Pocket Gamer Guide to Mobile Games / Issue 16

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Woody and chums are back!

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The A-Team Snake Reloaded Ridge Racer Drift Guitar Hero 5 Mobile: More Music Downtown Texas Hold ‘em Zuma’s Revenge Speedway 2010

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il a v a w o n n io s r e v Exclusive Mobile

Read the reviews while waiting in queues!

Our pick of the best mobile games going The hottest games from the latest issue of this magazine

Get the latest buzz on the bus!

Check the ratings in your meetings!

News, reviews and more Get Pocket Gamer on yo ur mobile now: Text PGAMER M OB to 60300

Fill your brain while on the train!

Type www.pocketgamer.co.uk/mob into your mobile web browser Texts cost 25p and your operator may apply data charges for mobile web browsing

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Issue 16 September 2010º

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The A-Team Snake Reloaded Ridge Racer Drift Guitar Hero 5: More Music Downtown Texas Hold ‘em Zuma’s Revenge Speedway 2010

Woody and chums are back!

©Disney/Pixar. All rights reserved.

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A gorgeously powerful

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Your Guide To Mobile Games is published by Steel Media Ltd. For advertising or other enquiries relating to the magazine contact Chris James – chris@steelmedia.co.uk All information is correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission of Steel Media Ltd. No responsibility will be accepted for any errors or omissions, or comments made by the writers. Views expressed are not necessarily the views of the operator. ©2010 Steel Media Ltd.

Welcome to issue 16 of the Pocket Gamer guide to mobile games, brought to you by the team of experts at www.pocketgamer.co.uk.

So, Toy Story 3. The film event of the summer wouldn’t have been complete without an accompanying game on mobile, of course, and we’re happy to give you the lowdown on Woody’s Wild Ride in this month’s news.

Elsewhere, you’ll find our usual selection of the finest mobile titles currently available, with a special focus this issue on Android games (in addition to our regular batch of suggested Android apps – see page 18).

And continuing the Android theme, we’ve also checked out the gorgeous Galaxy S from Samsung (which you can win on page 20). Enjoy.

João Diniz Sanches Editor-in-chief | Pocket Gamer

SEPTEMBER 2010

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

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One

Zenonia Developer: Gamevil Publisher: Gamevil

One of the finest games currently available on the Android Market, Zenonia raises the bar of what is expected of role-playing games on mobile. The plot may first appear to conform to Generic Fantasy 101 but, like so much else in this title, it hides an intelligence and cleverness that puts most other titles in the genre to shame.

Gorgeous to look at, insanely addictive, fast, fun and very long, Gamevil's title sets the benchmark for all subsequent action RPGs on the Android platform to beat.

4

In association with

Buka

Military Madness

The story of Buka is a sad one. A cute little sentient orb, she finds herself far away from her home and looks to you to guide her safely through the hazardous reaches of outer space. Buka’s quest is lengthy and fraught with peril, but it offers an experience that is almost out of this world in terms of enjoyment. Addictive gameplay, polished presentation and a great use of the touchscreen result in a game of cosmic proportions. This is a must-have download for your Android phone.

They say war is good for absolutely nothing but video game designers may disagree – and Military Madness proves the case. Two opposing armies face off on the surface of the Moon with the shared objective of blowing each other to smithereens. At your disposal are a number of varying units, each with different strategic qualities, and you must take it in turns to try and outsmart the competition. It's intense, intelligent and absorbing tactical gameplay for all wannabe pocket Pattons.

Two

Developer: Hexage Publisher: Hexage

Developer: Hudson Soft Publisher: Hudson Soft

Six Two

Five

Two

Three Four

Four

Deal or No Deal:

Five

Six

Around the World

Archipelago Twiggle Developer: Second Gear Games Publisher: Awesome Android Apps

Developer: Future Primitives Publisher: Future Primitives

Deal or No Deal really shouldn’t work as a gameshow. There’s no skill involved, other than being able to say numbers out loud. But it does work because of the way it’s presented – the tense psychological battles with the Banker and the contestant’s fear of walking away with just a few pennies create moments of real anxiety. How does that transfer across onto Android? Surprisingly well, as it happens. This is great fun to play and fans will appreciate its simple but effective gameplay.

