Google is killing off Google TV, will rebrand it Android TV

The signs were all there, and now after only 3 years since Google first debuted the Google TV platform, they’re finally ready to put it out to pasture. Well, the branding anyway. A report out of GigaOM suggests that Google will soon retire the Google TV branding in favor of something a little more familiar: Android TV.

Evidence for Android TV mounts

Although Google declined to comment, the new name transition was further confirmed by a consumer electronics manufacturer who produces Google TV devices. Don’t forget that back when Sony announced their all new Bravia TV HDMI stick, there was curiously no mention of Google TV in the press release. Instead, Sony’s marketing manager simply stated that the Bravia TV stick brought “Google services” into the living room.

This was echoed by LG who recently announced a handful of new devices, saying only that they ran Android and — you guessed it — featured “Google services for TV”. The nail in the coffin could be a Google TV developer conference held in Korea dubbed “Android TV Developer Day”. After the event, former Google TV developers soon began updating their online profiles to “Android TV”.

Sony Xperia Z1 f

A more powerful brand name

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. The struggling Android platform has never fared very well in the television space, with only a few big name manufacturers ever jumping on board the GTV train. With Android 4.4 KitKat soon to become a household name (just check the candy aisle of your grocer), it only makes sense that Google is once again trying to better align the fragmented Google TV platform with “regular” Android. This was an initiative Google first took when they announced Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (one version to rule them all) but we all saw how that turned out.

Google TV’s Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update was announced back in May, and aside from giving Android developers access to newer APIs, the update was also said to bring Chromecast functionality to ARM-based devices. Since then we haven’t seen any devices actually make the jump, but LG is promising to update their devices by the end of this month, with more OEMs to follow. If Google is really planning to unify their products and renew their efforts with their television platform, blanketing everything under the same Android name is a great start. Guess Google Android TV still has some fight left in it.

Droid Stars

Hell, The Dungeon Again! Review

When you imagine what the average dungeon-crawler plays like, you most likely picture a game that looks identical to Hell, The Dungeon Again! This turn-based dungeon-em-up from Anton Skvortsov is the very definition of a dungeon crawler, with all of the elements that make up the genre clearly polished up and spat out in regular, as-you'd-expect succession.

Click here to read more!

You know what you're going to get with Hell, The Dungeon Again!, make no bones about it – this is a tightly-designed experience that takes homage from dozens of other dungeon crawlers, and does much of it right. What this game doesn't do is, well, anything very new at all. If you're looking for a run-of-the-mill dungeon-goer, then Hell, The Dungeon Again! is your poison – but anyone looking for a more unique, bold, and clever take on the genre won't find those traits here.

Plants vs Zombies 2 for Android rumored to be delayed by Apple bribe

There seems to be some drama behind the prolonged delay of the international release of Plants vs Zombies 2 for Android, with Apple being pointed as the culprit. Naturally, Apple denies giving game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) a “truckload of money” to exclusively release the hit game on iOS first before unleashing it to the rest of the world.

There is no doubt about the popularity and success of the game, and the figures since the launch of the sequel in August speak for themselves. Unfortunately for us, the game launched first and only on iOS, which isn’t actually uncommon with some big titles. However, just a few weeks ago, an Android version of the game popped up for the Chinese market, with an international Android version nowhere in sight.

Sprint concept video shows what an always connected world could look like

With the innovations we’re seeing in most areas of technology these days it’s hard to not let our minds wander to what could be. While some are dreaming of innovations that could take us beyond our planet, there are others who are dreaming up the next idea that will make our lives closer to home a lot easier. The folks over at Sprint are no different. In a five minute video they demonstrate what an always connected world could look like. It includes kids from two different countries playing baseball together.  Adult’s could check in on their aging parents and get on their cases about their health if they so choose.

Sony “Lens G” QX10 and QX100 user manual leak brings more detail

Sony has been a hot topic for rumors lately and many of these seem to be camera related. There are the 20MP Honami rumors and then there are the more recent such as the Sony Xperia “Lens G” setup. This is basically a clip-on lens for mobile devices. An earlier leaked image (sitting below) has it shown attached a smartphone, however it could just as easily be attached to a tablet.

