Android, Inc. was founded in Palo Alto, California in October 2003 by Andy Rubin(co-founder of Danger), Rich Miner (co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc.), Nick Sears (once VP at T-Mobile), and Chris White (headed design and interface development at WebTV) to develop, inRubin'swords, "smarter mobile devices ...
? What is the latest version of Android
The latest version is Android 6 Marshmallow, which will gradually become available for more and more devices over the coming months. Lollipop is 5.x, and KitKat is version 4.4.x, with 4.3, 4.2 and 4.1 all coming under the codename name Jelly Bean.
? What is Android pay
Android Pay is a mobile wallet that can store your credit cards, debit cards, loyalty cards, etc. If that sounds a lot like Google Wallet, it's because Android Pay is the
new Google Wallet (only it's supposed to be better, more convenient, and secure).
? What is the Android operating system
Android is an OS created by Google™ for use on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. It's an OS that's available on devices made by a variety of manufacturers, giving you more choices of device style and pricing. Also, with theAndroid OS, you can customize your device in many ways.
When’s Super Mario Run coming to Android? Register to get an alert, now
Super Mario Run on Android still has no date beyond 2017, but today a placeholder for the game popped up in the Google Play store along with a detailed description and ability to pre-register.
By clicking on the register button, hopeful players will be notified when the game goes live.
The game’s release date is simply listed as “coming soon.”
Nintendo did the same thing for the iOS version of its game, which finally released on Dec. 15.
The game has players controlling an ever-running Mario as he makes his way, mostly from left to right, through worlds decorated with breakable blocks, pipes and the many other familiar hallmarks of a Super Mario game.
Super Mario Run features four modes: World Tour, Kingdom Builder, Toad Rally and Friendly Run.
In World Tour, players have to navigate through six worlds, each featuring 24 brand-new courses, as they try to find and rescue Princess Peach.
In Toad Rally, players show off their moves in various challenge maps as they try to impress a crowd of Toads and get the highest score. The game requires items called Rally Tickets earned in the regular mode to access, something players haven’t been too happy about.
The Friendly Run mode pits players against each other in a Toad Rally, but with nothing at stake. That means you’re racing against a friend you select to impress an audience of Toads, but you can’t win or lose any of the Toads for your kingdom. You can only play this game five times a day, at most.
Finally, in Kingdom Builder, players can build their own kingdom. This mode uses the items acquired during Toad Rally mode.
The game requires a persistent online connection to play, Nintendo told Polygon. You can learn all about why that is and a bunch of other things in our handy guide to the game.
Nintendo has released two updates to the game since its release: Friendly Mode and some Christmas-themed items for Kingdom Builder.
The screenshot is a handy tool for proving something, or to quickly capture a snapshot of something on your smartphone screen: on Android, it's really easy to create and share a screenshot. In this article, we'll tell you how to make and edit screenshots on Android and we'll also tell you how to record the screen as a video. Different manufacturers offer different solutions so we will also propose some apps that might be useful to you.
Create a screenshot without saving it
If you have a smartphone that came out of the box with Android 6.0 or if you manually upgraded to the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, you can easily create a screenshot with Google's Screen search function, also called Google Now on Tap. This is a feature of Google now, meaning you will need to have the Google app on your phone. This is already installed on most, but you can install it if you don't.
After installation, start up the app and open the settings by tapping on the three-bar menu in the upper left corner. Then hit Screen search and switch the toggle on or off.
You will then be able to share it with various apps, like Whatsapp, Gmail, Facebook Messenger, Drive etc. The advantage of this method of taking screenshots on an Android smartphone is that they are not stored on your smartphone. Immediately after the screenshot is shared via the various networks, the screenshot disappears and does not take up space in the internal storage of your smartphone.
Since this feature only works on smartphones with at least Android 6.0, you should use the following link to find out when and if your smartphone will receive Android Marshmallow.how to take a screenshot
On most Android devices, the following key combination takes a screenshot: simultaneously press the power button and the down volume button. On Samsung smartphones, you have to press the power and home buttons. Hold down both buttons until you hear the clicking sound or an animation appears indicating that the screen has been captured. Often, a white frame is displayed briefly and then a preview of the stored image appears.
