Themer Beta, a launcher replacement initiative by the team at MyColorScreen.com, has received a lot of attention in the last few weeks. And I mean a lot, as it currently has a waitlist of 280,000+ people strong. That's right, two hundred and eighty thousand.

The invites have so far been released in relatively small batches of a few thousand at a time, leaving the majority of those on the list waiting impatiently and scrambling to find a code or two to satisfy that Themer craving. Our own Ryan Whitwam took the app out for a spin in the first exclusive look on the web and came out relatively impressed.

Today, I have some good news. The MyColorScreen team has heavily upgraded the backend servers powering Themer and are now ready for a swarm of users to hit them all at once. The magical code you need to know is: MSTRCD. It's good for 40,000 uses, but considering the size of that waitlist, I wouldn't wait too long to download the app from the Play Store and punch it in.

  

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A new report says that an upcoming Hangouts update will finally bring one of the features users have been asking for since the service was launched – SMS and MMS integration.
The news comes from Android Police, which has been apparently able to confirm with a couple of sources that Hangouts will indeed get this feature – the publication has also included a few images that reportedly show Hangouts version 1.3, as well as a mockup for the SMS menu.
What’s not clear yet is when this Google Hangouts update will arrive, and whether it’ll be included in the upcoming Android 4.4 KitKat OS update.
In addition to SMS and MMS integration, the messaging app will also get a video sharing feature, in case that’s also something you’re looking forward to. However, voice integration is apparently not coming in Hangouts 1.3.

Purported Google Hangouts 1.3 images | Image credit: Android Police

In Hangouts, SMS messages will be clearly marked “via SMS,” so users will be able to easily tell the difference between different types of messages. As you can see in the images above, delivery reports will also be supported, and there’s also a feature that will let users retrieve messages automatically when roaming.
Finally, it’s not clear what will happen to the Messaging app once this new Hangouts version is rolled out, so we’ll just have to wait for Google to announce the update. Android Police speculates that at least on Nexus devices, the Messaging app will be replaced by Hangouts – the same thing was suggested on Google+ a few days ago, when a first version of this rumor was initially posted.

Google Hangouts 1.3 – SMS menu mockup | Image credit: Android Police

That said, we’ll remind you that this is just a rumor, and even if it comes from a trusted source, it should be treated accordingly.

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Looks like the folks at Mountain View have more in store for Google Now users. The latest version of the predictive search app introduced a few features, but Android Police reports the application’s code contains references to new functionality that could appear in a more substantial update soon. Specifically, users can look forward to the addition of new cards that rely on Gmail e-mails to pull up pertinent information when needed.

Actions related to car rental appear to be the most useful. After receiving confirmation from a car provider, the new “rental” card will display the booking number, pickup and return date, time, and location of the vehicle. When picking up the car, users can “Navigate,” “Get Directions,” and “Manage [the] Reservation.” Returning the car presents options for finding nearby gas stations and calling the rental center.

Functioning in a way similar to the airplane boarding pass feature, an updated “event” card will display a QR ticket code when the event start time nears. Additionally, the card will populate with information relevant to the event: showtime or game start time, time to leave, seating specifics, door open time, venue, and, if applicable, the status of a table reservation. Sports events will get a new game statistics display. Like the new car rental card, the event card includes “Navigate,” “Get Directions,” and “Manage Reservation” buttons.

Slightly enigmatic is the presence of code pointing to an “Wallet Loyalty” Google Now card. Android Police wasn’t able to discern its exact function, but it’s possible the code lies the groundwork for a future NFC-less payment system.

For those disappointed the newest Google Now didn’t add many new cards, this update should definitely suffice. I, for one, am excited to see Google tapping more and more into Gmail data to aggregate things. We’ll let you know when the next version of Google Now goes live.

Source:AndroidAuthority

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If a new report from the Wall Street Journal is to be believed, Google is gearing up to launch several new hardware products in an attempt to one-up the competition and further spread its reach into new categories. One of these devices is allegedly an Android-powered game console.