We had already seen details about how this Lens G setup would be available in at least two models. Those model numbers are DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 and while Sony has yet to make an official announcement, it looks like a few additional details have since been revealed by way of leaked user manual. Or more specifically, by way of portions of a leaked user manual.

Verizon HTC One to launch with Android 4.2.2, no cherry red version

After months and months of waiting the folks from Verizon Wireless finally announced a release date for the HTC One. We thought it would never come, reports and rumors of August 1st came and went, but today we can officially confirm the day. The HTC One will be available on August 22nd, and now we’re learning a few additional details.

We have no way of knowing just exactly why Verizon took so long, although we have our guesses. One possible reason is to launch with Android 4.2.2 on board, rather than 4.1 like the other carriers. Now that HTC’s updated the international One to nearly the latest version, Verizon will launch with it as well. Sadly there’s no Android 4.3 here, even if the Google Play edition already has it.

Ubuntu Edge breaks crowdfunding record, still sits far shy of ultimate goal

Canonical has recently shared some news in regards to the Ubuntu Edge Indiegogo campaign. It seems they have crossed the $10 million milestone, which means they now have the “world’s biggest ever fixed crowdfunding campaign.” Or for those curious, this means the Ubuntu Edge smartphone has now raised more than the $10,266,845 that was raised by Pebble. Android apps

The interesting thing here, while raising that amount brought success for the folks at Pebble, it probably doesn’t mean quite as much for the folks at Canonical. Simply put, despite breaking this record the Ubuntu Edge campaign is still sitting way short of the ultimate goal of $32 million. This Indiegogo is showing a total raised of $10,448,195 with 6 days remaining.

Samsung said to unveil Galaxy Gear smart watch at September 4th Note 3 event

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 might not be the only device being unveiled at Samsung’s September 4th event in Berlin, Germany at IFA. (Find out more about what we should be seeing out of the Note 3 here.)

Get a refurbished Galaxy S4 for AT&T for just $30

If you’re an  AT&T user and you’ve been in the market for a Samsung Galaxy S4, you’ll want to check out the deal Ma Bell is putting up. If you can stand to deal with a refurbished phone, AT&T is letting the Samsung Galaxy S4 go away for just a mere $30 (that’s following a new two-year contract agreement, of course). While some may be taken aback by the word “refurbished,” it’s not always as bad as it may sound.

New rumored specs for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 include 5.68-inch screen, 3GB of RAM and more

It seems like the rumored spec sheet for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 changes by the week. Another rumor has made its way through the mill. This time, the folks at SamMobile have it on good authority that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 won’t be a 6-inch device. Instead, it’ll come with a full HD 5.68-inch Super AMOLED display. That’s not a huge distance away from 6 inches, but it’s closer to the 5.5 that Note 2 users are used to.

The device is also said to be coming with 3GB of RAM, which would be unheard of for a smartphone. The device will also be outfitted with the same 13 megapixel camera we’ve seen on the Samsung Galaxy S4 this year.

The leakster actually notes that there is a second device, though the final spec list for it isn’t yet known. The SM-N900, the base model without LTE, will house a 1.8GHz Samsung Exynos Octa-core processor, though word on a processor for the LTE model is not yet known. We should also note that the 3GB of RAM mentioned above is only confirmed for the LTE version of the device. There’s no good reason to believe the base model won’t have 3GB of RAM, but no one can be certain either way. budget android phones

Finally, the Galaxy Note 3 is said to be coming in storage variants of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, though some of these may only be available in certain markets. The 32GB is said to be coming to “most of the market,” which hopefully means it’s the one most carriers and retailers will carry. Oh, and there’s a 3,200 mAh battery inside, which is just a smidgen bigger than the original’s. We have just about three weeks and some change until the unveiling, so it won’t be long until we know exactly what’s up with this thing.

