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Cog: Endless games have never looked so good (Review)

Gerson Noboa
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In a marketplace where more and more endless games are trying to compete for new users, developers are just starting to realize that they need a differentiating factor in order to survive the app carnage. Cog, by Interactive Monster, offers gamers what is expected from an endless game: simple gameplay, no-nonsense controls, and challenging gameplay. However, Cog is also a gorgeous game to look at, with very fluid animations and superb accompanying sound effects.

Developer: Interactive Monster
Price: Free

Overview

Normally, reviews start with a setup section, but there’s no setup needed for Cog. You just launch the game and it starts right away. There’s no tutorial either, but, with a little trial and error, you will get what are you supposed to do in no time.

You control a white orb and have to move it from one ring to another. This is done by tapping anywhere on the screen. Doing this will propel your orb in an upwards position (or to the left, if you’re playing in landscape orientation.

Easy, right? Well, the game isn’t called Cog just because it sounds cool. There are cogs everywhere trying to block your road to success. A small touch to one of these cogs and it’s game over for you.

Striking visuals are the first thing you will notice in this game.

Also, the walls that surround the stage collapse towards you, so the time you have to go from ring to ring is very limited.

To aid you in your journey, the game throws at you spheres with useful items. For example, you can get an hourglass that slows the cogs around you, so that you can proceed through the perils of this world in a more analytical way.

There’s also a bomb that destroys all cogs for the next two rings and a shield that puts a protective aura around your orb to give you a second chance in case you screw up.

General Impressions

The items scattered through the stage are very useful.

When you combine all of these elements, they yield a very interesting, fast-paced and challenging gameplay. Even though you have to plan your movements carefully, if you are not fast enough, then the window to advance to the next ring will be gone and it will be game over for you.

The items that the game throws around are extremely useful, especially the shield. Going through the stage knowing that any mistake you make will not be the end of it all gives you a huge peace of mind.

Even though the game can get very addicting and it is a joy to look at, it suffers from the same issue as many games on the Play Store: zero replay value. Other than increasing your high score and completing the achievements available (not through Google Play Games, but rather a proprietary achievement system), there’s very, very little you can do.

There’s supposedly a Rankings tab where you can see how your score compares to other users around the world (and weep as you see how your score gets crushed by others), but I couldn’t manage to find it.

Graphics

The obligatory screenshot of my highest score is provided for your amusement.

This is definitely one of the highest points of this game. The game is absolutely stunning. The background has these star-like circles that fly through, there are moving cogs everywhere and it changes color as you advance through the stage.

Even though the game looks amazing, it is definitely not pushing the processor to its limit, so this results in the game playing very smoothly, even on my kind of low-end Nomu S10. Even the animations for the game over screen are very nice and fluid. There’s absolutely nothing to dislike about this game graphics-wise.

Sound

The game has several background songs so that you don’t have to listen to the same song over and over again. They are very relaxing tunes, just appropriate to help you concentrate on the mayhem going in front of your eyes.

Sound effects that accompany your actions are not your typical SFX. They sound very mechanical, kind of what you expect from listening to moving parts in robots. Very appropriate for a game called Cog!

Conclusion

Cog manages to immerse the player into a stage full of moving perils, striking visuals, great sound and a dead-simple goal. However, this game is lacking in the replay value department, with very little incentive to keep going other than increasing your score. If the developers improve this aspect, maybe through the addition of other gameplay modes or some kind of progression, then they will have a winner on its hands. Even then, Cog is definitely worth trying for those moments where all you need is some quick fun.

Download and install Cog from the Google Play Store.

ZTE Axon 7 is getting updated to Android 7.1.1

Alexandra Arici
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ZTE’s Axon 7 flagship is one of the best affordable yet powerful smartphones out there. That’s why ZTE is very keen in delivering the best experience it can for users of the phone.

After unleashing the Android 7.0 Nougat update last month, the Chinese device maker is now rolling out the Android 7.1.1 update. While the new build isn’t as rich as the previous Android 7.0 Nougat update, it still brings some bug fixes and enhancements.

For starters, T-Mobile users will notice that their Axon 7 is now supporting Wi-Fi calling and texting. The OTA also brings a new host of emojis including Google’s “gender-equal” pack.

The new February Android security patch is also included into the update. On top of that Android 7.1.1 for the Axon 7 adds a few optimization for Daydream.

The update is currently flying out across the States, but if you are not seeing yours yet don’t be sad – you can try going to Settings and clicking on System Updates to see whether the new build has arrived for you.

The ZTE Axon 7 has become a pretty popular device with the Android crowd. Actually, it’s quite an apt competitor for the OnePlus 3T. Speaking of which if you want to see how the two models compare, you can check our smartphone showdown right here.