Forgive the generalisation, but when it comes to real-time strategy players it often seems like they feel their games can never be too complicated. That’s a shame because as captivating as an RTS experience can be, its complexity will inevitably put off as many people as it attracts. But turn away no longer, casual strategy fans, because Archipelago is here. It's the RTS genre refined into incredibly simplistic gameplay, meaning it shines as an immediately accessible and compulsively playable title.

In this colourful puzzler your only control option is to rotate blocks of cute little blobs. The objective, it might not surprise you to read, is to match up three or more in a straight line. Nothing massively revolutionary, granted, but Twiggle is a highly encouraging marriage of a simple concept with top-notch execution that lends itself brilliantly to short bursts of play. Combine it with striking looks, a rock-solid touchscreen interface and really addictive nature, and this will easily fill any 'few spare minutes' moments.

Developer: I-play Publisher: I-play

SEPTEMBER 2010

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

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The latest from around the world of mobile...

Toy Story 3: Woody’s Wild Ride Disney Mobile

Buzzing!

The toys are back in town

If you had plans this summer, Toy Story 3 probably disrupted them.

In a move that most likely frightened rival studio execs from stepping out of their Hollywood hills mansions all season, Pixar’s latest offering – and the third film in a series generally regarded as near-perfect – stampeded onto every silver screen across the land, delighting young and old with its brilliant mix of animated toy-based fun.

But what do you do when the cinema kicks you out in between screenings and you’re still craving the gorgeous company of Woody and chums? You dig out your phone and play the mobile game of the film, of course.

Toy Story 3: Woody’s Wild Ride isn’t a gentle trot through digital landscapes, however. In this all-action affair, Dr Porkchop has swooped down in a flying saucer and kidnapped your sweetheart, Bo Peep. As Woody, along with trusty steed, Bullseye, you must ride through the rugged Wild West terrain or soar through the skies as Buzz Lightyear to save her – providing you collect star badges, leap over obstacles and avoid traps along the way.

It’s up to you to save the day!

6

In association with

Age of Empires III:

1

The Asian Dynasties

Fully fledged RTS game on your mobile – no strategy fan should miss it.

Splinter Cell: Conviction

2

Superb action/stealth game that remains inventive from start to finish.

3

Mystery Mania

A unique and drop-dead gorgeous point-and-click puzzler that’s full of personality and charm. Essential.

4

Ferrari GT 2: Revolution

Sleek, smart and thrilling – the perfect racer for mobile speed demons.

5

Army Men: Mobile Ops

Simply sublime strategic, all-action, toy-flavoured war on you mobile.

6

Fieldrunners

Startlingly complete version of the popular tower defence game that lands on Java beach ready to rumble.

7

Edge

Oozing quality from every pixel, a brilliant mobile puzzle game without a single notable chink in its armour.

8

Gish Mobile

As perfect a platform game as you’ll find on mobile. Bags of personality and a superlative adventure.

9

Pac-Man CE

A retro remake that pays sincere homage to the original – Pac-Man Championship Edition is a must-own.

10

Tetris Revolution

This isn’t a revolution. It is, however, one of the finest versions of Tetris ever made. No small achievement.

The A-Team GameHouse

Find ‘em... …hire ‘em!

Children of the ‘80s have got it great lately, with a number of classic TV series of the era making a comeback in both the small and big screens. But ‘small’ isn’t a word that forms part of The A-Team’s vocabulary, which is why the much-loved series is rolling out across cinemas as an all-action fest designed to enthral new and old(er) generations alike.

The mobile game of the film doesn’t mess with the plan. You get to play as Hannibal, Murdock, Face or, of course, Mr T and use each of the characters’ specific skills in order to right society’s wrongs. In A-Team fashion, that just means shooting bad guys and blowing up stuff. A lot of stuff.

Whether or not you’ll get a mini-game in which you have to build a tank from a handful of kitchen roll tubes, tea trays and kettle cords remains to be seen. But we live in hope.

