22 Best New Android Apps And Live Wallpapers From The Last 2 Weeks (4/8/14 - 4/21/14)
- Featured App
- Passport Photo ID Studio
- Apps
- Google Camera
- Chrome Remote Desktop
- Mailbox
- Carousel
- CloudCaster
- Fenix for Twitter
- (root) CF.lumen
- Today - Calendar
- Reverse Dictionary
- iCitizen
- Noon Pacific
- Distiller
- LISTEN – Ringback Tones (RBT)
- Notegraphy
- Retrica
- Frontback
- FarFaria
- Samsung WatchON
- Lifelog
- SmartBand SWR10
- Xperia Keyboard
- Live Wallpapers
- KM Beach Live wallpaper HD
- Zombie Horde Free Wallpaper
- Know A Worthy New App? Let Us Know!
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.
Looking for the previous roundup editions? Find them here.
Featured App
Passport Photo ID Studio
This week's roundup is brought to you by Passport Photo ID Studio from Handy Apps. If you need a photo for your passport, visa application, or any other kind of license or ID, you don't need to go to a drug store to get one. Just install this app, take a selfie with your front-facing camera, and the app will help you apply the correct format for what you need. It supports live capture and photo imports, direct printing via Google Cloud Print, and a staggering variety of sizes for various national passports.
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Passport Photo ID Studio is a completely free Android app that allows you to capture, edit, share and print your passport photos and ID photos in as little steps as possible. With this free app, you can make professional-looking passport photos and ID photos at the comfort of your own home. Passport Photo ID Studio also allows you the flexibility to customize your passport photo sizes.
Features include:
- Create passport photos that will automatically be saved to pre-selected photo sizes
- OR import photos from gallery to make passport photos
- Supports both rear and back-facing cameras
- General guidelines before you create your passport photos
- Select your passport photo size that corresponds to a list of countries available
- OR customize your photo size
- Zoom, crop and rotate your photos
- Adjust brightness and contrast of photos
- Preview your photos before you print
- Select different photos to print on the same page
- On the printing page, photo positions will automatically be adjusted based on pre-selected photo sizes
- Print directly from your phone (provided you have Google Cloud Print pre-configured)
Apps
Google Camera
Android Police coverage: [Breaking] Google Releases Stock Camera App To The Play Store [APK Download]
The camera app is the latest of Google's official offerings to get an unbound Play Store release. This version of the stock camera app actually includes features not previously seen on Nexus devices, like faux depth of field (lens blur) and a warning to keep you from recording video in portrait mode. Dear Google: thank you from YouTube users and local news anchors everywhere.
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Google Camera snaps quick and easy photos and videos, and has creative picture modes like Photo Sphere, Lens Blur and Panorama.
• Photo Spheres for immersive 360º views
• Lens Blur mode for SLR-like photos with shallow depth of field
• Panorama mode with high resolution
• 100% viewfinder for getting the maximum resolution from the sensor (no dropped pixels)
• Updated UI that gets out of your way and is centered on an extra large capture button
• Works on phones and tablets running Android 4.4+ KitKat
36,434 ratings
by Google Inc.
1,000,000 - 5,000,000 downloads
Appears in a list of Apps I can't live without.
Chrome Remote Desktop
Android Police coverage: Google Releases Chromoting App For Accessing Computers Remotely From Android Devices [APK Download]
Google's official remote desktop app is one of the coolest add-ons available for Chrome, and now Android users get a taste as well. Note that this is a remote control on your Android device, for your desktop, not the other way around. It should work on any network so long as the computer you're connecting to has Chrome Remote Desktop setup and an active connection. It's a little finicky, like most remote desktop apps, but perfectly usable.
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Securely access your computers from your Android device.
• On each of your computers, set up remote access using the Chrome Remote Desktop app from Chrome Web Store: http://ift.tt/WGP1Lv
• On your Android device, open the app and tap on any of your online computers to connect.
11,772 ratings
by Google Inc.
100,000 - 500,000 downloads
Appears in a list of Apps for everyday usage.
Mailbox
Android Police coverage: [New App] Dropbox's Mailbox App Finally Comes To Android To Tame Your Inbox
Dropbox has a mail app. That seems a little odd until you remember that the company acquired the iOS favorite of the same name last year. The Android version has the same focus on inbox management, with quick gestures for archiving and "snoozing" messages for later. If you've grown used to Gmail's advanced features you'll miss them almost immediately, but those who want a simple and imminently readable email app might find something to like in this free alternative.