Ordering the LG G6 from Verizon might get you a free 43-inch smart TV

Alexandra Arici
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We previously reported that customers in the US interested in placing a pre-order for the LG G6 will also receive a Google Home speaker free of charge.

Well according to a leaked document obtained by Android Central, that’s not all folks interested in acquiring a LG G6 will be able to get for free. With the condition they buy the new LG flagship from Verizon.

Pre-orders for the LG G6 will kick start at Verizon on Friday, March 17. While anybody placing a pre-order for the phone will get a Google Home free of charge, Verizon is willing to give off some additional perks to those who are upgrading on an existing plan. These subscribers will be also given the opportunity to get a $200 trade-in credit if they bring in a phone listed on the carrier’s list of “selected devices”

The text is a bit too blurry to be deciphered completely, but it seems folks will be able to bring in the Note4/Note 5/Galaxy S6/Galaxy S6 edge+/Galaxy S7/Galaxy S7 edge/G4/V10/V20/Moto Z/Z Force/Z Play when they upgrade.

If you are a new customer coming at Verizon and are opening a new line, the carrier has a pretty nice 43-inch LG Smart TV waiting for you.

Basically, by purchasing the LG G6 at Verizon it’s possible to get up to $679.99 in free devices and trade-in credit. The promo also works with Verizon’s $650 Switcher off for those who are coming from another carrier and the FIOS $500 bundle promo for new customers.

We’re also told, customers will be able to grab the LG G6 at Verizon for $672 outright or for $28/month for the next 24 months. The release date is set for April 7.

The leaked document shows that customers need to visit a certain website, submit a promo code as well as picture of the phone’s receipt and the barcode label as evidence.

Ever wanted a golden smartphone? HTC lets you win a 24k gold plated One M7

Alexandra Arici
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Saint Patrick’s Day festivities will kick start tomorrow and to help you celebrate better, HTC launched an interesting contest available for its fans in the US.

Like it’s tradition, you’ll just need to follow the leprechaun in order to find the pot of gold. In this particular case, just go to HTC’s website and sign up for the email list with your personal information. In return, HTC is offering you the chance to win a 24k gold plated One M7 smartphone.

Yeah sure, the One M7 is a four-year device, but it surely does look extremely sleek with a gold plated back.

On top of that, you don’t have anything to loose. Just enter the sweepstakes until Friday, March 17 and see what happens.

While the phone launched back in 2013, it still offers decent enough specs, so you’ll be able to use it just fine in 2017. Just be careful about taking it out in public spaces, as the gold might attract some unwanted attention.

To refresh your memory, the HTC One M7 takes advantage of a 4.7-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolution and 469ppi. It takes advantage of a snapdragon 600 which is a quad-core 1.7GHz Krait 300 chispet with Adreno 320.

The One M7 bundles 2GB of RAM and 32/64GB of internal storage. The camera department is a bit unimpressive compared to today’s standards. The phone is equipped with a 4MP main snapper with f/2.0, autofocus and OIS while the selfie snapper is of 2.1MP variety.

The device launched with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, but the Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade became available later on.

OnePluse 3T Colette Edition launches in custom black color and blue box

Alexandra Arici
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If you were hoping for a blue OnePlus 3T, we’ll have to burst your bubble. After intensive teasing, the Chinese company announced it was partnering up with fashion boutique Colette which coincidentally is celebrating 20 years of existence.

But instead of birthing a blue OnePlus 3T, this partnership produced an all-black handset instead. It’s a limited edition phone, so only 250 units will be produced and sold. Still, it’s quite unlikely you will be able to get your hands on this particular phone, since it will be sold only in Colette’s Paris store starting March 21.

The device will be available for approximately $510 and will be offered with a pair of OnePlus Bullet headphones to customers who arrive early (the boutique opens its gates at 11am local time).

For those still hung up on the blue color, you’ll probably find some sort of consolation that the phone ships out in a blue box.

The OnePlus 3T limited edition comes with 128GB of native storage. Apart from that, it features all the specs you’d find on an “average” OnePlus 3T.

It has a 5.5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolution, a Snapdragon 821 under the hood and 6GB of RAM. It also takes advantage of a 16MP main camera with f/2.0, OIS and PDAF and a powerful 16MP selfie camera up front.

The phone relies on a 3,400 mAh battery and takes advantage of Dash Charge which allows users to power up their device up to 60% in just half an hour.

Google might be prepping a third phone this year, codenamed “taimen”

Alexandra Arici
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A few days ago we told you that the next-generation Pixel phones are probably codenamed “muskie” and “walleye”. Like in 2016, Google is expected to unveil not one, but two flagship smartphones this year.