With companies like Ouya, MadCatz and Nvidia already pioneering this new frontier – there are clearly folks interested in the idea of a low-cost console that somehow bridges the world of mobile and traditional gaming.

If Google really is getting involved here, what would such a console be like, and how would it potentially affect the future of mobile and traditional gaming? Would there be enough room for other Android micro-console players if Google jumps in?

Until we get an actual look at Google’s game console (if it even exists), these questions are going to remain unanswered, but that doesn't mean we can’t speculate a little.

What a Google game console might be like

According to WSJ, the Google game system will arrive this fall. That’s a pretty quick turn-around for something we've never heard about.This does reveal a bit about what to expect from the console, though.

Obviously this is not a traditional game system – al la PS3 or Xbox 360. Putting something like that together would take much more time to hype up, create exclusive partners, etc.

Instead, the idea is probably to create a box that essentially functions like a Google TV device, albeit with some optimizations that make it more geared towards gaming such as custom controls and Google Play Games service support. In many ways it will probably look a lot like the Ouya or MadCatz game console. It will be compact, physical media-free and will rely on the power of Android.

If the Google Game Console isn't much different from the competition, why bother? For one thing, because Google can do things that Ouya and MadCatz can’t do – such as sell the console at cost.

Imagine a Snapdragon 800-powered game console that hits between $49 – $129. Makes me excited just thinking about it.

It is also possible Google could use some of its connections (and/or deep pockets) to draw in bigger gaming studios down the road. While a Google game console would undoubtedly have full access to Google Play and all of its apps, nothing is to say it couldn't have its own special section of the Play Store for Google game system-optimized exclusives.

Ouya and its me-too rivals could be in trouble here

If a Google game system really is in works, Ouya and its rivals could find themselves in very deep trouble.

As already mentioned, Google has the resources to sell their device at a cheaper cost, all while potentially bringing in exclusive titles to their console. Then you have to consider special services.

Any Google-made console would undoubtedly be optimized to play nicely with Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime videos and just about every video service that currently supports Android. It would also likely feature strong integration with G+, Google’s Music streaming service and more.

Ouya and its competitors do offer some of these multimedia apps and services, but I suspect they won’t be able to even begin to compete to the services a Google console would offer.

There’s also a little thing called brand recognition. While MadCatz might have some brand recognition as an accessory maker, the Ouya is a start-up that has no role outside of the micro-console market and Nvidia is primarily known among PC gamers. In contrast, Google is a household name.

Can other Android-powered game consoles co-exist with a Google game system? Maybe. After all, there are other Android handsets on the market even though the Nexus 4 delivers impressive hardware and a killer price.

Some folks will want a pure-Android experience, others will want manufacturer customizations and special features. The key to survival for Ouya and its rivals will be find a way to do things differently then Google, plain and simple.

Will Google’s console affect the traditional console market?

Here’s the big one: Can a Google game console steal thunder away from traditional game consoles and handhelds? Yes and no.

When it comes to the quality of titles, the graphics and the immersive experiences – there is no way in hell that an ARM-based, low-cost game system is going to truly compete against a Playstation 4 and Xbox One. But they don’t have to compete directly to affect the gaming industry.

If Google can give gamers a low-cost device and attract at least a few console quality-like games to the platform, they could truly find massive success among casual gamers, younger gamers and budget gamers across the globe.

Some folks just don’t want to spend $400+ on a new console to get their gaming fix. While these types of gamers could certainly get an older game system (like Xbox 360/PS3/Wii) – eventually these systems will drop support and so there is something to be said for a new console that actually has a low entry cost.

Remember that the OG Gameboy wasn't exactly the most powerful device in the handheld market. Both the Atari Lynx and Sega Game Gear easily stomped all over it with superior color graphics.

Why did the Gameboy win the race in the long-term? It had much better battery life, a massive library of reasonably good games and it was dirt-cheap in comparison. A similar thing happened with the Wii: it was cheap and it offered a different way to play games.

