Game App Review: Sokoban Garden 3D

For those unfamiliar with Sokoban I will give you as brief explanation.

Sokoban translated means Warehouse Worker. In the original game you are presented with a 2d representation of a warehouse and several boxes. Those boxes are to be moved into spots in the warehouse which are clearly marked. You use the worker to move the boxes to the marked spots.

At first this may not seem like a big problem. That is until you find out that you are only allowed to push the boxes (one at a time only) not pull them. This little limitation is what makes the game such a challenge. One wrong push and the box in question becomes unmovable. The boxes themselves can prove to be obstacles to other boxes if you move them the wrong way. Sokoban can be likened to chess in that it requires you to think several moves ahead before you even actually move the first box.

If you have never tried Sokoban before I would suggest you do as it can be a quite enjoyable, if not frustrating at times, game to spend your leisure time playing.

Let's move on to the review.

For those familiar with the original Sokoban game you will likely notice several differences. Instead of a warehouse you are presented with a walled garden of sorts. A warehouse worker is replaced with a smiley faced lady bug. You are also given a 3D type of view instead of the flat two dimensional view with most other Sokoban games.

I really like the fact that you it has a 3d view as it lends depth to the graphical interface. Though the ladybug is certainly nicely constructed and the animations for it a fairly decent, I found most of the other graphics a bit to simple and blocky. I hope the developer has an update coming that will improve the overall quality of the graphics. This is just a minor issue in my mind as it does not affect the game play.

The only other issue I had with the game, and this is true of too many game apps I have downloaded, is the inability to turn off the game music with out also turning off the other game sounds as well. To me this should be an automatic thought of all game designers. It must dawn on them sometime while playing other people games that it would be nice to be able to turn off the music so they can enjoy the rest of the game.

Those two issue aside, I found the game quite enjoyable. This is a really good game that with only some minor tweaks would be even more fun.

Below is the link to the app so you can download it. If you enjoy the game please consider rating and making a short review of the game. I am sure the developer would enjoy the input.

Sokoban Garden 3D

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Launch Gets One Step Closer to Release

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 appears to have moved one step closer to reality. At least the Wifi version. Labeled with the model number GT-N5110, it made the requisite stop over that the FCC. Keep in mind that the model the FCC is scrutinizing is not referred to as the Note 8.0 device. We are still dealing with rumors. This is not atypical. But, all the leaked info points that direction. With the World Mobile Congress only one month away it is looking all the more likely that the Note 8.0 will be making an appearance as planned.

Just recently new photos if the device were also leaked. At least the photos are believed to be the new Note device. It is always best to take unconfirmed information with a grain of salt to a point.

Please keep in mind that the below photo has yet to be authenticated. There are several leaked photos. The snap shot below has appeared other blogs and websites.

There have also been specs floating around as well. Below are what is believed to be "preliminary" specs.

Weight: 330 Grams ( Just over 11 and a half ounces)

Dimensions: 136.3 x 211.3 x 7.95 millimeters.

OS: Android Jellybean 4.2

Processor: Quad Core

Ram: 2 GB

Storage: 16 GB

Display Resolution: 1280 x 800

Audio: Stereo Speakers and 3.5 mm headphone jack

External Memory: Micro SD (likely support up to 32 GB card)

Cameras: Rear 5.0 MP and Front 1.3 MP

Micro USB, Bluetooth 4.0, and Wifi Support

It is rumored that the device will be priced below the price of the Ipad mini. Somewhere in the $250 to $300 range in US dollars.

The 3G and LTE varients will likely be more expensive. Though no clear confirmation for them has appeared.

As was noted earlier in this article, the device is expected to show up at the World Mobile Congress.


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App Review: iQuarium

iQuarium is an app that was first introduced for Apple devices. The main purpose of the app is for you to have an aquarium that you can carry around in your pocket. This is what the developers claim. 

You start of with an empty tank. First you are given one Parrot Fish. He will immediately go about swimming around just like a real fish. If you tap on the tank air bubbles will appear and the fish will vary his reactions to the the tapping. Sometimes he will move toward the bubbles and other times he will run from the direction they are coming. 

Shortly after you get your fish you will get a 2nd item to add tou your tank. Gravel. After the gravel you will get a 3rd item. A plant. 

If you click on the upper right icon you can feed your fish. 