Google Glass XE8 update rolling out now – brings video player and volume controls, additional Google Now cards, and more

Arriving a few days later than we expected, I suppose it’s better late than never. Rolling out right to Google Glasses across the country is another one of Google Glass’ software updates, a series of monthly updates that will continue churning out until the headsets consumer release. These are typically exciting as they aren’t just common bug fixing maintenance updates, but usually come packed with fun new features,

For this month’s update to XE8, Google has added the ability for Glass to pull up more Google Now cards, something we knew was coming. Now Glass will pull up cards with dinner reservation info, hotel bookings, and even concerts — anything that’s sent you an email confirmation to your Gmail account. Movie and showtime cards have also made the cut, along with emergency alerts for flash floods or thunderstorms, traffic updates, weather, and live sports scores.

As useful as Google Now cards may be, it’s the latest OS additions that I’m most excited about. Voice commands from other Glassware apps can now be added to the main menu, allowing users to speak commands like, “Ok Glass, take a note,” or “Ok Glass, post an update.” Unfortunately, it looks like this functionality will be limited to only officially supported Glassware, with Path and Evernote being the first of many to come in the near future. Developers can actually get started now and learn how to enable voice commands for their apps here. Cheap android phone.

Another feature I’ve been asking for awhile now, but wasn’t sure exactly how well it’d be implemented was a video player. Technically it’s always been there, but In XE8, Glass users now have access to a video player with navigation controls (play, pause, skip) for use with either user recorded videos, or those from apps like CNN. Also, volume controls have also been added allowing Glass users to mute all sound in Glass or crank the volume up when necessary.

Glass is getting better every month, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for Google’s little headset. If you want to talk Google Glass with other Android fans like yourself, head on over to our Google Glass forums and join in on the discussion.

[Google Support]

Personal Android VPN Free Download

Most of us use our android phone for Internet browsing when we are not at home through public Wi-Fi spots or hotspots. But did you know that all emails, instant messages or just any other data that is sent via your wifi is also sent in plain text which can be easily sniffed by anyone using some tools which is available freely in the internet? If you are worried about your privacy, then you should get an android vpn connection for your android phone or android tablet.

Download DroidVPN

Features:

• Anonymous surfing by hiding your real IP address. Conduct your online activities anonymously.
• Your data, including passwords, financial transactions and instant messages, is secured and encrypted.
• Secures your web browsing session when connected through Wi-Fi.
• Monthly subscription is affordable. You can also save on bandwidth by our VPN data compression.
• With 1 tap connect even your mother can connect to our VPN servers
• Youtube or Facebook? It's up to you to decide what websites you want to visit.
• 1 tap connect to our vpn server.
• Gives you unrestricted Speed.
• Encrypts your internet traffic.
• Unblocks web sites.
• Dynamic IP provided.
• Unlimited/Instant server switch.
• Can tunnel through ICMP.
• Works with GPRS and WIFI.
• Free 100MB everyday for free users

Android VPN Setup

VLC for Android APK Download

The long wait for the most popular multimedia player that can play almost any video format, the VLC, is finally over for many of the Android users. The dream of being able to play and watch consistently any kind of video file on the Android smartphones is finally within reach. After more than a year of developing, the VideoLan project has finally brought to light the VLC for Android.

However, the VLC app for Android that was released recently is still a beta version, which means it is still unstable. The app is compatible only with particular Android devices with ARM systems that utilize ARMv7 architecture set CPUs that supports the NEON media processing engine. This means that there are some devices, which are mostly those released before Samsung Galaxy S on the later part of 2010, that are not compatible and cannot run the beta. The only exception is the Nvidia Tegra Platform, however the Tegra 2, which is consequently a popular choice for many Android makers, cannot run the current beta because it doesn’t have the NEON instruction set. The VLC team also stated on its description that the beta of the app launched is not designed for regular users but for hackers and power users only. They also stated jokingly on the description that “it might kill your kitten, destroy your house and start the Mayan apocalypse. Use it at your own risk. Have Fun!” The VLC team says that the other versions of the application to support more Android devices are already on their way.

In its current version, the VLC beta can play most of the local audio and video files as well as any network streams. The current version includes a media library video and audio media files and enables a direct folder browsing. The VLC app supports a multi-track audio and subtitles and also includes other features like the auto-rotation gestures and adjustments for a more efficient volume control.