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The fast, fun mobile inbox that puts email in its place. Note: Currently for Gmail and iCloud accounts. Other email platforms coming soon. iOS app available for download at http://mailboxapp.com. Mailbox is a completely redesigned inbox that makes email light, fast, and mobile-friendly. Quickly swipe messages to your archive or trash. Scan an entire conversation at once with chat-like organization. Snooze emails until later with the tap of a button — they’ll return to your inbox automatically so you can focus on what's important now.
Carousel
Android Police coverage: [New App] Dropbox Releases Carousel, A Dedicated Gallery App For Your Photos And Videos With Somewhat Of A Social Twist
And here's Dropbox's photo app, spawned from another company acquisition. It's noticeably nicer than most of the manufacturer pack-ins, if only because it includes a heavy social component and automatically organizes your snapshots... though you could say the same about the Google+ photo app. Of course Carrousel integrates with the photos you've already saved to Dropbox.
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Carousel is the new gallery from Dropbox for your life’s memories.
- It’s a single home for all your photos and videos, automatically organized and always with you.
- Swap and share photos and videos instantly in private conversations. Save the memories your friends share with one tap.
- Carousel automatically backs up photos and videos to Dropbox as you take them, so all your memories are kept safe in one place.
CloudCaster
Android Police coverage: [New App] CloudCaster (From The Maker Of FolderSync) Can Cast Video From 23 Different Sources To Your Chromecast
CAST ALL THE THINGS. CloudCaster does one thing: it grabs video from cloud storage sources and shoots 'em over to your Chromecast. (You can also stream local video.) Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, Bitcasa, and many more are supported, at least a few that have no other Chromecast alternatives at the moment. SMB, Copy.com, and SugarSync files need to use your Android device as a stepping stone. The free app has ads, but you can banish them with a $3.72 in-app purchase.
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CloudCaster enables you to cast supported media files directly from the cloud to your Chromecast.Perfect if you need to display pictures or play video/audio from the cloud in your living room. To access accounts and favorites, use the right drawer menu (swipe in from the right).
Direct streaming support
★ Files on your device
★ DLNA (Android 4.0 and up)
★ Google Drive
★ OneDrive
★ Bitcasa
★ Box
★ WebDAV*
Streaming via device
★ SMB/CIFS
★ Copy.com
★ SugarSync
54 ratings
Offers in-app purchases
by Tacit Dynamics
1,000 - 5,000 downloads
Appears in a list of For Chromecast Owners
Fenix for Twitter
Android Police coverage: [Hands-On] Fenix Is A Promising New Twitter Client With Lots Of #HOLOYOLO
There are more than a few Twitter clients for the discerning user, and Fenix takes a rather typical Holo-heavy approach to things. But it's undeniably attractive, and it includes most of the bells and whistles you expect, including an internal browser, multiple account support, easy access to personal lists, and multiple included themes. Unfortunately Fenix doesn't include a widget at the moment, which will be a dealbreaker for a lot of Twitter addicts.
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Fenix brings you a fresh Twitter experience for your Android smartphone and tablet. Tired of the same old Twitter apps? Give Fenix a try and you won't go back.
- Don't miss any of your account activities. With support for real time updates, you can see who's retweeting, favoriting and following you.
- Clickable timeline links, because every tap count.
- Gorgeous conversations layout
- Beautiful images and videos preview, directly from your timeline
- Support for multiple accounts
- Support for multiple drafts, because every word you type is precious.
- Swipe all the things. You can swipe through all the app sections, swipe to close a tweet or even swipe to compose a new tweet.
- Quick access to all your lists and saved searches
- Mute users, hashtags or custom keywords
- Internal browser
- TweetMarker support
- Choose from light, dark or true black themes
(root) CF.lumen
Android Police coverage: Chainfire Brings CF.lumen To Rooted KitKat Devices To Intelligently Adapt Display Colors
Stock Android and most manufacturer add-ons don't have much truck with display settings beyond brightness. CF.Lumen is a revived app previously featured on Gingerbread, now compatible only with rooted KitKat devices. In addition to a variety of rather extreme color modifications to your Android experience, the app includes a day/night cycle adjustment to ease your eyes. A ton of options and configurations are thrown in, though you'll need to upgrade to the pro version to get them all.
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CF.lumen adapts the colors on your Android device based on the position of the sun, or your custom configuration. When using the default settings, your display will get a warmer tint (lower color temperature) when the sun is down, vastly reducing strain on the eyes. Blue light makes your brain want to stay awake, and a lower color temperatures reduces the amount of blue displayed; using this in the evening reduces your brain's effort to keep you awake at night. (See f.lux for your PC)
374 ratings
Offers in-app purchases
by Chainfire
5,000 - 10,000 downloads
Appears in a list of Root like there's no tomorrow!
