Skip to main content

Here are the 5 mobile apps to download this week

App stores are crowded places these days, and because storage space on your phone is often at a premium, you’ll want to 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.

Password Chef

Screen Shot 2015-09-24 at 4.14.43 PM
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Websites and user databases are often compromised, and can leave anyone with an account on the hacked service vulnerable. Plus if you use the same password for multiple accounts, attackers will be able to access just about anything you have behind the layer of flimsy protection. When it comes to your internet usage, having a good password is paramount.

That’s where Password Chef comes in. This method of password creation gives you the unique string of characters needed to meet stringent password requirements and make your code hard to crack. At the same time, it makes managing those passwords easy. Your complex passwords are stored in app, accessible only with a PIN code, giving you the ability to recall them on the go. The recipes as they’re referred to are stored only locally so no one will be able to crack the app’s servers and get your secret login—it exists only on your device.

Recommended Videos

Instant

Instant
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Are you into the idea of the quantified self? It’s possible to track just about every bit of your activity, from how many steps you take a day to how much time you spend on your phone, and everything in between. Instead of having to jump back and forth between apps to track down your numbers, Instant puts it all in one place. It’s your very own personal dashboard to monitor your activity. Over time, it will generate statistics and analysis that will help you figure out exactly what your average day looks like.

Sounds app

Soundsapp
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Great music should be every bit as shareable as an awesome picture, but it’s lagged behind. Sounds aims to change that by invading other popular sharing services with a blast of the best tunes. Sounds lets you discover new music with curated lists from sources that know their stuff. When you hear something you like, you can easily share it via Snapchat, Instagram, Messenger, and Tinder with the built-in music keyboard.

AmpMe

AmpMe
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We all stream music from our smartphones, but the devices aren’t great for playing those jams out loud—at least, not on their own. AmpMe lets you and your friends create a surround-sound effect anywhere you are by syncing up everyone’s device and playing the same song through each set of speakers. This creates a unified and amplified sound that lets you start a party on the fly and fill any space, from your car to your living room, with a wall of music.

Bumpn

Bumpn
Image used with permission by copyright holder

College campuses are essentially condensed cities. There’s a lot going on any given night, and almost no way to keep track of it all. Bumpn aims to be the social network for your local campus. This location-driven app connects users with their campus community and shows what’s going on throughout the school. Share photos and videos to show your friends what you’re up to or meet new people when you see something interesting pop up on your feed.

AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
Here’s every carrier that lets your iPhone send RCS messages to Android phones
A person holding the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

RCS messaging has gained popularity by leaps and bounds this past year, especially in the Western market. More than 1 billion people are estimated to use RCS messaging at present, and a huge part of that growth is due to Apple introducing RCS compatibility with the arrival of iOS 18.

While iOS 18 has supported RCS messaging with Android phones since it launched in September, carrier support was a bit scarce upon launch. Now, Apple has updated its support page with an expanded list of carriers that support RCS.

Read more
Is your child safe from inappropriate apps on Apple App Store? A report says no
App Store screenshot on iPhone.

Apps aimed at children have been available since the inception of the App Store. However, not all apps created for minors are safe to use. This is the main finding of a new survey conducted by two child safety organizations. The report presents the results of a 24-hour research study in which 800 apps were reviewed, and the findings are concerning.

The Heat Initiative and ParentsTogether Action study found that Apple's App Store is a mass distributor of risky and inappropriate apps to children. Many apps have features that put children at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, low self-esteem and poor body image, disordered eating, exposure to sexual and violent content, and more. Apple claims that the App Store is a safe place for children, but the study found that Apple takes no legal responsibility for the veracity of age ratings.

Read more
If your iPhone can handle iOS 18.2, it can probably handle iOS 19
An iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 18, showing its home screen.

The last few iPhone updates have brought a lot of changes with them. Just take a look at iOS 18.2: It introduced a ton of AI-powered features that had never before been available. If you have an older phone, it's easy to worry that its hardware won't be up to snuff for the next round of updates. For now, you can breathe easy: If your iPhone can handle iOS 18, then it should also work with iOS 19, according to a new leak.

The news comes from the French site iPhoneSoft. Although Apple guarantees five years of support for its devices, some devices get supported for longer periods of time, but this tip suggests that any phone currently capable of downloading and installing iOS 18 will also work with iOS 19, although some features could be limited.

Read more