John Oliver now holds the American record for largest single giveaway in history, doubling Oprah's "you get a car!" record -- but Oliver did it by forming a debt-collection agency and buying up the debt of Americans who'd defaulted on the sky-high expenses from life-threatening illnesses, then forgiving the debts. (more…)
Since the earliest days of the Snowden revelations, apologists for the NSA's criminal spying program have said that Snowden should have gone "through channels" to report his concerns, rather than giving evidence to journalists and going public. (more…)
1980s singer Rick Astley has a new album. In this video, he talks a bit about rickrolling, saying that he thinks it's probably been a good thing for his career.
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Google to throw out a class action lawsuit from California advertisers. Those advertisers are alleging that by not informing them that ads purchased through the company’s AdWords program might appear on error pages and parked domains, Google misled them about where their ads would be placed, and they’re seeking a refund… Read More
Privacy International has released previously confidential government documents that shed light on how British spy agencies circumvented legal restraints on their surveillance powers, with little interference from the commissioner charged with overseeing them.
The documents detail correspondence carried out in 2004 between lawyers for two UK spy agencies — the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and MI5 — and Sir Swinton Thomas, the Interception of Communications Commissioner at the time. Thomas was responsible for overseeing the two agencies, but Privacy International, a London-based watchdog organization, says his correspondence with the GCHQ and MI5 "exposes the lack of meaningful restraint of the agencies' over-reaching...
Google has made some major changes in Android N that enhance security.
Updated August 13, 2016, with information about the final Android Nougat features and APIs.
There are a lot of code changes coming in Android N. Some of them we can see — like the new notifications — and others we can't (but are still a big deal). We see the same thing with every update. There are refinements and changes in the interface, but under the hood adjustments and changes are made to make Android run better, and safer.
Google has improved security in Android Nougat in a handful of different areas. Some are designed to harden Android itself, while others are tools for developers to use so it stays that way when we install apps. Let's take a look at the changes themselves.
Google already does "seamless updates" on Chrome OS, and it works really well. Things will be very similar in Android.
Seamless updates will use two separate system partitions. One of them is the system you're running as you use your phone every day. When it's time for an update, the other system partition gets altered and updated, and the next time you reboot you're automatically switched over. The next time there is an update, the other system partition gets changed and you switch back.
Read more: Android 7.0: What are seamless updates and how do they work?
That means things can be done while you're working or playing, and when it is finished all you need to do is reboot normally. You'd be surprised (I was when I heard it) but a pretty large chunk of people don't update their phone because it takes a while. They might have done it once, then sat there waiting, and decided to not do it again. It's easy to dismiss the notification. But by changing the procedure, making updates easier, and eliminating the horrible wait time while seeing the "updating apps" dialog, more people will do it.
Network Security Configuration lets app developers create and use a custom configuration file for network security settings instead of requesting system-level changes.The configuration file can be changed without modifying the app itself and can be set to use a custom Certification Authority instead of the device default, and can also be set to ignore any or all of the CAs trusted by the system. This is important for connecting to a host that has a self-signed CA (for things like enterprise apps) or for an app that should only trust a specific CA.
In addition, the configuration can be set to opt-out of any plain text network traffic and force encrypted communication using the HTTPS protocol. If you're a network admin or develop network apps, you know how important these changes are. The rest of us can be happy that we can have more secure network traffic in apps that are easier to develop.
Remember Stagefright? While it was blown out of proportion by much of the media, there was a real issue hidden behind the hyperbole. Playing a media file and it having the ability to force you to reboot or to lose all audio is a nasty issue, and the fact that (in theory) this could be used to secretly gain root permissions is even scarier. Google takes it very seriously and we see patches to the media server library every month to try and stay ahead of the bugs and security concerns that come with it.
In Android N, the media server gets a big overhaul. Google has broken up the media server into smaller components that can be updated outside of a full system update — just like they did with the WebView component. This means when they have a new patch you can grab the update from Google Play instead of waiting six months or more for the people who made your phone decide to send the patch out to you.
They have also changed the permission model for the media server, no longer giving it full system permissions. Running with low privileges makes it even harder for anyone to crack into the system if they do get into the media server. This is a major change, and will make hacking an Android phone (the bad kind of hacking) even harder than it used to be.
Key Attestation will allow developers to make sure the keys they may be using in their apps are valid and stored in the phone's hardware-backed keystore and not in software. When the attestation tool is given a generated alias for a key (the actual key should never be shared) it then generates a certificate chain that can be used to verify the key. Developers can verify both the key as well as the verified boot state to make sure everything is valid.
Phones that ship with Android N and use Google services will have a certificate that's issued by Google as the root (or primary) authority while other phones that have been upgraded will need a certificate issued by the company who made them.
Not all phones that can run Android N have a trusted hardware environment to store encryption keys, and in those cases, software-level key attestation is used instead. The verified boot state can still be checked to make sure the system software hasn't been tampered with. Yes, this means a developer can check for root. That's a good thing provided no undue penalty is applied to users who have rooted their phone.
