Apps Archive

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Google’s Bouncer Scans Apps for Malware

By
khoward
– February 2, 2012Posted in: Apps, Google, News, Tech

Famous (or infamous) for its lack of a pre-approval process, the Android Market now features a little more protection for customers.  ‘Bouncer’ is a new Google service that scans apps for suspicious behaviors and known malware.  Existing apps as well as new apps will be analyzed by the scanner through this behind-the-scenes screening without affecting Android users.

In the months that Google has been testing Bouncer, the company has seen a “40 percent decline in the number of downloads of potentially malicious apps.”  It could also be used to help Google flag fraud-related apps.  As positive as a completely open app store approach sounds, it’s hard to argue that protecting customers from these kinds of malicious apps isn’t a good thing.  You can read Google’s full Bouncer announcement in the Google Mobile Blog.

(Via CNET, Image via Engadget)

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February 14 is…Angry Birds on Facebook Day

By
khoward
– January 27, 2012Posted in: Apps, Facebook, Internet Trends, Tech

For those to whom Valentine’s Day is just another day – and Rovio enthusiasts, there’s a new reason to look forward to February 14th: that is the day that the popular and addicting Angry Birds makes its Facebook debut.

The Facebook version looks to contain the same bird-flinging actions so many have come to love, at least based on this trailer.  But according to Rovio CEO Mikael Hed, Angry Birds Facebook will be more collaborative – and give more attention to the game’s other creatures, the pigs.

If you have plans for Valentine’s Day and can’t seem to quit Angry Birds on your smartphone, you may want to hold off downloading Angry Birds Facebook until the 15th.  A high-scoring game isn’t likely to be an acceptable excuse for being late – unless your Valentine’s date is also playing Angry Birds.

(Via Mashable, Image via The Next Web)

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Open Source webOS 1.0 is to come in September

By
kduffy
– January 25, 2012Posted in: Apps, News, Software, Tech

Back in December Hewlett Packard announced they would be open-sourcing their mobile internet software platform, and now it has been officially announced that the refurbished webOS will be ready come September.

After acquiring Palm for nearly $1.2 billion, HP also got webOS. Initially the software was installed on the TouchPad and other mobile devices, but did not sell very well due to its lack of an app market and sluggish performance—eventually resulting in the abandonment of webOS software in mobile devices back in August. But after many ups and downs with the software, leaving the rest of us somewhat confused as to what exactly they were going to do with webOS.

Open-sourcing webOS will make the platform more practical. Developers will be given access to the code so they can easily make applications for the software, and there will even be an HP webOS Developer Program so app creators can qualify for benefits designed to develop and market apps for webOS devices. Some of these benefits include developer marketing asset kits, HP co-marketing opportunities, loaner devices, enhanced support, and access to market development funds.

And with their coming brand overhaul and other exciting partnerships, things are looking good for the longstanding IT corporation.

(via Market Watch & Engadget; photo via ZDNet)

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Highlight puts Social Connections on Your Radar

By
khoward
– January 24, 2012Posted in: Apps, Facebook, Tech

If you want a little more from your social network connections (like actual interaction), Highlight, an iOS app released today, will help facilitate real-world meetings with current and potential friends.  Using GPS and a connection to your Facebook account, it lets you know when you come within a block and half of other Highlight users.

While random meetings with strangers may seem a little disturbing, the app alerts you to nearby Highlight users with which you have friends or interests in common with the hope of inspiring new real-world connections.  According to its founder Paul Davison, Highlight was created to “help you meet new people, refresh your memory about people you’ve met before, and alert you to friends who could be lurking right around the corner.”

For making the outside as connected and friendly as social networks can be, Highlight could be a move in the right direction.

(Story and Image via Technologizer)

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The Other Social Sites Respond to Google’s “Search Plus Your World”

By
khoward
– January 23, 2012Posted in: Apps, Facebook, Google, Internet Trends, Twitter

When Google released its new social-integrated search, Google users, as well as other social networks, expressed outrage that the new system seemed to promote Google+ links over more relevant social content.  The Google+ saturated version of the Google search seems to give an unfair ranking advantage to Google’s own social network, raising antitrust concerns.

And with good reason – Search Engine Land’s Danny Sullivan has pointed out several instances where Search Plus Your World sacrifices relevance to promote Google+ Pages – like linking Mark Zuckerberg’s unused Google+ account as relevant to a search for “Facebook.”  But what may be more troubling is that Search Plus Your World means individuals and business that want priority in a Google search are forced to make Google+ a priority.

Arguments have followed about the complications of including relevant content from other social networks like Twitter and Facebook – but a new bookmarklet shows that better integration is not really that difficult.  Built by engineers from Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, “Don’t Be Evil” uses Google’s own relevance measure to better complete Google’s social search.

According to the project’s website, this bookmarklet “looks at the three places where Google only shows Google+ results and then automatically googles Google to see if Google finds a result more relevant than Google+” – whether that result comes from Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook.  It also makes the links suggested by Google’s auto-complete less Google+ exclusive.

“Don’t Be Evil” does seem to present a good case for a truly social (and less Google+ dominated) search – and it will be interesting to see how Google responds to the modified version of its search.  To install the bookmarklet yourself, check out the website Focus on the User.

(Via Business Insider, Image via Focus on the User)

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Reverse Cropping and Straighten Photos on your iPhone

By
khoward
– January 20, 2012Posted in: Apps, Tech

From computer tools to quick mobile apps, it’s fast and easy for anyone to crop a mobile app down to size.  AntiCrop by Adva-Soft does the exact opposite, expanding your image to give the perfect width, perspective, and even angle you might have missed while taking a quick shot with your iPhone.

