If you’re looking to try some of these games for the first time, or just want to relive some good-old side-scrolling mayhem, then join us as we check out these highly-entertaining games on the Playstore. Let’s get started!

Dead Cells

One of the newer titles on the Playstore, Dead Cells is an action side-scroller that incorporates swift combat and rogue-like elements for some fast-paced gameplay. You gain abilities and weapons, and we have to admit that jumping around and slashing down enemies never gets old. The game is regularly updated, and while you can purchase the full game, there’s also optional DLC which you can check out in case you want a bit more action.

The game has also been released for other consoles, and while it’s been tailored to work with a touch screen, the Android port offers support for external third-party controllers.

Check out the game here.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

You might have noticed that we mentioned this game at the beginning of this article – Castlevania Symphony of the Night (aka SOTN) is one of the games responsible for the term “Metroidvania” (the other game being Nintendo’s Metroid). Simply put, while it’s mostly an action-adventure game, SOTN features role-playing elements such as a leveling system, customizable gear, and some meaty in-game exploration, meaning that you’ll spend a lot of time going back and forth through the massive in-game world. You play as Alucard, tasked to take down his father Dracula (if you’ve seen the Netflix series, then this should be familiar) in his large, sprawling castle.

Originally released for the Sony PlayStation, SOTN also supports both touch controls and external controllers, so you can easily pair a wireless controller to your smartphone and get started with all the action. The pixelated graphics work well on smartphone displays, and anyone looking to revisit this classic or experience it for the first time will have a blast with this port.

Check out the game here.

Grimvalor

Up next on this list is Grimvalor. Originally designed for mobile platforms and later ported to the Nintendo Switch, Grimvalor is an award-winning hack and slash title, that pits you – a combat-trained warrior – against hordes of brooding monsters that have no earthly business prancing around on your smartphone’s screen. Grimvalor takes some metroidvania-style exploration and combines them with elements from the popular “Souls” games. The game also features slick combat controls, as well as good-looking graphics and voice-acting.

In case you’re not too keen on using touchscreen controls, Grimvalor is compatible with third-party controllers as well, giving you a much better handle on all the action going around.

Check out the game here.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Considered as a spiritual successor to the Castlevania series (which has been quite dormant for a while now), Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night offers similar gameplay to its predecessor, thanks to mastermind developer Koji Igarashi, who was largely responsible for Symphony of the Night’s success during his time in KONAMI. This time around, Bloodstained puts you in the shoes of Miriam, an orphan girl with fighting abilities and untapped power. Long-time fans of the Castlevania games will find lots to love with Bloodstained, and the game offers a solid metroidvania adventure alongside great-looking graphics.

So far, the only gripe we have with this game is the somewhat awkward-feeling touchscreen controls, although like the other games on this list, you can use a third-party controller for a better gameplay experience.

Check out the game here.

Super Mario Run

If you’re after something more light-hearted and simple, then Nintendo’s Super Mario Run is a great game to look into. Nintendo has slowly been bringing its franchises to mobile platforms, and it’s not surprising that Mario would make the transition from the Switch and DS to smartphone devices. While it is technically a Mario game, Super Mario Run changes things up a bit by locking the game in a portrait-style orientation, and gives Mario a control scheme similar to those “endless runner” games like Temple Run and whatnot, albeit in a 2D view.

As far as controls are concerned, there’s no complicated platforming involved here. All you have to do is get Mario from point A to point B using tap controls, and for casual mobile gamers and Mario fans looking to burn a bit of time, then Super Mario Run is worth checking out.

Check out the game here.

The post 5 Great Side-scrolling Action Games on Android first appeared on Phandroid.

The Stratus+ can easily pair to Android and Chromebook devices wirelessly with Bluetooth LE connectivity, and can also be used for PC gaming, provided that you have a USB-C to USB-A cable available for wired connection. The controller also comes with 90-hour battery life, making it ideal for prolonged gaming sessions. In case you run out of battery, built-in fast charging allows you to get up to 12 hours of playtime with a quick 15-minute charge.

