andrways: 17 Best New Android Apps And Live Wallpapers From The Last 2 Weeks

Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.

Please wait for this page to load in full in order to see the widgets, which include ratings and pricing info. Looking for the previous roundup editions? Find them here.

Featured App

Bills Reminder Lite

Today's roundup is presented by Bills Reminder from HandyApps. The intent and function of the app is simple: it reminds you to pay your bills on time, which is great if you like to use things like electricity and insurance. The interface is fantastic, with a fully customizable database, color-coded bills, and the ability to amend photos for bills or invoices. The lite app is the first widget below, and the full app below that is $3.99.

Keep getting those nasty late payment fees? Download this mobile bill organizer into your Android smartphone now and get daily reminders to pay your bills on time every time! No more easy money for the banks!
Simply key in your payment amount and due date and this bill tracker app will notify you in advance when your bill payment is coming due. With this handy mobile payment tracker with you at all times, now you don't have to worry about forgetting to pay your bills while you go about your busy schedule!

How Bills Reminder works:

Enter your bill payment amount and the due date via an intuitive user interface.
By default, Bills Reminder will start to remind you of the payment 5 days before the due date. The number of days in advance can be customized for each bill but the default is set to 5 days. (You can change the default setting as well)
Bill Reminders will fire off reminder notifications every day at a preset time (default is 8:00am) until you have paid your bill. Your device LED will also flash a distinct orange color to indicate that a bill payment is coming due.
Unlike other bill tracking apps, Bills Reminders will always fire off when the bill payment is coming due, no matter whether you have opened the app or not or whether you have rebooted your device.
You can also setup recurring bill reminders. The repeating period is extremely flexible, you can set bill reminders to repeat every X days,weeks,months or year. (Eg. every 2 weeks, every 6 days, every 1 month etc.)
You can also capture or attach photos of bills, invoices, receipts alongside each bill reminder you created. This is helpful when it comes to actually making the payment. All the information is already stored in the app, so there is no need to go and find that paper bill statement.
Paid Bills/Invoices/receipts can be kept for future reference

With all those late fees saved, this bill tracking app will pay for itself in no time!

Apps

App Ops 4.3 / 4.4 KitKat

App Ops is back, and even if it's not better than ever, it's better by default for supporting Android 4.4. This app allows root users to deny permissions on an app-by-app basis, forcing those overreaching developers to play by your rules. The free app does that commendable service without asking for a penny, but the IAP upgrade adds batch actions, device-wide rules, and notifications.

This is the newest way to launch the native App Ops on your Android 4.4 KitKat phone and tablet, or (for rooted users) of installing the extended version of App Ops. App Ops X Installer will install an eXtended version of AppOps on your Android 4.3 or 4.4 (KitKat) phone. It's the same App Ops you know, only recompiled and with new features slowly being added. This installer is required because the actual app (App Ops X) needs to be copied into your phone's /system/app folder and this kind of install is not natively supported by Google Play.

FlightTrack 5

FlightTrack has always been a pretty reliable app for the constant traveler, and the developers keep updating and improving the new versions. Number five adds even more eye candy, real time notification alerts, visual flight paths, and a whole host of goodies for Android power users. Flight sharing via NFC, a widget and DashClock extension, and a super-sweet live wallpaper round it out. The new version is a reasonable $3.

Welcome to a brand new version of FlightTrack. Rebuilt from the ground up, FlightTrack’s new design and user experience are tailored to the needs of the savvy traveler. Now, all FlightTrack users get push notifications with flight updates and can view terminal maps to help navigate to the gate. With FlightTrack, you can search flights by number or route in a single search field, create trips with multiple flights and travelers, and view the progression of an entire trip within a single workflow.

FIFA

Hey look, it's the official FIFA app! Not to be confused with the EA game, this is FIFA's official scheduling and stats app, covering all the major soccer (football) leagues across the world. Apparently there are 197 of them, which kind of blows my mind, because I can't even remember all the starting QBs in the NFL. The app itself is quite pretty, and it does the standard sports app stuff with personalized lists, news, and updates.