You will also receive a notification that a screenshot has been created. Often, you have the option to share or delete the screenshot directly. This may save you from manually having to search for the screenshot.
The screenshots can be found in the gallery under Screenshots. When accessed via USB on a computer, they can be found in the internal memory or on the SD card in the directory /Pictures/Screenshots, and in the case of Samsung smartphones, in the directory DCIM/Screenshots.
If your smartphone doesn't provide post-processing options for screenshots, we can recommend the free screenshot app: Screen’it. It provides important filters to make phone numbers, names, or email addresses unrecognizable in screenshots
Best free antivirus app: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
The best antivirus app for you might depend on whether you're using it as a standalone software, or in conjunction with a license for a desktop package, but either way, if you want a free, effective and focused anti-malware app on your phone, Malwarebytes is worth downloading.
It has a simple UI and doesn't come as an oversized, bloated app overflowing with features. Instead, it focuses purely on protecting your device from malware and identifying potential privacy concerns
Best free weather app: Accuweather
The best free weather app is always a hotly-contested category, and while Accuweather is no newcomer, the sheer range of options it offers users for free propelled it to the top of the list. With a range of advance forecast options and a simple, well-designed UI it has the features you'd expect, but it's the addition of things like the 'RealFeel' index, which gives an indication of how it's actually going to feel outside by taking into account other factors, like wind, rather than just listing the temperature, that really make Accuweather stand out.
It's also got a handy rain warning that gives you an estimate in time before it's likely to rain next. This is similar to, and not quite as good as, Dark Sky's eerily accurate rain warnings, but you have to pay for those on Dark Sky.
Best free calendar app: SolCalendar
For many people, Google Calendar probably offers enough functionality and convenience that you'll never need to look around for an alternative. If, however, you fancy a change of scenery and a few additional features, and all still for free, then SolCalendar is well worth checking out. It offers fewer integrations with other services than some paid rivals, but gives a overbalance of functionality and ease of use - and with Sunrise now closed down, it's one of the better options still available for free. It also includes a few different options of home screen widgets too.
Best free offline GPS: Google Maps
Combining the need for 'free' with offline abilities makes this one a trickier ask, but not entirely impossible as there are still some good options around. The most versatile entirely free option, however, is still Google Maps.
Granted, you need to download different map areas to your phone to use them offline, but you can now download multiple and there are options for when you have a spotty connection (rather than no connection) too. It's not perfect, but with different modes of travel and multiple route options all for free, it's tough to beat. If you're willing to pay a little, there are better options though.
Best free navigation and route planning app: Here WeGo
Here WeGo is an easy recommendation to make if you don't need purely offline ability, and sometimes need to work out routes for driving as well as taking public transport to your destination.
The detailed 3D imagery and overall design decisions make this an attractive app, as well as being highly functional. For public transport routes, it'll show you how long your trip will take and how much it will cost, too. It works in over 100 countries.
If you never need to drive, Citymapper is worth checking oue as well.
Best free note taking app: Google Keep
Keep is another of Google's own apps that offers enough functionality and ease of use for free to best other competitors - though it's worth noting that other paid services offer a far more features.
Google Keep, however, also works on the desktop just as simply as a free download, automatically synchronizes your lists across devices, allows color coding, reminders to be set and a bunch more. If making lists is your thing, and your budget is $0, Google Keep is worth considering.
I usually just walk outside to check the weather but I’ve found that’s not an accurate way to discover how the weather is going to continue for the remainder of the day. With your Android device’s connection to the Internet and its GPS capabilities, you can get all the weather data you could ever need for your area — provided you have the right apps. Check out these awesome weather apps and keep plugged in so you always know what to expect.
1Weather is a beatiful and clean Android app with a separately downloadable widget app. Add weather widgets to your Android device’s Home screen with the help of 1Weather, an elegantly designed weather app that makes getting information quick and easy. The app is easy to navigate and brings you forecast information both for your location and any location worldwide. You can also get severe weather alerts and easily navigate the app, thanks to its clean, slick design.
