News

Hello, again you. My looking good this week! Have you lost weight? Had your hair done? New full-face tattoo? Well, whatever it is, you look all set to take the weekend by the horns, astute Android user!

So what did we learn this week? Well, that you should never call police officers ‘plebs’, that even maths teachers can badly miscalculate things and, of course, that Apple’s Tim Cook recommends Google Maps… which we didn’t see coming.

But that’s just ‘world news’ stuff, what of the glorious realm of the Google OS? Well, we’ve had a full five days of app excellence aplenty and the kind of news that makes life worth living; especially Life of Android. Add to all that a cool competition to boot and your weekend starts here!

That is a new full-face tattoo, isn’t it? Weird, I’m sure I would have noticed it before…

THE APPS

Prince of Persia Classic

We hit the ground running on Monday with the perfect start to any week, as this all-time classic platform player made the massive move from 1989 mould-breaker to go into updated instant Android app ascendancy. Following the ancient Arabian tale of the original, the story may be the same, but the skin and feel are fresh. We spent 1001 nights trying to finish it here.

100 Rooms

Flexing our mental muscles mid-week, we checked in to 100 Rooms with all the confidence of a guest with more than a chance of guessing how to get out. We were so very, very wrong. Using observation, deduction, memory, logic, lateral thinking and good old fashioned mathematics to solve a staggering selection of discombobulating door lock dilemmas, settle in for a long stay…

Bad Piggies

Rovio’s latest release into the Angry Birds arena seen from the other side, the pilfering porkies get their own prequel and a chance to tell their side of the story. Owing its origins to the furious fowl but its puzzler gameplay more to Amazing Alex, prepare to get inventive like never before and save some serious bacon over 60-odd levels of technical trial and error. Check out our chops here.

THE NEWS

MOGA Controller Coming in October

Excellent news for gamers on the go was forthcoming as we launched into the week with tell of the cunning Bluetooth controller for Android apps arriving as soon as next month. Say goodbye to streaky screens and fiddly button frustration from just US $50!

Android Update Brought to Book

Upgrading its Google Books app beyond the reach of the average e-reader, the eye-pleasing update now adds myriad marvels, including the ability to cross-reference tricky words in texts and even learn about locations…

Secret DJ Let’s You Bring the Noise

Because sharing is, apparently, caring, a new very social app lets patrons in pubs and bars pick the playlists and demonstrate their digital DJ endowment to all and sundry. Results may vary.

WIN: CoPilot Live Europe

To celebrate the latest updates on their satnav system par excellence, we climbed into bed with CoPilot on Thursday to offer five lucky LOA readers the chance to win a copy of the Europe version of their marvellous map app each. Open until a week today, follow the link and enter now!

Good Times Roll at Google

Rounding off the week in good style, Wednesday saw Google announce that Android app downloads had passed the 25 billion mark and, as such, wanted to invite us all to the party. Offering top apps for 25p and books and movies for 99p for a limited time only, get over to Google Play now and load up for less.

AND FINALLY

That’s it from the LOA office for this week. We’ve got to lock up and leave now before JARVIS COCKER, our Sheffield accented in-office artificial intelligence programme, turns on the oxygen-saving system and converts the whole place into an environmentally sound vacuum. But, head back here bright and early on Monday morning for more. We’ll be ambling in around lunchtime, but JARVIS will unlock for you…