Top 10 Android Games

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You’ll find loads and loads of Android games in Android Market. But you won’t find every game interesting, only one out of hundreds make its way to top ten. Here I have shared some of the most interesting and most played game on Android Devices, and most importantly games that don’t suck.

List of Top 10 Android Games

1) Reckless Racing Lite

It’s a superb racing game and the overall game play is smooth with very good graphics. This game comes as a paid version as well as free version. The lite version is free to play on 1 track with ads.
Download Racing Lite
2) Wild West Sheriff Lite

It’s a new kind of western game with South Park looking characters. You’ll find good old western gun slingin’ action. You can challenge other players via the online leaderboards.
Download Wild West Sheriff Lite
3) Homerun Battle 3D Free

It’s a cool baseball game which gives you the 3D experience. It has crisp superb graphics with a good soundtrack. It’s a game you can jump right into and quickly learn.
Download Homerun Battle 3D Free
4) Tower Raiders 2

It’s a highly addictive, tower defense, strategic war game. Here you can build lots of guns, cannons, and lasers to protect 20 precious crystals from would-be raiders.
Download Tower Raiders 2
5) City Story

Here you can build your city with all sorts of cool buildings, get online, and visit other cities as well that other game players have created. The graphics are superb and I personally recommend it to anyone who’s ready to build their dream city on their Android.

Download City Story

6) AirAttack HD Part 1

In this game you’ll be a fighter pilot getting into the war and taking out everything in your path. With NVIDIA support this game looks very nice on one. This game is actually only a demo, but a good one to try out.
Download AirAttack HD Part 1
7) MX Moto (Lite)

It’s a crazy race game where you can ride your motorcycle on a crazy track. You can drag your rider around the map while you crash and burn. The full version will give you more tracks, as well as remove ads.

Download MX Moto (Lite)

8) Chess Free

It’s a popular game with 10 playable levels, from novice to expert. In the 2 player mode, you can play against your friends as well. You can also choose between 3 Chess Board colors and 3 Chess Piece Sets.
Download Chess Free
9) Tiki Golf 3D FREE

This golf game comes with stunning graphics and awesome game play. It’s a very impressive yet challenging mini golf game. There are 2 worlds to choose from, Lono’s Beach and Kuhuna’s Volcano which can be unlocked.
Download Tiki Golf 3D FREE
10) Pinball Classic

If you’re a pinball game lover, then you should check out Pinball Classic. This game includes Cinematic graphics and has everything you’d expect from a great pinball game.
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Twitter lets advertisers better target tweets

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Twitter on Thursday began letting businesses more easily turn tweets into advertising that targets users of the globally popular one-to-many text messaging service.

Advertisers can aim terse missives of 140 characters or less to Twitter users based on their geographic location or whether they access the service using mobile devices or personal computers, according to product manager Kevin Weil.

Previously, such "promoted tweets" could be targeted in those ways only after the messages were sent to all Twitter followers.

"We're introducing targeted tweets, an enhancement that enables brands to reach specific audiences on Twitter without first sending a tweet to all followers," Weil said in a blog post.

"Now global brands that have different launch dates for several countries can send tailored messages at different times, customized for the users in each country."

Twitter has been testing the new advertising model for several weeks with companies including British Airways, Coca Cola and The Washington Post, according to Weil.

© 2012 AFP

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To Set Up Roku: How

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Roku is an Internet appliance that allows you to watch streaming video from several commercial websites on your television. Depending on the model, the Roku player is connected to a router wirelessly or with a standard Ethernet cable and to the television through HDMI, component or composite video. Unlike a DVR device, the Roku box doesn’t record or store programming. It does allow you to watch selected programming instantly without waiting in line at the video store.

Instructions

        1

        Plug the Roku box into a power outlet.
        2

        Connect the Roku box to your television with the appropriate video cable. Newer HD televisions work best with HDMI cables. Use component or composite cables for older sets.


3

Establish a network connection. When using a wired connection, connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the Roku and the other end to the router. For a wireless connection, you need a password if the router has security settings enabled.
4

Use the Roku remote control. Press “OK” to begin setup.
5

Select “Wired” or “Wireless” from the menu to establish network connection. With a wired connection, selecting wired is all that is required for the setup. For a wireless network, you need to enter the network name (SSID from the router) and network password if security (WEP or WPA) is enabled. Once network connection is established, the Roku device will reboot.
6

Use the Roku remote to set the time zone, open the onscreen browser and navigate to .roku.com/link.
7

Enter the code displayed on the television. Log in to or create a Roku account to complete the linking process. When linking is complete, the device is ready for use.

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YouTube launches face-blurring tool to hide identities

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YouTube has added a tool which automatically blurs out the faces of people appearing in uploaded videos.