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Snake Reloaded Digital Chocolate

Hiss-toric Souped up slithering What Pong is to video gaming, Snake is to mobile gaming. As the first game many owners of mobiles in the late 1990s got to experience on their phones, Snake has every right to have slithered its way up the mobile gaming evolutionary tree.

However, that doesn’t mean it can’t climb higher and with this update Digital Chocolate is hoping to help it do just that. Wisely, the core concept hasn’t been touched – so you still control a snake around the screen, eating objects to grow in length while avoiding taking a bite

SEPTEMBER 2010

out of your own tail. But you can now expect 16 levels of multiscreen mazes, a new score multiplier structure and new obstacles such as locked doors, collapsing blocks and even teleports. Even classics have to slide along with the times…

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

7

e h t t u o k e Se

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In association with

Meet a mobile that boldly goes where no mobile has gone before In an ever-expanding universe of mobile handsets it becomes increasingly difficult for any new phone to stand out and be noticed. But Samsung’s new Galaxy S is no ordinary new phone, its sleek, ergonomic, uncluttered look showcased beautifully by a design that’s just 9.9mm thick – the thinnest of any smartphone to date – guaranteeing it immediate attention the moment it warps into view.

Capturing the gaze of envious onlookers will be the outstanding SuperAMOLED 4-inch multi-touch widescreen display that revels in displaying photos and high-definition video, courtesy of the fastest graphics processor in any Android phone.

Powering the experience is Samsung’s equally robust 1GHz processor, meaning the Galaxy S will laugh in the face of any applications you throw at it.

And using the device is a breeze thanks to its Android 2.1 operating system (see above, right), which makes multitasking effortless – so you can play music while browsing the web, for example.

Perhaps the most impressive feat of the Galaxy S, however, is how quickly it becomes the centre of your universe.

Whether it’s starting the day by catching up on the latest news, checking out your schedule, navigating your way to work, finding a new place to have lunch or managing all of your social commitments, Samsung’s phone handles your lifestyle with ease.

And when it comes to content, there’s a planet-sized range of apps waiting for you on Android Market. It’s just one of the many reasons why embarking on the Galaxy S journey will take you to a brave new world of mobile ownership.

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Galaxy S awards

Explore the Galaxy S features: SuperAMOLED screen

• 4-inch wide display • 480x800 WVGA resolution • Superior contrast,

clearer picture, wider viewing angle

Stylish, sleek design

• 64.2 x 122.4 x 9.9mm • Just 119g Camera & video

Social Hub

• Integrates SNS, email

and calendar accounts

Wireless tethering

• No internet connection signal? No problem

Car Mode

• Google Maps Navigation guides you to your chosen destination

Augmented Reality

• Layar AR browser compatibility to

explore your • 5-megapixel, surroundings with 720p HD video Samsung Around Me • Auto-focus, numerous shot modes and effects • Powered by Tele Atlas • Second front-facing Memory VGA camera • 8GB internal, support

SWYPE Write & Go

•

he fastest way to T send one message to multiple destinations

SEPTEMBER 2010

for up to 32GB external

Connectivity

• Bluetooth, WAP, UBS, SyncML, AGPS, Wi-fi

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

9

Want more for your mobile?

om the fr s w e n e il b o All the m ing world, as it happens mobile gam ases Reviews of the latest game rele Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide In-depth feature exclusive interv s and iews

Also available on your mobile

k/mob tgamer.co.u www.pocke

Download a game from

Step 1: Get on the net Open your phone’s web browser from the main menu. If it doesn’t go straight to T-Mobile’s site, enter the following address: www.t-zones.co.uk.

Wait a few seconds for the page to load and you’ll see a collection of nine icons on the screen, one of which will be Games. Move the on-screen cursor or link highlighter over it.

G et loads more at es ‘How to’ guid

k tgamer.co.u www.pocke

No.1 The world’s ing m a g mobile website

Step 2: Pick a category

Step 3: Pick a game

Click on the Games icon and a new page that enables you to start looking for a game to download will open. You can view new games, the Top 10 bestsellers and a selection of other groups; scroll down the page to see what takes your fancy. When you see a category of games that you like, click on the Go link.