Previously, Android used block-level encryption to make the whole partition or storage device encrypted all at once. This was a very secure encryption method, and keeping the actual tokens out of the storage and in hardware pretty much meant the only way in was with the right password or PIN. With Android N, things have been changed to file-level encryption.
Direct Boot is designed to work with file-level encryption in order to deliver both conveinence and security.
When your encrypted Android device boots up (or reboots in your pocket), the device is encrypted and locked down. Only certain applications can run, and this is called direct-boot mode. It means you can still get phone calls or have an alarm go off (or even see some message notifications), but to do anything more you'll need to unlock and decrypt the device. Once unlocked, N uses file-level encryption to allow us (the user) and applications to have a bit more control over how data is locked up.
There are two advantages at play here — FDE (block-layer full-disk encryption) makes low-end devices run pretty poorly. It took Google a few tries on the Nexus 6 to get it right, and any device with lower than 50 MB/s read and write flash storage hardware still struggles. The second (and more important) advantage is the use of file-level encryption for Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD). AEAD means that data is harder for an unauthorized user or application to access. For people interested in AEAD, here is a really good read from U.C. Davis professor Phillip Rogaway (.pdf file).
This multi-tiered approach to encryption will allow companies who make very budget-priced Androids to offer encryption without performance degradation.
File-level encryption will also work better with the Direct boot feature. Direct Boot brings a new mode that developers can leverage so that their app can run as soon as the system is powered instead of waiting for a user to unlock the phone or decrypt it.
This is done with in tandem with a new Device Storage area and the apps that use Direct Boot won't have any interaction with the normal credential-protected file system and any individually encrypted files or directories.
Read more: Android 7.0: What is Direct Boot, and how will it improve your experience?
Scoped Directory Access is a way for an app to get permission to access a specific directory on the external storage (external storage is a partition outside of the system and includes both your phone's storage and an SD card or other attached storage device) without asking for permission for the whole volume or using a pop-up window to ask for folder permissions.
Safely accessing stored data is important. An application that only needs access to the Music or Photos storage folder shouldn't be seeing anything else, and writing code to use the existing Storage Access Framework to narrow things down has proven to be something many developers refuse to do. the new Scoped Directory Access API will make things easier for developers to build apps that are safe and protect your data.
These crucial security features are a big part of Android N. While some phones (especially those that don't ship with Nougat) may not use them all, each one helps protect our data when used properly. Android has matured, and the attention to detail Google is showing with 7.0 may not be as flashy as new emojis or a new color scheme, but it is much more important.
Some front-loading washers have had issues with mold and mildew, and that means nasty smells that get into your clothes. Here are some easy ways to keep that from happening.
In this video from the Consumer Reports YouTube channel, Dan Diclerico demonstrates how to keep your front-loader from smelling funky:
If you follow these tips, you won’t ever have to worry about moldy smells, regardless of how old your front-loader is. If you’re in the market for a front-loading washer, Diclerico recommends a model with a tub cleaning cycle, which is designed to prevent mildew.
http://lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-to...
How to Get Rid of Odor in a Front-Loader | YouTube
What are the best Android games to play in 2017?
If you're looking for the best new games available in the Google Play Store, you've come to the right place. It's that time of the year when we look back at this past year and choose the very best games we discovered.
Whether you're new to Android and need some fresh, new games to start building out your Google Play library or simply looking for the latest trendy games that are worthy of your time and attention, these are the best Android games for 2017!
Stranger Things: The Game is the tie-in mobile game that other companies wish they could churn out. It's a full-fledged action adventure game with a full cast of playable characters, tons of collectibles, and a retro graphical style that fits into the show theme and setting.
The game presents the entire town of Hawkins, Indiana along with the adjacent Mirkwood Forest to be explored. It plays like a classic Zelda-style adventure game, with the ability to switch between characters lending itself to creating complex puzzles.
Credit Netflix's marketing team for spending the time to make sure the developers at BonusXP Inc. delivered something special for fans of the series. They've created a real winner here, and a true contender for game of the year — and I'm not even a huge fan of the source material.
The controls are optimized for mobile and there's great game design on display here. The overworld is vast and filled with secret areas to explore and familiar items from the show scattered throughout as collectibles.
There's just so much to appreciate here. Not only is it a faithful adaptation of the show, it's available for free with no in-app purchases or ads — although you can certainly count the game itself as being an ad for the second season of Stranger Things. Here's hoping it ushers in a new trend of substantial mobile games based on TV shows and movies.
Download: Stranger Things: The Game (Free)
Reigns was one of the best games of 2016 and actually won the first ever Google Play Indie Games contest. So needless to say we were pumped to check out the sequel.
In Reigns, you play as the monarch of the land and make decisions that affect four aspects of the kingdom: the church, the people, the army, and the royal wealth. Your goal is to keep all four in balance — if any meter fills to the max or is entirely depleted your reign is over… and a new reign begins!
The sequel plays nearly identically to the first game, except this time you play as the Queen instead of the King, complete with new characters to interact with and multiple branching storylines to discover. The gameplay is as easy as swiping left or right on cards and if it's anything like the first game there's a ton of great easter eggs to find along the way!
