Smartphone App Wrap: Games, movies, exercise, and Instagram
Android Central - The App!
Platform: Android
Price: Free
One of my favorite mobile websites is Android Central and for quite some time they had an application for their forums, but nothing to access their website. Last week, I wrote about the excellent CB10 app for their sister Mobile Nations website so I was quite excited to see the launch of an app for Android Central.
Android Central - The App!
Platform: Android
Price: Free
The Android Central app gives you quick access to news, reviews, editorials, forums, podcasts, and even wallpapers to use on your device. You can access the app from a widget or lock screen as well. They have plans to integrate notifications, a dark theme, and more in future updates.
Tetris Blitz
Platform: Android
Price: Free
I enjoy short form games and have always liked playing Tetris. The new Tetris Blitz game from Electronic Arts is a perfect smartphone game with a 2-minute timer for each game session. There are power-ups to add some dynamic actions to your game, Facebook integration to see how friends stack up with your scores, and more.
Tetris Blitz
Platform: Android
Price: Free
It is interesting how the game shows you all the possible places to put your puzzle piece and a single tap quickly drops it in that location. Don't be too quick to tap the first spot you see though, it still requires a stacking strategy to gain some serious points.
Evernote
Platform: iOS
Price: Free
I have been a premium subscriber to Evernote for years and wrote about the major update adding reminders so thought it was worthy to highlight in my weekly app roundup.
Evernote
Platform: iOS
Price: Free
Evernote is a cross platform note taking service that lets you capture text, photos, and voice recordings to use as notes. You can also include files and share your notes. It is extremely powerful and free. Premium services are priced at $5/month or $45/year.
Fast and Furious 6: The Game
Platform: iOS
Price: Free
The summer movie season has started and one of the most exciting movies that premiered this week is Fast and Furious 6. Kabam released a game for iOS that lets you join the crew and compete in various car racing missions, including drag racing, drifting, and more.
Fast and Furious 6: The Game
Platform: iOS
Price: Free
The graphics are excellent, the sounds are good, and tutorials are provided to help you understand the gameplay. I liked racing around in muscle cars and found the game enjoyable.
Itsdagram
Platform: Windows Phone 8
Price: Free, $1.49 for full version
Instagram is not one of my personal do or die apps, but for many people it is very important and is an app that limits their use of Windows Phone. While we don't yet have an official app, Itsdagram does a fine job and supports the Metro UI.
Itsdagram
Platform: Windows Phone 8
Price: Free, $1.49 for full version
The folks at WPCentral have a post on Instagram alternatives and they like this one and Instagraph best.
Man of Steel
Platform: WP8
Price: Free
Another movie-related app can be found on Nokia Lumia devices. Man of Steel is an app promoting the upcoming Superman movie. By playing various small games and challenges you unlock access to wallpapers, ringtones, DC Comics digital comic books, and more.
Man of Steel
Platform: WP8
Price: Free
The games are fun and I even enjoyed the digital comic books that were offered. I like the way the games use Superman's powers to complete the challenges.
Vivino Wine Scanner
Platform: BlackBerry 10
Price: Free
My wife and I enjoy visiting wineries in Washington and California, but I am still a fairly new wine consumer so like to gather as much information as I can. The Vivino Wine Scanner app lets you easily capture an image of the wine label and see more information on the wine while also working through social networks.
Vivino Wine Scanner
Platform: BlackBerry 10
Price: Free
I have seen this app on other platforms and this particular app is an Android port on BB10. There is also a Pro version of the app that supports features such as text-based searching, home cellar wine management, and more.
Endomondo
Platform: BlackBerry 10
Price: Free
Endomondo has been around on other mobile platforms and is an excellent service for tracking your running, cycling, walking, and other activity with over 15 million users. Your duration, distance, pace and more is tracked. You can also race against other times and hear your audio coach prompt you during your activity.
Endomondo
Platform: BlackBerry 10
Price: Free
There is a folded back page animation in the lower right that reveals a map view when you tap it. The app continues to run and track your workout when the display goes off and is one of the best fitness apps available.