Apps

DigiDNA’s free software lets you wirelessly backup your iOS device to a Mac or Windows computer without using iTunes. If you want more features such as individual app, file and media backups, check out its big brother, iMazing.

(PG-13, Gore) A turn-based puzzle that parodies slasher flicks. You play as Skullface, a serial killer who can move only orthogonally. Like a skull-faced rook. Observe your victims’ movement, evade cops and collect gruesome trophies. Available on PCs, iOS and Android.

YouTube for podcasts. Anchor lets you make and publish podcasts right from your iOS or Android device. You can broadcast anything that your device can hear, including music from Spotify and Apple Music, and even call-ins from your listeners.

The sequel to one of the most beautiful and enthralling puzzle games ever made. Monument Valley 2 introduces a new story and new characters. Help Ro teach her child about the magical ways of Monument Valley. Currently on iOS only.

Coming soon to Google’s Assistant and Photos applications, Lens offers information or actions based on a photo or what your device’s camera is seeing. It can identify objects, detect Wi-Fi passwords, offer to show you a restaurant’s reviews and more.

Tinrocket’s Olli is an iOS app that lets you add hand drawn animated effects to photos and videos. You get a live preview and you can save still images or animated gifs and videos up to 10s long. It comes with six filters, with two more filter packs available to buy.

Elk is an iOS app that provides currency conversion at a glance. It shows conversions in multiples of ten, hundreds, thousands etc. You can tap on a value to see smaller increments. It also has a very convenient companion app for the Apple Watch. $4 unlocks all currencies.

Feed your brain some good vibes with Brain.fm. This neurologist-approved audio experience offers a variety of tracks to help your noggin get work done, chill out, or nod off. Set the sound streams to turn off after a preset time or run indefinitely. Save 75% in The Awesomer Shop.

Love to go out to dinner or drinks with friends? Split the check with ease with the Square Cash app. It lets you request or send cash instantly, and spend it with a virtual credit card or Apple Pay.

Pandora’s upgraded streaming music service has a slick new user interface and playlist features. On each of your radio stations, it can make a playlist of tracks you’ve thumbed up. It can also automatically add songs to a playlist based on the ones you’ve already added.

Pokémon Duel for iOS and Android combines a board game with Pokémon’s familiar collecting and battling mechanics. The goal is to get one of your virtual figures to your opponent’s base. You can customize your Pokémon’s attacks and level them up.

Fret Zeppelin uses a row of removable and non-intrusive LEDs together with a mobile app to teach new and intermediate guitar players. It shows notes, chords, scales and styles. It can also use MIDI files to show the chords for songs and act as decorative lighting.

Developer Chris Sawyer takes his classic theme park simulators to mobile devices. RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic combines the best of the original RollerCoaster Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 in one game. Available for iOS and Android.

Comedian Louis C.K. has released a one-stop mobile shop for all his major stand-up comedy specials as well as his web series Horace and Pete. If you’ve already purchased some of his work, just enter your email address and you’re good to go. Available for iOS and Android.

A cross between a resume and a personal website. It has a very convenient drag-and-drop interface and clean templates to choose from, and automatically adjusts for print, desktop and mobile viewing. It’s free to use; pay $10 to access more templates. Sorry, no actual cake.

Nintendo’s endless runner is as polished and innovative as other Mario games. Super Mario Run simple tap and hold mechanic is fresh and fun. It also has asynchronous multiplayer and a kingdom-building minigame. The initial stages are free, but it’s $10 to play the full game.

Made by Snips, Capsule uses your iOS device’s GPS as well as your email, contacts and calendar data to automatically track your photos. Not only does it add time and location data to your photos, it also creates a weekly digest of your travel habits.

Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan caught teammate Blake Griffin flaking out on him in this silly commercial for Google’s video calling app. Also for some reason they have living condiments with them.

A mobile app that helps archive all of those old printed photos you’ve got lying in boxes and albums, storing your printed memories right alongside your digital ones. It automatically eliminates glare, crops, straightens and enhances. Available on iOS and Android.

An upcoming online tool that drafts presentations in seconds. Enter text and SlideBot will look for stock images to go with it. You’re also free to edit and export your presentation. Drops 1/2017 for $19/mo. (no contracts). Demo here.

There’s an app for just about everything, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few ideas yet to be executed. Mario and Fafa present a few concepts which they think should be made. We’re pretty sure U.S. presidential campaign writers are already using Wing Zingers.

From SpellTower, Ridiculous Fishing and Sage Solitaire creator Zach Gage comes a challenging yet welcome take on chess. Really Bad Chess pits you against the AI in boards with a random mix of pieces. It also has daily and weekly challenges.

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A new family organizer app. Aside from the usual calendar, chat and to-do list features, Picniic also has a section for important info, a family locator, group polling and meal planning. The basic app is free, the full service costs $15/mo. Coming to Android soon.

Bonx’s iOS and Android apps and rugged Bluetooth headset let you speak with up to 10 people at once. The headset detects and automatically transmits when you speak, so it’s great for outdoor activities or any task where you need to speak with a group handsfree.