Today - Calendar
Android Police coverage: [New App] Today Calendar Is Out Of Beta And Available In The Play Store
Today Calendar is an impressive alternative to Google's stock app focusing on readability and interface. Card fans will surely be pleased with the general layout, and the full calendar and itinerary widgets are undeniably spiffy. There isn't really anything you can do in Today that you can't do in Google Calendar, but you can probably do it a little better. Consider the cheap purchase if you spend more than an hour or two on your schedule each week.
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Today is a streamlined, modern calendar app for Android. Despite being derived from the same stock android calendar as the majority of alternative calendars on the Play Store, Today sets itself apart from the competition by being the only calendar app to combine high functionality with truly beautiful aesthetics. The stock calendar's UI was completely overhauled to create Today. The old cluttered grey-on-grey layout was replaced with a clean accented white to create a truly beautiful app.
189 ratings
by Jack Underwood
1,000 - 5,000 downloads
Appears in a list of Must-have apps on KitKat (Nexus, GPE)
Reverse Dictionary
What's that word? It's on the tip of my tongue. You know, one of those small, encapsulated programs for mobile devices. If you constantly find yourself disappointed in your own vocabulary, Reverse Dictionary can help. Throw in some generic terms and this app (THAT's the word) will try to whittle down your intention with a set of thesaurus-style listings. It could save you some time over a more general Google search.
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Know what you want to say, but forgotten the word you need? Reverse Dictionary can solve this problem. Reverse Dictionary allows you find the word you're looking for by entering key phrases that describe or are related to it. For example, if you have forgotten the word for "Apple"- Entering Green Fruit would return a list of words including "Avocado, Apple" and "Pear." Forgotten the term for a "business owner?" Entering this phrase would return you with a list including "proprietor" and "entrepreneur.
iCitizen
If the last few national mud-slinging contests haven't soured you on American politics, then you're a better citizen than I. And if that's the case, you can prove it with iCitizen, a sort of national political rolodex. In addition to a listing of every national political office and the current incumbent (tailored to your state and district), the app includes details of all the current bills going before the House and Senate. Use the voting records and contact info for each official to call them up and tell them "good job" or "you suck," whichever is appropriate.
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iCitizen is the best app to keep track of political issues (elections, women rights, the economy, budget ceiling, and more) that matter to you and voice your opinions and thoughts directly to your elected officials. Who won the latest election? Keep track of Republican, Democrat, and Independent agendas. What are the new proposed ballot initiatives? Who are your elected representatives and how do they vote on issues you care about? iCitizen is here to keep you educated and engaged with American politics at every level of government.
Noon Pacific
Endless streams of music are all well and good, but there's something to be said for more carefully-chosen listening. Noon Pacific delivers exactly ten songs per week, no more and no less, to your personalized station. Obviously this makes it a bit different from the standard Pandora model, but if you want to get down and dirty with some genuine music discovery, it's worth a look.
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A weekly playlist of the best songs handpicked from the best music blogs. Discover new music with 10 new songs delivered to your phone every Monday, at Noon (Pacific Time). Listen to over 80 unique playlists with more added every week. In the car. At the beach. On the go. *Limited to 3 song skips per hour (due to licensing restrictions).
• Over 800 songs available anywhere you go
• 1 mixtape (10 more songs) added every Monday (at Noon Pacific time).
• Easy to use interface
• Songs are streamed so it doesn't take up storage on your phone
• High quality audio
Distiller
I'm a beer guy, and not an especially cultured one - I tend to like the dark stuff and not bother with fancy terms like hoppiness and mouthfeel. If you prefer something a little stronger, and can say why in no less than a thousand words, then Distiller can give you a few recommendations. It's a gigantic catalog of whiskey (or whisky, and yes, there's a difference) complete with accurate descriptions and specifications for each. Once you're three sheets to the wind, you can rate your latest purchase, if you can still see the screen.
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Distiller is your companion, guide, and collection as you grow the whiskey side of your life. Get a personalized whiskey recommendation for any situation, whether you’re at a bar with your friends, growing your personal collection, discovering a new flavor, or giving a gift. We go beyond the label to offer suggestions based on your tastes matched with the unique characteristics of each bottle.
