Chaos Rings II tops Android Games of the Week

There are a lot of role playing-style titles in this week's best games, but they add different spins to the formula. Also, we've got a charming little puzzle game. I guess trying for a theme doesn't always work perfectly. Anyway, these are the games you should download this week.

Chaos Rings II ($15.99)

The third game in the Chaos Rings series is pretty much the same as the others in terms of gameplay. I made a mistake, though, in not refreshing my memory of the previous games before starting this one, and now I'm not entirely sure how the story ties in with the greater series. But I can say this entry is certainly an emotional one, and Media Vision and Square Enix have continued the series trend of not making these games overly long. The price po int is high, but the production values are better than pretty much anything else outside of Gameloft or EA Games. Quality.

bit Dungeon ($1.99)

This game is a low-bit dungeon crawler, and it doesn't have much of a story. This game from KintoGames puts you in a maze of rooms, and you just go at it, looking for bosses and whatnot. I'm not sure if this game ever ends. As you go through the dungeon, though, there is something you should keep in mind. When you die, your game is over and you'll have to start over from the beginning. As you begin, it seems as if the game is too easy, but that's because they're ramping it up. They don't want to ruin your day right at the beginning, you know.

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Ravensword: Shadowlands ($6.99)

If you're not familiar with Crescent Moon Gamess Ravensword series, you should know that what you're getting for your $6.99 is a fully 3-D open world action RPG experience. The touch controls for a game like that are a bit wonky, but it's definitely a good effort. You can switch back and forth between first- and third-person perspective, which is a nice trick. Also, this game has dinosaurs, which means you know it's worth your money right this minute. You don't need me to say anything else about this.

Ninja Village ($4.99)

It 's the 16th century feudal Japan, and in true Kairosoft fashion you must build a little town to train ninjas so you can send them out to fight in giant battles in an attempt to unite the country. As opposed to, say, Kairobotica, fights are more complex as you build ninja units of different types to go out and participate in the conquest. Like, you can build on-foot units or cavalry, for example. As you would expect from a Kairogame, Ninja Village is quite addictive, and there is some amount of depth here that keeps me playing.

Puk ($1.05)

This is a puzzle game from Laser Dog Games in which your objective is to launch little balls, Angry Birds-style, to try to hit other, larger balls and pop them. The number of balls you get is limited so that there is pretty much no margin for error. That description does not really do this game justice. Puk is beautiful in its simplicity, and while each level will only take a few seconds to complete if you succeed, there are allegedly over a thousand of them. This game should keep you occupied for a while if you give it a chance, as it is the perfect game for the prevailing mobile mindset that yearns for more bite-sized experiences.

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New Android apps worth downloading: PassWallet - Password Manager, Sidewalk Buddy, Angry Birds Star Wars update

Protect your online accounts a little better with the help of today's first fresh app, PassWallet. The app lets you store all your password and makes the app hidden from prying eyes, as well as encrypts it against savvier predators. We've also got Sidewalk Buddy, an app that makes it a little safer to text while walking. Finally, Angry Birds Star Wars has gotten another substantial content update, this time taking to the floating heights of Cloud City.

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PassWallet - Password Manager (Free)

Whats it about? Keep track of your passwords without having to remember the more complex ones with PassWallet, which stores your passwords safely and securely on your Android device.

Whats cool? Creating tough-to-crack passwords can be difficult, because by definition they require randomness, and randomness is hard to remember. Fortunately, PassWallet can store all your passwords in order to make it easier for you to use highly effective ones for your various accounts, without the burden of writing them down where they might be found or forgotten. The app has a stealth feature that keeps it from appearing with other apps on your device, should someone else pick it up and access it, and includes a 256-bit encryption to keep it secure from online predators. Keep in mind that you'll need to pay a subscription after PassWallet's 30-day trial, though.

Whos it for? If you struggle to remember your complicated passwords, try PassWallet.

Whats it like? mSecure Password Manager and Safe in Cloud Password Manager are two other potential password-saving alternatives.

Sidewalk Buddy (Free)

Whats it about? Sidewalk Buddy makes it safer to walk down the street while completing tasks on your smartphone, such as sending emails or text messages, by showing you where you're going using your Android device's camera.

Whats cool? Trying to use your Android device as you're walking can be perilous. Just like texting while driving, texting while walking is an invitation to run into people or otherwise injure yourself when you should be watching where you're going. Sidewalk Buddy at least makes walking safer by providing the ability to scale down apps so they don't take up your device's full screen, so it can be shared with video feed from your rear-facing camera. The idea is that you'll be able to see where you're walking even as you do things like type me ssages or skim emails, avoiding such hazards as accidentally wandering into traffic.

Whos it for? The kinds of people who need to multitask even when they're walking somewhere should definitely try Sidewalk Buddy for a little added safety.

Whats it like? Another good app for helping you see where you're walking while also using your Android device is Transparent Screen.

Angry Birds Star Wars update (Free)

Whats it about? The content updates keep coming to Angry Birds Star Wars as it continues to work its way through The Empire Strikes Back. Twenty new levels take players to Cloud City this time out.

Whats cool? Angry Birds Star Wars is among the best tie-in games out there, successfully mixing the fun of the Angry Birds slingshot formula, the innovations added to the game in Angry Birds Space, and new gameplay mechanics and humor born of the Star Wars universe. The game works through the events of the original trilogy and provides players with new bird characters modeled after Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia and more, each with special abilities that are key to finishing each level. The latest update throws in 20 new stages from Cloud City on Bespin from the latter portion of the film The Empire Strikes Back, and includes new challenges.

Whos it for? If you like Angry Birds at all, Angry Birds Star Wars is the entry into the franchise you need to be playing.

Whats it like? Players should also check out Angry Birds Space for a slightly different take, and Star Wars Pinball for more great action from a galaxy far, far away.

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Via: New Android apps worth downloading: PassWallet - Password Manager, Sidewalk Buddy, Angry Birds Star Wars update

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Expect many happy returns with these tax Android apps

The days of tax paperwork are nearly over, as more and more people are filing online or with their mobile devices. Even the Internal Revenue Service endorsed electronic systems, which is a major step forward. Below is a quick list of five applications that can help with filing reports, monitoring your expenses and investments, and hopefully in making it rain (dollar bills) during tax season.

Pageonce - Money & Bills (Free)

While Pageonce isnt specifically geared toward filing or filling out tax forms, you can be better prepared for tax season by auditing this free mobile app. Once logged in, the Overview page provides a snapshot of all your assets, bills, investments, loans, and credit cards. Such a resource is crucial for the times of year when we take sto ck of expenses for W-2 and 1040EZ forms, and a great application for staying on top of financial obligations throughout the year.

TurboTax SnapTax (Free)

A perennial service favored by practically everyone who files online, the TurboTax mobile app from Intuit Inc. is also towers over the competition. Upon booting up the app, you can either log in (as a returning user) or get started without signing up. In many ways, the TurboTax is a trendsetter for document uploading through photographs, as you can take a picture of your tax form, their app scans your tax document in seconds then sends you to a review screen. From this point, double and triple-check for any errors, add personal information, preview your form, and file your taxes. You could also check out H&R Blocks apps forAndroid, if you prefer the competition. The process has never been this stress free!

