Feature Overview and Unboxing

I already posted a BlackBerry Z10 unboxing video a couple of weeks ago, so this is just going to be a quick recap. The BlackBerry Z10 is, of course, powered by the new BlackBerry 10 operating system. It gets a 4.2-inch 335ppi touchscreen, dual core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, 8MP camera, 2MP front camera, and microSD expansion. It also gets both LTE and NFC, as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

On paper, the BlackBerry Z10 is quite competitive with the iPhone 5 and most higher end Android devices, except that its 4.2-inch screen is noticeably smaller than the much larger Android phones with their 4.7+ inch displays these days. BlackBerry World boasts about 70,000 apps for the Z10, many of which are ported over from their Android counterparts.

Hardware Impressions

The BlackBerry Z10 definitely feels very solid in the hands. I particularly like the rubbery back that provides a great grip. The profile is remarkably thin and I like how the front face is completely lacking in buttons, leaving a much sleeker overall appearance.

The volume controls are along the right side, which is fine, but the power button is in the middle of the top. What I found is that when I wanted to put the phone to sleep (by pressing the power button on top with my index finger), my thumb oftentimes pressed one of the volume buttons by accident. I’m wondering if this could be rectified by either shifting the power button to either side on top, or by placing it on the right side of the phone instead, relocating the volume buttons to the left side.

As I have grown accustomed to Android displays of 4.7-inches or bigger, getting back to the 4.2-inch display felt comparatively small. The overall form factor, in this way, is closer to the iPhone 5. The difference is that the word “BlackBerry” on the bottom is not a home button; it really doesn’t serve any real purpose.

BlackBerry 10 Gestures and UI

People who are coming from legacy BlackBerry products may face some confusion with BlackBerry 10. There is no BlackBerry button, for example, nor is there is a hardware back button. Just about everything is done via gestures and many of these originate from off the screen, not unlike webOS. You get back to the home screen, for instance, by swiping up from off the bottom of the display (where the BlackBerry name is). You swipe in from the right side to access functions and swipe in from the top for certain contextual settings.

The UI isn’t terrible, but there is a bit of a learning curve. One thing that BlackBerry 10 is still lacking, though, are home screen widgets. You only get a page where it displays your last eight apps in a widgetized kind of form, but you can’t “pin” any of these to stay there forever. You can rearrange the apps in the app drawer, but that’s not really the same thing.

And speaking of apps, there just aren’t enough at the moment. The pre-installed YouTube “app” is simply a browser shortcut, for example. The native Twitter app, while functional, isn’t nearly robust enough for power users. It doesn’t support lists and your DMs are bundled together with your mentions in a single column. That’s not good enough. The hope is that third-party developers will continue to adopt this platform and, in time, the app selection will improve.

BlackBerry Hub

Your real home is the BlackBerry Hub, which can be accessed by swiping up from the bottom and then toward the right. Alternatively, it is effectively the leftmost home screen. Here, all of your notifications are amalgamated into a single interface, including texts, emails, Facebook updates, Twitter, Foursquare and so on. There are several “tricks” and UI quirks here that you can use, but I feel there is still a lot that can be improved.

For instance, when you are within one of the notifications, there is no option to easily move to the next one. Instead, you have to hit back to get back to the list of notifications and then choose the next notification. It should be simpler and faster than that.

Camera and Video

The 8MP camera on the BlackBerry Z10 is decent, but it won’t win any awards either. It seems to have a habit of overexposing, leaving some washed out elements, but this really depends on your lighting conditions. Here is a macro-esque shot that I took indoors under soft incandescent lighting.

Clarity and detail are good enough to get the job done most of the time. Much like the rest of BB10, the camera app has a bit of a learning curve. For instance, it’s not tap-to-focus, as it is continually hunting for autofocus. It’s tap for shutter, so you have to make sure the square is green before tapping the display. I uploaded a full 1080p HD video to YouTube, as well as more photo samples to Flickr if you want to see some more. They’re all untouched and unedited, taken straight out of the phone.

Conclusion

I tried to be optimistic about the BlackBerry Z10. This was supposed to represent the rebirth of the company and a real push to, at the very least, be seen as a legitimate number three in the world of smartphones behind Android and iOS. The device has been able to attract some new users, to be sure, but we can already see that they’re starting to run low on momentum.

BlackBerry 10, as a platform, is an overall improvement over previous versions and it’s good to see that BlackBerry is prioritizing the development of third party apps. The phone itself is solid and it performs well, but it still feels incomplete compared to the more mature Android and iPhone offerings already on the market. It lacks a unique selling proposition that would make me want this instead of what Google, Samsung, HTC, Apple and others are giving us.

If BlackBerry manages to survive and if the Q10 gives them a little boost later this year, then I’m hoping that the BlackBerry Z11 and Q11 will be the real stars that the Z10 and Q10 should have been.

Mobilemag Score: 7/10

The post BlackBerry Z10 Smartphone Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Whether you recently received your Samsung Galaxy S3 over the holidays or have had it for many months now, there are certainly ways to make an already great phone experience turn into an excellent one.

That’s why Mobile Magazine while be taking a deeper look at the Samsung Galaxy S3 over the next several weeks with a new article series, “Maximizing Your Samsung Galaxy S3”.

For some users (especially those who have had their phones for a while) some of these topics might just seem like common sense. For others some of these tips might really help them get around the UI better, improve battery life, custom the start screen and much more.

Today’s topic is all about extending your battery life. Keep in mind that some of these tricks might only be useful when your phone is nearing the end of a charge and you need to just get a few more minutes out of the device in order to tide you over until you get to your charger.

