionic owners have been left out in the cold, this news just comes as another hard blow. In fact, Motorola’s own executive has admitted that the company’s treatment of the handset has been less than ideal. But apparently, the same executive has stated that there is indeed a “plan” for the handset regarding future updates.

With all this buzz about Motorola’s update schedule, I find myself scratching my head. Why on earth is Motorola working so hard on getting ICS on these devices? By the time it’s actually released, it will be so outdated that people will immediately start itching for Jelly Bean. But still, progress is progress.