David Ruddock - 12/143 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

David Ruddock

David's phone is an HTC One X+. He is an avid writer, and enjoys imparting a legal perspective on Android news where it is relevant. He also doesn't usually write such boring sentences.

Follow @rdr0b11

Mar

Well, That Was Fast: Google Has Pulled The Google Reader App From The Play Store

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, Apps/Games, News

After announcing yesterday that Google Reader as a platform would be going the way of the dodo on July 1st, it appears Google has already started pulling the necessary plugs: the official Reader app has been removed from the Play Store. While you will still be able to see the Reader app on the Play Store if you've got it installed on one of your devices, open up an incognito window in Chrome, and you'll be directed to the generic 404 page when you attempt to load the URL.

A sad day for Reader fans, though there are plenty of alternatives (like Press, or our favorite: gReader) to the Reader app while the service as a whole is still functioning for the next few months.

Mar

Google Maps Navigation Is Now Live In Israel

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, News

If you're in Israel, you may have noticed in the last week or so that the Google Maps app on your Android device will now offer navigation as an option when you make a directions query. We're hearing from numerous sources that turn-by-turn navigation in Google Maps has gone live in the chosen land.

Google Israel confirmed the new feature on Google+, as well. While the country does not yet show up on the official list of supported Navigation Beta locations, it's more than likely that someone's just neglected to update it. Happy navigating, guys!

Maps

Google Israel, Google+, Thanks Kobi!

Mar

[New Game] Heroes Of Destiny Looks To Be A Well-Made Action RPG By Glu Mobile... So Hide Your Wallet

Posted by David Ruddock in Games, News

Glu Mobile isn't exactly my favorite developer - their in-app purchase / free to play business model ensures that - but there's no denying they've got a lot of talent going into their games. Heroes of Destiny is their latest title on Android - an action RPG of the generic-fantasy-world variety. The visuals aren't spectacular, but they'll by no means disappoint your average mobile gamer, and since this is a Glu game, you can expect near-endless content to trudge through in an attempt to extract precious currency from your bank account.

Gameplay looks to be a rather conspicuous 3D take on the highly popular iOS and Android title Battleheart by Mika Mobile, a game which has since been abandoned on the Play Store.

Mar

[New Game] Noodlecake Releases Super Stickman Golf 2 - 20 Brand-New Levels, Online Multiplayer, And Lots More Content

Posted by David Ruddock in Games, News

A physics-based puzzler centered on a... golfing mechanic? I know, I know. Sounds boring. But Super Stickman Golf has proven to be one of Noodlecake Studios' most successful titles to date, with over a million installs from the Play Store.

Super Stickman takes the traditional golfing mechanic and turns it on its head with crazy course designs, in-shot power-ups, multiple balls, and in-game achievements to keep you going back for more.

This is a free-to-play title, so there are in-app purchases if you choose to use them, but they seem far from necessary to enjoy the game. Now, in online multiplayer, the story could change - we all know how Words With Friends got once Zynga put its money-grubbing hands all over it.

Mar

[Deal Alert] Square Enix Slashes Prices On Chaos Rings And Chaos Rings Omega By Over 50% (Now $4.18 Each)

Posted by David Ruddock in Deals, Games, News

If you're an RPG fan and haven't given Square Enix's Chaos Rings titles a spin on Android yet, they're almost definitely now worth the price of admission: just about $4 each. With the release of Chaos Rings 2 for Android yesterday, Square Enix is celebrating by slashing the price of the two earlier titles.

Both games are content-rich and story-driven JRPG's in the traditional style, though don't let their decided conservativeness in the genre fool you - the Chaos Rings games are Rolls Royces in a category (mobile RPGs) dominated by Kias. And at this price, now is definitely the time to buy.

Mar

[New Game] Popular iOS Title 10000000 Lands On Android, All The Loot And Tile Matching You Can Handle For $1.99

Posted by David Ruddock in Games, News

At first glance, 10000000 doesn't look like anything to get excited about. If anything, its title should immediately give you a headache - how many zeroes is that again? (It's 7, by the way.) Spoken 'ten million,' this puzzle-based RPG was released to a very warm critical reception on iOS last year (and later Windows / OS X), and has been a hit ever since.

So, what's with that title? Actually, ten million is the score you'll have to achieve on a single 'run' to escape the castle our unnamed hero. You don't have any direct control over the character, you simply match up 3 tiles of a single type in the puzzle below the dungeon to deal with situations your hero encounters as they arise.

Mar

More Galaxy S IV Case Designs Surface, Match Up With Shape Of Leaked Chinese Handset, Samsung Teaser

Posted by David Ruddock in Galaxy S4, Leaks, News, Rumors

With the Galaxy S IV launching tomorrow, it seems like Samsung is unable to stunt the flow of the internet leak machine (unlike last year): more Galaxy S IV case designs have shown up on the web today, and these ones seem to match up with some of the more convincing leaks we've seen thus far.

The new cases bear a striking resemblance in shape and camera / speaker / port layout to the leaked Chinese photos of what is allegedly a Galaxy S IV. Samsung's own teaser image also has the same basic silhouette.

While there's no way to be certain until tomorrow, the leaked Chinese photos are looking more and more to be the real deal - sounds like the S IV won't be getting a major stylistic refresh this time around.

Mar

LG Just Announced A Clone Of Samsung's Smart Pause Eye-Tracking Feature Before Samsung Could Even Unveil It

Posted by David Ruddock in Device Updates, LG, News, Optimus G Pro

Oh, LG. Sometimes I really do wonder if you come up with the good ideas first, or if it really is like everyone else sort of thinks it is. Korea's #2 smartphone producer just sent out a press release announcing LG Smart Video, a new feature in the Optimus G Pro. So, if you've heard about the Smart Pause feature that was recently discovered in some screenshots from a Galaxy S III Android 4.2 ROM, it's that. Literally, exactly that.

The feature is pretty simple in concept - if you're playing a video on your phone (unknown if it supports 3rd party video players), the front-facing camera tracks your eyes.

Mar

Breaking: Google Has Begun Purging Ad-Blocking Apps From The Play Store

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Applications, Development, News

Last Updated: March 14th, 2013

According to Android developer Jared Rummler and a number of other sources, Google has begun purging known ad-blocking software from the Play Store today.

Got a notification from Google and it looks like all Ad Blockers were removed from Google Play today.

— Jared Rummler (@jrummy16) March 13, 2013

Popular app AdAway was among those removed, and received notice that its app was in violation of section 4.4 of the Play Store Developer Distribution Agreement. Here is the cited section:

4.4 Prohibited Actions. You agree that you will not engage in any activity with the Market, including the development or distribution of Products, that interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator.

Mar

Verizon To Begin Using Its AWS Band Spectrum For LTE This Summer, Start Selling AWS-Friendly Phones Soon

Posted by David Ruddock in News, Verizon Wireless

According to Verizon CTO Nicola Palmer, the company's gargantuan hoard of AWS spectrum will be put to use beginning this summer as part of the carriers' ever-growing LTE network.

Spectrum isn't the world's most exciting topic, but if you're concerned about making an informed choice when you choose your carrier, it's definitely the kind of news you should be looking out for. Verizon currently operates its LTE network exclusively on Band 13 (in the 700MHz range), a band it controls nationwide. That has allowed Verizon to very rapidly and effectively deploy its LTE network - a deployment it expects to complete this summer, putting Verizon literally years ahead of the competition.