The latest version of Google Translate for Android comes with a few updates to celebrate the one-year anniversary. Most of these are to the user interface. But there’s also one new feature they’re previewing in alpha mode. And it’s awesome: Conversation Mode. Essentially, this allows you to speak in one language into your phone and the app will read it out loud translated into the language of the person you’re speaking with. That person can then respond and it will translate it back into your language.

However, Google is quick to note that this is very much an alpha feature. In other words, expect a lot of hiccups. They note that background noise, thick accents, and quick speech can all trip up the app. Further, it only works for English and Spanish currently, and, as aforementioned, is Android-only.

Digital Chocolate probed the Android market with two of its hugely popular Facebook titles, Millionaire City and MMA Pro Fighter, former being the second fastest-growing game in the network.

A slight against Android Market and a sign of the faith in free app store GetJar, Digital Chocolate’s decision to debut its Android releases on the independent app store rather than on Android Market is far from surprising. Indeed, the publisher’s decision comes on the back of similar moves made by Rovio with Angry Birds and Zynga with Mafia Wars, amongst others. When it comes to pushing free titles on Android, Google’s marketplace would appear to be losing out.

The latest instalment from one of the giants of world football games – Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 – has just been released onto European Java networks.

PES 2011 comes with full licenses to the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, which means the proper tournament structures, trophies, and teams will be at your disposal.

Along with the cream of the national and international squads, there’s also an Edit Your Team mode, allowing for creation of a monstrosity the likes of which will inspire awe in the strongest of opponents.

Konami is promising ‘accessibility for beginners and experts’ as high up on the agenda for this edition, which will hopefully help players get up to speed on the ins and outs of the game before they take on a friend in the Bluetooth multiplayer mode.

Although they had remained undecided on the matter even up to the announcement of the device at E3 last year, it looks like Nintendo has indeed made the 3DS region-locked.

The confirmation comes by way of an email from Nintendo of Japan’s customer support. “The Region Codes are installed in each games and the 3DS itself. If the codes don’t match, you can’t play,” the email reads.

So that means, for example, that if you plan on importing a 3DS from Japan when it releases on February 26, you won’t be able to play U.S. games on it. Similarly, if you planned on importing Japanese games to play on your U.S. handheld (the 3DS launches here in March), those won’t work either.

The decision is in keeping with Nintendo’s change in policy when it comes to their handhelds, though. While the DS and DSLite were both region-free, the DSi and DSi XL were both region-locked as well.

Nintendo’s latest promotional event for the upcoming 3DS reveals plenty of last minute detail, not all of which is being greeted favourably.

Most notably, Nintendo is saying the device’s batteries will only last for 3-5 hours in normal gameplay (5-8 with DS titles), and take 3.5 hours to recharge. By way of comparison, the PSP is rated at some 4-6 hours.

This, coupled with the various dire warnings about the 3D screen causing blindness and eye cancer in little children, has served to take some of the lustre off the otherwise outstanding hardware on offer.

The 3DS itself is due on the 26th of February, for ¥25,000 – other regions get it slightly later, in March and at about $300.

The (Japanese) release line-up is also attracting opprobrium – only 8 titles are on offer, retailing around the ¥5,000-¥6,000 mark.

Most of the other top titles are dated 2011 “spring” and beyond – and MGS, Biohazard, DoA and Zelda are all undated save for “2011.”

It’s likely success does not really seem to be in doubt, but without so much as a Mario title the launch does appear to be rather incomplete.

And the word ‘pure’ summarizes the Nexus S quite aptly. Not just in physical terms, but in regards to what’s running under the bonnet: like its forerunner, the Nexus S is rocking an entirely unmolested version of the Android operating system.

In this case, it’s the freshly-baked Gingerbread – otherwise known as Android 2.3 – and this phone is the first (and currently only) place to get it.

But let’s get back to the more immediate allure of this headline device – looks. By shifting allegiance from former ally HTC to Samsung, Google has ensured that this new product boasts a very different – but no less pleasing – aesthetic appeal.

Samsung’s affection for glossy plastic replaces HTC’s reliance on metal, and the overwhelming use of black gives the device a solid, imposing look. Elsewhere, unusual features abound: the much-hyped ‘contour’ curved display is little more than a design solution, but the unique reverse-chin on the rear of the device improves grip.