Get severe weather notifications, 15-day forecasts, and lots more info thanks to AccuWeather. Along with Home screen widgets to get you your weather updates faster, the app also brings you updates every 15 minutes and is full of information like humidity, dew points, UV indexes and wind speeds. You can also get five-day local forecasts with all the most important information front-and-center.
Yahoo Weather provides all the weather data you could want in a beautiful, photo-heavy presentation. You can scope the local conditions like precipitation, temperature and humidity, or run down the extended forecast in five-day and 10-day presentations to plan your week. The app also features interactive maps that show radar and satellite data (as well as info like heat and snow), and you can pull up more detailed information within the app as well.
Weather geeks, RadarScope is the app for you. It’s filled with radar data and maps that’s great for both amateur and professional meteorologists, as well as people who are just interested in weather info. You can also get tornado, severe weather and flash flood warnings from the app, as well as more in-depth data about maps as you’re looking at them. All the maps automatically every five to 10 minutes, so you always have the most up-to-date data at your fingertips. For $9.99, RadarScope sure is pricey, but if you like to go seriously in-depth with your weather forecasts or you’re a budding meteorologist or tornado chaser, it’s well worth a look. With its NEXRAD Level 3 radar data and severe weather warnings for the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, RadarScope offers the best of the best for true weather enthusiasts. The app displays tornado, severe thunderstorm, and flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service and offers probably the most reliable and accurate weather data for Android users.
This app has helped to take eyes off the television and glue them to your phone for yet another reason. If it’s weather data you want, The Weather Channel is the app to get it. It’s packed with information about meteorology, with hourly and 10-day forecasts, local weather maps and information from around the world. You can also check out videos that show things like your forecast and discuss issues such as climate change, and track hurricanes and tropical storms.
InstaWeather marries weather and location data with Instagram photos to create a new way of sharing. You can use the app to share your photos of fun in the sun, winter sports, or whatever else you’re up to, and add the temperature, location, time and place to them in a clean and stylish overlay. There are more than 70 different skins you can add to your photos for different presentations, and you can easily share them to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and wherever else you frequent online.
Along with real-time forecasts that pinpoint your location and give you the most accurate weather data you can get, WeatherBug packs tons of severe weather alerts when you need them. You can get updates about dangerous thunderstorms, lightning in your area, and more in the form of Push notifications, and WeatherBug also includes access to live weather cams and extended forecasts.
There’s a scene in the 1992 Disney movie Aladdin, where he’s singing while running, jumping from building to building, and wearing disguises in order to escape the palace guards. The game of City Jump doesn’t take place in Agrabah Market or in any kind of story resembling Arabian Nights, but there’s something about this game that reminds me of Aladdin. Leap between buildings, avoid obstacles and take out your enemies. Tap the screen to jump from one side to the other and turn into an invincible Superman when you’re knocking down three enemies of the same kind. This game has been recently updated for improvements to the overall experience and also supports trackball use.
Mega Jump 2 is a jumping game in which you propel yourself through the air and avoid falling to your death by collecting coins and power-ups. Some of these power-ups give you a boost, inflating you like a balloon or turning you into a coin magnet. The higher you fly, the more coins you collect and therefore the more points you earn. If you spend some time playing, you might even unlock some new characters. Just be sure to keep on the lookout for dangerous obstacles and enemies.
Feel the need for speed? Mr. I must get to a mysterious location quickly and you can help. This side-scrolling platformer asks you to feel the rhythm of running because keeping up a fast tempo is the best way to time the jumps and slides through its obstacles. Tap Jump once to leap and twice to double-jump, touch Slide to go under objects, but whatever you do keep moving.Collect the gifts to switch into Fever State where Mr. I dresses snazzier, runs faster, and achieves double scores.
A first-person game about jumping off sky scrapers, Aaaaa!!! has users dodging obstacles on the way down, while also interacting with spectators and tagging buildings with graffiti to score points. Using some great-looking 3-D graphics, Aaaaa!!! manages to convey the excitement and intensity of falling, while also encouraging players to do cool stuff as they plummet. You’ll need to dodge structures and obstacles as you go, scoring points along the way, and you’ll also be able to give fans a thumbs-up (and lewd gestures to protestors), perform stunts to increase your scores, and tag buildings with graffiti. Aaaa!!! includes 82 remastered levels from its PC version, and some 43 new jumps for players to perform. Fans of arcade-style games and titles that take a unique spin on gamplay mechanics and visuals will want to try this one.
