Skip to main content

Here are 5 brilliant apps to download this week

best 5 apps to download 4 19 15 htc desire 826 hands on 0084
Image used with permission by copyright holder
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.

HBO Now

HBONow
Image used with permission by copyright holder

iOS, Android

Cable channels consistently provide great content, but HBO has been responsible for some of the best shows on TV for sometime now. Whether it’s the shows that helped the channel find its foothold like Tales From the Crypt and Mr. Show or its current hits like Game of Thrones and True Detective, the company constantly cranks out extremely watchable products.

Now, with the new HBO Now app, you can binge watch HBO’s best to your heart’s content. It’s what you want to do anyway once you start on an amazing show. Everything is available on the app for Apple devices, from the currently running shows and classics that you’ve been meaning to watch but haven’t gotten around to and have to plug your ears every time your friends talk about them. As part of the exclusive deal between HBO and Apple, the service is available to stream only through Apple devices, and you’ll have to pay $15 a month, but it’s well worth it for HBO’s killer line up.

Roll

Roll
Image used with permission by copyright holder

iOS

Remember Highlight, the darling app of SXSW a few years back that would connect you with strangers nearby? The company behind that app, Math Camp, is back with a new endeavor that puts a new twist on photo sharing. It essentially creates a shared roll of photos between you and your friends so instead of just populating your device with your own snapshots, you can see the pictures your friends have been taking as well and get a glimpse into their daily lives.

Kong

Kong
Image used with permission by copyright holder

iOSAndroid

Another app for a company familiar with how to make popular services, Kong comes from the makers of social network Path. It combines the undeniably addictive act of sending GIFs and selfies, allowing you to create your own mashup of the two. It makes the recording process as quick and simple as possible, plus you can quickly apply some filters and text as you see fit. From there, it becomes a perfectly shareable GIF you can send through your messenger app or social media site of choice.

Fiverr Faces

FiverrFaces
Image used with permission by copyright holder

iOS

You probably already know of Fiverr as the site that lets you order just about anything for $5 a pop. The spin off app Fiverr Faces gets a little more specific, but the concept still applies. The app is all about changing your face – not that there’s anything wrong with your face as it is, of course. But if you want a new profile picture or avatar or you just want to see an artistic rendition of yourself, you can take a quick snapshot and send if off to some talented artists who will give you a whole new look for just $5.

VOX Player

VOXPlayer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

iOS

While iTunes is always the default for Apple users, VOX Player is the choice for audiophiles. Now the media player that people swear by for desktop has migrated to mobile. If you’re on iPhone, you’ll be able to stream your music library through the slick interface. There’s unlimited storage space and no caps on offline cache so you can load up all your favorite jams in full quality, then keep them coming while you’re on the go.

Editors' Recommendations

AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
No, the Journal app on your iPhone isn’t spying on you
Apple Journal app on an iPhone 15 Pro.

If you've spent any time on Facebook, TikTok, or any other social media site over the last couple of days, there's a chance you've seen people claiming that your iPhone is spying on you — specifically, with a feature called "Journaling Suggestions."

One post I stumbled across on Facebook made it sound rather frightening, warning me that the feature shares my FULL NAME and EXACTLY where I'm located to anyone nearby. The post told me to go and toggle the setting off immediately because it was "Very scary stuff!!"

Read more
The top 7 bestselling phones of 2023 were all … you guessed it
Close-up view of titanium frame on iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Seven of the top 10 bestselling handsets in 2023 were iPhones, according to data from research firm Counterpoint.

This marks the first time in Counterpoint’s tracking of such data that Apple’s handset has dominated the chart to this extent.

Read more
Apple Sports app looks to rule live scores and stats on iOS
The Apple Sports app on an iPhone.

As if what it's done with MLS Season Pass wasn't proof enough that Apple is serious about sports, today we have another example. Enter Apple Sports, a new app for iPhone that aims to be the only app you'll need for live sports scores, real-time stats, and more.

Apple Sports is available today in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Inside it you'll find the likes of MLS, NBA, college basketball, Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Liga MX, Ligue 1, and Serie A — and that's just for starters. We're still in the offseason for sports like Major League Baseball, the NFL and college football, and the National Women's Soccer League and WNBA, but you'll see them all in Apple Sports once games begin.

Read more