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LEGO and partners release Jurassic World game

Jason Botha
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LEGO today announced the release of their new Android and iOS game, LEGO Jurassic World. As the name hints, the adventure-centered title is based on the classic Jurassic World movies, incorporating all four films into the plot: Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III and, most recently, Jurassic World.

The app is available on both Android and iOS ecosystems and promises to deliver a quality Jurassic experience. The thrilling story plot recreates unforgettable scenes and action sequences from the films, allowing fans to experience for themselves the franchise’s most memorable moments and the opportunity to fully explore the expansive grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna where the dinosaurs ran amok.

The app will set you back a moderate $4.99.

 

We’re excited to bring the adventure of LEGO Jurassic World to mobile devices,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “From creating and playing as a dinosaur, to journeying through Isla Nublar and beyond, fans can now immerse themselves directly into the action of the iconic film franchise wherever and whenever they want.

 

In LEGO Jurassic World, players can take on the roles of classic Jurassic film characters, such as Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and Dr. Wu (BD Wong), throughout 20 story levels on a mission to collect precious amber containing dinosaur DNA. Players can use the DNA to build their dinosaur collection, mix their pieces to create an original species with the Dino Customizer by mixing and matching color, body parts and abilities or fill the giant footsteps of the LEGO dinosaurs and actually play the game as the beasts themselves.

Sounds like it could offer some extensive, in-depth gameplay.

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LEGO Jurassic World is rated “E10+” for everyone 10 and older by the ESRB
and is now available for $4.99 on Android and iOS.

Android Download link
iOS Download Link

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99 Rockets is a great ad-infested arcade game [Review]

Jason Botha
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Overview

99 Rockets is an Arcade style game that requires quick thinking and your complete attention. Somewhat immersive, the app is based around the challenge of successfully aiming and launching at floating bubbles.

Developer: Itatake

Price: Free (In-app purchases)

Highlights

  • Super simple gameplay
  • Easy to navigate through the app
  • Can be played on the move

Setup

Due to the nature of gameplay, there is no setup required. All you need to do is download the app and open it. There is also unfortunately no Google Play integration, which is no deal breaker, but something we’d nevertheless like to see. The app itself also has virtually no settings and adjustments.

Impressions

An arcade game typically has the same idea and method throughout the whole game, increasing steadily in difficulty as you move up. 99 Rockets is just that. Your goal is to pop all 99 bubbles throughout the game by carefully aiming and shooting your limited arrows. It sounds easy, and for the first few levels, it sure is. But then you start moving up, and things begin to change a bit. Here’s a quick thirty second video of some gameplay to let you have a idea of what the game is all about:

After these first few levels, I became frustrated. Not because of the gameplay difficulty, but because of the way that you have to save your progress: you have to watch an advertisement. Yes, you read correctly. If you don’t watch adverts, you will not make any progress. Quite ingenious, I must say, but nevertheless outright presumptuous. It’s alright if you don’t voluntarily watch them, but you’ll just have to start from level one whenever you make a mistake (which will be very often). Just in case these adverts weren’t enough, there’s more video adverts slapped in when you progress between levels. Or, you could always pay the $0.99 IAP and unlock the advert-free version. I shamelessly wasted 10 minutes of my life saving my progress in a single night.

Barring the adverts, I quite liked the game. It can be played in a situation when you have two hours to spare along with your entire concentration, or when you have a two minute toilet break. There aren’t annoying notifications that constantly make you feel obliged to open the game and play it. I also think 99 is the perfect number. You don’t lose motivation and you realize after a few rounds that the end is not that hard to reach. Take note that there are 99 bubbles to pop and not 99 levels.

The arrows change quite a bit as you progress. You get some that shoot in three directions, while some spin around and others don’t. Nothing too complicated.

Conclusion

99 Rockets is almost a great arcade game. As much as I’d love to, there is no forgiving the app developers for the adverts. Sure, adverts are a necessary evil, but certainly not to this extent. Nevertheless, the game had me wanting more and the annoying pop-ups were not enough to deter me from playing. I would still recommend it despite my differences with it.

