Monday, September 12, 2016

New Android apps you have to download in September 2016


September


Google Duo


Duo is easily one of the coolest apps released in the last month. Developed by Google, this free video-calling app was officially launched mid-August and it has one trick that makes it immediately exciting. When you make a call, Duo will begin video capture and display this on the receivers screen before they have even answered.


It's a subtle addition to video calling that makes the process feel a little nicer. That said Duo doesn't offer much else in the way of innovation, it's a typical, easy Google app that just works and there's no good reason not to give it a try.

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See your caller before you've even answered. / © AndroidPIT
Google DuoInstall on Google Play

Sprightly


Sprightly isn't a new app, but it has slid under my radar until a recent update. This is one of the Microsoft Garage apps, an enterprise dedicated to experimental projects that otherwise wouldn't see the light of day.


Sprightly is a free business tool aimed at simplifying the process of creating simple design projects such as E-Cards, fliers, posters, catalogs and more.


Recently updated with some new collage templates and filters, this is an excellent app that requires no experience with other design tools: just select the type of project you want to work on and Sprightly will guide you through the steps to create a professional end result.

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Select a template, take a photo, and make an E-Card: it's that simple. / © AndroidPIT
CrowdsourceInstall on Google Play

Circle SideBar


Circle SideBar is a shortcuts toolbar which you swipe in from the side of your phone. This shortcuts bar allows you to assign a selection of apps for quick access and you can customize the appearance of it (the space it takes up on the screen, the colors etc) to make it fit your needs and preferences.


The free version is feature packed but you can also download the paid version to gain access to a few extras. If you want an intuitive shortcuts app, this is it.

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Launch apps from the left or right of your screen. © AndroidPIT
Circle SideBarInstall on Google Play

August


Prisma


Prisma is one of the most impressive photo-editing apps we've ever come across. It's not concerned with offering a comprehensive set of editing features – this is not a tool for "serious" photo fixing – instead, it focuses simply on filters. And what beautiful filters they are.


Rather than applying different color palettes, Prisma alters the entire quality of the image, transforming your photos into many instantly recognizable styles like Pop Art or Cubism.


It clearly makes use of a very smart algorithm, but because Prisma does its processing in the cloud, applying different filters does take a few seconds. If you want to check out several designs, you have to be a little patient while the image uploads and the effect is applied. It's also quite buggy for the moment but this will no doubt be fixed soon. Small prices to pay for this incredible free app.

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Prisma offers some of the most unique filters you'll find. / © AndroidPIT
PrismaInstall on Google Play

BlackBerry Hub


It is no longer necessary to buy a BlackBerry phone to enjoy BlackBerry Hub. This app provides a single interface to view all your messaging and social network accounts, as well as offering calendar information and a password manager. It's an elegant solution backed by an intelligent user interface: you can get caught up with all your goings-on in a flash.


It's not compatible with all messaging apps – Telegram and Facebook Messenger are notable omissions – and, somewhat disappointingly, it can only be installed on Android devices running Marshmallow for now. What's more, the free trial version is only available for 30 days and after that you'll be forced to choose between the free, restricted, ad-supported version or a monthly subscription.


Still, if you can make use of it, it's super useful. Read more about it in our BlackBerry DTEK50 review.

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Stay on top of all your messages with BlackBery Hub. / © AndroidPIT
BlackBerry HubInstall on Google Play

Verne: The Himalayas


Google continues to help us discover the landscapes of the world with Verne: The Himalayas. This is the latest app from the experimental Google Creative Labs team and it invites you to explore the world's highest mountain range.


You take control of Yeti named Verne to traverse the Himalayas and discover historical facts about the location. It makes use of Google Maps' 3D imagery to map the area and it's both an enjoyable and educational experience. Just be warned that the controls are a little tricky at first.

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Say hello to Verne the Yeti. / © AndroidPIT
Verne: The HimalayasInstall on Google Play

June


Spaces - Small group sharing


Spaces is a new social networking/messaging app from Google. You may not have heard of it, or may have tried to ignore it because it’s a social app made by Google, but I think it's worth checking out.


Rather than creating a large network with hundreds of friends and followers, Spaces is concerned with keeping it small scale. It's a social platform where you can post links, pictures, YouTube videos and more to conversations with your friends.


It works the same as many other messaging apps except it houses a fresh, Material Design look and a slightly different format: Spaces is designed specifically for group conversations.


