Top 10 Best Android Games – January 2013

10. The Great Fusion If you're looking for something truly different to play over the weekend then look no further than The Great Fusion, set in the year 2022, strange things are afoot and it's your job to come along for the ride. Adventure games like these are sorely under represented these days and that's a real shame because a lot of us remember growing up with games like these. I know I do, Carmen Electra, Sam & Max and here's another game to add to that list. Well worth giving a go! 9. Noah's Ark Think you know puzzle games? Think again. There's a plethora of puzzle games available for Android and yet they all pretty much do the same thing they've been doing for years now – swipe down, swipe left, swipe up. That's fine if you're playing Tetris but I think we've moved on from that by that, right? With Noah's Ark you'll be tasked with using the accelerometer as well as the touchscreen to get a fuller experience that can be quite challenging indeed. Take a look at our review for more. 8. ExZeus 2 Who doesn't love big bad ass robots? Now strap some guns to them and give them some enemies to shoot and you're half way there. ExZeus 2 throws in some brilliant arcade gameplay that feels like the obscure Japanese cabinet at the bag of the arcade only the weird kids go and play. With some really good graphics and a strange, yet satisfying story there's a lot to love about ExZeus 2 and you'd be missing out if you didn't give the game a try! 7. Galaga Special Edition Who doesn't want a little nostalgia to go with that game? Well, for those that are more than happy to relive their youth Namco are more than happy to oblige with another version of Galaga to play through…again. Seriously though, I've loved every version of Galaga I've played and this "special" edition should be pretty good as well, right? It's Galaga…just play it…and love it. 6. Old School Defense Old School Defense is a game based around the hit Paramount movie and it's definitely a tower defense game but, there are some differences and no, there are no plants nor zombies here. Instead, you've got to defend against the Dean's old tricks that are trying to ruin your parties! There are over 30 different maps so if you're a tower defense nut then you'll have more than enough to keep you occupied here. 5. Ikaruga If you've known and heard about Ikaruga then there's a good chance you either played it on XBLA or on the Dreamcast, like I did. Ikaruga was one of the last games to be released for the ill-fated Dreamcast and its quirky portrait layout finally has a place to call home – the ever-growing displays of Android smartphones. If you're into to space shooters and just games that have a sort of Japanese feel in them then you need to give this one a try, a great game, indeed. 4. ShaqDown Zombies? Check. Unconventional Action Hero to save the day? Check. Basketballs…wait, what? That's right, ShaqDown is a game that puts all sorts of stuff into a pot and then comes out with an awesome Zombie game that has real character. ShaqDown is a great game that will have you defeating zombie mutant after zombie mutant like never before, with awesome cartoon graphics that make it feel like you're pulling the strings in a comic book. Can you master your "shaq fu"? Give the game a go to see if you can… 3. Tupsu Tupsu is a strange game and that's not just because of its unique look but its control system as well. Now, strange does not always mean  bad – far from it – as Tupsu is a brilliant game. The problem is perhaps that it's a little difficult to explain. It's a puzzle game through and through but it's nothing like the ones you've played before. You've got to guide a fun-loving fuzzy animal through the levels to get through them. For those that are crying out for something fresh and new, this will fulfill your needs! 2. Anomaly Korea When we talk about action games we're normally talking about first-person shooters or something like that but, what we seem to have forgotten is that our brains can often do more damage when we take a step back and actually think about things. With Anomaly Korea you've got to push back an Alien Invasion with sheer brutality, using your brain. With the top down view on the stunning action you've got to plot routes and make sure that you're on top of things as you go from map to map clearing out the Aliens. It's like a less graphically intense Crysis 2, sort of. 1. Temple Run 2 It finally happened. The sequel to one of the most played mobile games is finally here and it's brilliant. Often we appreciate games for their complexity or their visual prowess but, none of that really matters if the game is awful to play, right? Temple Run 2 is not the most stunning of games and it's not all that feature packed but, you know what it is? Crazy fun. Let's put it this way – since this came out, toilet breaks have gotten a lot longer at the office. Our own Justin Diaz wrote up a review of the game and he found it to be pretty damn good, so do the rest of us here at AH and this weekend is the weekend you can exhaust the entire game and then wait forever for the next one!