Even the Atari 2600 was a massive success for many years because of a massive library and low-cost entry point, not because it was truly the most powerful system on the market (that honor arguably went to Intellivision).

I’m not saying that a Google gaming console will have the same level of success as the Gameboy, Wii or Atari 2600 – my point is that a Google game console doesn’t need to be superior to other systems to be a success. And gaming history backs that notion up.

Even if the Google game console ends up as a distant fourth to Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, it could still make enough of an impact to help change the future of gaming as we know it. What do you think, would you like to see Google get involved in the console market? Or should they leave this industry to more traditional players?

Source:AndroidAuthority

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Earlier this month Google pushed out a major update to Gmail, bringing with it several design changes. While most of these changes were well received, some users didn't take kindly to the disappearance of the delete button in the quick-access bar.

To be fair, the button never really went away. By default it was turned off from the quick access bar, but you could always bring it back from within the settings. The problem was that many folks either didn't know this, or simply felt it was a foolish move to have made the change in the first place.

If you were one of those users that felt removing the delete but was a bad move on Google’s part, you’ll be happy to know that the delete button has returned to the quick-access bar by default in the latest version of Gmail. The update also brings the ability to tap on sender images to select multiple messages from within the conversation view.

Anything else? Not really, other than the changelog does make mention of unnamed “bug fixes”.This new update might not be anything revolutionary, but at least its nice to see that the Gmail team is paying attention to user feedback.

To grab the update for yourself, head over to Google Play now.


Source:AndroidAuthority

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The Datawind name might not say much to those of you passionate about high-end gadgets, but the UK-based company has been behind the Indian government’s bold initiative of deploying Android-based tablets across the country’s millions of schools .
The 2011 dirt-cheap Aakash tablet was the result of the collaboration between Datawind and the Indian government, but unfortunately their noble endeavor hit more than a few nasty bumps on the road.
After numerous production issues and a bunch of delays and staggered releases, the Aakash failed to reach the hundreds of thousands of students it was planned to. It was back to the drawing board for Datawind, which understood that it had to up the ante a bit spec-wise.
Fortunately, the Indian authorities didn’t withdraw their support, and now the updated Aakash 2 is ready to debut. Before the tab will hit schools though, Datawind has decided to get the commercial versions out, also known as the UbiSlate tablets.

The UbiSlate 7Ri, 7R+, 7Ci, and 7C+ are the four newly unveiled slates, all sporting 7-inch screens and all ready to go on sale at unbelievably low prices. Though we don’t have many photos starring the four tabs, these shouldn’t look very different on the outside, and their innards will be similar as well.
All four gadgets are set to be powered by Cortex A8 1 GHz processors, which, despite being single-core, are a vast improvement over the first-edition Aakash. The model from 2011 only had a 366 MHz CPU, so the bump in raw power will be easily noticeable. Especially that the 256 MB of RAM have been also upgraded to 512 MB.
The displays all come with 800 x 480 pixels resolutions, but only the UbiSlate 7Ci and 7C+ will have capacitive panels (hence the “C” branding). The 7Ri and 7R+ will sport resistive screens, which, as you might know, aren’t very responsive to touch.
Aside from the processor bump, the new range of UbiSlate tablets comes with another major upgrade, this time in the software department. If the 7-incher from last year ran old raggedy Android 2.2 Froyo, the new gadgets are all ready to bring Ice Cream Sandwich goodness to India.

Other features include 4 GB of on-board storage, a VGA front-facing camera, G-Sensor, mini-USB, a microSD card slot for expanding the memory with an additional 32 GB, and Wi-Fi connectivity all-around. The 7R+ and 7C+ come with additional GPRS connectivity, and they should also be the tabs with the best battery life. Well, best is somewhat of a stretch, giving that Datawind predicts the slates to only be able to go for up to 3-4 hours on a single charge, while the 7Ri and 7Ci have a maximum of 3 hours of autonomy.
Datawind has failed to announce any exact release dates for the four 7-inchers, while in terms of pricing we know that the cheapest one will go for Rs. 2,999 ($55), and the most expensive one will be up for grabs for Rs. 4,999 ($90). We’re guessing the 7Ri will be the low-ender, while the 7C+ will be the high-ender. As for the 7R+ and 7Ci, these don’t have price tags attached to their names, but they will probably be made available for Rs. 3,999 ($73).
It remains to be seen which one of the four will also hit Indian schools as the Aakash 2, when will this actually reach students, and how many units will end up being used for educational purposes.