After the first 3 items you will be given the opportunity to wait just about 24 hours until the next decoration will be come available for use or you can opt to purchase points towards the next item. You are also given the option to get free points by signing up for services or downloading other apps. If you chose to just wait the 24 hours for the next item you earn 6 points per hour. The next item costs 140 points so you actually earn enough points for the next item just under 24 hours. 

On to the review.

As you can see from the picture below the graphics are quite impressive. The Parrot fish is not a cartoon rendering but and actually fish. Likely what the developers did was to record a real parrot fish in a tank in front of a green screen capturing it's movement. The bubbles have realistic movement as well. The plant, which is one of the first 3 decorations, evens waves with the movement of the water. The app definitely gets 5 stars in the realism department. 

Unfortunately, the app has several technical issues that really should be addressed. Plus some less technical issues that could be done different. 

The first is sound. Whenever you touch the screen there is a knocking sound. That sound happens pretty much every time you tap on the screen unless you are moving around objects. The objects can only be moved side to side. The cannot be moved forward and backward. The rock can be moved in front of the plant but not the other way around. Likely the other objects that become available will be the same. Some objects will be able to be placed in front of others and other objects will be behind other some. 

The first technical issue comes after you set the 3rd item. You are told that it will be several hours before the next item is available when in reality it is almost 24 hours before that 4th item is available. Now, you could purchase the item. As I mentioned earlier you can buy points. For $0.99 you can buy 5000 points which will let you buy several items. I am not sure how many as prices for items may very. The 4th and 5th items cost 140 points each.

Which brings up another technical issue. There are several dozen or more services you can sign up for and apps you can download and play to earn points. Ever single one I tried, and I tried at least a dozen, didn't work. So, essentially, you either pay for points or wait 24 hours for a new item to become available. 

One other technical issue is the bubbles don't make a sound. Perhaps this is an issue with compatibility with the device the was used to test the app. However, the knocking sound is quite clear.

Lastly, you only get 2 fish. Both are parrot fish. I would have liked to see more varieties of fish available and more than just 2. 

As I mentioned in the beginning. the graphics are quite impressive and deserve a 5 star rating. However, all the technical issues. lack of interactivity, and only having one type of fish lowers that rating significantly. 

Google Play Store Rating: 4.5

AOAM Rating:                 2.9

Now if you want a less interactive more passive aquarium experience this app may be for you. Something you can spend a little time with watching your fish swim around. Something you can add decorations to make it homey for the fish. It certainly will fill that requirement to a t. Nothing at all wrong with that if it is what you want. 

Below is the link to the Google Play page so you can download it and check the app out. 

iQuarium

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App of the Day: Cat vs Dog. It's War

Here is a simple little app I ran across.

In this game 2 sworn enemies battle it out to see who is boss of the neighborhood. The dog on one side flinging bones and the cat on the other side flinging cans. The goal is to be the first one to knock the other one out and claim victory.

Other items in your arsenal include stink bombs and a band aid to heal. Plus, a couple of other things.

Google Play Rating: 4.5
AOAM rating 3.0

I gave it a lower rating because it's pretty simple. I would have liked to see different items to fling. I would also like to see different levels. Having different elevations to have to fling objects from would have been nice. Obstacles getting in the way of your shot would have made it more interesting as well. Maybe even the addition of weather would have added more depth.

Perhaps the developer plans to update in the future to add more content to the game. Still, a nice little time killer to keep you occupied for a while.


Here is the link to the app: Cat vs Dog

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How to Add a Bookmark to Your Android Desktop for Chrome.

Here is a guide how to add a website bookmark to your Android Desktop for Chrome. I did this one my Nexus 7.

Step 1: Open your Chrome Browser. Conveniently, I have it right on my desktop already.

Step 2: Click on bookmarks. I have my chrome open to Most Visited. If your's opens up to a webpage you will have to click on the 3 dots on the upper right and then click Bookmarks.

Step 3: Press and hold the bookmark you want to add to the desktop. If you don't have any bookmarks you will have to add one by putting a website address in the address bar, going to the site, and then pressing on the star to save it as a bookmark. For this example I will be using Box Office Mojo as the bookmark I want to add to the Desktop.

Step 4: Tap on Add to Home Screen from the pop up menu. (The volume control showed up when I took a screen shot. It does not need to be there.)

When you go back to your desktop the Website icon will be there ready for use. 

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Sub $250 10" Tablet. Wow!

The battle of cheap tablets seems to be heating up again. This time it's the 10" tablet market that is getting flush with cheap tablets.

