Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Switching the Focus

written by: Nick Kosmides


I'm sure its evident, as the date of my last Android post was quite a while ago.  This post marks a shift in my writing interests.  I've always had a thing for gaming, and as much as I tried to redirect that to new frontiers I seemed to consistently find my way back to it.  Albeit, gaming on Android through Amazon's Free App of the Day promotions isn't quite the same as writing a review for Super Mario Bros for the NES.  But that sounds like so much more fun to me.

My friends, former colleagues and family consider me the go-to guy for gaming knowledge, a vessel for source information.  I've won my fair share of nearly endless XBOX 360 vs PlayStation 3 debates since the its debate-losing launch (sans trophies, week PSN, launch price, etc).  Today, that has trans-morphed into intervention material for anyone who has been playing a 360 and has not ever experienced the power and versatility of a PS3 before.  The arsenal of insults Microsoft has allotted me makes that possible, but my angle is not like it used to be.  My stance on the console war is more peaceful, in that if you want to hear what I have to say for and against either camp, then I will share it and not be crass about it either.

So, with that and the many other tidbits I am proud to bestow upon the reading eyes of other gamers, I say farewell to Android news for the time being.  Follow me on Twitter @kosmocrisis, find me on Google + or Facebook, follow my site, take a picture, I don't care.  Just keep in touch!
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Amazon's Free App of the Day - Gift Shopper Pro

written by: Nick Kosmides


Ring in the holidays with today's free app of the day.  With less than four hours to go on this freebie deal, and less than 4 shopping days before its seasons greetings to all the family knocking at your door (or ringing the door bell if you're one of those rich people).  This app couldn't have been more ill-timed.  Gift Shopper Pro collects all the shopping data you would normally put on paper and makes any gift giving time of year easier to commit to.

Good for birthdays or any other gift giving occasion, Gift Shopper Pro supports your Android device camera to scan items into your recipient's gift list.  For use either before shopping or after you've made the purchase, once an item is entered for that special someone, you can track how much you've spent so as to stay on budget.  Probably the most important feature when you're shopping during Christmas holidays for a ton of family and friends.  You can budget each person and not go totally broke, or at least you will see it coming before the credit card bills arrive in the mail to ring in your debt in 2012.

Download this app today while its free to get your shopping in order before you go overboard.  Though, it may already be too late, then its to the depths in Davy Jones' locker fer yee!

Gift Shopper Pro - $0.99 FREE
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Day 9 - 11 Apps for 10 cents

written by: Nick Kosmides


Ha, funny joke Google.  Throw in a repeat sale for Swiftkey and completely confuse the masses as to why there is 11 apps for sale when there is only supposed to be 10.  I get your joke.  No, actually, I don't.

More games than most can fit on their phone and a couple of those other types of apps.  Check out the full list below.  As always with my posts, check out the Amazon Appstore links as well.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Day 8 - 10 Apps for only 10 cents for 2 More Days

written by: Nick Kosmides


Only two days remain and the Android Market comes to the plate swinging for the fence.  Though there are a few repeats, I guess to allow people who missed out on them the first time to have another crack at them, there are more gems this time around.

A couple to check out would be SlideIt keyboard.  One big thing that differentiates Android phones from iPhone is the ability to customize just about every aspect of the device, including the keyboard.  I love choices and this looks to be another good offering in the Swype category.  Oceanhouse Media brings another Little Critter book to the sale and Disney is offering its mulitplatform liquid success Where's My Water.  Check out the full list of 10 cent apps with Amazon Appstore links below.

One day left after today.  Hopefully Google pulls out all the top shelf apps for the tenth and final day.  I wouldn't be all that surprised if after this sale the Android Market reaches 11 billion downloads!  One billion in one day would be pretty impressive.
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Monday, December 12, 2011

Day 7 - 10 More Apps for only 10 cents for 10 Days

written by: Nick Kosmides


Seven days into the 10 days of 10 apps for 10 cents, we can no begin the countdown backgrounds indicating how many days remain.  Only two days remain for Google to showcase some of the best apps they have to offer by such a hefty price reduction.  With today's offerings completely overtaken by games.  Only an Oceanhouse Media e-book, a repeat deal of Beautiful Widgets, and the music recognition app Sound Hound for the non-gaming shoppers. See below for the complete list and notice which ones are also available in the Amazon Appstore for Android.


One trending issue I've noticed with many apps in the Android Market is reviewers complaining about DRM.  Requiring them to be logged in somehow or have a data connection at boot up.  This is extremely frustrating because its usually required every time the app is launched to prove that your copy is not a pirated copy.  The emotion generated when you are being tested as a thief after having paid for a legit title is not far from infuriating.  As always, read the reviews, and now in the web market you can sort the reviews by device to see people's impressions of the app on your device.
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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Day 6 - 10 More Apps for only 10 cents for 10 Days

written by: Nick Kosmides


What happened to Day 5 you're wondering?  Well, holiday parties and the Sony reunion happened.  Good times, good times.

Now its Day 6 and its looking like a pretty good selection of apps for just $0.10.  More games than previously and a pretty popular exercising app.  Take a look and just buy it all.  Remember to take note as to which games are also available in the Amazon Appstore for Android.  Use those Amazon giftcards on your new Kindle Fire.
I grabbed Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro, Raging Thunder and Just Me and My Mom.  I don't recommend Raging Thunder as its really old and has dated N64 graphics.  Endomondo is ideal if you have friends on Facebook that are all using is as well since the app allows you to pep talk with your peers and compare running or biking stats.  It includes calorie burning, GPS tracing and support of heart rate devices.

