download best Android apps and games this week
October 25, 2014
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APPS
HERE for Android Beta (Free)
Nokia – the bit that wasn’t bought by Microsoft, obviously – has opened up its HERE maps and navigation to all Android users running a recent version of Google’s software, rather than just Samsung owners. It’s a polished mapping app with offline navigation, public transport info and live traffic – the latter in more than 40 countries so far. The beta is available from Nokia’s site.
Nokia – the bit that wasn’t bought by Microsoft, obviously – has opened up its HERE maps and navigation to all Android users running a recent version of Google’s software, rather than just Samsung owners. It’s a polished mapping app with offline navigation, public transport info and live traffic – the latter in more than 40 countries so far. The beta is available from Nokia’s site.
Inbox by Gmail (Free)
This is Google’s new email app, sitting alongside Gmail rather than replacing it. For now, it’s invitation-only – but you can request one – with features aiming to declutter your inbox by grouping similar messages together, from travel details to receipts and promotions. Worth trying, when you get the opportunity.
This is Google’s new email app, sitting alongside Gmail rather than replacing it. For now, it’s invitation-only – but you can request one – with features aiming to declutter your inbox by grouping similar messages together, from travel details to receipts and promotions. Worth trying, when you get the opportunity.
Autodesk SketchBook (Free + IAP)
Apple’s iPad has tended to hog the limelight when it comes to artists and illustrators working on tablets, but Android is building up its own library of drawing and painting apps too. Autodesk SketchBook is one of the best yet, with plenty of depth yet an accessible interface for scribblers like me.
Apple’s iPad has tended to hog the limelight when it comes to artists and illustrators working on tablets, but Android is building up its own library of drawing and painting apps too. Autodesk SketchBook is one of the best yet, with plenty of depth yet an accessible interface for scribblers like me.
Skype Qik (Free)
In the early days of the app store era, Qik was a video livestreaming app that got plenty of hype. Skype bought it in 2011, then shut it down earlier this year, ahead of a relaunch this month. The app is different now though: more about creating groups then pinging video messages between one another, with the clips automatically deleted after two weeks. It’s fun, but faces a big challenge taking on Snapchat.
In the early days of the app store era, Qik was a video livestreaming app that got plenty of hype. Skype bought it in 2011, then shut it down earlier this year, ahead of a relaunch this month. The app is different now though: more about creating groups then pinging video messages between one another, with the clips automatically deleted after two weeks. It’s fun, but faces a big challenge taking on Snapchat.
Lumific - Photo Gallery (Free)
Want more features than Android’s default photos app offers? Lumific is one of the apps jostling for attention on the platform and promising to provide them. It’s not for control freaks, since it automatically “beautifies” your photos, including automatically straightening and cropping them. But it could be a time-saver for keen mobile photographers.
Want more features than Android’s default photos app offers? Lumific is one of the apps jostling for attention on the platform and promising to provide them. It’s not for control freaks, since it automatically “beautifies” your photos, including automatically straightening and cropping them. But it could be a time-saver for keen mobile photographers.
Snowball Beta (Free)
Another beta which – disclosure – I haven’t been able to try yet, either because it’s country-locked or my devices aren’t compatible. But it looks potentially useful: an app that aggregates various social networks and messaging apps into one place: Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Line, Twitter and Hangouts among others now, with Skype and Viber to follow. Worth watching.
Another beta which – disclosure – I haven’t been able to try yet, either because it’s country-locked or my devices aren’t compatible. But it looks potentially useful: an app that aggregates various social networks and messaging apps into one place: Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Line, Twitter and Hangouts among others now, with Skype and Viber to follow. Worth watching.
Clue - Period Tracker (Free)
There are quite a few menstrual cycle-tracking apps available now, but Clue looks like one of the easiest to use, with effective design and plenty of features. Its also suitable for various uses: general period tracking, as well as keeping tabs on sex and cervical fluid if you’re trying to get pregnant.