Source:AndroidAuthority

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With music recognition apps like Shazam, you are spared from Googling bits and pieces of lyric from a song you catch on TV or hear on the radio in the hope that it will lead to its full title and artist. Not just identifying the song, the app also lets you stream preview and even buy the song – if it’s available digitally.
It’s obvious that the magic-like features struck a chord with many, as Shazam recently reported that it has over 250,000 users. The app developers are now branching out Shazam to recognize TV shows and ads.
The next time you find yourself intrigued by a scene on the small screen, simply whip out Shazam and tag the show. You’ll instantly get information about the program, the actors and actresses (straight from IMDB), the latest tweets and headline news relating to it, and more. Naturally, you’ll also get a list of music that’s featured on the show.
Of the affinity that many have for the app, Shazam Chief Revenue Officer Doug Garland said that aside from the “amazing degree of utility”, users also “think it’s magical”. In the case of the added functionality, magic really means having the company’s many servers scan and fingerprint content from 160 channels in America on a real-time basis, which should result in a pretty complete database of TV programs for all your tagging needs.
If you haven’t already done so, check out the new functionality of Shazam app and let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

Source:AndroidAuthority

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Think of it as niche marketing for the Google app market. It’s called “Apps Focus” and it aims to be a curating of apps, helping users dig through the junk to get to the gems.

The patience level of the average user is fairly low, what with the speed of smart-phones and the Google Play store’s last interface update making it all the more snappy. So it stands to reason that a 15 minute jaunt down “app lane” is not always the fun adventure it may seem. Most people would like to find their app in 5 minutes or less, and just get to using it so they can become familiar. Enter Google and their nifty new solution: Apps Focus.
The current foray is Fashion and Style, and while it is probably out of the scope of most of our readers, it still manages to deliver to its niche audience. Bringing together good, and mostly new apps, in an easily discoverable way can only mean more traffic for the Play Store. Once word gets out, it could spell a big success for Android in general.
The only problem we foresee with this feature is that it may get too focused, meaning potential users may not find anything interesting in the collections presented. That being said, Apps Focus will surely evolve, and become something we can attribute to our daily ease of use. Repeat after me: Thank you Google!!!

As for developers, this could be a huge boost to them as well. Imagine putting months of work in, only to find your app on the front page (which is where AF is) and a bunch of downloads listed in your stats. This doesn’t mean less-than-stellar apps will vanish from the market, but it does mean those who produce quality apps, are more likely to make it into the spotlight with this feature.
To get access to Apps Focus,  just open the app up on your device and it should appear on the front page.


Source:AndroidAuthority

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Blood & Glory: Legend

Become a true gladiator and fight your way to the top with the Blood & Glory: Legend game for Android. Control a gladiator and fight different opponents in the arena. If you’re lucky, you might even have the chance to meet the emperor and fight him to avenge your family.
You will be fighting different opponents at every stage. You will face fast Amazon warriors, spearmen, and even terrifying giants that can squash you with one heavy blow. You can control your hero by swiping on the screen. Swipe to the direction to where you want to slash your weapon. You can also perform combos by performing a unique set of slashes. Aside from attacking, you can parry enemy attacks by swiping to the opposite direction of your opponent’s attack. You can also use your shield or dodge left and right to avoid getting hit.
The game has a shop that allows you to buy equipment. You can buy additional potions, buy powerful weapons, and upgrade your armor to withstand enemy blows. You can purchase items by using the coins earned after each battle or by using Glu points. The game allows you to buy additional coins and Glu points by using real currency.
Blood & Glory: Legend can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. Overall performance was very smooth and I did not encounter any lags or force close errors while testing the app. The realistic display also enhances the game, making you feel like a real champion in the arena.

