Game Review: Rocket League

So today I decided that I would try out something different. Usually the most extent I talk about games on here is when I'm talking about Nintendo, but I also play a large amount of PC games. Yesterday I bought Rocket League on Steam since it was on sale for 40% off. I've been hearing a lot of hype about this game for a long time and I was really excited to try it. It has definitely lived up to the fun I've heard that it is.

Rocket League is a simple, yet fun concept. In one sentence, it's soccer but with rocket cars. But it's so much more fun than that. You hit the giant ball by controlling a car. Typical forward/reverse, steering controls. It takes a lot of skill (or luck) to be able to coordinate with your team members to score a goal. Different from soccer, however, is the giant explosion when you get a goal, or ramming into someone so hard with your rocket boosters that they explode. The game's hilarious almost toy-like physics make the game that much more fun. Combined with gorgeous graphics that allow you to see individual blades of grass moving in the wind and amazing sun flairs, it's fun to even just watch.

You win by getting the most points in a five minute round. If there is a tie when the timer runs out, there is overtime where the next team to score a point wins. When the round is over, you'll get experience points depending on how well you and your team did that round. You also have a chance to get a new item to customize your vehicle with. These items are almost entirely cosmetic, since the hitboxes, speed, etc. of all of the cars, hats, and flags are almost identical. But it's still awesome to get a new boost trail, or pirate hat.

The game isn't terribly competitive, which strikes me as odd. You would think with a game that is so focused around one of the most competitive sports of all time, it would have that. There is a competitive mode, but it still doesn't carry the same weight. I think it would be more interesting if the items you got each had balanced ups and downs, such as increased speed with decreased control. Things like that would make customizing your vehicle much more fun, much like Splatoon's gear system.

Overall, I can tell this will be a game I will become addicted to over the next few weeks. I can't say whether it will have a lasting effect on me, but I can definitely tell it's worth the $12 I spent on it.

Will I Be Getting A Google Live Case

Google has introduced a new option for its Nexus lineup of accessories, which now includes the Google Live Case. What makes the Live Case special isn't really that special, many case manufacturers have been printing custom images over cases for forever. What makes this such a good thing though is that usually those custom brands will only print cases for popular phones like iPhones and Samsung Galaxies.

But that's not all. The Google Live Case isn't just any old custom case, it has a custom NFC button on the back that, when pressed, will allow for many custom actions. (Such as launching an app, toggling settings, turning on a flashlight, etc.) This is super helpful and incredibly smart for a case to include. This isn't the first time Google has created Live cases, though. Back when the Nexus 6 was Google's current flagship, Google announced the "Skrillex Live Case" which was basically the same thing, but used as advertisement for Skrillex's tour. I guarantee someone at Google saw the potential with the NFC button in that case design and decided to adapt it to the current customizable model.

There are multiple options to customize the case itself through Google's Live Case studio, which lets you not only upload images, but scale, move, rotate, apply filters, and view it in 3D. Even if you don't have a photo to use, you can choose a place through Google Maps that is important to you to display on the case. After you apply the case, you can press the button to get the Live Cases app, which can put the image or place you selected as your background and unlock the NFC button.

So to answer the question in the title, yes. I will be getting a Google Live Case for my Nexus 6P. Normally I'm not a case person, as I've talked about. But the ability to add my own personal flavor on a case that the manufacturer approves, combined with added functionality of the NFC button makes this an offer I can't refuse. Unfortunately, it's going to take about a month for it to get to me due to this being a preorder. I'll definitely post what it looks like when it comes, though!

What I Want from Alphabet's Tech Utopian City

According to Android Authority, Alphabet, Google's holding company, is looking to create a 21st century tech city. Along with Google, Alphabet holds a bunch of smaller companies. One of these is Sidewalk Labs, which looks to improve city living through technology. Tackling problems such as overcrowding, energy usage, transportation, and connectivity, Sidewalk Labs, and by extension Alphabet, are looking for a likely candidate to transform.

Regardless of what city they choose, imagine a tech giant, especially Alphabet, taking complete control in designing a city's infrastructure. Imagine what could be accomplished! Of course, with Google's connections with Fiber and Project Fi, I can only imagine that they would have city-wide public Internet. I'm curious if Google will be able to secure a network that large, however. Something else to keep in mind is that a city like this would be a haven for self-driving car testing. I could for sure see a city such as this becoming the breeding ground for self-driving cars.

These are the obvious things, but there are less conventional things I would love to see in a tech utopia such as this. Firstly, a central transport system that is easy and cheap to access. Trains are crowded and nobody wants to drive with all that traffic in big cities. Alphabet has the resources to get around this problem, and I want to see them be creative with it. Second, it'd be really interesting to see what they could do in terms of laws and electing officials. If it is a true city, a mayor would need to be elected as well as other city officials. Would Alphabet look to unconventional methods in terms of the voting process as well? And could these methods be adopted into larger forms of election?

