Monthly Archives: March 2016

Oppo R9 and R9 Plus pass through TENAA, no Snapdragon 820 on board

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Over the past few weeks we’ve seen a lot of rumors popping up regarding the upcoming Oppo R9. Despite the fact that the previous two members of the R-series have been nothing more than mid-range in terms of specs, the R9 was supposedly going to be a true flagship, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip powering it.

Well, that theory has now been debunked courtesy of TENAA. The Chinese equivalent to the US FCC has certified both the R9 and the R9 Plus for sale. As usual, this process has revealed both images of the two handsets, as well as a list of some of their specs.

Let’s start with the R9, pictured above. It has a metal build as you can see, and it comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED touchscreen, a 1.95 GHz octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, 4G support, dual-SIM functionality, a 2,850 mAh battery, and two 16 MP cameras – one on the front, one on the back (which also has a LED flash). It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. Its dimensions are 151.8 x 74.3 x 6.5 mm, and it weighs 145g.

While the SoC employed isn’t mentioned by name, it’s clearly not the Snapdragon 820, since that features a quad-core CPU, not octa-core. Based on the clock speed alone, we could see MediaTek’s Helio P10 inside the Oppo R9, but that’s just speculation.

Moving on to the R9 Plus (pictured above), once again the fully metallic construction is obvious. This handset sports a 6-inch 1080p AMOLED touchscreen, the same 16 MP cameras as its smaller sibling, a 1.8 GHz octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, a 4,120 mAh battery, dual-SIM support, and 4G LTE. Oddly, it seems to be running Android 5.0 Lollipop, which is a rather ancient version of the OS at this point. Its dimensions are 163 x 80.8 x 7.4 mm, and it weighs 185g.

Once again the Snapdragon 820 can’t be at the helm, yet in this case we get a different SoC than in the R9. If we were to speculate, we’d assume the R9 Plus has the Snapdragon 652 inside (only based on the CPU clock speed and number of cores).

So the R9 and R9 Plus certainly look like solid mid-rangers, but not the flagships they’ve been rumored to be. Perhaps Oppo will finally unveil the Find 9 this year then. And speaking of unveilings, the R9 duo will go official on March 17.

Source 1 (in Chinese) • Source 2 (in Chinese) | Via 1 • Via…

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Amazon intros Echo Dot and Amazon Tap portable speaker

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Rumors of the Amazon Echo getting a smaller sibling have been circulating since the beginning of the year, but details were slim with little more than it would be portable and coming soon.

Today Amazon has finally made the official reveal of not just one, but two new smaller Echo like devices; the Amazon Echo Dot is a miniature version of the Echo and the Amazon Tap is a portable Bluetooth speaker with Echo capabilities.

Amazon Echo Dot

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The Echo Dot, as the name aptly suggests, is a considerably smaller version of the Amazon Echo. And to be clear, the size difference is significant: the Echo is 9.25-inches tall and the Echo Dot is a mere 1.5-inches. While it does have a small built-in speaker, it seems like the Echo Dot is much more geared towards the voice assistant and smart home functionality rather than audio playback. Amazon pitches it as a perfect fit for the bedside table or kitchen. If you do want to use the Echo Dot as a home audio solution, you can connect it to an existing home stereo with an audio cable or Bluetooth.

The Echo Dot is available now for $89.99, but only to owners of the Echo or a Fire TV with Alexa support by saying “Alexa, order an Echo Dot.”

Amazon Tap

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The Amazon Tap is the device that was rumored previously, as it is a truly portable speaker, unlike the Echo and Echo Dot. The big question there was how would the always listening functionality work on a battery-bound device, and the answer is that it does not. This is perhaps why Amazon opted to drop “Echo” from the name of this product. The Tap gets its name from the method for calling up Alexa on the device, which is by tapping the microphone button on the side of the speaker.

In order to use Alexa functionality, the Tap needs an Internet connection, and this can be achieved either via Wi-Fi or with a mobile hotspot from your smartphone or tablet. When not connected to the Internet, the Tap is just a Bluetooth speaker. It has solid specs there, but we’ll have to see how it stacks up against some of our favorite Bluetooth speakers when we get our hands on one.

The speaker has up to 9 hours of playback on a single charge and comes with a charging cradle that makes it resemble a slightly smaller version of the traditional Echo when docked. At 6.2 inches tall, it is a few inches shy of its big sibling and a almost an inch narrower as well. On the top of the Tap are volume and playback controls.

Unlike the Echo Dot, anyone can order the Amazon Tap, but it’s a pre-order today and will ship on March 31st. The Tap is priced at $129.99, which compares favorably with mid- to high-end Bluetooth speakers, and of course, it has the added bonus of Alexa. For an extra $19.99 you can add a Tap Sling Cover in 6 colors that adds a loop and some protection for your Tap.

It seems odd that Amazon is limiting the sales of the Echo Dot, as the size of the original Echo does seem like it may have been a sticking point for some users, but perhaps it is attributable to Amazon being unable to produce the device in significant quantities at the moment.

Do either of the new options pique your interest?

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Top 10 new Android games this week: Clash Royale, Dig Pig

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Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap of new game releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know in the comments section if you have any suggestions for next week’s post.

