Android App Review: OnLive


YouTube link for mobile viewing

A new era of gaming has finally been reached on Android. No, I'm not talking about the advent of Tegra-3 devices or console-quality games like Shadowgun. I'm talking about OnLive, and being able to stream any number of high-quality games straight to your phone or tablet (barring you have a strong internet connection).

For those who aren't aware, OnLive is a free service that lets you stream console games to your device, while all of the hosting is done on OnLive's side of things. It's cool because it removes the need to have a really powerful gaming rig setup, but the downside is you need to be connected to the internet to take advantage of things.

You buy games from OnLive (typically at their normal retail price), and then you're good to go. In my experience, you're given 30 minutes of free trial time per game, which is incredibly beneficial, as it lets you see how everything runs on your Android device and if there's issues that'll sully your gameplay experience.

So how does OnLive for Android work? Pretty well, actually. Create an account, sign in, and you're taken to the main screen of nine squares. Be aware that sometimes you won't be able to login (like when the servers are under extreme stress) and there's nothing you can do about it. The day the OnLive for Android app launched, I guess people were going to town, because I couldn't sign in until the next day.

On those nine squares, there's places to buy new games (Marketplace), edit your profile (Profile), check out recorded gameplay (Brag Clips), and even see which of your friends are playing (Friends), but what we're really interested is how things play.

There's two ways to control games in OnLive: with touch (either point-and-tap or virtual joysticks) or with a USB gamepad. OnLive makes and sells a gamepad themselves, but if you've got an old one laying around, it couldn't hurt to check. My Razer Onza controller didn't work, but I've read that other controllers have varying degrees of success, so your mileage may vary.

Because I could only check out touch-enabled games, I was a bit limited in what I could review, but for the most part, things were strong overall. Defense Grid Gold was the first game I tried out, and while there happened to be intermittent screen response issues on the menus (presumably because of lag), the gameplay didn't suffer the same fate. Towers were built as I commanded, tiny drones were exploded into bits of exploded robot dust, and the graphics chugged along as though I was playing something downloaded on my tablet.

LEGO Batman is a game that fully takes advantage of virtual joysticks and buttons, and while the graphics and gameplay are still pretty solid, there's still the ever-persistent issue of virtual joysticks not being quite as tight as something physical. Sometimes it's hard to judge depth and control your character appropriately, sometimes your thumb just moves too far into the bezel and your character stops moving. Add in a myriad of virtual buttons, and you'll either be stretching your hands out on a tablet or accidentally hitting buttons on a phone's smaller screen.

Still, even with those issues, OnLive has made a strong first move into the mobile market, and their app runs really well (as does streaming, for the most part). The biggest complaints I have are with the implementation of the virtual controls, and a fix for that could be a simple as making the buttons smaller when you're on a tablet.

Overall, OnLive hits most things really well. I only expect things to get better from here, and the ability to play the latest and greatest on your phone or tablet is just too cool.

The OnLive app is free in Android Market. We've got download links after the break.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/-7EzG7qk8tk/story01.htm

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Rumor: Supposed iPad 3 component suggests redesign

CydiaBlog has stumbled upon a supposedly leaked component from Chinese parts retailer TVC-Mall for the upcoming iPad 3, detailing a replacement microphone flex cable with a different design from the iPad 2.
The new part, when compared with iPad 2, shows a different arrangement in internal
...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Q6OmpjYe5X4/story01.htm

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Vote for the-gadgeteer.com’s BenQ Joybee video and you might win $500!

A few days ago I posted a news item about a contest that BenQ is holding on Facebook to help promote their new Joybee GP2 Mini Projector. I just posted our entry for that contest and I need you guys to help me win. What’s in it for you? Four chances to win prizes! If [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/12/12/vote-for-the-gadgeteer-coms-benq-joybee-video-and-you-might-win-500/

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Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8

classic shell make windows 7 look like xp
If you used Windows XP for a long time (who didn't?), one of the biggest changes when moving to Windows 7 or Vista was the massively-altered Explorer. While the new Explorer introduces some useful new features, it also removed just as many -- which is where Classic Shell comes in!

We've covered Classic Shell before, but here's the crib note: Classic Shell restores almost every Windows XP-era Explorer feature. The best change, in our opinion, is the reemergence of the 'up' arrow, meaning you now navigate without using the Windows Vista/7 'breadcrumbs' address bar. The status bar yet again shows the total size of your selection, and -- praise be! -- the diabolical Windows 7 Copy File 'copy and replace?' dialog has been replaced with a Windows XP lookalike (image after the break).

New to the most recent version of Classic Shell is the ability to make IE9 look like IE8. With Classic Shell the title bar yet again has a caption, so you can see the full title of Web pages. The current security zone and loading progress indicator have been put back into the status bar, too. If you enable 'Show tabs on a separate row,' it's almost like using IE8.