I would hate to spoil anything for this new game, but if you played the first one and are afraid that it's going to be too similar, I can assure you there are plenty of new mechanics to make this one of the best titles of 2017.
Download: Reigns: Her Majesty ($2.99)
Highlighted as a finalist for the 2017 Google Play Indie Games contest back in February, The Battle of Polytopia is a great game for anyone who's a fan of turn-based strategy games, like the Civilization franchise. The game features multiple game modes, including the rarely seen pass-and-play option for playing against friends. With multiple tribes to choose from, this plays like a full-fledged strategy game packaged with cartoony graphics and scaled down perfectly for playing on a mobile device.
The turn-based gameplay against the AI is brisk and you can add more opponents or up the difficulty level if you're in need of a bigger challenge. Best of all, it's a free download from the Google Play Store!
This games feels perfect for your daily commute on public transit or really any time you got time to kill — if you start a Domination game (last tribe standing wins), you can save and resume your game at a later time as needed.
Download: The Battle of Polytopia (Free w/IAPs)
Death Road to Canada is a $10 game — I want to open with that just to get the sticker shock out of the way before I talk about how awesome this freaking game is. (It's currently on sale for a dollar, though, which makes it an even better purchase.)
Facing a zombie apocalypse, you must lead a scrappy squad of somewhat interesting characters on a deadly mission to the relative safety of Canada. Along the way, you'll need to explore and loot places for supplies, while also managing your team's health and morale.
Everything in Death Road to Canada is randomly generated, making every play-through a unique experience in this dynamic road trip action-RPG. You can randomly generate your character and buddy or custom design your starting characters with different attributes to help them stay alive, but you probably don't want to get too attached unless you're a really good shot.
The controls admittedly take some getting used to, and there's a pretty steep learning curve as you learn which weapons are most effective and which times it's better to fight or run. And you will die, early and often, although that's part of the fun of a zombie apocalypse, right?
There's a ridiculous amount of depth in this game, including 10 different game modes to unlock. The price might seem a little steep, but if you're a fan of rogue-like zombie games, it's well worth the investment!
Download: Death Road to Canada ($9.99)
Causality is a mind-blowing puzzle game that's all about manipulating time. This is just a brilliant game where you control time and make adjustments to the level and alter the sequence in such a way that you help your stranded astronauts reach their goals.
Set in simplistic-yet-beautiful alien landscapes, this stylish game will have you wracking your brain as you try to figure out how to guide each astronaut to their color-coded exit within the allotted time. Of course, you have full control over the timeline and can jump to any point in time and change an aspect of the level. There are 60 mind-bending puzzles to unlock and complete in this outstandingly polished and challenging game.
Get ready for more comic book stylized fun in Framed 2! This is a standalone prequel to groundbreaking mobile game Framed developed by Hideo Kojima back in 2014.
As the story unfolds, you control the action by rearranging the comic book panels to help your character make his way through each section. It's a totally unique way to play a game and is unlike anything else you've likely played on Android. It's got a cool noir look and feel to it, with an engaging story to keep you hooked.
If you love the format, you can pick up the first Framed game for just $3. Really worth your time if you're into unique puzzle games.
Download: Framed 2 ($0.99 on sale))
Nintendo has done it again.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is the latest Nintendo franchise to make the leap to mobile, and it's arguably the best transition we've seen yet.
If you've never played an Animal Crossing game on GameCube, Wii, or Nintendo DS, here it is in a nutshell: a relaxing casual game about collecting items, making friends, and building a little virtual life for yourself in a beautifully animated world. It's a super cute and fun concept that's been lovingly ported over to mobile.
In Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp you get to build out your very own campsite, which you can customize with furniture and decorations to entice other nearby campers to come and hang out. Your goal is to level up your friendships by fulfilling requests, which in turn help you to level up your character and unlocks new items to craft for your campsite. There's so much to explore and collect and while there are in-app purchases for buying in-game currency they can be disabled in settings and aren't required to enjoy the game.
Animal Crossing is a natural fit on mobile, as it's the type of game that's best played in casual bursts. Definitely worth checking out and a great pick for younger kids. Hop in your camper and get exploring!
Download: Animal Crossing Pocket Camp (Free w/IAPs)
Island Delta is a very stylish top-down action-adventure-puzzler developed by Mantisbite out of Finland. Explore the mysterious retro-futuristic island lair of Doctor Gunderson as our heroes, Zoe and Baxter.
Using your anti-gravity gun, you must work your way past mechanical minions, traps, and guards as you solve puzzles to make it through to the end of each level. At its best moments, Island Delta feels like a stripped down, third-person version Portal, which is something I wasn't aware I needed in my life. The cartoony graphics and outstanding level design will immediately draw you in.
You can read our full review here before deciding to buy it. It's available for $2.99 from the Google Play Store.
Download: Island Delta ($2.99)
After the End: Forsaken Destiny is a really beautiful puzzle game set in a mysterious desert world. The story follows a father-son duo who are on parallel paths at different times and must work together across time to help each other progress past obstacles and puzzles.