Download the most comprehensive football app on the planet and unlock the world of football. Hundreds of competitions, thousands of goals and over a million minutes of football every single week! From the Bundesliga to the Barclays Premier League, MLS to La Liga, the World Match Centre provides unrivalled coverage of 197 leagues across the globe. Personalize your World Match Centre with national teams, competitions, and clubs ensuring you never miss kick-off, the final whistle or any action in-between ever again.

HTC FootballFeed

Got a burning desire to stay up to the minute in regard to football (soccer, for those of us in 'Murica) news? Then you'll want to check out this app. It's HTC proprietary football news and stats program, complete with updates from all the major worldwide leagues presented in a play-by-play style. Push notifications and a full schedule will keep you in the know, and the best part is, you don't even need an HTC phone: the app is offered free for all devices running Android 4.1 or higher.

Change your game with HTC FootballFeed™, the app that delivers official, play-by-play updates from the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, direct to your phone. Wherever you are – in the stands, on the sofa, at the office or out on the town – HTC FootballFeed™ provides you with live, customizable facts and stats, as well as a wide variety of great news and content.

Designed for an efficient, unique user experience,
Official updates direct from UEFA and HTC,
Squad line-ups for each match,
Push notifications, so you never miss a thing,
Countdown clock for upcoming matches,
Standing tables for both Leagues,
Club pages with relevant facts and stats,

HTC FootballFeed (Playboard) | HTC FootballFeed (Play Store)

Xposed Additions

Does your phone have buttons? Do you dislike the things that those buttons do? Do you wish that those buttons could do other things instead? Then you want the Xposed additions module (and also the Xposed Framework and root permissions, because you'll need them too). Additions lets you re-assign button actions and add long press actions, and even set up different behaviors for buttons depending on whether your screen is on or off. Neat.

Xposed Additions is an XposedBridge Module that adds new features to your device. One of these features is the largest Key Re-map system for Android. Since this module uses XposedBridge, it is able to Re-map any key on your device and in any way you'd like. Do you want to disable your Power button while the display is off, or add Media controls like Play/Pause, Next, Previous etc. or have your Recent Apps Button act as a Menu Button, or turn on the screen with a different key other than Power and so on, then try this module out.

Recorder with Tags Lite

This app is easily the purdiest audio recorder I've ever seen... not that it's a huge milestone or anything. Recorder with Tags is set up for regular and searchable recordings, making it ideal for college students or the poor schmuck who has to take meeting minutes. A classy interface separated with categories and stars is a major highlight, and you can place bookmarks inside the recordings themselves. More bookmarks, more categories, and higher bitrates are available in the paid version.

Recorder with Tags is a stylish, simple and easy to use audio and voice recorder. Tags will help you to mark any important moments across your recordings. App can be used for recording your meetings, personal notes, classes, courses and others.

MAIN FEATURES (AVAILABLE IN LITE VERSION)

Record to high-quality PCM.
Put up to 3 marks whenever you like during each recording
Share and manage your recordings easily, and back them up to your PC.
Record in the background.
Organize recordings using categories (2 categories in lite version).

PRO FEATURES (AVAILABLE IN PAID VERSION)

Put unlimited number of marks whenever you like during each recording.
Select sound quality (sample rate).
Organize recordings using categories (up to 10 categories).

myMail

Another week, another alternative email app. This one features a modern interface, some impressive notification settings, and a lot of pre-configured mail services, but there isn't a whole lot in myMail to sway you away from Gmail if that's how you roll. According to the description it's specifically designed to stay fast under a heavy load of messages and contacts thanks to a unique compression system.

myMail brings all your email accounts into one simple, bright, and friendly interface. Use myMail to manage messages in your Gmail, Yahoo., AOL, iCloud, Hotmail and Outlook mailboxes. We created myMail to be fast, secure, and always there when you need it. Our app was developed for mobile devices from the ground up. With simple taps and swiping motions, you can read, reply to, forward, and do whatever else you need to with your emails. The app is available on and optimized for both the tablet and smartphone.

