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.
Apple Music
It’s pretty much impossible to talk about apps this week without bringing up Apple Music, arguably the biggest and most anticipated launch for a mobile service in awhile. A rival and a threat to the existing big shots in the streaming business, Apple digs back into the music roots that brought it to prominence—remember how popular the iPod was not that long ago?—and makes it’s play for the king of streaming.
The dirty little secret about most streaming music apps, though, is that they aren’t all that different. Most draw from the same music library, so it’s just interface and little things that set each apart. Luckily for Apple, that’s what it does well. Borrowing heavily from the Beats Music service it absorbed and adding some of the typical Apple polish, Apple Music aims to stand out above the rest with human curation, streaming radio, and some exclusive tunes (hello Taylor Swift). Time will tell if it’ll be enough, but you’ve got three months of free streaming to find out for yourself. To get it, you’ll need to update the software on your iOS device, and iTunes on your computer.
Crossroad
Some photos are best kept between friends. That’s the idea behind Crossroad, an app that makes it easy to share memories with the people who matter and maybe not with your entire following on Instagram and Twitter. The app is pretty simple: select the friends who are with you or who you want to be able to see the pictures. Any photos you take will only be seen by those select few, and any moments they capture will be added to your feed so you get a more complete perspective of the event.
Beet
Snapchat Moments have given us a new way to experience events, as photos and videos are added in real time, creating an updating timeline of happenings. Imagine that but for your life instead of a 24-hour period and you’ll have Beet. Capture moments in your life that matter and share them with your friends and family so they can see what you’re up to, or open up the app to check in on your loved ones and see what they’ve been up to.
The Executive
Years in the making, The Executive finally makes its iOS debut this week. The premise is absolutely ridiculous: you play as the CEO of a company who is being attacked by werewolves and mythical creatures. It’s up to you to fight off the beasts and keep the company running smoothly and profitably. The game itself utilizes fighting elements and cinematic story telling and is packed full of action that will keep you playing through all 120 levels.
Transistor
The creators of the indie darling Bastion are back with a new offering: Transistor. The sci-fi RPG makes the most of some of the elements Bastion became known for, namely a gorgeous artistic style and strong narrative. Transistor, initially released for Playstation 4 and PC, gets a touch-control makeover that makes it more responsive on mobile. Still in tact though is the story of Red and her incredible powers, the mood-setting soundtrack, and the engrossing experience.