The wonderful art style will draw you in. The controls are fairly simple to pick up: you use the left half of the screen to control your character, tap the button that appears on the right side of the screen to interact with switches and objects, and you will also need to frequently rotate the camera by swiping across the screen.
The puzzles here are varied and increase in difficulty as you progress further through the game. There are so many secret areas to explore and relics to collect throughout the game. It's a paid game, so there are no ads or in-app purchases to distract you from the beautiful graphics and challenging puzzles.
Will the father and son ever be reunited? There's only one way to find out.
Download: After the End: Forsaken Destiny ($0.99 (on sale))
Escape rooms are great fun for a group of friends, but getting a group together can be tricky and booking a room can get expensive.
Escape Team lets you enjoy the fun of solving escape room-style puzzles in the comfort of your own home using pen and paper. You download and print off missions from the Escape Team website and then load up the matching mission in the Android app. The app gives you your countdown clock and delivers a fictional backstory for the missions via audio clips. You can also use the app to request hints if your group gets stuck on a puzzle.
The game is recommended for groups of two to four people, and requires some outside-the-box thinking and teamwork if you're to be successful. You get the introduction and first mission for free then you can get the remaining four missions for just $1 — and that's the only in-app purchase or ad you'll see. The paid missions are each around a half hour to complete, so for $4 you can get a full afternoon's worth of good clean fun saving the world.
If you've ever tried an escape room or just love solving puzzles, you're going to fall in love with this game.
Download: Escape Team (Free w/IAPs)
Fire Emblem: Heroes represents Nintendo's first foray into developing games for Android (ignoring last year's Miimoto app) and is the eighth title in the popular strategy-RPG franchise to be released on North American shores.
Heroes brings all of your favorite Fire Emblem characters together for a brand new story that pits the noble Askran Kingdom against the power-hungry Emblian Empire, which wishes to rule all worlds. You play the role of a mighty summoner who has the power to bring Fire Emblem's best heroes together to help defend the kingdom. Battle takes place in arenas where you must strategically move your Heroes around to attack and defend against your opponents.
Play through the Story Mode to unlock new game modes, including Special Maps, Arena Duels, and the Training Tower. Arena Duel is the multiplayer aspect of the game that will keep you busy beyond the single player campaign.
You can read our full review to learn more.
Download: Fire Emblem: Heroes (Free w/IAPs)
Heart Star is a cute puzzle platformer with a simple concept: you swap controls between two characters who can only walk on certain surfaces. You must use teamwork to make it through the 50 mind-bending levels.
Featuring wonderful retro graphics and an 8-bit soundtrack, this is just a really complete game that offers a decent challenge as you progress through the later levels. You will have to contend with the occasional ad that pops up when you fail or complete a level, but it's worth the minor distraction to play this fun little game for free.
Star Wars: Force Arena is arguably the best Star Wars game you can play on Android. Combining the card-casting mechanic from Clash Royale with MOBA-style gameplay, it's an extremely exciting game that couples fast-paced action with deep strategic elements as you step in as general for the Empire or the Rebellion.
Choose from your favorite Star Wars heroes and villains from the original trilogy and Rogue One and lead your army into battle against online opponents. There's a freemium model in play here, meaning you'll be tempted to spend real money to help unlock and upgrade new characters and troops more quickly — but you can move up the rankings just fine by being strategic in battle and patient opening card packs. You can battle one-on-one or team up with another hero for epic 2 vs. 2 skirmishes.
At its best, Star Wars: Force Arena lets you recreate your own epic battle scenes on your phone. Rally your troops and take down the enemy turrets on your way to victory!
Read our full review to learn more.
Download: Star Wars: Force Arena (Free w/IAPs)
Neon Chrome is a must-own game in 2017. It's a top-down twin-stick shooter with super-stylized visuals and procedurally generated levels. Initially released in 2016 on Steam and then later for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, it arrived on Android earlier this year and is available for $6.99 from the Google Play Store.
This is a really polished game that's designed with replayability in mind. Each playthrough is going to present unique challenges and weapons, as you work your way through the compound on your quest to bring down the Overseer. Nearly everything you see is destroyable and there's a ton of loot to collect, which you can use to upgrade your character
If you're a fan of games with neon-futuristic cyberpunk aesthetics, like Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, you are in for a treat with Neon Chrome. The game is super deep with upgrades and is just a blast to play, though be prepared for a real challenge here. If you need more convincing, check out Windows Central's review of the game for the Xbox One.
For those who love a great platforming challenge, you need to check out Penarium. Developed by Self Made Miracle and Team17 — the folks behind the celebrated Worms franchise — Penarium tells the tale of a simple farm boy, Willy, who is trapped in an evil circus forever.
This game looks and plays beautifully, with all the action contained within a single screen — all you have to do is follow the circus master's instruction and survive for as long as you can. Penarium features a story mode with 30 increasingly difficult levels to play through, along with an "endless mode", which tests your skills as you challenge yourself to see how long you can last while collecting coins, which can be spent on character upgrades to help you collect more coins in future playthroughs.