Game Review: Around the Rock Disc Golf

Every so often there are sports that we want to play that aren't too easy to go out and play. One of those is Disc Golf, a fun sport that challenges your Frisbee skills and tasks you to play a Golf-like game. There are more people than ever signing up to play the sport but depending on where you're located it might be difficult to find somewhere with the right equipment to do so. This is where we turn to games and there's one such game out there that can help us play all the Disc Golf we want…virtually, of course. Read on to see if Around the Rock will satisfy your need to play Disc Golf wherever and whenever. Description: Around the Rock is a Disc Golf game that brings all the elements of the game to Android in a fun, arcade style. It's the best simulation of Disc Golf on the go that you can get access to and with some sweet-looking 3D graphics and a 3D physics engine that is only getting better all the time. There's a practice mode and a tournament to put your skills to the test. Around the Rock is built and designed by Disc Golfers so, this is perhaps the most authentic experience you're going to get on the go. How it Works: To get your hands on the game, just head over to the Play Store and download the game. After you've got the game installed you'll see the main menu:As you can see there are two main modes to the app, Practice and Tournament. Of course, it's a good idea to get started with the Practice sessions so let's do that now. When you load the Practice mode up the game will tell you the controls right away:The controls are pretty easy to figure out and for the most part all you have to remember to do is check the wind speed and adjust the disc power on the right and then throw it! You've got to watch out though, the game loves to put obstacles in your way on the courses. To line up your shot you have to move the navigation ring at the top of the screen, when you let go of the knob in your desired position on the power slider, you'll see a predicted trail of where the disc is going to go once you've thrown:Once you aim and then throw, you'll get a bird's eye view of the course your throw is taking an at the end of it there's a score ring, depending on where you land, the more or less points you'll get: Of course, what you really want to get is an ace!Practice is one thing, what you really want to do is take a look at the tournaments, there are a couple of courses to choose from and hopefully some more coming soon:When you play in tournament mode you'll notice some added difficulties and using your head a little more is going to help. Go ahead and try your hand in the tournaments! Opinion: This is going to sound a little strange but the first time I was exposed to Disc Golf was a segment on TV and ever since then I've been curious. There are more places to play the sport than ever before but, just like big name games like FIFA, playing a video game is enough to satisfy your cravings until you can get back to the course. I found the game a lot of fun and the wind speeds added a real challenge to the game, the crazy courses are cool as well. It's definitely a game I would have no trouble recommending to others. Ratings <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Speed (4/5) – There were no issues playing the game and the pacing of it all is great. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Features (5/5) – I've tried Golf games over the year but, they're boring. Disc Golf isn't and Around the Rock gets the balance of authenticity and arcade fun spot on. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Theme (4/5) – From a 3D perspective, these aren't the best graphics but, they look good and the disc glides nicely through the air. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Overall (4/5) – Fans of Disc Gold are going to love this but, even if you're new to the sport this is a great game and well worth playing. Pros <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Wind speed adds a nice dynamic difficulty to the game. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Physics are well represented and wind speed had a realistic effect on your throws. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>It's easy to play if you've never even heard of the sport. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Cool courses add even more to the fun. Cons <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Clanking sound for the disc hitting the hole would be great. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>An explanation of Disc Golf would be good for those new to the sport. Conclusion:  I really enjoyed the time I spent with the game and Around the Rock is something I have no problems in recommending to others. If you're new to Disc Golf or not doesn't matter with a game like this, it's got a great arcade-type feel to it and it's a lot of fun regardless of your grasp on the sport. However, those that live and breathe Disc Golf might have more fun with the game as it could settle your cravings when you're away from the course. What's really great about the game that the little ones will have little problem picking up the game and it will become something to play with the kids. Follow the link below to get your hands on the game. The developers behind the game are a hardworking bunch and this is one game that you might see on the Ouya later this year!

NFL Quarterback 13 v1.0.2 Apk Android

BE THE QUARTERBACK! The #1 sports game returns to the field for 2013 with explosive new content in the only Official NFL QB game. You are the Quarterback. You call the shots! Your receivers power off the line. Who are you passing to? Where's the D? Who's in coverage? In a split second, aim, lead your receiver and THROW! Can you handle the pressure of being the most important player on the team? The most precise, yet easy to use controls ever seen in a football game. Giving you ultimate power with Full Fat's unique and award winning flick and after-touch controls, developed by the same team that brought you Flick Golf, Agent Dash and NFL Kicker. ★ Multiple Receivers ★ Tackling on Receivers and QB ★ All new uniforms and equipment ★ Realistic receiver routes ★ Weather effects ★ Upgrade your stadium ★ Compete with Facebook friends ★ Super high resolution graphics ★ All 32 official NFL teams Click Here To Download Direct Download Link - Direct Download Link

