Logitech Arx Control Lets You View PC Performance, System Stats, And In-Game Data

If you play games on your PC, chances are that you like to have a handle on what’s going on with your system performance and stats at all times, or at least any time you want to take a look. Generally we can buy PC gaming peripherals that will do this job for us, and list all the performance and system data on the equipment like the keyboards and mice we use. There’s always of course the option of second screen too, which in some cases might be a better alternative, especially if you like reading things on a larger display for easier viewing.

Logitech wants to take this idea and run with it, and so that’s exactly what they have done with their most recent update to the Logitech Arx Control application, which allows PC gamers to utilize their Android smartphones and tablets as the second screen to display system data and performance stats while they’re playing games. The app works together with Logitech gaming software, which you’ll need installed on your PC for the app to do any good. The app doesn’t just let you view system stats and performance though, it also gives you the ability to view in-game information in real time while you’re playing if it’s a supported game, which is just about as useful as things could get.

It also has some PC remote control functionality, allowing you to control the media settings from your tablet or smartphone, which can come in handy should you need to change something while in game and can’t or don’t want to tab out just to take care of it. Knowledge is power, and the app gives you that power by helping you stay informed of vital system data while you play games. It can also help you see all your installed games on your PC should you ever have the need or desire to check. The app is free to download and install, and we’d assume that the Logitech gaming software that it syncs with is free too. If you use Logitech gaming peripherals and you could have a use for what this app provides, you can grab it here.

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MultiROM Now Ported For HTC One M8 Offering Multiple Bootable ROMs

There is no doubt that one of the most exciting aspects of the Android Operating System is the almost endless ability to customize. Unlike other operating systems, in addition to the rather wide ability to tweak the minor details of Android users are also provided with a very wide range of actual interfaces (aka ROMs). In short if you don’t like the Android that came with your device (aka Stock) you don’t have to keep it. Instead of going back to the shop and demanding your money back or exchanging for a more friendly (to you) interface you can simply change the ROM. This normally requires some form of technical knowledge as you have to flash and install the new ROM over the stock ROM without the two contradicting or conflicting which results in problems (sometimes very serious problems).

This is where MultiROM comes in. This extremely clever program allows users to literally install multiple ROMs to a device and with a flick of the button flip between ROMs. Without further flashing, you could in theory use one ROM for work and another for the evening. Not entirely sure why you would want to do this but nevertheless if that’s you thing, it can be done with MultiROM. A better reason for installing MultiROM is simply its ability to allow users to test-run multiple ROMs to see which they prefer without the constant flashing, wiping, flashing wiping, flashing, wiping cycle that never stops. The only downside with MultiROM is that it has not been made available (aka ported) to all devices yet. However, that is quickly changing. The seriously cool guys over at XDA are continually porting MultiROM to new devices and at lightning speed after they are released. We recently reported MultiROM had been ported for the Moto E and G and it now seems the HTC One M8 can be ticked off the list. If you already own this crazy high-spec device, now can install MultiROM and of course try all the different ROMs out there including CyanogenMod (CM), Paranoid Android (PA), Slim…the list goes on.

If you are interested than the first step is to head over to the XDA MultiROM thread for the HTC One M8. Here you will find the detailed instructions to install the port as well as the actual downloads needed. It is worth remembering this is an early port (aka Beta) and as such is likely to be buggy and may contain issues the developers have not noticed yet. So as always you install this at your own risk and do make sure you have a factory stock image on-hand in case you need to return to stock. More than anything remember the golden rule, be prepared. AKA BACKUP.

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Google Glass To Be ‘Standard Issue’ Equipment For Dubai Police

Since Google launched their now infamous Google Glass we have seen the device being adopted in many new and novel ways. In particular it seems businesses and corporations seem most eager to adopt Glass into their company infrastructure. The benefits to businesses are obvious in many ways. For instance imagine walking into a shop (depending on the information known about you), Glass will be able to inform staff – why you are there, what you might be looking for and even how much you are likely to spend. As the technology increases (as well as the data) the limits for businesses are endless. With this in mind it is understandable why the high price tag ($1500 per Glass) is less likely to put off companies buying the devices in bulk and distributing them throughout their network.

