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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 includes a sequel to one of the most addictive puzzle game of 2013, a handy way to keep all your cloud accounts organised and one of best free calendar apps on the market.
TwoDots
For: iOS
Cost: Free
- Remember Dots, the puzzle game that was (subject to debate) more addictive than Threes or 2048? Well, it got a sequel.
- While the original presented random levels where you had to get as high a score as possible in 30 moves or 60 seconds, TwoDots gives it more focus by breaking it down into levels.
- Progress is a bit like Candy Crush Saga in a sense, you progress through levels which get harder and harder, and you always want to have one more go.
- Unlike Candy Crush Saga however, you can make it through without spending a penny on in-app purchases. They’re there, mainly to buy powerups and lives which replenish after a set amount of time, but they’re not necessary. It’s still very tricky, but if you have enough patience, you’ll get through it.
- Anyone who likes a good brainteaser will enjoy this and if you haven’t already, get the original Dots too (iOS and Android) as it’s also free.
Sunrise
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
- Considering how many calendar apps are out there – and how many we’ve covered in recent times – there are some decent examples out there but nothing revolutionary.
- Sunrise is definitely one of the best examples out there. Syncing with Google Calendar, iCloud, Outlook Exchange and social sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, it’s now come out for Android meaning you’ve no excuse not to try it out.
- The app manages to be both simple and useful, balancing a clean look while bringing all your calendar updates into the one place.
- A nice feature is having the option to take into account different time zones, in case you’re trying to orgnaise a meeting in different countries.
- It’s also available online and as a Chrome app (which works offline), both working just as well as the mobile version.
Start
For: Android
Cost: Free
- If the news of Cover being acquired by Twitter has spooked you a little bit, there are other lock screen clients around and Start is worth considering.
- Start separates itself from other similar lock screens with its versatility. Dragging the lock icon over an icon lets you choose an option directly from the lock screen.
- The real pull of this is doing so provides you with more options. Dragging over the phone icon shows you latest calls so you can quickly ring back, the mail icon will let you open messaging apps, and so on.
- Alongside that, the sidebar lets you access your Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and news feeds like the BBC quickly.
- Very handy if you regularly access four or five apps every day.
CloudMesh
For: Windows Phone
Cost: Free (€2.49 for Pro version)
- Considering how many cloud services offer free space for signing up, it wouldn’t be surprising if you’re signed up to two or more different services.
- CloudMesh is designed to help WP users manage all their accounts in the one place.
-The app supports OneDrive, Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive among other similar services and allows you to manage files directly.
- If you have more than one of the same account, you can add them in and search between them all if necessary.
- Definitely one for those who find themselves switching between different cloud apps on their phone. If it’s a major part of what you do, there’s a pro version which removes ads and unlocks some extra features.
Inapp Translator
For: Android
Cost: Free (full version costs €1)
- Last week, we had Word Lens, an augmented reality app that translates a foreign language showing on your camera, and the theme of travel and translation continues.
- Inapp Translator is pretty self-explanatory, it provides an easy way to translate whatever you’re reading into your native language, so long as you can copy and paste it.
- It uses Microsoft Translator to translate 45 different languages on a number of different apps such as Gmail, WhatsApp, Google Docs, MS Office, all web browsers and Google Play Book.
- It acts as a floating icon on your screen. If you see something that you would like to be translated, copy and paste and then hit the icon to see the translation.
- Really for those who want to bring the auto-translate functionality of traditional web browsers to the small screen.
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Another potentially government collapse posted by the journal at midnight…
@Joseph Mc Dermott: dramatic much?
@Sean D: na, not really
The more I hear about GDPR and personal information , the more annoyed I become about these tags being used to cover people’s tracks! To claim that this information could “adversely affect public security” because perhaps vandalism might happen is as believable as a child telling teacher that “the dog ate my homework”. It points to someone covering up for someone!
@Dave Phelan: It smells of the State deliberately withholding information that directly impacts the lives of local communities under the spurious heading of ‘GDPR’.