You’ll be taken to a page listing the games within the selected category and you can scroll down to view them all. To learn more about an individual game, click on its title and you’ll see a brief description along with the relevant picture.

Step 4: Get on the net

Step 5: Time to play

If you’re on a Pay Monthly contract, the price of the game will be added to your monthly bill. If you’re a Pay-As-You-Go customer, make sure you’ve got enough credit on your account to pay for the game! As long as that’s the case, you’ll be prompted to download and install your chosen game.

Download and save the game, but don’t start it until you’ve exited your mobile phone’s internet browser.

You can start your new game by going to your phone’s main menu and looking in the Games or Applications section, depending on the make of your handset. (And don’t worry if someone rings you – the game will pause, enabling you to take the call!)

Once you’re ready to buy a game, simply click on the ‘Buy now!’ link.

Terms and Conditions: You will be advised of the price of the game before purchase.

You require a compatible handset to download these games. If your handset is not compatible, you will not be charged.

SEPTEMBER 2010

Go to >>

Check out pa 4 for great gamge to download NOes W! www.pocketgamer.co.uk

11

Download a game from

Step 1: Go to Vodafone Live

Step 2: Browse games menu

If you’re looking to download a game, the first step is to go to the Vodafone Live portal. How depends on your phone: some have a dedicated Vodafone Live button on the handset itself, while others require pressing one of the soft-keys under the screen. Once there, you’ll see the portal’s homepage.

Scroll down to find the Games link, which takes you to the portal’s main games page. There, you’ll be able to access this week’s special offers, as well as direct links to What’s New, Top 10 Games, and the Game of the Week. Games are updated on Fridays, so it’s worth checking back weekly.

Step 3: Check out games

Step 4: Get more info

Clicking on one of the links takes you to a list of games in that category, showing a picture (usually of the title screen), a price, and a link to get more information. This is a good way to get a quick overview of what’s available and how much it might cost, especially if you’re browsing by game genre.

Clicking on a game’s More Info link takes you through to its page, where you’ll find more screenshots of the game, and information on what it’s about. You’ll also notice a review score at the bottom of the page supplied by Pocket Gamer, with a link to click through to the full review of the title.

Step 5: Buy your game

Step 6: Download it NOW!

If you’re on a Pay Monthly contract, the price of the game will be added to your monthly bill. If you’re a Pay-As-You-Go customer, make sure you’ve got enough credit on your account to pay for the game. As long as that’s the case, you’ll be prompted to download and install your chosen game.

Once payment has gone through, it’s time to download your game. The exact method varies from phone to phone, but usually you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to download the game, and then sometimes you’ll be asked where you want to save it – in Games or Applications is usually the best choice.

Terms and Conditions: You will be advised of the price of the game before purchase.

You require a compatible handset to download these games. If your handset is not compatible, you will not be charged.

12

In association with

Download a game from Step 1: Get on the net If you’re looking to download mobile games, the first step is to go to the Planet 3 portal. This depends on your phone: some have a dedicated Planet 3 button on the handset itself, others require pressing one of the keys under the screen. Once there, you’ll see the portal’s homepage.

G et loads more at es ‘How to’ guid

k tgamer.co.u www.pocke

No.1 The world’s ing m a g ile b mo website

Step 2: Pick a category

Step 3: Pick a game

It’s free to browse. Scroll down to find the games icon, which takes you to the portal’s main games page.

There, you’ll be able to access to hundreds of games from as little as 99p including the latest new games, Top 10 games, top deals, as well as a direct link to games split by genre (puzzle, action, retro, etc). Games are updated on Thursdays, so it’s worth checking back every week.

Clicking on one of the links takes you to a list of games in that category, showing a picture (usually of the title screen), a price, and a link to get more information. This is a good way to get a quick overview of what’s available and how much it might cost, especially if you’re browsing by genre.

Step 4: Get on the net

Step 5: Time to play

Clicking on a game’s ‘More info’ link takes you through to its dedicated page, where you’ll find more screenshots of the game, and information on what it is about.

Clicking on ‘Buy Game’ pays for the game, either taking the money from your account balance (if you’re Pay As You Go) or adding it to your monthly bill.