Bang Bang Racing HD [non-THD] [THD] Apk Android

Pumping physics, gorgeous graphics - a true console racing experience on mobile! Bang Bang Racing HD now available for ***ALL ANDROID DEVICES*** A home console racing experience designed and optimized for mobile devices and which utilizes NVIDIA® PhysX (tm) technology. Bang Bang Racing THD is a fun, action-packed racing game that has cool visuals and pumped-up sports cars. But underneath its playful exterior, it has the pumping heart of a true racing game. Real-time dynamic physics allow for finesse and control - drifting through corners and clipping every apex delivers huge player satisfaction. The game also features a unique control system allowing you to simply point where you want the car to go, as if you are drawing a racing line for the car to follow. Features • A brand new IP giving you an exclusive home console experience for your mobile device. • 4 control methods including Point, Split, Auto and Full. • 8 stunning tracks based on world-wide locations. • 4 Racing classes including: Muscle based "N-Dura", Sports style "Evo GT", ALPS based "Protech" and open wheel style "Apex". • 20 cars in total with each car having its own handling model and selection of skins. • Dynamic objects including exploding water, oil and fire barrels, as well as cones and tyres. • The game also features, single race, time trial, championship and reverse track modes. Click Here To Download Non-Tegra Version [v1.6] Direct Download Link - Direct Download Link Tegra Version [v1.4] Download Link

Beta 3 of Carbon Android App Sync and Backup now available

As promised by Koush, the 3rd and final Beta version of Carbon Android App Sync and Backup is now available. This version brings support for non rooted devices, the Box cloud service, notifications, and a cancel option. For those of you that aren't rooted, you will need to download and install the new Windows desktop app. We should see the final version hit the Google Play Store around January 30th because that's when this version will stop working. Hit the source link for more information and/or to download the files.

Run Ice Cream Sandwich On Your PC With “WindowsAndroid”

Are you looking to get a full Android experience on your Windows based PC? The FULL experience not afforded to you by BlueStacks? Well look no further than WindowsAndroid by SocketeQ, a startup company out of Beijing, China. Currently compatible with Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8, WindowsAndroid gives a full Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich experience as a native application. This means that the user can not only run apps, which is what Bluestacks does, but also has access to things like settings and use of the native browser. While still in development you can request an early build of the software, which includes a short sign up process where you will be e-mailed a link. The actual installer is 64.8MB and the program itself takes up 300MB. It's still very buggy but the WindowsAndroid software gets the job done running ICS by setting up a  Davlik Virtual Machine. One major bug so far in WindowsAndroid is that the programmers have yet to get the Google Play Store to work correctly. This means that in order to get third party applications running they must first be side loaded. Side loading apps can be accomplished by putting the APK (including 4.0 gApps) files into SocketeQ/windowsandroid_root\data\app and rebooting the app. Depending on your computer most of this process including opening and running apps should move pretty quickly. The official feature list is as follows: (Typos theirs not ours) <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Current ported Android version is 4.0.3r1, new version is being developed. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Has exactly the same user experience with the original Android2 <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Integrated with Windows' applications, such as Flash, Windows Media Player, etc. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Supports any UI resolution, such as 1920×1080 <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Supports windowing mode or full-screen mode, window scaling in windowing mode, and switching between windowing mode and full screen mode. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Supports IO devices such as mouse, keyboard, remote control. <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Supports Ethernet, pppoe. Obviously with something so early in beta it's not ready for prime time but it is worth giving a shot. So if you really want to be on the bleeding edge of WindowsAndroid or are just curious, head on over to the SocketeQ website to get your copy and start fiddling around with it.

Amazon’s Cloud Drive Photos app gets an update with several new features including instant upload

Amazon's Cloud Drive Photos application got an update on the Play Store last week, bringing a few useful features along with it. The biggest change is the Instant Upload feature. Unfortunately, Amazon's playing catch up a bit here, as Facebook and Dropbox have already had that built into their applications, but it's good to see it anyway. There's also support for taking photos with your camera in the application, although only on devices running Android 4.0 and up.  Aside from that, it's just basic enhancements, like being able to select multiple photos at once, view how much storage space you have left, get notifications when you're low on storage, etc. Handy update that's definitely worth grabbing. Hit the link below to download it. Play Store Download Link

Did the FCC Just Approve Approve the Samsung Note 8.0?