LISTEN – Ringback Tones (RBT)
Quick, look up to the earlier apps in this list so you can be prepared for this one. First install Today Calendar so you can verify that it is not, in fact, 2003, then use Reverse Dictionary to find the word that means "a sense of a repeated experience" (déjà vu). If you use T-Mobile, you can install this app to customize ringback tones from popular artists for everyone in your contact list. Remember those, the ringtones that play instead of a basic tone when someone calls you? Don't you want those back? Well here they are anyway.
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LISTEN is an exciting new ringback tone app that lets you interact with your callers by replacing the boring ringing sound they hear with music or status updates. Imagine acting as a DJ for family and friends by choosing songs for each caller to hear or being able to tell callers why you can’t answer their call. LISTEN has a state of the art smartphone interface with innovative new features including:
• Choose different songs for each caller, text them about your song choice, and allow them to override your music choice if they choose.
• Choose from the latest music including Pop, R&B, Rap, Rock, Country, Alternative, Indie and more.
• Auto-set songs for holidays or special occasions like birthdays to ensure Mom’s birthday is never forgotten.
• Use Listen as a productivity tool by telling people why you can’t answer a call. For example, you can pick a timeframe to tell your callers that you are driving or in business meeting.
Notegraphy
Imagine this app as Instagram for text. Throw together a quote or a witty quip, then add backgrounds, fonts, and filters. Then you can share your text on Facebook or Twitter, like the incredibly creative and literary person that you are. Soon you can add your Instagram-style text art to Instagram. Yo dawg, we heard you like sharing photos...
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Notegraphy is a web and mobile application that rethinks the way you write and share text online through design. With Notegraphy, you can create beautifully formatted layouts in real-time. Be it a single word, or an entire novel, in only three steps – write, style and share – your text will be ‘Always Beautiful’.
- 30+ carefully-curated collections by some of the world's best graphic designers.
- Automatic Formatting.
- Instant sharing to Facebook and Twitter. Soon, Instagram and Tumblr
- Save notes locally and send them by email and WhatsApp.
- Create your personal and customized Gallery.
- Get inspired by browsing through the best notes created by others.
Retrica
Android Police coverage: [New App] Popular iOS App Retrica Comes To Android For The Selfie Lovers Who Are Not Yet Sick Of Filters
Selfies. Filters. We have enough of these already. Retrica has borders, a fake depth of field blur, and a self-timer, at least some of which you might not have in your current faux photography app. But if you really must use something like this, at least dive into the settings menu and turn off the app logo watermark. If for some awful reason you actually like those, the app offers 14 to choose from.
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Great app for selfies. Take vintage style photos in high resolution with Retrica’s 80 EXCLUSIVE filters. Retrica offers numerous professionally designed filters, many more than any other camera apps do. You can apply the filters even before you take a photo, or after, as you prefer. Take photo collages with Retrica, WITH filters applied. You can set time intervals to take consecutive photos and to fool around with your friends.
144,284 ratings
Offers in-app purchases
by retrica.co
1,000,000 - 5,000,000 downloads
Appears in a list of Form+Function
Frontback
Android Police coverage: [New App] Frontback Arrives On Android To Bring Context To Your Selfies
And here's an app that will combine both your front camera and rear camera shots into a strange amalgamation of person and place. If you want to do this without creating an account and uploading to a semi-closed service, there's a little front/back button on your stock camera app.
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Frontback is a fantastic community of people who love being creative or just sharing their daily life, be part of it, take amazing photos to share with your friends and with people around the world. Take a look http://ift.tt/1hKDjvn. Frontback is a fun new camera app. This is an initial Android version, so if you have any bugs to report or have questions regarding your first experience, please email us at support@frontback.me
FarFaria
We've featured a lot of these digital activity books for kids, because they make pretty good time killers for long trips. Here's a store full of the brightly-colored things. You'll need to buy a subscription to access the titles (so lock down that Google Play password), but they all include voice narration and guided reading for building those essential skills. At the moment the app has "over 600" eBooks and songs.
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Kids Read More with FarFaria. FarFaria offers over 600 picture books and new stories every week, so it's easy for parents and tons of fun for kids. Install to start reading today. FarFaria's library has hundreds of fun and educational books for kids ages 2-9. FarFaria will help your child develop a love for reading and encourage your family to read together more often.
- Get Started for free. No subscription needed.
- New books added every weekday.
- Unlimited reading from a curated library of children's ebooks.
- Read-to-Me in every story
- Reading-level Badge on every story cover.
- Low monthly cost for unlimited reading.
