Android inching closer to Apple as app revenues expected to double to $6.8B

According to the latest report from ABI research, Android smartphone app revenues are expected to reach $6.8 billion – nearly twice more than last years numbers.

While that may sound like a lot, that’s only about 60% of the total posted by iOS – the clear leader in app revenue amongst all mobile OS’s.
While Apple’s 65% share in smartphone and tablet app revenue is hard to contend with, Google’s experience in online advertising is translating well into the mobile world, and is one area where Android apps excel – targeting online audiences through in-app advertisements. This is especially significant as some 90% of all apps are now free, and earn their cash through in-app ads.
Android’s open source approach is also more appealing to carriers, who have more incentive to choose Google’s OS because its ability to allow carrier billing for apps. Carrier billing has significantly higher completion rates than credit or debit cards.
When it comes to smartphones, Android app revenue is expected to rise to 66% of iOS totals next year. Apple may have something to say about that come next month, if the rumors are true.

Samsung Series 3 Chromebox gets a redesign

Samsung launched the original Series 3 Chromebox back in May last year along with the Chromebook. The Chromebox was a desktop PC similar to the Mac mini. But perhaps it was a bit too similar, as the design was almost universally slammed for being a clone of the latter.

In the latest version, Samsung has chosen to upgrade just the design, with everything else being exactly the same. It still has the same 1.9GHz Intel Celeron B840 processor, Intel HD Graphics, 4GB DDR3 RAM and 16GB flash storage. But the design has now been changed to a very simplified white, monolithic shape that frankly looks like something placed upside down.

On the front is the power button along with a flap that hides the headphone jack and two USB ports. On the back is a cacophony of slots that include four USB ports, two DisplayPorts, Ethernet, DVI, power input and ventilation slots.
As with the older Chromebox, the new one will continue to be priced at $329 in the US.

Contra: Evolution’ now available on the Play Store

We reviewed Contra: Evolution when it was released on iOS back in May. Now, developers Punchbox Studios have also released an Android version of the game on the Play Store for $0.99.

Contra: Evolution, as you can imagine, is an evolved version of the 1987 cult classic. The gameplay and even the general level design is nearly identical but the game has been given a solid shot in the arm with significantly updated visuals that are completely redrawn and not just running at a higher resolution like most ports.
You can read our full review of Contra: Evolution here and find the download link below.
Play Store

Blizzard details Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls expansion

Enough teasing. Blizzard has officially announced the Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls expansion. Along with it the company also launched the game’s opening cinematic trailer. Needless to say, it’s a pure Blizzard masterpiece.

The game takes place after the epic fall of Diablo and his capture into the black soulstone. Now, there’s a new, greater evil on the block – Malthael, the angel of death.
As far as gameplay is concerned, the Diablo 3 expansion boasts a new Crusader class, a higher level cap and a ton of new items, as well as a new looting system conveniently dubbed “Loot 2.0″.

Sony announces the PlayStation 4, arriving this holiday season

As was widely expected, Sony announced its upcoming PlayStation 4 gaming console at the February 20 event. While a lot was said about the console at the event, we still don’t know what it looks like or how much it would cost.

But let’s talk about what we do know, starting with the hardware. For the PS4, Sony is using an x86-64 AMD processor with an integrated 8-core ‘Jaguar’ CPU and GPU. The GPU is capable of delivering 1.84 TFLOPS of performance, which pegs it slightly above AMD’s Radeon HD 7870 desktop GPU announced last year. The PS4 will also have 8GB of GDDR5 memory with around 176GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Other specifications include a built-in hard drive (no mention of SSD or ability to swap the drive), 6x Blu-ray and 8x DVD drive, USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, HDMI, analog AV-out and optical S/PDIF audio output.
The PS4 will be sold with the new DualShock 4 controller, which looks very similar to the leaked prototype we saw last week. It features a two-point capacitive trackpad above the joystick and a three-color LED light bar on top, which changes color to identify player or even during a game to denote things such as player health.


The PS4 has dual 1280 x 800 resolution 3D cameras with f/2.0 fixed focus lenses, 85-degree field of view, 30cm minimum focusing distance and four-channel microphone array. These track the light bar on the controllers, they way the Move did. The DualShock 4 also has three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer, vibration, mono speaker, microUSB port, stereo headset port, extension port and a 1000mAh battery.

Moving back to the console, there are quite a lot more new features to talk about, including:

• Ability to stream games, thanks to the Gaikai cloud based service. This could be used in future to stream PS3, PS2 and PSOne games to the PS4.
• Ability to stream PS4 games to the PSVita. Sony is aiming to offer virtually every PS4 game on the PSVita through streaming in the future.
• Ability to play games while they are downloading.
• Ability to try any new game before purchasing.
• Ability to record and upload game videos while playing games. The processing is done by a separate background processor. You can view videos uploaded by other players.
• Ability to download games and updates while the console is switched off using the background processor.
• Brand new interface for the PS4 as well as the PSVita.
• New iOS and Android PlayStation App will let you use your smartphone as a second screen to view game details as well as view videos and other content uploaded by other gamers.

