Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.
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Looking for the previous roundup editions? Find them here.
Featured App
DigiCal Calendar
Today’s roundup is presented by DigiCal Calendar Widgets from Digibites. DigiCal is a complete calendar solution that integrates with Google Calendar, matching it feature-for-feature and then some. A wide selection of calendar views (agenda, day, week, month, text month, list) and great tablet compatibility means that your calendar will look great and be easy to use no matter what device you’re using. DigiCal also includes a variety of widgets, all of which put the stock Google Calendar to shame, and integrated location search within the app. DigiCal even checks Google Now for travel and traffic time, letting you know when you’ll need to leave to avoid being late. The standard DigiCal is free, but the $4.95 DigiCal+ includes month widgets, extra visual options, custom snooze options, and zero ads.
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Our diary planner and organizer offers multiple calendar views, stylish calendar widgets and integrated worldwide weather forecast for quick and efficient scheduling on your phone and tablet.
BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED
DigiCal’s diary planner and organizer provides a clear and beautiful overview for your events and appointments.
• Conveniently switch between 7 calendar views (day, week, week agenda, month calendar, text month, year and list view in portrait and landscape mode).
• The slick dark theme allows for better visibility in low-light settings and night mode.
• Event keyword image matching available in all 27 languages.
• 6 highly customizable widgets with different theme styles and views: (FREE: list, day, day list, day grid widgets; PREMIUM: 2 extra widgets –text month and month calendar widget)
• Intuitive navigation between days, weeks and months with zoomable day and week view.
POWERFUL PERFORMANCE
• Syncs across all devices and with all calendar servers that are supported on Android such as Google Calendar, Outlook.com and Exchange,
• For extra privacy, you can create local calendars that are not synchronized and is only accessible on your local device,
• Seamless event color sync with Google Calendar or choose DigiCal’s pre-set colors for your events,
• Combined date time picker for faster scheduling,
• Easily schedule an event across multiple time zones with date and time display in both local and foreign time zone,
• Faster address entry with Google Places Autocomplete,
• Instantly plan and reschedule with the cut, copy, paste function,
• Easily share events with friends and family,
• Manage invitations with RSVP and reply to organizer or all guests of an event,
• FREE 3-day local and worldwide weather outlook in all calendar views and widgets,
• Pop-up notifications with quick action buttons for snooze, map and navigation,
• Available in 27 languages.
Apps
Arts Culture
Android Police coverage: Google Releases Street Art, Its First Android Wear Watch Face
Google would like you to get more cultured – it knows that you’ve searched for the CBS primetime schedule a dozen times in the last month, and yes, it is judging you. Enrich your mind with an impressive database of works of art and craft, from renaissance oils on canvas to Bauhaus furniture designs. The app includes a collection of 360-degree tours and photos, complete with descriptions and links.
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Explore artworks, artifacts, and more from over 850 museums, archives, and organizations worldwide that have partnered with Google Cultural Institute to bring their collections and stories online.
- Zoom in to view artworks in extraordinary detail
- Take 360 degree panoramic tours of hundreds of museums, heritage sites, and landmarks
- Learn about iconic artworks, plus discover hidden gems and the stories behind them in our daily features
- Explore artworks and more by color and by time period
AwSMS BETA
Android Police coverage: SMS App AwSMS Hits Public Beta With A v1.0 Update
AwSMS (get it?) is a text message client that presents a simple but appealing alternative to your phone’s default. The beta app includes a lot of options for the conversation and alert view, so it’s a big boon if you like to customize the look of your phone (or just don’t like the look of Hangouts). The app already works with Android Wear, and its notifications allow for quick replies. It should support any network or phone setup, including MMS, but at the moment it won’t work with dual-SIM phones.
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AwSMS is an SMS/MMS replacement app that offers tons of customization options.
