[Android game] Age of Castles 2

Age of Castles 2, a new Android game from a developer, friend of mine.

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mazsoft.ageofcastles2

Visit his pages:
https://plus.google.com/+MazsoftRGB/posts

http://maz85.altervista.org/mazsoft/page-android_download

Android game: the floor is lava or not?

In this game you're a kid in your home and the floor.. the floor is really lava.
Jump on your forniture and save your ass.
Pay attention to lava, fire and other obstacles!

Download:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mazsoft.thefloorisnowlava

New Google Nexus, OPS!!!

That careless they are!
They have accidentally revealed a little of the new Nexus during the presentation of Android KitKat®!
Accidentally.
Surely!

Android App - System Tuner

A very useful utility for Android is System Tuner.
For what? The use for this application is for rooted phones (some functions) and for expert users!

You can use System Tuner as (from Google PlayStore description):

Task Manager:
- Filter user/system/kernel processes and exclusion list
- Shows cpu load/frequency, memory/internal/sd usage
- Sort processes by cpu times, start time, memory or by name
- Kill non manually excluded apps automatically
- Shows detailed information about running apps and processes
- Manually kill running apps

CPU Manager (rooted phones):
- Tweak CPU governor + frequencies during screen-off, on-call
- Tweak CPU voltage (when available on custom Kernel)
- Set CPU settings on boot
- Uses OC/deamon when available and can disable it

Extended Task Killer
- Kill non-excluded apps automatically or manually
- Kill apps during screen-on, screen-off or when widget refreshes
- Manually exclude or include apps
- All system apps are excluded by default
- Manually kill kernel processes (root)
- Display memory and SD details (RAM & internal)

Application Manager without root:
- Backup/restore/uninstall user apps, only APKs are backed-up
Application Manager with root:
- Freeze/unfreeze apps
- Remove app from boot
- Backup/restore/uninstall any apps and settings, including system apps
- Launch and read app logcat
- Display application data and cache usage
- Sort application by name, data usage or cache usage
- Move any apps to/from system/user/SD space
- Clear caches or dalvik cache (must reboot after)

Activity Recorder, Logcat Reader, Terminal Emulator,

System Tweaker (root):
- Tweak SD cache size to boost performance
- Tweak IO scheduler to boost performance
- App booster on boot (APK alignement + DB cleanup)
- Tweak Android auto-kill memory settings
- Uses Linux init.d script when available

Notifications (show several informations like cpu, memory, cpu governor, sd etc...):


I use it to remove some useless "apps" from startup.

Some screen:

Donwload: 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ccc71.pmw

Flash on Android? Goodbye...

However, with Android 4.1 this is no longer going to be the case, as we have not continued developing and testing Flash Player for this new version of Android and its available browser options.  There will be no certified implementations of Flash Player for Android 4.1.

and

Beginning August 15^th we will use the configuration settings in the Google Play Store to limit continued access to Flash Player updates to only those devices that have Flash Player already installed. Devices that do not have Flash Player already installed are increasingly likely to be incompatible with Flash Player and will no longer be able to install it from the Google Play Store after August 15^th.

Apple clearly had in the past prevented the use of Flash in its mobile devices, but remember that at that time there was not yet a replacement technology such as the current HTML5 and Android users, however, had always a choice.

https://blogs.adobe.com/flashplayer/2012/06/flash-player-and-android-update.html

Yeah, surely there are tricks and tweaks for Flash on 4.1 8-)

PS: I forgot, you can try A4.1... http://www.redmondpie.com/download-and-install-android-4.1-jelly-bean-on-galaxy-nexus-gsm-how-to-tutorial/

Windows Manager for Android!

After the iOS WM ... an Android windows manager, but this is free!

It seems a sort of Windows Metro Snap.

