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.
This is the app roundup. The game roundup from this week can be found here.
Featured App
DigiCal Calendar & Widgets
Today's roundup is presented by DigiCal Calendar & Widgets from Digibites. DigiCal is a complete calendar solution that integrates with Google Calendar, matching it feature-for-feature and then some. A wide selection of calendar views (agenda, day, week, month, text month, list) and great tablet compatibility means that your calendar will look great and be easy to use no matter what device you're using. DigiCal also includes a variety of widgets, all of which put the stock Google Calendar to shame, and integrated location search within the app. DigiCal even checks Google Now for travel and traffic time, letting you know when you'll need to leave to avoid being late. The standard DigiCal is free, but the $4.95 DigiCal+ includes a month widget, extra visual options, and zero ads.
Experience the most stylish Android calendar with Holo light and dark themes with 6 powerful calendar views and 5 beautifully designed widgets! DigiCal is a stylish and easy to use calendar application that syncs all your appointment with Google Calendar. You can choose from 6 powerful calendar views (day, week, agenda, month, text month and list) in both portrait and landscape mode. DigiCal also comes with 5 beautiful widgets (list, grid, day, day list and month). Following the latest Android Holo light and dark theme, DigiCal is bringing the clean and intuitive user interface experience to smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2+. DigiCal’s innovative features such as the smart action bar make it easy to edit, move, copy, paste and delete events. With our unique built-in location search, adding a location to your event has never been easier. All you need to do is type in the name of the place (cafe, store, and park) and DigiCal will automatically look up the address and save it. With this feature, Google Now (Android 4.1+) knows where you'll need to go. It'll watch current traffic, plan your route and notify you when you should leave.
Apps
Focal (Beta)
Android Police coverage: Focal Camera (Formerly Of CyanogenMod) Comes To Google Play As A Free Beta
Focal was previously included on the latest CyanogenMod beta ROMs. After a falling out with the primary open-source developer it was removed from new ROM builds. There's clearly a bit of conflict behind the scenes here, but the end result is that now everyone can try out the Focal camera app. It's currently in beta, but the app and its advanced features are available as a free download for devices running Android 4.1 or higher.
Focal is a fully featured camera app looking to provide the most features on the most phones possible, including device-specific features on some devices. This app is the official release from the ex-CyanogenMod app.
Dynamic Keyboard - Free
Android Police coverage: [Hands-On] Are Dynamic Keyboard's Big Keys A Big Deal?
You use some letters more than others - that's why you get more E's than Q's in Scrabble. So why not build a software keyboard around that idea? Dynamic Keyboard adjusts the size of the keys as you type, based on a number of factors like letter frequency and predictive typing. The results are a bit of a mixed bag, but the free version is definitely worth checking out if virtual keyboards are frustrating for you. The pro version adds simultaneous language support and a few customization options.
Dynamic Keyboard. A keyboard that changes as you type. Smart, Fast and Accurate. Auto Correct Now ADDED. :D (4.0+) We have new technologies like touch screens, yet we are still utilizing them as if they were static buttons, without animations. How does this help us? Using machine learning technologies and artificial intelligence algorithms I have been able to create a database of intelligence that helps modify the keys visibility and size depending upon the likelihood of that letter. Trained with millions of words on 19 languages, why not try it out?
Simplenote
Android Police coverage: [New App] Simplenote Notation Service (From The Makers Of WordPress) Gets An Official Android App
Do you need another notation app now that Evernote and Google are duking it out? Maybe not, but Simplenote has gained a ton of happy users over on iOS, so it's at least worth a look. The creators of Wordpress made this syncing note platform, and it shows, from the stark white design to the utilitarian layout. Full search tools and multi-device syncing are included, and you don't need to pay a dime to use the service... but you will have to sign up for a new account. There's no Google or Facebook login.
The award-winning Simplenote is now available for Android. Simplenote is an easy way to keep notes, lists, ideas and more. Your notes stay in sync with all of your devices for free. The Simplenote experience is all about speed and efficiency. Open it, write some thoughts, and you're done. As your collection of notes grows, you can search them instantly and keep them organized with tags and pins. The best way to learn about Simplenote is to try it.