The Stratus+ also comes with a phone mount so you can clip your phone on the controller for the full-handheld experience. It’s detachable and pocket-friendly as well, so you can remove it anytime you’re not using the controller to play on your phone. SteelSeries also says that the controller features ALPS Analog thumbsticks with clickable controls, as well as magnetic sensors for the trigger buttons, for better precision and handling when playing games which require split-second movements like first-person shooters and hack-and-slash titles.

A couple of years back, SteelSeries released the Stratus Duo controller, which was designed for gaming on both Android and PC. with the addition of the Stratus+, Chromebook users who are after a bit of gaming on their devices can now get in on the action as well. The company adds that the controller is recommended for use with Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud streaming service, which lets players stream games from dedicated NVIDIA GPUs for seamless cloud gaming.

Source: SteelSeries Blog

The post SteelSeries Launches New Controller Designed for Android and Chromebook Gamers first appeared on Phandroid.

Backlash

Many testers and users alike have expressed their dissatisfaction with this, and Google has promised to “guarantee that all beta devices receive each official stable release to the public so you can opt-out without a data wipe for a limited time until the next beta upgrade.” This will only be available at the end of a beta cycle, and how much time will be granted before a new preview begins is unknown.

That’s similar to how, before the 12L Beta started in December, Android 12 allowed a “window of opportunity to unenroll without erasing your device” in October. Google is now making this a permanent feature of the Android Beta Program, so users will no longer have to test previews on a regular basis.

Google has stated that QPR3 will have a stable public release in June with a Feature Drop. Users can opt-out of the beta program at google.com/android/beta without wiping their devices after they receive the final version of QPR3.

The post The Android Beta program now offers an easy exit without a system wipe first appeared on Phandroid.

Google has stated that the next open consultation with a healthcare professional will be displayed straight on the Google search page.

Pick and Choose

During the initial launch, which will begin in the coming weeks, the company is collaborating with MinuteClinic at CVS and other undisclosed appointment schedulers, according to product manager Jackie DeJesse. This will only be available in English at first.

When someone looks up a doctor or a health provider’s office, they can discover what kinds of appointments are available as well as the earliest appointment date. They will be directed to a third party to schedule an appointment if they click the “book” button.

When looking for a MinuteClinic in San Francisco, for example, a “visits” tab will appear, with options for TB tests, immunizations, skin conditions, and other types of appointments. According to DeJesse, people can’t currently place adverts to that section.

The tool’s launch follows Google’s announcement in December of other healthcare search tools, including the ability to identify which languages are spoken in a doctor’s office and which insurance networks the practice accepts.

The post New Google feature to show available doctors appointments first appeared on Phandroid.

Head out on the highway

Spotify is among the most popular streaming music services accessible, thus its decision to remove the Car View function from the platform’s smartphone app was unexpected. When Spotify disabled the feature, there was no word on when or if the streaming service will reintroduce it.

When connecting their smartphones to their car’s  Bluetooth, Google and many other Android users are introduced to a new Car Mode. The Spotify app will prompt the user to press the automobile button in the lower right corner of the screen once connected. The new Car Mode offers a simpler playback screen as well as search, which was mostly absent from the old Car View option.

When driving, the new Car Mode tries to mix the regular Spotify UI with a more compact and driver-friendly perspective. On the playback screen, there are huge touchpoints for going back or skipping tracks, play/pause, shuffle, like, and a microphone for voice control. There are other buttons at the bottom of the screen for returning to the home page, using voice search, and seeing the library.

Sources: 9to5Google

The post Hit the Road with Spotify Car Mode first appeared on Phandroid.

A Twitter post from Yogesh Brar predicts that Qualcomm will launch the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus – also known as “Qualcomm SM8475” – later this upcoming May. The post adds that the chipset “will be based on TSMC’s 4nm platform with a number of improvements.” He also commented that the company will also reveal new chipsets for mid-range and upper mid-range devices, which might refer to the upcoming 7-series chips.