Take a look and try it : http://www.onskreen.com/cornerstone/

"Multitasking" on iOS with a WManager

With this windows manager (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cYWha8YFi8) iOS on Apple Ipad kicks ass.
You can transform your fullscreen app in a sizable and movable windows for true efficiency.
It's called Quasar.

Pro:
- Fluid
- Good UI
- This is a killer app

Cons?
- It costs 9,99 $
- It's only for jailbroken devices

Ok, it's a "hack", a custom tweak, but iOS with that feature blows away the other mobile operating systems.
Just think about Windows 8 carrying a dual tasking (snapping apps) not only in tablets, but also in desktops.
Android with the "app bar" (like the app bar in W8, the left bar that contains all opened apps) offers a quick way to switch and show apps, but it's not a windows manager.

How long will take Apple to implement this natively?
And the Android developers?
And the Windows Developer Team... oh wait, we already know :facepalm:

Android VS iOS, analized by a user

This is the analysis of a user about the two mobile operating systems using them in several devices.
I agree with many of his observations.

1° part http://youtu.be/NMiY1kSTHZw

2° part http://youtu.be/Ayx4XsBaJBI

3° part http://youtu.be/fsGQ_xts_Gw

4° part http://youtu.be/jlPKVWv1WxU

Instagram on Android

Instagram on Android produces a big rage/butthurt on Iphone users.

I don't know why... 

But I lol'd.

PS: Android has tons of cam apps, like PixLX

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pixlr.OMatic&hl=en

Bluestacks: android apps in your pc

With the Beta of Bluestacks you can use Android market apps on your Windows Os.
All beautiful.

But today I'm a bit annoyed and I noticed that this software is bloated as ****:

•  2 processes run on StartUp
•  + ~400 MB of ram used

when you don't use Bluestacks.

So...
Erased.

If you wanna try it: http://bluestacks.com/

Imho the best way is a Virtual Machine solution: virtualizing Android ICS. (the only problem is the internet connection... that doesn't work in my case, there is a post of 2 weeks ago)

Smartphone OS now in one image

Android is sucking c**ck to iOS, in the while Windows Phone is doing nothing, just watching.

Just kidding :P

I'm waiting to see the Windows 8 Phone OS (Apollo) and what is true in all those rumors about the new Android OS (I'm still waiting for an upgrade to ICS for some 2010/11 models).

Android in your x86 PC

Do you have a laptop/netbook/something with the x86 architecture and you want to change OS?
If you have a:

• ASUS Eee PCs/Laptops
• Viewsonic Viewpad 10
• Dell Inspiron Mini Duo
• Samsung Q1U
• Viliv S5
• Lenovo ThinkPad x61 Tablet 

or other device you can put in Android for x86!

Download the latest iso:
http://www.android-x86.org/download

There is the 4.0RC iso... let's try it on VirtualBox, I use the Asus EEEpc iso:

Low ram and too much video ram (8 MB Video is fine, 400-500 MB Ram too) to test...

In the Audio section: ICH AC97 doesn't work! Use SoundBlaster16! ;-)

For Network section use PCnet-Fast III (NAT)!

....continue (open the post clicking the post title)....

Notificationsss

Some comments from a tech-blog:

 
I use both iOS and Android and I really don’t think the notifications experience is better on iOS than on Android..

    
Apple’s implementation is not as good as Android’s. Tell me one thing it does better than Android’s. One.

 
You won’t find one (against ICS).

Dat answer:

   
The ability to view notification center within a full screen app.

And I agree. Can't be that Android-ICS developers have not thought about that and iOS 5 was shipped with a better "Notifications"  feature.

So...

Motorola Milestone (Droid) Froyo, some little works to do

It's time to put something new on this old Motorola Milestone (Droid in the Usa).

So, what do?

