Looking for new apps for your Android phone or tablet? Check out our weekly round-up for the latest apps and click on the links to download them for free.
1. EvolveSMS (Get it for your android) Free
Developer Klinker Apps has been busy – they’re responsible for this app and Talon, both premiering today. EvolveSMS takes the same approach (impressive UI, tons of features, KitKat touches) and applies it to a standard SMS app. As you can see, the whole thing is laid out with Holo in mind – we like the contact list that’s integrated into a slide-out menu. Impressively, widgets for home and lockscreens are available, and sending MMS content is included as well. EvolveSMS is a free download.
2. 12Hours (Get it for your android) Free
Analog clock? Day planner? 12Hours is both at the same time, with a unique & eye catching design. What is it? It’s an analog clock widget which automatically gets all your calendar events in the next 12 hours and shows them as marked zones on a clock. Simple as that. What does it do? It shows you all your events in the next 12 hours at a glance, making it easier than ever to plan your day.
3. RetroArch (Get it for your android) Free
RetroArch is a popular emulator on a ton of platforms, mostly because it supports, well, a ton of platforms. This open-source emulator includes the capability to play games from all the major 8- and 16-bit game consoles, plus the PlayStation, a ton of portables, and more. It’s a free but of course you’ll need to supply your own (ahem) legally-obtained game files in order to play anything.
4. G Cloud backup (Get it for your android) Free
Phones get lost, stolen and misplaced every single day. In this hectic life we’re leading, it’s hard to remember where you placed your keys, so having a backup plan is always a must! With G Cloud installed, one can rest assured that all the precious contacts and data can never be lost. You can get up to 10GB of free storage, and with the new update, G Cloud 3.0 grants you web view access and many more new features. If you want to backup all your app&game settings just download the key for rooted from here!
5. Jelly (Get it for your android) Free
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone (who is in fact a real person & not a cartoon character) made a lot of buzz by launching a new search engine. This isn’t your daddy’s Google – you’ll have to include a photo to ask any question. So I suppose “what is this white rash on my [ed. note: REDACTED]?” wouldn’t be a very nice thing to ask your Facebook & Twitter friends.
6. Loopr – Task Switcher (Beta) (Get it for your android) Free
There are a lot of variations on the SwipePad theme, and this one is interesting both functionally and visually. It’s more of a replacement for the standard Recents button than anything else, allowing you to display the most recent apps in a semicircle with a quick swipe from the left or right of the screen. You can scroll through apps with a quick swipe, and a recent addition has added standard nav buttons, not unlike LMT PIE. Hovering over an app will give you a full-screen “peek” without actually switching.
7. YouSnap (Get it for your android) Free
Ever tried to take a quick photo of a billboard or PowerPoint slide, only to find that it’s nigh unreadable from your perspective? YouSnap will automatically find these images, correct the perspective, brush up the lighting, and present you with a nearly-perfect copy of whatever you’re shooting for. It looks like something the CSI guys would use, but in fact it’s a pretty handy tool. Outputs in standard JPEG and PDF are available for easy sharing.
8. beat – cloud & music player (Get it for your android) Free
Most music players for Android include a widget at the very least, and the good ones also include playback controls in the drop-down notification shade (come on, Pandora, get on the trolley!). If not even that is enough for you, you can get an always-on floating widget that’s instantly accessible from any app with the Beat player. Controls and visuals are customizable, and it will stream music from Dropbox or Google Drive, but as usual, Google Play Music’s policies mean that Unlimited is off limits.
9. Glooko (Get it for your android) Free
Glucose meter checking is no joke if you’re diabetic, and it’s nice to see a health app that’s focused on a genuine need rather than a lifestyle. Glooko allows you to download information from a compatible glucometer and track your daily habits over time, allowing a careful user to better plan out dietary needs and uses. You’ll need a $40 cable (see link below) to use the app, but it’s compatible with most of the popular glucometer models sold to individuals and hospitals.
10. AppDeals (Get it for your android) Free
Need some app deals? Check out AndroidPolice.com daily. Need some app deals without having to listen to us prattle on about the latest happenings in the technology world? Then you might want to check out AppDeals, which features a list of discounted apps and games in a card UI with links directly to the Play Store on your device. The app itself includes advertising, which you can remove for a small charge.