It said the function would be of use to activists wishing to share footage of protests involving participants who wanted to remain anonymous.
It hinted other features would follow, describing the move as "the first step towards providing visual anonymity".
But it added that its code could not be guaranteed to work in all instances and that other safeguards might be needed.
"This is emerging technology, which means it sometimes has difficulty detecting faces depending on the angle, lighting, obstructions and video quality," the Google-owned site said on its blog.
"Because human rights footage, in particular, opens up new risks to the people posting videos and to those filmed, it's important to keep in mind other ways to protect yourself and the people in your videos."
Users who wish to use the function must first upload their footage before selecting one of the site's Video Enhancement tools. They are then given a chance to see a preview of the blurred footage before making the version available to others.
Risk and reward Google has previously used similar technology to blur faces and car numberplates captured by its Street View vehicles.
However, limitations with the technology mean that in many instances sketches of Kentucky Fried Chicken's mascot, Colonel Sanders, have been blurred out on the restaurant chain's buildings while in other cases people's faces have been missed when they appear on its Maps service.
Nevertheless, one London-based campaign group welcomed the news.
"Publishing videos online is a very effective way for charities and NGOs [non-governmental organisations] to show the world their work and attract support, but it has historically been difficult to do without invading the subjects' privacy or placing them at serious risk," said Emma Draper from Privacy International.
"Simply identifying certain people in certain situations - refugees, for example, or rape victims - can put them or their families in danger of their lives.
"While some companies are pouring resources into creating more accurate and more pervasive facial recognition systems, it is heartening to see YouTube take a step in the opposite direction." Retweet this story

Africa's Richest Women

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When it comes to big money, men still call the shots in Africa – just like in the rest of the world. While there is no single African lady today who can lay claim to a $1 billion fortune, there are about 2 or 3 African women who possess legit nine-figure fortunes. Here are nine African women, all worth at least $50 million:
Isabel Dos Santos
Nationality: Angola
Source: Investments
The eldest daughter of Angola’s President, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Isabel dos Santos got her start in business at age 24 by using her father’s influence to corner lucrative state contracts. Keeps close ties with Portugal. Kento Holding, a Maltese-registered investment firm she fully owns, holds a 10% stake in Zon Multimedia, a Portuguese media conglomerate. She acquired the stake for 164 million Euros in 2010. Also owns major stakes in Portuguese banks Banco Espírito Santo and Banco Português de Investimento, and in Energias de Portugal, which generates and distributes electricity.
Bridgette Radebe
Nationality: South Africa
Source: Mining
The elder sister to South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, Bridgette Radebe started out as a contract miner in the 80s, managing shafts and procuring for the larger mining houses. Went on to found Mmakau mining, an immensely successful mining firm with assets in platinum, gold, uranium, coal, chrome, exploration and mining interests. Also serves as president of the South African Mining Development Association. Married to South Africa’s Justice Minister, Jeff Radebe.
Irene Charnley
Nationality: South Africa
Source: MTN
Former trade unionist made first mark as a shrewd negotiator for the National Union of Mineworkers in South Africa. Went on to take up a job as an Executive Director at MTN, Africa’s largest telecoms group, where she led the company’s successful foray into several African countries. Was instrumental in negotiating for and acquiring one of four GSM licenses in Nigeria. She also helped MTN secure the second GSM license in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In return, was rewarded with huge chunk of MTN stock valued at over US$150 million. Left MTN in 2007 under controversial circumstances. Now serves as CEO of Smile Telecoms, a low-cost telecommunications operator based in Mauritius.
Pam Golding
Nationality: South Africa
Source: Real Estate
One of South Africa’s most well known real estate icons, she founded Pam Golding Properties in 1976 with no start-up capital and a sales assistant. The company is now one of South Africa’s largest independent property trading companies. 2010 turnover: US$1.7 billion (11 billion rand). Has retired from active management; still remains chairperson. Now devotes energy to philanthropy.
Wendy Appelbaum
Nationality: South Africa
Source: Insurance
The only daughter of former South African billionaire Donald Gordon, Wendy was a director at Liberty Investors, the previously listed holding company of the Liberty Group – the insurance and real estate concern her father founded. Sold off her stakes; became cash rich. Together with husband, Hylton Appelbaum, purchased DeMorgenzon, a wine estate in Stellenbosch. Has donated US$23 million (R150 million) to create the Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs), and the Donald Gordon Medical Center. Wendy chairs the South African Women’s Professional Golfers’ Association.
Elisabeth Bradley
Nationality: South Africa
Source: Investments
Elisabeth Bradley’s father Albert Wessels brought Toyota (TM) to South Africa in 1961. In 2008, Wesco Investments, a South African holding company which she controls, sold off its 25% stake in Toyota South-Africa to Toyota Motor Corp. in Japan for US$320 million (R2.1 billion). She walked away with at least US$150 million (R1 billion). Bradley has served on the boards of blue chip companies such as Standard Bank Group, Hilton Hotel and Roseback Inn.