Alright, so let’s dive in and take a look at just a few things that could potentially help you maximize your Galaxy S3′s battery life.

Power Saving Option

If you’ve had the S3 for a while now, or jumped in and played around– you probably already know all about the Samsung Galaxy S3′s Power Saving options. Enabling this mode will limit the maximum CPU speed, change background colors throughout your system apps and lower the screen power.

Go Dark with the Colors

Some screen profiles actually use a bit more power than others, particularly choosing a profile that is darker in color isn’t a bad idea. Using darker backgrounds can also help a little.

Also, you might want to head over to Settings>Display>Brightness and bring things down a bit.

Don’t go too crazy here though, as getting a little better battery life probably won’t mean much if using your phone becomes a pain because you are straining your eyes just to see what you are doing.

Screen Time Out

The Galaxy S3 has a special “motion detect” method that should automatically know whether you are looking at your phone or not and have your screen dim out according. Make sure this setting is on. If not, you can also go to “Screen Timeout” and make it so the screen turns off after a certain amount of time.

Turn Off Wi-Fi/Bluetooth When You Don’t Need Them

When you have no real need for extra radios like Bluetooth, turn them off. If they are on, they are constantly scanning and could be putting extra pressure on your battery.

Interactive Wallpapers and Fancy Ringtones

Believe it or not, both of these things can suck out extra juice from your battery. Turning off the interactive wallpaper can add a little extra life if you need it.

Additionally, use beeps and short tones for your ringer as opposed to vibrate or a long musical tune.

Going Beyond Stock Options….

Beyond the tricks listed above, there are also third party apps that can do even more for your battery life. Some of these apps include task killers like “Advanced Task Killer”. That being said, many techies across the web have put task killers to the test to see if they really help with speed and with battery life. The conclusion? It seems to be mixed, but for the most part you probably won’t find much gain here.

If you think that there is a specific app that might be bringing you massive battery drain, you can always use the built-in battery usage tool to check for sure:  Settings > About Phone > Battery Usage

Looking a 3rd party app specific to increasing battery life? JuiceDefender Free or the more powerful Pro version might be worth a look. Keep in mind that the Pro version will set you back $5.

Since the Galaxy S3 has a removable battery, there is also the option of buying a 3rd party or even official larger battery for your S3, such as the S3 3000 mAh battery from Samsung.

Did I miss specific trick or excellent app that you feel could make a big difference in battery life? Perhaps you feel one of the suggestions really doesn’t do much for battery gain? Share with our readers (and us) below!

The post Maximizing Your Samsung Galaxy S3: Improving Battery Life appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Although this game was reviewed on Android, other versions of the game will be very similar to what is described below.

Gameloft has finally released Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, and at a first glance, it looks stunning. The game feels very polished right from the UI and menu navigation all the way to the great multiplayer progression and the singleplayer campaign

Controls

The touchscreen has its restrictions when playing fast action games, and the current overlay used by most first person shooters is usable, but no one has quite yet managed to invent a decent control system that uses the functionality of the touch screen to its advantage instead of just popping overlay control buttons on top of the screen.

There are a variety of buttons on Modern Combat 4 and for the most part they’ve been placed in all of the right places.

Buttons on the right side control most of the things you’ll need to play, such as sprint, zoom, and fire, whilst on the left side you have a radar and a movement stick. This layout has become the standard for most shooting games on the mobile platform, however, if you aren’t happy with it, the overlay can be edited in the menu, You can move and resize all of the overlay buttons to your liking, making it perfect for your own use, especially handy when you have a screen size that doesn’t work with the default set up.

Singleplayer

Although in most cases, the majority of attention towards first person shooters is on the multiplayer aspects of the game, it’s rare that you find an FPS game without some sort of single player campaign. The campaign within Modern Combat 4 features the generic scenarios we’d expect from most modern shooters today. This is not to say it’s bad though, because although the story isn’t exactly new in terms of plotline, and there’s nothing within the campaign that makes it stand out from anything else, there’s still a decent amount of content within it, and it plays out very smoothly.

An interesting aspect of the campaign is the continuous switching back and forth between the different characters. The first mission starts with you playing as the good guys, but the second mission lets you play as the terrorists, and this pattern continues throughout the twelve missions available within the campaign.

At first, the average combat scenario was fun, and it was truly impressive to take in this level of content on a mobile device, and Gameloft  have boldly set a new standard for smartphone gaming, however, when comparing it with console and PC shooters, after a few hours of play most of the average combat scenes become dull and quite repetitive. The AI isn’t great, and you can always stick your head behind cover and take a lengthy breather whenever you feel it’s necessary.

Luckily, there are different scenes within the campaign that mix up the standard firefights, including fast-paced shootouts whilst on the back of a vehicle, interesting operations that involve remote control robots, and other objective-based scenarios.

The story has also been very well narrated, and the voice acting for the characters is superb. Of course the story doesn’t deserve any awards in regards to originality, but it has been portrayed very well, and Gameloft have done a great job to immerse you within the storyline. The switching between both sides of the story opens up opportunities for the campaign as well, and Modern Combat 4 uses this feature well.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer in Modern Combat 4 is outstanding. Never before have we seen such great multiplayer gaming on a mobile device. The gameplay may mimic a lot from console gaming, but what’s important to remember is that this isn’t a console game, and right now, there isn’t any alternative on the market that lives up to Gameloft’s new game.