They Need To Be Fed 3 for Android is a topsy-turvy adventure that will redefine the way you look at platformer games. While gravity is a constant in games where you must hop from one platform to another, in They Need To Be Fed, you can never fall to your death. The game exists in a 360-degree world, in which you can hang upside down from the bottom of one rotating platform, jump, and be magnetized to another ledge nearby. You might not ever fall, but you still have to look out for the black spikes, laser beams and other deadly traps that fill the level.
The object of the game is to direct a small black figure across the course of obstacles so you can feed a hungry monster somewhere on the opposite side. The concept is quite simple, but the actual gameplay takes some getting used to.
When you’re hanging upside down and leaping sideways, your controls aren’t always “tap the left arrow to go left.” You have to do the opposite to go in the correct direction, and it’s really easy to become disoriented.
The game is set up in such a way, though, that the challenge is gradual, so you have lots of practice before things get too difficult. At the same time, though, the properties of individual platforms will change, and new obstacles will be introduced, just to keep you on your toes and interested in the game.
PewPew is fast-paced space shooter. With duel on-screen joysticks you control firing and moving of your ship. The game has five different modes: Pandemonium, Dodge This, Asteroids, Assault, and Chromatic Conflict, each has its own challenges. There are three different types of ships you can fly, but you need to unlock them by winning medals in the game. The game has local and global statistics. If you wish to participate in the global stats, you can upload them within the game.
Fans of bacon, Angry Birds and even Plants vs. Zombies will find something to love in Aporkalypse, an app that successfully combines elements of puzzlers, strategy games and arcade action in one pig-tastic package for Droid owners.
Unfortunately for our porcine protagonists, the gates of heaven and hell have opened prematurely, blowing a hole in an ancient prophecy that the Four Pigs of Doom were to foretell the end of existence. Now it’s up to Hunger Pig, War Pig, Pest Pig and Death Pig (yes, pigs, not horses!) to team up to stop the end of times from coming to pass.
Each pig brings his own set of unique skills to each puzzle level. Hunger can suck in objects like Kirby, and drop them in other locations or on switches to trigger things like bridges. Pest Pig can pass gas that stuns enemies, and turns them over to your control, while War Pig is all about firing ordnance at far-away targets so they go BOOM. Finally, Death Pig can transform into a ghost to get past crazy traps or even ride on clouds.
You’ll need to guide the pigs across the puzzlescapes, using their abilities to get past challenges, traps and other hazards, all the while picking up coins. With its razor-sharp graphics, silly soundtrack and sometimes tricky controls, most players will enjoy helping the pigs avoid the Aporkalypse. Still, after a few levels, you might find the overall experience becomes a little bland.
Being stuck on the road is a pain in the butt, which is a ridiculously large understatement. I love that I have an android because without it I wouldn’t be able to dip around block ups or accidents and ultimately end up getting where I need to be in far less time than if I just went on hunches alone. One great thing about Android phones is their ability to help you orient yourself, based on your exact location. With navigation tools, you can find your way to anywhere you’d like to go. The Android market has a number of navigation apps to choose from, helping you track down garage sales and avoiding speed traps along the way
At its onset, Android had an obvious advantage over other mobile operating systems as far as its navigation capabilities are concerned. It helps to be able to draw from the innovation and bundled features found in Google Maps. Today, Android’s navigation features, which include a wealth of independently developed applications, are making standalone GPS units relics of the past.
Time to put the TomTom to bed?
I have a standalone GPS unit which I still use in the car. It’s an old model. It’s big, cumbersome, the battery doesn’t last long, the maps are out of date and it doesn’t even speak the name of the streets like more modern ones do. It still cost me a few hundred bucks back then, and at the time was one of the best you could get. Sure, it still gets me from A to B reasonably well, but there are no MP3 capabilities, no Bluetooth, and the darn suction cup never sticks to the windshield properly.
