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We got a sneak peek at an as-yet-unreleased content updated for the free-to-play Real Racing 3 on Android at GDC 2013. The next big update, due to launch this spring, will include cloud saving support, a new hunter race mode where players need to beat a specific car in a single lap, and introduce a new lineup of Chevrolet vehicles, including the Camaro.

I also got to needle the Firemonkeys community manager a bit about their decision to switch over from a premium price point to free to play, and he was generally pretty classy about how they're listening to consumer feedback and making sure their implementation isn't unbalancing.

Any real racers in the house? How have you found the game so far? Any particular changes you'd like to see in the next patch?

Official pre-orders start today ahead of April 26 launch

A little under a month away from launch day, Samsung's Galaxy S4 is now available to pre-order from leading UK retailers and carriers. You'll find a breakdown of what the major players are offering with Samsung's latest handset after the break.

We'll update this post with any more pre-order deals that come to light during the day. Check below for the full breakdown.

• EE: The Galaxy S4 is available on EE's 4G plans starting at 31 per month (with a 269.99 up-front fee). Pre-order customers get an accessory pack valued at 54.99, including a matching smart cover, a 16GB microSD card and an in-car charger. EE is also selling the Galaxy S4 through its 3G-only T-Mobile and Orange brands.

• Phones4U: The retailer is offering pre-order customers the chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Camera and Galaxy Note 10.1. In addition, every pre-order customer will get a Google Play gift card based on the value of their contract.4G EE contracts at 46 or above get a 100 voucher, 41 contracts receive 50, and 36 contracts receive 25.

• Vodafone: The carrier offers 5 off your monthly bill if you trade in "any working touchscreen phone" to buy the Galaxy S4. Do this, and the S4is yours for 37 per month on Vodafone Red, with unlimited calls and texts, and 2GB of data. Vodafone's also debuting "Vodafone Red XL," which boosts the data allowance to 4GB, for 47 per month with a trade-in. Finally, it lists a1GB package for 37 p.m. without a trade-in (presumably32p.m. with one)and a 69 up-front fee.

• Carphone Warehouse: As we reported yesterday, Carphone is offering a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and accessory bundle with its Galaxy S4 deals. The accessory pack includes a case, screen protector and car charger.

• O2: The blue network is offering to double customers' data allowance if they pre-order the Galaxy S4on plans costing37 per month with a 99 up-front fee.

• Three: The data-friendly operator isn't offering any specific pre-order perks, but it is giving away the S4 for free on both of its price plans. Ultimate Internet 500 runs for 24 months and gets you unlimited data, 500 minutes and 500 texts for 35 per month. The One Plan costs 37 per month and provides 2000 minutes, 5000 Three-to-Three minutes, 5000 texts and an unlimited data allowance that includes tethering.

One of my favorite mobile game publishers, Chillingo, was at GDC 2013and we got to catch up with them and hear about all of the awesome titles that are coming to Android. Some are already out, like Parking Maniaand Contre Jour, but others like He-Man, Puzzle Craft, and Endless Road are on the way, and others still like Catapult King just came out. We only got to try out a few of these, but Chillingo's catalog is really impressive, and it will be great to see more of their stuff hitting Google Play this year.

What are your favorite Chillingo games? Any other publisher that you have a particular fondness for?

Sony said back in February that it would deliver Jelly Bean for the Xperia TX, and the update has hit just in time.

Starting late last night, folks who have a Sony Xperia TX and the associated "PC Companion" software on their computer were being notified of an update. Luckily it is indeed the Jelly Bean update promised by Sony all the way back in the first week of February. The update brings big improvements to all of Sony's customizations, from the included apps to the launcher and home screen experience. The move to Jelly Bean of course brings Google's own set of goodies like Google Now, Project Butter and actionable notifications as well.

At this point the update only seems to be coming over that PC Companion software and not OTA -- which is unfortunate -- but the option should be there if you're ready to get your Jelly Bean on. Grab the update yet for your own device? Let us know in the comments.

Source: XDA

Developers who spend time to make apps that look great on a tablet get a shout-out from Google on a new page at the Google Play site.

Google has put up a page at Google Play that focuses on apps designed with a tablet in mind. Android doesn't require applications to be specifically written for Android, instead opting to allow developers to use UI elements like fragments to better utilize screen real estate on any device. But the truth of the matter is, most app developers aren't doing it. Hopefully, a chance to get featured by Google will jump start a bit more development in this area.

We're not saying it's easy to make one app work across all devices, because it's not. Google provides a good toolbox for it, and they have outreach programs for developers, but it still takes time and work to make you app look great on both a phone and a tablet. While Android is the market leader for smart phones, their tablet sales fall to a distant third behind Apple and Amazon. It makes sense for developers to focus on an app designed to look great on a smaller screen before he or she starts worrying about tablet-sized screens and the new challenges they bring.

Anyhoo, it's nice to see Google give props to a handful (there's 116 apps featured) of applications that are awesome on your tablet, and we hope this list grows and grows. To check them out for yourself, just follow the link below.

Source: Google Play. Thanks, Tomas!

ZTE's latest high-end devices finally set for launch in their native China on March 28.

ZTE has brought some impressive looking high-end devices to the table in the early part of 2013, although so far brought to the table is all that's happened. The 5-inch, full HD Grand S was first unveiled at CES in Las Vegas back in January, followed by the gargantuan 5.7-inch Grand Memo in Spain at Mobile World Congress. We left both events with little idea of when the devices might come to market, but now, thankfully we're starting to get some release information.

In their native China, ZTE will launch both the Grand S and the Grand Memo on March 28. The Chinese version of the Grand Memo will come to market carrying a Snapdragon S4 Pro for2,688 Yuan ($432.) The processor in the Grand Memo will vary by market, going right up to the new Snapdragon 800, but the Snapdragon S4 Pro is still a pretty good piece of equipment. Other notable specs include Jelly Bean,2GB of RAM, a 13MP camera, LTE support and that 5.7-inch 720p display.

The smaller Grand S carries the slightly higher price of 3399 Yuan ($547.) Despite being physically smaller, the Grand S packs a full 1080p display. It too carries a Snapdragon S4Pro, 2GB of RAM, a 13MPrear camera,LTE and Jelly Bean. The Grand S also has a pretty amazing array of different colours to choose from, including the bright yellow one we went hands on with in Las Vegas.

At the moment, we're only talking a Chinese launch for these devices, but seeing them hit store shelves is a start. We still have no idea at this point if either of these will make their way to Europe or North America.

via Engadget Chinese

Google Maps -- on mobile and the web -- has been updated with fresh live transit data in three U.S. cities. The new data covers departure times for seven lines on the New York City subway, in addition to bus and tram data in the greater Salt Lake City area and service alerts for the Washington D.C. Metrorail.

As the new data is pulled from Google's servers, there's no app update to download -- just fire up the Google Maps app as you usually would, and the new live data will be available.

The addition of new data to Google's live transit database should also improve the functionality of Google Now, which pulls live public transportation data to Jelly Bean phones through its cards system.

Source: Google Lat Long blog