What will you download today?
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Amazon's Free App of the Day - Kung Fu Panda Holiday

written by: Nick Kosmides


Kung Fu Panda Holiday e-book is free today in the Amazon Appstore for Android.  Having all the features of the e-books from Oceanhouse Media's infamous Dr. Seuss e-books, Zuuka Inc brings us the holiday adventures of Po, Master Shifu and the Furious Five to Android devices.

Almost immediately after downloading anything designed for my four year old, I always quality control them before she gets to see it in action.  Just in case it doesn't work on my phone, or flat out sucks.  I want her to play only the best, so that when she is old enough to get me games for the holidays she will return the favor!

First thing I noticed is that the male voice used to read the stories is very good when compared to the voices I've heard from the Dr. Seuss stories from Oceanhouse Media.  The pace of the story is very good and the pages are movie quality.  Best of all, the original actors read the parts for the characters they played in the movies!  That means Jack Black for Po and Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, and Angelina Jolie as Tigress.  Yes!

There is quite a bit of text to read, so early readers beware, following along may be tough.  My daughter is pretty good at reading at just 4 and a half years old, but she may have to read this a few times before she becomes confortable.  The text is clear and bold at the bottom of the screen, and becomes highlighted as the words are spoken during the read to me portion.

Grab this app for your little ones while it remains free for today.

Kung Fu Panda Holiday - $2.99 FREE
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Friday, December 9, 2011

Day 4 - 10 Apps Only 10 cents for 10 Days (Android Market)

written by: Nick Kosmides


It's day 4 and I must say I'm not a fan of today's choices.  Though other writers are claiming this is a $1.00 spending spree day, I just don't agree.  Take a look at the list to see for yourself and like the days deals prior, many of these titles are also available in the Amazon Appstore for Android.
Game Dev Story will most likely find its way onto my phone, but I have most everything else already thanks to Amazon's Free Paid App of the Day program in the Amazon Appstore for Android.  My favorite for today, if you didn't get it free from Amazon, is Jelly Defense.  Gorgeous visuals just pop off the screen and the game runs smooth as butter on my Fascinate 2.3.5.

Enjoy.
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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Day 3 - 10 Billion Downloads In The Android Market

written by: Nick Kosmides


Yesterday was a feast of fantastic apps, and today is no picnic, err... just another feast.  Get it?  So, while you're puzzling over that last one I'll run through the list below.

Tetris could easily be the reason people buy today, but don't overlook some of the others.  Kids Learn To Read is an educational app and never come this cheap.  ADWLauncher EX is the full paid version that includes many enhancements over the very popular free version that so many Cyanogen modders are familiar with.  And Reckless Getaway is familiar playground of speed and arcade racing very much akin to the Burnout franchise on consoles.

If you haven't already, the Amazon offerings of Can Knockdown 2 and Tetris are also available for the same price as the Android Market.  Competition is thick, though if you have an Kindle Fire this is currently the only way to get some of the same deals as other Android devices.
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

10B Celebration Kicks Off In The Android Market

written by: Nick Kosmides


Though it started yesterday, Google is celebrating the 10 billion Android Market downloads by offering 10 different apps each day for a mere $0.10 each.  Yesterday introduced some really great apps, but today is no different.  Trading one racing game for another, bringing wireless iTunes syncing to Android, and even the Christmas HD live wallpaper.  Check out today's list of ten cent apps below and find out which ones I'm rockin'.
Having downloaded Fruit Ninja almost the day after I got my first Android, I can say without hesitation that this game is worth the price.  Lots of fun, and becoming more popular as I've even seen it in Dave & Busters as a large-screen-four-finger-swiping-ticket-dispensing game, and also on XBOX Kinect.

Anything from Ocean House Media that is on sale is recommended for those with children and the unavoidable desire to hand your most prized and pricey of devices over to the sticky fingered mini you.  As the digital frontier overtakes paper books, apps like this pave the way for children to adopt the technology for their own.  They won't even know about paper packing books by the time they go to school.  Maybe just because there won't be any trees left.

I just downloaded Airsync and can confirm, this thing is sick!  With the iTunes cloning application for Mac/PC on the desktop or laptop, and this fully featured music and movie playing and streaming mega app on my phone, nothing can stop you from enjoying your stuff.  Maybe except for storage space on said devices.  Plus, I can stream music, movies, or pics to my PS3 using this app now.  Easily the best $0.10 I've ever spent.

Reckless Racing and Beautiful Widgets round out today purchases for me.  I have not yet played Reckless Racing though I hear from people and reviewers that its pretty fun.  At least it was a long while ago when it first came out.  Beautiful Widgets is exactly like another app called Fancy Widgets that I've been using for the same thing.  Create great looking clock, weather and battery widgets in all different sizes.  Add the ability to get weather alerts, notifications, tap to launch apps like calendar or alarms, etc and you've got an all-in-one widget to make your home screens a bit easier on the eyes.

What will you enjoy for one-tenth of a dollar charged to your credit card?
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