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5 apps you need to download this week

5 apps you need to download this week app store birthday
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App stores are crowded places these days, and because storage space on your phone is often at a premium, you’ll want to find and fill it with not only the best, but also the most helpful apps out there. Because they come and go quicker than the latest fashion trends, and digging through Google Play, the iTunes App Store, or any of the others is such a mission; a little nudge in the right direction is often very welcome. Here are the apps we think you need to check out this week.

SNL 40

iOS

Screen Shot 2015-02-16 at 10.33.30 PM
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There are few comedic institutions quite as strong as Saturday Night Live. The show’s been going forty seasons strong (well, some stronger than others) but if you think it’s just about what happens on Saturday then you’re missing out. The talented comedy writers and performers are in the trenches every day, creating the show that could have been around for longer than some of you have.

Now, on its 40th anniversary, the SNL crew has provided us with one of the best ways to look back through the decades. The SNL app not only houses all of the best, most quotable sketches, but it also knows what tickles your funny bone, so it recommends shorts you may have missed out on over the years. There’s no better way to brighten your day—or the day of others’ thanks to the share feature—than with a finely honed slice of classic humor.

ScreenPop Lock Screen Messenger

Android

LockScreenMessenger
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Messaging apps should be all about making communicating with your friends more convenient, but none of them thus far have managed to evade your phone’s lock screen. That’s where ScreenPop Lock Screen Messenger comes in. It allows you to send off a quick message without ever having to unlock your phone, and subsequently wasting time messing around on the home screen. Snap a picture, add in some text, doodles, or emojis, and send it off to your friend so they can see what you’re up to.

Quest

iOS

Quest
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Have you ever wished your life was an RPG video game? After all, the usually clear objectives inside would not only make things much easier, but a bit more fun too. Quest makes it possible by turning your daily to-dos into quirky tasks on your never-ending mission to be a more productive and accomplished human being. Categorize your list of chores, knock them out one-by-one with a simple completion and review system, and unlock new items to equip to your avatar after each one. Unfortunately, you will not get a real bag-0f-holding. Or a cool sword.

Clocked

iOS

clocked
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Dating isn’t easy. If the current selection of modern, mobile romance generators aren’t working out, then it might be time to try out a different approach. Clocked takes account of your social and professional values and preferences to generate compatibility rankings between you and potential matches. It also pulls photos from Instagram to show instead of tell about interests and activities. The catch is, you’re always on the clock: the app only gives you until midnight the day the match appears to make your call.

Disa

Android

disaim
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We’ve yet to see the messenger app that can bring all possible mobile messaging services together under one roof. Disa wants to be the one that breaks through and be all-things to all-people. It promises to merge all of your contacts and conversations into one place so you can keep talking without switching between apps to keep track of everyone. The trick is the community-provided plug-ins that expand the service out into a more universal platform.

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AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
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