Minecraft for Android to release on September 29

Mojang, the publishers of the upcoming game Minecraft, has confirmed that the game will be released on Google Android platform on September 29. Minecraft is a construction centric game written in Java. Focused on creativity and building, the Minecraft has a sandbox style nature which means that there are no limits to the maps. Mojang will eventually release the game for iOS platform as well.

Minecraft is about testing your creativity to build things without any limitations. Featuring the 8-bit style graphics treatment, the game was expected to be released exclusively for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play running Android OS.

Mojang developer Daniel Kaplan shared the video of Minecraft — Pocket Edition that shows new touch controls for the Android devices. The game gets a new virtual Directional-pad on the left side of the screen to handle movement. The characters in the game carry smarter Artificial Intelligence which enables them to jump by themselves on approaching a ledge or climbing hills.

For mining the building blocks, players need to hold the screen and simply tap the screen again to drop the building blocks.

Unlike the social game CityVille, the Minecraft has dynamism and style of its own. It becomes super addictive over a period of time especially when you start building stuff in your map.

There are no details on the pricing but all Android smartphone owners need to check the Android Market after two days to get the Minecraft game.

Firefox 7 Android update

The new Firefox version bring enhanced security features along with better integration with social networks, faster browsing and much more.

A latest version of Firefox browser has been released for Android operating system based devices. The new Firefox 7 is the same version that is being used on PCs.

Some unique additions to the mobile browser include Firefox Sync, which allows the mobile browser on the Android device to share bookmarks and history, and even see open tabs with the synced computer. Social media has also become important and comes as an integral part of the browser. Just by pressing a button for long, users will be able to post content on various social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and now Google +.

Security and privacy features have also been revamped. With the tweaked tabbed browsing, users can expect better much faster web loading times along with improved memory utilisation.

Firefox's latest version of the mobile browser is compatible with devices running Android version 2.0 and above. It is advised to the users that they connect to a high speed internet source such as a WiFi hotspot to download this browser as the file is of 14 MB size. Firefox 7 is now available for download from Android Market. Users who wish to install it can visit the Android Market from their smartphone or they can followthis link to download it directly.

Nexus S Android improved version 2.3.6 out

It seems Google is finally making an honest effort to retain its clientele. The latest example of their noble intentions can be seen from the fact that world's most influential brand has rolled out a new and updated version of Android 2.3.6 for Nexus S. 


The company decided to abandon the previous edition as it was creating many problems. The company is believed to have put in special efforts and the latest model seemed to have carrying none of the problematic traits of its predecessor. Named GRK39F, the update will soon be available for download on various platforms. Meanwhile, users will be notified through various ways about when and from where they can download this update.

A detailed explanation of the procedure has been given below for users convenience. Following these instructions will help them updating their Nexus S to Android 2.3.4.

To begin with, the user will have to go to GRJ22 build for ensuring manual update.

Step 1. Download the update file.
Step 2. Convert the downloaded file to zip format.
Step 3. Move the file to SD Card root by any way.
Step 4. Switch off the phone for seamless updating.
Step 5. Switch the phone on by pressing Volume Up + Power.
Step 6. Initiate Recovery.
Step 7. Just when the exclamation sign along with triangle surfaces on the screen, press Powert and Volume Up buttons. Continue doing so until you see the recovery screen.
Step 8. Now choose 'Apply' SD card update.zip file.
Step 9. Reboot and start enjoying.

Samsung Galaxy S III and Nexus Prime

Rumor mills are working overtime as Samsung Galaxy S III 'the superphone' is around the corner. Don't believe us; well that's exactly what market is abuzz with. According to Android Community, With supposed details about 'the superphone' already out -2.0 Ghz Quad-core processor (apparently created by the company itself) along with 1.5 GB RAM, 32 GB embedded memory with SD card slot of expansion, prospective buyers are certainly impressed.

In addition, the dream superphone will come with a 4.65-inch 1280 X 1024 resolution HD AMOLED III touchscreen. On top of that, a 10-mega pixel snapper too have been given. Sounds too good to be true, isn't it? However, this is the very reason why a large section of media and majority of experts are dismissing it as a 'baseless figment of imagination.' As far as OS is concerned, the phone is likely to wield Android 2.4 or 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in an all aluminium design.

