Our 5 favourite new Windows Phone apps of the week
Between the big Windows 10 reveal and all the great new apps and updates that have been hitting the Windows Phone Store, this has been one busy week.
There’s excitement in the air for things to come, but let’s take a moment to check out what exciting things the Store has for us in the here and now. This week we’ve found a long-awaited app, a fun game to keep your fingers happy, and a ton of updates to old favorites that are sure to make your smile even brighter and your week even better. Read on to discover what they are.
Dropbox
What is it: a popular file hosting service
Why we love it: Many of us have been waiting for the official Dropbox app for Windows Phone, and it’s finally here. Access your photos, docs, and videos from any device, share them, create a “Favorites” list for fast viewing and more with this shiny new app. You’ll also get 2 GB of space when you sign up and have the option to pin folders to your Start screen. The official Dropbox app was developed by none other than superstar Rudy Huyn of 6tag, so you can expect a quality app.
Who it’s perfect for: Dropbox users
Spotify (update)
What is it: a music streaming app
Why we love it: Spotify got an update to its UI this week, making it easier on the eyes and easier to use. The update includes a darker theme and new typography and icons, a change which Spotify says “lets the content come forward and ‘pop’, just like in a cinema when you dim the lights.” They’ve also added Your Music to let you save, organize, and browse your favorite music, and an update to the Browse function to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Who it’s perfect for: music lovers
Voicy
What is it: a speech-to-text converter
Why we love it: Voicy can convert your speech to text, with a large selection of languages available to choose from such as English, French, Arabic, or Vietnamese. The design is minimalistic and clean, making it easy to use right from the start – just choose your language, press the button, and start speaking. You can then choose a follow-up action such as copy, SMS, email, or even Wikipedia. We tested it with a few different languages, and while not perfect, it was quite accurate at recognizing what we said. Voicy is free to try out, but you’ll need to buy “recognitions” if you want to continue using it.
Who it’s perfect for: people that want to convert speech to text in a variety of languages
Twitter (update)
What is it: the official Twitter app
Why we love it: Twitter finally updated its app with a few cool new features, the biggest of which is Cortana integration. In addition to being able to use Cortana to send out tweets, you can also share websites from Internet Explorer to the Twitter app. People Hub integration is also included in the update.
Who it’s perfect for: Twitter users
Strung Along
What is it: a challenging walking game
Why we love it: In the aptly-named Strung Along, you control a wooden puppet that needs to reach goal markers step-by-step, avoiding obstacles. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, it’s not. The puppet staggers and stumbles, snaps his strings if your steps are too long, and will probably make you rage quit at least once. But Strung Along has the right balance of fun and frustrating, and chances are good you’ll enjoy it once you sharpen your skills. Challenging puzzles, beautiful visuals, and a creative idea make it worth playing.
Who it’s perfect for: gamers that like to take it slow and steady
Is this week’s round-up great, or what? Let us know in the comments what you think, and feel free to share with us any new favorites that you’ve found in the Store.