First point, a new launcher, the Froyo's launcher is *blearhg*.
For me the best is Go Launcher Ex for some reasons:
- better app drawer
- creation of directories in the app drawer and in the desktops
- gestures (if you want)
- possibility to hide dock bar and status bar (notify bar)
- multiple desktops (like original android home launcher)
- multiple docks
- widgets scaling
- choosing the grid dimension on the desktops
- choosing how icons appear on the desktop (black label, alpha label, no label etc...)
- tons of other stuff

This launcher works great in this phone (that has low ram)

A post about this (free) launcher>
 http://www.lollercoasterlab.com/2011/11/new-launcher-for-your-android.html

Second point, rooting phone.
With the "root" you can use your phone as a super user, with this utility you can choose to grant SU permission to an App (Titanium Backup, etc...).

This link is very clearly:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/root-android-phone-superoneclick-2/


Third point (I'm in this point), trying the overclocking.
Poor battery! But, it's only for testing purpose.
This link is very helpful:
http://code.google.com/p/milestone-overclock/
(There are many overclock utilities in the market)

PS: Use at your own risk, I do not take responsibility for your actions!

Next steps? A custom rom I suppose...

...and a list of the MUST HAVE apps...

Top & Flop of 2011

About tech, games and other things.


Top:
- Android mobile OS: downloads from the market and impressive number of activations, ICS (Android 4) is released
- Apple Iphone 4S: despite a few news and the same design, has sold a lot
- Tablets, tablets everywhere, Kindle gold year too


Flop:
- Samsung and Apple patents war: Apple is ruining its name with its patents troll war
- Apple MacOsx Lion: good sales, but a lot of bugs, many users complained
- Nintendo 3DS: nobody gives a sh** about this (no games)
- Sony was hacked a lot of times, stolen user data
- Duke Nukem 3D: after years proves a disappointment
- 3D Tv: who bought them?
- Google with Google Plus (can't beat Facebook) and Google Wave (it's closing)
- Chromebooks: google laptops that cost as a normal laptop but only work online

In the middle (can't say if is a top or a flop, next year maybe):
- Metro interface on Windows 8: we see only the Developer Preview so we can't say anything (waiting for Beta)


I forgot something?

Gran Theft Auto 3 in your smartphone

WOW!!

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rockstar.gta3

http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/grand-theft-auto-3/id479662730?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4&affId=1507406

Android Market: 10 cents promotions

Want to know the list of games and applications that have a reduced price on the market?


Simply click this link:

https://market.android.com/details?id=apps_timed_promotion

Check every day, deals do not last long!
In this time 10 apps with reduced price for 10 days at 10 cents!

Minecraft : Pocket Edition

Mojang released the mobile version of Minecraft some weeks ago.
I tried it, is a little uncomfortable in a smartphone, but not bad...

On Android:
If you wanna try (free version DEMO):
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe.demo&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiY29tLm1vamFuZy5taW5lY3JhZnRwZS5kZW1vIl0.

Full version:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe&hl=en

The version I tried doesn't support App2SD :-(

This app is for iOS too:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id479516143?mt=8

PS: some developers have rebuilt a their "minecraft like" version, search their works in the market!

Metro UI in your Android

Do you want a Metro UI in your Android smartphone?
Use this launcher: Launcher 7

Official website:
http://sevenplusandroid.org/

Download (free version):
https://market.android.com/details?id=info.tikuwarez.launcher3&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiaW5mby50aWt1d2FyZXoubGF1bmNoZXIzIl0.

There is a free-ads version too. See the related.

A new launcher for your Android

The launcher in Android is like a desktop manager and my preferred one is GO Launcher EX.

With this launcher you can create folders in your app drawer, order apps, resize widgets, use themes and so on.

Very useful the option that removes the black background in the icon label and the 3 view modes in the app drawer (All, Recent, Running).

Only one comment: awesome.

Take a look, it's free:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.gau.go.launcherex&hl=en

After the installation the application asks you to replace the old default launcher (like "Home 2.2.1" in Froyo etc...). In this way when you restart your phone this launcher is used by default.

Enjoy it!