Welcome to this week’s roundup of the latest, greatest Android apps and games, covering smartphones and tablets.
All these apps have been released for the first time – ie not updates – since the last roundup. All prices are correct at the time of writing, with “IAP” indicating use of in-app purchases.
You can read the previous Best Android Apps roundups for more recommendations, but if iOS is your platform of choice, check the Best iPhone and iPad Apps roundups. On with this week’s selection!
Apps
Google Photos (Free)
Google had been rumoured to be breaking out photos from its Google+ service for a while, but last week it happened. Photos is a cloud-storage service with 15GB of free space, promising the ability to quickly find images with text searches; and clever editing and sharing features.
Google had been rumoured to be breaking out photos from its Google+ service for a while, but last week it happened. Photos is a cloud-storage service with 15GB of free space, promising the ability to quickly find images with text searches; and clever editing and sharing features.
MixRadio (Free)
MixRadio started as Nokia’s streaming music app for Windows Phones, but now it’s available on Android too. It’s not full Spotify-style “on-demand” listening, but rather a collection of crafted playlists by theme and mood, as well as the ability to whip up stations on the fly based on the artists you type in.
MixRadio started as Nokia’s streaming music app for Windows Phones, but now it’s available on Android too. It’s not full Spotify-style “on-demand” listening, but rather a collection of crafted playlists by theme and mood, as well as the ability to whip up stations on the fly based on the artists you type in.
Microsoft Word / Excel / PowerPoint (Free + IAP)
Three apps in one entry here, to ensure they don’t crowd out some of the good stuff lower down. These are all welcome releases if you’re a heavy Microsoft Office user though: new Android smartphone versions of each tool’s existing tablet app.
Three apps in one entry here, to ensure they don’t crowd out some of the good stuff lower down. These are all welcome releases if you’re a heavy Microsoft Office user though: new Android smartphone versions of each tool’s existing tablet app.
Periscope (Free)
Will people really care about live-streaming smartphone broadcasts beyond the tech bubble? Twitter hopes so: its Periscope app is now going head-to-head with rival Meerkat on Android as well as iOS. You can broadcast from your phone or watch other people’s streams, tapping hearts to show your approval.
Will people really care about live-streaming smartphone broadcasts beyond the tech bubble? Twitter hopes so: its Periscope app is now going head-to-head with rival Meerkat on Android as well as iOS. You can broadcast from your phone or watch other people’s streams, tapping hearts to show your approval.
Inbox by Gmail (Free)
This smart email app has been out for a while, in truth, but last week Google opened it up to everyone, not just people with an invite. It’s the latest attempt to tackle email mountains with clever filters, and the ability to see “highlights” without opening emails up. You’ll need a Gmail account to use it.
This smart email app has been out for a while, in truth, but last week Google opened it up to everyone, not just people with an invite. It’s the latest attempt to tackle email mountains with clever filters, and the ability to see “highlights” without opening emails up. You’ll need a Gmail account to use it.
Layout from Instagram (Free)
Another welcome iOS-to-Android port: this standalone app from Instagram is a simple way to turn several photos into a single, square collage, then share it to Facebook, Instagram or to your device for use on other social networks *coughTwitter*. It’d be nice if this was built in to Instagram itself though.
Another welcome iOS-to-Android port: this standalone app from Instagram is a simple way to turn several photos into a single, square collage, then share it to Facebook, Instagram or to your device for use on other social networks *coughTwitter*. It’d be nice if this was built in to Instagram itself though.
Sago Mini Space Explorer (£1.99)
Sago Sago makes marvellously characterful apps for pre-school children, and this is one of its first four to be released for Android. It gets kids to take Harvey the dog on a space exploration mission, tracing their finger on the screen to guide him to yellow markers for fun animations. Playful and fun.
Sago Sago makes marvellously characterful apps for pre-school children, and this is one of its first four to be released for Android. It gets kids to take Harvey the dog on a space exploration mission, tracing their finger on the screen to guide him to yellow markers for fun animations. Playful and fun.
Make My Day (Free)
Make My Day is the latest app from travel brand Lonely Planet, focusing (for now) on six cities: London, Barcelona, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo. It promises to help you “plan your perfect day” with things to do in the morning, afternoon and evening – chosen by experts to go beyond the obvious tourist hotspots.
Make My Day is the latest app from travel brand Lonely Planet, focusing (for now) on six cities: London, Barcelona, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo. It promises to help you “plan your perfect day” with things to do in the morning, afternoon and evening – chosen by experts to go beyond the obvious tourist hotspots.
Wildlife Trusts’ Nature Finder (Free)
Now something for people travelling around the UK in search of the local fauna: an app from the Wildlife Trust with maps and lists of its nature reserves and events – more than 2,000 places and 10,000 events a year – to help you explore the countryside.
LumiKids Park (Free)Now something for people travelling around the UK in search of the local fauna: an app from the Wildlife Trust with maps and lists of its nature reserves and events – more than 2,000 places and 10,000 events a year – to help you explore the countryside.
Another app for children, here, from brain-training startup Lumosity. It’s a collection of simple learning games for 2-5 year-olds helping them practise their sorting, attention and visual-motor coordination skills without stressful goals.
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