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MyTaxRefund by TurboTax (Free)

Another solid mobile app from the Intuit gang can be found in MyTaxRefund. Sure, it is a very barebones application, but its great for those who want to constantly check the status of their 2013 tax refund. It provides statuses for both federal and state tax refunds, and estimates on when you can expect compensation. All that is required of you is to indicate whether you filed with TurboTax or not, enter your social security number and zip code (both required by the IRS),

Quick Tax Reference (Free)

Bloomberg BNAs free financial guide fills you in on the minutiae of filing your taxes in 2013. For example, it provides Standard Deductions based on your household (Married, Heads of Household, Single, etc.), Personal Exemptions, Estate and Gift Tax Rates, which comes with a built-in sliding scale that automatically calculates percentages owed based on the dollar amount (up to $2 million). Quick Tax Reference is a wonderfully simple tool for people who are using services such as TurboTax, ezTaxReturn, or H&R Block, and especially for those who itemize their deductions.

SigFig (Free)

The final app in this taxing article is SigFig, another secure mobile app that is hyperfocused on financial planning and stock market investing. The app connects your brokerages, investments, and portfolios then automatically analyzes to provide investors with sound advice. Its crisp charts track performance, risk, and other analytics. The key with this app is to use it year round, so that come ta x season you can quickly reference any investments youve made that are applicable. Also, a person that invests smartly should have less trouble figuring out tax forms.

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New Android apps worth downloading: CanWeNetwork, Google+ update, Catapult King

Set yourself all kinds of useful reminders with today's leading fresh app, Rethink. The app lets you set contextual reminds, which send you notifications to buy something when you walk into the right store or message someone when you open up your email. We've also got Qustodio Parental Controls, an app that helps you keep track of (and block) what your kids are doing on their mobile devices. Finally, there's Ravensword: Shadowlands, a 3-D role-playing title with some awesome graphics.

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CanWeNetwork (Free)

Whats it about? CanWeNetwork leverages your social networks to help you expand your business network, tracking down like-minded folks near you who might make good contacts and putting you in touch.

Whats cool? Tracking down new people to meet and to add to your network of business contacts can be tough, but with social networks, there's already a whole lot of information out there about you and the people around you. CanWeNetwork grabs that information by linking to your LinkedIn profile, and those of other users, and finds people who it thinks would be compatible with you and who have similar goals for networking, then puts you in contact. The idea is that with the help of CanWeNetwork doing some searching and screening for you, you can expand your professional network with people already all around you.

Whos it for? Professionals looking to meet more people and do more networking should try CanWeNetwork.

Google+ update (Free)

Whats it about? Google's social network answer to Facebook brings the ability to post lots of different media like videos and photos, as well as integration with chat and the ability to crea te Google Hangouts.

Whats cool? Tracking Social networking on Google+ has a few cool benefits over other networks such as Facebook, most notably the ability to tie into other Google features like YouTube and Hangouts. The network's Android app is also pretty handy, allowing users to post items like pictures and videos, access profiles, search through friends and strike up group chats. The app's latest update adds a few more features, like new photo and video filters for posting things to your profile, video chat with up to nine people through Google Hangouts, and the ability to automatically sync up any photos you snap with your Android device straight to your Google+ profile.

Whos it for? Social network fans with a Google slant should find a lot of useful features in the Google+ A ndroid app.

Whats it like? Check out Instagram for more photo sharing and filters, as well as that old favorite, Facebook.

Catapult King (Free)

Whats it about? Take down castles and fortresses with the power of your catapult in Catapult King, which imagines games such as Angry Birds from a 3-D perspective.

Whats cool? Catapult King is a pret ty simple premise: you use your touch controls to determine the power and aim of a catapult, and then use it to take down structures and enemies in the distance to earn points. Imagine playing Angry Birds from the perspective of the slingshot and you'll have a solid idea of what to expect. You can also find power-ups that make your catapult more effective, and use various kinds of different projectiles to help you in different situations and against lots of different kinds of fortresses.

Whos it for? For a different take on titles that use similar mechanics to Angry Birds, try Catapult King.

Whats it like? Angry Birds is a good place to start, and Siege Hero will give you another take on the third-person perspective with similar mechanics.

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Developer Choice Of Games gives you story options on Android

Life of a Wizard is more or less a legitimate RPG, in book form. The story is told in first person text, but you get to make all the important decisions, and those decisions shape what kind of person you will be and what your strengths and weaknesses are as well as how the story plays out. It's an awesome concept, and those of us who like to play engrossing games, specifically because we like the stories, will find a lot to love here.

But what I discovered later was that Life of a Wizard is the product of a company called Choice Of Games, and they have made a whole bunch of games like this for Android. And so for the last week I found myself doing little but playing through these games just to see what kind of stuff I could get into.

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My favorite of these text-based Android games is called Choice of Romance, about a young boy or girl (your choice) who goes to court in a light fantasy universe to try to find a suitable suitor. I chose to be a lady, and as it begins things are fairly typical of this kind of story. Your family wants you to marry the rich yet not particularly interesting or attractive guy, because it will be good for both you and all your relatives. Meanwhile, there is also a dashing man with little money but who seems pretty cool, and also the king is making eyes at you.

In my version of the tale, I chose to court the dashing man while also having an affair with the king, eventually, my suitor found out I was cheating and dumped me, and so I was left to be one of the king's consorts. Eventually, I gained great power in that role, but I wanted it all. So I conspired to kill the queen and take her place. Unfortunately, due to my earlier character-shaping choices I did a poor job of this, and while the queen did end up dead I was found out. Thus, I was beheaded, and so was my father.

That a seemingly mundane story about going to court for the first time could end up with my character being executed was quite thrilling. I always enjoyed those Choose Your Own Adventure novels because I wanted to see how my character could die, and so I found this result to be a positive experience.

I also tried out one called Choice of Zombies, and in that one you go on a grand quest through a world infested by, you guessed it, zombies. This one was a bit different from the others I played, in that the story is dictated by the number of side quests. Yes, evena text adventure like this has side quests. As you drive around looking for shelter, you can take detours and collect party members, or you can play it safe and try to get through it alone. In this story, outcomes are dictated almost entirely by the yes or no decisions you make, rather than behind the scenes stats you've collected.

I can't say I prefer one method or another. I would say I like both ways of telling the stories. Having complete control over everything you do is fun, but also having these things be a real game of sorts in which what you can do is dictated by our skills is also fun. Hurrah for having both options.

Life of a Wizard, to bring us back to the beginning, is heavily stats-based. You have and develop skills as you grow up and go on adventures, and while it seems every choice has a ton of options you will only be able to take a few or maybe even none of them. That can be frustrating every once in a while, but it also adds to replayability. I've gone through that one three times just to see how it plays out if I choose different skills.

