Asphalt 8: Airborne launches on iOS and Android

Gameloft’s next big release in the Asphalt series of racing games – Asphalt 8: Airborne – has finally been released on the App Store. The Android version of the game should be arriving shortly and even a Windows Phone 8 version is on the cards.

lar racing game below.

As you can tell from the name, Asphalt 8: Airborne takes the action off the ground and into the air. You will still be driving around as in the previous games but now you’ll jump off ramps and pulling off stunts in the air. Think of it as Riptide GP on wheels.

As is usual for Asphalt games, Gameloft has once again formed an impressive roster of cars from top manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari and Zonda. There are now 47 cars to choose from with improved engine sound for more realism.

There are nine tracks to choose from locations around the world such as Venice, French Guiana, Iceland, the Nevada Desert and play in 8 seasons and 180 events in the Career mode. There is also a multiplayer mode where you can play against up to 8 opponents simultaneously.

Asphalt 8: Airborne is priced at $0.99 with in-app purchases. We will be taking a closer look at the game in our full review shortly.

App Store | Play Store

Read More

Delta Air Lines equips its flight attendants with 19,000 Nokia Lumia 820 smartphones

In line with its promise to garner wider enterprise usage this month, Nokia has delivered big time as its partnership with Delta Air Lines has come to fruition.

Some 19,000 Lumia 820′s have been deployed to Delta flight attendants, complete with special additions to streamline onboard purchasing from passengers.

The deployment of the massive amount of units is the result of a partnership between Microsoft, Avanade and AT&T which aimed to optimize in-flight point-of-sale service for its flights with the help of the Fly Delta app for Windows Phone.

The Nokia Lumia 820, running Windows Phone 8, provides:
Near real-time credit card processing
Email eReceipts for purchases
Use of pre-paid cards
The ability to read coupons displayed on passenger mobile devices

The phones will allow flight attendants to remain connected and productive throughout the flight with the use of the integrated Office and Outlook applications. Delta claims that preliminary in-flight trials have provided a 10% increase in speed over their previous systems.

Read More

WhatsApp to start charging $0.99 per year now

WhatsApp, the hugely popular cross-platform instant messaging app that lets you message other users for free over the internet, is starting to charge an annual fee for its service.

It will now cost $0.99 per year for you to be able to message your friends on WhatsApp. However, both new and current users will get the first year for free. The update applies to all versions of the app, including both Android and iPhone.

Mobile messaging applications like WhatsApp and Viber have exploded alongside the increased adaptation of smartphones, and have virtually replaced SMS as the preferred form of messaging between mobiles. WhatsApp currently boats some 250 million active users.

Read More