99 Rockets – Google Play Store

AT&T and DirecTV offering free Samsung TV in limited-time promo

Scott Webster
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0

AT&T and DirecTV is currently offering a limited-time promotion which could net subscribers a free 48-inch Samsung TV.

Samsung_smarttv_600x600

In short, customers who purchase the Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge and sign up for both AT&T and DirecTV can qualify for a Samsung LED J5200 Series Smart TV 48″ Class TV. Worth approximately $480, it’s a pretty good deal to both new and existing AT&T subscribers. Unfortunately, the promo doesn’t work for those who are already signed up for AT&T and DirecTV.

A few things worth noting:

  • The Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge must be purchased on an AT&T Next Plan
  • Subscribers have to sign up for both AT&T and DirecTV
  • Must register to redeem TV within 60 days of phone purchase
  • The promo expires on April 30

 

Fragile phones are no good – a V10 to S7 Edge perspective

Josh Noriega
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When I reviewed the LG V10 last year, I praised the phone’s robustness. LG built it to withstand impacts from life’s perils.

LG_V10_durability

Still, despite the impracticality, I swapped my V10 for the Galaxy S7 Edge. Samsung does continually best LG in some ways. The S-AMOLED display and camera performance are superior, to me.

However, after a couple of weeks, I began to disdain the S7’s fragility. I could no longer place my phone down on a table without worrying about the back getting scratched. I have to give extra attention to my grip when handling the phone; the thin sides on the S7 Edge and slippery back make it constantly worrisome. Like many phone enthusiasts, I don’t like cases. They defeat the purpose of the phone’s premium, attractive design.

Still, despite babying the S7 Edge, a multitude of scratches began appearing on my unit.

Multitude of scratches by the left and right capacitive buttons, and on the Home button
Multitude of scratches by the left and right capacitive buttons, and on the Home button.

I’ve been extremely careful with this phone. It hasn’t been smacked against anything or dropped. I’m baffled at how easily it scratches. And the glass is supposed to be Gorilla Glass 4 durable.

I’d be lying if I said the LG V10 didn’t have hairline scratches either. But they didn’t come so quickly or easily. Even, I’ve bumped around my Moto 360 2nd Gen (with Gorilla Glass 3) quite a bit and it still looks pristine.

This may seem more like a rant against Corning, but the fact of the matter is, glass is far from the best material to build a phone out of. The S7 Edge for sure looks pretty out of the box. To me, it’s the sexiest phone out there. But we have to think about longevity, especially with an $800 phone.

Long crack developed along the back glass of my S7 Edge, on its own
Long scratch/crack developed along the back glass of my S7 Edge, and I have no idea how.

Moral of the story: If you’re getting a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, get a case. I know it sucks, I know the hardware feels awesome in-hand, but the phone is just too fragile. I hope Samsung thinks about practicality next time.

Sprint lets subscribers pay monthly for Amazon Prime

Scott Webster
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Sprint on Thursday announced that it will let customers pay for an Amazon Prime subscription as part of their monthly bills. Indeed, it’s a way of getting the full benefits of an Amazon Prime account but without the one-time charge of $99.99.

Amazon Prime is another example of the innovative options that Sprint delivers every day to its customers,” said Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO. “With this monthly add-on, Sprint customers will have great flexibility and will have the opportunity to easily access Amazon’s full entertainment package on America’s fastest LTE network.

The subscription costs $10.99 per month and can be added into any of the carrier’s monthly rate plans. Yes, this puts the total annual cost at just under $132.  It’s not unlike subscription services for apps or music where it runs less if you agree to it all up front. Nevertheless, Sprint is the only service provider offering this as part of its portfolio.

How It Works

  • Visit http://www.sprint.com/amazonprime, call 1-(800)-SPRINT1 or go to the nearest Sprint store to sign up for Amazon Prime on your Sprint account.
  • After adding Amazon Prime to a Sprint account, the customer will receive a text message with an activation link to complete registration.
  • Once registration is complete, the customer can immediately begin to enjoy all the benefits of Amazon Prime.
  • Customers can also access preloaded or downloaded Amazon apps for easy access to Prime content on compatible smartphones.

