Awesome Apps

Despite its cluttered interface, Waze is a shining example of crowdsourcing – it turns parts of a problem into parts of a solution. Google employees Nat and Lo visited their co-workers to learn more about the community-based interactive map app.

Voice assistants are great for mobile devices, but for desktop computers the keyboard is king. That’s where Brandon Horst’s Lacona comes in. This OS X assistant recognizes a ton of commands in everyday English, from making reminders to opening multiple apps at once.

Varsity Tutors’ new iOS app lets you hire and learn from private tutors on the go. The app lets you communicate via video-chat, written messages as well as topic-specific content. There are tutors for over 200 subjects, including several practical topics.

Mathpix uses your iOS device’s camera to detect mathematical equations, even handwritten ones. It will then instantly solve the equation and show you the solution step by step, as well as the equation’s graph if possible. Android version coming soon.

Android users will soon be able to use apps minus the usual download process. Android Instant Apps lets developers divide their app into modules, so you can quickly access only the portion you need instead of searching for and downloading the whole app.

The iOS version of the awesome OS X audio enhancing app. Boom for iOS lets you boost your device’s volume and tweak its sound with equalizer and headphone presets. It also has a surround sound effect. It won’t work with Apple Music and other DRM-protected songs though.

Google takes over your smartphone’s keyboard with its latest app. The simple, yet effective tool adds quick and easy access to Google search without leaving your keyboard. Also includes a swipe keyboard, GIF and emoji search built in. Surprisingly, it’s not out for Android.

Advance Wars for iOS. Warbits scratches your tactical turn-based strategy itch with 20 campaign missions and local or online multiplayer, all wrapped in a colorful and lighthearted aesthetic. You can play with up to three other players and customize matches.

If you want to try out a tattoo design before committing to get inked, you can get a temporary tattoo, or you can use Ink Hunter. It’s an augmented reality app for iOS that lets you upload designs, project them on your body and edit and share the photo.

The Uber for taxes. Taxfyle connects you with a CPA who will file your taxes. Upload the necessary documents via its iOS or Android app, chat with your CPA and then let them do the rest. The apps are free, while the service itself starts at $49.

It’s a national holiday for golfers now that the Masters is here, and IBM’s lightning fast and user friendly app is like opening a gift at Christmas – with smart watch compatibility, 4K live screening and universal favoriting, you can keep track everything your favorite players do.

Transfer a ball from one container to another using seven different modules. If you love logic puzzle games like Spacechem, Infinifactory and Hitman GO, [the Sequence] is for you. Also available on iOS and Android for $1.

An iOS and Android messaging app that gives you a personal US number. You can use it to text, send files and call both mobile and landline numbers in dozens of countries. Primo is also looking for investors via CrowdEngine.

Want personal fitness coaching wherever you work out? The PEAR Sports smartphone app is a must have. TRX training now enhances the abundance of interactive, real-time audio fitness content, covering all types of workouts based on your needs. It’s time to get ripped.

Fluid Browser is a web browser and file viewer for Macs. It floats on top of other application windows, making it perfect for research, viewing guides or background Netflixing. You can adjust its size and transparency, bookmark sites and open URLs from Chrome.

Accompany Garnet, Zidane and their friends on their adventures wherever you are with the iOS and Android versions of Final Fantasy IX. It features HD graphics, auto-saving and cheats such as no battles or maxed out abilities for those who are in it mainly for the story.

Mylo is a men’s fashion app that suggests outfits based on the clothes you already own. Pick the items that are similar to your clothes and shoes and it will suggest outfits based on style, weather and occasion. You can also consult a stylist and buy clothes within the app.

Channels is a $15 app that lets you watch live TV on the new Apple TV with the help of an HDHomeRun device and an HD antenna or a cable connection. The latest update added buffering so you can pause, rewind and fast forward live shows.

Lonely Planet’s free Guides app for iOS and Android comes with offline maps, location-aware functions, curated sights and handy tips. It also lets you bookmark places. It covers 38 cities, with more to come soon.

Zoom, Enhance! does exactly what it says. This iOS app lets you turn static images into animated gifs that zoom in on your selected portion. Pick a photo from your device then pinch and zoom in for each step of the animation.

Face Swap Live does exactly what it says, exchanging two faces in real time. You can take a photo or video of the resulting anomaly and then save or share it. It’s finicky, especially if you’re wearing glasses, but it’s still a ton of fun, and the results are highly disturbing.

Adult Swim Games’ Rick and Morty-themed parody of Pokémon puts you in the booze-stained coat of Rick – or at least, a Rick – to collect, train and combine over 70 Mortys across the multiverse. Gotta squanch ’em all! Available on iOS and Android.

Like iOS’ iMessage, Roger lets you record and listen to voice messages at will over the Internet. The difference is that Roger has a clean and intuitive interface, with big buttons and a built-in weather, time and location indicator for your contacts.