It’s also rather disturbing to discover the headphone jack is at the bottom of the phone rather than at the top, although this will seem less strange to iPod touch owners.

In terms of physical interface, the Nexus S is minimalist to the extreme. The only ‘buttons’ on the device are the volume rocker and the power key (which also acts as the ‘lock’ and ‘unlock’ button).

The Nexus One’s trackball has been removed, leaving only touch-sensitive controls on the face of the phone (which have once again had their running order inexplicably rearranged).

Its moniker suggests that this device shares a common bond with the Galaxy S, Samsung’s incredibly popular Android challenger from the middle of 2010. Looking at the raw specifications, this certainly seems to be true: the phones have identical 1GHz Hummingbird processors, stunning 4-inch Super-AMOLED screens, and 5-megapixel cameras.

Unfortunately, limitations within the stock Android OS have forced Samsung to remove 720p video recording – although this may be reinstated via a software update.

There’s also no MicroSD card slot, which is sure to displease dedicated Android fans – although before you reach for that pitchfork and burning torch, it should be noted that this move is in line with rivals such as the iPhone and Microsoft’s Windows Phone.

The Nexus S comes with 16GB of internal memory, which should be sufficient for most mobile music listeners and photographers. It also boasts increased app storage space: you can now install up to 1GB of application files, compared to the pitifully inadequate 200MB on the Nexus One.

Nevertheless, we can’t understand why users aren’t granted access to the entire 16GB when it comes to app and games. Although some apps offer the ability to dump a portion of their data into storage (in essence treating it as an SD card) some information has to remain in the section of the phone’s internal memory devoted to applications, and if you’re a heavy user that gigabyte of space will fill up eventually.

When you consider that the iPhone gladly offers up all of its cavernous storage for any combination of music, videos, games and apps, you can’t help but feel that Android is lagging behind in this area.

Gingerbread has gotten an incredible amount of attention over the past few months, but when compared to its precursor Froyo (also known as Android 2.2) it’s actually a lot less dramatic an update.

There are mild cosmetic changes to enjoy, but on the whole this new edition of the OS is more concerned with tidying up behind the scenes. It’s noticeably smoother and faster than Froyo, although sadly still as prone to occasional moments of lag and stutter when there’s a lot of activity occurring.

As we’ve already mentioned, this is as pure as you’re going to get when it comes to Google’s mobile OS. For some people, this might seem like a disadvantage (especially when placed alongside HTC’s visually intricate Sense user interface) but hardcore Android fans will be delighted with the absence of apps that eat up valuable processor time and can’t be uninstalled.

In fact, this is one of the most streamlined versions of Android yet. Froyo had Twitter and Facebook clients built in, but that isn’t the case here. Those of you who already use third-party social aggregators like TweetDeck will be pleased to learn that with Gingerbread, Twitter and Facebook aren’t compulsory installs, and this means you avoid doubling-up on functionality.

In addition to being the first phone to enjoy the delights of Gingerbread, Near Field Communication is the Nexus S’s other big selling point. Using this new feature, you can swipe your mobile device over NFC ‘hotspots’ and get instant access to all kinds of web-based content.

We dare say that such technology is going to be massive some day, but at the moment there are only a few examples of it.

The Samsung Galaxy S has already proven to be a real hit with mobile gamers and unsurprisingly the Nexus S follows suit. That gorgeous Super-AMOLED screen makes games jump to life, and its impressive 4-inch girth gives enough room for fingers.

The powerful Hummingbird CPU grants smooth gameplay, and also allows the hordes of cool Android retro-emulators run quickly and efficiently.

Those of you who have suffered the multi-touch problems that marred the performance of the Nexus One will be pleased to learn that this sequel can accurately track several different points of contact, with none of the bothersome ‘axis-flipping’ that made gaming such a pain on Google’s previous handset.

It’s almost impossible to come away from using the Nexus S without feeling impressed. For once, Android has the perfect fusion of technology, software and design. Aside from a few very minor drawbacks, this really does feel like a great device.