- Unique Heads Up Quick Reply
- Per Contact Avatar Color Options
- Per Conversation Customization
- Snooze Notifications
- Night Mode
- Android Wear Support
Works on all devices running 4.1 and above
Dragon Anywhere
Android Police coverage: Dragon Anywhere Professional Voice Dictation App Now Available, But Requires A $15 Monthly Subscription
Google isn’t the only name in the dictation game. Nuance has been around for a long time, and this app is the official mobile client for the Dragon Anywhere service. It’s essentially a text editor with a ton of voice-powered tools and easy syncing between your phone and computer. It also has some other basic utilities, including Office-compatible word processing and text expansion. The service is pricey at $15 a month, but there’s a free trial available. It looks like English is the only option so far.
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Get the app as part of your Dragon Anywhere subscription. If you are not a Nuance member, sign up and start increasing your productivity with a 1-week free trial of unlimited dictation.Dragon Anywhere is a professional-grade, cloud-based dictation solution that lets busy professionals work faster and smarter using their mobile device. Accurately dictate and edit documents of any length by voice on your mobile device using powerful customization features.
Adobe Premiere Clip
Android Police coverage: Adobe Brings Premiere Clip, A Far More Approachable Version Of The Desktop Video Editor, To Android
Adobe Premiere Clip is the company’s latest attempt to bring its desktop media creation domination to the smartphone. It’s a finger-friendly video editor, though the name “Premiere” might indicate more technical capability than it’s actually demonstrating. The tools include a function that automatically edits images either to your own music or a stock collection. The app is free, but to make the most of it you’ll need to subscribe to Adobe CC.
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Premiere Clip is a free video editor that makes it fast and fun to create quality videos that can be easily shared – or easily opened in Adobe Premiere Pro CC for extra polish. Simply choose a soundtrack and select the pace — Clip artfully sets your images to the beat of the music. Your video is immediately shareable, or you can move into the Freeform editor to customize further with powerful editing features.
ES File Explorer Pro
Android Police coverage: After Adding A Bunch Of Bloat To The Free App, ES File Explorer’s $3 ‘Pro’ Version Will Take Some Of It Away
ES File Explorer used to be the king of file management apps on Android. Recent changes in the original (free) app have seen some die-hard readers turning their back on the developer, and not without reason – annoying notifications, embedded ads, and a newly unchangeable homepage are some of the complaints. This new “pro” version takes care of all of those issues, but only if you’re willing to pay the $3 entry fee. Some users are, understandably, unhappy.
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This is the Pro version of ES File Explorer (File Manager) – the must-have app for every Android user. You can enjoy all the benefits below once you own ES File Explorer Pro.
✔ Remove Ads – Clean up all Ads in the App
✔ More to customize – Set start pages ALL default windows
✔ More to see – New Theme and color panel
✔ More to expect – Dozens of new features( totally free) will come soon
Highlights of ES File Explorer (File Manager):
★ File Manager: Click to install applications, and check zipped files
★ Multimedia Explorer: Click to play music/videos, check image(s) and document(s)
★ Cloud Storage: Supports Dropbox, Box.net, Sugarsync, Google Drive, OneDrive(SkyDrive), Amazon S3, Yandex and more clouds platforms.
Fan TV
Fan TV is an app that wants to tell you exactly which shows are available, and where to find them. If you’ve ever wondered which of the half-dozen video services you have access to can let you watch The Bourne Identity for free, this app will tell you. It includes an impressively streamlined user interface and a Netflix-style watchlist, and its constantly-updated database of services is impressive.
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- Browse over one million movies and shows
- Find where to watch them across Google Play, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, Comedy Central, NBC and 40 other premium services
- Add movies and shows to your personalized WatchList
- Receive alerts to your phone when your movies and shows are available
- Get inspired with recommendations from friends and critics
- Check out in-theater info, ratings, reviews, cast bios and the latest entertainment news – all in one place
Sleep partner beta
This is a sleep management app that attempts to wake you up at just the right time so that you get the maximum benefit from your snoozing. It also has some interesting extra features, particularly the ability to filter out blue light from your screen (the kind that keeps you up) for up to three hours before your scheduled bedtime. If you stay up past your bedtime, a flock of sheep appear on the screen to subtly tell you to hit the sack. Though it’s published by Sony, Sleep partner beta is available for all Android 4.4+ phones.
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This is your sleep partner that, unlike some conventional alarm apps, encourages you to live a healthy lifestyle, helping you fall asleep and wake up at your target time. It is for you who stay up late playing with your smartphone and cannot wake up in the morning even if your alarm rings. With this app, however, you can keep early hours from now on.
