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Click the image above to watch the video on YouTube!
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Android Apps you shouldn't miss this week
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realMyst
realMyst is a port of the original PC game Myst. It's been updated from its original version and it's even better.
Download from Google Play
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Sky Dancer
Sky Dancer is an infinite runner where you jump across platforms from far up into the sky. It also features huge jumps.
Download from Google Play
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Core
Core is a mobile entertainment network that is made specifically for gamers that keeps you up to date on live streamers.
Download from Google Play
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Fender Guitar Tuner
Fender released their first application. It's a guitar tuner app and we think that's wildly apropos. It also works well.
Download from Google Play
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Pokemon Duel
Pokemon Duel is the latest official mobile Pokemon game. It's been out in Japan for a while and received an English translated version out of the blue. It's having some release issues but it could be fun.
Download from Google Play
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Headlines this week
- Facebook is officially putting ads in Facebook Messenger. The company plans on rolling out a trial run to users in Australia and Thailand in the coming weeks. The good news is that the ads won't show up in conversations and advertisers won't be able to message people randomly. The bad news is that they can if you message the company first. We'll learn more after Facebook is done with their little trial run.
- Google is currently fighting a new set of ads that automatically download apps. They are called "self clicking ads". Google removed a few thousand of these ads in 2015, and then had to remove over 23,000 in 2016. That's a pretty clear indication that the problem is getting worse. The report went on to show that Google removed 1.7 billion bad ads in 2016. It's a fight that'll take some time to fix, but at least we know about it.
- An interesting piece of ransomware made its way to the Play Store. The app would open, ask for permissions to your contacts and SMS messages, and then give you a message that the info was up for ransom. Thankfully, the app was found and removed before it caused any serious damage. It goes to show that some trouble can still appear in the Play Store although these occurrences are rare and are usually found quickly.
- Google's Daydream platform is now open season for app developers. Previously, only a select few partners were allowed to publish apps or games for the platform. There will be an approval process for Daydream apps to make sure they are up to Google's standards. That should help keep the experience consistent between apps. This should also dramatically increase the content available for the headsets in a very short period of time.
- As it turns out, VPNs on Android really need to step up their game. A research study came out this week that shows a lot of VPNs aren't doing a great job at what they're supposed to be doing. To give you an idea of how bad it is, 18% of VPNs don't encrypt traffic whatsoever, 84% leak traffic, and most of them use third-party tracking. Considering that people use VPNs to avoid literally all of those things, this is highly disappointing.
- The Banner Saga 3 has launched its official kickstarter. The series is among the best strategy RPGs ever made and it looks like we're getting a third one. The campaign has raised over 75% of its goal in just a few days and we expect it to be about done by the time you see this. The initial release will be for Mac and PC with other platforms coming out later.
- Apparently, putting emoji descriptions in your apps may lead to more downloads.
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Additional app releases, announcements, and deals
- There is going to be a new Power Rangers game coming out soon. Word is that it'll coincide with the upcoming Power Rangers movie. It'll most likely be a freemium title that also features online multiplayer fighting. We don't know if it'll be actual fighting like SoulCalibur, or the less interesting tap-to-fight style like Mortal Kombat X. You can pre-register for the game if you want to. It should be out sometime in March.
- It was announced this week that the team behind the intensely popular Alto's Adventure is coming out with a snowboarding game. The game will be called Skate City. Based on the footage, it'll be a 2D runner with 3D graphics. It also appears as though you'll be able to perform tricks. The game should be out sometime in 2017 and it'll be one of the better free-to-play games if Alto's Adventure was any indication.
- You can now pre-register for a game called Spellsouls which is a card-based MOBA!
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