But enough about my problems. When I got my first Android smartphone, I was impressed by Google’s navigation ability and the handy “car mode.” But it had a few issues like losing signal or battery drain with the GPS on. It’s notable however, that Verizon have continued to offer their own navigation app. Verizon’s VZ Navigator is free, but costs a whopping $4.99 per month. However, it is pretty feature-filled and gives you traffic alerts, roadside assistance and more. Or maybe I should use the TomTom app for Android. The app is free for limited miles then needs subscription. The integrated, reliable traffic information and the latest, accurate maps from more than 100 countries makes TomTom app one of the best on the market.
Local Search
Google Maps is one of the best free navigation tools for Android. The app gives turn-by-turn directions for walking, transit or driving, with an option for spoken navigation, as well. Search for nearby venues, track traffic, and access Google Maps Street View from this app. You can also view friends’ locations, and add custom layers.
Navigate your surroundings with the popular iPhone and Android app, AroundMe. Free, AroundMe will navigate you to businesses in your vicinity. Broken down by category, you can filter results based on distance to your current GPS location.
Custom tools
Waze is a free mobile app available for iPhone and Android users. With several layer options for your immediate location, you can find nearby venues, avoid police traps, keep track of friends, and receive traffic updates. The crowd-sourced contributions for Waze add context to your mobile navigation, orienting the tool for your purposes.
WisePilot‘s free Android app adds a custom touch by tracking your history and letting you add favorites to your navigation locations. Similar to Waze, WisePilot aggregates speed alerts, weather updates and venue details along with its navigation tool. Though based in the U.K., WisePilot works for U.S. users, even with local search.
Activity specific
BackCountry Navigator is an add-on for accessing the full version of the Android app. For $9.99, you get offline topography maps, aerial photography and road maps, which you can use to navigate unmarked terrain. Designed for the adventuresome, hikers and hunters will make the best use of this outdoor recreation tool.
Whichever app you choose, whether you stick with free offerings or pony-up for something a little more sophisticated, we’re sure the state of Android navigation is pretty good right now with plenty of choice and some great technology. It might not be time to chuck out the dedicated GPS unit just yet (unless it sucks like mine), but that day may well be approaching soon.
the medical industry is increasingly becoming more adoptive of nеw technologies as reliability and access continues to grow. Many establishments that practice medicine tend to rely on both traditional approaches as well as newer technologies for treatment and research purposes. As the accessibility of medical help increases, newer and more convenient ways of medical attention are being developed for the common person, namely that of mobile applications. In this article, we analyze the best medical apps available on the Google Play Store which are intended to
serve as on-demand assistance
CаrеZоnе
While still a relatively new mеdісаl арр, CareZone has already managed to gain immense popularity for those looking to handle medical responsibilities. The арр serves as an аll-іn-оnе tool which hеlрѕ users mаnаgе their family’s mеdісаtіоnѕ and dосtоr’ѕ instructions. Features includes the аbіlіtу tо list аll mеdісаtіоn, respective doses fоr the medication, and аnу аddіtіоnаl dосtоr’ѕ instructions that аrе required. For those who must handle multiple medications or medicine for several people, the app is highly applicable in ensuring correct doses are administered at appropriate times. CareZone also includes a calendar ѕо that users саn сrеаtе schedules, a jоurnаl to lоg any incidents that mау have risen, and a contact list for healthcare professionals.
Doctor оn Demand
Completely free, Doctor on Demand іѕ a service that connects users tо bоаrd certified dосtоrѕ іn their аrеа, comparable to Ubers’ sharing economy model. While it iѕ nоt meant fоr ѕеrіоuѕ diseases, users саn still quickly get help for symptoms such as the flu, dерrеѕѕіоn, anxiety, ѕkіn irritations, heartburn, and other mіnоr іѕѕuеѕ. Of course, visiting a doctors office is still recommended fоr anything mоrе ѕеrіоuѕ as these doctors are not able to perform extensive treatment оr testing. With 10,000 positive reviews, the service seems to work wеll оvеrаll and users have hаd only positive things tо ѕау about having access to a personal doctor in their росkеt. For those who needs quick advice frоm a dосtоr, Doctor on Demand provides the perfect tool
Doximity
Doximity іѕ a free ѕосіаl mеdіа service dedicated to doctors. The platform is designed in a way for doctors to communicate with one another about patient саrе and relevant medical news. The developers of Doximity suggest that approximately 60% оf clinics асtіvеlу uѕе the app which makes іt a resourceful place to find other healthcare professionals. Along with communication, the арр аlѕо аllоwѕ fоr faxing patient documents, sharing оf mеdісаl nеwѕ, career management, and even boasts HIPAA-secure communication. A powerful tool for all things related to the medical sphere, Doximity is a great app for medical professionals looking to be engaged in their community.