An example of this was reported recently with Edinburgh Airport in the UK adopting Glass on a trial basis throughout the airport. In this case, customer service representatives will be wearing Glass and able to immediate check flight statuses, answer questions and provide individual relevant information. Although this is only a trial-based use of Glass it is quite likely airports will adopt this on a permanent basis. Back In February Virgin Atlantic also adopted Glass at London Heathrow to offer its First Class passengers a more…well First Class experience. The two UK airport trials are very much customer-based with an emphasis on providing customers with a more hands-on and informative experience.

In contrast it now seems Dubai is adopting Glass as a means to fight crime. Detectives in Dubai will soon get Glass as a permanent and ‘Standard issue’ tool to help them in their daily battle against the criminals. Glass will literally allow the police to instantly identify wanted people as well as pull-up prior criminal history and so on. Dubai had already trialled Glass back in May with the technology mainly used for traffic violations and to track suspect vehicles, but is now set to roll out on a permanent basis. So if you are planning on flying to Dubai anytime soon and especially from Edinburgh. Don’t be surprised if you are greeted by Glass wearers when you arrive at the airport in the UK but also by the police (and maybe even immigration) when you land in Dubai.

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Cyanogen Inc. Reportedly Turned down Google Acquisition

A new report coming in from The Information, is telling us that Google attempted to pick up Cyanogen Inc., in its recent acquisition spree. Only to be turned down by the company. We’ve been hearing rumors for a few months now that Cyanogen Inc. might be merging with a few other companies like Microsoft and Amazon. The acquisition was probably to keep Google’s hands onto Android, as some have seen Cyanogen Inc. as a threat to Google.

With that said, Cyanogen Inc., is looking to raise another billion in cash. So far, Cyanogen Inc., hasn’t really found a way to make money. But they keep blowing through money pretty quickly. So this seems to be their biggest issue right now. Cyanogen Inc., has also stated that they will never charge for their software, but it’s obvious that they need to do something to start bringing in money to keep things going. Cyanogen has reportedly told some investors that they will be bringing their customized Android OS over to India. In what sounds like another Android One type program. Where they are partnering with Micromax. Right now, Micromax and Samsung have the biggest market shares in India. So this is a big deal for Cyanogen Inc., if it turns out to be true.

The report also says that Cyanogen Inc., needs to keep from modifying their version of Android too much. As with other OEMs like Samsung, Motorola, LG, HTC, etc., they need to get their devices certified to get Google’s services on their phones. Which is actually a really big deal. And with Google approaching the company to buy them, and being turned down. We may see Cyanogen Inc changing the way they do things. We may see them doing their own OS, that doesn’t run off of AOSP. What do you guys think about this news? Let us know in the comments below.

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Entwined Challenge Brings All The Beauty And Harmony Of Entwined On Playstation To Android

If you own any of the three current Playstation systems, the Vita, the PS3 or the Ps4, or a combination of the three, you might have heard of Entwined which is a game developed by a company call pixelopus. Entwined is big on visuals, and the theme of the game is based upon a fish and bird who exist together in perfect harmony. In the game you control both the fish and the bird as you blaze through levels while trying as hard as you can to follow the independent paths of each character, hopefully leading up the very end where the two can become one with each other as they evolve into a magnificent dragon. Playstation Mobile and Pixelopus have released Entwined Challenge onto Android which brings the challenge mode of the full game to mobile devices.

The original game for the Playstation systems is bright, vivid, and beautiful, and there’s actually quite a bit more content than it’s Android counterpart, but the visuals here are near as spectacular, at least in their delivery of color. Playstation Mobile states that this is an all new version of the challenge mode from the original game, with new features and just as much to love. The game features a critically acclaimed soundtrack by Sam Marshall, and has a predominantly Asian theme involving the elements water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.

