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dimanche 2 octobre 2016

Crowdfunding project of the week: the H1 meets all your projector needs

Screenshot 2016-10-02 at 1.30.30 PM

We are back with another chapter of our 'Crowdfunding project of the week' series, where we showcase the best campaigns from sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. We are here to weed out the least interesting tech and bring forward real innovators. Let's jump right in.

Other featured campaigns:

Today we are taking a look at the H1, a projector that promises all your home theater needs in a single, affordable and well-built package. Is it all that it is hyped out to be?

This projector starts at $699 on Kickstarter. Needless to say it is not exactly a cheap product, but it has nearly tripled its $100,000 goal and the campaign still has 25 days to go. Why are so many throwing their money at XGIMI? The manufacturer promises plenty of savings when compared to a traditional home theater system.

The H1 projects a 1080p LED image at up to 300 inches and 900 lumens, making for a gigantic, crisp and bright visual experience. But it's not all about looks. Projectors usually don't have sound; and when they do it tends to be horrible. XGIMI's gadget features a 45mm built-in Harman Kardon stereo sound that actually achieves quality audio.

If that's not enough for you, the projector also comes with support for 4K content, 3D video and keystone correction (both vertically and horizontally).

What really has us going is the fact that this projector does run Android. This could possibly mean that it can be operated without connecting to any external devices. You can simply use the included Bluetooth controller to navigate. But the H1 does come with a full suite of connectivity solutions. Bluetooth, smartphone/tablet mirroring and HDMI are in the list. Other specs include a quad-core 1.75 GHz Mstar 6A928 TV processor, 3 GB of RAM and a Mali-T760 MP4 GPU.

Once again, it starts at $699, but it is looking to be one of the best mobile projectors around. Hit the comments to let us know what you think of it! Are you signing up?

Check out hte H1 on Indiegogo


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5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week – Android Apps Weekly

Welcome back to Android Apps Weekly! Here are the headlines from the last week:

  • In a little over a week, Google Allo has been downloaded over five million times. The controversial texting app has been on everyone's tongue and despite some warnings from the privacy community, people are still eager to try it out on their own. Of course, we don't know the active user count right now, but we're betting it's not over five million just yet. Last weekend, it peaked as the number one most downloaded app in the Play Store.
  • WhatsApp found itself in some hot water this week after a judge in India told the company to delete all user data from people who opted out of the app's privacy policy before September 25th. The company has refused so far, stating that this ruling does nothing to hinder their plans moving forward. This came in the wake of WhatsApp announcing that it would be start sharing user data, including phone numbers, with Facebook.
  • The developers of HERE WeGo are starting a new platform to help add live traffic data to the app. What they're trying to do is make it so that HERE records things like car location and speed along with other sensor data to show traffic patterns. Think Waze, but without users having to input anything themselves. Cars with this feature can also transmit data like when the wiper blades are on, indicating rainy conditions. It's kind of cool, actually.
  • Ubisoft purchased the moderately successful developer studio Ketchapp this last week. Ketchapp is known for its hit game 2048 which was essentially a rip off of the game Threes. The developers have been highly successful even if they're not known as the most original developers out there. Pretty much anyone with a brain has probably guessed that Ubisoft and Ketchapp will be working to make even more mobile games over time.
  • Google announced the winners of their first annual Indie Gaming Festival this last week. Among the winners were Orbit, a game about gravity, Numbo Jumbo, a puzzler, and Bit Bit Blocks which is another puzzler. There were also a handful of games that were selected as runner ups. They should all either be in the Play Store or released there in the near future. We talked about Orbit in our best new Android games that were released in September.

For even more Android apps and games news, updates, and releases, check out this week's newsletter by clicking here! You can find a bunch of info there that we didn't have space for here. If you'd like to get the newsletter delivered straight to your digital door, fill out the form below and we'll send it to you every week!

Signup for our newsletter



LEGO Harry Potter Android Apps WeeklyLEGO Harry Potter

[Price: $4.99 each]
LEGO Harry Potter are two new Android games that tell the complete Harry Potter story. The first game focuses on the first four years of Harry Potter's story while the second game focuses on years five through seven. They both play more or less the same way and they can both be classified as platform puzzle games. The first title seems to have a few more issues than the second title, so if you do buy these, make sure to test them out inside of the refund time. They're both $4.99 with no in-app purchases.
Download LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 here!

