Google’s new video-calling app is a challenge to Apple’s FaceTime. Read on!
Google Duo (free, iPhone only) is the latest iteration of Google’s video-calling app—this time, it’s disconnected from Google’s underused social network (this feature had previously been available as part of the Google Hangouts app) and instead designed to be more of a challenge to Apple’s FaceTime offering. You make calls using your contacts list, and can chat with anybody who has the app—regardless of whether they’re on the iOS or Android platform.
Yeah, yeah: If you’ve seen one adult coloring book app, you’ve seen them all. Still, we can’t help but be partial to BBC Colouring: Doctor Who ($3) for its psychedelia-influenced offerings of The Doctor’s universe. Plus, no one says you have to make the TARDIS blue. Go ahead and make it any color you like.
Castro ($5, iPhone only) is, well, another podcasting app. What makes Version 2.0 stand apart from competitors? “Episode triage.” New episodes arrive in your inbox; you just review the descriptions, queue the ones you’re interested in listening to, and archive the rest.
Deus Ex Go ($5) comes from the makers of Lara Croft Go and Hitman Go—and, like those games, converts a action-heavy adventure franchise into a strategy/puzzle game. There’s still plenty of adventure, though: “As covert agent Adam Jensen, you’ll use hacking, combat, and augmentations to solve the most intricate puzzles of the entire GO series and unravel the conspiracy behind a terrorist plot.”
Memdot ($1) is the latest in what appears to be a mini-fad of dot-based iOS games. In this one, you memorize the color and position of the dots, then match the correct dots with the background color. The game also has an “arcade mode” for people who want to compete for high scores.
Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n.ipat ($3) is a choose-your-own-adventure story game based on the popular hacker-centric TV show. “You’ll use the E-Corp messaging app to communicate in real time with characters from the show, making dialog choices that directly affect how the story flows. Make a choice then live with the far-reaching consequences in this hi-tech narrative drama driven by YOU.”
MyWanda (free, iPhone only) is a health-tracking app aimed specifically at women. Like other health apps, you can use it to monitor your sleep and record your blood pressure, as well as other vital statistics. The app also offers daily guidance—tips on how to improve exercise, nutrition, and more.
Timelines ($5, iPhone only) helps you track the time spent on certain tasks—useful for lawyers, freelancers, or “simply someone who wants to understand and improve her time efficiency.” You can even export the information as a PDF or spreadsheet.
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens now offers access to three new levels based on “Return of the Jedi,” as well as a pack of new characters from “The Freemaker Adventures” … Baskin Robbins has introduced an app that lets customers pay for treats and get deals … Hiking Project has redesigned its app to put trail maps at the forefront of the project.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.