Once payment has gone through, it’s time to download the game. The exact method varies from phone to phone, but usually you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to download the game. You may be asked where you want to save your game – within Games or Applications is usually the best choice.

Terms and Conditions: You will be advised of the price of the game before purchase.

You require a compatible handset to download these games. If your handset is not compatible, you will not be charged.

SEPTEMBER 2010

Go to >>

Check out pa 4 for great gamge to download NOes W! www.pocketgamer.co.uk

13

mobile Rounding up the hottest games available now

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7

14

In association with

Guitar Hero 5:

More Music

Speedway

2010

Developer: Glu Mobile Publisher: Glu Mobile Format: Java

More money

Developer: Vivid Games Publisher: Connect2Media Format: Java

Guitar Hero 5 Mobile, for the hermits who have recently installed an internet connection in their cave, is a rhythmaction game in which the player times button presses to falling notes on screen accompanied by a selection of popular music hall songs.

Right turn Do ovals in motor racing instantly make you reach for the remote whenever you see them on TV?

Guitar Hero 5 Mobile: More Music is exactly the same, only with more songs.

For a faraway observer there just doesn’t appear to be any skill involved. Yet in reality oval racing isn’t just about turning left. It’s about angles, the quality and slope of the ground, tyre pressures, and the other drivers all competing for the best line and ideal speed. One error and it’s the rude awakening of a solid barrier, not a mile of gravel traps.

The good news is that, like the original, this doesn’t necessarily mean a tonne of MIDI-sounding beepy tracks, as More Music also allows downloading of the ‘proper’ tunes if you’re on a reasonable data plan/wi-fi connection. This instantly makes songs like Blur’s ‘Song 2’, Duran Duran’s ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, and Gorillaz’s ‘Feel Good Inc’ far more enjoyable to play along to than pretty much every other competing rhythm-action game on mobile.

Will that transfer onto a mobile game?

Well, Speedway 2010 overcomes the sport’s restricted oval template and keeps things really fun to play. The key to this is the bike’s handling and clever ways of including tasks such as the kick-start as part of the gameplay. Throw in careful details such as bikes swerving out further on worn tyres and slipping on the wetter, muddier parts of the oval and you’ve got intense racing action.

This makes Guitar Hero 5 Mobile: More Music one of the best examples of the genre on mobile. For anyone coming into the game fresh, the extended track listing of this release means More Music is definitely the version to pick over the standard GH5. Those that already have the original, however, may want to hold fire.

Guitar Hero 5 More Music does exactly what it says in the title – adds more tunes to the GH5 track listing – perfect for Newcomers

7

10

a great interpretation of a niche sport that deserves to be played by a far larger audience

SEPTEMBER 2010

8

10

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

15

Farm Frenzy Developer: HeroCraft Publisher: HeroCraft Format: Java A healthy crop The aim of Farm Frenzy is to balance the micro-economy of a farm so that your animals’ raw goods are turned into varying layers of final produce, like cakes and yarn.

As well as manually managing the whole process, every mission has a tight time-limit, and pesky bears will occasionally appear to kill your creatures and thoroughly mess everything up.

It’s hectic stuff, and Farm Frenzy will suck you into its agricultural world like only well-designed games can.

Farm Frenzy is an absorbing, tough and fun to play time management/ economics hybrid

8

10

Johnny Bravo: Big Babe Adventure Developer: GlobalFun Publisher: GlobalFun Format: Java Johnny B good Big Babe Adventure starts with chauvinistic and narcissistic Johnny seeking out women at a chick-flick so he can find one in tears that’ll fall into his arms.

This plan backfires when they’re all kidnapped and taken to a secret lab where an Evil Scientist™ hopes to extract their youth and use it for himself.

An adventure worthy of the cartoon then ensues… good puzzles, characters, and tricky obstacles go a long way to making this a fun adventure game

16

In association with

7

10

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo Developer: Capcom Mobile Publisher: Gameloft Format: Java Battle of wits The idea of mixing fighting with puzzle games isn’t a new one. For hundreds of years people have faced each other across a chess board, fighting imaginary wars through cunning rather than brute force.

When Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo was released into arcades some 14 years ago, though, it presented a rather more surprising mix of fisticuffs and puzzling. Here was a Tetris-style match-three puzzler imbued with the characters and one-on-one premise of a Capcom beat ‘em up. It was an odd match, but a successful one.

What makes the game so alluring is its unique twist on the match-three formula. While you form large blocks from falling coloured gems as in many similar games, these blocks won’t disappear straight away. Rather, you have to wait until a ‘Crash Gem’ (a flashing gem that appears at random) of the same colour is brought into contact with them. What this leads to is large, screen-filling chain reactionsin-waiting.

It’s what makes this classic hugely satisfying to play and it’s great to see it remains a charming and addictive puzzler on mobile. although familiar, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo is an attractive and supremely playable match-three puzzler

7

10

Downtown Texas Hold ‘em Developer: EA Mobile Publisher: EA Mobile Format: Java

Uptown game The best measure of a poker game isn’t if it has nice graphics, a customisable deck of cards, or a variety of table backgrounds, but how sweaty it makes your palms while playing.

With an excellent poker mechanic, brilliant progression structure and unusual – but very real – sense of risk, Downtown Texas Hold ‘em has the exact ingredients for such emotions.

Marble Madness Developer: Venan Entertain ment Publisher: EA Mobile Forma t: Java

Downtown Texas Hold ‘em plays a mean, excellently presented and engaging game of poker. Go all-in!

On a roll

Although it ignited passions for video gaming in the 1980s, the classic Marble Madness has since been cruelly neglected.

10

Solitaire Deluxe: 16 Pack

Trust EA to produce a timely mobile conversion, and dredge up some childhood memories into the bargain.

Developer: Connect2Media Publisher: Connect2Media Format: Java

The premise is simple: you must manoeuvre a little marble from one end of each twisting course to the other, avoiding vertical drops and odd-shaped enemies along the way.

But this is no simple port. The levels are split between originals and all-new additions, and you can play the main game with either type or a mix of the two.

The only game in town You may already have a solitaire on your mobile but, as Solitaire Deluxe: 16 Pack proves, there is value in revisiting such packages when they go the extra mile.

The 16 variations of solitaire may not differ massively, but by simply serving up its games in such confident and playable form, Solitaire Deluxe: 16 Pack outdoes most of its rivals.

Crucially, Marble Madness retains the timeless solidity that all the best games of old possess, as well as the uncanny ability to keep you coming back for another go. a conservative update of the maze-running original, but this retains the vital elements that hooked us all those years ago

9

7

10

brings no sweeping changes to the table, but is easily one of the most playable card packages out there

SEPTEMBER 2010

7

10

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

17

8

Great APPS

on

To GET now Android

Sky News Developer: BskyB Category: News & Weather

FREE

Say what you like about Sky News’ reporting, the channel knows how to make an impact. With swishing logos, massive ‘breaking news’ news-tickers and dramatic trumpeted theme, it makes even a wacky story about baby otters being adopted by a fox seem important. Sky News for Android takes the channel’s excellent presentation and brings it almost intact onto your handset. It's one of the slickest news apps out there, easy to use and packed with well laid out stories and video articles.

18

In association with

Vignette

Developer: Neilandtheresa Category: Multimedia

PAID

Despite ever increasing megapixel counts, what phone cameras lack are the range of filters/effects that normally come with any modern digital camera. This can be solved with some nifty downloadable software. Vignette adds a whole range of editing options to your Android photos, including borders, filters, effects and an improved UI over the bundled Camera app. The resulting photos are also almost always better, meaning Vignette comes highly recommended to all mobile photographers.

Astro File Manager Developer: Metago Category: Tools

FREE

The next time you’re moaning about how convoluted the Android file and app management is, consider Astro File Manager. It will delete apps, grab file sizes, unpack packages, or check on what may be draining your battery down without you having to trawl through multiple layers of menus.

As a way of performing PC-like tasks on your Android handset its range of features is excellent. It’s also easy to use, meaning Astro File Manager should prove invaluable to most Android owners.