When you first enter the multiplayer menu after logging into your Gameloft Live account, you’ll be taken to a screen with three different multiplayer lobbies, and a row of options down the bottom. Two of these lobbies are dedicated to custom games. You can view all the current custom games playing, or create your own. This is perfect for those wanting to play with friends, or those who want to have more control over the levels and game modes that they play, but playing in custom won’t reward players with XP or currency to upgrade equipment.

The ranked games will though, and they can be accessed through the ranked lobby. You can then choose the game mode you wish to play and you’ll be joined up with a game already in progress.

There are plenty of game modes in Modern Combat 4, which gives players hours of play before becoming bored. None of them are new concepts, but these game modes definitely help drive the core multiplayer experience. Games like Zone Control and Capture the Flag offer more objective-based gameplay, whilst games like VIP, Battle and Team Battle mimic the classic frag-fest.

There are a few maps to play in, but the choice isn’t that big, and after a few hours play you’ll have mastered most of the maps and mapped out the layout of them in your head. It’d be nice if Gameloft added some more maps in the future, but right now it’s hard to tell if this will happen or not.

It’s also super easy to add friends in Modern Combat 4, and once you have a group of friends, you can quickly invite them to your party to play games together. The grouping system works really well, and you can also compare stats between you, your friends and other players within the social section.

Customization and Progression System

The EXP and currency rewarded for completing the game is very generous, and you’ll get decent bonuses for winning matches, getting headshots and completing challenges found within the menu.

Although EXP only goes to your rank, ranking up will unlock new perks to purchase, and obviously having a high rank is a pretty important status symbol.

With your currency earnt in-game, you can purchase new weapons, perks, loadouts and attachments for your weapons. The menu is super easy to navigate and it’s been displayed really well. When choosing a weapon you can view it in a 3D theatre and rotate it around to have a decent look at it. You can then attach scopes, stocks and muzzles to your guns and your stats will adjust accordingly.

As well as the great weapon customization, a lot of work can be done to your perks, and finding a decent combination of perks and a well-equipped loadout can really help to benefit your own playstyle.

Multiplayer as it is on Modern Combat 4 is the best of the best right now, and it’s definitely got a lot to boast about. Currently there aren’t as many players online as you may like, and it is at times difficult to find a game session on ranked matches, and occasionally there are a few connection issues when logging into the game. However, it’s nothing like the connection problems in Modern Combat 3, and earnt EXP and currency will stay in your account after finishing a game.

Summary

Pros:

• Great multiplayer customization
• Loads of game modes
• Campaign has plenty of levels and difficulty options
• Graphics and sounds are superb

Cons:

• Not many players online
• Great UI
• Would be nice to have more maps

Download Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour:

For iOS

For Android

The post Modern Combat 4 Game Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Baseball Superstars 2013 is a sports game with an RPG mentality. It’s become quite the norm for Gamevil to put in extensive character progression within their games, and this is no different with Baseball Superstars 2013. Although the game is perhaps not as action-orientated as other baseball games currently on the market, Baseball Superstars 13’ still has a great mixture of gameplay mechanics to keep things from getting too dull and ordinary.

Main menu and team picker

On the menu you can access standard settings such as sound options and background music, as well as purchase in-game coins to be spent within the game, and view your gameplay stats and progress.

Gamevil have put in a lot of behind-the-scenes information, and a fair amount of this can be seen on the records tab. Things such as achievements, skill titles, and total playtime can be found here. Most of the details are there only for show, but it’s nice to evaluate your game progress from time to time.

You can also edit each team and change the name of each player in each team, as well as change the colors of the clothes they wear. Once again, nothing game changing here, but it’s nice to have the ability to change your team to give it its own personality.

Batter Mode

Superstars Baseball is split into two separate game modes, the first being batter mode, which as the name suggests, lets you play as the batter.

Success with the batter is very much down to the players’ timing, and missing or hitting that ball really does change the outcome of the match.

When playing as the batter, the pitcher will throw the ball towards your character, and you must swing the bat at the right time to land a hit on the ball. The ball usually centers towards a grid of nine squares placed in the batters swing reach. It’s difficult to predict the outcome of the pitcher’s throw, but after a while of playing, you’ll be able to pick up on the pitcher’s animations, which hint at how the ball will reach your character.

For those with little experience with baseball games, Superstars Baseball won’t be great, and there aren’t really any solid tutorials teaching the player on when to swing the bat. However, practice makes perfect, and luckily losing a game isn’t as detrimental as it would be in other sports games.

When batting, you’ll also be able to move left and right slightly which helps in reaching balls that have curled in a direction otherwise unreachable.

Pitcher Mode

Your pitcher will play in a completely separate campaign to that of your batter, meaning you’ll have to start fresh with a new team and no extra character stats or abilities. This can be quite frustrating when you want to play between both modes frequently and would rather have the option to keep stats throughout both modes.

However, pitcher mode does add an extra layer of gameplay to Baseball Superstars, so it’s nice that we have it there at all.

When pitching, you can choose between a few different types of pitch, and then position your aim within the 9-square grid mentioned before. After that, pressing the throw button will then make your pitcher throw the ball. A small circle will start to close in on the aiming reticle, and pressing for a second time will make your batter release the ball. I’ve noticed that releasing the ball as soon as possible makes the ball reach the grid in a place unpredicted by the batter, and for the most part, playing against AI seems a little too easy when using this tactic.

Leveling up, extra goals, and items

Although the main game revolves around the gameplay within each match, a lot of work goes before and after these matches. There are a group of buildings accessible from the main hub before playing a game. Each building has its own use and visiting each place often will help your gameplay greatly.