 

Steal This Look! – Give your Android a makeover in 5 minutes or less (Zombie Apocalypse Edition)

AndroidGuys
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We’re huge fans of changing the home screen around a bit and creating a new user experience for our Android. In fact, we love it so much that we have an ongoing series of Get This Look posts. In a nutshell we show you a new layout, app, widget, or icon set for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need to mimic the feel.

Some of these are a little easier to create than others and many of them can be tweaked to no end. The following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish; your results will vary. Which is awesome! If nothing else, this is a great way to discover new apps, widgets, icons, and more!

Theme

Screenshot_2016-03-30-17-38-01

Board up your windows and lock your doors, because this week’s Steal This Look is inspired by the Zombie Apocalypse!

We live in a culture obsessed with the apocalypse; especially a zombie apocalypse, so why not have your phone or device ready for the occasion?

If you want to take it a step further, I highly recommend you watch the three movies that are responsible for zombies as we see them today: Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978), and Day of the Dead (1985).

Why pay for some of these apps?

You might put in a few bucks to get things rolling but you’ll be glad you did in the long run. The sheer level of configuration and customization behind a few of these titles means endless designs. If you’ve been doing the custom home screen stuff for a while, you may have already purchased some of these apps already.

What you’ll need

A couple of things to note about this design:

  • Desktop grid is set to 5×4 with subgrid positioning enabled
  • The Dock is set at 7 icons
  • ‘Normalize Icon Size’ has been disabled in Nova’s settings
  • For Ruggy Widget, create a 4×2 Zooper widget on your desktop
    • Use Ruggy Clock Brown
    • Use ‘Automatic location’ for the widget’s location settings
    • Scaling is set at 80%

Once again, what we’ve shown you here is only the tip of the iceberg with what you can do with your phone’s look! Using the above listed apps, the sky is the limit with what you can do. Feel free to leave your ideas and creations below in the comments, and stay tuned next week for a new edition of Steal This Look!

 

888 Poker mobile app review

AndroidGuys
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0

Society’s move to smartphone technology during the last decade has had a tremendous impact on the way people communicate with the wider world. Connections are now made instantaneously, and mobile devices are seemingly omnipresent, with us from the moment the alarm bell rings in the morning to when the final texts are sent before bed.

Downloadable apps accessible on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices represent a multibillion dollar industry, and increasingly, people are using those apps to enjoy the entertainment value offered by games.

According to a report issued by app economy research firm AppAnnie, “games generated approximately 85 percent of mobile app market revenue in 2015, representing a total of $34.8 billion across the globe.” That report also indicates that the app-based gaming industry will grow to $41.5 billion in 2016, before reaching $74.6 billion by 2020.

Leading online poker platforms like 888 Poker make up a significant portion of the mobile gaming market today, with millions of players around the world now able to enjoy their favorite games anywhere. In fact, the 888 Poker mobile app was designed to perfectly replicate the site’s software client, providing a seamless transition between the primary poker room and the mobile alternative.

The following review covers essential information about the 888 Poker app for Android devices, including download requirements, gameplay features, and comparisons to the main client.

Getting Started

In order to access the 888 Poker free app on your Android device, you’ll begin by visiting the site’s mobile page. From there, entering your phone number to receive an SMS text, entering your email address, or scanning a QR code will make the app available.

Even though 888 Poker is an international company which serves customers all over the world, the mobile app is not available everywhere, but players in the UK, the EU, Australia, Asia, and certain jurisdictions within the US should have no issues logging in.

Players who already have an account with 888 Poker simply need to input their screenname and password information as usual. For new players, take a moment to create an account through the main site via your browser, before downloading the mobile app to your Android device.

888_poker2

Gameplay Features

Once you’ve downloaded the app and logged in, a streamlined version of the same 888 Poker experience you’re familiar is now always within arm’s reach.

