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Downwell/App Store

5 apps worth downloading this week

Featuring a social network based on lists, a way to listen to YouTube music videos without draining battery and a ZX Spectrum-inspired platformer.

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 social network based on lists, a way to listen to YouTube music videos without draining battery and a ZX Spectrum-inspired platformer.

The List App
For: iOS
Cost: Free

- Yes, that’s what it is. An app all about lists but there’s more to it than that, and it has a number of high profile people and publications using it so it’s not all bad.

- The List App is a minimalist, no-fuss app that’s more like a social network than anything else.

- You create lists that you can share with others, follow people and comment on other lists.

- It’s the ease of use that sucks you in. There’s very little in the way of starting your lists or seeing what anyone else has done and before you know it, you’re scrolling through numerous lists.

- Certainly worth the download just to see what the fuss is all about.

Z The List App / App Store The List App / App Store / App Store

The Weather Channel
For: Windows Phone
Cost: Free

- It’s taking a while but the first batch of universal apps (read: those for both Windows 10 and Windows Phone) are beginning to roll out. We have to wait until December for Windows Phone 10 to arrive though.

-  The Weather Channel offers pretty much what you’d expect from an app with that name, but it’s recently got a few extra updates that make it worth a look.

- Alongside the traditional forecasts, you can view weather maps that show past and future rainfall, wind speeds and other important details.

- It also comes with a few customisable push alerts like severe weather (because you never know) and rain alerts.

- Unless you’re able to function without knowing what the weather is like, you’ll likely find this useful.

WEather App The Weather Channel / Windows Store The Weather Channel / Windows Store / Windows Store

Black Screen of Life
For: Android
Cost: Free

- Normally when you come across an app that looks like this, you would ignore it but just bare with us for a moment.

- Black Screen of Life might not focus on the visuals, but it has a good reason not to since its focus is inactivity.

- It’s just a handy way of playing music on YouTube (or any video) in the background without keeping the screen on.

- Activate the app, choose the app you want to listen to and then cover the proximity sensor (usually located on the front, near the top speaker) or turn your phone face down.

- If you’re not already using YouTube Music Key, then this is an alternative way of listening to YouTube music without draining your battery.

Derp Developer / YouTube

Launchify
For: Android
Cost: Free

- Sometimes your phone will know the type of apps you’ll want to access ahead of yourself. It’s mostly habits, but you have a good idea of which ones you’ll refer to first.

- Launchify aims to speed up that process by providing a list of most frequently used apps on your lock screen.

- The app tracks your activity when you first download it and learns what apps you refer to the most. Over time, it gets smarter as it takes into account location, or if you’re driving to present the most useful apps.

- They also rest on your notifications screen as well, so you can swipe down and access it there. It does look a little strange when there’s a blank space beside other notifications, but it’s still there.

- If you don’t want to clutter up your home screen with apps, this is a nice alternative.

Launchify Launchify / Google Play Launchify / Google Play / Google Play

DownWell
For: iOS (Android coming soon)
Cost: €2.99

- Downwell looks like it could have appeared on the ZX Spectrum but don’t let the looks fool you. In some ways, that’s part of the charm.

- It’s essentially a downwards platformer, where you defeat enemies, collect gems and try not to die on your way down. Did we mention you shoot out bullets from your shoes to help you out?

- Your gunboots act as both a weapon and as a makeshift jetpack but you only have a limited number of bullets – which replenish when you land – and a lot of enemies to wade through. This is a game very much based on risk and reward where more daring play will reap you greater rewards and upgrades.

- It’s tough, but the controls are incredibly tight and every death compels you to try again. The moments where you reach a new level or strike a major combo are incredibly satisfying.

- A finely-balanced endless platformer that’s deeper (sorry) than it looks.

DevolverDigital / YouTube

Read: 5 apps worth downloading this week – 17th Oct >

Read: YouTube is about to charge $10 a month to get rid of ads >

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5 Comments
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    Mute calum Tierney
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:05 PM

    Cheers Larry…Nice bit of cheerleading ! But RTE are done..!!!

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    Mute Roj Blake
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:14 PM

    @calum Tierney: they’re not. Reform is absolutely needed, but our democracy needs public service broadcasting.

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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Jul 8th 2023, 9:16 PM

    @calum Tierney: not at all done. People have been saying for the last 20+ years that RTÉ are done and they are still here and will remain. This is probably the best thing that has happened to RTÉ because massive reform and transparency is well overdue.

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    Mute send
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    Jul 9th 2023, 1:17 AM

    @Roj Blake: what democracy wud that be ???