There are still many more of these games I have yet to play, and you'd better believe I'll continue to try them out. I encourage you to do so as well, as these can be quite interesting and fun. Now, if only some ambitious developer would take story structures like these and combine them with real gameplay, and we might have an honest-to-god mobile gaming paradise on our hands. But for now, I'll be happy that these text-based games exist for my enjoyment.

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New Android apps worth downloading: Rethink, Qustodio Parental Controls, Ravensword: Shadowlands

Set yourself all kinds of useful reminders with today's leading fresh app, Rethink. The app lets you set contextual reminds, which send you notifications to buy something when you walk into the right store or message someone when you open up your email. We've also got Qustodio Parental Controls, an app that helps you keep track of (and block) what your kids are doing on their mobile devices. Finally, there's Ravensword: Shadowlands, a 3-D role-playing title with some awesome graphics.

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Rethink ($1.99)

Whats it about? Task-tracking app Rethink allows you to create context-specific reminders, like location-based notifications to remind you to buy certain things at the store.

Whats cool? Getting timed reminders can be handy, but just being reminded to buy milk at 1 p.m. doesn't mean you'll remember as you walk into a store. Rethink tries to bridge the gap on reminders by creating context-specific notifications you can set it to remind you to buy something when you walk into the appropriate store, or to send a certain message when you open up your email or texting app. There are lots of options for setting up your reminders, and you can sync them with your calendar to set up dates and times as well.

Whos it fo r? If you're a fan of capturing everything with your iPhone or iPad, Mobli will help you do it, as well as help you share it.

Whats it like? Try Task List for more to-do list options, and Google Keep to turn your ideas and reminders into actionable checklists.

Qustodio Parental Cotnrols (Free)

Whats it about? Qustodio is a network of pa rental controls that can let you monitor and restrict what your kids are getting up to on their mobile devices (as well as on the Internet and with other devices).

Whats cool? Qustodio allows you to control just what your kids are able to do with their Android devices. You can use the app to block and monitor both websites and application usage on your devices, and also set up time limits and quotas to limit how much time kids spend on them. You can track multiple devices at once and see how those devices are being used such as for homework, or for playing games and can be accessed from both PCs and your Android devices.

Whos it for? Parents with a need of keeping an eye on what kids are up to on their Android devices and online should check out Qustodio.

Whats it like? Try Norton Family Control and Mobile Kids for more parental control options.

Ravensword: Shadowlands ($6.99)

Whats it about? Adventure through the a huge 3-D world in third-person role-playing title Ravensword: Shadowlands, the sequel to Aralon: Sword and Shadow

Whats cool? Ravensword is something like a mobile equivalent to the well-loved E lder Scrolls V: Skyrim on PC. With a third-person viewpoint, you control a warrior as you complete quests, fight enemies, and wield magic and swords to your advantage through a huge world. Ravensword packs some high-quality graphics and is a fairly huge title, allowing you to do everything from gather and cast magical spells, to riding horses and even flying mounts. There are a number of other skills you'll need to master, like lockpicking and stealth, and how you choose to interact with the world (such as by stealing from people) affects your reputation with characters in the game. Ravensword is a huge, full-fledged RPG, and worthy of attention.

Whos it for? Fans of titles like Skyrim will find a whole lot to love in Ravensword.

Whats it like? Aralon: Sword and Shadow is also worth a look, as is Paper M onsters, another title from developer Crescent Moon Games.

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Via: New Android apps worth downloading: Rethink, Qustodio Parental Controls, Ravensword: Shadowlands

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These Android apps and games utilize your Galaxys S Pen

One of the neat features of the Galaxy Note, Note 2, and tablet Note 10.1 is the S Pen or stylus. The S Pen will work with a lot of current apps and games. I have tried with Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, to name a few. For the artists out there, the S Pen provides a lot of neat drawing options. Todays post covers some new apps that utilize the S Pen. Please note, this post does not cover any drawing apps since there are enough on the Google Play store for an entirely separate write-up!

Slice the Bombs - Galaxy Note (Free)

In Slice the Bombs, your job is to swipe (sorta like Fruit Ninja) with the S Pen to protect the bubbles from explosive destruction. As you move forward in the game, the difficulty increases due to more bombs, faster speeds, and the position of bubbles. You get three chances to complete each level.

The game comes with 18 levels and you need to progress in order and unlock them as y ou go. The graphics and music are well done. The first couple of levels are pretty easy but once the bubbles start moving around more, it gets harder. There were a few times that the game did not seem to respond well with the S Pen, but overall it is a solid little game.

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From Cheese S Pen Edition ($0.99)

This game won the Grand Prize in the Samsung Smart App Challenge. Your job is to help the cute mouse find cheese, by following the scent vapors and drawing a line (with your S Pen) from the cheese to the mouse. The games perspective is a top down view, so you can see where you need to go and anticipate obstacles in your way. After a level or two, you will get the hang of it.

As you progress in the levels, there will be more challenges and obstacles for you to figure out how to get around. Having no words in the game does add to the challenge. The graphics are great and this version of the game comes with over 50 levels. You need to earn a certain number of stars to unlock future levels. There is another version of the game that you play without the S Pen. It comes free (with ads) and paid (no ads). No matter which you chose, you will dig this game.

Papyrus (Free)

This is another app that won an award from the Samsung Smart App Challenge. Papyrus is a handwriting and note-taking app. Being able to take notes using your S Pen is key. The Galaxy Note 2 comes with an app called the S Note but is very limited. With Papyrus, yo u can organize your notes in notebook (like Evernote) and it has a nice set of editing options such S Pen , eraser, shape, and text tools. You can also two finger scroll and pinch to zoom.

This app is free and clear of ads, but there is a paid version which comes with a few more features such as cloud service to back up your notes and extended tool packs. You can export your notes as PDFs, PNG, or JPEGs to services like Evernote or email. Papyrus also takes advantage of the multi-window support found in the Note 2 and Note 10.1. This is one of best apps I have found that really takes advantage of using the S Pen on the phone.

Fit Tight Planner (S Pen GN 2) ($1.99)

The calendar that comes with the Galaxy Note 2 is not terrible, but you cannot write notes by hand. Fit Tight Planner comes with a daily canvas or writing area, so you can write down notes and save them per day. Each month also gives you the abili ty to write down notes. Overall, this is a simple app that gets the job done.

Within the app you have the ability to change the color and style of pen ink. If you do not want to write, you can also switch to text mode. You can take photos and even record a note and the undo button is extremely useful. As a relatively new app, I would be curious to see how it develops in the coming months.

These are just a few of the exciting apps out on the market that allow you to use the S Pen. On some you can use your fingers instead but where is the fun in that?

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New Android apps worth downloading: A World of Ice and Fire, Pinterest update, The Conduit HD

With the success of Game of Thrones on TV, lots of people are heading back to author George R.R. Martin's novel series that launched it, but the dense world of Westeros can be hard to follow. Fortunately, today's first app worth downloading is A World of Ice and Fire, a giant encyclopedia to help you keep everyone straight in the books. We've also got an update to visual social network Pinterest, and The Conduit, a former Nintendo Wii first-person shooter that brings some awesome graphics to your Tegra 3 devices.