Alphabet City, while terribly capitalistic, could result in amazing technical innovation. I would certainly move there.

Could The HTC 10 Save HTC?

Oh, HTC. I've written a whole article about HTC's failing revenue and business practices, and with the release of their next flagship, it's time to take another look. In my last post about HTC, I talked about various things that HTC needs to address if they want to stay competitive in the smartphone industry. Now I'm going to see if they did address these issues with the HTC 10.

Firstly, I said HTC should release a phone like the leaked (fake) version of the HTC One M9. What I meant by that wasn't an exact copy of that design, rather just something different. I think HTC has succeeded in this part. I absolutely love the chamfered edges of the HTC 10. The 10 keeps many of the elements that made the One line popular, namely an all-metal unibody, while at the same time changing up the design to look more modern. A definite win for HTC.

Secondly, I urged HTC to create a better skin that doesn't exploit its customers for advertising money. I think, again, they succeeded with the HTC 10. The HTC 10's UI is very minimal, staying fairly close to stock Android. HTC did something I wish all manufacturers would do, (even Google) they worked with Google to remove duplicates of stock apps with the same functionality. For example, we don't want three different web browsers, personal assistants, health apps, etc. all on the same device when we first get it. It wastes space and is confusing to the user. HTC has done a great job at showing restraint with Android, I approve.

Lastly, I asked that HTC release their next flagship for an affordable price. And while we may still see that this year if HTC does indeed make the next Nexus, it's not quite the same as making your flagship affordable. The HTC 10 definitely fails in this department. It's $699, which isn't that bad for a smartphone, but still definitely not affordable. HTC seems to think it can compete with Samsung on an even playing field still, but that isn't true. HTC's reputation has gone down significantly in just a few years, they can't just release their flagship for the same price as Samsung and expect to get as good of sales.

The HTC 10 looks to be one of the best phones of 2016 so far. If nothing else, it is a solid software package in a solid hardware package. Whether that's enough to get HTC back on its feet, only time will tell.

Source: Android Authority, Verge

GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile) vs. CDMA (Sprint, Verizon)

GSM and CDMA are two different technologies that are competing in the US. AT&T and T-Mobile are the major players using GSM, while Sprint and Verizon are the ones using CDMA.

There is a huge difference in how SIM cards work between CDMA and GSM. With GSM, the subscriber data is stored on the SIM card. This means you can pop it into any phone with a SIM card slot and it'll just work without needing to even contact your carrier. With CDMA, subscriber data is stored with the carrier. This means to switch a phone over to a different CDMA carrier you'll need for both carriers to work together in swapping over your data, or to use a different phone with the carrier you need to go through them and have them pre-approve it. The reason CDMA carriers use SIM cards at all is because they were forced to adopt it when 4G became a big thing.. It is not even close to what SIM cards do with typical GSM carriers. What's the problem? Well, the majority of the world uses GSM as a global standard and a lot of phones are not built CDMA compatible because the USA is one of the weird cases where CDMA is popular. It's a lot easier for an OEM to build a GSM-compatible phone and just let the user swap a SIM card in and have it work. This is why you normally don't see OEM's selling two unlocked versions of their phones, CDMA and GSM versions. Because CDMA carriers need to allow and support unlocked phones, while GSM carriers can just hand out a SIM card. Recently there have been unlocked phones released for CDMA thanks to popular demand, but to get an unlocked phone working on a CDMA network you still have to get it activated with the carrier instead of just swapping a SIM card. Besides, most of the world uses GSM anyway.

Image source: PC Mag

Android N's Subtle File Structure Change May Mean Big Things

Thanks to Android Central, they've uncovered an interesting file structure change in the first Android N developer preview, which could mean huge things for the future of Android. This is almost all speculation and hope that Google is actually doing this, so if you don't want to be potentially disappointed, don't continue.

Google has been heavily criticized in the past and present for its fragmentation. Well over half of Android users are on a pre-Lollipop version. Lollipop was released at the end of 2014. Many compare this to Apple's total control of the OS and consider it a terrible thing. In fact, I wrote a post about fragmentation quite a while ago. I think it is a user issue, but if Google can step up its game and gain more control over updates, I certainly won't complain. And that's exactly what Google may be trying to do with this structure change.