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QuickDesk Developer: Faruq Rasid Category: Tools

FREE

SportyPal Developer: CreationPal Category: Sports

FREE

While it’s all very well to be ‘pushing yourself to the limit’ as one of the self-important energy drink adverts will tell you, if you have no idea how far/hard or fast you went on a workout it can all feel fairly pointless. SportyPal sets out its stall as a time-keeper, a route maker and all-round sporting chum able to tell you not just where the ‘limit’ is, but give you the chance to ‘push’ it. Workouts can be selected from a wide range of disciplines, making this your worthy exercise companion.

Yelp

Developer: Yelp Category: Travel

FREE

There’s no shortage of ways to launch programs on an Android phone. But QuickDesk is a program launcher that you can call from within other programs – a sort of extra home screen that you can populate with essential apps and widgets. It’s an interesting idea, and in practice QuickDesk is useful to the point of becoming an essential app. Being able to quickly access Power Control to tweak brightness settings or toggle GPS without leaving the running app is worth the download alone – and we keep finding new uses for it.

Looking for petrol? The nearest pub? Or perhaps a new place to take your latest date to? Yelp can help. Not only does it offer excellent presentation and great ease of use, it also draws from a database covering a very wide range of activities and places. One key feature is how it integrates both into the phone portion of your handset – touch the number to instantly dial – and how you can quickly bring up its location with directions on Google Maps and share it. Should make organising group visits that much easier.

Akinator

OffiViewer

Developer: Schimob Category: Entertainment

PAID

It’s always the unexpected or unexplainable that impresses us most. Take Akinator, for instance.

It’s essentially a bog-standard '20 Questions' app with a cartoon genie that uses the internet to grab the answer and plants a photo of the chosen person on screen for you to confirm. Despite knowing that it’s using a large database/ Internet links to source its info, the unexpected accuracy of the thing still made us laugh out loud in amazement on many occasions.

It's an app to impress friends with.

SEPTEMBER 2010

Developer: Art of Solving Category: Productivity

FREE

Sometimes there’s just not enough time to look through all your work documents before you speed off home to meet the family/girlfriend/ dog/tv. OffiViewer is an app that promises the ability to view PDF, Word, PowerPoint, RTF, Excel and OpenDocument files on the go for free. Too good to be true? Well, the caveat is that the free service doesn’t use any security at all. Still, given the excellent consistency of the file conversions and generally decent speed, this is a handy app for any overworked commuter.

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

19

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A handset

the world’s slimmest android phone could be you rs!

When it comes to mobiles, ‘Less is more’ is a statement that often rings true. Just witness the fabulously slim lines of the multi award-winning Galaxy S, Samsung’s latest phone to use the Android operating system.

The thinnest mobile in its class it may be, but don’t let its compact appearance fool you – this is one of the most powerful Android handsets yet and comes packed with the greatest and latest features. The massive, brilliant SuperAMOLED screen is just the beginning… State-of-theart specs, HD video recording and playback, Layar Reality Browser, daily briefing, Google Maps Navigation, Swype Write & Go, wireless tethering, social hub integration, huge storage for all your multimedia needs and more. Oh, let’s not forget you also get access to thousands of Android apps.

We take a proper look at the Galaxy S on page 8 so here we’ll just point out that

you’d be dotty not to want to win this awesome phone. From the moment you wake up to the time you return to your bed, the Galaxy S is on call to ease you through the day.

Good luck!

To be in with a chance of getting your hands on a delicious new Samsung Galaxy S, check out the following question and then just send your answer via email or post to the addresses shown below, by the closing deadline of Friday 8th October 2010.

Just how thin is the Samsung Galaxy S? A) 9.9mm B) 10.9mm C) 11.9mm

Terms and conditions apply. Prize image is for illustrative purposes only and details may vary. Editor’s decision is final, and the competition is open to UK residents only.

20

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WHERE TO SEND YOUR ENTRY

If emailing, send your answer along with your name and address to PGcompetitions@ pocketgamer.co.uk with the subject heading ‘Samsung Galaxy S competition’. Or you can enter by postcard (include name, address and a contact number) to the following address: “Pocket Gamer Samsung Galaxy S Competition” Steel Media Ltd The House Kelston Park Bath BA1 9AE

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