NOGGIN Watch Kids TV Shows
Noggin is a paid service that collects a bunch of preschool-age Nickelodeon shows and allows you and your kids to access them on any device. The service has a subscription that works through Google Play, so you don’t need an existing cable service to access it. Impressively, there are no ads, even on well-known shows like Dora the Explorer.
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NOGGIN is a video service for preschoolers. Start your 7-day FREE trial today. Subscribe and your kids can watch an expanding library of hundreds of episodes of quality preschool TV shows, including Gullah Gullah Island, Little Bear, Franklin and Friends, and Oobi. Plus, they’ll sing and dance to music videos and learn important pre-kindergarten skills through fun and educational content. New videos are added weekly.
PBS KIDS Party
This is a pretty basic app that combines a “party game,” but tuned specifically for little tykes. The core of the system intends to get kids to run around and exercise. It even connects to a kid-focused exercise wearable gadget, the Moff Band, though you don’t need to purchase one to actually use the app itself. The app and all of its components are free with no in-app purchases.
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PBS KIDS Party App is a unique experience that gets you up and moving. Whether you want to lead a game of freeze dance, swing to find party piñatas or count down to blast off, PBS KIDS Party lets your movements control each game. It’s party time. PBS KIDS Party app is powered by Moff and connects to the Moff Band, which is a kids wearable bracelet that relies on motion to play games and sounds. Connecting via Bluetooth, Moff Band allows kids to play the PBS KIDS Party app with a simple wave of their hand.
Snap – Widget Drawer
Snap re-arranges app widgets and makes them into collapsible notifications in your notification drawer. (Watch the video below if you’re having trouble picturing it.) That makes said widgets accessible from any screen or app without having to go back to your launcher. It’s an interesting idea, but obviously it works better for wide, ribbon-style widgets than for larger grids or lists.
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Snap is a widget drawer, similar to the notifications drawer. Give a boost to your productivity and access widgets from any app without having to go to your launcher. Keep your home screen clean.
Key Features:
- Widgets drawer;
- Access from any app;
- Fits stock android design;
Talko
Talko is another team-focused mobile messenger with a focus on voice conferencing. It supports all of the standard features you’re probably used to at this point, plus group VOIP sessions in the style of Hangouts On Air, and the sessions are recorded so they can be played back by those who weren’t in attendance. I get the impression that a lot of managers are excited by that proposition… and a lot of managees aren’t.
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A new way for mobile teams to communicate. Talko unifies messaging, calling and conferencing – anytime, anywhere, for the new style of work. It’s designed for your eyes, ears and voice – not just your thumbs. It’s not easy for mobile teams to stay in sync while on-the-go. Talko is a simple way to communicate when and how you want, all in one place. Message with voice, text and photos. Or, talk LIVE when you need to get things done now. It’s all your mobile communications in one place, all saved and easily searched.
Pool – Photo Sharing Assistant
Pool is the latest in the ever-growing subset of photo sharing apps. This one has a few crucial differences: it doesn’t store photos in the cloud, instead making “virtual” folders that can be stored on Dropbox, Google Photos, or other services, then shared with other Pool members. Of course, those services also have sharing, so the automatic time and location photo sorting is really the only thing that puts the app above more mundane tools.
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Pool is like a personal assistant for your photos. It groups your event photos together and reminds you to share them with friends and family. Pool makes it super easy to privately share photos with your friends with one swipe. You’re in charge; you decide which photos to share. And it does the same for your friends and family at the event. When you share photos through Pool, they’re privately sent directly to your contacts.
My Dream Home 3D
Anuman’s latest home designer presents itself in a more casual way, almost adapting a video game style (though the blueprints and 3D designs it creates can be applied to real houses). A collection of pre-built and editable 3D objects lets you plan out a move or a renovation. The app is free to download, but it has an extremely short two-hour trial period, after which you’ll have to pay $5 to save your designs.