The last few weeks have been time for a lot of rumors. We have been hearing rumors and leaks about the Samsung Galaxy S VI, but more importantly is the Samsung Note 8.0. At first the things we heard about the Samsung Note 8.0 were fishy, but the leaks and rumors just kept trickling out each day with more information that made the Note 8.0 come to life and become more realistic. Let's do a quick recap of what has been released so far for the Samsun Note 8.0. Specs have been said to be: <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>8" display (1280×800 res) <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>1.6 GHz quad-core processor <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>2GB of RAM <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>16 or 32GB Storage options <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>5 MP Rear Camera <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>1.3 MP Front-Facing Camera <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Support for Micros SD <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>802.11 a/b/g/n/ WiFi <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>A-GPS <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>3G Support <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Bluetooth 4.0 <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>USB 2.0 <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>4600 mAh battery <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Android 4.2 Jelly Bean <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>S-Pen support and apps So far we have had images and specs leaked about this device, so what do we have now? It has been said that this device (Note 8.0) has been spotted in the FCC. A model number of GT-N5110 shows as a Wi-Fi only tablet, containing 16GB internal storage, and a rounded "protruding camera lens" on the back . It has also been said that the model number GT-N5100 is the 3G version of the Samsung Note 8.0. The picture below can show that it matches a lot of what has been leaked about the Samsung Note 8.0 already. This is all speculation of course, it's hard to say what will become of the Samsung Note 8.0 without real confirmation, but I'm sure that most of specs will hold up in the long run. Image Source: Android Authority Speculators are claiming that the Note 8.0 is going to surface and give its official presence at the Mobile World Congress in February, which could make this a very exciting event for all Android Lovers unlike CES. Pricing for this device is still unknown, but has been said that it will be competing not only with the Nexus 7, but the iPad Mini as well. So it has been said that the price will be in above the Nexus 7, but no higher than the iPad Mini, which many have still claimed as being "too expensive." So now that we have released leaks from the FCC does this make the Samsung Note 8.0 more realistic to us? How do you feel? Lets us know below! Source: FCC

 

Samsung Continues to Dominate Smartphone Market in 2012

Its that time of the year, folks. There are all kinds of nifty bits of data being released every few days that give us an increasingly clear picture of the changes in the smartphone market over the last 12 months. This is one of the broader overviews that came from Strategy Analytics recently. This study simply tracks the number of smartphones that each manufacturer shipped in 2012. I doubt any of us will be blown away by these numbers, but there are a few interesting nuggets to be pulled out of this report. But first, lets look at the raw data. As you might expect, Samsung continues to be the global leader in smartphone sales by a significant margin. Samsung shipped 77 million more devices in 2012 than its nearest competitor, Apple. That gives everyone's favorite Korean electronics giant a 30.4% market share world wide. Apple has continued to stick around in second place. However, it is worth noting that while Apple's market share grew from 19% in 2011 to 19.4% in 2012, Samsung made massive gains jumping from 19.9% to 30.4%. With the launch of the Galaxy S III and the roaring success of the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Note II, its not surprising that Samsung is continuing to rule the smart phone market. No other manufacture has managed to ship phones at a reasonable price point while still maintaining such a high standard of quality. It is also interesting that although Apple and Samsung account for nearly  50% of the smart phone market combined, there are also many smaller manufactures that continue to grow and even show signs of thriving. Although HTC has struggled in the last several months, ZTE, Motorola and others continue to show signs of innovation and creativity. And in an increasingly competitive market filled with ever more well-informed consumers, innovation will continue to be the most valuable commodity in 2013.