The touch controls are very simple and kept near the bottom of the screen so as to not distract from the action on screen. You'll need to develop lightning-fast reflexes to dodge everything this game throws at you. It's a paid app, so you never have to deal with ads or in-app purchases. It's a really polished game that's perfect for those who are gluttons for punishing platformers.
Update December 2017: Finalized our list of the best 15 games released for Android in 2017!
Spill some blood with the best Android shooters currently on the market.
We've rounded up some of the best shooting games across Android for those who always need a target. We have the full gamut here, ranging from simple, single-tap games to full-blown first-person shooters that nearly bring the console experience to your phone and tablet.
Not interested in anything other than the thrill of online multiplayer? Modern Strike Online offers just that: a pure online FPS experience packed with features and game modes we've come to expect from the genre. Once you've leveled up some you unlock all six game modes, which include the standard fare you'd expect — free-for-all, team deathmatch, seek and destroy, and a hardcore mode. In-game currency can be bought via in-app purchases or earned via daily rewards, crates and generally kicking ass. Spend your gold and credits on new weapons, armor, and accessories for your character. There's a decent amount of customization available for kitting, with over 30 types of weapons available to rent or buy.
It's as complete an FPS as you'll find on Android. You'll want to head into the settings first to customize your controls and screen layout and tweak the graphics quality to optimize gameplay on your device. By default, your gun will auto-fire as soon as an enemy enters your crosshairs — you can switch this off in the settings, but it's actually a pretty handy feature to have when you're already using your thumbs to move and look around. Yes, there's the occasional in-game ad and constant pressure to invest real cash, as is the case with most mobile games these days, but it's not terribly invasive and there's plenty of fun and loot to be had relying on the free crates and daily rewards.
Download: Modern Strike Online (Free)
N.O.V.A. 3 picks up the story of former N.O.V.A. commander Kal Wardin as he crashlands in San Francisco amid an ongoing battle. Gameplay is mixed with cutscenes that tell the fairly in-depth story — it might, in fact, be the reason you keep coming back to N.O.V.A. 3.
Play against enemy A.I. units or play multiplayer over local Wi-Fi or the internet. Gameloft implements some measures against cheaters and boosters, namely encouraging players to record or document the actions of said cheaters.
Controls are responsive and targeting is aided by tapping a button to aim down sights, a nice feature for those with big fingers. There are some ads displayed on the menu screens and a popup once in awhile when you die, but nothing the experienced mobile gamer can't handle.
Looking for nothing more than solid online FPS action? Look no further than Bullet Force!
This game supports 20-player battles and includes popular game modes including Team Deathmatch, Conquest, Free-For-All, and Gun Game. The graphics are pretty great for mobile and the on-screen controls can be tweaked as needed. There are over 20 weapons to unlock and customize and if you're out of service range, don't fret! You can play offline matches against bots and keep your skills sharp.
Download: Bullet Force (Free w/IAPs)
Hitman: Sniper finds you, Agent 47, stationed with a sniper rifle outside an estate filled with rich people, bodyguards, and a certain high-priority target. Your job is to take your time, plan a course of action, and begin removing enemies any way you see fit (as long as it's through a scope). Each mission has different objectives you can complete for extra money, which you can then spend on weapon upgrades and new sniper rifles. If you're especially proud of a mission, use the Share Replay function to share gameplay footage with your friends.
This game has nice graphics and great mechanics: you must lead enemies who are on the move and must account for their sometimes unforeseen actions. They will not shoot back but will take cover and move around the map attempting to help your prime target escape. Controls are easy and responsive, meaning you won't have too much trouble lining up the shot. The music is great, especially when you miss a couple of shots and set off some alarms, and the voice acting is also above par for mobile games. Get your heart beating with this great shooter, and enjoy no ads or in-app purchases.
Download: Hitman: Sniper ($0.99)
Tired of mobile first-person shooters that feel too familiar — almost cookie-cutter? Combat Squad brings an extra layer of tactical strategy to the table by having you control your own squad in one-on-one battles against online opponents. It works by letting you "dive" in and out of controlling your squad members, while the remaining teammates follow your lead via A.I. control.
You'll need to build up a diverse squad and strategically control each member of your team to achieve victory. The gameplay and controls here are great, so if you're looking for a fresh take on the genre for mobile, give Combat Squad a try!
Download: Combat Squad (Free w/IAPs)
Did someone replace my phone with a console? Modern Combat 5: Blackout is a first-person military shooter that gives you a real video game experience from the palm of your hand. Beginning with an escape mission in Venice, the campaign follows Caydan Phoenix as he travels the world battling Raiders and the World Liberation Army. Customize your soldier's loadout and special abilities to best suit your playstyle — more options are unlocked as you rank up.
Gameplay is smooth and the controls are easier to manage than most shooters, likely due to the fact you can modify all settings, including audio, control, and HUD. Modern Combat 5 has beautiful graphics for a mobile game and runs without hiccups on an LG G4.
