Android By Ryan Whitwam Nov. 21, 2013 10:05 am
Android’s app selection has come a long way in the last few years. Things have progressed so much that many of the top developers get their apps in Google Play at the same time as Apple’s App Store. Android’s user base is big enough that even reaching a small segment can result in big sales, which leads to money for the developer and frequent updates for the apps. Still, that doesn’t mean you should lay your money or time on the line without doing some research into the best new Android apps.
We’ve done all the legwork for you by installing and testing anything and everything. Here are the best new apps and games we’ve come across on Android.*(Check out the gallery above for images.)
[h=3]Anomaly 2[/h]If you’re sick and tired of tower defense games, Anomaly 2 might be just what you need to break free of the boredom. This game turns the tower defense trope on its head by putting you in control of a convoy of powerful military vehicles traversing level after level of alien defense turrets — Anomaly 2 shows you what tower defense is like from the other side.
The game takes place against a backdrop of alien invasion, and humans lost. Your goal is to assemble a team of scientists and retrieve a superweapon that can vanquish the alien menace once and for all. At your disposal are a number of vehicles with their own distinct attacks and strengths. This isn’t just about brute force, though. Your units can flip back and forth between two different modes, one of which is usually a giant walking robot.
Building and transforming the squad is imperative to survive in Anomaly 2. You need to understand when each mode is called for based on the positioning and type of towers you’re going up against. There are also multiple paths you can take to the goal, which can be the difference between a clear victory and crushing defeat.
Anomaly 2 is a 1.5GB download, and your device needs to have some horsepower to run it — this is a very pretty game. The level of detail in the background and the units is stunning. Even zooming in there are no corners cut and no hints of rough edges. This, along with the compelling gameplay is enough to justify the $4.99 price tag.
[h=3]CM Installer[/h]Cyanogen Inc. hopes to make a viable business out of the popular custom ROM, and part of the strategy involves making it easier to get CyanogenMod installed on devices. After a bit of testing, the CM Installer app was recently added to Google Play for everyone to enjoy. Well, technically you can only enjoy it if you have one of the supported phones.
The CM Installer currently works on the Nexus 4, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013), Nexus 10, Nexus S, as well as most versions of the HTC One, Galaxy Note II, and Galaxy S4. The app is paired with a desktop PC client that pushes the actual installation files to the device. CM Installer for Android explains the process of getting the device ready to be detected by the PC and acts as a connector with the desktop client.
All you have to do in order to get started is install the app and let it scan the device. It will direct you to the website to grab the Windows client, which downloads the correct ROM, recovery, and Google Apps package. When the app says it’s time to plug the device in, the desktop client will start the unlock and installation process.
You don’t have to have an unlocked bootloader ahead of time — the CM Installer can do that for you. Some devices might need to have the process run after the bootloader unlock, but a Nexus should make it through in one shot. If things go smoothly, the entire process can be completed in just a few minutes. After the ROM is installed, it will get OTA updates from the CyanogenMod project automatically.
[Read on for our full coverage of CyanogenMod Inc. and the CM Installer app.]
[h=3]Rayman Fiesta Run[/h]
Rayman Fiesta Run is a side-scrolling platformer, but don’t write it off quite yet. Unlike most other platformers, this title has a very interesting, fluid brand of gameplay. With a series of taps, you send Rayman leaping and sliding through the varied levels like a choreographed dance.
This is a platformer without all the extraneous bits — it’s just about timing your moves correctly and playing the level perfectly. How do you know if it’s perfect? You don’t just have to survive each stage in Rayman Fiesta Run, you also have to collect the glowing Lums floating throughout the stage. There are 100 per stage, and the more you collect, the faster you’ll unlock more levels.
The controls start off very simple and the game adds new elements as you progress. It never really gets complicated, though. You have a jump control, attack, and a long-press to hover. Just timing these skills correctly blends together into a series of movements that really flow. The gameplay almost looks like a pre-rendered animation.