Branches for Twitter

Branches is an unconventional Twitter app, shunning the usual firehose feed in favor of "grouped tweets." That means that similar tweets from the same user get grouped together in a single branch... which kind of defeats the purpose of a service that limits messages to short bursts. Huh. At least the interface is Holo.

Branches offers a unique Twitter reading experience. Tweets by the same author over a period of time are grouped in a single branch. Follow anyone on Twitter without fear of resulting in a noisy timeline.

Groups tweets
Twitter client with a simple interface
Open tweets in the official Twitter app with a tap
Tweet, Retweet, Share, Favorite, Reply

Kabbage

If you can't give me a brief outline of the benefits and drawbacks of an LLC, you probably don't care about Kabbage. If you can, you might care quite a lot, because it's a small-scale investment company that helps independent businesses get started or expand. It looks like you can't actually get approved for an investment or loan via the Kabbage app, but if you've already got one, you can manage your balance, advance requests, and transfers via the app. Hurrah for capitalism!

Kabbage provides working capital to businesses to help them grow. Whereas traditional financial institutions take weeks to decide on an advance, Kabbage can deliver up to $50,000 of funding in just 7 minutes. Kabbage for Android acts as your mobile portal into the most important features of the Kabbage website. Qualified customers can...

Have ongoing access to cash
View their balance
Make transfers to Kabbage

...all from their Android devices.

Flipagram

Instagram + Microsoft Photo Story = Flipagram. That's it. That's all the description you're getting for this one. No, you're not getting your money back.

Bring Moments to Life with Flipagram. Create beautiful short video stories using your Instagram and Gallery photos, set to music you love. Get the ORIGINAL, now on Android and FREE for a limited time.

INSTANT PREVIEW. View your Flipagram as you make changes.
"Auto Time For Instagram"
Or set your own timing to any length
Ability to duplicate, delete, or crop photos.
Optional title display with numerous font selections.
Option to add a soundtrack from your music library.
Adjust audio starting point.
Video duration display.

Xbox One SmartGlass

The Xbox One SmartGlass app came out before the Xbox One, because Microsoft is a coy minx. The app is pretty much the same as it ever was for the Xbox 360: you've got access to the Xbox's basic control and media capabilities, you can use the slightly better keyboard on your Android device to input text or searches, and you can engage in a little social networking and achievement hunting. Though Microsoft tends to push its Metro interface on Android apps, this should be familiar to any Xbox users likely to install it.

Xbox One SmartGlass is the perfect companion app for your Xbox One, both in your living room and on the go. Stay connected with the games and gamers you like. Add a new dimension to your console entertainment with the mobile device you already own.

In the living room:

Navigate your Xbox One console using your device’s keyboard and touch
Control your media and set top box with the SmartGlass remote control
Browse the web on your TV using your mobile device
Enhance what you are watching or playing with SmartGlass companions
Increase performance with faster connections and reliability

In the living room and on the go:

Search, browse, and pin content to play on your Xbox One console
Track achievements, get game help, message friends, and watch game DVR clips

Cox Contour

Cox is coming to the future with a cable streaming and scheduling app... and it's got all the usual restrictions, then some. You'll need to use your home WiFi to stream the app (which kind of defeats the point of a mobile streaming app), plus it's only supported on a couple of Nexus and Galaxy Tab devices. At least the interface looks good, very good in fact, with a lot of elements borrowed from the newer versions of Windows Media Center. It would be nice if you could use that shiny interface when you leave the house, wouldn't it?

With the Contour App from Cox, you can watch live TV and On Demand shows on your Android tablet anywhere in your house. It also offers access to mobile apps from popular TV networks to watch anywhere:

• Choose from over 100 popular TV channels plus thousands of On Demand choices to watch anywhere in your house
• Access TV network apps and watch anywhere
• Includes personal show recommendations for up to 7 users
• Remotely schedule recordings on your DVR
• Share what you watch with your Facebook friends
• Easily view and sort TV listings for all channels
• Yours to enjoy for free as a bundle subscriber to Cox TV Essential, Advanced TV, or Contour TV service and Cox Preferred, Premier or Ultimate Internet service.

