New Android apps you should check out in October 2014

It’s easy to let the good Android apps in the Play Store slide right under the radar. In our new series, the new Android apps of the month, you can discover fresh apps to use on your phone, which is great if you're bored of an app, dissatisfied with any particular one or like trying out cool new things. Check out some new apps for October.

Glympse Express

Glympse Express is a new release in the Play Store which allows you to add the temporary location feature from the original Glympse app to WhatsApp, Hangouts and Facebook Messenger. Your friends will be able to see a temporary link of where you currently are on a live map. In the app, you just choose the app in question, and the link is created, which you just need to paste into whatever conversation you like. Super useful for meetups!

Glympse ExpressINSTALL

Microsoft XIM

This photo sharing app which works for Android, iOS and Windows Phone is fresh out of Microsoft developer lab. XIM is much different to Instagram, Flickr and the like because you’re granted simultaneous viewing. This means that you can select a group of photos, and those in your group will be able to see it on their device at the same time. It’s cool too because only the original sharer needs to have the app installed, so you’re not constrained to who you are sharing with. Users who don’t have the app can view your collection from a web browser. Finally, you can take pictures from your other apps like Instagram and Facebook. 

Microsoft XimINSTALL

Snowball

Snowball is a great app that will place all of your messages into one place, so you don’t have to jump back and forth from app to app. Find out how to compile your messages with Snowball.

Snowball BetaINSTALL

September 2014 

Hello SMS

Not everyone uses WhatsApp as their main channel for sending and receiving text messages - some Android owners still use classic SMS apps, especially if their mobile data limits are relatively low, or worse, non-existent. Hello SMS has just had an update and it's perfect for those who love keeping their text messages all tidy and are fans of the design being brought by Android L, which divides the interface into several tabs. The app is fast and simple to use and will allow you to easily track all your conversations.

hello smsINSTALL

Frontback

The title speaks for itself! The app allows you to take a picture with the back and front camera at the same time. This way, you can take pictures of your friends and family, all without being excluded. Loads of smartphone manufacturers are now adopting this feature in their new handsets, so now you can have on your phone too, for free!

FrontbackINSTALL

Elevate - Brain Training

Do you like brain-training games? The Play Store has a brand new one which will help you refine your skills in logic, increase your productivity and train your cognitive abilities.

 Install Elevate - Brain Training from the Google Play Store for free!

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August 2014

Ice Age: Adventures

A new free game based on the hilarious cartoon Ice Age arrived this month, Ice Age: Adventures. The game is in fact a series of puzzle games which you must complete to progress in the adventure with Sid, the main character from the Ice Age movie. The point of the game is to save the other animals that are stuck on floating ice. Created by Gameloft, the game offers a hilarious and well-structured storyline.

Ice Age AdventuresINSTALL

• Crazy Taxi City Rush

Crazy Taxi is a cult game on Android, so the arrival of City Rush is definitely something to get excited about. The point of the game is to cover your routes, pick up and deliver passengers in a certain amount of time to make the most money possible. Also, you’ve got to wreak as much havoc as you can as well: it’s just all around fun.

Crazy Taxi™ City RushINSTALL

Batman: Arkham Origins

One of the biggest Android franchises has come out with a new game: Batman: Arkham Origins. This game puts action right in the center of its gameplay where Batman confronts his enemies in epic fights. Arkham Origins has also given an RPG side in that you need to improve Batman’s performance and personalize your Batty outfit. The free Android game is definitely worth a try, not just because of all the points mentioned above, but simply because the graphics are really impressive.

Batman Arkham OriginsINSTALL

• Shots

A new social network for selfies? Shots has done it! Similar in many ways to Instagram, the app lets you share pictures, follow friends and includes a reply feature, where you reply to a selfie with one of yourself, or a private message. The app has already been installed 15,000 times, and has been featured on iOS since 2013.  Also, you can’t send pictures that you have saved in your gallery, these need to be snapped then and there.

ShotsINSTALL

• Over

Over is a simple app that lets you add stylized text and illustrations to your pictures and then post them on Instagram. The app is actually quite well made and the fonts are really up to date and look great -  the effects look almost professional. The app isn’t free, but for 99 cents, it’s not a bad price.

OverINSTALL