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A World o f Ice and Fire (Free)

Whats it about? The official companion app to author George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series gives you all kinds of information about the books that start with A Game of Thrones.

Whats cool? Game of Thrones has become a successful (and very cool) HBO series, but before it was on cable, it was a series of fantasy books that are just as good as what's on TV. A World of Ice and Fire includes a ton of i nformation about the world of Martin's books, like biographical information for more than 500 characters, rundowns of more than 380 places in Westeros and beyond, and interactive world maps. You can turn on an anti-spoiler setting to keep you from receiving information that's in a book you haven't read yet, and you can purchase info-packs based on each book to expand your app's database.

Whos it for? Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire will find a lot to like about this app, plus a lot of information that can make keeping up with Martin's world a little easier.

Whats it like? Check out Game of Thrones Map and Game of Thrones Trivia if you just can't get enough of Westeros.

Pinterest update (Free)

Whats it about? Social network Pinterest makes it easy to share images and items that interest you with others in a completely visual way, without the noise of status updates or other stuff.

Whats cool? Pinterest is a completely visual medium, and its emphasis is on sharing the things that you like and letting them speak for yourselves. You share items on Pinterest by creating boards of a certain theme or subject, and then just pinning items. You can add a brief description of the image or video, creating a board of a huge number of items that other people can see, follow, re-pin, comment on and more. Pinterest's latest update makes it even easier to find new things to pin by showing you recommendations based on the things you like namely, a people who pinned this also pinned feature.

Whos it for? Social media junkies who like sharing things and visual simplicity should go for Pinterest.

Whats it like? Sharing image s is also possible with Instagram and Facebook.

The Conduit HD (Free)

Whats it about? A first-person shooter that first appeared on the Nintendo Wii, The Conduit has great visuals and lots of intense gameplay that can really leverage your Tegra 3 Android device.

Whats cool? First-person shooter The Conduit has players fighting through an alien invasion as a secret service agent suddenly thrust into a world of intrigue and, well, shooting guys. The game is specifically designed for Android devices that use the Tegra 3 chip, so make sure it's compatible with your device before you download it. If you do have top-of-the-line hardware, though, you'll be able to get some awesome graphical power out of The Conduit, and you can even use Bluetooth controllers such as those made by Gamestop to get the best console-like experience you can.

Whos it for? Players with an itch for great graphics and a powerful Android device shouldn't miss The Conduit.

Whats it like? First-person shooters such as N.O.V.A. 3 and Modern Combat 4 are also great-looking games with a lot of action on offer.

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Via: New Android apps worth downloading: A World of Ice and Fire, Pinterest update, The Conduit HD

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Zinio Guest Post: Indy 500 Season: Discover The Cars And the People Inside Them

It is among the worlds oldest auto races and one of the most popular spectator sports. The Indy 500, set for Memorial Day, is the foundation of Americas romance with cars, covered with command, color and expertise in digital publishing. Beyond the history of the race and the storied track, the Indy 500 has its share of legendary people, cars, and character. Get excited now with exclusive free access to the top five articles covering the Indy 500 (compliments of Zinio).

Autoweek is racings bible. It has the crisp photography and seasoned writing that picks up as the season does. This article is from the magazines peek at the upcoming Indy car racing season, complete with the competition off the track for teams, drivers and technology.

Read it her e.

Autosport takes a more international view. This article on the upcoming Formula 1 season has brilliant photography and a thorough look at how rules changes will redefine the sport. The writing is unique. Take this sentence from an Australian race: Kimi Raikkonen, the victor, had clinically and unemotionally used the only car that seemed immune to the spectacular tyre graining that was the bane of everyone else's weekend.

Read it here.

Dan Weldon was one of those race drivers that lived as fast as he drove. This piece from Mens Journal says Wheldon was the greatest thing to happen to Indy racing since Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt dominated the sport in the 1960s, when the Indianapolis 500 was on par with single-day events like the Super Bowl and Evel Knievels rocket-powered canyon jump. But a bitter split in 1996 destroyed the league, and though it had essentially reco nstituted by 2002, the organization struggled to find an audience. To attract sponsors and fans, they needed star power.

Read it here.

Indianapolis Monthly is one of the best regional digital magazines. This profile of Indy driver J.R. Hildebrand is well-written and puts a human face on a dangerous sport. Hildebrand has a boyish sensibility. His wiry six-foot frame slips easily into the National Guard car, yet when he takes off the helmet and fire-retardant hood, his mop of dark brown hair falls into its disheveled place, making him look like a grown-up Justin Bieber. Sometimes, as he talks, he twirls a strand around his finger, like a high school senior hunched over a calculus test. And while his Panther Racing predecessor, Dan Wheldon, was known for his persnickety clean-freak streak, colleagues say Hildebrand is more likely to leave a half-eaten sandwich and empty soda can around the garage. JR is a very mature 24-year-old, and he puts up a very good front, says his mother, Maria Hildebrand. But really, hes still just a 24-year-old guy, and with that comes a sense of invincibility, and a lot of growing up that you still have to do.

Read it here.

Karbon is one of those magazines that is built for mobile devices and it is the kind of content you can explore on Zinio. Karbon bills itself as the Worlds Only Dedicated Magazine for Indy Cars & Indy Lights. Bringing the Glitz and Glamour back to Indy Cars. This piece on Sarah Hartmann Fischer shows life beyond Danica.

Read it here.

Racecar Engineering isnt just for gearheads. Its for gearheads that have PhDs. The level of detail about engines, future technolo gy and other things under the hood is stunning. Check this sentence: This so called mother chassis concept has since been adopted in GT300 and in more extreme form in GT500 & DTM. Domes tub used a innovative single skin with no honeycomb construction technique first used in aviation. This meant that the costs were really quite low. Compared to the aluminium monocoques used at the time in Japanese the new tub was the same weight (48kg), stiffer and crucially it was cheaper (1.2 million yen compared to 1.35 million for the aluminium tub).

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Via: Zinio Guest Post: Indy 500 Season: Discover The Cars And the People Inside Them

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New Android apps worth downloading: SnipSnap Coupon App, JellyCar 3, Alien Hive

Save yourself some money with today's first fresh app, SnipSnap Coupon App. It allows you to keep your coupons organized by digitizing the ones you would normally clip from print ads, using your Android device's camera. While you're in line at the store, we've got some games to keep you busy -- JellyCar 3, a side-scrolling racer-slash-platformer from Disney, and Alien Hive, a match-3 game that requires some strategic thinking.

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SnipSnap Coupon App (Free)

Whats it about? Never clip another coupon again with SnipSnap Coupon App, which allows you to use your Android devices camera to digitize any print coupon you find.

Whats cool? Cutting out or printing coupons and managing them can be a pain, which is why you should check out SnipSnap. The app uses your devices camera to scan and convert any coupon you find into a mobile version, allowing you to then scan the bar code and other information straight off the devices screen instead of having the print coupon. SnipSnap allows you to bundle coupons together into categories to keep them organized, and also gives you notifications when a coupon is set to expire or when you walk into a store for which you have a saved offer. You can also share the best deals you find and follow the coupon exploits of others through Facebook an d Twitter.