Entwined Challenge supports online leaderboards, so if you like to see how you stack up against other players, have at it. Sadly, since this technically a different game than the Entwined on consoles, there is no cross save like the other most recent game to hit Android from Playstation Mobile, CounterSpy. Entwined Challenge does have an all new scoring system, and it also features new unlockables with new art, sketches, scenes and videos. The controls are new too of course since this is meant for touch screens, and in total there are 5 unique levels built around the Asian themes of the elements listed above. If you enjoyed the original Entwined then this definitely might interest you. Should you decide to pick it up it’ll only cost you $0.99, with no in-app-purchases which is always appreciated on a paid game.

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French Carrier Iliad Said to be increasing offer for T-Mobile USA

A new report coming out of Bloomberg this afternoon is pointing at French carrier Iliad increasing their offer and stake for T-Mobile USA, and to buy them from Deutsche Telekom. For a while, Deutsche Telekom has been trying to offload T-Mobile USA and get out of the US so they could focus more on their home market in Europe. However, lately, they’ve been seeming more and more like they want to stick with T-Mobile USA. As they are really adding tons of customers right now and also working hard on improving their market and buying more spectrum. While DT hasn’t come out and said that they are no longer interested in selling T-Mobile USA, but they are not in a huge rush anymore.

The deal that Iliad put out for T-Mobile USA earlier this year was for 56.6% stake in T-Mobile USA for about $33 per share. However, Deutsche Telekom wants around $35 per share or more. And this new deal is said to be much larger, both in the amount but also the stake in the carrier. We don’t have any idea what the numbers are, but we’ll see soon enough if it’s high enough for Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile to approve it. Iliad is in talks with French banks and other financial institutions to secure about $5 billion in funding to buy T-Mobile USA.

In the past, AT&T and Sprint have both attempted to buy T-Mobile. AT&T’s bid for T-Mobile was rejected by the FCC and T-Mobile got a nice chunk of cash and spectrum from AT&T for that. While Sprint pulled out early before they’d have to pay T-Mobile the break up fee. It’ll be interesting to see how the FCC and other regulators see this deal between Iliad and Deutsche Telekom and whether it’ll be approved or not. What do all of you think? Let us know in the comments below.

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Featured: Top 10 Best RPG Games for Android

Brave Trials

Brave Trials is an action rpg with real-time combat that definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. It offers a slightly unique play style with a mashup of different gameplay elements. It requires an internet connection as it harbors some online capabilities like PvP, but it also has a complete story and plot with what seems like well thought out dialogue. Combat is quite similar to what you might find in rpgs like the Zenonia series. Movement is handled with on screen virtual d-pads, with a main attack and three equipped special class based attacks. There are three classes to choose from, a fighter, a rogue, and a mage, with choices for both male and female characters of each. The game fosters an epic adventure where you must travel between dimensions to save the world, and in between the main storyline you can compete in the Arena, fight against world bosses, or try your hand at the party trials or wayfaerer’s war. Visuals are heavily anime influenced. Brave Trials is free and you can grab the game from the Play Store link.

Reaper

Reaper is a side scrolling rpg title from Hexage, where you play as the black swordsman and must journey on a big adventure that will have you crossing swords with thousands of enemies and devious foes. Reaper is a world that is filled to the brim with tons of magic and monsters to battle, you’ll meet some friendly characters during your adventure, and there’s plenty of gear and other equipment to collect and upgrade to. You can level up your character with a large selection of different skills, choose the ones that suit your play style best. There are literally hundreds of different swords to obtain. It supports Google Play Games achievements, leaderboards, and cloud save capabilities so you can play across devices, and you can play with on screen controls or hook up a bluetooth gamepad for a traditional video game feel. Reaper is free, but you can pay for the extra game content in-app which also includes some awesome weapons and gear, as well as leveling your character past level 10 and continuing the journey. If you’re ready to embark on an epic adventure filled with mystery, intrigue, monsters, and goofy old mages, you can grab Reaper from the Play Store link.

Kritika

Kritika is an action rpg hack n’ slash game where you’ll have to battle across distant worlds and dispatch your foes. There are currently 4 character classes to play and choose from with more being added in upcoming content updates. Currently you can play as the cat acrobat, the beserker, the dark valkyrie, and the newest class, the shadow mage. Level up your character through 62 different stages, each with three levels of difficulty. Encounter the the endless onslaught of attacks in the Monster Wave which gives weekly in game gold rewards at the end of each week based on points acquired through kills. Climb the Tower of Tribulation and see if you can conquer all 55 floors, and test your skills in the arena against other players. There’s tons of skills, armor and weapon upgrades. Build up your EX gauge and unleash a special devastating EX attack. Visuals are heavily anime influenced, with lush 3D environments and amazing looking combat graphics. Kritika is free, and you can grab it from the Play Store link.