Download it from the link here, and for more interesting things from Google this month, check out Science Journal.

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A new take on messaging and sharing: say hello to Spaces. / © ANDROIDPIT

quickReply


quickReply allows you to respond to messages without entering an app. This feature is becoming more prevalent – WhatsApp provides it and Android N will even allow you to reply straight from your lock screen – but if you can’t wait for the functionality to come to other apps, install quickReply in the meantime.


It works with many popular messaging apps (though SMS functionality is yet to be properly integrated), so if you use Skype, Telegram, Kik etc, quickReply will allow you to respond to messages without stopping what you're currently doing. Messages can be responded to via the notification shade but, sadly, replying from the lock screen isn't supported.

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quickReply: reply made easy. / © ANDROIDPIT

Giphy


When you message with GIFs you really get to explore communication. Using GIFs forces you to pay attention to the subtleties of animation, to the power of short-form storytelling. It enhances the simple art of messaging.


Also, some people just like to see cats doing backflips.


Until now, Giphy was only available as an extension of Messenger, but in May it was released as a standalone app, providing more GIF goodness for everyone.


The Giphy app – which works similar to the web version – allows you to search and discover GIFs to suit your every need and share them via Twitter, Facebook, Messenger, email: whatever platform you wish. Download it for free here.

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Giphy is there for all your GIF needs. / © ANDROIDPIT

May


Map for Game of Thrones


What’s your favorite maps app? Google Maps? Here Maps? Waze, perhaps? Well, I’m about to introduce you to your new favorite: the map of Westeros.


Thanks to this app we can better understand the geography of the seven kingdoms. Want to know where the Iron Islands really are in relation to Banefort? Now you can find out.


The only downside is that it doesn't include local traffic updates. Expect some hold ups in the northern regions soon, though.

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Searching for the fastest way to Volantis? Use the map of Westeros app. / © ANDROIDPIT

Cinematics


Cinematics is a movie database app which combines current cinema listings, cast and crew info as well as review scores from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, to deliver a useful resource for cinema buffs.


It’s not the most comprehensive app, but it’s very easy and if you’re overwhelmed by the information found on something like IMDb, it could be for you.

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For cinema fanatics, try Cinematics. / © ANDROIDPIT

April


Eat This Much


Eat This Much is a new food scheduling app to help you plan your daily meals. Input your diet goals, weekly budget and what kinds of food you like, and Eat This Much will take care of your meal plans.


It requires some manual setting up, but once that's done, you can rely on Eat This Much to provide you with the recipes and tips that help you achieve your aims. Both free and premium versions are currently available.

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Put your diet on autopilot with Eat This Much. / © ANDROIDPIT
Eat This Much - Meal PlannerInstall on Google Play

f.lux


Joining the slowly swelling ranks of screen-dimming apps on Android, f.lux started its life on Linux and Windows years ago. It has been available on jailbroken iPhone for a few years, too, and now it's finally making its way to Android. Currently in beta and only available on rooted devices, f.lux is a superb choice if you want to avoid straining your eyes at night.

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Dim your screen to reduce eye strain and improve sleep using f.lux. / © ANDROIDPIT
f.lux (preview, root-only)Install on Google Play

March


Join


Since Pushbullet introduced its paid service and removed features from the free version, many people have been on the lookout for a worthy cross-platform file-sharing alternative. Thankfully, that day has come. Join offers far more features than Pushbullet, and it does it all with a one-time payment, rather than a yearly subscription, a la Pushbullet.


The app only recently went live across all platforms – Android, Windows 10, web, Chrome – and there are still small bugs and UI improvements to be made, but this is an app worth getting on board with right now.

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Sync all your devices using Join. / © ANDROIDPIT
Join by joaoappsInstall on Google Play

Hermit


Let Hermit save you battery life by taking resource-intensive apps like Facebook and replacing them with a wrapper for the mobile website. All these Lite Apps will still appear in your app drawer, and they can send you notifications, they just won't eat your battery and take up loads of storage space.


Any app that has a mobile website – including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, any news service – can be used through Hermit. There's also a useful library of popular and suggested Lite Apps to get you started.

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Hermit can make Lite Apps out of any website. / © ANDROIDPIT
Hermit • Lite Apps BrowserInstall on Google Play

Do you know of any other cool Android apps that came out this month? Let us know in the comments.

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