Whos it for? Frugal folks who use a lot of coupons should try SnipSnap to keep them organized and easier to deal with.

Whats it like? SavingStar Grocery eCoupons and The Coupons App can both help you find more great deals and save money.

JellyCar 3 ($0.99)

Whats it about? Part side-scrolling platformer, part driving title, JellyCar 3 puts players in control of a squishy, bouncy car and tasks them with navigating through a strange world depicted in child-like drawings.

Whats cool? JellyCar 3 manages to be both challenging and easygoing, controlled by tilting your device and tasking you with using your cars jelly-like characteristics to get past obstacles. Youll need to figure out the physics of your car to best navigate the titles 50 levels, and each level has a secret exit you can find to squeeze out additional challenge. Youre scored by how fast you complete each level, and you can save replays to re-watch your fastest times or take on ghost mode to race against friends or opponents and try to get the best times on each level.

Whos it for? If you like physics puzzlers and platformers with a little bit of racing mixed in, check out JellyCar 3.

Whats it like? Get more of a mix of racing and platforming in Trials Extreme 3.

Alien Hive (Free)

Whats it about? Match-3 title Alien Hive adds a degree of strategy to its matching, puzzle gameplay, requiring players to continually make matches that create better items in the hive and raise its value.

Whats cool? Most match-3 games take an arcade approach to the content, driving players to keep going in order to raise their high scores or progress through new, more challenging levels. In Alien Hive, the goal is different -- every time you make a match of certain items from the grid that is your hive, you create something new. Putting together alien eggs creates an alien embryo; putting together three embryos makes a baby alien. Your goal is to continue to upgrade aliens, plants and other objects from your hive in order to evolve new adult aliens, earn money for power-ups, and make your hive stronger and more valuable. You'll have to contend with Alien Hive's energy system, though, which challenges you by limiting your moves around the grid and requring you to refill it by grabbing combos with energy crystals and other items.

Whos it for? Fans of match-3 games that are a little more involved and strategic than the usual fare will enjoy Alien Hive.

Whats it like? There are some similar mechanics at play in Triple Town and Puzzle Quest 2.

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Via: New Android apps worth downloading: SnipSnap Coupon App, JellyCar 3, Alien Hive

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Hungry Shark Evolution tops Android Games of the Week

This edition of Android games of the week will allow you to kick a boy really hard in his booty, drive a car over some zombies and become one of the Croods. Also, it will let you eat a lot of fish and even some people if you so desire. Because you'll be a shark. And sharks eat stuff. You get it. Here are the games.

Hungry Shark Evolution (Free)

This is the story of a shark. A hungry shark. According to this game, if the shark ever stops eating, it will die. You'll dart around the ocean eating fish and maybe people if you can find them, but don't touch the jellyfish or whatever that thing is with the spikes coming out of it. Those things will hurt you. You don't just eat to survive, though; you also eat to evolve. As you play, you'll be able to turn your sha rk into a more efficient eating machine, and eventually you can even try out different types of shark which may or may not be better than the shark you start with. The point is that having options is good. Just don't play with tilt controls, as doing that is kinda horrible. Stick with the on-screen joystick. You'll be happier that way.

Earn to Die ($1.19)

I've played a lot of games featuring zombies, and those games that have allowed me run over zombies with a car tend to be my favorite. Earn to Die, though, is not necessarily a game about zombies, but you do get to drive over a lot of them. This game is an enigma; I'll admit right here and now I don't really understand what the ultimate point of playing this game is. You drive a car across a two-dimensional plane over some zombies until you run out of gas, after which you'll somehow earn money with which you can upgrade your vehicle or buy a new one. You'll try this over an d over again, making it a little bit farther each attempt as you figure out the best times to push the gas pedal as you try to conserve your fuel. Somehow, this is quite entertaining.

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Jumping Finn Adventure Time ($0.99)

I'm not entirely sure why this tie-in to the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time is called Jumping Finn, as Finn does not jump. Instead, he is kicked in the butt really hard by his dog and flies through the air for a long time. The goal, of course, is to see how far you can make Finn go, and it's not j ust about kicking him really hard. The dog can also kick him again when he's in the air, and he can also make him bounce before he hits the ground. Timing is important, and so are upgrades you earn by doing well. Meanwhile, each turn you take has an objective that you can go for. So you'll kick Finn over and over and over again, and eventually you'll give up on this game and never come back. But while you're playing that first time, you'll play for a while as you try to figure it out. You will get a dollar's worth of entertainment out of this.

The Croods (Free)

This tie-in to this weekend's Dreamworks Animation film The Croods takes us back to the stone age It comes from Rovio, and it is as typically solid as you would expect from that studio. This is not your normal mobile movie tie-in. In The Croods, your goal is to roam the world and tame some of the weird creatures you encounter along the way, and boy are these creatures weird. There is a thing called a Molarbear. Yes. You can also invent some rather strange things to get you into new areas, and naturally you'll be able to dress up all the Croods in cool outfits. There are also a number of other things you can do, because this is a legitimate game. Though The Croods is free, it of course has a bevy of in-app purchases to allow you to customize your game. Playing without paying is a viable course of action, though, so don't worry that you'll need to pay.

Via: Hungry Shark Evolution tops Android Games of the Week

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New Android apps worth downloading: Google Keep, Facebook update, Super Stickman Golf 2

Google's latest online service is Google Keep, and its Android app kicks off our apps worth downloading for the weekend. The service makes it easy to jot down and save notes to the cloud, as well as transcribe voice notes, and more. We've also got an update for the Android Facebook app and Super Stickman Golf 2, a side-scrolling physics-based golf title that's a ton of fun alone or with friends.

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Google Keep (Free)

Whats it about? Google is taking on note-taking services with Google Keep, an app that lets you save text and voice notes, share them and turn them into ideas.

Whats cool? I Google Keep is a quick and easy way to take notes and keep track of your thoughts for later. The app allows you to create checklists, jot down text notes, add notes to photos and even record voice and have it transcribed to text so you can use it for later. You can also easy archive notes you no longer need, transfer to other devices using your Google account, and access widgets from your home screen to more easily capture your ideas before you lose them.

Whos it for? Users who use their mobile devices to keep track of thoughts and reminders should definitely give Google Keep a try.

Whats it like? Evernote is counted as a favorite among note-taking services, as is Note Everything.

Facebook update (Free)

Whats it about? Facebook continues to improve its Android app experience, bringing new tweaks and features to mobile users, while con tinuing to offer a solid version of the social network.

Whats cool? At this point, you're probably a Facebook user on Android, since it's among the most popular mobile apps on any platform. Facebook allows users to update statuses, view photos, send messages to other users and do a host of other things through the social network, including check in to physical locations and share photos from their device's camera. The app still isn't quite as full-featured as the web version of Facebook, however, but the company continues to add new elements. With its latest update, Facebook adds the ability to change your profile picture and hide stories or report spam from your newsfeed, making it a little easier to get exactly what you want out of the network.

Whos it for? If you use Facebook anywhere, you should be using it on your phone or tablet.

Whats it like? For more social networking, try Twitter and Instagram.