Chaos Rings II

Chaos Rings II is the much anticipated follow up to the critically acclaimed rpg in the series, the original Chaos Rings. Would you sacrifice the one you love to save the world? In Chaos Rings II, you are the chosen one and you must succumb to your fate of slaughtering the other sacrifices to save the world and bring it back from the brink of destruction. The story is molded by your choices throughout the game, your actions have an adverse reaction to the way the game plays out. Visuals are highly advanced with 3D graphics, combat is standard JRPG style with a strategic battle system, and there is a fairly large cast of characters with deep;y complex and in depth stories and background with real voice acting. Chaos Rings II offers classic JRPG gameplay with new elements and lots of gameplay hours, gear and item upgrades. Level your characters and build out your skills and attacks as you fight to save what’s left of the planet, even if it means killing the one you love. Chaos Rings II is $15.99, and you can grab the game from the Play Store link.

Dragon Quest

The original Dragon Quest has finally made its way to Android not too long ago, and is the third Dragon Quest game to hit the Play Store. Relive the original classic JRPG with hours upon hours of gameplay, epic stories and adventures, unique battle systems and tons of little slimes. Explore the world of Dragon Quest and defeat the Dragon Lord. gameplay is in a unique and refreshed portrait mode, which makes for an awesome experience as you can play the game with one hand fairly easily utilizing the on screen virtual controls. Battle through historic realms as the lone hero Erdrick. You’ll encounter many foes and puzzles on your way to slay the Dragon Lord’s lair. The story is legendary, and now you can take the adventure with you anywhere. Dragon Quest is $2.99 for a little piece of nostalgia. You can grab the game from the Play Store link.

Ravensword Shadowlands

Ravensword Shadowlands is a vast open-world epic rpg and the sequel to Aralon Sword and Shadow. If you like to explore the world around you while you play, Ravesword will allow you to do just that. The game holds a richly detailed world filled with tons of different environments. Pick and customize your character class with a deep set of customization options, then embark on a journey like you’ve never experienced before. Switch between first person and third person views to play the way you want. The scenery is highly detailed, and the game features an original soundtrack for deep immersion. You’ll find a near endless amount of items to use, tons of weapons and armor, you can pickpocket people, pick locks, and raise your stealth skills. equip magical runes, and enhance items, and brandish tons of various weapons, which you’ll need if you’re going to have any chance at defeating your enemies. Ravensword Shadowlands will cost you $6.99, and you can grab the game from the Play Store link.

Final Fantasy IV

Final Fantasy IV was a pivotal game in the series, bringing new combat systems and job classes to the mix. The original game was redone with 3D visuals and eventually ported to mobile devices. It features deeply emotional portrayals for many of the game’s characters, voice acting for cutscenes, a new mapping feature where you start with a blank dungeon and uncover sections of the map as you cross through them. It’s the same epic game you may remember but with some new additions. Newcomers to the game who love the jrpg style will definitely want to check this game out as it’s one that shouldn’t be missed. Final Fantasy IV is $15.99, and you can relive the magic that it offers, or live it for the first time by grabbing it from the Play Store link.

Avabel Online RPG

Avabel is an open world 3D massively multiplayer online rpg. It features a vast open world full of adventures, quests, enemies, epic boss battles and friendly encounters. There are over 35 different classes to choose from. In Avabel you’ll find tons of fantasy based adventure, newly added classes from the latest update, a pet system, intense PvP battles, new weapon types, new class skills and advanced class types, a newly raised level cap, and tons of other epic stuff. If you enjoy MMO’s, this is one of the best MMO game experiences you can have on mobile. Avabel has between 5 million and 10 million installs, and while it’s very likely that not all those installs are active players, the game most certainly has literally tons of active players so it’ll feel like an MMO should. Avabel is free, and you can grab the game from the Play Store link.

Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI might just be the favorite among fans, and the most epic game in the entire series. The Android version features recreated graphics that look like the original but slightly remastered to better fit today’s mobile devices, which means brighter colors, and overall sharper visuals throughout. In Final Fantasy VI you play the lone remaining person in the world capable of wielding magic, a thousand years after magic had seemingly disappeared. The world is full of iron, gunpowder and steam engines, and your enemies seek to take and control your magical powers for themselves. If you’re looking for a classic jrpg style game with plenty of hours of gameplay and one of the most epic stories in any rpg to date, give Final Fantasy VI a try. Final Fantasy VI will cost you $15.99, and you can grab the game from the Play Store link.

Dragon Quest VIII

Dragon Quest VIII is a classic jrpg, recreated with 3D visuals and anime stylized graphics, and eventually ported to mobile devices. Just like the original Dragon Quest which was recently released, it plays in portrait mode so you can easily play this game comfortably with one hand. There are over 80 hours of gameplay included, so if you’re looking for a game that will last you a while, this is it. Dragon Quest VIII features the famous tension system in combat, so you can psyche up your character for some stronger attacks. Combine existing items to create entirely new ones in the Alchemy Pot, and build up a team of monsters if you’re tough enough to beat them in them in battle. The kingdom has fallen into a cursed slumber, and you’ll have to embark on an epic journey to stop a crazed, evil magician if you’re to ever set things right. Dragon Quest is by far the steepest game in this list at a cost of $19.99, but the hours of epic gameplay are well worth it. If you’re looking for one of the most epic RPGs to ever hit Android, grab Dragon Quest VIII from the Play Store link.

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Google Chrome Beta Listing on the Play Store Shows Android L Keyboard and other Goodies

We are getting closer and closer to the release of the stable version of Android L. So we’re seeing more and more apps getting updated with Material Design which is the new design language in Android L. Google Chrome Beta has updated their Google Play listing today and added some more Android L goodies in there. These aren’t really part of the app though, as they are status icons, the Android L keyboard and other goodies like that.

As you can see from the screenshots above, you can see the new status bar icons, and the navigation bar as well. What’s interesting though is that the navigation buttons are not the same as what we saw on the leak from Chromium earlier this week. Which means either the build that the Chrome Beta team is using is older than the one that we saw earlier this week. Which is quite possible. You can also see the Android L keyboard, and man does it look nice! This is the light version of the keyboard, it’ll probably switch from light to dark depending on the background of the app.

Other than that, we don’t see a whole lot of new goodies in these screenshots, but we should be seeing a lot more. Android L should be released later this month, and come along with the Nexus 6 from Motorola and the Nexus 9 from HTC. Which we can’t wait for those to become available. Or maybe that’s just me. Right now the rumor for Android L, Nexus 6, and Nexus 9 availability is pointing towards mid October. Which just can’t come soon enough. Right?

How many of you are excited for Android L to become available pretty soon? What about the latest evolution of Nexus? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below.

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Deal: Anker 40W 5-Port Family-Sized Desktop USB Charger – $25.99

Looking for a nice USB hub charger for charging all of your devices? Well here’s a great one from Anker. PowerIQTM technology maximizes compatibility with Android, Apple and other devices by enabling charging speeds of up to 8 amps among 5 ports or 2.4 amps per port. The size of a deck of playing cards (3.6 ¡Á 2.3 ¡Á 1.0in / 9.1 ¡Á 5.8 ¡Á 2.5cm) and unibody design for added portability. Industrial-grade plastic construction and premium circuitry ensure lifetime reliability. Industrial-grade materials and premium circuitry ensure lifetime reliability. 100-240 volt input ideal for international travel.