New to Modern Combat 5 is a PvP multiplayer mode that has five game modes: Free for all, VIP, Squad battle, Capture the flag, Zone control, and Team battle. Test your skills against players around the world and work your way up the global leaderboard. This game has minimal ads, though it does have some micro-transactions.
Download: Modern Combat 5: Blackout (Free)
Overkill 3 is a third-person shooter that guides you through the level, also known as being on rails. Your job is to aim and shoot bad guys. Sounds easy? Overkill lets you choose a difficulty before each boss fight, meaning your recent disposal of entry-position bad guys has no bearing on what is to come.
Choose a loadout from the armory before each mission and unlock new weapons and gear as you progress through the game. You must collect stars by completing specific objectives during each mission — the stars are used to unlock more missions. A tally at the end of each level keeps track of your progress, so you'll never be unsure of where you stand.
Graphics are not as great as other shooters, but Overkill 3 features a co-op mode that lets you team up with a friend or random player to crush the enemy. Ads are few and far between, but there are many in-app purchases.
Unkilled takes you on a wild, zombie-killing ride with a variety of enemies for you to slay using a variety of weapons. Some missions require different weapons and gadgets, meaning you must enter your armory to upgrade current weapons and purchase new ones. There are plenty of upgrades and weapons rewarded to you for free as you move through the ranks, and you will feel like you're achieving something each step of the way.
The controls are easy to use and sensitivities are adjustable. Your weapons will shoot automatically when you are aiming at a zombie except when you're in a static mission; here you will aim and shoot using both thumbs.
There are two play modes available now — campaign and skirmish ops — with multiplayer apparently coming soon. Skirmish ops pits you and your base against other players and zombies. Defend yourself or go on the offensive; either way, you will find yourself moving up the leaderboard as you expend bullets and bash brains.
Ads are infrequent but in-app purchases are everywhere.
Dead Trigger 2 continues to be the quintessential zombie-shooting experience on mobile. The graphics are amazing, though the game hardly takes itself seriously — there are lots of tongue-in-cheek references and over-the-top baddies to mow down. This version is a little different in that players now have their own hideout and a crew that can build stuff for them. The controls have also been streamlined for touch; all you have to do is move the crosshairs over a zombie, and if you're in range, you'll automatically start shooting.
There are tons of missions to enjoy, and the in-app purchases have been scaled back with the removal of the premium currency — now you can buy and build everything yourself without spending a cent.
Download: Dead Trigger 2 (Free)
Dead Plague is an outstanding top down shooter that absolutely deserves a place on this list for its brilliant graphics, frantic gameplay, and support for online co-op play. You play as a member of a strike team that's been dropped on an island where a zombie plague has broken out. You must fight your way through the swarms of zombies to find the DNA samples that are humanity's only hope to finding a cure.
There's a nice variety of enemies to battle, including some epic boss battles, along with a full arsenal of weapons to choose from. With tight dual-stick digital controls and an engaging campaign that you can play alone or online with friends, Dead Plague stands out as one of the best shooters for Android.
Download: Dead Plague (Free w/IAPs)
Major Mayhem is a fast, simple run-and-gun side-scroller. Players simply tap on ninjas, secret agents, or whoever else the president has commanded you to wipe out. There's some kind of storyline in there about a girlfriend or something, but really, you just tap your targets as the pop out from behind cover.
It sounds simplistic, but the great cartoon feel, over-the-top storyline, and wide range of unlockables provide excellent bite-sized gameplay.
Pew Pew 2 is a classic top-down shooter game with a funky, retro art style. Don't let the wireframe graphics fool you, though — there are some great visual effects thrown in here to make this game as gorgeous as it is frantic. New in Pew Pew 2 is a single player campaign where players dig through labyrinthine stages, but the real fun is found in the various infinite play modes. You can unlock new ships and game modes as you progress, too.
There aren't any in-app purchases or ads to be seen here, which will be refreshing for many gamers.
Gunman Clive is a throwback to early 2D platformers — we're talking NES difficulty and mechanics. Run, jump, and shoot as Clive makes his way through traps, puzzles, and enemy gunmen. The control design reminded me a lot of NES with its directional pad and two button interface — responsive and easy to control.
In an arena of mostly flashy, cutting edge graphics, the monochromatic visual art design might be enough to cause you to overlook this dusty gem. This game isn't about great graphics — it's about challenging gameplay and a soothing soundtrack. Be prepared to lose track of time as you try just one more time to reach the end of the stage.
Adding to the retro feel and offering a nice change to the norm, Gunman Clive does not require any device permissions, does not have any in-app purchases, and does not display any ads.
Download: Gunman Clive ($1.99)
Let us know in the comments below your favorite shooter available for Android. If none of these games put the ammo in your clip, check out our roundup of the best Android games.
Updated August 2017: Revamped our list with the inclusion of Bullet Force, Combat Squad, and Dead Plague!
Muhammad Ali, three-time world heavyweight boxing champion and cultural icon, died today at 74. He was the greatest. From the New York Times:
Ali was the most thrilling if not the best heavyweight ever, carrying into the ring a physically lyrical, unorthodox boxing style that fused speed, agility and power more seamlessly than that of any fighter before him.
