Andrew Grush / Android Authority
Welcome to the 501st version of Android Apps Weekly. After a short one-week recess we’re again and able to convey you the newest information and apps from the week. Let’s begin with a few of the largest headlines from final week:
- Google Maps is a superb GPS app that many people belief to get safely the place must go. Sadly, it’s not all the time excellent and Google can take a very long time to answer person requests round new roads or different points. Now a brand new lawsuit claims Google was chargeable for the demise of man who was driving residence late at night time and got here throughout an unbaricaded bridge that had collapsed again in 2013. The swimsuit claims many customers warned Google concerning the challenge and but it was by no means fastened. The lawsuit can be holding these accountable who have been presupposed to be chargeable for the bridge and for placing up correct barricades.
- Fb is lastly rolling out a function that allows you to add as much as 4 further profiles from the app. That is excellent for individuals who preserve a number of accounts for work and enterprise, in addition to households that share a single pill. That stated, sure options received’t be obtainable for added profiles like Courting, Market, Skilled mode, and funds.
- After delaying its Android 14 secure launch, Google is rolling out a brand new Android 14 QPR1 beta replace for Pixel telephones. This new replace truly brings just a few new modifications together with a new display search gesture impressed by Google Now on Faucet, and the flexibility to hold apps open even once you shut the Pixel Fold.
- Discover my Cellphone might quickly have the ability to discover a Pixel telephone even when it’s off. The brand new function is outwardly discovered throughout the code of Android 14. How is that this potential? Principally the Bluetooth chips would perform even when there’s not sufficient energy as well the entire OS, much like a function that already exists for Apple’s iPhone.
- The One UI 6 Beta is slowly rolling out to new units and it appears the Galaxy S22 is subsequent in line. For now, the replace is barely obtainable in South Korea, although it won’t be an excessive amount of longer earlier than worldwide fashions of the S22 household additionally get the beta.
- Google is rolling out a brand new Fitbit app design. This new app is simpler to make use of with simply three tabs: right this moment, sofa, and also you. There are additionally loads of sub-sections beneath every of those. That is the primary main change to Fb’s look in years and we actually like what we see thus far.
- Google Bard now works together with your Google account and lots of Google apps. You’ll now have the ability to use Bard to dig by means of Gmail, Drive, Maps, and extra. This can make it simple so that you can ask Bard questions associated to your personal agenda and paperwork.
Android Apps Weekly: The most effective new apps and video games of the week
On the lookout for some new Android apps and Android video games to maintain you occupied? Under we check out a few of our favourite strategies for the week:
Monster Hunter Now
- Value: Free to play
- Launch Date: Sep 14
The most recent entry within the Monster Hunter sequence arrived final week throughout our temporary hiatus. Whereas it’s technically per week previous, we’d be remiss to not cowl this. This free-to-play title works a bit in another way than your common Monster Hunter sport, drawing inspiration from titles like Pokémon Go. In truth, it’s developed by Niantic (the makers of Go) in collaboration with Capcom. The sport options easy-to-use controls, permitting you to slip, hop, run, reduce, and extra, all with simply your index finger. Not like conventional Monster Hunter video games, you may have solely 75 seconds to take down each beast you encounter. This method is smart, as the sport is designed to be performed in the actual world throughout quick bursts. Whereas the fight isn’t excellent, that is nonetheless an enthralling sport and completely value giving a go (no pun supposed).
Ghost Detective
- Value: Free for Netflix customers
- Launch date: Sep 19
Ghost Detective places you into the motion as Detective Tess Robinson. Your aim? To determine who murdered you, amidst the backdrop of a ghost-riddled New Orleans. To resolve the case you’ll must hang-out your method throughout New Orleans in search of hidden objects. You might be given an inventory of the objects it is advisable discover, and you need to do all of it inside a time-frame. You’ll additionally discuss to totally different ghosts and residing beings with a purpose to remedy the case. Whereas I didn’t spend a ton of time with this sport, I loved this one fairly a bit because it has nice dialogue and is straightforward to leap proper in and get began. One catch, you will have a Netflix subscription to play this because it’s a part of the corporate’s rising effort to get into gaming by providing distinctive experiences to its members.
Retro School Bowl
- Value: Free to play
- Launch date: Sep 19
This new spin-off of the favored sport Retro Bowl focuses on faculty sports activities, permitting you to immerse your self within the function of a head coach for one in all 250 faculty groups. This sport is fairly easy to study with easy mechanics proper from the beginning, though you’ll discover it difficult to grasp. I additionally appreciated the group customization choices, though I felt the gameplay bought a bit tedious in my quick time with it. For individuals who love fantasy sports activities, this might be the proper approach to scratch that itch.
Dragonheir: Silent Gods
- Value: Free to play
- Launch date: Sep 19
Dragonheir: Silent Gods is a brand new party-based on-line multiplayer RPG set in Arkendia, a world of dragons, magic, and fantasy races. Whereas it leans on the “chosen one” trope, it’s nonetheless quite a lot of enjoyable. The sport is pretty open-ended with non-linear missions and sidequests that permit the participant to make the characters their very personal. For individuals who worth storyline, the dialogue and story appear fairly top-notch from what I can inform thus far. Followers of MMOs and roleplaying will certainly need to give this one a obtain.
YouTube Create
- Value: Free
- Launch date: Sep 21
YouTube Create is a brand new app from Google, providing a collection of free instruments that mean you can simply make shorts and longer movies. You’ll have the ability to simply create GIFs, particular results, stickers, trim down movies, and far more. The corporate consulted with over 3,000 creators to develop the app and used their suggestions extensively. The app even has entry to royalty-free music tracks you possibly can rapidly add to the movies you produce with out worrying about copyrights or crediting the composers behind them. The app is presently in beta however already appears to have a ton of performance.