Samsung’s rise leading to their downfall? Part 2 of 3

In Part 1 of our series about the rise of Samsung and the potential issues that they face in the future, we looked at the SAFE Program and Samsung's attempt to tackle Apple, and by natural extension RIM in the enterprise and government markets. Today, we take a look at the effort that Samsung has put into marketing only the Samsung product, and not Android OS. It's interesting to contemplate the effort, and to think about the possibilities of where Samsung might be headed. It's not about Android for Samsung Samsung has never spent money marketing Android. Not that any of the other Android OEMs have an Android-specific marketing plan, but Samsung never mentions Android in their advertising. Ever. The reason is simple, and it makes total sense: Samsung isn't in the business of selling Android, they're in the business of selling their hardware. You'd think that perhaps Samsung could show Android a little love in their marketing. I mean, without Android, Samsung most definitely would not be in the position that they enjoy today.They don't market Android, and they won't. Samsung has a number of features for their devices that are portable, meaning that they are actually independent of Android and could be ported over to any platform that Samsung chooses. As an example, there are already reports that the very intriguing S-Pen will make its way to Samsung's line of Windows tablets, and likely a high-end Windows Phone 8 device as well. More than any other Android OEM, Samsung has incorporated unique and compelling features for their devices. And they've made them all Android-independent for porting and reuse on any mobile OS that Samsung would like to see them available on. In addition to developing these unique features, Samsung has created some bold and provocative advertising material that drives home the added value of their efforts, but it never mentions Google or Android at all. Click here to view the embedded video. Click here to view the embedded video. Click here to view the embedded video. The Samsung ecosystem that isn't Android either I really don't like to refer to the disparate "me too" consumption apps that Samsung has developed as an ecosystem, but that's exactly what the nascent grouping of detached properties that Samsung has cobbled together could turn into. To be sure, your new Samsung device will come with all of the Google apps that are required to be pre-installed, including the Google Play Store. That doesn't mean that Samsung isn't actively in the process of preparing for the day when they no longer need Google to power their devices. All of the bases are covered. Samsung already has the following apps and services in use today: <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Samsung App Store <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Samsung Music Hub powered by mSpot <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Samsung Media (video) hub powered by mSPot <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Samsung Game Hub <![if !supportLists]>§ <![endif]>Samsung Reader's Hub Samsung, like Amazon before them, have developed all of the core consumption centric apps and services that they will need to go it alone without Google and Android. You could make the argument that the Samsung App Store only runs on Android offering Android apps, or that the consumption services are only available for Android-powered Samsung devices, and you'd be right. And wrong at the same time. All of these apps and services are controlled by Samsung, including the mSpot services that they bought in 2011. In a theoretical (inevitable?) shift by Samsung toward Tizen, there would suddenly appear a Tizen-compatible apps section in the Samsung App Store, and all of the Samsung core ecosystem apps would suddenly make a Tizen compatible appearance. Creating ecosystems really is harder than it looks, but building a secondary Android based ecosystem that runs within the Google controlled and created Android ecosystem is a total non sequitur. Samsung has no intention of living long-term under the ever watchful, controlling eye of Google. It's only a matter of time before they break out on their own, even if the first steps away from Google are just baby steps. Samsung's SAFE Program isn't about Android either Yesterday was all about the SAFE Program, so if you haven't read that piece yet, give it a look. As the next big battlefront with Apple, you'd think that Sammy could at least mention the only OS platform that the SAFE Program is available on. You'd be wrong about that. In fact, Samsung makes a big deal of the fact that one of the four pillars of the SAFE Program is its "Enhanced Exchange Activesync" capabilities, but not a single mention of Android. Samsung doesn't have a SAFE Program to sell without Android powered devices to certify as "SAFE", but they can't bring themselves to even mention the OS that these "SAFE" devices run on. Don't worry, we'll question how "safe" these "SAFE" devices even were when certified on Monday. Samsung almost HAS to shift to Tizen If you don't know what Tizen is, here is the short version: it's an open source, standards based operating system that will very soon run on some Samsung devices. It's insanely important to mention right now that the Tizen SDK is owned and controlled by Samsung, though the OS itself is as open as Android is. How is that important to the discussion? It's very unlikely that any of the other major players in the Android OEM circle are going to abandon the Google controlled Android platform for the Samsung controlled Tizen platform. Yes, Google is now in the OEM game as well through Motorola, but do you dance with the dog that you know, or do you throw in with Samsung and hope for the best? Samsung knows well that Apple didn't become the iconic brand that they are today by selling devices that run an operating system controlled by another company. Apple creates software as a means to sell their hardware, which is where the fat profits really are. Tizen affords Samsung the opportunity to not only have full control over their hardware design, but also absolute control over the OS that powers the hardware. I've previously made the point that Samsung isn't stupid enough to make a wholesale switch to Tizen overnight, but a gradual shift to Tizen over 24-36 months could happen. Or as Samsung sees it, must happen to reach their goal of dominance in mobile. Tizen is coming whether you or I like it not. The question will be this: are you buying Samsung devices primarily because they say Samsung on the back, or are you buying Samsung devices because they are currently the best available Android-powered devices? Me? I bought my Galaxy Nexus not for the Galaxy part, but for the Nexus bit. Coming Soon! On Monday afternoon we're going to wrap this short series up with Part 3, which will be a look at the hard times that almost certainly lie ahead for Samsung. SPOILER ALERT! Bold predictions coming Monday!