The lobby screen consists of a Cashier button – through which banking features like deposits and withdrawals can be reached – along with your screenname and current bankroll in the top right-hand corner. In the lower right-hand corner, you’ll find the standard “?” button for Help, and the “Gearbox” button for Account Settings.

Three poker variants are included in the 888 Poker mobile app, Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Seven-Card Stud, with various stakes from limit, pot-limit, and no-limit available.

The main lobby screen is divided by three main tabs: Beginners, Cash, and Sit & Go. By clicking on the Beginners tab, you’ll have three low-stake cash game tables to choose from: nine-handed $0.01/$0.02 NLHE, six-handed $0.03/$0.06 NLHE, or nine-handed $0.05/$0.10 NLHE. Under the Cash and Sit & Go tabs, you’ll find real money ring games and one-table tournaments, respectively.

A simple set of buttons and sliders allow you to select game type (No-Limit, Limit, etc.), table type (nine-handed, six-handed, etc.), and stakes ($0.01/$0.02 through $5.00/$10.00).

The full schedule of 888 Poker multi-table tournaments is also available, including the site’s $90 buy-in $100,000 guaranteed Sunday Challenge, and the $35 buy-in $25,000 guaranteed Wednesday Challenge.

Snapping into Action

Playing either cash games or tournament poker generally requires an extended period of time, so even if you’re using a tech tip to extend your Android’s battery life, you’ll benefit from seamless software and high-speed play.

Fortunately, the 888 Poker mobile app runs smoothly with a basic high-speed wireless internet connection. In-game animations such as cards being dealt and chips going into the pot occur without skipping or freezing the screen.

The convenient Quick Seat function, which allows players to program their preferred game type and stakes, has been adapted from the desktop client. This means you can automate the game selection process, letting the software bring you directly to the latest table with a seat open which meets your specifications.

Even better, the fast-paced Snap Poker feature has been included in the mobile app, so players can enjoy nonstop action without the usual waits. During a Snap Poker game, the moment you click fold to throw away your hand, you’ll instantly be transported to another table and dealt a new hand. The Snap Poker concept constantly revolves players through a series of tables, so you won’t be wasting precious battery life waiting for habitual tankers or huge pots to play out.

 

888_poker_3Bonuses

New players registering to the site for the first time will receive an $88 no-deposit bonus simply for signing up. After creating an 888 Poker account, either via the desktop client or the mobile app, check out your account information to claim your first bonus. This no-deposit bonus, which expires on April 15th, 2016, is earned in $8 increments as you earn bonus points while playing real money poker.

In addition, the site offers all new players a Welcome Bonus of 100% on their first deposit, up to $400. This means that when you deposit $20 to get started, you’ll begin with $40 in your account, and if you can afford it, a $400 deposit will start you with an $800 bankroll. The funds generated by this Welcome Bonus are distributed in $10 increments for each 100 bonus points you earn.

Conclusions

The 888 Poker mobile app offers Android device users a top-notch experience from top to bottom. Although a few improvements could be made, the app is still one of the best in the bunch when it comes to mobile online poker platforms.

A few drawbacks include no ability to multi-table, or play several games simultaneously, and the lack of a player search function. Veterans accustomed to using a heads-up display (HUD) while playing will also be disappointed to find that no third-party software is permitted, but with only one table in play at a time, HUDs are not missed nearly as much. Even so, players can always take screenshots of relevant hands to use for later research, a process made much easier by the new Marshmallow operating system for Android.

Overall, the 888 Poker mobile app for Android honors its namesake platform’s reputation, offering players reliable software, plentiful game selection, and an intuitive interface. With a healthy menu of cash games, sit & gos, and multi-table tournaments, the mobile app provides a complete experience for players of all specialties and stakes.

Great Value: Samsung Galaxy Amp Prime launches on Cricket Wireless

Andrew Orr
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The Samsung Galaxy Amp Prime, a budget-friendly smartphone built for “social media power users” will become available on Cricket Wireless for $149.

