Welcome to the 504th version of Android Apps Weekly. As soon as once more we carry you the newest information and apps from the earlier week. Let’s begin with among the greatest headlines from final week:
- After a number of betas, Android 14 has lastly arrived for eligible Pixel units. The most recent model of Android brings loads of new options together with improved gadget safety, new accessibility options, and higher integration with the Well being Join app. There are additionally a couple of Pixel 8 particular options in Android 14 together with generative AI wallpapers.
- Generative AI continues to be a giant buzzword, and now Google has introduced it’s coming to the Fitbit app early subsequent yr. One of many core options right here is the flexibility to search out connections and correlations between your health information after which present you insights. AI can even be used to offer personalised teaching and dynamic exercise suggestions to make sure you’re making progress in your targets.
- One other one bites the mud. Google has introduced plans to discontinue Google Podcasts, although the app will proceed to work till “someday in 2024”. The excellent news is Google is making it straightforward emigrate your podcast information over to a different service. We will’t say we’re too stunned, as Google has killed lots of apps over time.
- TikTok lately began testing a brand new ad-free month-to-month subscription. The brand new plan prices $4.99 through the testing section, however the closing pricing might differ. Having an ad-free choice is good, although the shift in the direction of paying for social networking apps is one we don’t fully love.
- Meta has introduced its new Meta AI digital assistant is coming to WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. For now at the very least, the assistant will solely be out there within the US and within the English language.
- Samsung is bringing cell driver’s licenses and state IDs to Samsung Pockets. Iowa and Arizona are the primary states to supply a cell model of their driver’s license to residents, however extra states are to observe. Samsung can be working with the TSA so it will probably settle for cell licenses at 25 federal airports.
Android Apps Weekly: The very best new apps and video games of the week
Searching for some new Android apps and Android video games to maintain you occupied? Beneath we check out a few of our favourite ideas for the week:
Google Magnifier
- Worth: Free (Pixel customers solely)
- Launch Date: Oct 6
Google’s new Magnifier app lets you simply learn textual content from a distance similar to menus, airport indicators, avenue indicators, and extra. This app is ideal for many who have less-than-perfect imaginative and prescient like me, or for those who simply need to get a more in-depth have a look at one thing that’s too far to see together with your eyes, whether or not you put on corrective lenses or not. You may choose totally different zoom increments from 1x to 30x. The one catch is the app is completely for Pixel units, although we’ve confirmed that it really works with units as outdated because the Pixel 5.
Slim Battle: Idle RPG Video games
- Worth: Free with in-app purchases
- Launch date: Sep 19
For those who’re on the lookout for a story-heavy RPG, this isn’t it. The minute you load up the sport you’re given a fast tutorial of kinds after which you might be instantly launched into stage 1. You play as a slime that’s being attacked by numerous people. Every time you’re taking down a human, a small crimson splat is all that’s briefly left behind. Because the onslaught continues you get momentary playing cards that may enhance your powers. Every degree ultimately ends in a boss struggle. As you may guess, that is meant to be an off-the-cuff recreation for these moments if you’re ready in line or simply have a bit time to kill.
Soccer Supervisor 2024
- Worth: Free with in-app purchases
- Launch date: Sep 19
Invincibles Studio has earned a repute for crafting exact and pleasurable soccer administration video games. The most recent model gives entry to over 900 actual golf equipment in 54 leagues throughout 36 nations. On this supervisor recreation, you should buy, promote, and oversee actual gamers. For those who’re a fan of fantasy soccer, there are few different video games that may match the caliber of this one. Whereas I’m not personally large into these sorts of administration video games, I gave it a fast go and need to say I appreciated how straightforward it was to leap in and get began with none actual earlier expertise. This appears like a recreation that will likely be straightforward to study however exhausting to grasp.
Aznana
- Worth: Free with in-app purchases
- Launch date: Sep 19
Ever wished to play a recreation a few boy who can’t discuss, is caught in a crummy walled-around city the place he was discovered within the rubbish, and his solely buddy is a speaking lady’s head named Aznana he found within the trash? Me neither, however I’m definitely glad I did. To say this recreation is quirky could be an understatement. The overall premise is that you’re on the lookout for a option to go away city collectively. You come throughout a person who says he can let you know how, however he needs 10,000 dimes for the knowledge. That’s lots of dimes. The boy and Aznana go about trying this aim by discovering cans in addition to shopping for and reselling gadgets for greater than you paid. From the artwork model to the dialogue, this one is lots of enjoyable. Actually I discovered myself enjoying it for much longer than I’d initially meant.
Cloaked
- Worth: $10 a month
- Launch date: Sep 21
Cloaked is a privateness app designed to safeguard your private info from companies. This app lets you effortlessly create cloaked IDs, so that you don’t need to share your precise account particulars. This consists of producing a false username, electronic mail handle, cellphone quantity, and extra. As an illustration, you can use Cloaked’s generated identities to join on-line subscriptions, and any communication despatched to those identities could be securely routed to the Cloaked app. The idea is kind of intriguing, nevertheless it does come at a value. Whereas there’s a 14-day free trial (no bank card required), the subscription price after that’s $10 per thirty days or $96 per yr.