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Espgaluda II

Do you still remember when you were a kid and you used to go to the arcade? What was your favorite game? One of my favorites was the arcade game where you controlled an aircraft with extreme firepower and you’d fight waves of planes and battle huge bosses. The Espgaluda II app allows you to relive the airplane-shooting arcade action game right on your Android phone.
There are two modes in this game: Smartphone and Arcade mode. The Smartphone mode lets you play the game that has been modified to use your smartphone’s capabilities. If you want the real arcade action, you can play the game in Arcade mode. The game allows you to choose three different characters. Each character has a unique set of abilities, such as one character having more firepower while another has more range.
Espgaluda II can be downloaded for about 6 dollars from the Google Play Store. You will also need a G-Gee account, an active Internet connection, and available space of about 540 MB before you can play this game. The game is fun and really looks like the game from your local arcade. But, it would be good if the game uses the whole portion of the phone’s screen.

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Horn

The Horn game is a third-person RPG game that lets you control the hero Horn, a blacksmith apprentice. One day, he woke up in the ruins of a mysterious land. Along the way, he faced weird monsters and later on discovered that they were once the people of the town. The world has been plagued with a curse, turning human beings into big monsters. You must set forth as Horn and save the people from this curse.
The game can be played by just tapping on the screen. You can move Horn by tapping anywhere on the ground. You can also interact with the objects around you by tapping on them. Swipe your fingers when you need to push yourself up a cliff or move through a narrow path.
Horn will also have to defeat monsters along the way. You can swipe your fingers to slash your enemies with your sword. You need to dodge enemy attacks by tapping the left and right arrows. Tap on the jump button to avoid attacks from the ground and swipe your fingers to attack while in midair.
This game is powered by the Unreal Engine that really enhances the graphics and makes the world of Horn more realistic. To be able to handle these graphics and animations, you can only play this game on a Tegra 2- or Tegra 3-powered device. This paid game is worth its price of about 7 dollars.

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Turbo Kids

Ready, set, go! Run fast to the finish line with the Turbo Kids game. This game is a simple side-scrolling racing game. Aside from running towards the finish line, you will also need to go through obstacles, collect power ups, and shoot your enemies to freeze them.
The game can be controlled by just tapping on the screen. Tap the left side of the screen to jump and tap the right side to shoot frozen bullets. The game allows you to choose a character with a unique character build. One character runs faster, while another one carries more bullets and recovers faster when hit.
The game lets you customize your character. You can upgrade its equipment to run faster or recover more quickly. You can also learn new skills, such as a double jump or a turbo boost. Gold and star points will be used to buy equipment and upgrades. If you want more coins or star points, you can purchase using real money within the game’s shop.
The ad-supported Turbo Kids game can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. Ads appear at the bottom of the screen, and sometimes, after a race. Although the app is ad-supported, you will not find any ad that will disturb you during a race..

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Beach Buggy Blitz

From the creators of Riptide GP and Shine Runner comes another epic racing game for Android. This time, you won’t be racing across the sea or the lake. Instead, you will be driving on a tropical island on a buggy with the Beach Buggy Blitz game on your Tegra-powered device.
The main objective of the game is to drive as far as you can and drive through the game’s infinite driving course. But, you need to make sure to make it to the checkpoint before time runs out. You will also find gold coins on the racing course. Collect those and use them to unlock power-ups or buy a new buggy. If you can’t wait for your coins to grow, you can buy additional coins by via the app’s shop using your real cash.
As of the moment, this game runs only on all devices equipped with Tegra 3 and on some devices with Tegra 2. You will also notice Tegra effects in the game such as motion blur, water splashes on the screen, real-time car shadows, and headlights when you enter the cave.
Beach Buggy Blitz can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.

Source: AndroidAuthority

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