After completing a match, you’ll get gold coins and stars. These can be spent on items within the store. The items in the store range from extra helmets and bats, to crazy and hilarious costumes. There’s a whole lot to purchase within the store, and there’s enough there to make your character look unique.

All of the items in the store also add buffs to your stats, giving you better performance within the game.

A cheaper alternative to boosting your stats is to visit the upgrade building where you can spend your stars to improve your character’s stats. You’ll also be able to improve the rest of your team, giving you an edge over your opponents. Stat boosts here are usually cheaper than those at the store, but won’t give you any cosmetic changes in your character.

You’ll also be able to play against other players in PVP mode. If you don’t want to spend any money, you’ll only be able to play five games a day, however it’s nice to be able to test your skills against other players, and there are plenty of rewards and challenges to complete within PVP mode.

If you’re getting bored of playing through matches, the challenge area will give you more opportunities to earn stars and gold coins by completing certain criteria set out. They’ll also be surprise challenges to complete within each match which will help to improve your standing within the league.

Summary

Pros:

• Lots of RPG elements to the game
• Plenty of customization options
• Pitcher and Batter game modes to mix things up
• PvP mode available

Cons:

• Gameplay isn’t as action-packed as some baseball games
• Pitcher and Batter modes progression not connected
• Only 5 free PvP matches per day
• Hard to earn stars without spending cash

Download Baseball Superstars 2013 for Android here.

The post Baseball Superstars 2013 Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

DeadZone puts players into the same universe that Madfinger created with the first Shadowgun game, but this time around, the new game is solely based on multiplayer. The third person tactics used against Shadowgun AI may be useful in singleplayer, but how much does the multiplayer aspect change the game mechanics? And what have Madfinger done to keep the game compelling and enjoyable in a multiplayer environment?

The Controls

If you’ve played the first Shadowgun game, the controls in DeadZone will be quite familiar to you. The left hand of the screen is used to control the camera angle, and on the right side there is a space for a few buttons. The large circle button is used to fire, and going from left to right from the buttons directly above the fire button are the sprint button, roll button, and reload button. In the top right corner you can switch between weapons and throw grenades.  I found the default layout to be quite comfortable on my tablet, but if you aren’t happy with the layout, you can edit it in the menu by dragging each button to your preferred position. Touch screen controls as they are today are far off from mimicking the precision of a controller or mouse, but being able to adjust your control positions does make it a little easier, and most of all, more comfortable to play with.

I found it a little difficult to begin with, but after optimizing my settings a little, I was happy to find that the game was a lot easier to play. After defining control settings such as camera sensitivity, I felt happy enough to play the game comfortably for an hour or two in one sitting.

Gameplay

As of now, DeadZone only has two game modes, and one single matchmaking feature to place players in a game. Each game mode has a surprisingly different feel to it, so although you may enjoy one game mode a lot, you might find yourself to dislike the other one.

Regardless of game mode, the basis of the game is still there. Bullet damage between weapons has been fairly balanced, and there aren’t really any game breaking abilities or weapons to unlock, so you’ll be on a pretty even playing ground with all players.

For the most part, DeadZone feels a lot like the original singleplayer game, although with the AI replaced with aggressive players, it makes it a lot easier to be killed.

In combat, you’re still capable of hiding behind cover and pacing back and forth can keep you alive for longer. Sprinting can be useful for covering large distances quickly, but you only have a limited stamina bar, and rolling can be useful in certain situations, but as it slows your character down a little, it’s difficult to use effectively in most combat instances.

A lot needs to be improved when shooting other players; currently it’s difficult to know if you’re hitting another player, and without any real hit indicators the game feels a bit too sluggish and retro for my liking. Couple that with the bad latency and you’ll have a game that can be frustratingly difficult to play. The potential is definitely there, but some areas need to be touched up on just a little.

Game Modes and Maps

The two current game modes in DeadZone are nothing new in terms of competitive shooters, but having the option to choose between the two is great, and because it’s a lot easier to add content to a digital game than it is to a game on a physical CD like Black Ops or Halo, hopefully new game modes will be added in the future.

Deathmatch is extremely fast paced and puts everyone in a small arena and pits them against each other. It’d be nice to have a team Deathmatch mode, because currently Deathmatch is very hectic. Most of the levels put you in a position where it’s difficult to keep fire on one player without getting shot in the back, so it’s important to keep moving to avoid cornering yourself between two players. This also makes cover a little redundant in Deathmatch mode, and the free-for-all environment and fast paced action makes the game feel a lot less like Shadowgun, and more like Quake.

Zone Control is the second game mode, and it’s a lot more tactical compared to Deathmatch. Two teams of six play against each other to capture as many zones as possible. Players must then keep control of the territories to win. If you have a good team, Zone Control is a perfect way to put your teamwork to the test, and along with the detailed levels, Zone Control is a game that takes skill and tactical thinking to be at an advantage against the other team.

The maps have been well designed, and usually feature multiple levels and different routes of access to the main landmarks on each map, You’ll usually find different ‘hotspots’ on most maps where players seem to go often to fight, but there is plenty of room on each map to keep you from feeling too cramped.

Ranking System and Item Shop

No game would be complete without some sort of progression system, and although some games include pointless gimmicks and abilities, Madfinger has managed to create a well-balanced and rewarding leveling system for DeadZone.

After playing a match you’ll be rewarded an amount of EXP and money depending on your performance in-game. EXP will be used to level your character up, which is mainly a placeholder to show your rank and experience to other players. Money however, can be used to buy new equipment such as weapons, abilities and extra inventory space.