However, according to the sources talking to The Droid Life it appears the search giant has another phone codenamed “taimen” in the works. Like muskie and walleye, the taimen is also a type of fish. Actually the taimen is the largest member of the salmonid family, which also includes trout and salmon, so in all possibility the “taimen” codename refers to a larger than life phone.

Droid Life was told specifically that “taimen” is a phone, so don’t go thinking Google could be looking to introduce a tablet or a hybrid of some sorts of this year. It’s also believed that “muskie” and “walleye” are separate devices – the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, while the “taimen” might be on its own.

Could “taimen” be a phone Google intends to place in a particular market? Could be – while muskie and walleye are both freshwater species of fish native to North America, the taimen lives in portions of Eurasia and Pacific drainage in Mongolia and Russia.

The information at hand is pretty vague at the moment, but as soon as we will know something more we will come back and let you know. Would you be interested in a phone with a larger display that the Pixel XL?

V-Moda Headphone Lineup: Forza vs Forza Metallo (Review)

AndroidGuys
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I feel like wired earbuds are in a strange place right now. They are caught somewhere between old technology and the industry standard, sort of like Windows XP in 2011. Everyone I know owns and uses at least one set. Heck, even companies like Apple are releasing phones without 3.5 mm ports but still providing a method to connect wired earbuds. I guess my point in all this is, how far do we go when investing money into dated technology?

If I’m being honest, up until we were provided these headphones for review, I was the kind of guy that would grab a pair of $10 skull candy earbuds from Target and use them until they gave out. V-Moda has successfully turned me around with their Forza line of in-ear buds.

Design:

At first sight, the two different buds are separated by color. Although I was given orange for the Forza and silver for the Forza Metallo, there are additional color options available when ordering, none of which overlap.

Digging a little deeper into the design, there doesn’t seem to be too many differences. Both come were provided with the following list of items:

  • 4 sizes of silicon buds for a near custom fit
  • 3 sizes of sport fins to secure the buds during rigorous activity
  • a pair of sport hooks if you prefer this style over the fins
  • a pair of remix rings to attached custom models (if you ordered them)
  • a shirt clip
Sport Fin

And finally, each set comes with a case and this is where we see the real difference. The case for the Forza set comes with a mesh case. The Forza Metallo set, however, comes with a leather case with a magnetized lid, which brings some class and value to the more expensive set.

Specs:

As far as I can tell, both headsets share most of the same technical specifications. Some of the notable ones are:

  • 5.8mm neodymium dynamic-type Speaker Driver
  • 20Hz – 40,000 Hz Frequency Response
  • Sensitivity of 99dB @1kHz 1mW
  • -42dB Microphone sensitivity
  • 3.5mm, 24k gold plated plug set at 45 degrees
  • Controls customized to support either iOS or Android (choose at checkout)

There is one advertised difference between the two. The Metallo version states that it has what they refer to as a “DiamondBack” ultra reinforced cable (up to 20x strength). I’m not sure how that is much different from the regular Forza which also advertises ultra-reinforced cable (up to 20x strength) however there is a slight difference in how the two feel and the Metallo’s are still holding shape from the packaging (which is kind of annoying).

Function:

Now that we have technical speak out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff; how these babies perform in the real world. I was very impressed by the quality of sound that I received when using both of the headphones. All the way through the audio levels that I was comfortable exposing my eardrums to, the sound was always clear and crisp with no noticeable distortion.

The sport fins are my favorite part hands down. the 3D printing seems to be on point and the soft rubberised material is very comfortable on my ears. I did chores like cleaning the barn and running the dogs without running into any issues with the buds falling out of place. I wasn’t much for the sport clips. The material used what quite hard and they didn’t seem to hold tightly to my ears as they were supposed to.

Controls customized for android

The built-in microphone picked up voices very well and I never had issues with cutouts or feedback. I even regularly used them for work and was advised that they sounded great. The controls are well thought out and easy to feel for. They offer a good amount of features with double pressing and long pressing options, but there is nothing here that I have not seen other manufacturers do.

Conclusion:

The Forza series of headphone have changed my opinion of how I still think they are in a strange place as far as accessories go, but, I will pay a little bit more attention to quality going forward. As far as which ones I would recommend, the basic Forza headphones should get you what you need. I do find myself using the Metallo’s more often than not but I think that has a lot more to do with me not liking the color orange as opposed to the being any better for some reason. If you really want the leather case, which by the way is about half the size of the mesh one, then go ahead and spend the extra $30, but personally, I don’t know that it would be worth it for me.

