Pinball Ride – Free on Amazon Appstore 8/11/11 (Regularly 99 Cents)

Name: Pinball Ride

Description:
Play pinball on your phone or tablet with the same intensity you would if facing the over-stimulating, bell-ringing, illuminating machine itself.

Enter the Universe of Fast Cars and Fast Women
Pull the lever to the right of your screen to unleash your ball into the universe of high-profile, high-risk street racing. Energized music, 3D graphics, and real pinball sound effects set the pace for all-consumed gameplay. Tap the right side of the screen to activate your right paddle, and the left side to activate the left paddle. “Nudge” the table by tilting your phone when things start heating up. There’s no simulation for kicking; you shouldn’t be kicking pinball machines, anyway.

Accept the Challenges; Earn Rewards; Brag to Friends Take on multiple challenges relevant to the racing storyline. Race in a friendly duel, or accept a racing challenge against a gang. After it’s all said and done, offer a ride to a mini-skirted mistress on her way home from the club. The storyline creates opportunities to earn girl points, business contacts, multi-balls, airbags, bumper upgrades, achievements, and more.

Unlock Achievements and share your success on Facebook
In this pinball universe, you can be a lot of things: Skilled Shooter, Lady’s Man, Dragster. Become the master of the Nightlife, Car Chase, Tango of Death and more. All you have to do is unlock the achievement to prove it. Ready to unlock the Danger Zone? Complete the Final Duel without missing a ramp and voila, mission accomplished.

Friends let friends get in on the action. With the Facebook integration option, compete with your friends and publish your stories from the game. Send invites via e-mail and have them join the ride.

Features
• Simulates a real pinball machine
• Energized music, 3D graphics, real pinball sound effects
• Street-racing storyline
• Multiple challenges and game modes
• Achievements
• Multi-balls, bumper upgrades, girl points, business contacts, and more
• Facebook integration

Download Link: http://goo.gl/OfmRo (Amazon.com)

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

Lock ‘n’ Roll Pro (ad free) – Free Amazon Appstore App of the Day 8-9-11

Name: Lock ‘n’ Roll Pro (ad free)

Description:
A Thinking Player’s Dice Game
Lock ‘n’ Roll is a puzzle game requiring a combination of luck and intellectual skill. Learn the many combinations of dice and score big.

Gameplay
Roll four dice at a time and arrange them on a 4×4 grid. Place all four dice on the board in various combinations, according to number and color. Once you lock them down, they’re fixed in place.

As each round begins, your combinations are checked, and matches that qualify are cleared from the board, earning you points and making room for more dice to be carefully placed. Earn enough points, and be rewarded with a Joker. A Joker is a wildcard that adds whatever would be needed to make a full combo. The game keeps going until you can place no more dice.

Lock ‘n’ Roll: The Pro Version
This is the pro version of Lock ‘n’ Roll, with extra features and no ads. An undo feature lets you undo anything up to when you get more dice. Share your high scores online with high score leader boards.

Complete Tutorial and Instructions
Lock ‘n’ Roll comes with a complete tutorial and instructions for how to play. Make sure you understand which combinations of dice get cleared from the board and pay the most points.

Download Link: http://goo.gl/96r19 (Amazon.com)

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

Task Killers. The Good, Bad and Ugly

Task killers were something that at one point when you bought your phone you were told you needed. Now there are a lot of debates (ok maybe arguments) over what is the right thing.  In an attempt to enlighten the masses I have done a little research to help you make an informed decision. Comments are welcome, and please, correct me if I am misinformed..

From the way I understand it…  I am going to go through “A Day in the Life” of an Android app:  Let’s say you want to play a game. So you load up your Tank Hero app.  You are playing along, and in this example we will have you at work, and your boss walks into the room.  You quickly hit the Home key and pretend like nothing happened (nice reaction time). You app moves from an active status, to a paused status.  It’s not actually “killed” but it isn’t running, All of a sudden you get an email from your work email, and the alert goes off.  You grab your phone and check the email, which has a spreadsheet attached to it.  You open the attachment and get thrown back into work.

At this point you have forgotten all about the Tank Hero game, but your phone hasn’t.  As these other apps you started using needed the memory that the game was using, so it kills the app. But don’t fret, it kills the app nicely.  Actually I think that “kills” is a little harsh of a word. It is more like suspending. It closes the app, and attaches the state of the app – for most apps.  A good example of this is when you are in the web browser.  It will typically save the state of the app, so when you close the app (or Android closes it for you) it will pick up right where you left off.