There will be no backward compatibility of PS3 titles on the PS4, a direct result of the new processor architecture used on the latter. The Gaikai streaming feature remains the only hope to play older titles on the PS4, although that feature hasn’t been officially announced yet. You will be able to play used PS4 games on the new console, something a lot of people do.
Speaking of games, we have a handful of confirmed titles, including ‘Killzone: Shadow Fall’, ‘inFAMOUS: Second Son’, ‘Destiny’ by Bungie, ‘Deep Down’ (working title) by Capcom, ‘DriveClub’, ‘Knack’, ‘The Witness’, ‘Diablo III’ and ‘Watch_Dogs’ by Ubisoft.
As mentioned before, we still don’t know what the console looks like or will cost. All we know is that it is expected to be released by the holiday season by the end of this year.

Call of Duty: Ghosts trailer and behind the scenes video released

Posted in: Gaming

Call of Duty: Ghosts trailer and behind the scenes video released

May 22nd, 2013, 10:12 by Prasad 20 comments

Yesterday, we didn’t just get to see the unveiling of the Xbox One but also of the next game in the popular Call of Duty franchise: Call of Duty: Ghosts. Activision was present at the Microsoft event to provide a behind the scenes look at the new game as well as for the world premier of the Ghosts trailer.

Call of Duty: Ghosts is a departure from the previous Call of Duty games and features completely new characters and story. You play as a member of Ghosts, a super elite team of highly trained soldiers formed from the remnants of the US military forces. The country is in turmoil and you’re the only hope it has to fight back.
Ghosts brings with it a brand new graphics engine for more realistic visuals. Along with fellow soldiers you will also be fighting alongside trained army dogs who can sniff out explosives and protect the team. There are also new gameplay elements such as ability to quickly vault over walls while running, do a running slide while shooting and sniffing out enemies from around a corner and shooting.
You can check out the new features in the behind the scenes video below and the trailer after that.

Sony PS3

Sony launches the 12GB PS3 in US and Canada for $199

Sony has launched the 12GB model of the PlayStation 3 in the US and Canada. The model has been available internationally for some time now but is only being introduced in North America now.

The 12GB model is priced at $199.99 and is available through Best Buy. Unlike the more capacious models, the 12GB model uses flash drive, although you can still install a hard drive to expand the storage.
On paper the 12GB capacity seems quite low but if you don’t download a lot of games and media from the PlayStation Store or maybe if you need it primarily for watching Blu-ray movies or if you’re simply strapped for cash, then this should be an ideal option.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Review!

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Magic Tricks (Episode 6, Cut the Rope)

Sleeping Dogs - Walkthrough - Part 1 (PS3/X360/PC) [HD] (Gameplay)

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Assassin's Creed 3 - E3 Official Trailer [UK]

Sleepings Dogs

Undercover, the Rules Are Different

Welcome to Hong Kong, a vibrant neon city teeming with life, whose exotic locations and busy streets hide one of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations in the world: the Triads. In this open world game, you play the role of Wei Shen, an undercover cop trying to take down the Triads from the inside out. You'll have to prove yourself worthy as you fight your way up the organization, taking part in brutal criminal activities without blowing your cover. Torn between your loyalty to the badge and a criminal code of honor, you will risk everything as the lines between truth, loyalty and justice become permanently blurred.

download full game manual

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The sequel to the smash hit phenomenon that took the world by storm!

Temple Run 2 play.google.com.templerun2
With over 170 million downloads, Temple Run redefined mobile gaming. Now get more of the exhilarating running, jumping, turning and sliding you love in Temple Run 2!

Navigate perilous cliffs, zip lines, mines and forests as you try to escape with the cursed idol. How far can you run?!

Features:

• Beautiful new graphics
• Gorgeous new organic environments
• New obstacles
• More powerups
• More achievements
• Special powers for each character
• Bigger monkey!!!

Required Android O/S : 2.1+

Screenshots :
 
 

Cut the Rope HD v2.3.1 APK

Cut the Rope HD v2.3.1 APK

Cut the Rope, catch a star, and feed Om Nom candy in this award-winning game!

Download Now
Cut the Rope HD
Cut the Rope, catch a star, and feed Om Nom candy in this award-winning game!
A mysterious package has arrived, and the little monster inside has only one request… CANDY! Cut the ropes, release candy into Om Nom's mouth, collect shiny gold stars, and unlock new levels.

Join millions of others who have enjoyed the outstanding physics, tricky levels, and colorful visuals of ZeptoLab's critically acclaimed Cut the Rope.

Features:

• 275 levels, 11 level boxes
• Innovative gameplay mechanics
• Realistic physics
• Cute character 
• Outstanding graphics 
• Constant free updates with new levels

What's in this version : (Updated : Aug 1, 2013)

• Based on customer feedback, we have removed the third party software from Cut the Rope that required additional permissions. We value your feedback and comfort above all else and hope that you enjoy our latest Cheese Box update.
• Various bug fixes and improvements

Required Android O/S : 1.6+

Screenshots :
 
 

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Assassins Creed IV Black Flag News

08.15.13

Connecting with the Jackdaw’s Crew

Pirate, Assassin … and commander of a full crew. What role do the men under Edward Kenway play in the game?

Life is tough enough when you’re pirate and an aspiring Assassin. But that’s not all on Edward Kenway’s deck. He also commands the Jackdaw, which puts Edward in command of an entire crew of pirates. What’s that mean for Edward and, most important, the player? We’ve got new insights into the Jackdaw’s crew and the role they play in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag.
For the full UbiBlog feature, navigate over to: Connecting with the Jackdaw’s Crew.

‘Asphalt 7: Heat’ for iOS and Android game review

The latest iteration in the Asphalt series is Asphalt 7: Heat. The first time we got a glimpse of this game was in the promotional material for the Samsung Galaxy S III, although the game itself arrived on iOS first, as they usually do, and it’s only now after almost a months has it made an appearance on Android.

Title	ASPHALT 7: HEAT
Platform	iOS	Android
Developer	Gameloft
Release Date	June 2012	July 2012
Content rating	4+	Everyone
Size	1.11GB	1.4GB
Price	$0.99

Gameplay

The gameplay in Asphalt 7 is very similar to its predecessor. The career mode has been split into thirteen cups, with each cup having multiple races of various types. In each race, depending upon your performance, you can earn up to three stars. Once you earn enough stars in the current cup, you unlock the next cup.

 You have five basic types of races. There is the normal race, where you race against other cars and you have to be in the top three to win the race. Other race types include Elimination (the last car in each lap gets eliminated), Drift (drift as much as possible in a limited amount of time), Beat ‘em all (take down a certain number of cars), Old school arcade (race against the clock) and Paintjob (finish the race without damaging the car).                                                 

As you race, you will find cash and nitro boost on the track. You can also drift or drive dangerously to fill the nitro meter. You get three levels of nitro boost depending upon the amount nitro you have left. If you have the maximum amount, you get a super powered boost, which turns your screen blue. If you hit an enemy car while this mode is active, you automatically take down that car. It must be said though that in this mode, it does get a bit difficult to see where you’re going and what’s in your path as the screen becomes a bit too dark. And even though you are supposedly going fast it doesn’t feel any faster than the other boost modes.
A certain trivia mistake that I found in the game is the presence of nitro boost for the Tesla Roadster, which is an electric car. In real life Nitro boost only works with cars that have an internal combustion engine, but perhaps it was more fair this way.
As with the previous games in the series, the gameplay in Asphalt 7 is a lot of fun. Even though the basic premise has remained the same, the improved visuals and dynamics of the vehicles makes the game feel that much more real and closer to what you will find in games on the PC or the consoles.
The drifting in this game deserves special mention, as it is the most enjoyable activity you’ll have the chance of doing throughout the game. Drifting requires almost no effort at all to initiate. Just turn into the corner and tap the brake and the car’s rear end will stick out. You need to keep the accelerator pressed (if you have enabled manual accelerator) and just control the direction with the steering. If you turn too hard the car would turn 90 degrees and go straight into the side of the road. Too little and the car will straighten out and the drift will end.
Getting this just right requires a bit of practice initially but after that it’s an absolute blast. Once you get the hang of it, you will be hunting for corners to pull off a drift. Drifting also has it’s advantages, as it is a lot faster way of getting around tight bends than simply slowing down. You hardly lose any speed through the corner and as a bonus, you get a nice shot of nitro boost.

Along with the career mode, there is also a quick play mode and a multiplayer mode. The multiplayer mode lets you play online against others using Gameloft’s online service or you can also play locally over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Graphics and Sound

Visually Asphalt 7 is very impressive, a much better version of its predecessor. The environments are more richly detailed and the car models also look more real. The lighting in the game is also impressive and lens flare has been used to good effect. The car models are all very shiny and reflect the surroundings, such as the buildings on the side, the banners above and even the fireworks in a particular night level. The game also gives a great sense of speed, which is particularly impressive on the large screens of tablets. 

Rating: 4.5/5 (iOS) | 4/5 (Android)
Pros: Exciting gameplay, great visuals and sound, wide collection of cars, well priced
Cons: Nags you with the Facebook sharing option, annoying narrator, graphical issues on Android
Download: iOS | Android