Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Stunt Rush/Google Play
Pick Me

5 apps worth downloading this week

Featuring a game you control with your voice, a way to keep all your private information safe and ways to sort out all your note taking needs.

EACH WEEK, WE highlight five apps that are worth downloading for your smartphone and tablet. There are a lot of apps released on a daily basis, but not all of them are worth paying attention to.

This week features a game you control with your voice, a way to keep all your private information safe and ways to sort out all your note taking needs.

Mayday! Deep Space
For: iOS
Cost: €2.99

- Games are usually about direct control. Very rarely do you end up in a situation where you’re ultimately passive with little control.
- In Mayday! You don’t actually control anyone. Instead, you give simple voice commands to a lone survivor as he makes his way through a derelict spaceship.
- All you have for information is the person’s dialogue and a map showing you where he’s based. As the survivor explores the spaceship, you slowly find out what happened to the crew of the USS Appaloosa.
- All of this combines to form an intriguing premises. The lack of information and spare details makes for a tense and engaging experience. As long as you speak clearly, it recognises your voice commands.
- For those looking for something a bit different from their games, this is a great story.

Iron Cloud / YouTube

BlueNotes – notes and lists
For: Android
Cost: Free (€1.61 for Premium version)

- It’s the start of the new year and chances are some of you will want to become more organised and on top of things.
- If so, you should consider BlueNote, a minimalist yet colourful list and note-taking app that has a remarkably similar style to Google’s own apps.
- While creating new notes is rather easy, the real features is being able to colour-code your list. That doesn’t sound great in theory, but visually, it allows you to figure out what you need to prioritise at a glance.
- The premium version gets rid of ads, and adds a calendar view and night mode should you require them.
- A good app to help you get your year off on the right foot.

Bluenote Bluenote / Google Play Bluenote / Google Play / Google Play

Keeply
For: iOS
Cost: Free

- Inevitably, there are going to be sections of your phone that you will want to keep private no matter what. Photos, videos, notes, passwords and so on.
- Keeply is a colour coded privacy organiser which allows you to store your info privately, and away from prying eyes.
- There are some handy features included such as the app shutting off when your phone is face down, and fake pin which directs those who think they’ve the right PIN code to an empty application.
- It’s also a password manager as well and is compatible with 75 different services.
- Should you need an extra layer of protection for your iPhone, this is a slick app to have.

Keeply Keeply / App Store Keeply / App Store / App Store

Perfect Note
For: Windows Phone
Cost: €1.99

- Two note taking apps in the same list? Bear with us here as it’s likely most of you will want a better way to get yourselves organised this year.
- Perfect Note is a clean and straightforward note taker that groups everything down to the bare essentials, allowing you to get started immediately.
- It’s mostly controlled through swipe and touch gestures. Swiping right completes a task, tapping brings more details and mini-tasks and holding down brings up more actions. This makes one-handed use possible.
- You can trial it for three days if you reluctant to part your cash with it, but the ease of use and premise means you will get used to it pretty quickly.
- Simple, to the point, and easy to use.

Perfect Note Perfect Note / Windows Phone Perfect Note / Windows Phone / Windows Phone

Stunt Rush
For: Android
Cost: Free

- Stunt Rush is an arcade game in its purest form. Drive through neon worlds, make jumps and traverse courses. No opponents or enemies, just yourself and some rather unorthodox tracks.
- The format makes it oddly relaxing that way. The only aim is to complete the course as quickly as possible without failing.
- Should you mess up a jump, there’s a rewind button that you can activate bringing you back a few seconds. We’d recommend switching to tilt controls instead of virtual buttons as it makes hitting either button difficult.
- There are in-app purchases but it’s unlikely that you will need to purchase stars unless you’re truly dire at driving.
- A fun little distraction that requires little thought to enjoy.

Dustyroom Games / YouTube

Read: 5 apps worth downloading this week – 3rd Jan >

Read: So far, the latest version of Android is only on a tiny number of devices >