So Qualcomm SM8475 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus) will be announced in early May. Will be based on TSMC's 4nm platform with a number of improvements. But that not it, Qualcomm has some other chips as well for the mid & upper mid-range segment..

— Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) March 24, 2022

Further reports also mention that several smartphone manufacturers including OnePlus, Motorola and Xiaomi already have their hands on the new SoC for testing and preparation purposes, and will most likely feature the rumored chipset in their next wave of flagship devices. Currently, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro, OnePlus 10 Pro, and Xiaomi 12 all feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which is currently the most powerful chip in Qualcomm’s lineup. Other flagship SoCs from competing manufacturers are Apple’s A15 Bionic, Mediatek’s Dimensity 9000, Samsung’s Exynos 2200, and Google’s Tensor chip, which it co-developed with Samsung.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips power a multitude of Android devices in the market, and their high-end chipsets such as the 800-series and the newer 8 Gen 1 chip are often seen on flagship devices. The company has been making products as far back as 2007, with Snapdragon chips appearing on older Android phones and even some Windows Phone devices. Aside from performance, the 8 Gen 1 is also notable for ditching Qualcomm’s old naming scheme for its products, which consisted of three numbers based on performance and price (800-series, 700, and so on).

Sources: GSMArena

The post Qualcomm Predicted to Reveal Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Successor Soon first appeared on Phandroid.

According to a tweet by Jon Prosser, it seems that Google will be officially announcing the handset at their upcoming I/O event which will be taking place from the 11-12th of May. Prosser’s tweet claims that the Pixel 6a will be officially announced at the event, but stated that Google will be “teasing” the Pixel Watch.

Google I/O '22 👇

From what I understand, Google will officially be announcing the Pixel 6a + "teasing" the Pixel Watch.

Pixel 6a launch (in most markets) pushed to July 28th.

Pixel Watch will be formally announced and launched with Pixel 7 and 7 Pro in October. pic.twitter.com/IwwRX2pZtR

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) March 24, 2022

Whether or not we’ll be getting a full reveal at the event is unclear, or if Google will really tease us with an image of the watch’s silhouette or if they will just mention it in passing. Either way, considering that it has been rumored for the longest time ever that Google could be developing their own smartwatch, it will be nice to finally get some kind of official confirmation that such a device is in the works.

Plus, with Google announcing a partnership with Samsung to revamp Wear OS, it would seem like a huge missed opportunity if Google did not actually develop their own hardware that would take full advantage of all the new features and changes in the OS.

The post Pixel 6a, Pixel Watch expected to make an appearance at Google I/O first appeared on Phandroid.

Apple tried to do something similar to a certain degree with iMessage, but it felt like it was a bit too late due to the rise of other instant messenger platforms that were cross-platform compatible. Now according to a new legislation announced by the EU, it seems that they are looking to force tech companies to create some kind of unified messenger service.

The legislation is part of the Digital Markets Act where it would require messenger services that have at least 45 million monthly active end users and 10,000 annually active corporate users to allow their services with work with smaller messaging platforms.

This means that for example, Apple’s iMessage or Meta’s Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, would need to be able to send/receive messages, make video calls, and also send/receive files from other smaller competing platforms. In theory, it means that in the future, iMessage users will be able to send and receive messages from smaller and lesser-used messenger platforms, thus no longer requiring users to own an Apple product to reach other Apple users.

The issue here would be security, but according to Andreas Schwab, the European Parliament’s Rapporteur, he believes that it is feasible. Speaking to TechCrunch, Schwab was quoted as saying:

“The Parliament has always been clear that interoperability for messaging has to come. It will come — at the same time, it also has to be secure. If the Telecoms Regulators say it is not possible to deliver end-to-end encrypted group chats within the next nine months, then it will come as soon as it is possible, there will be no doubt about that.”

The DMA has yet to be finalized and it is unclear when implementation would occur, so there is still time for companies to figure out how this will all work.

Source: TechCrunch

The post The EU could force iMessage, WhatsApp to work with smaller messenger apps first appeared on Phandroid.

How does it work?