But he was more than the sum of his athletic gifts. An agile mind, a buoyant personality, a brash self-confidence and an evolving set of personal convictions fostered a magnetism that the ring alone could not contain. He entertained as much with his mouth as with his fists, narrating his life with a patter of inventive doggerel. (“Me! Wheeeeee!”)
Ali was as polarizing a superstar as the sports world has ever produced — both admired and vilified in the 1960s and ’70s for his religious, political and social stances. His refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War, his rejection of racial integration at the height of the civil rights movement, his conversion from Christianity to Islam and the changing of his “slave” name, Cassius Clay, to one bestowed by the separatist black sect he joined, the Lost-Found Nation of Islam, were perceived as serious threats by the conservative establishment and noble acts of defiance by the liberal opposition...
If there was a supertitle to Ali’s operatic life, it was this: “I don’t have to be who you want me to be; I’m free to be who I want.” He made that statement the morning after he won his first heavyweight title. It informed every aspect of his life, including the way he boxed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6igy7hmildM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_fEIVwjrew
"Muhammad Ali knocks out Cleveland Williams, 1966" by Neil Leifer
One of the most popular sessions from Google I/O 2016 was also one of the most limited when it came to seats. We're talking about the announcement of Android apps on Chrome OS. It also wasn't available online — until today.
The video does a great job at describing how Android apps will run on your Chromebook, and most everything the layman would want to know about compatibility, security and how the two systems will work together is covered. The presentation was more of a press event than a developer session, which means even we could understand most of it. We're pretty sure Google has more for developers interested in targeting Chromebooks with their Android apps, but this is a good introduction to the idea.
It's one you'll want to see, so give it a look.
More: These are the Chromebooks that can run Android apps from Google Play
Smart mirrors have been all the rage this year, and it looks like Microsoft’s getting into the game too. While Microsoft’s mirror is teased as a commercial product, they’ve released the source code if you’re interested in making one for yourself.
As you’d expect, the mirror uses Windows 10 running on a Raspberry 2 or 3. Like the various other DIY options out there, it simply includes a two-way mirror with a monitor strapped to the back. The real kicker that separates this one comes from the facial recognition software. Once you get things up and running, the mirror can display different information depending on who’s standing in front of it. It’s a complex project that’s not terribly well documented on Microsoft’s part, but if you know your way around Visual Studio, you’ll find everything you need to make it for yourself over on GitHub.
A Magic Mirror Power by UWP Hosted Web App | GitHub
Building an IoT Magic Mirror with Hosted Web App and Windows 10 | Microsoft Edge Dev Blog
I'm not much of a live wallpaper guy these days, but Maxelus is one of the more popular LWP developers out there, and their newest creation Flatland really does it for me. Flatland has three nature themes: savannah, forest, and flamingos, with 15 preset color palettes that can be applied to each theme. You can also completely customize the colors to match things like your icon set, which is nice.
The animations are simple enough not to be distracting, and as the name implies, the "flatness" of the worlds blends in quite well with Google's current material design language in Android.
Read MoreFlatland Is A New Nature Live Wallpaper That Goes Oddly Well With Material Design was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
If your glasses need serious adjustment, take them to a professional, but there’s a lot you can do to make yours more comfortable at home. Maybe they rest a little too low on your nose, or they pinch a little bit, or they’re a little crooked. This graphic shows you how to handle all of those issues.
http://lifehacker.com/five-best-onli...
The graphic, from the folks at Zenni Optical (who are one of your favorite online glasses stores, and, of course, have a vested interest in you buying their glasses,) actually shows you how to make sure the ones you have are as comfortable as possible. They break their advice down into tips for wireframe glasses and for plastic or acetate frames separately, so you can choose which works best for your frames. If you have the latter, you may need the help of a little warm running water to make your frames a little more pliable without the risk of breaking them. Check the whole graphic out below.
How to Adjust Your Eyeglasses Infographic | Zenni Optical
The app for that other search engine from a certain software company has been updated with some legitimately cool features. One is image search, which Google still doesn't have on mobile despite it being a desktop feature, while the other is QR code scanning, which Google Search on Android can't do, either (this despite the fact that Now On Tap can now scan images for text using the camera).
Left: image search, right: barcode scanner.
Read MoreBing Updated With Image Search And Barcode Scanner was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
SCOOP: THESE ARE VERY GOOD KITTENS AND THEY ARE ON THE INTERNET — Grizebella (named for the "Glamor Cat" in the worst Broadway musical that your family inexplicably loves) and her three kittens are live on the internet and they are playing with toys. The kittens haven't been vaccinated yet, so people can't rub their faces in their furry little tummies oh my God. They're instead posted up in the cat terrarium at Brooklyn's Cat Cafe.
KITTEN AMBITION PROMPTS SLICK MOVES — The kittens, though young, have already shown the killer instincts we expect, and have gone on occasional rampages around their pen, including near the kitten cam. This is what separates the pros from the Instagram kiddies, as celebrity expert...