Anker® 40W 5-Port Family-Sized Desktop USB Charger with PowerIQTM Technology for iPhone 6 5s 5c 5; iPad Air mini; Galaxy S5 S4; Note 3 2; the new HTC One (M8); Nexus and More (Black)

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Deal: SanDisk Ultra 64GB MicroSDXC – $33.99

Do you own the Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note, LG G3, HTC One M8 or another device that has a microSD card slot? Then you might want to pick up this 64GB microSD card from SanDisk. They are offering it for just $33.99 right now and this is a class 10 SD card so it’s going to be plenty fast for recording 4K videos on your smartphone or tablet. Up To 30MB/s Read Speed. 10-Year Warranty. Easily Back Up Files With “SanDisk Memory Zone” App. Compatible For Android Smartphones & Tablets. Class 10 Performance For Full HD Video. Includes SD Adapter.

SanDisk Ultra 64GB MicroSDXC Class 10 UHS Memory Card Speed Up To 30MB/s With Adapter, Frustration-Free Packaging – SDSDQU-064G-AFFP-A [Old Version]

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Angry Birds Developer Rovio Announces Restructuring, Possible Job Losses

Mikael Hed, Chief Executive Office of Rovio, the software development house that introduced us to the successful Angry Birds series, announced today that Rovio are looking to simplify and restructure their business. In his blog post, Mikael explains that, “We are an entrepreneurial company and have been exploring multiple areas. We have been building our team on assumptions of faster growth than have materialized. As a result, we announced today that we plan to simplify our organization around our three key businesses with the highest growth potential: games, media, and consumer products. Unfortunately, we also need to consider possible employee reductions of a maximum of 130 people in Finland (approximately 16% of workforce).” This reads that Rovio has perhaps gotten too big, too quickly and that the anticipated higher growth didn’t materialise. The Angry Birds games have approximately 200 million active players, down from 263 million at the end of 2012 after the successful launch of Angry Birds Star Wars (my personal favourite Angry Birds game).

It may surprise readers to understand the scale of Rovio, which reported revenues of a shade under £130 million for the 2013 financial year (a small increase from 2012). Reported profits fell to around £20 million because the business invested a significant sum into its ToonsTV animation network and the Angry Birds film (due for release in 2016). During 2013, Rovio added three hundred staff and ended the year with 800 on the books. The business has successfully merchandised Angry Birds across the world. Mikael Hed has already announced that he is to step down from the Chief Executive position at the end of the year and is being replaced by a former Nokia marketing manager, Pekka Rentala.

Rovio first released Angry Birds into the smartphone arena back in 2009. Since then, their games have become increasingly sophisticated. Their latest Android game, Angry Birds Stella, was released earlier this month, but it’s difficult to imagine the Angry Birds franchise having much more mileage in it. The tie-in with Star Wars was a clever marketing strategy but the signs are that the world is ready to move on from Angry Birds… and then I remember that I showed my Dad the Angry Birds game as it would help him get used to touchscreens. Three years later he has all of the games on his Sony Z Tablet, which he adores. Perhaps Angry Birds can flap a little longer?

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Watch the Galaxy Note 4 get crushed by Samsung’s 220lb robotic butt [VIDEO]

Always keeping an eye out for any opportunity to stick it Apple whenever they can, Samsung is now attempting to capitalize on the #bendgate fiasco with a new video highlighting their upcoming phablet’s durable construction.

In a rare behind (get it?) the scenes glimpse of their quality control department, Samsung shows us the strenuous tests their Samsung Galaxy Note 4 must undergo to ensure durability — by sitting on the phone repeatedly with a 220 pound robotic butt. Mom-jeans and all.

Samsung just wants the world to know that no matter where you stick the Galaxy Note 4, the phone wont be in much danger. Not like a certain other new phablet on the market. The Korean manufacturer attributes this to the Galaxy Note 4′s magnesium bracket and tough aluminum frame, a frame that’s no stranger to controversy itself.

Some users were in uproar after discovering a gap between the glass and new aluminum frame that surrounds the phone. Despite attempts at making “#gapgate” a thing, Samsung assured users the empty space was normal, even going as far as calling it a feature. Yes, they went there.

You can check out Samsung Tomorrow’s new video below, and be sure to let us know what you think. Did Samsung do a good enough job of driving the point across?

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Cyanogen declines Google’s interest in acquisition, will seek additional funding

Google wants Cyanogen. So does everyone else, but no one will be purchasing the software developer for the foreseeable future. Rather than being acquired by the very interested Sundar Pichai at Google (or any other company), Cyanogenmod is focused on keeping its software open.