Finally, Classic Shell replaces the omnipotent Windows 7 Start Menu with the age-old 'classic' Windows 2000/XP-style Start Menu. Classic Shell makes the Start Menu skinable, too, if you're into the kind of thing.

As awesome as it sounds, we've only touched on a small section of Classic Shell's feature set. Check the Classic Shell site for a complete list. There's a few more images of Classic Shell in action after the break.

Download Classic Shell for Windows

Continue reading Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8

Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/classic-shell-makes-windows-explorer-and-ie9-look-like-their-anc/

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A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

Android Honeycomb'ish smartphone Music appUpdate: Tech From 10 seems to be offline -- but we have lots of images and a hands-on review if you want to see what the new Music app is like.

In what is probably a bit of a big-G whoopsie, the folks at Tech From 10 woke up to find a new, test version of Android Market installed on their Galaxy S.

Visually, the new version is almost identical. The carousel of featured apps has been updated slightly, and apps now have a 'Content rating,' but that's it (image after the break). The interesting bit, however, is the inclusion of alpha and beta apps -- most notably, there's a new version of the Music app, which looks like a scaled-down version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Music app (see right).

Also available from the test Android Market is 'Google Gallery 3D New 10.2', 'Google - Camera v12' and 'Google Desk Clock 10' -- but, curiously, all of the apps refused to launch on Tech From 10's Galaxy S (Vibrant) smartphone. Are they Honeycomb apps? Or, more likely, are they destined for the next Android smartphone OS, Ice Cream?

If you want to try out the new Honeycombish Music app, Tech From 10 has made the APK available for download. You can also download the three Google apps, if you want to have a poke around.

Continue reading A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/a-sneak-peek-at-the-next-version-of-android-market-and-music-app/

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Verizon Galaxy Nexus now available in the Android Central Phone Store

Verizon Galaxy Nexus

If you're looking to buy the Verizon Galaxy Nexus from a name you know and trust, look no further than the Android Central Phone Store, powered by Best Buy Mobile. We've got the Verizon Galaxy Nexus with its 4.65-inch display and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich available in two-year individual or family plans. Check it out!

Buy the Verizon Galaxy Nexus

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/VqL3lGe9mOc/story01.htm

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Did You Review Your Whole Facebook Timeline Before Publishing It?

Facebook Time BombReally? The whole thing? You probably didn't, but you should because there are things you posted long ago that you might not want people to see. I sincerely worry that all over the world, this is happening right now: "Oh look, a new Facebook profile design. Grrr, I dislike change, but it looks cool. There's a 7 day preview period? But all my friends are showing off their pretty covers. I'll just publish my Timeline now, and go back and delete embarrassing posts later." But they won't. This is a big problem for individuals and Facebook.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Wt6VKFeSqDE/

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Despite Two Deaths in Two Weeks, Elevators Are Still Safer Than Stairs [Death]

Yesterday a woman was killed when she tried to enter an elevator that suddenly shot upwards out-of-control. Just a week earlier, a woman was crushed by an elevator as she tried to crawl out of one that was in-between floors. Are you now terrified of elevators? More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Ca59Bce5fkg/despite-two-deaths-in-two-weeks-elevators-are-still-safer-than-stairs

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BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

bbm 6
A leaked early version of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Messenger 6 has been making the rounds since late February, but images of the new app are just now beginning to appear. Over at CrackBerry, the crew has shared a handful of images of BBM 6 in action. Unfortunately, you won't get a glimpse at a chat or file transfer -- only the profile screens (after the break) and what you see above. All that's really revealed so far is the option to set custom contact and chat colors and BlackBerry OS 6.1-style icons.

CrackBerry also warns against installing the leaked BBM 6 app. There's no guarantee this app hasn't been tampered with, and BlackBerry devices are becoming a more common target for cybercriminals.

Continue reading BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/06/blackberry-messenger-6-0-screenshots-leak/

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Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin

This is one of those posts that could probably be condensed into a tweet: Apple has released the second Preview of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. If you're running Preview 1, it looks like you'll first receive a small update via Software Update, and then you can download Preview 2 from the Mac App Store.

There has been some speculation that Apple is getting close to a release or Golden Master build, but judging by 9to5 Mac's initial findings there's definitely some way to go. The Golden Master will probably appear at, or just before, the Apple WWDC in June.

So far, it's looking like the only changes in Preview 2 are the leather bound iCal skin that you can see above, and the main iChat window now combines your AIM, Bonjour and Jabber contacts, like Adium. We're sure that more details will emerge throughout the day, though, and there's bound to be lots of invisible changes, too. We'll update this post when we find out more.

Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/mac-os-x-lion-preview-2-released-introduces-mega-exciting-leath/

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