Same is the case with Samsung Nexus Prime. The reports floating about this another super communication device are more or less the same. The device shares the striking similarity with Samsung Galaxy S III in specs. The only difference is the shape which too, is on the lines of SGS II however; the curved glass feeling will remind you of Nexus S.

But according to experts, Samsung won’t risk such launches especially at times when tech world hangs in balance. After failing miserably on tab front, the brand would definitely like to keep its next move well-guarded. Since, it looks that ‘overexposure’ in recent past has done it major damage. But the good thing is, Android is showing faith in the brand and is using it by pitting it against the growing Apple brand.

Breitling Reno Air Races

In celebration of the 48th annual Reno Air Races, Breitling presents the free “Breitling Reno Air Races” game for Android and expands on the already hugely successful (with over one million downloads) iOS version with new updates.

Breitling, the presenting sponsor of the National Championships Air Races, the legendary Reno Pylon races (Nevada, USA), announces the launch of a free Breitling Reno Air Races Android game.

 check it out-it’s free!

Android Ice Cream Sandwich by this October

It appears that the people behind the long-silent Notion Ink group have come back from the dead to note that they’d not only be adding Ice Cream Sandwich to their Android tablet “Adam”, they’d be doing so in November, right after the launch date of the platform which is, they say, late October. Now it’s not too much of a stretch to think that the author of this news release, Rohan Shravan, has just been reading Android blogs for the past few weeks and is just guessing that the rumors are true, but there is a point to consider: he’s been right before. On the other hand, he’s been terribly unreliable before as well.

In a news release showing up this weekend, Shravan notes the following: “Official (“update button”) Ice Cream Sandwich update in November after Google’s launch in late Oct”. This follows the information we just this past week from Eric Schmidt himself as he noted either October or November as the launch window. Next, Shravan notes that he’s pretty sure OMAP will be the chipset of choice for the next-generation Android system. Shravan says “if you go by the industry signals, OMAP is the preferred platform for the next wave of devices.”

If you follow SlashGear, you also know that OMAP with Ice Cream Sandwich is a likely situation. While the last processor manufacturer for a hero device made in accordance with Google’s strict specifications for their version platform launch was NVIDIA and their Tegra 2 SoC for Honeycomb, we’re also banking on the idea that Texas Instruments and their OMAP4 chip will gain an audience with the Google gods.

That said, Shravan is also probably following along, as everyone else in the Android world is following along, with the leaks and spilled possibilities of the Nexus Prime coming quite soon if Samsung has anything to say about it, a hidden code and a legal team all that lies between us and, again, an October release of the Ice Cream Sandwich hero device.

[via Android Community]

A Zune like music player for your android

Uber Music

UberMusic is a beautiful and highly customizable music player for Android.

You can change the entire user interface by applying skins, which you can find on the market by searching for "UberMusic Skin". The last three screenshots here show the "Metro" skin available for free in the Market.

Note: If you had previously installed the Beta version and you're getting a "Package not signed correctly" error, uninstall the Beta and install this again.

Some key features:

- Fully skinnable (search for "UberMusic Skin" on the Market).
- Automatically downloads artist pictures and sets them as the screen background for that artist.
- 6 different widget sizes. The widget is fully skinnable too.
- Free live wallpaper included that shows album art from your music collection.
- You can click on the "Play" button next to an artist, album, playlist, etc. to directly play all the corresponding tracks.
- True shuffling (as opposed to just choosing a track at random) that avoids playing the same song twice.
- Super smooth interface with custom overscrolling on lists.
- Scrobbling support through the official Last.fm app or through ScrobbleDroid/SLS.
- You can choose which tabs to show on the Library screen.
- Custom minimalistic status bar that you can still swipe down to see your notifications.

Try these apps-

Zombieville USA ($1.99)

I'm not usually into zombie themed games, but this one caught my eye and I've been hooked on it. It's a simple side scrolling game. You pick a character at the beginning (my favorite is the ninja) and walk through towns slashing and shooting zombies. You start off with a simple baseball bat and pistol, but as you progress you earn money. In between stages you have the option to upgrade your weapons and replenish your health (which also costs money, but it's minimal). Some of the weapons include a rocket launcher, automatic shotgun, and a laser cannon (think flamethrower but with a laser instead). The levels get progressively harder as you go on and the zombies get tougher, too. The game occasionally throws you a bone and puts a vehicle at the beginning of the stage that'll run over all zombies and drive you through that level.