It’s also worth noting that, like its predecessor, this phone is going to be the recipient of all of the latest Android software updates, possibly months before closest rivals like the HTC Desire HD and even the Galaxy S receive them, therefore making it the only choice for true Android connoisseurs.

However, it would be foolish to ignore the fact that in terms of raw tech the Nexus S could have been far superior. Dual-core CPUs are going to be massive in 2011, and with LG already prepping a phone with this type of processor, the Nexus S might end up being overtaken before it’s had ample opportunity to impress the masses.

For now, though, this is unquestionably the best Android phone available on the market, and despite the lack of cutting-edge internals the guarantee of timely OS updates should be enough to induce Google fans to make the upgrade.

Version: 1.0.1

Platform: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Publisher: Zed Worldwide

Developer: SPL, 2010

AppStore Link

For someone who is really into some hard-boiled arcade action fun, this game could become a real marvel, coming with a little touch of retro sci-fi feel and frenzy of a bullet-hell firestorm. Be prepared to tap some mystic and technological space beauty exploded into mayhem.

The essence of game is a 3D shoot ‘em up action. Sure, sounds easy enough, but there is more to it than just shooting. Calm and impressively romantic main menu may have a relaxing effect, with first level deepening that feel, but don’t allow it to quell your senses – they will be put through quite a test very soon. The menu is as plain and simple as may be, with nice clean outlines and futuristic font, just as overall game interface.

Player controls the character with gyroscope, slanting the phone left and right to steer. It is really quite sensitive, so it is easy to overdo the maneuver, which is not likely to be forgiven. Be gentle about it. The rest of controls are simple enough too – jump button on the bottom left, aiming pad on the right, and three gesture-activated tricks. All controls are responsive enough too, however, there may be some trouble with the gesture input, as hasty gestures are sometimes sloppy  and can be detected incorrectly.

As for the other interface elements, there seem to be a surprising number of parameters to mind for such a simple game. Gun heat indicator next to the aiming pad shows the degree of heat surfer’s gauntlets have reached, and if it goes red, no more shooting for a while – until complete cooldown. On the top left there are three bars, with surfer’s health, in green, on the top. Right below it is energy shield (which protects surfer from harm and replenishes itself when no hard is being dealt). The last bar is energy which is needed to perform gesture-activated tricks. And, on top of that – not really necessary to mind, but sometimes helpful – the indicator of progress throughout the level is located on the far right, and though being really hard to notice, can help you evaluate the time needed to finish the level. Nice trait for those who play while commuting or waiting in line.

Game aesthetics has a lot in common with sci-fi comics with some touch of retro feel. Open space, obscure glowing Track, surfer who looks a lot like Silver Surfer – and all of it in rather peculiar visual style, which has none of the glossy glamour of more modern sci-fi installations like, for instance, Tron, but rather rough models and textures characteristic of early 3D games, which may seem obsolete, but somehow they manage to create a certain feel that keeps the game from falling apart. Special effects, however, are quite nice, with great explosions and charming little stars that burst around surfer as he picks up an item. But what really is fascinating about the game is music. Sound effects are nothing more than okay, but music creates just the right feel for the game – mystic yet technological, refined yet raw. Soundtrack could be a little more diverse, though, as there are only three music tracks throughout the twenty levels.

Well, assets aside, in the end it is gameplay that matters most, isn’t it? Now, the game is a shoot ‘em up, and, like every solid specimen of the genre, is more about dodging than shooting. Or about shooting as much as you can while you dodge. The statistic on that is carefully gathered to be presented at the end-of-level screen – and it can be shared with friends on OpenFeint directly from here. By the way, there is also Challenge feature, which allows sending challenges to friends to beat your score.

However, when it comes to beating, we are in for a hard part. The game is really not an easy mark and on some levels it can get frustratingly difficult. Not that it is unbeatable, though, but it may take quite a number of reruns to memorize the level and adjust your skills to suit it. Every little bit in the environment is either harmful or helpful here, so beware of asteroids and be sure not to miss helpful powerups. There is also a level when they are prerequisite for victory, so better keep your eyes peeled for them. As aforementioned, the learning curve is steep, and grows rapidly after the first three levels, which have an introductory nature, with tips spread over them, and reaching its peak at the final boss battle, which is an unforgiving demand for perfection.