Download Years 5-7 on Google Play!

firefox aurora Android Apps WeeklyFirefox Aurora

[Price: Free]
Firefox Aurora is essentially the developer channel for Firefox. This app will allow you to check out the newest upcoming features and the latest experimental builds. It works as a browser and you'll be able to do most of the stuff you usually do on a browser. However, it is experimental which means there will be crashes and hiccups here and there. It's been around for a while, but it's now on the Google Play Store in case anybody wants to check it out. Anyone who does should keep in mind that these are not stable builds.

Download now on Google Play!

firefox aurora Android Apps Weekly

looty dungeon Android Apps WeeklyLooty Dungeon

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Looty Dungeon is the latest free-to-play puzzler out of Yodo1 Games, makers of the famed Crossy Road. This is a simple and adorable little dungeon crawler where you'll go from room to room to kill bad guys, find loot, and avoid obstacles. It uses the same graphics engine as prior Yodo1 Games so there's nothing new there. However, you will find eight bosses to defeat, 50 heroes to collect, and an infinite number of rooms to run through. It's a freemium game, but so are all the other ones by this developer.

Download now on Google Play!

news pro Android Apps WeeklyNews Pro

[Price: Free]
News Pro is the latest app out of Microsoft's Garage Project. This app allows you to create a giant, personalized news feed based on your interests. They way it works is you log in using one of your social media accounts. The app then gives you a starting point and you can customize further from there. You'll be able to add and remove topics as you see fit until you get the news that you want. It's suffering from some early release bugs and it's not overly intuitive, but it's worth a shot if you want to try something different.

Download now on Google Play!

news pro Android Apps Weekly

banner saga 2 Android Apps WeeklyBanner Saga 2

[Price: $4.99]
Banner Saga 2 is the latest in the Banner Saga franchise. It's a strategy RPG with beautifully done, hand-drawn graphics and a story line that revolves around vikings. Like its predecessor, this game will definitely rank among the best strategy RPGs out there. Your in-game decisions will affect the story line and character deaths are generally permanent. It's one of the better produced mobile game franchises out there and it should be well worth the $4.99 price tag.

Download now on Google Play!

AA App Android Apps WeeklyAndroid Authority app

[Price: Free]
We released a huge update to the Android Authority app this last week that has taken care of a few large issues our readers have been experiencing. The dreaded settings-reset bug is now gone and the app is faster, lighter, and more responsive than ever! We would love it if you gave it a shot, checked it out for yourself, and let us know how we can make it even better. It's a free download and it remains the fastest way to get the latest Android news!

Download now on Google Play!

AA App Android Apps Weekly

Related best app lists:

If we missed any great new Android apps or games news, tell us about them in the comments! To see our complete list of best app lists, click here.



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10 most challenging games for Android

most challenging games
Every now and then, we look for a challenge. Something that tests our brains and reflexes. Challenges can come from anywhere and there are some very difficult games on Android. Anyone looking for something hard should have their plates full with the most challenging games for Android!


baldur's gate II most challenging android gamesBaldur's Gate I and II

[Price: $9.99 with in-app purchases (each)]
Baldur's Gate was one of the RPG franchises that helped the genre reach mainstream popularity in the late 1990's and early 2000's. The groundwork it laid down was built on by super popular RPG franchises like Skyrim, Fallout, and many others. As it turns out, the game is also pretty difficult. Between the long story, tons of bad guys, and tons of controls to learn, it'll be a while before you get these games under your belt. They're also really good, especially if you're into RPGs. They're $9.99 each and the in-app purchases are for optional DLC such as character voices.

Download now on Google Play!

droidfish most challenging gamesDroidfish

[Price: Free]
Anyone who doesn't think that Chess is difficult hasn't been playing against the right opponents. It's one of the most complex and difficult board games out there and only a few ever really master the game. Droidfish is a chess game that uses the famous Stockfish engine which is considered one of the most powerful chess engines in the world. In other words, it's going to whip you repeatedly in some chess. There are a ton of features but there is also a learning curve because this chess game is for people who aren't messing around. It's also free and open source.

Download now on Google Play!

droidfish most challenging games for android

Duet most difficult games for androidDuet

[Price: Free / $2.82]
Duet is an unassuming puzzle game where you must revolve two balls around an axis and avoid falling platforms. It starts out pretty easy but gets ridiculous fairly quickly. It's beatable and some have even found it easy. However, the majority of players don't understand how their brains even know where to move the balls half of the time. You can get the main campaign of the game for free with the pro version unlocking additional content for your gaming enjoyment.