In DeadZone, the research tab allows you to spend your cash earnt in-game to use different equipment. Some of the extra items and abilities are handy, such as sentry turrets or extra health, but the main interest has to be within the guns department.

Items in the research tab are split into different trees, meaning that if you want to purchase the most powerful assault rifle, you’ll first have to purchase the other assault rifles in this tree. This gives players the opportunity to try out multiple weapons, and stops players from amassing a large amount of money and buying the biggest gun as soon as possible.

In DeadZone, there is also a cash shop which you can use to buy cosmetic items such as new helmets and characters with real money. The items here are a nice touch to the game, and there is a lot of options to choose from. Some items are a little on the expensive-side though, for example, the most expensive character would require you to spend over $60 to earn enough gold to buy it.

Graphics and Audio

Madfinger have been renowned for making top quality games with high-end graphics. Shadowgun DeadZone is no different here, and things look exceptional. However, DeadZone will run on devices with at least 512MB RAM that run Android 3.0 or higher, allowing players with lower-end devices to play on a low-quality mode.

The graphics can be adjusted in the menu, so it’s up to you whether you’d prefer more FPS over overall appearance.

The audio in Shadowgun is great, and a lot of the resources have been ported over from the original game, giving it its own authentic feel.

Summary

Pros:

• Different game modes and maps
• Huge progression system
• Controls and settings are adjustable
• Lots of items and equipment

Cons:

• Latency issues are apparent
• Few issues with combat
• Only two game modes

Download Shadowgun On Android.

Download Shadowgun on iOS.

The post SHADOWGUN: DeadZone Game Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

GPS powered multiplayer games have often failed due to one simple reason: there just isn’t enough interest in the game, and therefore there aren’t enough players in your area to make the game worthwhile. Project Niantic have been working on a project however, which is wholly backed by Google. Google’s huge power across the globe instantly gives them a step up from any other games with similar mechanics, and this along with the fact that Ingress plays on their own operating system, Android, gives them a huge advantage over anyone else who tries to develop a successful multiplayer GPS game.

Start-up and Story

The first thing to note is that Ingress is currently in closed Beta, meaning you will need to receive any invite via the Ingress website, or receive one from a player within the game already. So, although you may not be able to try your hands on it yet yourself, we have been lucky enough to get an invite, and hopefully this review will give you an insight into how the game works.

When Ingress starts, the game asks you for a Google profile to choose so that you can continue your game via different devices, and then asks you to provide an agent code name which will help you to be recognized within the game. It’s already apparent that the developers behind Ingress wanted to create an eerie experience whilst playing, and throughout the game it seems to regularly remind you that this is not just a game, but in fact a real life situation in which you have been pulled into.

When accepting the terms and conditions, Ingress asks you one more time if you want to turn back or not, as this would be your last chance. The constant dark background along with the simple shapes and text on the screen all add to the sense of paranoia, and it makes you wonder what Google are really doing with this application.

Regardless of Google’s own ambitions with the project, Ingress gives players a background story which explains a strange energy which must be controlled by humans, otherwise it could reach a point where it becomes unmanageable, and takes control of humans instead. This Exotic Matter, or XM, has become a battle ground for two opposing forces, whom both have different ambitions for this newly found XM. The first group, the Resistance, work hard to remove the XM and restore safety and normality back to the human race, whilst the Enlightened have other motives. The Enlightened work to embrace the XM, believing the energy is a new step forward for humankind. After the tutorial, you are asked which side you want to join, giving you the choice to make your own ambitions within Ingress.

Gameplay

As explained above, the basis of Ingress involves two opposing forces as they fight for Exotic Matter. Although either side’s gameplay is rather similar, the concept is still original, and fits well with the GPS capabilities of the game. In Ingress you will need to travel in real life to collect XM and visit portals to take control of. This will require a data connection, and without this or a wifi friendly area, this game becomes quite difficult to play.

When collecting XM you will gain experience and be able to use different abilities which will help you to capture and control neutral or hostile portals. As the XM is scattered across the GPS map, you may have to explore places you’d otherwise walk past, and plan routes around your city or town to collect as many resources as possible.

A few things I did notice is that the XM would sometimes be in areas I couldn’t access, such as construction sites or rows of houses, but XM tends to drift towards you, so I haven’t found this as a problem so far.

Walking around collecting XM can become quite an adventure, but after traveling for a while it can become repetitive, so it’s good that Ingress includes game mechanics to keep you off of your feet so you can enjoy the game.

There are certain objectives which require you to collect XM or hack portals, and other social features that allow you to work with other groups within the game, so although you may be playing it on your own, it’s an interesting experience when you come across somebody else’s portal whilst traveling.

Hacking and capturing portals is probably the most interactive procedures, and it requires you to hack or attack nodes and then recharge them with XM so that they can be used on your behalf. It’s not too difficult and often becomes a game of chance when trying to capture portals.

Once you’ve captured a multiple number of portals you can attach them together and create your own territory for the team you have chosen to work with. Three or more portals are needed to create an enclosure of territory, which will then improve your standing in the game and boost your experience points.

What’s interesting is that no two territory borders can intersect, meaning that it may be safe to create lots of small territories, but if you’re lucky enough, you could end up joining portals together which are kilometers apart, creating a huge amount of territory at once.

Graphics and GPS

Ingress has done a superb job to capture the atmosphere of the story by using simple colors and shapes, and although most of the graphics in game are possible to recreate quickly in Microsoft paint, they work tremendously well and give off a feel of paranoia within the digital game.

Google maps has been used as a basis for the maps in-game, and it uses a simple road layout for the map in Ingress. The way XM and portals have been spread out makes it super easy to play the game, no matter where you are in the world.