Super Stickman Golf 2 (Free)

Whats it about? The sequel to Super Stickman Golf brings players back to its 2-D, crazy golf courses, and adds new power-ups, new challenges, and a couple of cool new multiplayer components.

Whats cool? If you've never tried Super Stickman Golf, you'll still find Super Stickman Golf 2 extremely easy and intuitive to pick up. The game has players playing through 2-D golf courses that often get a little crazy, adding floating platform, sticky walls, icy slopes and other challenges, making the game more similar to physics games like Angry Birds than traditional golf. You play by adjusting your aim and deciding how much power you want in your swing, and you can make use of power-ups that can freeze your ball in midair or stick it to walls in order to get the best score possible. Super Stickman Golf 2 also includes an asynchronous multiplayer mode and a racing mode, in which you battle other golfers for the best score and the fastest finish.

Whos it for? Players who enjoy the first Super Stickman Golf, physics puzzlers and just plain fun games should try Super Stickman Golf 2.

Whats it like? The original Super Stickman Golf is also worth your attention, as are games with similar mechanics, such as Fragger.

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Via: New Android apps worth downloading: Google Keep, Facebook update, Super Stickman Golf 2

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Hoppit leads Android Apps of the Week

Only in the first world do we have such issues as "Too many places to go eat," but we also create solutions to those first world problems. In this case, I'm referring to Hoppit, a great new restaurant finding app that takes your mood and feelings into consideration, and our top app of the week. We've also got a new version of the Opera Browser, some stuff for tablets from DIRECTV, free credit scores, and an honest to goodness map of the Internet.

Hoppit (Free)

Hoppit is the latest great restaurant finding app, and makes it easier than ever to find a place that matches your mood on the fly. Whether you're looking for a dimly lit romantic spot, a raucous pub full of tipsy sports fans, or a nice family joint, you can find it on Hoppit along with price comparis ons, full menus, thousands of internal photos, and more. You can also search by what kind of food you'd like to eat, of course, but Hoppit excels at matching ambience, which is probably why it's been featured on TV so many times. Definitely a great app for people who love trying new restaurants.

Opera Browser beta (Free)

The latest mobile version of the Opera web browser might still be in beta, but it has tons of potential already. Now, this isn't the first version of Opera to hit Android devices, but hopefully it will make the previous versions obsolete with faster speeds, better data management, and all sorts of handy new features, such as the Discover mode, which helps you customize your news feeds, or the easy to use download manager that comes built in. It may have a bug or two to squash, still being in beta, but Opera is one of my favorite browsers at the end of the day.

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DIRECTV for Tablets (Free)

This new app from DIRECTV turns your tablet into a portable television even more literally than most other streaming services. You can browse various channels and easily watch any show, movie, or sports program from your device. Plus, you can use the app as a kind of remote control, setting and managing your DVR with ease. They also implemented a "What's Hot" feature to help you find the more popular and trendy shows and movies, plus channel guides and show listings provide plenty of useful info. You'll need DIRECTV to use the app, but if yo u have the service and a tablet, there's no reason not to download this one.

Map of the Internet (Free)

Yes, that's right. We finally have an official map of the internet thanks to Peer 1 Hosting. And no, it's not a simple two way fork in the road with one sign pointing to cat memes and another pointing to adult entertainment sites. This is a 3D visualization of all the interconnected networks worldwide that make up the internet, with ISP's, universities, and other organizations that route traffic and make magic happen. It's actually a fascinating app that lets you search for companies or domains or learn about the relevant history of the modern internet's formation, plus it's just really freaking cool looking. Though the internet can be a bit clumsy.

Credit Karma Mobile (Free)

Credit Karma Mobile is very simple and there isn't much too it at all, but it's also extremely useful and wo rth a download from anyone who ever wanted to check their credit scores easily, but had an unusually hard time actually tracking them down. It's totally free to use, safe, and also has handy features like a Credit Report Card breaking things down, or notifications that alert you to important changes in your score. It's been used by millions of people and featured on plenty of news sites aimed at money management. You are always entitled to your credit score, and now you can have it hassle free.

Via: Hoppit leads Android Apps of the Week

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New Android apps worth downloading: Gmail update, Neatly for Twitter beta, DevilDark: The Fallen Kingdom

An update to Gmail kicks off today's list of Android apps worth downloading, bringing new features to users and further improving one of the better email clients on the platform. We've also got the beta version of Neatly for Twitter, which works to make Twitter navigation even better, and DevilDark: The Fallen Kingdom, a hack-and-slash role-playing title with plenty of action.

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Gmail update (Free)

Whats it about? Google's web-based email client is already one of the slickest on Android, and its latest update adds more features.

Whats cool? If you use Gmail on the web, you're probably pretty familiar with what it has to offer on Android which is most of the features that web users enjoy. Obviously you can send and receive email, but Gmail also supports additional features, like setting up labels and using them to send notifications, accessing multiple email accounts, and viewing and sending attachments on messages. The newest update to Gmail gives you more capabilities to reply or archive emails straight from your notifications, which allows you to skip opening the app and going through extra steps, as well as other improve ments.

Whos it for? If you like Gmail on the web, you'll like it on Android.

Whats it like? You might also find Aqua Mail and Yahoo! Mail to be solid email client alternatives.

Neatly for Twitter beta (Free)

Whats it about? Twitter client Neatly uses a simple user interface and an internal eng ine to bring the tweets you want to read most to your attention first.

Whats cool? Twitter clients for mobile devices usually suffer from being either pared back or somewhat unintuitive. Neatly for Twitter focuses on the latter issue as its name suggests, it makes navigating through Twitter as easy and intuitive as possible. Its claim to fame is that it uses software to search through your Twitter timeline to find the tweets that are most interesting to you, from the people you most want to hear from, and bring them to your attention first. The app works to weed out things you'll find irrelevant and group items about the same topics together, and allows you to mute annoying people on your timeline or tweets about subjects you don't want to read (which is great if you're avoiding Game of Thrones spoilers). Just remember that Neatly is st ill in beta, which means it's still being tested for bugs.

Whos it for? If you're in the market for a smarter look at Twitter, Neatly deserves some attention.

Whats it like? Twicca is also a good means of getting your Twitter fix, and if you like simple, you could always go with the straight-up Twitter app.

DevilDark: The Fallen Kingdom (Free)

Whats it about?< /strong> Hack-and-slash role-playing title DevilDark has players smashing through tons of enemies with swords and hammer, using special moves and all kinds of powers to defeat them.

Whats cool? Com With a big sword and lots of enemies to kill, DevilDark will remind players of titles such as Diablo 3 on PC, or maybe the Legend of Zelda series. As you move through the game, you'll spend a lot of time smashing bad guys using your special abilities, grabbing loot from dungeons, and generally making yourself more powerful. As you play, you'll unlock new skills and abilities and customize your character's equipment and weapons, and use them to take on huge bosses and lots of bad guys.

Whos it for? Fans of action-RPGs, there's a lot to enjoy in DevilDark.

Whats it like? Try also Dungeon Hunter 3 and Heroes of Destiny for lots more action-RPG craziness.