Download now on Google Play!

final fantasy 4 most challenging gamesFinal Fantasy IV

[Price: $15.99]
The original release of Final Fantasy IV was actually one of the more difficult jRPGs ever made. It was made easier when released in the United States until the Nintendo DS version when the original hard mode was integrated back into the game. As it turns out, the Android version of Final Fantasy IV is a port of the Nintendo DS version which means this is the most difficult version of this game that you can get. The enemies are tougher, gold is harder to find, and even some random encounters have a chance to kill your entire party. It also comes with a 25+ hour story and tons of side quests. It's expensive, but it's also a classic.

Download now on Google Play!

go most challenging gamesGo

[Price: Free / $2.99]
Go received some international attention when Google's Deepmind (AlphaGo) went toe-to-toe with one of the best Go players in the world and won. As it turns out, you can play this simple, but exceptionally deep board game for yourself. This version of Go allows you to play on 9×9 and 13×13 boards with unlimited moves, and 19×19 boards up to 180 moves (the paid version unlocks this restriction). The engine powering the game has a 3 dan rating which is fairly high. It won't challenge the best in the world, but it'll absolutely crush beginners and amateurs alike. Good luck!

Download now on Google Play!

go most challenging games
best MOBAs for androidSee also: The best free Android games, ever!108

out there most challenging gamesOut There: Ω Edition

[Price: $5.49]
Out There: Ω Edition is a very frustrating and very fun survival game. The premise of the game is you play the role of an astronaut who wakes up from cryonics in the deepest regions of space and you must survive the trip back to Earth. The developer made certain to bring into account how vast and harsh space can be and you'll be dealing with friendly and unfriendly aliens, rushing to find an oxygen supply, and learning to use random technology to fix and improve your ship. This game is not for casual players, but it does have 59 achievements that you can try to earn!

Download now on Google Play!

pandemic most challenging gamesPandemic: The Board Game

[Price: $6.99]
Pandemic is a board game where you play as members of the CDC and you must squash diseases before they have a chance to become, well, a pandemic. Each player has a special ability to help with the cause and you'll be allowed to construct bases to help you move around faster and cure disease. It's not too bad on easy mode, but hard mode is an entirely different story. This is a game that can spiral out of control is just a single round and that's what makes it so fun and so very challenging. It's a bit expensive, but it's also considered one of the better done board games out there.

Download now on Google Play!

remixed pixel dungeon most challenging gamesPixel Dungeon (and its variants)

[Price: Free / $5.00(optional)]
Pixel Dungeon is an open source dungeon crawler that blatantly says in its description that you will die often and that the game is very hard. At least it warns you first. It features retro style graphics, a few characters to choose from, and tons of difficult situations that you'll have to figure out a way to get out of. There are also a variety of variants, including the highly acclaimed Pixel Dungeon Remix that throw in additional content. They're all free with optional in-app purchases to support the developer.

Download now on Google Play!

pixel dungeon most challenging games

Super Hexagon most challenging android gamesSuper Hexagon

[Price: $2.99]
Super Hexagon was one of the first really hard games that was insanely difficult but still made very well. The idea in this puzzler is you must rotate your center piece around to coincide with the openings in the hexagons that are collapsing down on you. The mechanics only take a few minutes to learn but completing even the first few levels are going to take a little bit of time. It gets harder as you go and the flashy lights, raw speed, and chaotic nature of the game will make things all the more challenging. It's a cool $2.99 with no in-app purchases.

Download now on Google Play!

XCOM Enemy Within most challenging games for androidXCOM: Enemy Within

[Price: $9.99]
XCOM: Enemy Within is a strategy shooter where you'll need to move your pieces around the map similar to a game board. There are also RPG, simulation, and online multiplayer elements to give the game a well-balanced feeling. The bad guys in this game are unrepentant and too many mistakes or bad moves will result in you losing the level. There is a campaign mode to mow through and the online multiplayer that we mentioned a moment ago which means there is plenty of stuff for you to do. It's a bit expensive, but it is a port of a relatively recent PC game so that's to be expected.

Download now on Google Play!

Related best app lists:

If we missed any really challenging games for Android, tell us about them in the comments! To see our complete list of best app lists, click here.



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Must read: top 10 Android stories

Sony Xperia X Compact Hands On-5

This week, we talked about Google's hybrid new OS Andromeda, Huawei's upcoming beast, the Xiaomi Mi 5s, and much more. Here's the news of the week.

Who wants to win an Honor 8?

The Honor 8 offers a gorgeous design, a great camera, and lightning quick performance. Here's how you can win one.

10 Android stories we handpicked for you

Google tests "Andromeda" Android/Chrome hybrid OS on the Nexus 9 The long rumored Android-Chrome OS hybrid is reportedly called Andromeda. Read more about it here.


Xiaomi Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus don't disappoint: high specs, low prices The new standard in affordable flagships has arrived. Meet the Xiaomi Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus.


90 percent of Galaxy Note 7 owners are sticking by the handset All that bad publicity is not turning users off from the Note 7.


Apple Watch Series 2 vs the competition How does Apple's new Watch fare against its Android (and not only) competitors?


Huawei Mate 9 packs 6GB RAM, 256GB storage, Leica-branded dual-camera Excited for Huawei's next big thing? This post will give you some reasons to look forward to the Mate 9.


10 best new Android games! Load up your Android device with these brand new, high quality games. There's something for every taste.


10 best new Android apps! Great new apps are coming out all the time. Here are some recent examples.


Why the three laws of robotics won't save us from Google's AIs Let Gary walk you through the implications of Google's artificial intelligence efforts.


iPhone 7 Plus vs Galaxy Note 7 camera shootout Watch these two mobile titans go against each other in smartphone photography. Who will win?


Sony Xperia X Compact review Check out one of the best options for fans of smaller Android phones.


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Honor 8 – International Giveaway!

Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone ortablet each and every Sunday!

A big congratulations to last week's winners of the 3 Umi Plus'! Andrew L. (New Zealand), Mihai U. (Moldova), Santh (India).

This week we are giving away a brand new Honor 8!

Huawei has brought what many have wanted from an affordable flagship for a while now: a gorgeous design, a smaller size, a great camera, and lightning quick performance. In addition, the Honor 8's excellent performance and IR blaster are not always common on an affordable smartphone.

The Honor 8 is indeed a great value for the money, and it's important to recognize that this is a very competitive price segment and the Honor 8 still holds its own against much more expensive flagships. See more great content below!

Enter giveaway
Honor 8 International Giveaway!

Winners Gallery

Winners Gallery on Google+

Terms & Conditions

  • The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
  • If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
  • We are not responsible for lost shipments.
  • You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
  • We are not responsible for any duties or import fees that you may incur.
  • Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
  • We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
  • This giveaway is operated by AndroidAuthority.
  • The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.


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samedi 1 octobre 2016

Action Launcher 3 update introduces Quickcuts and other Android 7.1 Nougat features

Action Launcher 3 Nexus Launcher features

Google's October 4th event is right around the corner and fans are looking forward to seeing the Search Giant's new hardware. But many of us also have our eyes on new software. We have seen some of the new Pixel Launcher and there's an APK file available, but some of you prefer going with legit Google Play Store downloads.

If you fall within this category of users, you might want to get the latest version of Action Launcher 3. The popular application has just been updated with a flurry of Android 7.1 Nougat features, including a recreation of launcher shortcuts.

pixel-lineSee also: No more Nexus – Google said to brand its new phones as Pixel and Pixel XL172

They call them "Quickcuts" and work much like Apple's 3D Touch. You can swipe from any compatible icon to see a list of shortcuts for that specific app.

Though Quickcuts are the most exciting addition, there are plenty of other Android 7.1 Nougat features included in this update.

What's new:

  • Introducing Quickcuts, which brings Android 7.1's new launcher shortcuts to current versions of Android. Just swipe a compatible icon to reveal the shortcuts!
  • Option to use Android 7.1 style round icons.
  • Integrate Pixel Launcher's rumored All Apps drawer. Swipe up on the dock to reveal All Apps.
  • Two Pixel Launcher inspired style folder types.
  • Add tinted dock background and caret page indicator.
  • Add Google "pill" & date widgets.

Pretty neat, right? You can grab the update straight from the Google Play Store now, so go give these new features a try!

Download Action Launcher 3 now


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10 best Temple Run style Android games

best games like temple run
Temple Run is one of the most popular games in the history of Android. Virtually everyone has tried the game before. Even if you love the mechanics, the game can get boring thanks to its repetitive nature. The good news is that there are other options available. Here are the best Temple Run style games for Android!


Alto's Adventure best temple run style games for androidAlto's Adventure

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Alto's Adventure came out in 2016 and it's been a phenomenal success. It's a 2D, side-scrolling infinite runner where you must descend the never-ending hill, avoid obstacle, collect coins, and corral runaway llamas. The graphics are simple, but effective and the mechanics are easy enough to learn quickly. You'll also have tricks to pull off, goals to finish, and leaderboards to top. It's freemium game like most Temple Run style games, but you should be able to enjoy it anyway.

Download now on Google Play!

best temple run style games

despicable me best games like temple runDespicable Me (Minion Rush)

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Despicable Me is a fairly classic infinite runner. It uses the traditional third-person view and you'll play as a Minion as you run around, avoid obstacles, take on boss fights, and collect items. The settings are based on the popular movies. That means it's colorful and vibrant. The game is also kid-friendly which makes it an easy decision for parents. It's a freemium game which isn't ideal and it's quite aggressive with it, but it's good once you get passed that.

Download now on Google Play!

Into the Dead best temple run games for androidInto the Dead

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Into the Dead is another infinite runner that does things a little bit differently. In this title, you'll be running for your life through a never-ending hoard of zombies that are trying to get at you. You'll be provided with weaponry and means to defend yourself and you're tasked with staying alive as long as possible. The graphics provide a spooky atmosphere and it makes the entire experience just delightful. There are also leaderboards for you to climb as well as missions and goals to complete. It's not quite like Temple Run, but it's just as good.

Download now on Google Play!

jetpack joyride best temple run style gamesJetpack Joyride

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Jetpack Joyride is one of the most popular infinite runners out there. It's a side-scrolling runner where you play as a dude named Barry. Barry also has a jetpack, obviously. Your goal will be to make it as far as you can while you avoid obstacles, take down bad guys, and collect as many coins as possible. The coins you collect can then be traded in for new gear, new vehicles, and power ups. It features one-touch game play which makes it easy to play on the subway. It's not quite like Temple Run, but you get the same level of enjoyment out of it!

Download now on Google Play!

Smash Hit best temple run gamesSmash Hit

[Price: Free / $1.99]
Smash Hit is one of the few infinite runners that is also a pay-once game. You'll have a first person perspective in this one and you'll be throwing metal balls at panes of glass to avoid getting hit. The trick is that the number of balls you have available to throw also doubles as your life total so you'll want to be careful when and where you throw. It also features an online multiplayer mode, saved games, and stats if you get the pro version. It's beautifully done and remains one of the best games like Temple Run.

Download now on Google Play!

best android gamesSee also: The best Android games, ever!182

sonic dash 2 best temple run games for androidSonic Dash 1 and 2

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Sonic Dash 1 and 2 are temple run style games that feature everyone's favorite blue hedgehog. These games will have you doing the exact same sorts of things you did in the classic video games, including collecting coins, avoiding obstacles, and defeating Dr Robotnik. They just take place in an infinite runner setting instead of a game with levels. Everything works about as well as you'd expect and you can also play with Knuckles, Tails, Amy, and a new character named Sticks. It's a freemium game through-and-through, so do keep that in mind.

Download now on Google Play!

subway surfers best games like temple runSubway Surfers

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Subway Surfers is one of the most popular infinite runners of all time. It might even be up there with Temple Run itself. This game seems to have a little bit of everything. You'll be jumping on trains, flying on a jetpack, surfing with a hoverboard, and, of course, you'll be dodging obstacles and keeping away from the big bad guy. It's a simple game with colorful graphics, and it's even kid friendly. You can't ask for much more in a game like Temple Run. The only bad part is the freemium price tag.

Download now on Google Play!

supersonic hd best games like temple runSupersonic HD

[Price: Free / $0.99]
Supersonic HD is another one of those rare infinite runners that has a pay-once price tag. This game features minimal graphics, intense game play, and power ups that you don't have to spend real money to get. The idea for this one is that you're traveling through a tunnel and you have to keep time on the clock. There are items to pick up that increase your time and you'll need to avoid obstacles to keep going. It's a bit intense, especially if you get motion sick, but it's still pretty enjoyable. You can also add your own music to the game which will create environments based on your music.

Download now on Google Play!

looty dungeon best temple run gamesYodo1 Games

[Price: Free with in-app purchase]
Yodo1 Games have an increasing collection of fun little infinite runners. You've probably heard of their bigger hits like Crossy Road and Rodeo Stampede, but they also have titles such as Looty Dungeon, and Rooms of Doom that are equally good. All of their games have a certain look and feel to them so once you've played one, you pretty much know what you're getting into with the others. They're all freemium games, but their freemium strategy is far more relaxed than most.

Download now on Google Play!

zombie highway 2 best temple run gamesZombie Highway 2

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Zombie Highway 2 is an infinite runner where you drive down a road forever while fending off zombies. They'll jump from various parts of the road on to your vehicle and attempt to flip you over. You'll be able to use obstacles in the road to scrape them off and you'll also have some weapons at your disposal. There are also options for what kind of cards you use, power ups, and you'll have a list of objectives that you can complete as well. It's pretty fun, at least for a while.

Download now on Google Play!

Related best app lists:

If we missed any great Temple Run games for Android, tell us about them in the comments! To see our complete list of best app lists, click here.



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