This is serious, total bs from DOE and DOA,
Heads have to roll
@Joseph Mc Dermott: sooner noonan is gone the better
People use these waterways, we have a right to know what’s happening in them, in the intrest of health and safety. More underhand work by this government.
DOA sit right next to govt offices on the Kildare St side, they’ve always acted like the kings. We ditched kings à long time ago. The arrogance from this administration is unreal. The swagger in Dohneys after a weeks hard slog doing not much in the most ugly building on Kildare is obvious. I write this based on past experience.
@SPQH: Charlie has to go…malcom has to go… the government has to go.. full stop..let the voters decide
Government bodies Hiding behind GDPR again. GDPR is supposed to to protect citizens personal info. In reality it allows shoddy departments and companies to withhold vital info from the public.
Absolutely disgraceful.
Releasing this in the middle of the night. Who says the media and the government aren’t in cahoots. Open your eyes people. Lies, damn lies and statistics. FFG Out.
@Daniel Gilroy: it’s the Journal’s Forte,, they have been doing it for years,,, I believe that they will not get over this one.
And Eamonn Ryan is ok with this….or is too engrossed in his window vegetable boxes to notice?
@Sandra Molloy: SSSSSSSSSSSSSShhhh!, He’s sleeping!
Quelle surprise!
This constant drip of stories about agriculture is becoming boring. Orchestrated almost. Now let’s do one on pollution from Pharma, local authorities, aviation or data centres. No? Why’s that?
@HMurphy: Agriculture is responsible for nearly half our national carbon footprint so I see no issue with it releasing half the sustainability spotlight… however such is its political power, it’s hardly a whimper, and obscure midnight articles.
@Glen OhAilpin: *receiving half
@Glen OhAilpin: I call back on that stat.. no way does farming do more damage than cars and trucks.. absolutely no way
@HMurphy: When water restrictions kick in, due to drought and long dry weather spells. I hope you will be on here, moaning about why some of our water is undrinkable or polluted and then I can tell you GFY. These individuals, need to be exposed and we need to know what they are doing with the water after using it.
Ffg the people that have big wealth farming industries on a pedestal at the expense of or children’s future .
How dare they think they can hide critical information from the public, or more importantly, the scientific community.
Whatever about industry, it will survive as it’s a huge part of the economy. Farming and especially small scale farming will no longer be with us in 20 or 30 years. If I was in full time farming now I’d be thinking of something else for my children.
@quacquac 51: Farming is a huge part of Ireland’s economy, not industry.
@Pat Barry: it’s around 10% not that much
@michael walsh: According to gov.ie it accounts for 60% of indigenous manufactured exports.
Farmers, ppl who drive cars, holiday makers, ppl who burn turf…..is there anyone we haven’t blamed for climate change yet. The mob screaming save the planet and demanding punishment and taxes are as crazy as the crowd who spent two years during covid happy to have ppl locked in their houses and wearing masks to bed. There’s no level headed grown-up thinking with climate change, it’s basically two sides for and against and both are as crazy as one another. Guess what, the only losers will once again be the joe soap tax payers who will have to foot the bills for fines or pay more taxes and charges cos that is the answer to everything these days
@Tom Newell: If somebody doesn’t see all things can be true whether you like them or not. If you are so sure I suggest you go into a garage close the door and start your car. You will be fine as they don’t pollute
Oh how unequal the scales of ‘justice’ and ‘Democracy are. If I use my garden hose during a ban, I get fined and possibly imprisoned. Are these guys not doing something a trillion times worse and the law and ‘Democracy’ protects them. Are they even being charged for the quantities they steal.
So basically the civil service is a buffer between business sector and the public. If so let the business sectors pay their salaries.
Who’d have thought they could commercialise the weather, but there ya go, the yanks did, well played Al Gore. What’s next to sell to the masses? Shares in paper must be rising seeing USA are yet again printing more money to keep them afloat. 30 trillion more please sir!
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” comes to mind.
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