GoodRx Drug Prices and Coupons
One of the wоrѕt parts of having аnу illness іѕ paying fоr the mеdісіnе to help trеаt it. In ѕоmе cases, the costs саn bе аѕtrоnоmісаl. GoodRx seeks tо eliminate this bу allowing users tо соmраrе drug рrеѕсrірtіоn рrісеѕ, find dеаlѕ, and hеlр locate the best mеdісаtіоn for their budget. While the information should be informed to the doctor bеfоrе actually purchasing, it nonetheless provides a gооd wау tо be educated on the options that are available. GoodRx is also highly rated with nearly 30,000 positive reviews, making it one of the best apps for a legitimate source of information regarding different medication prices
mySugr Diabetes Logbook
mySugr Diabetes Logbook іѕ аn арр that is designed to hеlр diabetics kеер trасk оf their health conditions. Being орtіmіzеd fоr dіаbеtеѕ tуре оnе and tуре two, the app is able to accurately lоg information no matter which vеrѕіоn users are afflicted with. mySugr Diabetes Logbook іѕ аlѕо designed tо mаkе sure users can input their numbers quickly and accurately so as not to make it a hassle or chore. While the app is free, it also offers a paid version which has additional functions such as blood glucose reminders and unlimited blood glucose scanning. For diabetics or those related to a person with diabetes, the app is a great resource for keeping track of the disease directly on a phone.
we've compiled a list of the best Android games to help you navigate the Play Store's myriad titles. Join us as we explore various game genres and present all the best titles to install on your Android phone or tablet in 2016. Let's go!
Into the Dead
Into the Dead isn't new to the Play Store, but it's still one of the best Android action games. Combining an endless runner and first-person shooter, Into the Dead sees you darting headfirst through mobs of zombies, testing your reflexes as you try to dodge those in your way.
Along the way, you will find weapon creates to help eliminate those directly in your tracks, including that old zombie kryptonite – the chainsaw. It’s a simple romp, but an often thrilling one. It's free in the Google Play Store, with in-app purchases.
Square Enix’s Hitman series has been a big franchise on PC and consoles for some time, but it has recently been given the smartphone and tablet treatment. The turn-based Hitman GO title was released last year, and now 'Squenix' has followed up with a first-person shooter, Hitman: Sniper.
Hitman: Sniper takes place largely in a fixed position behind a sniper rifle scope. You operate as Agent 47, an assassin for hire tasked with picking off a number of high-profile targets. Though it's easy enough to identify and take out the main mark, killing the surrounding guards in the best order brings some tactical depth to Hitman: Sniper.
There are around 150 missions to keep you occupied for the US$2.99 asking price, and few Android FPSs can instill the kind of tension that Sniper does. Once the NPCs get wise to you, things can get hectic.
Best Android racing games
Reckless Racing 3
Reckless Racing 3 is Micro Machines-style racer with an isometric view, which allows you to look down from above, leading to some fantastically frenetic contests.
Reckless Racing 3 uses four on-screen controls for turning right and left, and driving forwards or in reverse. It might seem like a lot compared to other racers, in which you just tilt the screen, but it handles perfectly. That’s not to say that it’s easy to control – your car is perpetually sliding around the track and it’s a battle to keep it in place. It's the control setup that makes the experience, but thankfully the 3D graphics also look the part and the maps are highly realistic.
It’s a throwback to the arcade-style racing games from the 90s (anybody old enough to remember Super Skidmarks?) and it's one of the best racers on Android.