When you’re in Chrome, click the icon in the top right corner to the left of your profile avatar to open Chrome’s new side panel. This was the location of the button for your reading list.

A two-tab panel opens when you select that button, displaying your to-read list and bookmarks next to each other. The panel then resizes your current page to create a place for it. While switching between tabs, the panel remains open. You may quickly hide it by clicking on the icon or the “x” button to the right.

The reading list tab keeps all of the functionality of the previous interface, including the ability to add the current page to the list, mark articles as read, or remove a site.

The bookmarks tab is located to the right of the reading list, and it displays all of your bookmarked pages.

New Favourite Feature?

The new side panel is just one of the many useful features featured in Chrome 99. The current version of the browser also has a download shortcut at the top and a date picker, among several other useful features, so it’s worth keeping up to date with the latest updates to see which may be your new favorite feature.

The post Google Chrome gets some fresh UI first appeared on Phandroid.

It is quite common for creators to see online trollers join their streams with the sole intention of adding toxic and hurtful comments. Such behavior could lead to a negative effect on the creator’s mental health. This is where moderators come into the picture as they have special powers to keep things under control.

Instagram says a moderator can remove viewers from live streams, turn off comments from a particular viewer, and even report comments. In this tutorial, we will explain how you can assign a moderator to your Instagram Live.

Assign a moderator to Instagram Live stream:

1. The first step is obviously to go live on your Instagram account.
2. When you are live, tap the three-dot icon in the comments bar.
3. Tap Add a moderator option from the list.
   
4. Search for the user you want to make the moderator. Instagram will also suggest a few accounts that could be your moderator.
   

This is how you can easily add a user as a moderator to your live streams. It is important to note that Instagram currently supports assigning only one moderator per live stream. It is unknown if the company has plans to add support for multiple moderators which is something we have seen on other platforms. Nevertheless, something is better than nothing and it should help you keep those troll accounts away.

The post How to assign a moderator to Instagram Live stream first appeared on Phandroid.

“The player experience is always of a top priority for PUBG MOBILE Esports so it felt natural and confident to enter a partnership with Sony’s Xperia™. We look forward to seeing our players showcasing an even stronger performance with their Xperia flagship series at our global tournaments this year.”

PUBG Mobile Esports Director James Yang

Additionally, PUBG Mobile stated that Sony Xperia smartphones will be supplied for pro teams during the tournaments, as per their official social media post. Two main events will be held, which include the 2022 PUBG Mobile Global Championship, and a mid-year tournament as well.

Originally launched in December of 2017, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – or PUBG for short – features battle-royale style gameplay involving multiple players at any given time. Besides Android phones, the game itself is also available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as well as Google Stadia. The title has gained a large following and popularity alongside other battle-royale games like Fortnite and Apex Legends.

Sony has recently been revamping its mobile division, focusing on a handful of high-end phones as opposed to earlier Xperia product launches, which featured multiple devices for different price brackets. Sony’s most recent smartphones include the flagship Xperia 1 III and the Xperia Pro-I, and while they are not dedicated gaming phones, both come equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chipset and 12GB of RAM, a combination that should provide any gamer with fast performance speeds.

Source: PUBG Mobile Social Page

The post PUBG Mobile Partners with Sony Xperia for 2022 Tournaments first appeared on Phandroid.

At this point in time, there doesn’t seem to be any native feature built inside Chrome that allows users to block specific sites, and short of setting up parental controls, which blocks more obvious websites. If you’re interested in learning how to block specific sites, we’ll outline a couple of methods below worth taking a look at.

Block websites by editing the Hosts file

1. Open the File Explorer on Windows
2. Go to C:WindowsSystem32driversetc
3. Right-click the Hosts file and choose Notepad to open it with
4. Scroll to the bottom of the document
5. Below the # sign, make a new line and type in 127.0.0.1 followed by the URL of the page you’re trying to block without the “www”, for example 127.0.0.1 BadWebsiteBlocked.com
6. Click File and select Save and you’re done

Block websites by using a Chrome extension

If you’re not comfortable editing the Hosts file because you’re unsure of what it does or what kind of changes you’re making, don’t worry there’s another method and that is to use the BlockSite Chrome extension.