Rounding it up, it should probably be said that this game certainly has a niche appeal. It feels retro and it is hard, most people would probably drop it after first try – but to those who stay it can present almost infinite replayability. There are 19 achievements, some of which are, as official description states, “insane”, and moreover, OpenFeint highscores and challenges are there for you to test your mettle against the friends.

If all of the above did not sound scary, the game is probably your thing. With less than hour of net playtime over twenty levels, it can entertain you for days, being certainly, in a slightly perverted way, a great value for money.

Review score:

8/10

Pros: absorbing gameplay, good replayability, marvelous entrancing music.

Cons: recherché visual style, stiff animations, may seem too hard to some players.

]]> http://mobiletales.info/2010/12/14/star-surfer-x/feed/ 0 http://mobiletales.info/2010/02/12/zx-spectrum-emulator-ixpectrum-released-for-jailbroken-iphones-2/ http://mobiletales.info/2010/02/12/zx-spectrum-emulator-ixpectrum-released-for-jailbroken-iphones-2/#comments Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:24:31 +0000 morvinion http://mobiletales.info/?p=197 [...]]]> US mobile testing company DeviceAnywhere has launched version 5.0 of its Test Centre technology.

The mobile application development platform enables publishers and developers to control and test their applications directly on a wide variety of handsets, carriers and operating systems, with racks of units sited around the world in local centres.

New additions in version 5.0 include features designed to further simplify mobile application testing and test automation, as well as provide more coding support for web apps, advanced search features and a new test case manager function.

“With this release we have introduced a more intelligent set of features, which offer more value to developers and makes testing easier and more efficient across the board,” commented Faraz Syed, CEO and co-founder of DeviceAnywhere.

“With the fragmentation in the mobile market, having an intuitive and end-to-end system for application development and testing is more critical than ever.”

Web applications are now the most frequently tested applications on DeviceAnywhere Test Center, which is why more functionality has been added to simplify testing and debugging. Now when developers use the mobile web on devices, they can see the actual web coding in a separate window, allowing them to debug any issues in real-time.

Another innovation is the ability for developers to search for devices by features and characteristics.

Now a developer who needs to test applications on a particular OS, firmware version, screen size, form factor or wants to test devices with wi-fi support, and/or an accelerometer, a camera or GPS, they can instantly see the devices that match the characteristic they’re searching for.

Finally, there’s a new test case manager view designed to assist the QA process, allowing customers to design a testing plan, with test cases and test steps as well as the ability to save the proof required for each step, in the form of a screenshot or video.

After experiencing some last-minute delays with the case design, the Pandora team have confirmed that a small batch of units have been shipped to developers.

As if to prove this fact, photos of these very same machines have started to appear online, causing fits of elation and jealously amongst the thousands of people who pre-ordered the device months ago.

With the boards finished and the cases about to go into mass-production, Craig Rothwell – one of the men behind the project – has revealed a screenshot of the proposed Pandora App Store.

Rothwell has admitted himself that the name may change before the final release (we imagine that Apple’s lawyers might have something to do with that) but the concept is interesting: while it’s by no means unique in the realm of handheld gaming, it’s a bold move when you consider that the Pandora will be used largely for playing emulations and homebrew titles.

Such connectivity will make it easier to get the machine up and running, as well as offering bedroom coders a potential means of making money out of their hard work.

Rothwell has also hinted that the Pandora will be supported by full-blown commercial releases, and such a storefront would make the format appealing to the hordes of publishers who currently ply their trade on mobile phones and the iPhone.

We’ve already made room in our busy schedule to give the Pandora a good going over, so you can expect an exhaustive review as soon as our unit arrives.

‘We will be ramping up our focus on the smartphone market… especially on Android’, said Keith Adair, vice-president of sales & marketing.

The initial titles listed for release include boy-racer’s dream machine Fast & The Furious: Adrenaline; the Borb-bashing Bubble Town 2; tropical match-three Paradise Quest; and everyone’s favourite box-based game of chance Deal or No Deal.

According to I-play, Android versions of these titles will include ‘connected social and micro-transaction features’, so they won’t merely be direct ports of the Java or iPhone releases.