Reviews - 43/69 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Aug

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 3] Cerberus Faithfully Guards All Your Devices With Ease

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Mobile Security App Shootout

Developer LSDroid has raised the bar in our Security App Shootout series with the popular security app Cerberus. Another app looking to help those who dread the thought of their lost or stolen device out there all alone, Cerberus brings a lot to the table while maintaining a relatively low price point.

At a Glance

Playing off the name of the guard dog of Greek and Roman myth, Cerberus’ name alone gives a good first impression among security apps. Installing is your standard procedure -- choose a username and password and, well, that's it. As with the other apps we’ve covered so far, the real functionality of the app comes into play at the online dashboard.

Aug

[Mobile Security App Shootout, Part 2] SeekDroid Sooths Your Lost-Device Woes With Clean Interface And Excellent Functionality

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Mobile Security App Shootout

Next in line for our Mobile Security App Shootout is SeekDroid, an app that has no problem standing out in the crowded security app arena thanks to its sleek interface, smooth functionality, and manageable price tag; not to mention the adorable James Bond - style Android on the splash screen.

At a Glance

From the moment I saw the icon for GTMedia’s SeekDroid app, I suspected I had a winner on my hands -- and I haven’t been let down so far. The application itself is centered totally around helping find your lost or stolen device, so it won’t get you out of the woods if your handset is infected with malware.

Aug

[Review] ApzOrb: Funny Spelling, But A New Skin For An Old Snake

Posted by Matt Demers in Game Reviews, Games

Not all classics need to be updated. Sometimes, an adherence to simplistic (yet addictive) game design will win out over flashy graphics any day.

The Pitch

ApzOrb is an update of the traditional "Snake" game that most of us have played on monochrome cellphone screens. However, instead of entertaining us with different shades of grey, this game has made color a vital part of how the game plays.

Instead of having to eat apples to extend the length of your block-snake, you seek out squares of similar colors. When consumed, your snake assumes that color; if you're navy and consume a sky-blue block, your color will shift accordingly.

Aug

[Mobile Security App Shootout] Android Lost (Beta): Sophisticated Security Options For The Budget-Conscious Android User

Posted by Liam Spradlin in App Reviews, Mobile Security App Shootout

For most, the idea of losing their mobile device is devastating. Users tend to panic at the idea of things like personal messages, contacts, photos, and internet passwords falling into the wrong hands. Luckily there is an abundance of security apps in the Android Market created specifically to combat such a scenario (and hopefully help in getting your device back). But this abundance poses another question: which one is right for me? It can be difficult to choose a security app that has the features you need, a reasonable price, and the interface and functionality that create a pleasant user experience even in the midst of such turmoil.

Aug

[Review] 'Zorro: Shadow of Vengeance' Brings Us An Interesting Take On The Masked Fencer, But Is It Too Ambitious?

Posted by Matt Demers in Game Reviews, Games

Zorro is a fictional character with a long and storied history. I mean, the character was created in 1919, spawned countless adaptations and inspired Batman, for god's sake: the man in black is frequently associated with the fierce swordplay and the volatile colonial era of Spanish California.

The Pitch

Zorro: Shadow of Vengeance is a side-scrolling adventure in which you play as an anime-styled version of the classic Mexican hero, Zorro. Zorro's design is one part Japan and one part Assassin's Creed; Antonia Banderas he's not. Using an array of touch controls, you'll jump, whip, sword-fight and roll through a number of levels as you look to bring a corrupt army captain to justice.

Aug

[New Game Review] Glu's Eternity Warriors: They Should Have Just Called It 'Sword Bros'

Posted by Matt Demers in Game Reviews, Games

While developer Glu Mobile has had a lot of success with its gun-wielding, bravado-toting title, Gun Bros, it seems to be unsatisfied with the mark left on the genre. I mean, why else would they release Eternity Warriors this week?

The Disappointment

In a sentence, Eternity Warriors is Gun Bros with swords. I wish I was kidding.

Usually, I might give this a pass, but Glu Mobile just released a game called Star Blitz which is essentially Gun Bros in space. I'm all for getting more mileage out of work (I am a freelancer, after all) but at this point, it's become a bit insulting.

Aug

[Review] Scosche goBAT II 5000mAh Portable Charger: Great For Phones, Meh For Tablets

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Other Reviews, Reviews

Last week, Artem took the Primo Power Core 8200mAh portable battery pack for a spin, and he really liked it. But as good as it may be, for some, 8200mAh may be overkill. With that in mind, I took on the Scosche 5000mAh goBAT II portable charger and backup battery to see how well it would fuel my devices during everyday use.

At A Glance

First off, lets take a look at what this power pack has to offer.

5000mAh, which should be able to charge a 1500mAh battery around 3 times, with a little left over.
Dual charging ports: one 5V 1 amp port, one 5V 2.1 amp port
Works with phones and tablets
In the box: the battery, USB charger, USB adapter for Galaxy Tab (more on that in a bit)

Now that you have a better idea of what the goBAT II is all about, lets look at what it does well, and where it lacks.

Aug

[Review] Chop Chop Looks To Cut Down Note-Taking Competitors

Posted by Matt Demers in App Reviews, Applications

As I'm not one to enjoy doing large amount of typing on my mobile phone, I have a number of applications that make the job easier. These apps are usually employed to make quick, short notes that I can index and access later, therefore saving me a lot of trouble.

Coming to us from Singaporean developer 2nd Class Citizen, that's exactly what Chop Chop looks to do, only with some unique features the differentiate it from the rest.

Chop Chop gives you four categories of input from which you can make your note: numbers, words, checklists and pairs. Each is sorted into a separate tab, which in turn lists everything that you've created.

Aug

Review + Giveaway: JBuds J4M Headphones By JLab - When Ruggedized Actually Works, And Works Well

Posted by David Ruddock in Contests / Giveaways, Other Reviews, Reviews

Ruggedized - doesn't the word just conjur up images of a tiger eating a Toughbook?

When I received the J4M headphones from JLab, I was unsure of how "rugged" an in-ear headphone could actually be. So, I decided to treat them less than, shall we say, "gently" over the last few weeks.

Now, it's not like I've gone dunking them in water or buried them in sand at the beach - that kind of behavior is at your own risk. But, I can say the J4M is a tough little piece of kit that won't disappoint in the durability department.

Aug

[Review] If Facebook Messenger Can Keep Sync Instant And Reliable, It Is Worth Your Time

Posted by Matt Demers in App Reviews, Applications

A while ago, I had a chance to review an app called Beluga. At first, it looked like it could be a cross-platform answer to BBM, the popular instant message service that comes standard with all Blackberrys. As a cross-platform solution, it worked well.

However, one of the problems with Beluga was that even though it was good in theory, there wasn't the user base to keep it afloat. You either had to convince your friends to use an untested product, or go back to SMS.

So when Beluga was bought by Facebook earlier this year, all signs pointed to the social networking company moving into Blackberry and Apple's messaging market.