Sometimes however, the GPS doesn’t work as smooth as you’d expect it to, and when moving distances quickly it seems to skip places or if you are standing still for a while, your player will sometimes slide across the map slowly.

It’s important to remember this is just in Beta though, and it will be interesting to see how the game pans out upon full release.

Another thing to remember is your privacy: playing GPS games constantly gives your location to the developer of the game, and in this case, Google. It’s uncertain what Google could be doing with this information and any other details they can get from playing the game, but if you’re concerned about your privacy, it could only be detrimental.

Summary

Pros:

• Story gives a purpose to gameplay
• Ingress gets you out and about
• Different mechanics to give players freedom of choice
• Plenty of social aspects within the game

Cons:

• GPS tracking needs a valid data connection
• Game is empty in rural and less populated areas
• Concerns about privacy
• Ingress is still in Beta; no public access

Download Ingress here.

Request an invite.

The post Google Ingress Android Game Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Monster Pet Shop is a relaxing game that allows the player to care for and raise monsters, and run a pet shop business. Gameplay is slow, but it’s not taxing on the player and it’s a great way to pass the time.

Gameplay

When you first start Monster Pet Shop, you’ll be taken through a tutorial so that you can get a better grip with the game. The tutorial, although a little fast paced, contains all the information you’ll need to play the game, and the developers have also included a huge guide which can be accessed from the menu. Although the guide is not needed, it’s a great tool for when you want to get further into the depths of the game.

In Monster Pet Shop, you’ll be given different monsters to breed and raise. When you first start you’ll have one monster, but as you play through the game you’ll earn more eggs to raise. When raising a monster, there are four stages to work with. Firstly, your monster will start in an egg, and at this stage all you can do is wait for the egg to hatch, which usually takes a hefty 2 hours real-time.

Once hatched, your monster will be a baby and you’ll have to feed it regularly for it to grow. When you enter a monster’s habitat you’ll see its hunger information and its growth bar in the top right. At this point it’s usually a slow process, but hopefully you’ll have other monsters to care for as well.

The third growth stage is at childhood, and this is where the most interaction happens. You’ll have to keep your monster’s habitat clean, feed him, pet him and play with him. It’s quite easy to understand but to make the most out of your equipment you’ll need to experiment to find out what each monster likes best. Childhood lasts a long time and it can become quite tedious to keep going back and caring for it each time it needs attention.

There are special berries that you can buy with real money to speed up most mechanics in the game, but there’s a limit to how much each berry can do, and unless you’re going to be paying a constant stream of cash, you’re going to have to do some waiting at some point in the game.

Monster Maturity and Earning Income

To make sure all your monsters are living in the optimum conditions, you’re going to need a steady source of income, and although the berries mentioned before are an ample choice, the main source of money comes from selling mature monsters to customers. Customers will come in and request a monster, in the same way that they would ask for a cup of coffee, however, they’ll leave the shop and you’ll be given a decent amount of time to raise the monster before calling them back into the shop and making some income.

If you keep selling monsters, you’ll run out, so it’s important to breed your own monsters or invite friends to play and breed with theirs. Breeding can often give out interesting results and if you’re lucky, you can land yourself a rare monster, which offers significantly more cash and exp when sold.

Game progression and Experience

It seems no game these days is complete without a progression system, and in Monster Pet Shop it’s no different. You’ll earn experience from raising and selling mature monsters which will then go towards leveling you up. Each level will unlock new items and allow you to care for more monsters at once. Although the gameplay does become repetitive quite quickly, there are tons of monsters to find and unlock, and the unlocked ones can be seen in your monster guide book.

Summary

Monster Pet Shop is slow-paced and relaxing, but it offers a rewarding gameplay with plenty of progressive traits and unlockables. The game can be tedious without spending in-game currency however, and after a while the game ends up feeling repetitive.

Pros:

• Plenty of different monster variations
• Monsters are cute and playful
• No dangers or risks to take

Cons:

• Timed events make gameplay dull and slow
• Pay-for equipment is limited
• Gameplay stays the same throughout

Download Monster Pet Shop on Google Play.

The post Monster Pet Shop Game Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

If you miss the old YouTube app on your iPhone, the Video Tube app may be just what you are looking for. Video Tube allows you to watch YouTube videos with an interface that is similar to the original iOS YouTube app. Though similar, Video Tube has a few extra features that may be of interest, but it also falls short in some important places.

When you open Video Tube you are presented with the “Features” on YouTube. Other tabs, “Popular,” “Downloads,” “History,” and “Search” are available. The “Search” function is simplified and has no auto-complete capability. The “History” tab shows your recently opened videos.

Once you open a video one of two things can happen, you are prompted to play the video and it changes to fullscreen mode, or the video begins to play automatically in smaller form. There is no consistency or a way to tell what the app is going to do. If it is a video that can only play in fullscreen mode, you cannot view the video and read the info/comments simultaneously. While the video is in smaller form (whether playing or paused) you can view the video “Info,” “Related” videos, “More from” the use, and “Comments.” Unfortunately, you cannot log in to YouTube to rate videos or leave your own comments.

At the top of the screen you have options to share the video by sending a link via email, sharing on Facebook, or sharing on Twitter. Also, you have another option to to download the video to your phone. Some videos are not available for download and you will get a message on screen that states that you do not have permission to download the video from YouTube.

Video Tube has ads at the bottom of app at all times, and they can become very intrusive when you are trying to read the video info or comments. A premium version of the app is available for $2.99 to remove the apps.