There are quite a few menstrual cycle-tracking apps available now, but Clue looks like one of the easiest to use, with effective design and plenty of features. Its also suitable for various uses: general period tracking, as well as keeping tabs on sex and cervical fluid if you’re trying to get pregnant.
Anki Drive (Free)
Anki Drive’s big unveiling during Apple’s WWDC keynote in 2013 was a trifle strange, but the product itself is very fun: an app-controlled, thoroughly modern take on Scalextric. It’s now available for Android too, with the same choice of battle and race modes to compete against people on the physical track.
Anki Drive’s big unveiling during Apple’s WWDC keynote in 2013 was a trifle strange, but the product itself is very fun: an app-controlled, thoroughly modern take on Scalextric. It’s now available for Android too, with the same choice of battle and race modes to compete against people on the physical track.
Shutter by StreamNation (Free)
Finally, more photography, with the schtick here being that all your photos are stored on StreamNation’s servers rather than on your device – although they can be downloaded again to view offline. It supports videos too, with social networks plumbed in for online sharing.
Finally, more photography, with the schtick here being that all your photos are stored on StreamNation’s servers rather than on your device – although they can be downloaded again to view offline. It supports videos too, with social networks plumbed in for online sharing.
GAMES
Skylanders Trap Team (Free + IAP)
You need a recent Android device – a list is provided on the Google Play store – and 2.5GB of free space to install the new Skylanders team, but it’s worth the hassle. This is a proper, full Skylanders game, complete with its own joypad and tablet stand to use with the Skylanders figures. New to the game? It’s a monster-battling fest aimed at children, with new features including the ability to trap beasts then play as them.
You need a recent Android device – a list is provided on the Google Play store – and 2.5GB of free space to install the new Skylanders team, but it’s worth the hassle. This is a proper, full Skylanders game, complete with its own joypad and tablet stand to use with the Skylanders figures. New to the game? It’s a monster-battling fest aimed at children, with new features including the ability to trap beasts then play as them.
République (£1.86 + IAP)
République is another example of the kind of game proving that tablets can provide deep, satisfying console-style gaming as well as casual fun. Billed as a stealth-action game, it sees you exploring a beautifully-realised world dodging enemies and solving puzzles, working your way through three carefully-plotted episodes – the second and third are the in-app purchases. Brilliant.
République is another example of the kind of game proving that tablets can provide deep, satisfying console-style gaming as well as casual fun. Billed as a stealth-action game, it sees you exploring a beautifully-realised world dodging enemies and solving puzzles, working your way through three carefully-plotted episodes – the second and third are the in-app purchases. Brilliant.
New Words With Friends (Free + IAP)
Scrabble-like digital board game Words With Friends is five years old, making it one of the grizzled veterans of the Google Play store. But this is a brand new, separate version from its publisher Zynga, with better features for finding opponents, more stats on how you’ve played and a dictionary to help find top-scoring words.
Scrabble-like digital board game Words With Friends is five years old, making it one of the grizzled veterans of the Google Play store. But this is a brand new, separate version from its publisher Zynga, with better features for finding opponents, more stats on how you’ve played and a dictionary to help find top-scoring words.
Lord of the Rings: Legends (Free + IAP)
Publisher Kabam’s game based on The Hobbit has been a big hit on smartphones and tablets, so now it’s turning its attention to Lord of the Rings. Based on the films and books, it sees you exploring Tolkien’s universe fighting, questing and falling in with a host of familiar characters. As with past Kabam titles, though, the key will be updates over the coming months (and even years) to add more content.
Publisher Kabam’s game based on The Hobbit has been a big hit on smartphones and tablets, so now it’s turning its attention to Lord of the Rings. Based on the films and books, it sees you exploring Tolkien’s universe fighting, questing and falling in with a host of familiar characters. As with past Kabam titles, though, the key will be updates over the coming months (and even years) to add more content.
Botanicula (£3.90)
One of the most creative, well-crafted games you’ll play on Android this year, Botanicula has charming visuals and sound, wrapped around a plot involving tree-creatures, seeds and parasites. It’s the opposite of twitch gaming: something to relax with on the sofa. And marvellous for it.