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Via: New Android apps worth downloading: Gmail update, Neatly for Twitter beta, DevilDark: The Fallen Kingdom

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New Android apps worth downloading: Power 20 Full Body Workout, iMeet, Plasma Sky

Need to be active, but lacking the time to do commit to exercise? Today's first fresh app can help! It's called Power 20 Full Body Workout, and it includes body weight workouts that last only 20 minutes. We've also got iMeet, a conferencing app that's great for business people on the go, and Plasma Sky, a space shooter with old school sensibilities and a slick presentation.

Power 20 Full Body Workout ($2.99)

Whats it about? Get into shape 20 minutes at a time with the help of Power 20 Full Body Workout.

Whats cool? Power 20 focuses on 20-minute body weight workouts, which means it doesn't require you to buy equipment or go to the gym to perform. Each of the app's workouts includes a timer as well as pictures to show you how to perform it, and you'll never do a single move for longer than 90 seconds, so you'll never get bored. Power 20 focuses on quick plyometric exercises that will make you run faster and jump higher over time, includes multiple levels of workouts to let you make things tougher as you improve, and allows you to pipe in your own music as well.

Whos it for? If you're strapped for time and need to get an effective workout without lots of equipment, try Power 20.

Whats it like? There's also a free version of Power 20, and you can get more fitness help from You Are Your Own Gym and Fitocracy.

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iMeet (Free)

Whats it about? Web conferencing app iMeet makes it easy for businesses to organize online meetings.

Whats cool? iMeet makes it easy for business people to have meetings, even when they can't be in the same place or even near a computer. The app turns your Android device into the conference room, allowing you to have both voice and text meetings, share files and more. The app is free for guests and allows as many as 15 people at a time to join a conference. There's support from iMeet for multiple devices, as well, so you can create meetings that users can join from their computer, their tablet or their phone, and you'll get full control of the meeting from your Android device.

Whos it for? Business people who need to have meetings from anywhere should give iMeet a try.

Whats it like? TeamViewer for Meetings is another handy meeting app, and you can also get some similar functionality out of Skype.

Plasma Sky ($1.99)

Whats it about? Plasma Sky is a space shooter in which players control a ship that has to blast hundreds of enemy ships, dodge bullets and bust bosses.

Whats cool? Combining a slick neon presentation with plenty of action, Plasma Sky throws players into the familiar world of a vertically scrolling space world filled with bad guys. You'll need to use quick reflexes, pattern recognition and pla nning to fight your way through the game's enemies, all while collecting power-ups to strengthen your ship and make it a more effective tool of destruction. Plasma Sky includes 80 levels to play through, as well as some huge bosses to fight, and multiple game modes to try.

Whos it for? If you like classic arcade action and shooters, try Plasma Sky.

Whats it like? You might also enjoy more shooters, like AirAttack HD and Icarus-X.

Via: New Android apps worth downloading: Power 20 Full Body Workout, iMeet, Plasma Sky

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The Humble Bundle: another way to purchase quality Android games

Those who pay attention to the world of independently produced video games should be intimately familiar with the Humble Bundle concept. A group of developers contribute games to a bundle, which players can buy at whatever price they want. If they pay more than the average price, they get some extra games and goodies, like soundtracks. Meanwhile, when you set the buy price, you can also decide how much of the money goes to the developers, charity, or the people who run the Humble Bundle website. Just note that the games are available this way for a limited time, as indicated by the sites countdown.

The most recent one is called Humble Bundle with Android 5. In this particular version of the Humble Bundle, you get DRM-free versions of the game for Mac, Windows and Linux, along with Android A PKs. I've spoken before about the need for there to be both mobile and computer versions of most indie games, as well as bundles that included both editions, and here we are. While this bundle is no longer available, Humble Bundle is now doing weekly deals, and Bastion is this week's feautured title.

The games in the most recent bundle wereBeat Hazard Ultra, Dynamite Jack, Solar 2, and NightSky, and if you pay above the average (just under $7 as of this writing) you also gotSplice, Super Hexagon, Dungeon Defenders, Crayon Physics Deluxe and Sword & Sworcery.

That's a pretty great haul, and for some really excellent games. Dungeon Defenders is an old iOS hit finding its way to Android for the first time, and of course T erry Cavanagh's Super Hexagon is far from unknown to us. Sword & Sworcery, as well, saw a big user bump when it was offered for a quarter during the Google Play stores holiday sale. But the rest are certainly less well known, and these bundles do a great job of exposing folks to the fact that there are even Android versions of them.

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Cant put a price on discovery

What's most astonishing about the bundle was that a couple of these games (Dynamite Jack and Crayon Physics Deluxe) made thei r Android debuts with this bundle, which on their own make the bundle worth buying even if you already have the games. One can never have too many Android games, as they say, and new Android versions of games we already like are always exciting.

But for Android gamers, this bundle, and others like it (there will be many more, I am sure) give you the chance to obtain some really great games for a low price. Humble Bundles tend to attract what are truly some of the best indie games out there. They are worth buying at regular full price, and more so worth buying together for whatever you want to pay.

But it's surprising that deals like this are not the norm. It seems like a no-brainer to me that the indie folks would want to provide the most value that they can in order to encourage sales, but bundling computer and mobile versions of games is still unusual. That said, there are enough of these cross-platform titles to have supported five of t hese Humble Bundles, and there are more that have not been included in the bundles.

Bridging the PC-mobile gap

In any case, it's encouraging to see these folks, primarily seen as PC developers, embracing the Android platform. As an open mobile platform, they are free to distribute their games for it however they choose, and the Humble Bundle with Android is a really smart way of doing it. Still, wrapping computer and mobile should be a regular thing rather than an exception. It should be the fault mode of operations. These people are not, after all, the major publishers, who exist to get every possible dime out of every consumer. These smaller developers realize that offering a great deal is an effective sales tactic, and we know that because they've bought into the Humble Bundle model. But they should also understand that while they don't have to do anything as absurd as the Humble Bundle on a regular basis, but offering an Android version along with the normal-priced PC version would make the package that much more appealing.

This Humble Bundle has earned about $1.3 million, which is not bad for a relatively short sale for these developers. I'd be curious to see the download data for the Android APKs, though, just to see how many of these folks really are interested in those versions. The developers themselves must have analyzed that data and seen something encouraging, because the bundles keep getting better.

You can watch a video promoting Humble Bundle with Android 5 below:

Via: The Humble Bundle: another way to purchase quality Android games

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New Android apps worth downloading: NowThis News, Swarmly, Chip Chain

Start your day off with a dose of news from NowThis News app, which brings streaming video about a number of news stories straight to your Android device. We've also got Swarmly, a social networking app that helps users find local places to hang out, and Chip Chain, a strategic match-3 game that's free to play and includes multiple modes.

NowThis News (Free)

Whats it about? Get everything from breaking news videos to entertainment and sports news, streamed straight to your Android device from NowThis News.