Shareholders are being told that Cyanogen is going to seek a $1 billion valuation in its next round of funding. It is a bit surprising to see a massive valuation like that when just $30 million was brought in last year.

On the heels of being a software partner for OnePlus, Cyanogen is reportedly going to provide software for Micromax devices. Another partnership is sure to help Cyanogen’s position as a viable operating system.

Source: The Information

Via: Engadget

Come comment on this article: Cyanogen declines Google’s interest in acquisition, will seek additional funding

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S Pen on the Note 4 is better than ever: Feature Focus

Despite the fact that big phones are all the rage these days, the Note series still has few to no worthy direct competitors. What makes the Note series different from just any old massive handset? The S Pen of course. Yesterday we gave you a first look and unboxing of the Note 4, now we take a closer look at the S Pen in our latest feature focus.

Each iteration of the Note phone family has brought a lot more than just beefed up specs, there’s also plenty of S Pen enhancements both on the software side and even in the design of the pen itself. Without further ado, let’s jump in and take a look:

Improved sensitivity, new pen choices

For the Note 4, the S Pen has been enhanced to have higher level of sensitivity from 1024 levels to 2048. Technical jargon aside, the end result is better control of writing speed, pressure, and angle against the screen allowing the thickness and concentration levels to be customized.

On the software end, that means you now get new pen types like fountain pen an calligraphy pen. As you press harder on the screen, you’ll also notice the stroke gets even thicker to better emulate what your writing would be like when using a real pen or pencil.

S Pen now double as a mouse

If you didn’t already love the S-Pen before, you may be excited about its new mouse feature, which allows you to hold down the S-Pen button and use the pen like a mouse for selecting text, photos, files and more.

As noted in the video, it can also be a big help for streamlining copy-and-paste actions. There’s not a lot more to say about this feature, but for those looking to use the Note 4 productivity, it is pretty epic addition.

Photo Note

Photo Note is a new feature that allows you to take a picture of an image and it will automatically detect and highlight any words contained in the pic. Even better, it can handle images taken at an angle and adjust them so it can detect/highlight the words you wish to capture. From there, you can edit it and add your own revisions.

This could be especially useful if you start a set of notes on paper and want to save them to your phone, while also adding a few changes along the way. This could also be useful for students to get notes off a whiteboard or blackboard and the list goes on.

Air Command

Making a return from the Galaxy Note 3, the Air Command Menu is an important part of the Note experience. At first glance, it might seem about the same as always with familiar options like Action Memo, Image Clip and Screen Write. That said, you’ll still find subtle changes here and there such as Action Memo’s new S Note shortcut that will let you take your action memo straight to S Note.

Probably the biggest new Air Command feature is Smart Select, however, which lets you use the pen like scissors — so to speak. In other words, you can cut out parts of what’s on your display and then save these snippets for a bunch of different purposes like sending the snippets in texts, emails and more.

Wrap up

In a nutshell, those are the biggest changes you’ll find with the new S Pen. Overall, the experience is similar to the Note 3, just with a bunch of extra improvements thrown into the mix. Probably the most intriguing of these changes will be the S Pen Mouse function, based on our time with the device, but really all the changes here are welcome.

Be sure to stay tuned to Android Authority where we’ll be having more Note 4 coverage coming down the road, including a full review.

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13 best new Android apps of September 2014

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September is done and over with. It was a fairly exciting month that saw some awesome stuff happen in the Android world. Not the least of which were some awesome Android apps. Here were the best new Android apps of September 2014.

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Angry Birds Stella

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

First up this month is Angry Birds Stella. Yes, I know Angry Birds isn’t the world’s most favorite franchise anymore but the game is still fairly decent. There are over 120 levels, it’s bright and colorful, and it’s great to keep your kids busy on a long car ride. It’s free to play with in app purchases and that makes it a good deal even if it is another Angry Birds game.

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Beach Buggy Racing

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

Beach Buggy Racing is the latest racing game out of Vector Unit and it’s pretty good. It’s a lighthearted kart-style racing game where you can pick up power ups, race through a bunch of tracks, and do other race like things. It’s free to play with in app purchases and Vector Unit does really well with their games so this is worth checking out.