Hotword from results - Xposed
Full disclosure: this app was published by Android Police head honcho Artem Russakovskii and created with help from contributor Santiago Rosales. It's an Xposed Framework module (which means root users only) that enables a currently hidden feature in the Google Search app. After installing and enabling the module you can speak "Google" to begin a new search from the search results. Normally you can only use the hotword when you open the app. Neat!
Normally, you can only say "Google" to trigger voice recognition on the main Google Search screen. With this module, you can say "Google" while looking at search results. See this link for more details and a demo.
Prerequisites:
- You must be rooted.
- You must have the Xposed Framework - see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574401 for installation instructions.
XBlast Tools
Xposed Framework modules aren't for the feint of heart, but this crazy customization mod is exactly what the platform was made for. Xblast Tools allows rooted users to apply a staggering amount of tweaks and mods to their devices, mostly having to do with the notification bar and icons. We can't include all the changes that Xblast enables in these short descriptions, so check out the Play Store listing for all the goodies. Naturally you'll need Xposed to make it work.
Note:
★It Requires Root Access
★It Requires BUSYBOX
★It Requires Xposed Framework: http://repo.xposed.info/module/de.robv.android.xposed.installer
Features:
★you can choose your favorite color for your Clock with out modifying APK files
★You can add custom text along with the clock, which will be displayed in status bar and notification bar
★You can add color to Date field in notification bar...
★You can choose your favorite font for clock & Date field in status bar & notification bar...
★You can add your favorite fonts into your /sdcard/fonts/ folder, it will be listed in the app
★You can add bar code fonts for clock & Date field in status bar & notification bar..
★You can choose any color for status bar...
★You can make full transparent for notification
★You can enable 180 rotation of phones(can rotate in all directions)...
★You can choose any color for Battery...
★You can choose any color for Wifi signal
★You can choose any color for Mobile signal
★You can change the carrier name in lock-screen and notification...
★You can can apply color to carrier name in lock-screen and notification...
★Change the carrier name size in lock-screen
★You can have Full screen caller picture in your phone
★Set default caller image for full-screen caller function
★Set any color for name, phone number etc
★Hide Am Pm
★Complete transparency for status bar
★Choose any Notification panel bg image or color
★Status bar Center Clock
WiFi Opener
OK, this app has a very limited and specific use-case scenario, but it might be incredibly useful for those narrow situations. Say that you and your study group have adjourned to the local coffee shop, which changes its WiFi password every week. You get the password and put it into WiFi Opener, then all your friends who also have the app can log into the WiFi network without having to put in the password. It's a little shady, and it relies on a community of users that might not exist yet, but it's a neat idea nonetheless.
WiFi Opener allows you to automatically connect to password protected networks shared with the community. WiFi Opener is especially useful in public spaces like parks, coffee shops and at large gatherings like conferences where the Wi-Fi network is meant to be open but is password protected. After installing WiFi Opener, you can choose to share the password of a WiFi network in range which allows other WiFI Opener users to automatically connect to that network when they're in range.
AutoLaunch
Android Police coverage: [New App] The Maker Of The Best Tasker Plugins Is At It Again, Releases AutoLaunch Into The Play Store
Google Now can do a little bit of dynamic voice action, but AutoLaunch (from the maker of some of the most widely-used Tasker plugins) beats it with a stick. The app makes it relatively easy to create voice command shortcuts to just about any app, or create a sort of macro action that will launch several simultaneously. Naturally the app integrates with Tasker as well. The free version can interact with up to 20 apps, but the .33 unlock key opens it wide up.
Launch apps in Tasker dynamically with AutoLaunch. Also, query your apps and act on them. You can use Tasker variables to do this, so this makes it possible to do stuff like you see in the video where you can see apps being launched by voice commands. You can also query the apps you have on your device and do what you want with the results. You can, for instance, create a custom app launcher menu like you can see in the video.
Ark Mail
Android Police coverage: [Hands-On] Ark Mail Can Pull Up The Social Network Profiles Of Anyone Who Emails You, It Just Isn't Very Good At It
We've all done it: the minute we get an email from someone we don't recognize, we Google them to make sure they're a real person. Ark Mail automates that process by searching for social network profiles based on name and email address. But according to our hands-on, the accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, and it only supports a few web mail providers so far. Looks like Google is still the best option.
