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Tesco trials in-store sat nav Android app
Supermarket looking for guinea pigs to test the prototype app
Supermarket giants Tesco has earmarked Android as the mobile platform to test its new prototype in-store navigation app – and it’s recruiting volunteers to put the as yet unnamed app through its paces. Tesco has set up its newly developed sat nav system already in one store, the Tesco Extra in Romford (Gallows Corner), North East London, so all it needs now is some willing Android smartphone-toting customers. read more
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Mozilla Firefox 5.0 for Android gets beta release
Web browsing performance given fine tune but where's the Flash?
Mozilla’s Android web browser Firefox 4.0 shed its beta skin as recently as the end of March. Followers of Life of Android will know we didn’t think much of the beta app or the final version proper. It was serviceable enough but when compared to rival apps Skyfire, Dolphin HD and the Opera duo, it fell short – which is a little unfathomable when its desktop version is so awesome. Still, Mozilla is giving up that easily and is back with Firebox 5.0 for Android Beta.
Looking at the updated version, the improvements appear to be centred on performance and bug fixes rather than any major new features. We’re told pages should load faster over a 3G connection while panning and transition animations are slicker than before. Compatibility with the popular SwiftKey keyboard app is now sorted and you can now opt out of online behavioural tracking so your web activity isn’t monitored by visiting the preference menu. read more
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Gameloft teases with trailer for new 9mm Android game
LA crime needs cleaning up. Are you the cop for the job?
After celebrating a return to the Android Market, the ever prolific mobile games publisher Gameloft is back in the news with a new title – although right now it’s not being too forthcoming with the details. The company has sneaked out a trailer for 9mm – another 3D HD action romp in the vein of another one of the publisher’s title, Gangstar Miami Vindication. But this time round it looks like you play the role of the cop rather than the criminal plus it looks a lot slicker. In fact all the info we have is what you see on the video footage below – so most of it is just pure guesswork. read more
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Napster takes on Spotify with new music streaming Android app
Illegal-turned-legit music service has second stab at the mobile game
Famed music service provider Napster isn’t new to the mobile game. If our creaking memory serves us well,it launched a subs-based Napster-to-Go offering that let you download and play songs from its store on a mobile device, back in the day. Now it’s returning to the scene with a new Android app that should put the willies up market psoter boy Spotify. Like its rival, the free Napster Unlimited plus Mobile app lets you wirelessly stream songs to your Android smartphone or Honeycomb tablet (and online) over Wi-Fi or 3G for £10 a month.
With over 15 million songs in its locker, Napster has a catalogue to rival Spotify. The NUPM app also sports some neat features to break your listening habits including access to official charts, new releases, recommendations, the service’s Top 100 most popular songs and Napster’s own radio station. read more
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Angry Birds Rio Beach Volley update now available to ALL Android users
Rovio Mobile also hints at future location-based features
Exactly a week ago Rovio Mobile announced on Twitter that the Angry Birds Rio May instalment, Beach Volley, would be available to Android users to download. What the Finnish-based gaming developer neglected to make clear the update was only available to U.S. customers of Amazon Appstore. There were a few choice words expelled over here at Life of Android HQ after we found out. Thankfully, after a seven day wait the Amazon exclusive has been lifted and all ABR fans can now download Beach Volley. Once these 30 levels are completed, you will have to wait until July for your next fix. read more