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Complete Ear Trainer

[Price: Free demo / $2.99]

Complete Ear Trainer is a music app that teaches musicians how to listen to music and know what notes are being played. It’s fairly comprehensive and it works kind of like a reference guide mixed with a video game. The design is top notch and it really is one of the best instructional music apps we’ve ever seen. You can demo the app for free.

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Dragon Quest

[Price: $2.99]

Dragon Quest was originally released by Squaresoft back when it was still called Squaresoft back in 1986. Fans of retro games and fans of jRPGs should have a good with this one. It has remastered artwork and the controls have been updated for mobile titles. It’s also fairly cheap for a Square Enix game because it only costs $2.99.

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FIFA 15 Ultimate Team

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

FIFA 15 was released earlier this month. It’s an upgrade to the insanely popular FIFA 14. It comes with improved graphics, more players, and more teams. It’s free to play with in app purchases much like the prior title. The game play is pretty much as good as you’re going to get for a mobile sports game and outside of some early server issues, people seem to be enjoying it.

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Flynx Browser (beta)

[Price: Free]

Flynx Browser is a new app that is in beta right now. If you’ve ever used or heard of Link Bubble, you essentially know how this works. You click on links and they open in little bubbles and you can do whatever you want and come back to the bubble to view the link later. It’s currently totally free which is a good price but it is in beta so beware of bugs.

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Goat Simulator

[Price: $4.99]

Goat Simulator was released earlier this month to positive reviews. In this game you sling, slide, and otherwise goof around as a goat as you simulate its life. It’s a hilarious game where the developers actually keep bugs around if they’re funny enough but they are still fixing at least the ones that make the game not work. You can be a goat and there’s nothing wrong with that.

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Hangouts Dialer

[Price: Free]

Hangouts Dialer reminds us that earlier this month, your Hangouts app can now make phone calls and that Google Voice was integrated into it. This app is actually fairly useless because it just opens up the dialer section of Google Hangouts. Even so, it’s a nice little shortcut to the new feature that you can use instead of your regular phone dialer icon if you so choose.

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Horizon

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

Horizon is a camera application that always shoots in horizontal mode. This is great because vertical videos have always been terrible and this app keeps that from happening. It’s pretty unique and it uses the gyroscope of the device to keep your shot level even as your phone turns. It’s free with in app purchases so why not?

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Month: The Calendar Widget

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

Month is a calendar widget application that allows you to create, you guessed it, calendar widgets. Its claim to fame is its massive theme selection. The free version doesn’t come with all that many themes but you can buy more at your leisure as in app purchases similar to SwiftKey. The widgets look really nice and you can find a theme to match yours most of the time. The actual calendar app is a little minimal but gets the job done. This is great for casual users but hardcore users may want to find something more feature rich.

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Star Wars: Commander

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

If you like Clash of Clans but wished it has more Star Wars then Star Wars Commander is for you. It’s a lot of the same kind of stuff. You build a base with walls and defenses and then you defend against attacks and launch attacks of your own. There are a few unique game features here that you don’t get in Clash of Clans. It’s free and it’s Star Wars and that means it’s worth checking out.

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Topeka

[Price: Free]

Topeka is a new quiz game that came out this last month. As a quiz game it’s pretty average but the real story here is the design. It was released by Chrome Apps for Mobile and it’s actually an HMTL game that’s been converted for Android and uses the latest Material Design. It’s pretty fun and it looks really good so check it out.

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Watch Over Me

[Price: Free with in app purchases]

Watch Over Me is our last item this month and it’s pretty useful. This is a GPS app that will alert your loved ones if you don’t do something at a certain time. Let’s say you go for a run and you tell the app that you’ll be back in 30 minutes. If you don’t disarm it in 30 minutes, the app sends your last known GPS coordinates to your emergency contact and lets them know you didn’t check in. This is great for anyone who lives in a bad neighborhood or anyone who has health issues.

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Wrap up

If we missed any awesome Android apps that were released this month, leave us a comment and let us know!

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