The developers of the Android app from VideoLan Project promises to bring in almost all of the features in the final version of the app that made the PC version of the universal media player famous. For individuals with supported phones, the VLC for Android beta version will give them the access to their entire media and video library on their phone. The VLC gives a full search capability including the network streams support and subtitles which will surely come in handy if they like to watch some foreign movies.

There are only limited types of hardware that the Hardware decoding works with and this means that some Android phone users will experience a stutter video. By default, the video decoding hardware acceleration is disabled and users will first go to the preferences pane to enable it if it is supported in their device. This should give the users a smooth video playback without any decoding artifacts. The users can also use the widget designed for easy audio controls that displays a cover art and enables user access to the media library.

VLC for Android APK Download

Best Budget Android Phones

Magicon M39 Savvy

The second offering from Magicon known as the M39 Savvy sports a 3.95-inch display with 320x480 pixels resolution. It is also fueled by a Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform and 1GHz Qualcomm processor with similar storage, camera and connectivity options as the M2 Elegante.

There is however some difference in the apps category and battery life. The M39 Savvy houses a slightly bigger battery at 1350Ah and host of apps like Hungama, NewsHunt, and mobile TV application myplex now which basically allows users to watch over 100 free and paid Indian channels, over 1000 videos and movies.

Price: Rs 3,999

more on budget Android phones at DroidStars

Download Arma Tactics for Android

Bohemia Interactive's acclaimed Arma franchise is ready to launch another assault on Android gaming with the Tegra-optimized Arma Tactics THD.

Originally designed to launch with Nvidia's Shield hybrid unconsole, Arma Tactics THD is playable on any Tegra-powered devices like the Nexus 7.

Amra Tactics THD is a brilliant-looking, turn-based modern strategy game with a familiar, top-down perspective that will appeal to the most seasoned armchair generals.

Squad core

In Arma Tactics THD, players take control of a four-member special forces team and then decides how best to use them in the field.

Using a brute-force direct assault on unorganized local militants might work on one map, but when faced with highly-skilled professional mercenaries it'll probably be best to employ a more stealthy approach.

Those interested in trying their hand at this modern strategy game can download it directly from Google Play for $4.99 / £2.99.

Fast and Furious 6 game for Android

Diner Dash for Android

The Diner Dash Android game is finally available in the Google Play Store, and you can get both a free and a paid version.

The time management game, already present on a lot of platforms, including PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and iOS, is now making its appearance in the Google Play Store. It allows you to control Flo, a young restaurant owner, as she grows her business from a small diner to a five-star restaurant. Diner Dash is not a cooking game, but rather a game in which the way you organize tasks is essential, and I must warn you that it's incredibly addictive.

You'll have to manage the experience your customers have in your restaurant, from seating them (and getting bonuses for putting them at a table with which their clothes match), to taking orders, serving them and cleaning up the tables. Prioritizing your tasks is essential in order to avoid keeping your customers waiting.

If you're new to Diner Dash, the free version is perfect to open your appetite, but you must keep in mind that the Deluxe version comes with ten additional levels and is available, for a limited time, at a special 50 percent launch price. That means you can buy it for $0.99.

Whether you buy the Deluxe version or not, you should know that the game relies on in-app purchases quite a bit, and it might not be as easy to advance if you don't buy some boosts or upgrades along the way.

Are you planning on helping Flo manage her restaurant in Diner Dash? If so, will you get the free version or the Deluxe one?

Diner Dash for Android

Download PicSay Pro for Android

PicSay Pro is a premium version of PicSay. In addition to the basic photo editing features of the free app, it allows you to adjust the photo’s RGB and sharpness. Other adjustments you can make include:

• Smooth for reducing pixelation of low-quality photos
• Blur
• Boost
• Fix Red-Eye
• Crop and Straighten
• Resize
• Rotate and Flip
• Masked Effects to apply filters and effects on selected areas
• History Paint to undo all changes on selected spots

On a separate tab you will find “Add Effects” which includes Paint, Insert Picture, Pop Colors, Distort features, Color Adjustments, Artistic effects, Photo effects such as Lomo and Faux HDR, and a variety of filters and frames. Adding Stickers, Word Balloons, and Titles are also not to be missed on PicSay Pro but with the added benefit of free font packages. The app saves photos at higher quality.