Get a free Google Home when you purchase an LG G6

Matt Adams
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Boy, do we have an awesome deal for you. Today, LG reached out to us to let us know about an upcoming promotion where you’ll receive a free Google Home on LG when you purchase a brand new G6. Pretty dope.

The promotion, dubbed the LG G6 Google Home National Promotion, goes live today. Head over to www.lgg6launchpromo.com when you purchase a G6 before April 30. You’ll have to fill out some information like your name, email, where you’re from, and your carrier. There’s a button to uncheck if you don’t want to receive information about LG products but the site design is a bit wonky and I was unable to get that unchecked.

Make sure you don’t wait around too long on this offer because it closes up shop on May 15. As an owner of a Google Home, I can’t say enough good things about it. This is an awesome chance to get one for free!

Bing looks to dethrone Google as the search king (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Overview:

Bing Search is the Microsoft equivalent of the Google app and features a search engine and a proto-web browser that allows you to utilize Bing to search the web in style.

Developer: Microsoft

Cost: Free

Impressions:

 

Bing is Microsoft’s answer to Google and it’s juggernaut of a search engine. Bing has some neat tricks that try to set it apart, and it prioritizes results differently than Google, trying to get the information most relevant to you near the top. The app itself is an attractive, smooth experience, as expected from Microsoft with their trend towards a modern metro UI. The main screen features a selection of categories for you to search in, as well as a large “Search” button. The search menu brings you to a familiar search page, with the option to search privately, as well as use your voice to search or identify music. The voice detection is solid, but the lack of Cortana, Microsoft’s voice assistant, is pretty disappointing.

The Bing search app also has a news crawl, that features cards of news from different categories that the app deems is relevant to you based on your search history similar to Google Now. The ongoing theme of this review is the comparison to Google, especially since it’s for Android. The question really boils down to how it compares to Google and it’s built-in integration into Android, and if it offers enough to really make you want to use it over Google at all.

I’d have to say no, it can’t really compete on Android with Google, simply because Google search is so deeply integrated into the OS that Bing just can’t offer the same convenience. Admittedly, the Bing results compared to my Google results of the same searches are fairly comparable, but not so much in Bing’s favor to really say I’d prefer it.

Bing also integrates the actually robust Rewards system, which gives you points for doing searches and completing challenges that you can redeem for real life prizes like gift cards. The Microsoft Rewards program is the best thing about Bing by far, with tangible rewards that I’d actually use just for searching on Bing.

Conclusion:

I will say that if you’re a hardcore Windows ecosystem user, who prefers Edge to Chrome and buys into the Windows Store and Cortana for your everyday use, then Bing is an excellent app. It’s well designed and slick looking while acting as a solid and very usable search engine and browser that saves your searches across platforms and provides curated content. The Rewards program is worth the price of admission alone, even if you only use it for that, it’s certainly not a bad reason to use Bing. Everyone likes free stuff that’s easy to get. At any rate, give Bing a look just to get a different flavor of search from your phone.

Download Bing Search on the Google Play Store

Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 allegedly coming with Snapdragon 660, new metal designs

Alexandra Arici
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Earlier today we showed you a stunning Nokia flagship concept which left our mouths watering. Well now, a new rumor has popped up which seems to indicate Nokia plans to launch two middle-to-upper rangers in the near future.

For those of you who are out of the loop, let’s recap. Recently Nokia unveiled the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 – which are all affordable Android handsets with lower-to-middle specs. Well it now appears Nokia plans to populate the middle-to-upper sector with two offerings which have been dubbed the Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 by the rumor mill.

But wait, didn’t we hear that the Nokia 8 might be the flagship with Snapdragon 835 we’ve all be dreaming of? Perhaps not. It’s hard to tell at this point, given all the conflicting rumors coming in.

Anyway, we’re told the retail names haven’t yet been finalized, so the two might make a debut under different monikers.

According to the source, the Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 will take advantage of the Snapdragon 660, which comes to replace the Snapdragon 653. Leaked info shows us, the Snapdragon 660 is built using Samsung’s 14nm LPP technology and features four + four Kyro cores clocked at 2.2GHz and 1.9GHz respectively. The SoC features and Adreno 512 GPU and a X10 LTE modem.

Apart from the processors, we’re also told the Nokia 8 might come with a QHD display, fingerprint scanner, fast charging and even Zeiss optics. As for the Nokia 7, the phone will probably have a 1080p display and a more modest camera arrangement. Both devices are expected to feature extremely thin bezels and new metal unibody design.

For the time being, we don’t know when these alleged models might hit the streets, but it’s probably going to be the second half of 2017 if we’d had to guess.

We previously told you that HMD plans to launch 6-7 Nokia Android phones in 2017. Three are already out, which means there’s room for up to four more (two middle-to-upper rangers and two flagships?).

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