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    Mute Renshai Renshai
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:22 PM

    RTE is merely the mouthpiece of the FFFG junta!

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    Mute Roj Blake
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    Jul 8th 2023, 9:02 PM

    @Renshai Renshai: pure manure, if you bother to look at the representation on their current affairs programmes that’s certainly not the case, in fact the fringe ultra left and anti choice TDs get disproportionate airtime.

    126
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    Mute Paddy Keane
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    Jul 8th 2023, 10:34 PM

    @Renshai Renshai: One of the major issues in Ireland is the absence of significant opposition.

    85
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    Mute Pat the Baker
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:41 PM

    Public service broadcasting is representative of the public it is serving – RTE is not and never has been. It is little more than the propaganda machine for Fianna Fail & Fine Gael. It only represents acceptable middle-class groupthink – nothing else.

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    Mute Roj Blake
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    Jul 8th 2023, 9:03 PM

    @Pat the Baker: pure manure, if you bother to look at the representation on their current affairs programmes that’s certainly not the case, in fact the fringe ultra left and anti choice TDs get disproportionate airtime.

    53
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    Mute Harry R
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:20 PM

    RTE needs to decide whether it is a public service broadcaster or a commercial broadcaster – it cannot be both.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:22 PM

    @Harry R: Agreed. Fintan O’Toole has a good article on this in The Irish Times today.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:33 PM

    @Harry R: Why? 71% of BBC’s revenue comes from the licence fee and the remaining 29% comes my from commercial and other activities (such as royalties and rental incomes).

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    Mute Roj Blake
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    Jul 8th 2023, 9:02 PM

    @Harry R: why not

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    Mute Brendan McCarron
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    Jul 8th 2023, 10:11 PM

    @Pat Barry: I’d argue its been eons since the BBC could be viewed as a pure public broadcast service but the fact remains that even so, they don’t run commercial breaks in their programming.

    That then makes a broader distinction with RTE being PBS.

    Let the State create a true PBS for Ireland and RTE go subscription model and we’ll see how long they continue with their salary choices.

    46
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    Mute Ordinary Bloke
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:55 PM

    RTE has been abysmally one-sided and biased on the Ukraine conflict. There has been zero effort to understand and appreciate the other side’s point of view. They exert as much effort in investigative journalism as the news presenter does in reading off the teleprompter. Their job is to parrot the government message, and its masters message from Brussels / Washington DC. And woe to anyone who steps out of line. They do not inform us. They want us all to be mushrooms … kept in the dark and fed bulls**t.

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    Mute Off The Ball
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    Jul 8th 2023, 11:57 PM

    @Ordinary Bloke: B S of the highest order. One wonders who you actually represent?

    38
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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 9th 2023, 12:36 AM

    @Ordinary Bloke: You clearly are Putin’s mushroom.

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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:08 PM

    Larry, skip the RTE boosting and tell us about the horrors of Hunter Biden’s laptop, contents so disgusting that members of the Vice Squad almost retched.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:21 PM

    @Tony Murphy: Hunter Biden’s laptop? What has that got to do with anything?

    128
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    Mute JedBartlett
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:41 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: It’ll have an awful lot to do with the run up to next years election believe you me.

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    Mute Brendan Coyne
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    Jul 9th 2023, 1:36 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: because larry is another leftist muppet and will never report the truth

    52
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    Mute Nick Vasilakis
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    Jul 9th 2023, 8:43 AM

    @JedBartlett: I wasn’t aware we were having elections next year…

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    Mute Mick Hanna
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:55 PM

    Really? Just look at Fox news. BTW, if Democracy is so important, why is it the United States has more choices of Breakfast cereals than political parties? RTE are a government mouthpiece and sometimes you need more than that. Both RTE and their government buddies need to cop on, it’s time to go Subscription and leave struggling families Alone!!!

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    Mute Roj Blake
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    Jul 8th 2023, 9:05 PM

    @Mick Hanna: pure manure, if you bother to look at the representation on their current affairs programmes that’s certainly not the case, in fact the fringe ultra left and anti choice TDs get disproportionate airtime.

    29
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    Mute Mick Hanna
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    Jul 8th 2023, 9:24 PM

    @Roj Blake: I take it you must have a vested interest in keeping rte in flip flops.

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    Mute Roj Blake
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    Jul 8th 2023, 9:48 PM

    @Mick Hanna: anyone who values democracy knows the importance of public service broadcasting

    28
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    Mute Mick Hanna
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    Jul 8th 2023, 10:49 PM

    @Roj Blake: It never bothered me, IT’S the Same s#!t different day. What really bothers me, IS NO damn improvement for the ordinary voters. RTE ARE NOT, THAT important in the long run. They toe the government line, no matter who gets in!