One of the most creative, well-crafted games you’ll play on Android this year, Botanicula has charming visuals and sound, wrapped around a plot involving tree-creatures, seeds and parasites. It’s the opposite of twitch gaming: something to relax with on the sofa. And marvellous for it.
Galaxy on Fire - Alliances (Free + IAP)
The first Galaxy on Fire game was an engrossing space adventure full of flying, fighting and trading. This newer game – just launched globally after being tested in a few countries – is set in the same universe. But it’s more of a massively multiplayer game, as you explore and conquer your way through the galaxy, battling other players.
The first Galaxy on Fire game was an engrossing space adventure full of flying, fighting and trading. This newer game – just launched globally after being tested in a few countries – is set in the same universe. But it’s more of a massively multiplayer game, as you explore and conquer your way through the galaxy, battling other players.
Pixel People (Free + IAP)
At first, this seems a bit simple: like a cut-down SimCity where you build a town and add residents, before “splicing” them together to create new professions. But once it sinks its tentacles into you, this is one of the more addictive mobile strategy games in recent memory, with the professions aspect bringing a collect-‘em’all dynamic that you’ll find hard to break.
At first, this seems a bit simple: like a cut-down SimCity where you build a town and add residents, before “splicing” them together to create new professions. But once it sinks its tentacles into you, this is one of the more addictive mobile strategy games in recent memory, with the professions aspect bringing a collect-‘em’all dynamic that you’ll find hard to break.
Sentinel 4: Dark Star (£1.99 + IAP)
No Android roundup would be complete without at least one tower defence game, and Sentinel 4 is a very good one indeed. Set on an alien planet – no earthbound orcs and wizards here – it sees you defending your base in 26 carefully-constructed maps, with a lot of flexibility for customising your arsenal in response to each level’s intricacies.
No Android roundup would be complete without at least one tower defence game, and Sentinel 4 is a very good one indeed. Set on an alien planet – no earthbound orcs and wizards here – it sees you defending your base in 26 carefully-constructed maps, with a lot of flexibility for customising your arsenal in response to each level’s intricacies.
Retry (Free + IAP)
If Flappy Bird was in a plane, he might be Retry. Although that’s selling the new game from Angry Birds publisher Rovio short: it has a number of original touches rather than just cloning this year’s big viral hit. You control a loop-the-looping biplane, making your way through levels – or simply crashing into things. Mostly the latter, in my case.
If Flappy Bird was in a plane, he might be Retry. Although that’s selling the new game from Angry Birds publisher Rovio short: it has a number of original touches rather than just cloning this year’s big viral hit. You control a loop-the-looping biplane, making your way through levels – or simply crashing into things. Mostly the latter, in my case.
Sentinels of the Multiverse (£7.46)
I was new to Sentinels of the Multiverse when this game appeared: the original is a card game that has found a healthy audience for its heroes’n’villains gameplay. Now it’s also available as a tablet game for Android. Existing fans will appreciate it, but it could also be a way in for newcomers to what looks an absorbing game.
I was new to Sentinels of the Multiverse when this game appeared: the original is a card game that has found a healthy audience for its heroes’n’villains gameplay. Now it’s also available as a tablet game for Android. Existing fans will appreciate it, but it could also be a way in for newcomers to what looks an absorbing game.
Champ Man 15 (Free + IAP)
Finally, the latest iteration of Square Enix’s football management game, which these days is a freemium title. This year’s version promises a better match engine, faster speed and more Facebook features, hoping to provide more competition for reigning champion Football Manager Handheld.
Finally, the latest iteration of Square Enix’s football management game, which these days is a freemium title. This year’s version promises a better match engine, faster speed and more Facebook features, hoping to provide more competition for reigning champion Football Manager Handheld.
That’s my choice, but what Android apps and games have you been using recently? Make your recommendations – or give your views on the picks above – in the comments section.
According to theguardian
According to theguardian