- Over 600 eBooks and Songs, plus Five New Releases a Week
94 ratings
Offers in-app purchases
by FarFaria
5,000 - 10,000 downloads
Discover more apps with Playboard for Android
Samsung WatchON
Android Police coverage: [New App] Samsung's Refreshed WatchON App Now Available For Galaxy S5 As New Play Store Listing
Hey, look at that, Samsung's combined remote and TV schedule app has a new version to match the Galaxy S5. It's got pretty much all the features of the old app with a few bells and whistles thrown in, but the user interface is much-improved, and those with Samsung smart TVs will probably appreciate the "floating" link to the remote control.
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Here comes a new WatchON along with enhanced UI/UX to discover, search, enjoy and share linear, on-demand and even free web contents in one place. WatchON™ is all the entertainment you love; on all the screens you love. Breakthrough app for Samsung Galaxy S5 that’s as easy as changing a TV channel (also available for Samsung Tablets: http://alturl.com/kud3k)
74 ratings
by Samsung Media Solution Center
50,000 - 100,000 downloads
Appears in a list of Just-in Apps
Lifelog
Android Police coverage: [New App] Sony Releases Lifelog App Into The Play Store, The Companion To Its New SmartBand SWR10 Activity Tracker
Everyone and their dog had a wearable device at this year's Mobile World Congress. Even Sony introduced a new one, and they've already got three under their belt. This app is the "lifelog" companion for the new SmartBand SW10, a simpler health tracker with a single button for some basic recording functions. The band and the app will record your locations, movements, and even sleep. If something interesting happens, press the button and the app will make a note of it.
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This is the official Lifelog app from Sony. With Lifelog you can view information about your communications, entertainment and physical activities. You can also set activity goals and monitor your progress. The information compiled in Lifelog is collected partly using sensor technology in your Sony SmartBand SWR10 and partly via data gathered from various applications and sensors in your Android smartphone.
311 ratings
by Sony Mobile Communications
5,000 - 10,000 downloads
Discover more apps with Playboard for Android
SmartBand SWR10
...and here's the more generic app for the SmartBand, used for connection and media controls. Why Sony couldn't combine these into one app, I'm not sure, but you'll need this one to do anything at all with your new wearable toy. Naturally you'll need a Sony phone to use either app.
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This is the official Sony application for SmartBand SWR10. With this app, you can decide how your SmartBand interacts with your smartphone and which life logging functions are enabled. Before you install SmartBand SWR10, you will need to install Smart Connect from Sony, a popular device-to-device connectivity app on your smartphone. You will also need Lifelog, an innovative and animated life logging app from Sony. Lifelog lets you set activity goals, track logged activities and view and edit life bookmarks.
58 ratings
by Sony Mobile Communications
1,000 - 5,000 downloads
Discover more apps with Playboard for Android
Xperia Keyboard
Android Police coverage: [New App] Sony Sticks Its Xperia Keyboard Into The Play Store To Allow For Easier Updates
Like Google, Motorola, and others, Sony has started uploading its skinned apps to the Play Store for easier updates that bypass the carrier system. The keyboard is only compatible with Sony devices.
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Xperia keyboard is your default keyboard for all languages except Chinese, Japanese and Korean. It offers a superior swiping experience as well as traditional tapping. The keyboard quickly adapts to your writing style, learning your words and can be further personalized from Gmail, Facebook and Twitter.
353 ratings
by Sony Mobile Communications
100,000 - 500,000 downloads
Appears in a list of Communication Apps
Live Wallpapers
KM Beach Live wallpaper HD
Like vacation? Enjoy beautiful islands, beaches and the ocean? Then these live wallpapers are for you. Introducing the new work made of plasticine - "KM Beach Live wallpaper HD". Now you can enjoy beautiful islands with our new live wallpaper made of plasticine. Be sure to install this beautiful "KM Beach Live wallpaper HD" on your phone or tablet. For Android 4.X or higher; Free version: http://ift.tt/1kSWepi
Zombie Horde Free Wallpaper
What's the point of having a home screen free of (un)death and carnage? Overcome this limitation with an endless horde of zombies ravening for the last members of the human race. Tap on the zombies to kill them, or let the survivors in the bunker finish them off for you. Let the zombie gore pile up over time, painting a macabre piece of constantly changing abstract art. Zombie Horde is rendered in OpenGL and fully supports both portrait and landscape orientations, in addition to working as a DayDream on 4.2+ devices.
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: oh.no.its.the@androidpolice.com.
1 sponsored placement per week is available (your app would be featured at the top and marked as sponsored) - please contact us for details.
Michael Crider  | Michael is a native Texan and a former graphic designer. He's been covering technology in general and Android in particular since 2011. His interests include folk music, football, science fiction, and salsa verde, in no particular order. |
source: androidpolice
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