Galaxy Amp Prime Features

The first thing you’ll notice about the Amp Prime is its super AMOLED screen, with rich colors and sharp images. The 5MP camera is perfect for the social media maven whose main focus is on selfies and groupies. You don’t even need to press a button – the Amp Prime has a hand gesture-activated camera, so you don’t have to awkwardly reach for the button while holding the camera one-handed.

galaxy-amp-prime

Other features include:

  • One-handed operation mode so even a large phone is easy to use
  • Ultra Power Savings Mode that can extend your standby time for up to 24 hours with just a 10% charge.
  • Easy Mode – an easier interface for beginners with a simpler layout and larger font size.

And fear not, because the Amp Prime comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow straight out of the box, so despite being a budget phone, you don’t have to deal with budget software.

 

The best-selling unlocked Android phones from B&H [March 30, 2016]

Andrew Orr
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0

Unlocked smartphones are definitely gaining popularity and for good reason – they free you up from financing plans and two-year contracts. If you’re looking for a new smartphone B&H has you covered.

Why unlocked?

Whereas a lot of today’s flagship models tend to run in the $500-$600 range, or higher, there’s an awful lot of smartphone to be had for less money. In fact, you can sometimes spend $200-300 for a phone and get a substantial upgrade over your previous one.

We’ve gathered up the 10 best-selling unlocked Android devices from B&H so you can get a sense for what’s available. Indeed, you’ll see a nice mix of big-name vendors and devices from other, scrappy players. Note that we’ve omitted color variations; you might find other colors available.

orion_with_motoX

Why B&H Photo Video?

As the largest non-chain photo and video equipment store in the United States, B&H also offers consumers a wide selection of smartphones. Indeed, you’ll find just about every major manufacturer from around the globe, plus some from other, growing names, too. It’s also here where you’ll be able to get your hands on the unlocked BlackBerry Priv. There’s something here for everybody.

So, the next time you need to replace your existing phone, consider scooping up one of these. It’s often a heck of a lot cheaper than going through your carrier in the end. Depending on which model you purchase, you could save big on an unlocked Android device from B&H.

  1. Huawei Google Nexus 6P 64GB (graphite) – $549
  2. Huawei Google Nexus 6P 32GB (graphite) – $498
  3. Huawei Google Nexus 6P 32GB (aluminum) – $498
  4. LG Google Nexus 5X 32GB  (black) – $369
  5. LG Google Nexus 5X 32GB (white) – $379
  6. Motorola Moto X Pure Edition 16GB (black) – $399
  7. ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser 32GB (silver) – $199
  8. Motorola Moto X Pure Edition 16GB (white/bamboo) – $424
  9. Huawei Google Nexus 6P 64GB (aluminum) – $548
  10. Motorola Moto G Global Variant 2nd Gen 8GB (black) – $99

Please note that due to overwhelming demand, some of these phones are listed as “backordered” or “coming soon”.

Cover image courtesy of B&H Photo Video

LG G5 to begin launching into global markets

Andrew Orr
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0

Following a successful introduction of the LG G5 at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, LG will expand its reach starting this week. The LG G5 will première in South Korea starting tomorrow on March 31, and in the United States on April 1. Soon after, the G5 will appear in markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Around 200 carriers and operators worldwide will begin offering the G5.

LG G5

Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company says,

“Since MWC, LG G5 and Friends have captured the imagination of consumers everywhere with its engaging take on mobile technology…Modularity has been talked about for years but no one was able to consumerize it until now and we’re happy to take on the mantle.”

[graphiq id=”4fdFZo7BX4V” title=”LG G5″ width=”600″ height=”727″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/4fdFZo7BX4V” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/5086/LG-G5″ link_text=”LG G5 | SpecOut”]

In addition to the G5 modular phone, a set of companion devices or Friends will be available shortly after the G5 rollout:

  • CAM Plus
  • LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY (with pouch)
  • 360 VR
  • 360 CAM (with case)
  • Rolling Bot
  • TONE Platinum
  • H3 by B&O PLAY

Prices and exact date of availability will be announced separately in each local market.

Cover image courtesy of LG Electronics

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