The structure change is very subtle, Google is separating Android's core OS and UI elements. But why? Google has to have done this for a reason. Android Central speculates that it's because they're going to push OS updates directly to skinned devices like Samsungs, without interfering with the OEM's skin. These OS updates could involve security updates, new features, API updates, etc. If Google can gain control of the under-the-hood updates, it will greatly increase the security of everyone's devices. Usually when a major vulnerability is found, something a hacker can exploit, Google fixes it fairly quickly. Nexus devices receive monthly security updates to combat this. Unfortunately, these fixes do not reach most other devices running Android for sometimes months. That's because OEMs like Samsung, HTC, and LG have to take this Android update that Google has released and apply their skin to it again, as well as bug test. Depending on individual OEMs to deliver the security updates that Google releases is like the U.S. government depending on civilian militias to defend the country. Security is much more air-tight when updates can be applied to most Android devices right from the source of the patch. Not only is this move better for security, it makes it easier for OEMs to skin Android to their liking without completely messing with core system files. This means faster, less buggy skinned devices. When most Android devices are skinned, this is a big deal.

But let's look at the downside. It's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of skinned versions of Android, which is why I have a Nexus. But this change, making it easier to skin, would fragment Android in a way that may cause different skins of Android to be too different. When Google has an idea for a UI, and Samsung wants something else, and HTC wants something else too, we have a race of competing design standards that could clash when these are all on the same, core platform. My only hope is that if Google does go through with this change, they create more rigid rules for OEMs. But that's just me.

Either way, if Google does do this, it's going to be good for pretty much everyone. It's going to increase security and keep devices updated without waiting on OEMs to push updates through. Let's just hope that that's what Google is actually doing with this subtle change.

App Review: Nintendo's First App, Miitomo

It's sort of hard to explain what Nintendo's first app, Miitomo, actually is. It's kind of a game, but it's kind of not. It's kind of a social network, but not really. But all the way through it screams "Nintendo."

If you've played any Nintendo product since the Wii, you'll know what a Mii is. A Mii is Nintendo's customizable character model that you create on their systems to represent you in certain games. Miitomo is sort of Nintendo testing the waters by opening their network up to mobile. There isn't really a point to it, but it's still a fun thing to check daily. It lets you create Miis, buy clothes with Miitomo Coins, add friends from various social networks, take pictures (or Miifotos), and most importantly, answer questions.

Yes, Nintendo's first mobile app revolves around answering questions. I'm a little concerned about this being their main selling point, here. Especially considering you can't even think of the questions to ask, yourself, like Ask.fm or Tumblr. What Miitomo does is generate questions, (Think: "What is your favorite food?" or "Do you recommend any TV shows lately?") and asks you them. Your answers to these questions are then displayed for your friends to see, and they can like or comment on them. It's fun, for a bit, but kind of gets old. Something that makes Miitomo more entertaining is that there is a voice synthesizer that speaks all of the things different Miis say. The voices are customizable so each Mii sounds different. Besides this, they have a few games. They're all "Miitomo Drop" where you try to win prizes, though.

The app experience is laggy at best. When you change screens, there's always a few second loading delay before it actually switches. I don't know why this is, other than Nintendo trying to emulate the experience on its consoles. (Burn!) Besides changing screens, the 3D elements are very well done. They're smooth on my Nexus 6P and actually look very nice. I would love for them to have done more with this, other than a static room and Miis. Animal Crossing or an actual game would be amazing using these kinds of graphics on mobile.

Despite all of its flaws, Miitomo has a certain charm to it that makes me nearly forgive them. Even though the app has flaws, it does feel polished. There are a ton of outfits, positions, expressions, and possibilities. If anything, I'd download it and play with it. It's free, and it's fun. It isn't going to be a craze or something that will even be relevant a year from now, but it's still enjoyable.

The FBI's Irresponsible Hacking of the iPhone Is Dangerous

I talked about the FBI attempting to force Apple to unlock their iPhone for them, but now it seems like the FBI doesn't need that anymore. That's because they've allegedly hacked the encryption on the iPhone themselves, and are already agreeing to help Arkansas prosecutors hack their iPhone as well. While we don't know exactly how the FBI hacked the iPhone, we do know one thing. If it can be done to one, it can be done to them all. Most people aren't against the government having the ability to get into their homes if they're breaking the law (and for probable reason) but this isn't just one phone. Imagine the government making a master key that can unlock every person's house door. What if it got stolen? What if a corrupt official were to use it without probable cause? These kinds of questions are what are being raised about the technique the FBI used to hack the iPhone.

Not only is this bad news for us, but it's also bad news for Apple. Now there is a security issue in their phones, which can cause people to not buy them. This is the government directly getting in the way of free enterprise. If the government keeps this all-access key instead of giving it up to Apple to fix, I can only see Apple retaliating. For a country that is so lucky to have so many tech giants' headquarters reside, it sure is odd that our government is so against technological progress.

Thankfully, the government probably won't have use for this vulnerability for much longer. Since it's almost inevitable that an exploit like this will not stay a secret, it will eventually get leaked and make its way back to Apple. Still, when so many iPhones will stay in evidence, unupdated, it begs the question of just how many iPhones local and federal governments will have access to.

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.  - Benjamin Franklin

Image source: Forbes