Astro Outpost
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Tribaloid.AstroOutpost

Help save the Human race by destroying asteroids before they reach earth’s orbit. You are one of a few humans left to control the international outpost. Take control of the powerful turret defense system and destroy asteroids simply by tapping on them! Currently implementing an advertising framework.

Ever since Google released the HTC G1 on T-Mobile I’ve been hooked. I knew immediately this was my phone of choice and platform I’d like to prototype, design, and develop for going forward. This is my review from a user perspective, from a dev perspective I love what they’ve done.

Cannot long press on Home Screen to place widgets

This was a great user experience and easy way to add shortcuts and widgets etc.. Now you have to “Tap Apps Icon > Tap Widgets Tab > Tab Widget > Drag and Drop Widget to a Home Screen.” That gets a big WTF from me. If I’m already on the screen I want to put a widget on then why the fuck do I have to tap Apps icon to access widgets? Seen the new Tron movie and where the UI dude gets jacked cause the OS was released for free? Feels like some new user experience designer lead got hired on the android team and fucked some shit up and had no idea about previous user experiences in earlier versions. I’m surprised they didnt have a Beta program for users to experience the new workflows and redesign. They need to add my ass in there next time, I’ll tell them how it is..cause from a user perspective this kind of stuff really frustrates me. I think about all the older generations just learning Android and then Google drops the A-bomb on them with a completely re-designed OS with removed functionality.

Google Search Widget is a link that launches a “search” app

I liked the old widget that popped the text editor up in first tap or if you tap the microphone icon you could immediately start talking, but noooo not with the updated widget. The design got cleaner, but lost functionality since you have to wait for an app to load.

Placing Confirmation / Action buttons at top of screen

Another big WTF!! From Android 1.0 confirmation and action buttons like “Enter” or “Submit” or “Done” would be at the bottom of the form you fill out. They have been reversed. Old users should be warned about this change, but google would rather force the change upon the user and let them sort it out.

Input/Button Redesigns

You’ll find yourself scrolling down to the bottom and not finding the button then realizing the button is not a button, but a small and I mean small slanted arrow which determines the textfield to the left of the small arrow is a button. Note in the image above there is inconsistency with buttons at bottom with large text and buttons on top with small ass arrows.

Music App Redesign

Ever tried driving and changing music via bluetooth on your phone? Yes? We’ll you might as well pull over and put money in the meter cause your going to be diving through menu options and wondering WTF is a button or just a Title. I can understand the challenge about designing a User Interface across devices, but this is insanity and you can clearly tell the priority for google with Android 4.0 is a device like a Tablet or TV. The phone re-design ultimately became a 3rd class citizen in this round of updates.

Google Maps Redesign

Another WTF. Removal of + to Zoom in and – to Zoom out, really!? Might as well pull your ass over to muck with Maps. You’ll need to use two fingers and another hand or Cradle to hold the device while browsing the new nested menus. Seriously more nested menus and small icons? This app also is infected with the bad User Interface widgets like the new Button design.

Integrated Web Browser

Holy WTF!?! To access Windows that you previously opened you have to scroll all the back up the page you are browsing just to switch Windows. Wow, you would imagine tapping the List option and see Windows option there, but nope you gotta go all the way back up to access windows.

Back Button update

The second day I got there as early as I did the first day and didnt realize pro class was playing in the afternoon. I volunteered and spotted hole 19 and was happy I helped out. Many people really appreciate a spotter and I got some recognition for helping out which was cool. Lots of players thank you as well, its a good way to meet other players and have fun all at the same time. In this case, you get to enjoy Golden Gate Park an all it has to offer.

I’d highly recommend anyone available to attend next year and volunteer. While players are throwing discs all over the place there is simply not enough people to help spot where the discs land.

• Be in your natural setting
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Fold up chair is wise, but more to carry
• Be prepared to play 75 holes or more in two days

The game was developed primarily in Java using OpenGL and LibGDX for a 3D Engine. There are 10 Galactic Levels to challenge yourself with by gliding through the galaxies passing through Space Rings collecting points and gaining Power-ups to beat the clock!