Ark Mail is a mobile email client that displays social information about anyone who emails you, including photos, title, and their social networks. Ark Mail syncs with Yahoo, Aol, Gmail or Google Apps email accounts and is powered by the Ark Social API.
SolMail - All-in-One mail app
SolMail doesn't have any whiz-bang hooks as an alternative email client. It's just a good-looking, functional way to check mail for multiple accounts. A few swipe gestures and a wide range of emoji (for you expressive types) are included, and the app works with most web mail and standard IMAP and POP accounts.
SolMail is a powerful e-mail client that helps you to manage all of your e-mail accounts & messages in one app. It supports many other email services via standard Internet email protocols: IMAP/SMTP/POP3. No additional fees for using our special features. It's 100% FREE.
- Check All Your E-mail Messages in One App. It's an e-mail collector that gathers all of your e-mail messages(from work, school, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail, etc.) in one place.
- Easily categorize your messages in 4 types of filter: Starred, Attached, Unread and To Me. Check all of your Starred messages in one page by a single click.
- Want to Organize Your Mailbox? Archive Them. Don't need to delete your precious messages, Just move it to 'Archive' folder.
- Just Swipe Your Messages to Archive or Delete. To change the default setting(Swipe to Delete), go to Settings and select 'Swipe to Archive'.
- Fun Stickers. Use Them When Writing to Your Loved Ones. 700+ of emoji are ready to help your expression.
Humble Bundle (beta)
One of the biggest problems with the Humble Bundle for Android is that the games inside aren't connected to the Play Store, so installing them is a bit of a pain. This official Humble app lets you see your Humble library and download games directly to your Android device. It's not a perfect solution (you still can't access automatic updates or Google Play Games features) but it's a good start, and the app includes notifications for new Humble Bundle sales.
The Humble Bundle app is an easy way to install and update your games purchased through Humble Bundle. It can also send you (configurable) notifications about upcoming bundles so you don't miss another one.
Moves
Android Police coverage: [New App] ProtoGeo Brings Moves To Android, A Popular Activity-Tracking App That Keeps It Simple
If you think that all the newfangled activity trackers out there are entirely too complicated, give ProtoGeo a try. The focus of the app is on easy event tracking, using Google's new APIs to automatically keep an eye on your distance walked, jogged, and cycled. It can also keep track of your locations and the time spent there. You know, just in case you want to hand the NSA an itemized list of all your movements. (Kidding. Probably.)
Moves automatically tracks your everyday life and exercise. Just carry your phone in your pocket or bag.
FEATURES
• Automatic Tracking: Records daily walking, cycling and running.
• Places: Recognizes places in your daily life.
• Storyline: Visualizes your day in an easy-to-read timeline.
• Routes on map: See the paths you took.
• Pedometer: Counts your steps, so you can set simple goals.
Autodesk FormIt
Android Police coverage: Autodesk Brings FormIt App To Android For Capturing Building Concepts 'Anywhere Ideas Strike'
There seem to be more and more 3D modeling apps popping up for Android, despite the fact that touchscreens are less than ideal for the tools that they use. This ultra-simplified CAD app from Autodesk relies primarily on pre-made shapes, but you can try a little freehand as well. The app syncs in the cloud with other Autodesk programs and includes a few advanced tools like satellite image import and simulated lighting.
Autodesk® FormIt helps you capture building design concepts digitally anytime, anywhere ideas strike. Use real-world site information to help create forms in context and support early design decisions with real building data. Experience a continuous Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflow by synchronizing designs in the cloud for further refinement using Autodesk® Revit® software products and other applications.
Today - Calendar Widgets
There's not much to say about these calendar widgets. They're attractive and functional, and they look good on a Holo-themed desktop. Naturally the widgets sync with Google Calendar, and there are a few visual options to make them fit in better with your general theme. A full calendar and an agenda view are included.