Enter the Velocity Cruz D610 and Q610 10 inch tablets (actual screen size is 9.7") that are due to be released in the spring of 2013. Both will run Android 4.1 Jellybean.

The D610 Specs stack up like this:

1024 x 768 screen resolution
1.5ghz dual core processor
1gb ram
8 gb of storage
Micro SD slot
Mini HDMI
Micro USB
and a front cam support VGA resolution

One the surface this seems not to be at all impressive. However, we are talking about a 10" screen instead of a 7 inch screen. For those willing to live with the anemic specs but really wanting a 10" screen, $199 may just the right price for them to take the plunge into the tablet market.

What really may create a stir in tablet market is the Q610

The Q610 specs stack up like this.

1024 x 768 screen resolution
1.5ghz quad core processor
1gb and 2gb ram (we will assume that the large storage ones will have more ram)
16gb, 32,gb, and 64gb storage
Micro SD slot
Mini HDMI
Micro USB
0.3 megapixel front cam and a 2 megapixel rear cam

Other than the fact the screen resolution is pretty poor compared to several of it's competitors in the 10" inch tablet market, the rest of it's specs are impressive enough for it to compete. And the $249 price tag is definitely going to raises several eyebrows.

Keep in mind the Velocity isn't considered to a high quality tablet maker. But, the dirt cheap pricing will likely  entice bargain buyers to purchase a tablet from them. Something Velocity is definitely shooting for with these tablets. Getting the bargain buyers to pull out their wallets and say yes, I want that tablet.

And they are not the only ones entering the 10" tablet market with ultra cheap tablets. Both Archos and Polaroid will be releasing 10" tablets in the near future as well. Polariod, it seems, will be releasing their tablets in the spring as well. A release date for the 10" Archos tablets has yet to be provided.

The big question is how this will shake up the 7" market for tablets as the price range for these 10" tablets will be about the same.

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Pitfall Harry is back. This time for Android

Some of you may be old enough to remember the video game Pitfall. It was released back in 1982 for the Atari 2600 console system. Selling over 4 million unit it was on of the most popular games for any game console previous to the introduction of the NES game console in 1985. In fact, it was even a better selling game than the top 2 original Xbox games ever. Xbox was released some 19 years after in 2001. A rough estimate has it ranked in in the top 125 videos games of all time according to what I could figure looking at the limited info I gathered from Wikipedia.

For those of you who are not old enough to remember here is a little back story about the game.

The original game cast you in the role of Pitfall Harry. A daring adventurer seeking his fortune in the forbidding jungles in parts unknown. Searching for diamonds, gold, money bags, and silver, he must run a gauntlet of dangerous adversaries and lethal traps. In his way are various deadly animals ( crocodiles, rattlesnakes and scorpions). If the was not enough, he had to jump over rolling logs, using vines to swing over pits and quicksand traps, plus navigate a maze like environment full of dead ends.

The objective of the game was to collect all the 32 treasures with in a time limit of 20 minutes and gain the most points.

Over the years the game has seen several different versions including, Pitfall II: Lost Caverns, A remake of Pitfall II, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (released on several console platforms as well as PC), Pitfall: Beyond the Jungle, and Pitfall: the Lost Expedition released in 2004.

8 years from that date it was brought back to life and released as a brand new game for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.back in August of last year (2012).

Well, as an early Christmas gift for Android users, it became available on December 21, 2012.

Here is a little video that was posted on Youtube showing a brief glimpse of the game and a download link for Google Play .

Pitfall for Android

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New Google TV Devices to Debut at CES

Several new devices running Google TV are set to debut at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) next week. New names to Google TV include Asus, Hisense, and TCL which will be displaying products that will be launching within the next few weeks as well as updated offerings from LG, Sony and Visio.

In addition we can expect new Apps for Google TV as well.

Here us a short video displaying some of the features of Google TV

2012 was a big but mixed year for Google. It has some great launches. The Nexus 7 came out to great fanfare and has been living up to it's claims quite nicely. The Entire Nexus line has been flying off the shelves at a good clip. Jellybean Android OS has turned out to be a winner for Google as well.

Then there was the Nexus Q. It was pulled off the market almost as quickly as it was launched. Perhaps it was just not ready for prime time. Google TV has suffered from mixed reviews since it was first launched/

 Will the addition of new brands and an upgraded exprience breath back life into the struggling Google TV concept? I am thinking that my Magic 8 Ball would come back with an answer "Cannot Predict Now".

