EACH WEEK, WE highlight five apps that are worth downloading for your smartphone and tablet. There are a lot of apps released on a daily basis, but not all of them are worth paying attention to.
This week features a fun way to customise your home screen, a vampire just trying to make his way home and a stunning iPad app that allows you to explore the earth.
FullContact – Better Contact Management
For: iOS
Cost: Free
- You’re probably sick of apps that sort out your contacts in some form, but this one is rather good if you’re reliant on Gmail. This is mainly designed for business use mind.
- FullContact isn’t exactly a new app, it’s actually a reworking of an old app called Cobook which it bought a year ago, but there are some great features included.
- Essentially, it connects to your Gmail account (and social media accounts as well if you wish) and sorts out your contacts. It does require you to trust it with your data, mind, which it will sort and group contacts.
- It is worth it though, and any major decision or change it makes, it will ask you to approve first before it does anything. For the most part, it’s really good at pulling contacts and additional info together.
- Should you be on the lookout for a new contact book for business purposes, this is worth a look.
Picturesque Lock Screen
For: Android
Cost: Free
- Microsoft has been coming out with a number of apps for iOS and Android in recent times, and it doesn’t seem like the trend is going to stop anytime soon.
- Picturesque is a custom lock screen from Microsoft Garage, and to its credit, it is an interesting experiment in itself.
- For one, all images that appear come from Bing (which if any of you visit will know the quality is great), and its almost like a home screen in itself, allowing you to read news, search the web and access specific apps through it.
- That home screen feel is also its major drawback. Some people won’t want their lock screen to be congested with widgets and items that they already have on their home screen. Also, the security options aren’t great.
- If you’re looking to experiment and want faster access to certain features, you may find this useful.
#TileArt
For: Windows Phone
Cost: Free
- The second Microsoft mobile app in this list, and this one is for anyone who has wanted to properly customise their home screen.
- #Tileart allows you to pin your favourite images to the home screen so you can see it whenever you unlock your phone.
- There is a gallery included, but the real fun is uploading your own images and creations and sharing them with the world.
- Creating and modifying your tiles and images is pretty easy and something you will get the hang of pretty quickly.
- Should your home screen need some jazzing up, this is more than capable of doing that for you.
Lamp and Vamp
For: iOS, Android
Cost: €1.99
- Most games require you to hunt vampires, but rarely allow you to play as one, which is a shame for the most part.
- Lamp and Vamp rights this wrong, allowing you to take control of a vampire who is trying to make his way home.
- However, you must make your way through numerous levels, where hunters, priests and other enemies are looking to hunt you.
- It requires some forward thinking and sometimes a bit of luck to complete each level, but it’s never unfair.
- An enjoyable yet challenging game that’s going to last you quite a while.
Earth Primer
For: iOS (iPad)
Cost: €9.99
- Ignore the price tag for a moment and just bare with us. This one is worth every cent.
- For one, Earth Primer is a beautiful app, think of a traditional textbook coming to life and you would have the right idea.
- Allowing you to explore the world, everything is broken up into chapters, each one more stunning than the last.
- Probably the best part is it never actually feels like a chore to read through. Every animation, interaction and section is a joy to experience.
- Didn’t we mention this was worth every cent? A magnificent and accomplished app that makes you wish all textbook apps were like this.
Chaim Gingold / Vimeo
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