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Author Archive: Gareth
Seasoned tech blogger. Host of the Tech Addicts podcast.
When it comes to games on the Android platform there isn’t too much of large, lavish and ambitious titles. Especially when compared to the iPhone. Its getting there but the platform still has a bit way to go before it can be considered a gaming platform.
So, it takes a large company like Gameloft to put together the more ambitious graphical titles. Love them or hate them Gameloft have an impressive line up.
As with many of their games Star Front is an obvious copy of a bigger game on another platform. Just as Modern Combat borrows from the Modern Warfare games in the Call of Duty barrel and Shadow Guardian has an uncanny resemblance to Uncharted on the PlayStation, Star Front conjures up a familiar feeling of the Star Craft games on the PC. Whilst one could say this lacks imagination other will be pleasured to play their favourite games on the go.
Right from the word go Star Front looks good, and feeling a lot like the Star Craft 2 it mimics.
Koush has recently been working on a solution for making our lives easier when it comes to sending and receiving SMS messages on multiple devices. They just released an application entitled DesktopSMS. You can choose to use the service via Gmail or via Gchat or both as well as others:
You can use your favourite IM client (Beejive, Trillian, etc) or email client to send text messages from your phone number!
- Step 1) Install Desktop SMS on your *phone*.
- Step 2) Install a chat client or use gmail on your desktop PC or tablet (like a XOOM)
- Step 3) Have a friend send you an SMS, and respond from your desktop PC or tablet!
This is an open beta, so be prepared for bugs.
Although the app is now available for you to try, it is still in an open BETA status. Which means there might still be some bugs to work out. @Koush will be all over making this flawless and wonderful, have no fear of that.
If you want to get going with this app, go check out his site app.net/desktopsms and get the install needed to get going.
Posted by: Gareth
The original 7″ Samsung Galaxy Tab was a pretty big success. The 10.1" counterpart, whilst meeting with good reviews, seems to be suffering from a few hardware flaws when subjected to prolonged use. However, now we hear that the 8.9" version will be delayed for a few weeks. Samsung are not saying why yet but a Samsung spokesperson was quoted to have said:
Those who are eagerly awaiting the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, must still wait a bit. The official date is delayed by a few weeks in mid-August.
There are rumours Samsung are experiencing display panel shortages. Funnily, Samsung haven’t had a problem swapping out display panels in devices during the manufacturing process in the past.
Whatever the reason we have our fingers crossed that the device will be delayed the minimum amount of time possible as it looks set to be one of the more exciting devices coming our way.
Posted by: Gareth
Google are sitting on their hands waiting for Apple to approve their Google+ application. Sounds insane, however Google’s app portal for their interesting take on the Facebook phenomenon might just get blocked by Apple. It wouldn’t be the first time. On Android the application has certainly impressed its users thus far, however, not gaining the approval for the iPhone and iPad might break the Google+ success factor. If the app were to be rejected by Apple then users will be expected to use a browser based phone friendly website. Given how sexy and fluid the app is on Google’s own Android platform it would be preferable for iProduct users to enjoy this too.
If successful then Google+ will become as user friendly as Facebook is on the iPhone and iPad. Not to mention as accessible. Early reports of the Google+ experience is quite positive.
Posted by: Gareth
Having reviewed the HTC Chacha, this week Gareth, James and Matt take a look at the big sister, the HTC Salsa. Matt has had some time to play with the LG Optimus 3D and draws comparisons with the HTC Evo 3D. Orange announces a few new exclusive devices and we have a first look at a new Samsung Galaxy, the Mini.
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Google stops for nothing these days. Hot on the heels of the lovely Google+ comes Nexus Contraptions. Obviously to coincide with the release of the 4G Nexus S the game is a simple Incredible Machine style game whereby you must safely see the ball over to the exit funnel using all manner of contraptions along the way. Simple, fun, challenging and rewarding. The graphics are quite simplistic however the robotic arm animation in between the levels provide a little humour as they toss the ball from one to another. Whilst there are only four levels and the game can be completed in 15 minutes, you can click the Google ball and enter the designer mode once completed. This will allow you to create your own levels and have some fun with all the contraption pieces.
Oddly it runs through YouTube and shows makes for some rather interesting use of the client. Perhaps we will see YouTube becoming a gaming client in the future?
Posted by: Gareth
While the 10 inch version of the BlackBerry PlayBook was only a rumour itself, the new rumour is that the plans for it have been cancelled. There has been light speculation that in the next year RIM will be purchased by another company.
RIM have such a massive share of the market and the corporate uptake for the devices is enough that it’s probably quite safe to brush any takeover news under the carpet. The Playbook 10″ however is a different story. Perhaps with the less that stellar sales for both Android tablets and the Playbook RIM might just hold back on the 10″ and see how the ride goes for the &” currently braving the market.
Source BGR
Posted by: Gareth
This week Gareth, James, Tracy and Matt are all over the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo. Gareth reviews the HTC ChaCha, James gets excited about a Blackberry 9900 video, Matt has played with the HTC Evo 3D and Tracy puts together a good value deal from T-Mobile.
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One of the most interesting phones to come out of Mobile World Congress from HTC was the HTC ChaCha. The Market hasn’t been kind to front facing keyboard, Android devices and there has never been a hit model for this form factor.
Instead of going the whole hog and building a much rumoured Facebook phone, HTC decided to cover both popular form factors, the Candy bar and front facing keyboard, and focus on a heavier Facebook integration. To date the front facing keyboard has only been address by Samsung and Motorola in a more professional yet lower quality approach. HTC saw a gap in the market and pushed out a higher quality, yet cost conscious front facing, Qwerty keyboard phone.
Combining their popular HTC Sense over a popular texting form with the social network manic in mind, how could HTC fail?
This week Gareth, Matt and James chat about Matt’s indepth review of the HTC Sensation. The Motorola Atrix is evaluated, new updates for Symbian and the HP Pre 3 is getting closer. Gareth gets excited about the recent Archos announcement and James is bewildered by Blackberry on O2 and a bad Email update.
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