PROS

• “History” tab that allows you to reopen your recently viewed videos quickly.
• You will like it if you prefer the original iOS YouTube app interface.
• Option to download videos.
• High quality videos and sound.

CONS

• Large ads at the bottom of the viewing screen that makes reading info and comments more difficult.
• Cannot log in to YouTube to rate and leave comments.
• Issues with enlarging videos. If a video can play while viewing the info and comments, then you must tap the enlarge button to watch the video fullscreen; you are not able to turn your phone to enlarge the video. On the flip side, some videos you cannot watch in smaller form, you can only watch in fullscreen.

Video Tube has a lot of useful features and great potential to rival the new Google YouTube app, but the cons are too large to ignore. It does not seem worth purchasing just to remove ads, when you still cannot log in to your YouTube account. Video Tube may never have that functionality, however. Since it is not the official YouTube app, the restrictions on what the developer can do may be holding Video Tube back.

Download and try Video Tube for yourself here.

The post Video Tube iPhone App Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Angry Birds is no doubt the most popular game on smartphone markets today, and as the franchise has progressed, some games and remakes have made the series feel a little stale. However, Angry Birds Star Wars has produced a refreshing breath of air onto the Angry Birds line of games and playing it feels like playing Angry Birds for the first time all over again.

The Birds

If you’ve never played an Angry Birds game before, I’ll give you a quick introduction: In Angry Birds you are given a set of birds at the start of the game which can be fired at different enemies on the other side of the screen. Different Birds have different powers, so the game requires tactics and good thinking to take out all the bad guys before running out of birds to fire.

For those that have already played it (most of you, I hope.) Angry Birds Star Wars is still the same old concept as before, but they have renovated some areas, and it’s made for a completely new experience. Each Bird now portrays a Star Wars cameo, and with each Star Wars Bird there comes an ability that is unique to that Star Wars character in the movie. Most of the abilities are completely new in regards to previous Angry Birds games, and thanks to Star Wars these abilities actually make sense when playing.

I won’t go into too much detail about what characters do what, as you can all find that out for yourself, but as an example, Han Solo has a blaster ability that can shoot once he’s left the catapult. The Han Solo bird is based off of the yellow bird, and the blaster follows a similar rule to the speed boost of the yellow bird, as the blaster bullets will go in the direction of where you tap on the screen. However, Han Solo will keep flying through the sky, making it useful for tricky situations where you’re needed to divert your fire. Blaster bullets can also bounce off of metallic objects, and this here alone opens up a huge range of possibilities for new maps and level mechanics.

The Levels

There’s moments in Angry Birds Star Wars where I’ve been astonished at the clever level designs and the intricate detail to different mechanics within each level. Unlike previous games, the levels don’t just feel like a bunch of towers stuck to different scenery. All the scenery in AB: Star Wars work together to create a whole level that just would not work if you were to take a small piece of scenery out of the level. Angry Birds Star Wars also includes a lot more levels with moveable hinges and other mechanics such as Storm trooper pigs that fire back at the birds. It doesn’t just take a well-placed tap of the screen anymore; Star Wars encourages players to think about their movements carefully, whilst timing them up to achieve the biggest potential.

I quickly skimmed through a lot of the levels and found myself constantly hitting one or two stars, and this is because the levels have been planned out well enough that only the most well thought out plans will award the players with a full three star rating. There’s also a lot less of a need to worry about misplaced shots or super accurate aiming on this game either, and although I haven’t played through every single level yet, I haven’t once come across a level where I needed to waste a lengthy time to aim up a perfect shot.

Each level also caters well to the birds you’ve been handed, and each bird has their own weaknesses and strengths against different elements within the level.

Gimmicks, Cutscenes, Game Progress and Unlockable Levels

One of the major things about the Angry Birds series that I have loved is the huge amount of content within the game. Some of it is available right away, but most of it takes skill and a well-trained eye to unlock. Star Wars Angry Birds follows this fashion and includes golden eggs that unlock bonus levels just like previous games. I’ve come across a few golden eggs, and they’re pretty difficult to reach! From the menu, you can see the different pigs and birds you’ve seen in the game, whilst all the others yet to be seen are blacked out. This screen isn’t really anything special, but it feels nice to watch our progress by keeping an eye on this screen.

There are a lot of levels available in the free version, however some need to be paid for. The price is only $1.99 to unlock all of the levels, which is incredibly reasonable in my opinion.

There is also one item that can be bought with in-app purchases, and that’s the Millennium Falcon. The Millennium Falcon basically destroys everything in its path with a high-powered super-cannon, and although it’s useful for getting past difficult levels, it’s not really worth buying any with in-game cash because you will unlock Millennium Falcon uses by earning stars whilst playing. The Millennium Falcon is a bit game-breaking, and it seems a little pointless to spend money on something that completes the game for you.

I would find it much more appealing if pay-to-receive content included cool costumes for the birds or crazy effects in the game that don’t take too much from the basic gameplay experience.

Graphics and Sound

If you’re an avid Star Wars fan you’re going to love this one; AB: Star Wars incorporates a lot of authentic sounds from the Star Wars movies, and although the game is cartoony and unrealistic, it still captures the essence from the original Star Wars trilogy. The different pig and bird models are very playful, and once again Rovio have done a wicked job at capturing all that is Star Wars in their new Angry Birds game. If you’re not into Star Wars, the new Angry Birds still feels like an Angry Birds game, and even with the different sound effects and graphics, the basis of the game is still of an Angry Birds origin.