Mamphela Ramphele
Nationality: South Africa
Source: Investments
The one-time managing director of the World Bank Group now heads Circle Capital Ventures, a leading Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Private Equity firm. The medical doctor and former anti-apartheid activist is also one of Africa’s most prominent board room gurus. Directorships include Anglo-American, Remgro and Mediclinic. Also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Rockefeller Foundation, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
Sharon Wapnick
Nationality: South Africa
Source: Real Estate, financial services
One of the largest individual shareholders in Octodec Investments and Premium Properties, both property loan stock companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Her father, Alec Wapnick, founded both companies. She serves as a non-executive director at Octodec, and is a partner at TWB Attorneys, a successful commercial law firm in Johannesburg.
Wendy Ackerman
Nationality: South Africa
Source: Retail
Along with her husband, Raymond, she controls the Ackerman Family Trust which owns close to 50% of Pick ‘n’ Pay, one of South-Africa’s largest retail outlets.  The US$3 billion (market cap) company has operations in Namibia, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Australia. Wendy serves as an executive director of the group. Arts connoisseur is a trustee of the Cape Town Opera Trust. Retweet this story

Texting overtakes talking in UK, says Ofcom study

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People in the UK are now more likely to text than to make a phone call, according to new research from Ofcom.

While 58% of people communicated via texts on a daily basis in 2011, only 47% made a daily mobile call, said the country's communications industry regulator.
It said the shift away from traditional ways of keeping in touch was being led by young people aged 16-24.
The new trends were revealed in its annual communications market report.
The average UK consumer now sends 50 texts per week while fewer calls are being made on both fixed and mobile phones.
For the first time, there was a fall in the volume of mobile calls - by just over 1% - in 2011, while landline calls were down by 10%.
Overall time spent on the phone fell by 5% in 2011.
James Thickett, Ofcom's director of research, said: "Talking face to face or on the phone are no longer the most common ways for us to interact with each other."
This shift is partly down to greater ownership of internet-connected devices. The data suggests:

• 39% of adults now own a smartphone, a 12% increase on 2010.
• 42% of these now say their smartphone is the most important device for accessing the internet, with 42% regularly using social networking sites and 51% using e-mail.
• The average consumer spends 90 minutes a week accessing social networking sites and email.
• Tablet ownership is also on the rise, with 11% owning such a device, up from 2% last year.

According to Ofcom, tablets are most often used in the home as a "snacking version" of the home PC.
"People are using them to check the weather, train times or send a quick email," said Mr Thickett.
E-readers are also on the rise. 10% of people in the UK now own them, with 41% saying that they were reading more as a result.
Robo-shopper According to the report, 96% of 16 to 24-year-olds are using some form of text-based application on a daily basis to communicate with friends and family; with 90% using texts and 73% using social networking sites.
The report suggests smartphones are also changing people's shopping habits, encouraging so-called Robo (Research offline buy online) shopping.

Families are gathering around one main home TV again, the report found

Over half of smartphone users claim to use their phone in some way when out shopping.
This includes taking photos of products (31%); making online price comparisons (25%); scanning bar codes to get more product information (21%); reading product reviews online (19%); and researching product features (19%).
But the idea that the internet is killing another traditional activity, watching TV, may be overplayed.
There is a trend towards big screens - more than one third of TVs sold in the UK in the first quarter of 2012 were either "super-large" (33in to 42in) or "jumbo-sized" (43in and over).
Internet-enabled smart TVs are also growing in popularity with 5% of UK households now owning one, giving consumers the ability to "turf" - both watch TV and surf the web.
Over two-thirds claim to have used the internet connection on their smart TV.
"Ten years ago people were deserting the living room, the trend was for children to have TVs in their bedrooms," said Mr Thickett.
"But since the digital switch-over, people haven't been replacing analogue TVs and the whole family are coming back into the living room, bringing their own devices with them." Retweet this story

PayPal folds startup into its smartphone wallet

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Online financial transactions titan PayPal announced that it has bought a San Francisco startup focused on using smartphone cameras to take credit card payments.

PayPal has worked with Card.io to fold its technology into its own mobile application and decided to buy the company, according to PayPal vice president of global product Hill Ferguson.

"We were simply blown away by the creativity and drive of their employees," Ferguson said in a blog post.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Card.io will continue to provide kits for software developers to build credit card scanning capabilities into applications for Apple or Android-powered smartphones, according to Ferguson.

The technology lets payments be made using data captured from pictures of credit cards taken with smartphone cameras.

"We can't wait to get them involved in helping us change the future of shopping and payments," Ferguson said.

PayPal has been ramping up services tailored for mobile devices as smartphones and tablet computers weave ever tighter into modern lifestyles.

PayPal faces competition from startup Square, a brainchild of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, and Google Wallet technology for Android smartphones.

PayPal in March started to allow merchants across the world to take payments using smartphones in a direct challenge to Square.

A PayPal Here system currently in "exclusive release" uses a triangle-shaped "dongle" card reader that plugs into mobile devices to let people make purchases.

PayPal Here software also lets shopkeepers take payments by snapping a picture of a card with a smartphone instead of having to swipe it in the dongle.

Square has been a hit with independent entrepreneurs and small businesses as wide ranging as masseuses and taxi drivers to farmers and bicycle shops.

Dorsey's Square, based in San Francisco, has been lauded since the application and accompanying dongle, the shape of which gave the startup its name, was released in the United States in 2010.

Google Wallet takes a different approach by letting users store credit card data in secure chips in Android smartphones that can transmit the data to sensors at shop checkout stations.

© 2012 AFP

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