Apps with a built in save feature can save to the last save.  A good example of this is one of my favorite games Worms HD.  It is a remake of a classic turn based artillery game in which you fight different teams of worms.  In that game, it autosaves at the end of every turn, so if you manually kill the task, it restarts at the beginning of the turn.  If you let the OS kill the task it will still do the same.

So back to the scenario… You boss is now out of sight, and you are all caught up on your work (well as caught up as you need to be for now) and you start thinking about that Tank Hero game again.  You go back into your apps and load up the game and start playing it, just like you had never left it.  All without really bogging down the memory of your phone.

I came across this chart that follows the life cycle of an app.

With all this technical mumbo-jumbo, where do task killers fit in.  A lot of people out there are strongly opinionated in the fact that task killers are bad and you shouldn’t use them.  I disagree.  I feel like there is a place on your phone for a task killer. If you are running a poorly coded app and it freezes up a task killer is a good option to unfreeze that frozen app, and a lot of times it is easier to use the app than it is to load up the Settings – Applications – Manage Applications menu.  A second reason to use a task killer is for people out there using an older Android version. The built in task management capabilities aren’t as good with 1.5 and 1.6 along with 2.0 and 2.1.  With these versions you may have luck with a task killer.

So, now is your chance to add your own $.02 to this discussion. Any comments, corrections or opinions.  I would love to hear/learn more about this…

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

Refraction- Free Amazon App of the Day

Name: Refraction

Description:
Refraction satisfies your need for challenging puzzles that test your logic and patience.

The Objective
Each puzzle contains one or more static laser beam. Using mirrors or prisms, refract the colored laser to the circle of the same color. Various objects obstruct your path. The circle nor the source of the beam can be moved. The only way to manipulate the beam is by using the provided number of prisms and mirrors.

Depending on the color of the circle and laser, you may have to combine and split different colored lasers. This app uses pigment colors rather than light colors for refraction because pigment colors are an easier concept to grasp than light colors and accommodate the majority of users.

For example, if a puzzle has one yellow laser and one blue laser with one green circle and one yellow circle, you must combine lasers to create a green beam to reach the green circle.

The Solutions
Refraction features 120 levels with multiple solutions to each puzzle for the casual and hardcore players alike. You may like to solve a puzzle using the least amount of objects possible, or solve it with an amazing display of colors using lots of prisms and mirrors.

User Interface
The interface is accurate and simple, just like the logical gamer would want it. You won’t be distracted by silly music or non-essential flair. With the polished graphics and ultimate precision, you play the game, not fight it.

Refraction offers the ability to take screenshots from the app and save them to your SD card. To take a screenshot, tap Menu > Take Screenshot > Saves to SD Card at /Pictures/Refraction.

Permissions
External storage permission is necessary to save screenshots. The wake lock permission allows you to turn off your screen’s auto-sleep which is off by default. The internet permission is for analytics tracking by Localytics.

Download Link: http://goo.gl/FdVbR (Amazon.com)

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

a game with BALLS – Free Amazon Appstore App of the Day 8/4/11

Name: a game with BALLS

Description:
The use of a spheroid object in play is believed to date back to the beginning of human history. Games involving balls appear pictorially on Egyptian monuments, while there is evidence that the Greeks and Romans used ball-like objects in simple contests. All of which, of course, has merely been a lead-up to the release of this dramatic Android app, a game with BALLS.

Following the Bouncing Spheroid Object
In this game you must use small objects to repel larger objects, both of which are primarily balls. With arcade-style gameplay harking back to the days of Asteroids and Space Invaders, you must use your trusty cannon to repel incoming balls of all shapes and sizes by firing two sizes of bullets.

Simple Gameplay, Complex Mechanics
To aim your cannon, choose your preferred control style: tilt or touch. You fire by tapping the screen, with one finger shooting small balls and two fingers launching the larger artillery. As you would expect, the larger balls carry more impact, but they also use up your supply of bullets faster (keep track using the bullet icons at the bottom of the screen). Also, your score is based on the number of shots fired, so shooting a strategic small ball is often better than a pair of big ones.

The object is to make sure none of the falling balls, squares, or other objects collide with your cannon. Knocking the balls to the sides will keep you safe, but watch out for a rebound as one enemy ball collides with another. Your balls also bounce around the screen crazily. The resulting melee is chaotic, which is why this is called a game with “BALLS,” not “balls.”

Graphical Diversity
The game features four colorful themes: CLASSIC, etherVISION, Indigo NOTIONS, and bubblegum ODYSSEY. Each theme offers different gameplay mechanics, colorful backgrounds, songs, balls, and more. It’s like getting four different games in one.