Rugby World Cup 2011 (Free)

It doesn't have anything cool like 3D graphics, but the visuals are really good and the game has a good amount of polish to it. I haven't experienced any FC's or problems so far. You can get Zombieville USA in the market for $1.99. [Market Link]

The Rugby World Cup starts this week and is accompanied by an official Android app that will help keep you updated while you’re on-the-go. Official Rugby World Cup 2011 allows you to access live scores, commentary, stats, videos and stadium maps as well as highlights of games past. It also has a Fan Zone section, which will alert you of nearby events should you find yourself in New Zealand. The app comes not only in English, but French and Spanish as well. It is the perfect compliment to the Rugby World Cup and is a must for any rugby fan.

Go Kiwis! [Market Link]

 Hotels.com (Free)

If you do a lot of travelling like me, then sometimes the ability to find a hotel at short notice is vital. For these situations,I turn to hotels.com

I've been using the site for years, but having access to a native application on my phone is invaluable to me. You get all the same features as the website, such as refining search by a number of categories with the added bonus of being able to search using your current gps location. You also get the same level of detail and photos that you would get on the site. Nothing has been watered down for the transition into mobile. The application is available in both the UK and USA android markets, adjusting to suit location in each. [Market Link]

Trend Micro Mobile Security Personal Edition ($30/year)

I'm not one to buy into the "malware on my smartphone can see what I'm doing" hype, as I am usually pretty careful about the apps I download and the links I click. That being said, I don't see any reason not to give Trend Micro's latest Android security suite a 30 day free trial. In addition to the parental controls, safe surfing, and download protection already offered by TM's Mobile Security for Android, Personal Edition adds an app scanner to block "infected apps" from stealing your information.

In addition, TM now offers lost device protection, which allows you to locate your misplaced or stolen device from an online portal. Personal Edition also enhances call, text and surf security by blocking unwanted calls, texts, and questionable websites. I didn't notice any slowdown in my Thunderbolt's performance with the app running in the background, but if you do, remember that it's free for 30 days and, like any other app, can be uninstalled with the click of a button. I don't know whether I'll fork over $30 at the end of my trial, but if malware keeps you up at night, I'd say it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. [Market Link]

 The Trainline (Free)

If you travel by rail at all in the UK, then the ability to check train times and plan journeys on the go can be really useful. Sure, there are websites that allow you to do this, but many of them run slowly over 3G, and most are poorly optimized for mobile browsers. Ticket vendor TheTrainline.com has stepped in to make this process a whole lot easier. In addition to checking arrival and departure times, the official TheTrainline.com Android app lets you purchase tickets for collection at the station, or home delivery at a later date. There's even a virtual ticket wallet, which allows you to keep track of all your purchases from within the app -- a handy alternative to fumbling around in your pocket.

TheTrainline.com app is available for free from the Android Market for devices running Android 1.6 and above. [Market Link]

Pocket Blu (Free)

Having just picked up Scarface on bluray recently I figured that was as good time as any to go ahead and give the Pocket Blu app a go. When you purchase a blue ray, if it's supported by Pocket Blu you're offered some additional content that can be made use of on your Android device, in addition to that you're also able to use Pocket Blu as a remote for your PS3 and various other blu ray players where supported. If you're looking to get the most out of your blu ray purchase, give Pocket Blu a look. It's available in the Android Market now for free. [Market Link]

 - Gigbeat (Free)

 

Living in the Live Music Capital of the World, I always want to be on top of who is coming to town to play a gig. Normally this required checking out various sources and talking to people who're more on top of it than me, but I think I've finally figured it out with Gigbeat. Gigbeat lets you add artists to track, and if they're on tour, it'll tell you when and where they'll be, so you can be ready. Gigbeat will also scan your music library and auto-add artists, if that's your thing, but in case you just have to hear someone not in your library, you can manually add, too. With reminders and starred concerts, Gigbeat is the ultimate concert-finding wingman. Plus, it's free. [Market Link]

Official Google android Apps in Android Market

Google as an app developer has released various applications in the Android Market and some of these come pre-installed on most Android devices – like Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Search.