Best free photo editing app for android

Kingdom Rush for Android

Kingdom Rush has amassed quite the following since it first appeared as a flash game in 2011 and an iPad port half a year later. Critics called it one of the best and most engaging games of its genre. Today, Ironhide Game Studio launched an Android version into the Play Store that has already been met with praise from users.

Kingdom Rush is a tower defense game based in a fantasy setting soaked in bright colors and vivid sprites. The usual fantasy environments all make an appearance here, including green forests, snow-covered mountains, and barren wastelands. Players command troops, wield magic, and - wait for it - build towers in their quest to save the kingdom from orcs, trolls, evil wizards, and other standard forces for darkness.


Kingdom Rush for Android

Tango Video Call App for Android

Tango gives you the highest quality video & phone calls, texts, photo & video sharing, games and more for FREE! It’s the all-in-one social networking app that finally combines every way you want to interact with friends & family. Join over 100M people around the world & Tango today!

Easy to use

- No login & password - create an account in seconds
- Automatically finds your friends using Tango
- Calls and messages work just like they do on your phone
- Works across most smartphones, tablets, & PCs
- Great quality on 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi

Fun to use

- Personalize your calls and messages with fun animations to express yourself
- Challenge your friends with games during your calls
- Find all your pictures & videos in a central photo gallery
- Send a card to your loved ones to let them know you are thinking about them
- Edit your photos with filters, text and more before you send them to friends

Free to use

- All video and audio calls are free and don’t use your minutes
- Messages are free and don’t use your text plan
- Free calls and messages internationally

Read our amazing reviews and see how people love using Tango to stay connected to their family and friends.

Top Video Call Apps for Android

Download Thor: Lord of Storms for Android

In-app purchases aren't the only issue we found with Thor: Lord of Storms. The interface is somewhat cluttered, forcing you to press a toggle button to switch between troop and magic selection. Doing this in the heat of a particularly tense battle is often easier said than done, and we dearly wish the developer had come up with a more elegant solution.

It may have a few flaws, but Thor: Lord of Storms still manages to dig its claws in fairly deep. This is partly down to the addictive nature of the gameplay, which offers short battles and has that "just one more go" appeal.

However, the game's excellent visual presentation also plays a part: the high-res 2D artwork is wonderful to behold, and looks just as good in motion. The voice acting is also of a high standard, and offers many moments of mirth.

However, there's no escaping the fact that extracting maximum enjoyment out of Thor: Lord of Storms is reliant on spending real cash on gems - the game is effectively unbalanced by IAPs. If you're not prepared to reach for your credit card, then there's a very real danger that the spark of interest will die out before you progress too far through the game's campaign.

Download Thor: Lord of Storms

Download Thor for Android

Carmageddon for Android

Carmageddon is the original freeform driving sensation, where pedestrians (and cows!) equal points, and your opponents are a bunch of crazies in a twisted mix of automotive killing machines. The game features anarchic drive-wherever-you-like gameplay and over-the-top surreal comedy violence. It’s the racing game where racing is for wimps. 

Now the same Mac & PC classic that was BANNED AROUND THE WORLD is back and available on Android phones and tablets!

Carmageddon features real-world environments that have been turned into killing fields, where the locals stay out on the streets at their peril. As well as using your car as a weapon, every level is sprinkled generously with power-ups that have a vast variety of mad effects, adding a whole extra level of craziness to the proceedings. In every event you have the option to “play it your way”… Waste all your opponents, kill every pedestrian, or (perish the thought) complete all the laps. Oh and watch out – the cops in their super-tough armoured patrol vehicles are lurking, and if they catch you being bad they’ll be down on you like several tons of cold pork!

FEATURES
• 28 dangerously deranged Opponents
• 11 wildly exhilarating Environments
• Career Mode featuring 36 satisfyingly violent Levels
• Race and Wreck opponents to unlock 30 playable cars!
• Multiple control methods: digital, analogue (mix ‘n’ match), tilt
• Edit your control layout in game to your preferences
• Comprehensive Action Replay System
• Environment maps and other special effects
• Enhanced pre-lit environments
• Buckets of gibs
• Tons of laughs

Plus the opportunity to make in app purchases to unlock ALL the cars (apart from the secret one) and ALL the races!
Carmageddon requires Android 2.3.4 or later.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION FOR THE ORIGINAL GAME
Carmageddon won the “Game of the Year” trophy in the 1997 PC Zone Reader awards. Carmageddon 1 & 2 were “Driving Game of the Year” 1997/1998.