Whats cool? NowThis News is a news app that specializes in video. The app includes a number of streaming videos of the latest news stories designed specifically for mobile viewers, prov iding you the ability to search through them or divide them up by category while you watch. Everything from breaking news to politics, entertainment, technology and more is represented, and you can also share videos and stories that interest you with others through Facebook and Twitter.

Whos it for? If you're a news junkie who would prefer not to read articles, give NowThis News a try.

Whats it like? Check out Newsy and CNN for more video news stories streamed to your Android device.

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Swarmly (Free)

Whats it about? Social networking app Swarmly helps users find out what's going on around them and where their friends are hanging out, in order to always find cool things to do.

Whats cool? Swarmly bills itself ans your social sat nav, and the app helps connect with nearby friends and find local events. The app works without a sign-up and doesn't share your identity. Instead, it just picks up on where lots of people are and lets you know the locations to suggest places for you to go around you, using your device's mapping capabilities.

Whos it for? Users looking for somewhere to go and something to do should give Swarmly a look.

Whats it like? Try Fourquare and Snapp for keeping up with where friends (and others) are hanging out.

Chip Chain (Free)

Whats it about? Chip Chain is a match-3 title in which players have to use strategy to continually match low-value chips to create higher ones in order to score points.

Whats cool? Chip Chain uses poker chips in its play, but it's not about poker. Each of the chips on a grid on the screen has a value, and each time you match three or more chips of a certain number, a single chip of the next higher value is created. The idea is to try to make chains of chips to create the highest-value chips you can matching three 1s to get a new 2, which you can then chain with other 2s to get a 3, and so on. You'll also need to budget your space as chips are added to the board, but you can use power-ups in the form of special cards in order to change the value of chips and make other alterations. Chip Chain comes with four modes, including a timed mode in which you'll score as many points as you can, and longer versions for more relaxed play.

Whos it for? Match-3 fans, Chip Chain is free and worth your attention.

Whats it like? You might also enjoy Pop Words Reaction or that old match-3 standby, Bejeweled 2.

Via: New Android apps worth downloading: NowThis News, Swarmly, Chip Chain

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Android App Video Review: Star Wars Pinball

Zen Pinball HD from Zen Studios is pretty much the crme of the crop as far as mobile pinball table simulators go. They've got the formula down as far as physics and table design go, so imagine my excitement to hear about Star Wars Pinball from the very same company! Blending the nostalgia of classic Star Wars with the vibrant colors of the modern Cartoon Network show, all with excellent gameplay, this is a must own for anyone who has ever enjoyed Star Wars and pinball in their lives.

The first table you get with the initial download is based on Empire Strikes Back, and it's pretty great. The best part of movie licensed tables has always been the official sound bites and music that you hear as you play, and that remains true here. One thing I like about digital pinball are the unique events only possible in the digital realm, like having to fight of a stormtrooper who can actually destroy your ball with his blaster fire, or surviving a duel with Darth Vader.

As with similar games, additional tables will cost you a bit extra, at two dollars apiece. Whether you find this a bit steep all depends on how much you actually enjoy pinball, but a lot of work does go into every single table. The other nostalgic table revives everyone's favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett, who is really only beloved because of his cool armor and jetpack, despite being functionally useless in the movies.

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Anyway, joining him at his table are the Sarlacc Pit and Jabba the Hutt, and it's awesome to see Boba Fett jetpack around the map as if avoiding your ball. The final table, based on the Cartoon Network show, The Clone Wars, is also pretty solid, if lacking in nostalgia. It's much more colorful and pleasing to the eye, if anything. More tables are coming in future updates.

One very interesting aspect of this app is the Light Side/Dark Side meta-game going on. As you play, you'll earn points for your chosen side, even ranking up as you go, eventually reaching Jedi Master or Sith Lord, all in a communi ty wide battle of good and evil that includes everyone who ever plays this game online, though you'll need to sign into their optional network to really take part. If you would rather just have the tables without the meta game, downloading these tables for Zen Pinball HD is also an option at the moment. Either way, at two dollars for the initial download, I'd say this is more than worth checking out.

Via: Android App Video Review: Star Wars Pinball

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New Android apps worth downloading: Mint.com update, iRig Recorder, Super Stickman Golf 2

Spend the week spending less with the financial help you can get through the newly updated Mint.com, a financial planning app that leads todays apps worth downloading. If youve got audio to record using your Android device, our second app, iRig Recoder, is for you. Finally, anyone who likes fun should grab our final app, Super Stickman Golf 2, which brings arcade physics to a crazy series of 2-D golf courses.

Mint.com update (Free)

Whats it about? Financial planning app Mint.com helps you keep track of what you spend and other financial data, in order to better track your money and even save some of it.

Whats cool? You can use Mint.com to keep track of all your money, in order to help you better manage your personal finances. When you plug in your accounts, you can use the app to monitor what youre spending and what youre making, with the app automatically categorizing your transactions to help you see how much youre spending on things like food, entertainment, and more. You can also see all spending information expressed as graphs and charts, and with the apps latest update, youll get access to new transactions and other data even faster.

Whos it for? Anyone who could use a hand tracking their financial information should check out Mint.com.

Whats it like? Track your finances even more with You Need to Budget and SmartyPig.

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Also on Android Apps

Zinio put together a survival guide for magazine lovers, now that many magazine and newspaper publishers are embracing digital. Read about their counsel in this Guest Post.

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iRig Recorder (Free)

Whats it about? Need to record audio on the go? You might want to use iRig Recorder, which brings a lot of software power to your Android devices for recording and editing.

Whats cool? Grabbing iRig Recorder allows you to deck out your Android device with some relatively powerful recording software. The app is designed to be easy to use, allowing users to fire it up without much hassle, edit the audio they capture, and do things like instantly optimize volume. You can also adjust elements such as pitch and speed to quicken or slow your recordings, and iRig Recorder features a number of export options for when youre ready to move your audio to a computer or other device to continue working on it. Just be aware that the app is probably be st used with other iRig audio products.

Whos it for? Anyone who has need of audio recording capabilities might find iRig Recorder a useful way to handle it.

Whats it like? Try Easy Voice Recorder and RecForge if you need other audio recording alternatives.

Super Stickman Golf 2 (Free)

Whats it about? Super Stickman Golf returns with a whole bunch of new courses, power-ups and multiplayer options for fans of insane, 2-D golfing.

Whats cool? Like its predecessor, Super Stickman Golf 2 delivers some inventive, extremely fun side-scrolling golf courses that require players to carefully balance angle and power in order to land strong scores. Floati ng platforms, impossible geometry, water hazards and bottomless pits are your obstacles as you pay through Super Stickman Golf 2s 20 courses of nine holes each, but youll also have a number of power-ups you can utilize along the way to help you get great scores. The game also has a number of great new features, like the ability to customize your stickman golfer and a turn-based online multiplayer mode.

Whos it for? If you like arcade physics games, golf or playing with friends, Super Stickman Golf 2 is a must.

Whats it like? Dont forget the original Super Stickman Golf, and try Flick Golf Extreme as well.

Download the Appolicious Android app

Via: New Android apps worth downloading: Mint.com update, iRig Recorder, Super Stickman Golf 2

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