Each game is rated on how many minutes and/or seconds you lasted and how many balls you repelled. Climb the leaderboards and collect achievements on OpenFeint and X Game Center, then post your results on Facebook and Twitter. Show your friends who really has the best BALLS game.

Download Link: http://goo.gl/yRV73 (Amazon.com)

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

Sporcle – Free Game of the Day from Amazon Appstore

Name: Sporcle
Description:
If you rule the local pub on trivia night, or just dream of the day you will, Sporcle is the perfect app for you. This popular quiz game for Android has got all the bells and whistles. More importantly, it’s got great quizzes!

A Quiz for Every Occasion
“Oh sure,” you’re thinking. “Another app with 10 or 15 lame quizzes.” Au contraire! Sporcle for Android has hundreds of inventive and challenging trivia games. Running the gamut from Entertainment to Religion, from Sports to Literature, there’s a quiz here for anyone and everyone. You can browse through 15 different categories or simply select a random quiz and start playing.

Here’s just a small sampling of the types of trivia tests you’ll find on Sporcle: “50 Largest U.S. Cities.” “Name that Sitcom.” “Ancient Wonders.” “Baby Names from Shakespeare.” (?) “Guess Your NBA Team.” “SNL Cast Blitz.” “Famous Biologists.” (??) And on and on.

These aren’t your grandpa’s multiple-choice quizzes, either–each one has a written answer that you must provide. Time limits make the experience even more challenging, and more fun.

How Do You Measure Up?
Sporcle scores your performance on every quiz and stores the information right in the app, so you can track which ones you’ve taken and how you did. You can also get more in-depth statistics on each game, seeing how your performance stacks up against others who have taken that quiz. And don’t worry; each quiz reveals the correct answers once you’ve completed it, so you don’t have to wonder. You can also take the same quiz again if you like.

It Gets Better
One of the best things about Sporcle is the “connectivity” it provides. You can see comments from other players about each quiz and compare your score against theirs right on your phone–but that’s just the beginning. You can then go online, create an account on Sporcle.com, and have even more fun. On the site you can comment on quizzes you’ve taken, rate them, view all kinds of statistics, invite and connect with your friends, post your results to Facebook and Twitter, and more. You can even create your own quiz.

Even if you just stick to the app, there’s more than enough to keep you busy and entertained for a long while. It features dozens of quizzes pre-loaded in every category–and you don’t have to have network access to play them. Just download the Android app and start exercising your brain. With Sporcle, there’s always a new challenge waiting for you.

Download Link: http://goo.gl/YqGHn (Amazon.com)

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

Golf Frontier GPS – Free Amazon Appstore App of the Day 7/30/11

Name: Golf Frontier GPS
Description: Get your game on with this fully functional golf range finder and course map. Golf Frontier GPS provides accurate course detail for nearly 15,000 downloadable golf courses, and the best part–no subscription fees and every coarse download is free, always.

Your Golf Game with an Improved View
The feature-rich interface indicates carry and reach distances for the current hole. Distance arcs are placed at 100, 150, and 200 yards (or meters), however, you can calculate distance from anywhere on the map by adding new map points: Just long tap anywhere on the screen in map view. The one-touch interface makes marking and measuring shot distances simple. Does it make the actual shot simple? Well, that’s up to you.

GPS Conveniently
Auto hole transition moves to the next hole without being prompted. As you approach, GPS adjusts with you. It’s there to aide you, not burden you. Go on with your golf game seamlessly. The GPS sensitivity adjustment allows you to configure your settings for optimum accuracy. Additionally, adjust the battery life setup to get the most from your battery for those long days on the course. Use the Most Frequent mode for ultimate accuracy.

Any Course Can Be a Golf Frontier GPS Course
If you can’t find your desired course, you’ve got options: First, check the course library. Golf Frontier is always adding new courses. If they haven’t added it yet, send an e-mail and make a request. Don’t want to wait? Feel free to add it yourself. Golf Frontier GPS allows you to create your own GPS course map using their robust online map editor.

Golf Frontier GPS is dedicated to producing the highest quality Android GPS application possible, and they’re happy to respond to your comments and concerns.

Download Link:http://goo.gl/fpJ6V (Amazon.com)

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

Supermarket Scramble – Free Amazon Appstore App for 7/27/11

Name: Supermarket Scramble
Description:
If you’ve always dreamed of owning your own business, here’s your (virtual) chance. There’s a catch, however. Your business is a grocery store, and the customers are quite demanding! In Supermarket Scramble, you’ll have to be quick on your feet–I mean, on your fingers–to succeed.