Attorneys for Dr Salo Schapiro, on trial in Miami for Medicare fraud, says that the FBI and the US Attorney have engaged in a decade-long conspiracy to improperly gain access to confidential defense documents, in a scheme that used a crooked Ft Lauderdale copy shop that slipped CDs containing scanned confidential defense documents that had been entrusted to it to the FBI and the DA. (more…)
Google might be eavesdropping more than you had originally imagined, though not on purpose. Since June 2015, Google has been storing personal data on its users on a website, where users only have access to their own information. The feature works a bit like a digital diary, storing web searches, YouTube history, and (you guessed it!) Google Voice Search history. The issue with Voice Search is… Read More
The Music Industry is at war with YouTube. If this sounds familiar, it should. The two entities have been warring for a decade over how much YouTube should be paying the music labels for hosting the music videos and songs that helped turn the video site into a monolith. YouTube says it’s paid out $3 billion to the music industry and that’s plenty: the music industry says it's been paid the same amount by Spotify and it doesn’t even offer music videos and has accounted for far fewer streams. The fight isn’t new, but recently the stakes have been raised.
Musicians and their managers were imbued with a renewed vigor for the battle after the RIAA released a report in March stating Vinyl record sales in 2015 brought in more revenue than...
Amazon’s Echo speaker, and its descendents, Dot and Tap, are growing in popularity as consumers’ preferred “smart” speakers and the voice computing platform for the home. But they’re also encouraging a wave of developer interest, in the form of add-ons dubbed “skills” which allow you to teach Amazon’s personal assistant Alexa new tricks, like… Read More
TTIP is the farcically secretive, insanely corrupt trade agreement that the US and EU negotiated behind closed doors in parallel with the faltering Trans-Pacific Partnership. (more…)
Just like the TV show Seinfeld that was a show about nothing, putting next to nothing in your images can produce some good results.
min·i·mal·ism – a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity
Sometimes in an image less is more, and many beginners try to put too much into their images which makes them busy and unfocused. Look at these images that use minimalism well:
By Patrick Marioné – thanks for > 2M
By darwin Bell
By Iñaki Bolumburu
By Kai C. Schwarzer
By Susanne Nilsson
By maf04
By Craig Sunter
By LadyDragonflyCC – >;<
By Kai C. Schwarzer
By Daniel Sjöström
By Jeff Wallace
By Takashi .M
By Kai C. Schwarzer
By Stewart Ayrey
By Daniel Sallai
By Michael Taggart Photography
By Jonathan Kos-Read
By Marilylle Soveran
By Soumyadeep Paul
By Danipuntocom
By Georgie Pauwels
By Howard Ignatius
By Md. Al Amin
By Steve Corey
By Kristina Alexanderson
The post 25 Stunning Images that Show Next to Nothing – Minimalism by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.
VLC is one of those apps that takes beta testing seriously. The developers have been testing a big revision (1.9.x) for ages, and now it's finally rolling out on Android as v2.0. This update finally embraces the LAN part of VideoLAN Client with proper network browsing, and that's only the start.
Here's the full changelog posted by VideoLAN, which eschews the usual bullet list format.
2.0 introduces a large number of features, notably network disk browsing (Windows shares, UPnP, NFS, FTP, SFTP...), favorite folders and URLs, video playlists, rewritten notifications and control, popup video and a rewritten history.
VLC v2.0 Is Rolling Out With Network Browsing, Merged Android TV Version, And More was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Around two years ago, we published an article saying that despite the claimed existence of a single, 15-minute app refund windows (now 2 hours), Google Play actually had multiple refund windows available to customers that were automated up to around 48 hours after the purchase of an app. Specifically, from a period of 15 minutes (again, now 2 hours) to up to 48 hours after an app or game was purchased, simply submitting a refund request would generally result in a refund being issued automatically, without regard to reason.
Read MoreTwo Years Later, Google Play Support Docs Acknowledge 48-Hour Refund Window was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
Facebook’s attempt at a real-time, notification-based news app is shutting down. Today Facebook sent an alert to users telling them “Thanks for using Notify. We’re transitioning parts of Notify into other Facebook products, and the app will no longer be supported.” Facebook launched Notify in November, allowing users to select from over 70 publishers that they wanted… Read More
Walmart and Sam’s Club will begin testing last-mile grocery delivery that uses services including Uber, Lyft and Deliv, to bring customers’ orders to their homes. The announcement is being made at Walmart’s annual shareholders week in Arkansas, and comes following the launch of a similar pilot program in Miami in March. There, Walmart-owned Sam’s Club is using the… Read More
Microsoft isn't interested in building its own self-driving car. Speaking at the Converge conference in Hong Kong this week, Microsoft's Peggy Johnson revealed that the company will continue to build software for cars rather than create vehicles. "We won't be building our own autonomous vehicle but we would like to enable autonomous vehicles and assisted driving as well," said Johnson, who is the head of business development at Microsoft.
Google and Fiat Chrysler agreed last month to work together to build self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivans with Google's autonomous technology. It appears that Microsoft is keen to follow a similar path, but just on the software side. "We in different ways enabled a variety of different partners and...
