The Android Realm App Review A Better Camera

Do you like HTC's Zoey feature? Want Samsung's auto-removal feature? Love HDR pictures and panoramsas? A Better Camera can help you with all of the above!

Rather than have multiple apps to have all these features or be limited to specific devices, the developer has created an "all-in-one" app to use your device's camera capabilities to provide these features. To start, the camera has basic functions like a single shot camera, panorama mode, and a video camera to help get used to the controls and navigation around this app. Other features like burst mode, group mode and night mode are available for general use photos.

To get the HTC Zoey feature, switch to 'Preshot.' This will take start taking a short video (with a 1-10 second preroll) to allow for people who blink, take a little bit to get their smile or for shifting in position. Once the picture is done, the user can slide through the picture to keep the one that looked the best.

To use the Samsung like person or object removal feature, simply switch to 'Object Removal' mode. This will take a series of pictures (any # from 5-8 which can be adjusted in the settings) then put a circle around objects that can be changed so if a person needs to be removed or someone blinked, then touching that part of the picture will change it to the part the user likes. In the settings for this feature, the elapsed time can also be adjusted if minor changes are needed (i.e. fast motion changes like a bike rider moving through the background) or a little longer (i.e. blinking eyes, shifts in smiles or photobombing).

The third feature users might enjoy are the sequence shots. If watching a play or something with lots of moving, this mode will help with getting a sequence of shots to pick the best one and delete any pictures not desired. Group shot pictures work in the same way except the user selects the base image and add images with better shots of individuals.

The app itself comes in free and paid version (with the paid version unlocking high resolution panorama mode, merging movie objects, and the limit on group shots). The paid features can be unlocked individually or all together at a lower price.

Google Play - $Free

Game Review: Tales of Xillia (PS3)

by: CJ Boat

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System: PS3
Release Date: August 6, 2013

I am a huge fan of JRPGs, and don't make any attempt to hide it.  They are my favorite type of game altogether, but of course I am not a complete apologist, if a game is bad, it's bad.  

That being said...

This game is really good.  Put out by Bandai-Namco here in the US, it is a continuation of the "Tales of..." series, which, like many other JRPG sequels, has hardly anything to do with any of the other games of their series' name (Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Graces, etc.) except for maybe a couple of things.  What this game adopts from the others is mainly the item names: gels are healing items, money is Gal, etc. also the battle system is an evolved version of the other games, which is a good thing.

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The graphics in this are the odd 3D-but-painted graphic style, and goes very well with the area that this takes place in.  The world is your pretty standard high-fantasy crossed with steampunk accents. Where the magic is in the main front, there are guns, ammunition, and some other gear-grinding items.  The art flows very well, and does not really splinter into pixels that are unrecognizable, like some other games even in the current (previous now, I guess) generation.  

The music is a kind of middle point, it's very Japanese which may sometimes detract from the storyline; every once in a while you'll get a odd note or even entire song, and maybe off-setting. Though, for the most part, the music you hear the most (Battle & World map) are good though, and fit in.  The boss fight music could use some tuning, however.

The battle system, like I said, is an adaptation of other Tales / Star Ocean series games, where it is a random encounter system, where you control one character (or two if you have them turned on semi-manual) in a almost action-RPG where you issue a command to either attack, use an "arte" (Special attack) or blast a fireball at the monster's monstery face, and your guy (or lady, or guys, or ladies, or whatever your flavor is) kills a guy in the face. You can move in 3D, and sometimes you have to to avoid an attack, so that adds a little to the keg.  

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Final point I want to touch on is the writing and voice acting.  They went above and beyond on the VA, where they translated not only the main characters but quite a few NPCs that may give you quests, or even just talk to you.  As per the writing, the context works, and does not seem too far into the "Japanese" style writing (not that I have an issue with that, I LOVE that, but can see where people can't).  It is also easy to keep up with, and is not too confusing, even though I have not finished the game yet.

NOW ONTO MY SCORING! 


Graphics: 8/10
Music: 5/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Average: 7/10 - the music really does this game an injustice.


Developer behind Bioshock being restructured to a team of 15

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by Raul        

        In a post by Ken Levine, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, stated that Irrational Games will be reduced to about 15 employees.  Some new goals for his team is to make more narrative-driven games that are highly re-playable for core gamers.  As he states, "Theres no great way to lay people off.." so employees along with financial support as well as access to the facility for goodbyes and getting their portfolios in-order.  They will be hosting a recruiting day with 3rd party studios and publishers for Irrational staff on the way out. 

Source: Irrational Games Message From Ken Levine

Humble Indie Bundle 11

by Raul         

            Humble Indie Bundle 11 its pay what you want for six cross-platform games and support The Child's Play Charity and Electronic Frontier Foundation.  Humble Indie Bundle 11 includes Guacamelee! Gold Edition,  The Swapper, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, and Dust: An Elysian Tail.  Pay more then the Average and also receive Monaco: Whats Yours Is Mine and Antichamber.  All games with the exception of Giana Sisters is cross-platform with compatible with Mac and Linux coming this year.  As always you are able to customize your payment between the Charity, Developers and the Humble Tip.  

The Android Realm Podcast Episode 171 Sensors and Internet

Casting to more of the things, unified CyanogenMod, tracking your walk, and more!

Casting to more of the things, unified CyanogenMod, tracking your walk, and more!

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