The graphics quality has been improved a whole lot from the first game, and the different scenery and backdrops are very unique and well stylized. For a 2D game like Angry Birds, Rovio have pushed the graphics content to the limit.

Summary:

Pros:

• Lots of new Angry Birds abilities
• A lot of variation in levels
• Authentic Star Wars sounds and characters
• Level designs work superbly with the new birds

Cons:

• Pay-for content a little pointless
• Adverts on menus
• Not as easy as previous Angry Birds games

Download Angry Birds Star Wars:

• On iOS
• On Google Play
• Windows 8
• Windows Phone 8

The post Angry Birds Star Wars Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

And then I came across FreedomPop, which has only been in beta for the last little while. The kicker here is that I don’t have to pay a dime; FreedomPop gives out 4G wireless Internet for free, including providing you with a mobile hotspot. To give them a try, I ordered the FreedomPop Photon 4G mobile hotspot and here are my impressions.

What Is FreedomPop?

Backed by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, FreedomPop aims to provide Americans with free Internet access. The “free” account is limited to just 500MB a month (you can pay for more), but it is free. All you have to do is get the USB dongle or the mobile hotspot, but both of those are free too; you just have to put down a (refundable) security deposit. On paper, this sounds better than the NetZero 4G offering which only provides 200MB/month for a first year and you have to buy a wireless device from them.

The FreedomPop Photon 4G mobile hotspot is exactly the same as the CLEAR Spot Voyager, except it has been re-branded. This is because FreedomPop is an MVNO that is currently utilizing the CLEAR WiMAX network. What this means is that while you get “4G WiMAX” speeds, coverage is not nearly as good as the majors. Thankfully, FreedomPop has signed a deal to use the Sprint LTE network and they should be rolling that out some time in 2013.

Setup and Configuration

So, what about the Photon 4G itself. It’s actually a lot smaller than I expected, measuring about half the size of a modern smartphone at about 2.6″ x 2.6″ x 0.5″. There’s a 1830mAh battery inside that’s reportedly good for up to six hours of continuous use. It has a range of up to 100 feet and can connect with up to eight Wi-Fi devices simultaneously.

There are three indicator lights on the front: Power, Wi-Fi, and 4G. In case you ever forget what any of the colors mean, there is a handy guide printed on the back of the Photon. The power light, for instance, is solid green when the battery is close to full, changing to amber and finally red as it starts to drain.

The setup process couldn’t be easier. Also printed on the back of the device is your default SSID and password. You turn on the Photon 4G by holding the power button, give it a minute to start up, and then connect to it with your smartphone, tablet, laptop or whatever other WiFi-enabled device the way you would connect to any access point. Assuming you have 4G signal, you are now connected to the web.

The Mobile Admin Page

The Photon 4G acts more or less like a regular router, so after connecting to it, you can use your mobile browser and enter 192.168.1.1 to get to the mobile admin page.

This is significantly stripped down from what you’d get from your wireless router at home, but you do have access to all the basics that you need. This includes monitoring the battery level and 4G signal, as well as easily changing the SSID and password (which you’ll probably want to do). Curiously, you cannot access your FreedomPop account from here to see how much data you have consumed. This can become troubling if you’re getting close to your quota and run the risk of overage fees.

Coverage and Speed Tests

So, how does this perform in the real world? It’s a bit of a mixed bag. I had previously borrowed my friend’s T-Mobile 4G hotspot and I had coverage just about everywhere I went. Speeds were generally very good too. FreedomPop is a little different.

My testing took me from Bellingham to the edge of Seattle in Washington state. I did not have any 4G signal between the US-Canada border and Bellingham, but I did pick up a signal when I got into town. It was mostly fine when I was outdoors or near a window, but the signal did begin to fade out when I got into the mall and it fell out entirely when I got into the concrete behemoth known as Costco.

The speed test on the left was performed inside a store in a strip mall in Bellingham. It’s not exactly blazing, but if all you need is some mobile access to e-mail and Facebook, almost 3Mbps is more than adequate. The signal dropped out again as I hit the Interstate, coming back periodically but mostly falling out. It wasn’t until I got to Lynnwood (about 15 minutes north of Seattle) that I got a solid signal again. It was here that I performed the speed test on the right, which is much better at over 6Mbps down and with about half the ping time at 79ms.

I can’t say for certain what the coverage and the speed will be like in your area, but based on my experience, the CLEAR WiMAX network is really only useful when you’re in bigger cities and it’s barely usable in smaller towns. It also has a hard time penetrating dense foliage or buildings and this is likely due the 2500MHz band that it utilizes. It’s good to have some free Internet, but it’s not nearly as reliable as what I was able to get with T-Mobile or AT&T.

Conclusion

Given the price, I suppose I can’t really complain. All I had to do was put down the $100 security deposit and I had a “free” 4G mobile hotspot in my hands. When I was able to get a solid WiMAX signal, the resulting speeds are perfectly adequate for casual use, but it’s getting that solid signal that is such a challenge. I imagine performance with the USB dongle or the iPod touch sleeve would be much the same.

Battery life was pretty close to the claimed six hours, though I wasn’t actively using the connection the whole time. Of course, the Photon was constantly hunting for a 4G signal too. Build quality is good–it has this nice soft finish–and it really couldn’t be any easier to use. I think that FreedomPop is really onto something here, but it just won’t do with the CLEAR WiMAX network. I look forward to what Sprint’s LTE network can bring, but until then, I would not recommend relying on the FreedomPop 4G as your primary mobile Internet service.

The post FreedomPop Photon 4G Mobile Hotspot Review appeared first on Mobile Magazine.