Personal selection of applications and games.
Hello everyone. Let's try to return the format of application digests, it seems that busyness in the near future allows. This episode features two atmospheric puzzles, a funny weather forecast, minimalistic online radio and a convenient client for creating posts in the forbidden messenger.
Telegraph X – article editor for Telegram
Despite all the threats against Telegram, the service still works in Russia, some channels even noted a relatively faster increase in users than before the blocking. Probably only I did not create my own channel in Telegram, this segment of trade and promotion of services, news, as well as my own thoughts and lifestyle is developing so rapidly. For those who are used to voluminous materials, the format of the message in the channel is not quite suitable, and why, when there is an excellent telegra.ph service. But it is not always possible to edit in the web version, so for those who like to write and edit on the go, there is Telegraph X, written by our compatriot Sergei Petrov.
The most simple and intuitive client gives the user the ability to quickly create articles for Telegram, work with their formatting, insert media files, track views and at any time edit already published materials, as well as their account. Synchronizing the application with telegra.ph allows you to quickly view a list of all your materials, for many this method is more convenient than contacting the bot.
An added bonus is the lack of ads and paid subscriptions, which is quite in the spirit of Telegram. However, anyone can support the developer directly from the application. Advise graphomaniacs and those making money on Telegram.
Cost: Free, IAP
Requirements: Android 5.0, age limit 3+
Stations by Spotify
An experimental music project called Spotify, which is a simplified way to listen to playlists by genre and preference. A kind of online radio without ads and chatter of the hosts, limited to the selected range of playlists. The authorization process goes through an existing Spotify account or Facebook. Here you can also create a new account within the service.
The interface, by and large, is represented by one window, which displays a list of playlists between which the user can switch. Not everyone will like the large font of the list, but you can get used to it. While listening to the next song, you can click on the 'heart', adding it to your favorite list. The service 'learns' your preferences and favorite songs, generating Discover Weekly (weekly compilation) and Release Radar (new releases) playlists for you that Spotify users are familiar with.
Of course, this is not Spotify, much less the premium version. You cannot search for specific artists and songs, switch to the next song (only between playlists), save files for offline listening, etc. The application is under testing, so it will not be available on Google Play for users from most countries of the world, but we know that there is always an option to install bypassing the official directory. Advise music lovers in collections.
Cost: Free
Requirements: version Android 4.0.3+, age limit 12+, parental controls required
Carrot Weather
Still under development, but quite an interesting and funny client for viewing the current weather and its forecast for the near future.
At first, the application is perceived as one of thousands of analogs with the same purpose. The colorful main screen will show basic weather data: temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed. You can look to see the weather 10 days ahead and view warnings about extreme weather conditions.
But the main emphasis, such a feeling, is not at all on the weather. In the settings, the type of character of the user and his political beliefs are selected. Depending on these parameters, the content will be displayed. By default, the application runs a voice synthesizer that speaks English information on the screen.
In some places there are very funny remarks, but the voice engine itself is not very well developed, the robot 'stumbles' on apostrophes, does not sustain the necessary pauses, etc. A similar approach is found in videos about Boston Dynamics robots voiced by Google translator: the same disdain for 'leather bags', the same humor.
Ads are disabled for additional money, there is an option to purchase a premium subscription, which gives access to the functionality of Time Machine. The latter allows you to find out the weather for any day over the past 70 years. A controversial interest, of course. In general, it will be interesting to watch the development of the application, I personally liked it for its non-standard approach. The widget is missing, which may be critical for some users. The developer promises to add it in one of the updates.
Cost: Free, IAP
Requirements: version Android is device dependent, age limit 16+ (rough terms)
Monument Valley 2
Continuation of the acclaimed bestseller. A beautiful and soothing puzzle game, the gameplay is accompanied by melodic music, the visual performance is again on top – what else is needed for a good impression?
This is one of the cases where the description does not convey the whole atmosphere of the game. The game cannot be called easy, but difficult too. Turn on spatial thinking and minimal mindfulness – and off you go. It is a breeze, as befits a quality game. From the wishes to the developers – more chapters in the next game or the ability to 'open' additional quests for a fee.
Price: 379 rubles
Requirements: version Android 4.4+
The Room: Old Sins
My favorite of the downloaded apps in the first half of 2018. The fourth game in the The Room series takes place primarily in a dollhouse found in the attic, packed to capacity with ingenious mechanisms and puzzles. Solving them one by one, the player comes closer to solving the mysterious disappearance of the inhabitants of the house and reveals more and more secrets.
The mechanics of the game have practically not changed since the previous parts, but for new players, training will not be difficult. The soundtrack emphasizes the already mysterious and sometimes gloomy atmosphere.
I expected to be able to end the game with multiple endings, like in one of the previous games in the series, but no, there is only one ending. The game literally does not let go, every time you catch yourself thinking that you have been struggling for an hour over the riddles of the dollhouse. Of course, this is true for those who love puzzles. Solid top five developers, I hope that the series of games will continue.
Cost: 399 p.
Requirements: Android 4.4+, age limit 7+ (intimidation)
That's all for today, write in the comments which games / applications you remember recently.