    62
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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:43 PM

    We’ve reached peak cringe from Larry here. Him defending Tubs is like a fox defending chicken snatchers

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    Mute Patrick Presley
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:30 PM

    Journalistically RTE is excellent. Unfortunately it’s the so-called Top Talent and complicit management that have created this mess.

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    Mute Chris O'Brien
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    Jul 8th 2023, 9:18 PM

    Ireland hasn’t had decent media in its entire history.

    And there’s not really any hope of that changing.

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    Mute UCD Trinity
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:32 PM

    RTE should be renamed ETR
    Dee Forbes should be brough back as Chair of the Board (not the Executive Board, that is Siun current job)
    Siun should be made CFO (Current post of Richard ‘ i dont know my salary’ Collins)
    As Richard Collins has no interest in what he currently earns, he can be shifted to Assistant Head Janitor, with primary responsibility of sweeping the floors in Reception and Common areas (being in staff areas would probably be too much for him, be hard to keep track of both Common/Public areas and Staff areas, he’ll get overwhelmed)
    Tubridy should be made Head of Commercial Division, (I mean, he did a great Toy Show apparently, so he’s apparently brilliant in that respect)
    Noel Kelly should be either given his choice of job, or at very least Assistant DG, as he seems to have magical powers which bends people action to his needs and wants.
    Oh, and Claire Byrne should be thrown onto front Reception. Not much good for anything else imo.
    Any further HR Consultant i will have to charge a fee. Or be given a free loan of a car. Not a Renault thought. They are crap.

    63
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    Mute alan
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    Jul 8th 2023, 8:39 PM

    @UCD Trinity: interestingly, Claire Byrne gave an identical defense of her limited knowledge of her income live on air. Had never sought extra money. Of course, this doesn’t mean she has never received any. Tubridy must be raging.

    63
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    Mute rory Mcgovern
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    Jul 8th 2023, 11:00 PM

    Larry of course your friends in boston are not bothered about your pal ryan cheating because it is not their taxes who fund rte. It is a disgrace that your pal is still getting paid. He is out of contract. Only in ireland.

    78
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    Mute Nick Cahill
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    Jul 8th 2023, 10:06 PM

    The one thing about a pompous person is that it can make you become blind to the damage you do to the social discourse of the time.The author is a pompous person, arro gant and self righteous. I’m all for free speech but your voice should be allocated to a very hard to find frequency.

    76
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    Mute Monetpenny
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    Jul 9th 2023, 1:06 AM

    Ryan Tubridy is an establishment propogandist who continuously told political lies to his viewers.
    Because Larry also tells the same lies he thinks Tubs is a great lad.

    63
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    Mute Donal Ronan
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    Jul 8th 2023, 11:49 PM

    The only journalism we have in the country at the moment is ontheditch.
    It may have it’s own agenda, but by God it has put the wind up the politicians and other dodgy connected chancers.
    Not one of them have sued, so they must be telling some truths.

    51
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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Jul 9th 2023, 9:38 AM

    @Donal Ronan: Also GRIPT.

    25
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    Mute Monetpenny
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    Jul 9th 2023, 9:36 AM

    @ Liam O’Connor: the point is RTE doesn’t do ‘news’. RTE are propogandists. It sounds like a right-wing conspiracy theory but RTE are not a ‘news organisation’.
    I have a friend who grew up in a communist country & she said years ago that RTE was the most biased tv station she’d ever seen.
    RTE (& other Irish media outlets) suppress stories.
    The only good job RTE does is convincing people that they do a good job at all.

    29
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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Jul 9th 2023, 9:40 AM

    @Monetpenny: Excellent observations.

    11
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    Mute Liam O'Connor
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    Jul 9th 2023, 12:08 AM

    Let’s for arguments sake say rte is ” closed” tomorrow morning. What alternatives are people suggesting.for there news consumption with an Irish focus.

    7
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    Mute Jon Smith
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    Jul 9th 2023, 11:49 AM

    I’m so excited. I feel a tribunal coming. There hasn’t been one of them for years. Who knows, rte could yet salvage something and make a musical out of it. Why not, they repeat everything else!.

    6
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    Mute Rodger Waters
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    Jul 8th 2023, 11:01 PM

    We do need it & Old Tubs has been wrongly vilified imo, I’d blame RTÈ for the stupid contract in the 1st place. One of our better & more popular broadcaster will leave & that is wrong.

    9
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