Road to be King

Description: Hold your finger on your screen and dodge hordes of foul creatures and dangerous traps. Go as far as you can to set your highest score and compete against friends. Collect crystals to buy and upgrade special items that will help you along the way. You can also pick up special power ups to becoming even more powerful.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Dig Pig

Description:  Pig is single and he’s looking for love, but online dating only gives him matches on the other side of the world. Help him dig his way through the Earth while avoiding the obstacles. Sound easy? Make sure you aim for the right spot on the map! Easy and intuitive to play, but hard to master.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Chased By The Sun

Description: Welcome to CHASED BY THE SUN, the not-so-endless runner starring the tiny green spaceship with the gigantic ball of thermonuclear plasma in hot pursuit!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Miner Z

Description: It’s the Zombie apocalypse and you are one of the last survivors. You have one option, dig or die! Tunnel through the perilous mine as you try to escape the Zombie hoard. MinerZ. How deep can you dig?!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Clash Royale

Description: Enter the Arena! From the creators of Clash of Clans comes a real-time multiplayer game starring the Royales, your favorite Clash characters and much, much more. Collect and upgrade dozens of cards featuring the Clash of Clans troops, spells and defenses you know and love, as well as the Royales: Princes, Knights, Baby Dragons and more.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Ignatius

Description: Ignatius is a atmospheric puzzle-platformer game with an interesting story. The game with its visual form and plot refers to the old silent movies. Graphic design of “Ignatius” is a unique combination of different aesthetics – hand drawing , noir , vintage , art deco and even steam – punk elements .

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Flipper Fox

Description: Meet Ollie, the happy-go-lucky party planner on your adventure through the colorful world of Flipper Fox! Swipe to flip tiles, creating a path for Ollie to find the supplies needed to make his friend’s parties a hit! Collect sweet gifts across over 180 head-scratching puzzle levels!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Axe in Face 2

Description: The mighty Redbeard is back in the killer follow-up to the best Nordic mobile game of 2011! Help Redbeard defend his precious flowers from hordes of invading Vikings, making use of his sharp axe and unparalleled throwing skills, spells from the Gods and awesome power-ups!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy

Description: With a rich multilayered narrative, innovative presentation, and a chilling musical score by famed Hollywood composer Angelo Badalementi, Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered serves as the definitive version of the supernatural murder mystery and (re)introduces the groundbreaking title to old and new fans alike.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Evo Explores

Description: In Evo Explores you should trust your eyes. If something looks real – it is real! If you don’t see a problem – there is no problem at all. Manipulate impossible surreal structures, explore optical illusions and solve mind blowing puzzles. Every new level will unravel the history of Byte planet and its citizens.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

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Google’s next Nexus to rip off iPhone’s 3D Touch

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3D Touch is awesome on iPhone 6s. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of AndroidGoogle’s next-generation Nexus smartphone will adopt the iPhone’s 3D Touch technology, according to an “insider” familiar with the company’s plans. It’s thought HTC will be tasked with building the device, and it should arrive later this year. 3D Touch is still seen by many (mostly those who are yet to use it) as a gimmick.

Read the full article…

The post Google’s next Nexus to rip off iPhone’s 3D Touch appeared first on Cult of Android.

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Los futuros Nexus de HTC integrarán tecnología 3D Force Touch

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Instagram 3D Touch Android

La tecnología 3D Force Touch es aquella implementada en las pantallas de distintos smartphones o hasta relojes que identifica fuerzas de presión el ella y en consecuencia se produce una acción u otra. No se debe confundir con el Force Touch, que tan solo distingue si hay presión o no. Se considera que Apple fue la desarrolladora de ella en su reloj Apple Watch y sus últimos iPhone.

Después de que el ya presentado Samsung Galaxy S7 desmintiera sus rumores sobre su pantalla con tecnología 3D Force Touch, hoy nos llega una noticia prácticamente idéntica, pero esta vez, con los rumoreados nuevos Nexus del fabricante HTC.

Los nuevos Nexus de HTC integrarán tecnologías “3D Touch”

Aunque al final esta tecnología no se implementó en este S7, otros terminales de distintas firmas sí la integraron, como es el caso del ZTE Axon Mini o del Huawei Mate S. Aún así, este 3D Touch acoge muchas variantes en estos dispositivos, es decir, no se puede comparar con el 3D Touch de Apple.

Tal y como leemos en GizmoChina, el futuro y misterioso HTC Nexus 2016 podría integrar precisamente esta tecnología 3D Force Touch. De momento pero, no está confirmado ni que los siguientes Nexus sean fabricados por HTC, así que por el momento tan solo estamos hablando de rumores.

Huawei Mate S Force Touch

HTC pero, no es la única firma que se prevé que sace dispositivos con esta tecnología, Xiaomi, Meizu, Oppo y Vivo también estarían fabricando pantallas para sus móviles con 3D Touch. Hasta se habla de unas posibles intenciones por parte de Google de integrarlo dentro de Android, es decir, que todos los smartphones con este S.O. dispongan de estas pantallas sensibles a la presión.

El quid de la cuestión pero, lo encontramos en cómo será implementado este 3D Touch, ya que estos dispositivos, incluido este rumoreado Nexus podrían ampliar en gran medida estas posibilidades respecto a las ya implementadas en los iPhone, muy primitivas y casi inútiles. Por el momento, este Axon Mini o el Mate S ya expandieron estas posibilidades.

Sea como sea, no hay nada sobreseguro, por lo que estamos hablando por hablar. Estate atento a Andro4all para descubrir todas las novedades que puedan salir tanto del 3D Touch como del Nexus 2016, que seguramente será anunciado en el Google I/O de mayo.

¿Te gustaría ver este 3D Force Touch en un Nexus?

¿Y tú que piensas? Pásate por Los futuros Nexus de HTC integrarán tecnología 3D Force Touch para dejar tu huella.

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The Original Pokémon Game Was Social Media Before Social Media

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The Original Pokémon Game Was Social Media Before Social Media
While Pokémon still boasts a huge community 20 years later, alongside formidable sales and a vast range of merchandise, today’s kids and teenagers are never likely to experience the inescapable, ubiquitous phenomenon that followed those initial games.

March 3, 2016 at 09:27AM
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