You can uncrop photos in any direction with the app’s anti-cropping algorithm, as well as straighten crooked images with AntiCrop’s lossless technique.  The app might be most valuable, however, as a simpler way to remove unwanted elements – just crop out the objects or people you don’t want in the image, then use AntiCrop to extend the background or scenery back to the original size.

Available for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, AntiCrop gives you a unique way to edit – and extend – your photos.  It’s a pretty handy tool to add to your photo app collection for just $0.99.

(Story and Image via TechCrunch)

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SoulCalibur for iOS Review

By
kduffy
– January 20, 2012Posted in: Apple, Apps, Gaming, Industry News, Internet Trends, News, Tech

It’s here! We heard the other day SoulCalibur was coming to iOS and we got excited to get our hands on the beloved game. For a limited time it is available for a 20% discounted $11.99 in the Apple App Store; the price is expected to rise in a few days, so if you’re strongly considering, we recommend buying in the next day or two (or waiting a few months until it sells for probably half the price).

Graphics are expectedly outstanding. Some of our favorite characters like Tira are missing, but the 10 characters you have to choose from are Voldo, Ivy, Sophitia, Mitsurugi, Kilik, Xianghua, Maxi, Nightmare, Taki, and Astaroth – each character has two costume options as well, which we thought was a cool bonus for a mobile version.

At first we thought operating the game via touch screen would be difficult, but it turns out developers must have had this down to a science, as the joystick shown in the main photo on the left operates smoothly so you’ll be making moves without delay.

There are quite a few modes, too: standard Arcade ladder, Time Attack, Survival, Extra Survival, and Practice—leaving out the Team Battle and Mission modes from PlayStation and XBOX versions, but still an abundant amount.

If you haven’t yet played SoulCalibur and fancy other classic arcade fighting games like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, well, this is a revolutionary version of those games. The only thing is, for now the game is one player, which is a problem if you consider multi-player a determining factor when buying a game like SoulCalibur.

We haven’t heard news about SoulCalibur streaming live, or anything regarding an Android version, but we assume both are likely to come as an update soon.

(photo is a screenshot taken with iPhone)

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The Cure for Meaningless Meetings

By
khoward
– January 18, 2012Posted in: Apps, Tech

Sometimes a meeting is a welcome break from your regular workday, or necessary to accomplish company objectives.  But most have probably experienced meetings that equate to long hours where nothing is accomplished.  LBi’s Cost of Meeting App (C.O.M.A.) seeks to limit that wasted time by calculating the money spent on meetings and conference calls.

C.O.M.A. uses the number of attendees and the average hourly rate of attending employees to show you just how much that meeting has already cost.  LBi suggests this Cost of Meeting App may just be the perfect way to end the torture of yet another pointless meeting – by showing your boss the money that meeting is wasting.  Unless, of course, you’ve spent the meeting playing games on your smartphone.

(Via Business Insider, Image via iTunes App Store)

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SoulCalibur V will be released on iOS devices

By
kduffy
– January 16, 2012Posted in: Apps, Gaming, PS3, Tech, Xbox 360

SoulCalibur fans, rejoice—on January 19 you can now play SoulCalibur V (watch the trailer here), Bandai Games’ latest version of the beloved game, on iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone.

The iOS version will feature 19 fighters, varying game modes, museum modes, time attack, and arcade, but unfortunately there’s no sign of a multi-player feature like team battle mode (we’re hoping this goes live for iOS and for an Android release down the road).

Don’t expect to get much accomplished after this release, as SoulCalibur is a rather addicting game, similar to classic old school favorites like Mortal Kombat and Tekken – except this time will take place 17 years post SoulCalibur IV, and “will continue the epic story of warriors in search of the legendary SOUL Swords in 17thcentury Europe. The heroic battles transpire in a beautiful and fluid world with eye-popping graphics.”

Major changes have been made to the now 6th version of SoulCalibur, including the removing of “Critical Finishes” of SoulCalibur IV, along with This version will also provide an armor destruction indicator, so there’s no way to tell when protection will break.

Pre-order your copy of the game today, available for XBOX or PlayStation; it hits the stores on January 31. Or if you’re lucky enough to have an iPhone or iPad, head to the app store on January 19 for a sneak peak of what’s to come.

(via Geeky Gadgets; photo via Pocket Lint)

 

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CloudOn Brings Free Office to the iPad but Sells Out

By
khoward
– January 5, 2012Posted in: Apps, Microsoft, News, Tech

If you were looking for a way to edit Office documents on your iPad, but didn’t want to wait for Microsoft to offer it, you might have missed your opportunity this week.  An app released by startup CloudOn provides iPad and iPad 2 users with Word, Excel, and Powerpoint access along with cloud storage and file browsing – but interest in CloudOn’s first release was overwhelming, forcing them to remove the app from the iPad App Store.

The company promises a return to the App Store once it can handle more users, though Wired reports facing some challenges with the free app.  CloudOn hopes to use the free testing phase of the release to determine future pricing, among other things.  Interested iPad owners can pre-register online to get notified when the app is released again.

CloudOn isn’t the first application to bring Office-editing to Apple’s iPad.  While several paid apps offer similar Word, Excel, and PowerPoint features for the tablet – but the iPad market is still waiting to see if Microsoft comes through with its own Office version for iPad.

(Image and Story via Mashable)

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