The level design and graphical quality is also excellent. Rayman Fiesta Run is $2.99 in Google Play, and it’s one of the coolest platformers you’ll find.
Next page: More new Android apps that you should download…
More...
We’ve done all the legwork for you by installing and testing anything and everything. Here are the best new apps and games we’ve come across on Android.*(Check out the gallery above for images.)
[h=3]Anomaly 2[/h]If you’re sick and tired of tower defense games, Anomaly 2 might be just what you need to break free of the boredom. This game turns the tower defense trope on its head by putting you in control of a convoy of powerful military vehicles traversing level after level of alien defense turrets — Anomaly 2 shows you what tower defense is like from the other side.
The game takes place against a backdrop of alien invasion, and humans lost. Your goal is to assemble a team of scientists and retrieve a superweapon that can vanquish the alien menace once and for all. At your disposal are a number of vehicles with their own distinct attacks and strengths. This isn’t just about brute force, though. Your units can flip back and forth between two different modes, one of which is usually a giant walking robot.
Building and transforming the squad is imperative to survive in Anomaly 2. You need to understand when each mode is called for based on the positioning and type of towers you’re going up against. There are also multiple paths you can take to the goal, which can be the difference between a clear victory and crushing defeat.
Anomaly 2 is a 1.5GB download, and your device needs to have some horsepower to run it — this is a very pretty game. The level of detail in the background and the units is stunning. Even zooming in there are no corners cut and no hints of rough edges. This, along with the compelling gameplay is enough to justify the $4.99 price tag.
[h=3]CM Installer[/h]Cyanogen Inc. hopes to make a viable business out of the popular custom ROM, and part of the strategy involves making it easier to get CyanogenMod installed on devices. After a bit of testing, the CM Installer app was recently added to Google Play for everyone to enjoy. Well, technically you can only enjoy it if you have one of the supported phones.
The CM Installer currently works on the Nexus 4, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013), Nexus 10, Nexus S, as well as most versions of the HTC One, Galaxy Note II, and Galaxy S4. The app is paired with a desktop PC client that pushes the actual installation files to the device. CM Installer for Android explains the process of getting the device ready to be detected by the PC and acts as a connector with the desktop client.
All you have to do in order to get started is install the app and let it scan the device. It will direct you to the website to grab the Windows client, which downloads the correct ROM, recovery, and Google Apps package. When the app says it’s time to plug the device in, the desktop client will start the unlock and installation process.
You don’t have to have an unlocked bootloader ahead of time — the CM Installer can do that for you. Some devices might need to have the process run after the bootloader unlock, but a Nexus should make it through in one shot. If things go smoothly, the entire process can be completed in just a few minutes. After the ROM is installed, it will get OTA updates from the CyanogenMod project automatically.
[Read on for our full coverage of CyanogenMod Inc. and the CM Installer app.]
[h=3]Rayman Fiesta Run[/h]
Rayman Fiesta Run is a side-scrolling platformer, but don’t write it off quite yet. Unlike most other platformers, this title has a very interesting, fluid brand of gameplay. With a series of taps, you send Rayman leaping and sliding through the varied levels like a choreographed dance.This is a platformer without all the extraneous bits — it’s just about timing your moves correctly and playing the level perfectly. How do you know if it’s perfect? You don’t just have to survive each stage in Rayman Fiesta Run, you also have to collect the glowing Lums floating throughout the stage. There are 100 per stage, and the more you collect, the faster you’ll unlock more levels.
The controls start off very simple and the game adds new elements as you progress. It never really gets complicated, though. You have a jump control, attack, and a long-press to hover. Just timing these skills correctly blends together into a series of movements that really flow. The gameplay almost looks like a pre-rendered animation.
The level design and graphical quality is also excellent. Rayman Fiesta Run is $2.99 in Google Play, and it’s one of the coolest platformers you’ll find.
Next page: More new Android apps that you should download…
More...