Keep in mind that the extension isn’t free but it comes with a free 3-day trial, so you can try it first and decide if it’s worth it. It also available as an iOS and Android app so if you want to block websites on your phone as well as your computer, this could be a worthwhile investment.

1. Go to the BlockSite website
2. Click the Add to Chrome button which will take you to the Chrome Web Store
3. Install the extension like you would any normal extension
4. Once the extension is installed, open the extension by clicking on it
5. Select blocked sites on the navigation menu on the left
6. Add the URLs of the websites you want to have blocked

It’s not the most foolproof method because anyone can edit the list to allow websites to be unblocked, but if they don’t know about it, it might be useful. Also, the extension lets you block based on a category which covers a wider number of websites, and also by keyword which is pretty unique and useful.

The extension also syncs with the app, so changes you make on your computer will be reflected on your phone.

The post How to block websites in Chrome first appeared on Phandroid.

On March 31, the global edition of the OnePlus 10 Pro will be introduced at a digital launch event. On its official YouTube account, OnePlus will broadcast the phone’s global unveiling live.

Apart from the software, the worldwide edition of the OnePlus 10 Pro is anticipated to be similar to the Chinese model. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display on OnePlus’ latest flagship phone has a QHD+ resolution and a reported peak brightness of 1,300 nits.

It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which is also available in many of today’s finest Android phones, including Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series. Up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage are available with the 6nm chip. On the back, the phone boasts a triple-camera arrangement, with the same 48MP primary sensor that we have seen on OnePlus flagships the year before. A 50MP ultra-wide lens and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3.3x optical zoom are also included.

The support for 80W SuperVOOC charging is the OnePlus 10 Pro’s strongest selling point. It, like its predecessor, enables 50W wireless charging. A 5,000mAh battery, a 32MP selfie camera, and stereo speakers are among the other characteristics. On the software front, the OnePlus 10 Pro will ship with OxygenOS 12.1 out of the box in the worldwide version.

Are you excited for the launch? Will you be picking one up on preorder or will you be waiting for reviews? Let us know in the comments below!

The post OnePlus 10 Pro to make its global debut on March 31st first appeared on Phandroid.

These new feeds can be found in the upper left corner of the Instagram program for iOS and Android phones, according to the blog post. The first new feed, branded “Following,” is simple: it displays the most recent postings from the accounts you follow in chronological order. This is in contrast to the main Instagram feed, which is increasingly populated with suggested posts from users that the app believes you might enjoy based on your activity and is presented in no particular order.

The “Favorites” option is more sophisticated, requiring users to manually select which profiles they want to keep a watchful eye on. Users can favorite up to 50 accounts, and postings from these accounts will appear higher in the main home feed and in chronological order on the “Favorites” page.

Algorithms and Services

Instagram said earlier this year that it was testing these new feeds to give users greater control over how they use the service. This came after previous issues that raised concerns about Instagram’s impact on teenagers, which were ascribed to the app’s algorithm exposing potentially hazardous content.

Mosseri, on the other hand, insists that Instagram’s algorithm is not damaging. On Wednesday, he noted that recommended posts would continue to appear in the main home feed, while praising Instagram’s rated feed. This on top of Instagrams Family Centre feature designed to help families come together to talk about the content that is seen on Instagram its clear to see that Instagram are trying to take steps in the right direction.

The post Instagram brings back the beloved Chronological Feed first appeared on Phandroid.

If you’re looking for a way to backup your computer’s hard drive, then check out this deal for the WD 12TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive. It is normally priced at $310, but right now it’s being discounted by a third of its price, bringing it down to a pretty affordable $214. This is quite a steal and 12TB is a lot of storage, so check it out if you’ve been looking for a new external hard drive.

Sale

WD 12TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive

• High-capacity add-on storage
• Fast data transfers

−$94.88 $215.11

Buy Now

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The post The WD 12TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive is enjoying a crazy discount right now first appeared on Phandroid.