We will just to have to wait and see who things shake out in the next few coming months.

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Android Jellybean now the 3rd most used version.

New data was released by android.com on the distribution of the OS versions. It is compiled by from information gathered from the Google play store as to what versions are being use to access the site during the most recent 14 day period.

Here is the break down as of January 3rd 2013 compared to December 3rd results.
Source: developer.android.com/dashboards/index.html

December 3rd 2012                                     January 3rd 2013


Cupcake: 0.1%                                            Cupcake: Data not provided

Donut: 0.3%                                                Donut: 0.2%

Eclair: 2.7%                                                 Eclair: 2.4%

Froyo: 10.3%                                              Froyo: 9.0%

Gingerbread: 50.8%                                    Gingerbread: 47.6%

Honeycomb: 1.6%                                       Honeycomb: 1.5%

Ice Cream Sandwich: 27.5%                       Ice Cream Sandwich: 29.1%

Jellybean: 6.7%                                           Jellybean: 10.2%

The results show that Jellybean saw an increase in distribution of more than 50%. Gaining a share of 10.2% since it's release in June of 2012. Ice Cream Sandwich also gained a little as it was released to some devices since Jellybean came out. At it current pace it does not seem that Jellybean will be able to catch Ice Cream sandwich or Gingerbread as it is due to be replaced in May of this year by Key Lime Pie.

But, It maybe be able to hit 20% market saturation before Key Lime Pie is introduced. That would be a pretty good accomplishment and would definitely help with the fragmentation issue as the top 3 versions would likely hold a 60% share of all version by the time Key Lime Pie is introduced.

Please feel free to post a comment with your thoughts on this article. Input is appreciated.

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Ubuntu Smartphones in 2014

For those of you not familiar, Ubuntu is an open source OS that is produced by software maker Canonical. Where open source OSes are not new, Android is open source as well, Ubuntu will be a new addition to the smartphone market.

As of now the phone OS market is pretty concentrated on very big names. Apple has iOS, Google has Android OS, and Windows has Windows 8 OS. RIM is also a player, though much smaller one, with their Blackberry OS.

Cononical will have do some really impressive things to pull market share from the three biggest players in the smart phone market.

What may make Ubuntu for smart phones special is you will be able to dock the device to a keyboard, monitor and mouse pretty much emulating a desktop experience. Newer phones have enough processing power that you could you could have both a desktop and phone OS of Ubuntu on your phone. Motorola has already attempted such a pairing. but was not successful at it. It will be interesting to see how Cononical fairs with their attempt.

2014 may seen like a long way off as it's just the second day of 2013 but, there are already demo models floating around the UK.

What can you expect from Ubuntu based phones. Lots of the things you get from other phone based OSes. An app store is said to already be in the development stages. It will have multi-touch gesture support. Voice commands will also be part of the implementation. There will also be support both Cortex A9 and Intel Atom processor architectures. This means it will work on both entry level and high end smartphones.

In short. the full smart phone experience.

This is a pretty bold move for an open source OS that some still consider relegated to a small segment of the population. Though a very loyal segment. I for one think it is great that there will be one more player in the smart phone OS market.

Ubuntu looks like it might very well have a chance of breaking into a super competitive marker place if it can deliver on it's claims. I am sure there will be plenty of Ubuntu loyalists who hope 2014 comes quick.

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Play Flash Videos and Games with Android Jellybean.

One of the disappointments when Android Jellybean was introduced back in June of last year was that it no longer supported Flash. Though it did come with an app to watch Youtube videos, there are still many video sites and game sites that still use flash. When Jellybean was first released you were outta luck if you wanted to either watch videos or play games that were flash based.

That changed. First, came a way to do both things by rooting your device. Then eventually a way to do it without having to root your device was developed.

We here at AOAM were very happy when the latter became available. Though rooting is not a very difficult process, we know a lot of people would rather not do something that could potentially affect the warranty of the device that would  be rooted. So, any tweaks that can be done to the android OS without having to root is always a welcome thing.

You might be asking yourself. Hey, that is great there is a way to play flash video and games with Jellybean but, show me how to do it.

You are in luck as I found a video that explains the process.

A Youtuber the goes by the name InspeThaGadget has made just such a video. In about than 3 minutes he walks you through the process of what you need to download and the steps to take to get your Jellybean based device to play flash videos and games. The video does show this being done on a Nexus 7 but should work on other devices with Jellybean.

Here is the video.

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