But others have to be downloaded from Android Market; we have compiled a list of these apps that have been developed by Google. The number comes around 40 apps, although we have tried our best, but we might have missed a few. But not all applications are available in every country and every device; some are regional apps as they support only certain languages or certain apps might support only few device types. So, the best way to check if one of these apps is available in your country is to go to the phone/tablet based Market app and try searching for that particular app – if it comes in the search results than you are good to go.

1. Google Maps – Maps app for all Android devices; comes pre-installed on almost every Android device. The navigation part is however is only supported in a few countries
2. Gmail – No need to explain this one
3. Google Search – This either
4. Google Voice  Search – Search without typing, but only supports certain languages
5. Street View on Google Maps – Incorporates the Street Data in the Google Maps, if your country/city have Street view imagery then you can use this app as a part of Maps to see that.
6. Google Docs – Official app for Google Docs
7. Google Shopper – Find products with your phone and get prices fast. Find great products and deals with your Android phone.
8. Google Earth – Official apps for Google Earth app.
9. Google Reader – RSS Reader from Google
10. Google Translate – Translate between most languages with this handy app
11. Google Sky Map – Google Sky Map turns your Android-powered mobile phone into a window on the night sky. It will identify objects that appear in the sky and allow users to search for them.
12. Google Goggles – Search the real world by taking a picture. Goggles uses image recognition technology to recognize objects and return relevant search results
13. Google Books – Use Google Books to read over 3 million e-books on the go. Build your ebooks library in the cloud with Google Books. It is only available in US right now.
14. Google Voice – Make cheap international calls with your Google number. Send free text messages. Place calls and send text messages showing your Google number. Available in select countries.
15. Androidify – Create a droid-like avatar of yours.
16. Gesture Search – Search your Android phone by drawing gestures on the touch screen. Gesture Search lets you quickly find a contact, a bookmark, an application, or a music track on your device.
17. Google+ – Official app for Google+ social network
18. Listen – Use for podcast search, subscribe, download and streaming.
19. Talkback – TalkBack is a screen reader that provides spoken feedback when using native Android applications.
20. Soundback – SoundBack augments TalkBack with additional non-speech auditory cues that make the interaction both efficient and fun.
21. Kickback- KickBack augments TalkBack and SoundBack with additional haptic feedback.
22. Google Chrome to Phone – Send links, maps, phone numbers, & more from your Chrome browser to your phone! You will need the chrome extn to compliment the app
23. Finance – it brings you streaming real-time quotes in this stock quote and portfolio application.
24. Videos – Official video player for Android Market movie rentals. Only available in US so far.
25. Google Authenticator – Enable 2-step verification to protect your account from hijacking. Google Authenticator generates 2-step verification codes on your phone. With 2-step verification, you can choose to add an additional layer of security for yourGoogle Account by signing in with both a code generated by this application in addition to your password.
26. Car Home- Quickly access navigation, voice actions, and other features while driving. Turn your phone into your personal navigation and infotainment device.
27. Google Apps Device Policy – Allows Google Apps domain admin to set security policies for your Android device. Google Apps Device Policy is a device administration tool that allows administrators for Google Apps Premier and Education editions to set security policies for Android devices.
28. Scoreboard – Access daily sports scores, schedules, standings and news for Auto Racing, Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Golf, Hockey, Rugby and Soccer.
29. Google Body – Navigate and search an interactive 3D model of human anatomy. Only for Android 3.0+.
30. Google Keyboard Apps – IME features voice input, single vowel layout, & a suggestion dictionary for different languages. Check for your local language in Android Market.
31. Orkut – official App for Orkut
32. Blogger – Official app
33. Google TV Remote – Remote app for Google TV devices
34. Youtube Remote – With YouTube Remote, you can use your Android phone or tablet as a remote control for YouTube videos on your desktop computer or Internet TV.
35. Panoramio Uploader – Show your favorite places to the world. Upload your photos to Panoramio. Upload your geo-located photos directly from the Gallery to your Panoramio account.
36. Google Apps Lookup – Google Apps Business & Education users can now find any user in their company. Lookup allows Google Apps for Business and Google Apps for Education users to find and contact any user in their corporate domain.
37. Intersection Explorer- Intersection Explorer helps blind users explore their neighborhood.
38. Youtube – Official app