Shine

Misfit Shine is another activity tracker, this time shaped like a hockey puck from the future. The Android app lets you track steps, sleep patterns, and other activities, and set your fitness goals right on your device... so long as it's got BLE support, which generally means Android 4.3 or later.

This app requires a Misfit Shine and an Android device with BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). Get your Shine at www.misfitwearables.com/shine Shine is the elegant activity tracker that inspires you to live an active life. Wear Shine anywhere on your body with our range of upgrades that are designed for comfort and style. Shine’s long-lasting battery and automatic wireless syncing mean you’ll spend less time plugging in and more time moving. Use the Shine app to access these features:

SMARTACTIONS™

Motorola's been moving basically all of its proprietary first-party apps to the Play Store to enable quicker updates without a phone firmware update (exactly like parent company Google). This week it's the SmartActions... wait, what's that, Motorola brand manager? I have to call it SMARTACTIONS™? Fine, have it your way.

Whether you want to extend your battery life or get help staying focused on the road when you’re behind the wheel, SMARTACTIONS can help. With this unique app, you can mastermind your phone settings, so your smartphone is optimized for your life. The app is also intuitive. SMARTACTIONS will offer up suggestions for different settings changes based on how you use your phone.

Motorola Connect

Android Police coverage: Motorola Assist And Motorola Connect For The Moto X And 2013 DROIDs Are Now In The Play Store

...and here's Motorola Connect, Moto's legitimately cool desktop companion app for your calls, texts, and contacts. It will alert your desktop computer to a new call or text via Chrome, and you can text back without touching your phone, a la Google Voice. You'll need a latter model DROID or Moto X to join the party, and the Chrome extension is linked below.

Motorola Connect allows you to see text messages and calls coming into your Connect enabled phone on your computer’s Chrome browser. You can read and respond to texts using your keyboard and even know who’s calling before deciding if you should reach for your phone. Motorola Connect requires a Chrome Extension to be installed on your Chrome Browser. You can find the extension here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/motorola-connect/.

GRID Beta

Unless you've got an NVIDIA SHIELD or a Tegra Note, a location in Northern California, and a burning desire to play PC games on the go, this probably won't affect you much. If you do have all of those things, prepare to be amazed, because NVIDIA's GRID streaming service is now available to SHIELD owners! This is basically a beta version of an Onlive-type streaming service, which the rest of us won't get to try out for some time. Yes, you HAVE to be physically close to Northern California to sign in to the service.

Try the NVIDIA GRID cloud gaming beta, available exclusively to SHIELD owners in Northern California. Instantly stream high-quality PC games to your SHIELD when you’re away from home! The GRID beta app is available with SHIELD Software Update 65, or for download from the Google Play Store. The app will run a network test when you launch it and may issue warning messages or prevent play if it finds any problems with your network connection to the GRID servers.

Live Wallpapers

Dragon Strike FREE Wallpaper

Forget what you know about Live Wallpapers, watch as a Cinematic Dragon Battle unfolds right before your eyes. Witness Dragons of all types using their powers to attack a castle and its surroundings. In the Full version, Trebuchet's fire at nearby dragons, but the Dragons are relentless and growing in numbers, can they be stopped? Where and when the Dragons will perform various actions is unknown, even by us. Certain events may only happen at night, and other actions may only happen once every few days. But beware, you may be next.

Know A Worthy New App? Let Us Know!

If you have an application in mind for the next issue of the roundup, feel free to send us an email and let us know.

Important: there are 2 requirements in order for the app to be considered, listed below.

the app's launch date has to be no longer than 2 weeks ago
it has to be original, ground-breaking, well-reviewed, interesting, fun, etc - the cream of the crop

1 sponsored placement per week is available (your app would be featured at the top and marked as sponsored) - please contact us for details.

Tags:Android Applications apps best Games live wallpapers LWPs new recommended tablet top worthy

Wednesday, 12 February 2014

17 Best New Android Apps And Live Wallpapers From The Last 2 Weeks