Miles of Aisles
Feeding the masses is a tough job, but you take great pride in your store and its customer service. In this game, you’ll be quite busy fulfilling shoppers’ grocery lists by lining up at least three in a row of that item on the “product grid.” It’s the classic match-three puzzle game, only with tasty food.

Say Shopper One has apples, lettuce, carrots, and sandwiches on her list. As quickly as you can, find places on the grid where you can slide these objects around (swapping adjacent items) to make three in a row horizontally or vertically. Once you’ve found enough of the desired food, that item is checked off the list. When a customer’s list is completed, you tap on the cash register to make the sale.

The Customer Is Always Right
Sometimes you get the Little Old Lady, who waits semi-patiently while you track down her oranges and bananas. Other times, you get the Diva. She’s late for a cocktail party and needs you to round up her items pronto, do you understand? It’s not easy to make her happy, but if you do there’s a big tip in it for you. And there are plenty of other customers–some of whom you need to unlock–with their own unique quirks.

Be sure to watch the patience meters that appear at the bottom of your customers’ lists, which reflect how fast you are filling their order. The faster you complete their order, the more bonus money you can earn. If the meter runs out, however, they leave in a huff and you just lost a sale.

Download Link: http://goo.gl/moGlZ (Amazon.com)

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

Lingrove – Word Game – Amazon Free App of the Day 7/25/11

Name: Lingrove

Description:
“Dark clouds were lingering in the sky, waiting to open up and drench the natives of Lingrove. I was sitting on the branch of my tree house and tying a swing to it. Suddenly a fierce thunder erupted in the sky, making me jump. I fell off the branch, crying "ouch!” as I landed with a thud. I started calling names looking at the sky. An even stronger thunder yelled back at me, the rain falling harder.

“That’s when I heard someone laughing. I looked around and saw a girl holding a basket of flowers. She was dressed in white and had the prettiest eyes. She just stood there, drenched in the rain, smiling and full of innocence.”

And so begins the love story at the heart of Lingrove, a challenging new word game for Android. Can you work your way through the puzzles and unlock the rest of the tale?

Word Workout
The word games in Lingrove are simple to play but difficult to beat. If you’ve ever played the colored-peg game Mastermind then you already understand the concept: Try to solve the mystery word by guessing different letters until you’ve found the right combination. Every time you put the correct letter in the right place in the word, the game draws a box around it. If you guess the right letter right but place it out of order, the letter is be circled. Then you just have to try it in another slot on your next guess.

In the picture at left, for example, the game helps you get started by providing the letter “C” in the correct location. The first guessed word (“WATCH”) does not reveal any other correct letters but it does eliminate W, A, T, and H from consideration. The second guess shows that P and E are also correct and in the proper place. It also reveals that there is an I in the word, but in a different spot. Third time’s the charm, as the answer is “PRICE.”

Note: Lingrove is compatible only with HDPI screen resolutions of WVGA800 (480×800) and WVGA854 (480×854).

Download Link: http://goo.gl/apsWJ

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone:

Silly Dino – Seymour Simon – Amazon Free App of the Day 7/24/11

Name: Silly Dino – Seymour Simon

Description:
Funnysaurus!
Bring a smile to your children’s faces with Silly Dino, a collection of witty dinosaur riddles for your Android phone or tablet. Featuring simple riddles as well as pleasing and clever illustrations, Silly Dino provides an amusing way to help your children read, learn a few riddles, and even memorize a little something about dinosaurs.

Written by noted children’s science author Seymour Simon, Silly Dino features an assortment of 10 dino-tastic riddles. Simon’s longtime collaborator Dennis Kendrick provides charming images to accompany each riddle and its answer. Simon, whom the New York Times called “the dean of children’s science writers,” is the author of more than 250 acclaimed science books introducing children to a variety of scientific topics and encouraging them to engage with the world around them.

Easy to Use
Silly Dino’s intuitive interface lets children cycle through the riddles by easily swiping their finger across the screen. For children too young to read or those just learning, Silly Dino includes an audio feature that reads the riddles aloud in a clear voice while each word is highlighted on the screen as its read.

Silly Dino also provides a short matching quiz where children can match a dinosaur illustration with its particular amusing description.

Sure to tickle young ones’ funny bones, Silly Dino asks and even answers the immortal question: Why did the T-Rex cross the road? (Because the chicken called in sick!)

Download Link: http://goo.gl/M8qIs

Some “Best of the Best” accessories for your Android phone: