Humor: Google Maps 8-Bit coming to NES gaming platform

Many of you may still have your OG Nintendo (NES) consoles laying around. That is, assuming you are old enough to have owned one of them. But if you are still a proud gamer with 8-Bit graphics, you may be glad to hear that Google is “soon to release” a cartridge that will bring all the benefits that Google Maps has to offer.

It seems the Search Giant has decided to get ahead of April Fool’s day to make a good joke out of this. But honestly, it looks rather cool. Of course, it is unknown if we will actually see a cartridge for the OG Nintendo console, but they might just go through it.

If that is the case, users will be able to play around with Google Maps 8-Bit. The video demonstrates how to fix bugs by blowing on the cartridge (if only Android bugs were so easy to fix). There is also a tutorial and demonstration of the service.

As for the millions of people that no longer have access to a NES console, we can go ahead and test it out straight from the Google Maps website. Simply click on the top-right corner, where it says “Quest,” and you are in for the adventure.

There are dirt roads, castles and monsters. And the navigation system shows your location with an awesome knight! Go take a look and let us know if you find anything interesting! What are you guys planning for tomorrow’s flurry of April Fool’s pranks?

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Super fast HTC One X camera tested against Galaxy Nexus and Sony Xperia S

by Edgar Cervantes on March 31st, 2012 at 4:32 pm

The HTC One X has been showing some amazing performance. The device is arguably the best device unveiled at Mobile World Congress. And one of the factors HTC tried to emphasize the most in Barcelona was the device’s camera performance. We have already done a quick test, and the HTC One X won against a Galaxy Nexus. Further proving its capabilities, the guys from Soyasincau have decided to put it to the test against an Xperia S and a Galaxy Nexus, and the results are rather impressive.

The Xperia S happens to outperform the HTC One X at taking a picture straight from stand-by mode. But such result is mainly due to the fact that Sony’s smartphone has a dedicated camera button. One can simply press it and take a picture at any given time.

Having to unlock the device and access the camera app takes multiple more steps. But when the unlock factor is taken out of the equation, the HTC One X is clearly faster and better than the other high-end devices. Said smartphones are also very well known for camera performance, so this really makes the HTC One X ImageSense camera stand out from the crowd.

To see the multiple tests performed, simply go ahead and check out the video embedded below. But what do you guys think? Is camera performance that relevant to you? Are you getting you waiting to make this your next device?

Android 4.0 build leaks for the Motorola Droid RAZR

We know that the Android 4.0 update might be coming to the Droid RAZR (and other devices) as soon as next week. Such rumors are shaking up the inter webs, but if you want a bit more of proof, a new build for the super-thin device has just been leaked.

Infographic: Do you use your smartphone for job searching?

Smartphones have become our go-to devices for a plethora of tasks. Undoubtedly, we have become much more productive when on-the-go. And according to an infographic provided by JIBE, this is also the case for those that are looking for employment.

It is usual to find companies that have gotten rid of paper applications. But the process has started to turn mobile, as well. According to a study conducted by Kelton Research, about 86% of job-seeking smartphone owners use their mobile device to find employment.

This comes as a rather surprising statistic – job searching may be convenient when done via a smartphone, but what is more surprising is the amount of people applying to jobs directly from their phones. According to this study, 47% of mobile job seekers will not wait until getting home to apply. They will simply apply straight from the device.

Also, 55% will sign up for available job alerts. And 23% share the information via e-mail, while 19% does the same via social networks. But while the convenience of mobile job searching can be enticing, it has its downsides.

Users complain that most career sites are not yet optimized for mobile, making the experience a bit more tedious. Furthermore, multiple tasks are hard to perform. Such discrepancies may cause the other 14% to find other ways of looking for a dream job.

As these issues start getting fixed, though, we can see a much larger transition to the newest way of finding employment. More and more sites are starting to optimize their sites for mobile, and multi-tasking is being improved by features like the Galaxy Note 10.1′s multi-screen functionality.

Thankfully, Android is very good at multi-tasking (while not perfect). I know I have found multiple jobs thanks to my phone (of course). But what about you? Have you used your smartphone to find a job? Do you prefer filling out a paper application and make direct contact with your employer?

Android 4.0.4 for Nexus S 4G leaked

The Nexus brand has taken quite a bit of a hit over the recent few weeks, with Google failing to provide what we have all considered the defining feature for the handsets (quick and timely updates).

It’s disheartening to see that only a subset of the Nexus S users are on ICS, but we’ve finally got some good news: BriefMobile has managed to get their hands on all the files for an upcoming 4.0.4 OTA. Head over to their website to get all the files and instructions.

Thanks, Korey Nicholson!

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ICS for the Droid RAZR/MAXX and HTC Rezound coming next week, says Best Buy memo

We don't want anyone to get too excited and set themselves up for a heartbreak just yet, but a leaked document from Best Buy pins the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX for April 4, and the HTC Rezound on April 6. Anyone with a HTC Thunderbolt can tell you more about dates provided through Best Buy, and Motorola still hasn't given any type of ballpark date for the update for the RAZR and RAZR MAXX, which are still listed as being in the "evaluation and planning" stage. We've seen ICS leaks for both devices (the RAZR and RAZR MAXX run the same software) but nothing official from anyone involved. Both phones were to have ICS "soon" after release, but so far we're still waiting.

We want it to be true. We hope it's true. We're just naturally skeptical, especially when a third party like Best Buy is involved. We're sure nobody is trying to troll the Internets, but anyone who has worked in a corporate environment knows how things get fouled up. Here's hoping, and we'll know next week!

Source: Android Police

Related devices:HTC RezoundMotorola Droid RAZRMotorola Droid RAZR MAXX  
Filed under: SmartphonesNewsRumors
Tags: androidbest buyhtcice cream sandwichicsleaksmaxxmotorolaRAZRrezoundsmartphoneupdate 4

How I do it: Working from my Transformer Prime

You'll need to find the right tools to do the job. I spent a bit looking at what Android had to offer, and soon found the essentials that I need to get things done. You may find different tools work better for you, and that's OK. The Google Play store is chock full of similar apps to the ones I'm using, and you'll surely find something that works best for you. What works best for me:

Chrome Beta. Remember when I said Ice Cream Sandwich was a must-have for me? This is why. Chrome Beta for Android holds all my bookmarks, my logins, and most importantly renders our blog-writing software correctly. It takes a lot of code and a little bit of magic to bring you the news, and Chrome Beta can handle it. File Manager HD. There are a lot of good file managers available, but I prefer File Manager HD on a tablet. It works great, ties in with my Samba shares on my home network, and a $2.49 in-app purchase disables the ads. Any good file manager would work, File Manager HD is the one that works for me.RawDroid. I shoot my pictures in RAW format. RawDroid (still considered a demo/beta) can open my Sony .ARW files without crashing and export them to any image editor. If I remember, I switch my camera to convert to jpg format, but RawDroid is a life-saver for those times I don't remember.PicSay Pro.  There's a lot of different apps that will crop and edit photos. I like PicSay Pro. You should use the one you like best. But be sure to try the free version of PicSay before you decide, it does just about anything you'd need from a lightweight photo editor. Gmail. Chances are you're using this one anyway. You'll need it to talk to your boss and co-workers throughout the day.Riptide GP. All work and no play might make Jack a dull boy, but I wouldn't know. There's always time to play.Getting it done