SELECTED REVIEWS OF THE ORIGINAL GAME
Originally released for the PC in 1997, Carmageddon was an instant hit and the titles went on to sell over 2 million copies worldwide. Here’s what a sample of the gaming press thought at the time:

“Carmageddon is visceral, violent, vehicular fun...” - GameSpot 8.8 out of 10

“Carmageddon, to get straight to the point, is one of the best computer games I've ever played… Carmageddon is God!” - Duncan McDonald 95% Classic Award PC Zone Magazine

“Carmageddon is one of those games that only come along once in a blue moon. An essential purchase.” - Escape Magazine 6 out of 6
“The gameplay is spot on and anyone with a dark enough sense of humour should give it a go.” - Computer Gaming World 4 out of 5

“So next time you gun down coppers on GTA VI, just remember, Carmageddon’s controversy was there first, and you have a lot to thank it for.” - RetroGarden

ABOUT STAINLESS GAMES
Stainless was founded in 1994 by Patrick Buckland, a veteran of the games industry going back to the Jurassic period of 1982, and Neil Barnden, who used to have hair like a mammoth. A team of 8 worked on the original Carmageddon at Stainless, and 5 are still with the company today, although a couple of them are now kept manacled in a small padded room in the cellar.

Stainless Games now employs well over fifty mad, dedicated people of assorted gender, height and width. They can all be found dangling precariously from a small chalky rock just off the South Coast of England.

Download Carmageddon for Android

Download CSR Racing APK

CSR Racing - it is an exciting and dynamic racing simulator drayg to Android, which for a long time could not get off the platform iOS, which has already managed to gather a huge amount of positive reviews and a loyal following.

The essence of the game is to race fast on straight roads with other cars. Our main task - correctly and on time to switch the gearbox, as this sport is what is crucial.

Gameplay
All races in the game are in the mode of one-on-one. Only two lanes of traffic and two cars. Management as simple. Before the start button appears on the screen of gas that is needed to maintain normal levels of gas for a quick start. Next, the gas button disappears, and now the main buttons - it upshifts and downshifts.

Raise the transfer is necessary at the right time, which you can guess, if you look at the bright spots for the upshift button. As soon as they turn green, at the same moment to press. A second earlier or a second later - is of great importance that, in general appears on the speed of your car. 

Features CSR Racing for Android:

• Stunning 3D-graphics; 
• Excellent viewing angles, at the sight of which immediately recalls the NFS series computer with their introductory videos; 
• Only licensed cars (Audi, BMW and so on); 
• Simple operation; 
• Opportunity to improve and tune the car; 
• A huge number of levels and interesting challenges. 

Distributed game for free with the ability to purchase in-game currency for real money. Without investments play pretty hard, but it adds even more interest. Also, the game has a limit on the number of races, so for once you can do no more than 10, then the machine will require repair, which is already quite real time.

Summary. CSR Racing - it's a great racing game for Android with a very high-quality graphics that looks great on smartphones, tablets, and even if the display image to the TV, will also look quite decent. The game definitely like motorists, racing fans and those who like mode DREG-racing video game series in NFS. 

Download CSR Racing APK

Dowanload Real Racing 3 APK

The Android version of Real Racing 3, an action packed racing game from Electronic Arts has just received a major update. The new release comes with 2 new cars, namely Chevrolet Cobalt SS and the Camaro ZL1.

The update also features an all-new hunter mode and the the cross-platform cloud save functionality that allows you to save your game progress. Real Racing 3 now has 100+ new events and you can see who is online and the statistics leader board allows you compare your scores with your friends.

Last but now the least, the update comes with improved tutorial and main menu along with few performance tweaks and stability fixes.

The updated version of Real Racing 3 for Android can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Download Real Racing 3 APK