Today is a set of minimal, transparent calendar widgets for Android. It includes both an Agenda view, and a Monthly view for display your events. Today syncs with your Google Calendar to show your upcoming events in a beautiful list/grid, on both your home screen and your lock screen. Choose which calendars you would like to show, and over what timeframe and Today will handle the rest. Today is fully resizable, and has both a light and dark theme so it can integrate seamlessly into and home screen layout you're currently using.
Anchor by Tomfoolery, Inc.
Anchor is somewhere between a corporate social network and a Rolodex - like Linkedin, but with more direct communication. The service launched on the web back in June and is now available across all the major platforms. Live chat and project management is featured heavily, though the service also has some incongruous social-style attributes like photo sharing. A Facebook-style Activity Feed puts all of your various activities on the home page.
This app is about the people you work with. Great teams, and great organizations, aren't built on tasks and documents, but rather on real relationships between real people who work together. Anchor is about empowering those relationships. Put simply, it's the best way to share and connect with your colleagues. Use it to engage with your teams about what’s important: a new project, lunch ideas, the daily stand up, coffee breaks, carpool, a meeting, stupid cat photos, a new client, the holiday party or even making fun of the boss.
JackThreads
Android Police coverage: JackThreads Relaunches Its Android App With A New Fashionable Look, Full-Screen Gallery View, Easy Login, And More
Just because you sell stylish clothes doesn't mean you know how to develop a stylish app. The folks at men's boutique bargain site JackThreads seem to have learned that lesson, because the re-launched Android app is at least as snazzy as that $30 polo that they're selling. It also includes easy sign-ins via Google+ and Facebook, and an option to apply for the invite-only site right from the app. Because not everyone has the privilege of shopping at JackThreads... just everyone with an email address.
JackThreads is a members-only, online shopping club that curates top-tier street, skate, surf and contemporary men's fashion brands - offering daily sales of up to and over 50% off on what's hot right now. Our goal? Empower our members to feel like a million bucks without spending a million bucks, straight from your Android phone or tablet. New sales drop daily at noon ET!
Frank & Oak
Hey look, another men's boutique, also with a new Android app, also with Holo style and Google+/Facebook login. How's about that. I'm not exactly one to judge (since all my clothes come from the Sam Walton Collection), but the prices seem a little steeper than JackThreads. At least it's got an Editor's Choice section so you can justify your purchases and push notifications so you know when you make them.
Style made easy, now on Android. The Frank & Oak app brings the complete shopping experience to your pocket. The easiest way to shop just got easier.
- Premium menswear under $50
- 8% back in store credit on purchases
- Parallax scrolling (only available on Android)
- View your order history (only available on Android)
- Free at-home try-on (try before you buy)
- Easily create an account
- Redeem gift cards
- Push notifications: be notified about new product releases and special promotions
- Easy social sharing of your favorite pieces
- High-resolution product pictures
NFL Fantasy Football Advisor
Android Police coverage: [New App] NFL Fantasy Football Advisor Gives You Fantasy Advice From The Experts, Charges Three Bucks For The Privilege
The NFL Fantasy Football Advisor doesn't offer much that isn't already covered in the NFL's official fantasy app or the "cheat sheet" app that's also offered by the NFL. So what does this app get you except another $3-5 poorer? Well, it's got "expert advice" on your fantasy team from a variety of NFL-approved commenters, but the most useful feature is probably a look at which players are being traded, benched, or started across the league.
You've dominated your draft, now win your league with the help of the Advisor. Stay up to date with the latest fantasy trends, weekly projections, research and news.
- Expert analysis, blogs and advise
- Weekly projections & expert rankings
- Track multiple fantasy teams
- Updated player news and injury status
- Fantasy roster trends. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest add / drop / start / bench data
- Full NFL team depth charts and rosters
KM Plasticine widgets Lite
We've featured Plasticine Live Wallpapers in our previous roundups. Here are a few matching widgets if you're going for the theme: basic power toggles, a clock, and a battery meter.
This is our first widgets from new series of widgets made of plasticine.
★ Clock widget;
★ Battery widget (four colors of batteries);
★ Switch widget (Airplane mode turn on/off switch; Bluetooth turn on/off switch; Sync turn on/off switch; Wi-Fi turn on/off switch; GPS turn on/off switch; Sound turn on/off switch).
Especially for fans Plasticine Live wallpapers.
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.