Angry Birds Go! is a free-to-play racing game from Rovio, the team that brought us the original Angry Birds.
It looks like a cartoon with neatly cel-shaded graphics and plays something like Mario Kart. It features a number of different modes, such as avoiding obstacles, racing others, crashing through a predetermined number of items, and boss chases.
It feels like a playable version of Wacky Races. Cars can be upgraded, and new characters are unlocked as you progress, each with their own unique characteristics.
It’s clear that the painterly visuals arrive from a highly talented team of artists; the animations and backgrounds are consistently strong. The shallow learning curve also makes it easy and fun to get to grips with, and once you get past the introductory levels you're in for an entertaining ride.
Reminiscent of Nintendo classic Wave Race, Riptide GP2 is a futuristic jet ski racer. The career mode is fairly typical; you earn money depending on your race position, which you can then use to buy simple vehicle upgrades.
What it lacks in originality, Riptide 2 makes up for with excellent 3D graphics and tight controls. Rotating your device, even slightly, translates accurately on-screen. It might be too sensitive for some, but the controls and sensitivity can both be customized to your liking.
To make races more interesting, there are ramps placed around the map – successfully completing a trick on them grants you a boost. It presents a nice risk/reward scenario into the courses, as failing to land the trick properly will actually slow you down.
It’s tough to get a three-star rating on every race, but the challenge is welcome in a game that handles as good as Riptide GP2 does. Check it out via the Play Store link below.
Marvel Contest of Champions
Featuring some of the greatest Marvel characters ever, Marvel Contest of Champions is the Android brawler you’ve been waiting for. Battle your way through a variety of stages as you level up and unlock new characters in this epic quest.
It’s Marvel Contest of Champions' control precision that makes this one of the best fighters out there. It feels incredibly fluid and responsive: simply swiping with your thumbs in different directions brings out a range of perfectly animated attacks, and there are no annoying on-screen controls to try to connect with.
You’ll have to be running a pretty modern device to play it smoothly, but if you’re itching to battle it out as some of your Marvel favorites, you need to check this out. It's free in the Play Store, with in-app purchases.
We've been playing WWE Immortals recently for
an epic mix of fantasy and, well, almost reality. The game fuses the cast of Injustice: Gods Among Us with pro-wrestlers for some awesome, silly fun. The graphics and animations are top-notch, and you can tag up to three characters for some thrilling three-on-three match-ups. Get ready to rumble.
SOULCALIBUR (yes, all caps) is an arcade classic: the fact that so little has changed between its release in 1998 and now speaks volumes about its mechanics.
It’s a somewhat predictable fighter by today's standards. There aren’t any surprises here in terms of gameplay, but its tried and tested formula provides some of the most enjoyable battles in the genre. You don’t need to memorize a whole bunch of complicated button presses to unleash a combo in this fighter; anyone could have a decent, ahem, stab at playing it. Yet it maintains the nuance to allow experienced players to gain an edge in combat.
SOULCALIBUR features a variety of fighters, each with unique weapons and moves, but it disappointingly lacks multi-player support. It's one of the more expensive games (currently US$13.99) in the Play Store, but as a pure fighting experience on Android, it’s one of the best.
XCOM: Enemy Within
XCOM: Enemy Within is one of the best Android strategy games because it wasn't founded on free-to-play principles like many other popular strategy games from the Play Store. It was built to be enjoyed without any additional purchases.
It was an award-winning strategy title for PC long before it ever made its way to Android, so expect top-end graphics, but also a top-end Play Store price. We can assure you it is well worth the initial investment, though.
DomiNations
DomiNations might be fairly new on the Android scene, but it has already amassed over a million downloads and a high level of critical acclaim. Running somewhere between Clash of Clans and Civilization, DomiNations is a base building game in which players take control of an entire nation "from the stone age to the space age" to explore, expand and conquer the world.
The level of strategy afforded by DomiNations is far beyond what is seen on most Android games. Should you spend money on building a stronger army, or plow it into researching a new technology at the library? DomiNations is filled with these minute-to-minute decisions that could swing the chances of victory in your favor, as well as some sweeping battles to take part in. It's free to play and you can check it out in the Play Store.
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