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With My Dream Home 3D, create the house of your dreams. Have you always dreamed of becoming an interior designer or decorator? Would you like to redecorate your bedroom, make changes to your family house, or come up with the apartment of your dreams? You can do all this quickly and easily. First, start by creating the various rooms, and then place the furniture of your choice in 2D or 3D view. Finally, customize your project and make it your own.
Papa Murphy’s
This is a Papa Murphy’s Pizza app. It allows you to order Papa Murphy’s pizza (and you definitely should, if your only other option is Pizza Hut or similar). It doesn’t work for all locations, but most of them should support it by now. That’s about it.
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Welcome to Papa Murphy’s app. Now you can quickly and easily place orders for Papa Murphy’s fresh pizza with just a few simple steps on your phone. Get all the flavors you love on one of our menu items or create your own recipe. Online ordering available only at participating stores for now, but we’re adding more of them every day. We will be making updates to the app soon, so stay tuned.
PAUSE
Pause is basically a stress toy for your smartphone. There’s a bunch of Tai Chi stuff down there in the description that I can’t vouch for, but it looks and sounds relaxing enough, and it’s only a couple of bucks.
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Based on the ancient principles of Tai Chi and mindfulness practice, PAUSE brings the act of focused attention to your mobile device. Using a patent-pending technique and a unique approach to modern technology, you can easily start the journey to relaxation – anywhere and anytime. By slowly and continuously moving your fingertip across the screen, PAUSE triggers the body’s ‘rest and digest’ response, quickly helping you regain focus and release stress within minutes.
Manufacturer And Tie-In Apps
Galaxy View Remote
Android Police coverage: Samsung Continues To Support The Galaxy View With A Bluetooth Remote Control App
There’s a joke in here somewhere – the Galaxy View is so big you can’t even control it with a single device? Eh, I’ll work on it. Anyway, this app is an Android TV-style remote control just for the 18-inch tablet, but in addition to the usual media controls and remote keyboard, it also includes cursor and navigation button control, so every aspect of the device is under your control. The app is compatible with non-Samsung phones, but not tablets.
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Control Galaxy View remotely
Work Chat
Android Police coverage: Facebook Launches Work Chat App For Facebook At Work
Facebook at Work is the company’s attempt to break into the expanding area of workplace managers, a la Basecmap or Trello. Of course you need an intra-office chat client as well, and Facebook is happy to provide. The system supports both text and voice messages (basically VOIP calls), but it’s only been activated with a few participating companies for the moment.
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Work Chat is the messaging app for Facebook at Work. Right now Facebook at Work and Work Chat are only available to some companies, and you need a work account to use them. Work Chat lets you quickly message people at your company.
• Send a message to one of your coworkers or create a group chat with a few of them. With chat heads, you can keep up with the conversation while using other apps.
• See a directory of other employees and start new conversations easily.
• Turn off notifications when you’re on vacation or just don’t want to be disturbed.
ASUS Router
Android Police coverage: A New App From ASUS Lets You Control The Company’s Wi-Fi Routers From Android
ASUS makes some surprisingly cool home Wi-Fi routers, and this management app is also surprisingly cool. It lets you change just about any setting on compatible routers (which go back a couple of years) without having to dive into the somewhat cumbersome web interface. You may need to update your router’s firmware to make an initial connection.
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ASUS Router is a revolution app to manage your home network. Supported router (Firmware version later than 3.0.0.4.378.9135): RT-AC5300, RT-AC3100, RT-AC88U, RT-AC3200, RT-AC87U/R, RT-AC68U/R/P/W, RT-AC66U/R, RT-AC56U, RT-N66U/R AP mode is supported now.!. And more router models, and DSL series would be supported in the future. ASUS Router is a revolution app to make it very easy to manage your home network.
Know A Worthy New App? Let Us Know!
If you have an application in mind for the next issue of the roundup, feel free to send us an email and let us know.
Important: there are 2 requirements in order for the app to be considered, listed below.
- the app’s launch date has to be no longer than 2 weeks ago
- it has to be original, ground-breaking, well-reviewed, interesting, fun, etc – the cream of the crop
Now, if and only if the above requirements have been satisfied, fire up an email to this address: [email protected].
1 sponsored placement per week is available (your app would be featured at the top and marked as sponsored) – please contact us for details.