5 can't-miss apps: Pushbullet, Radar, 'Big Emoji Quiz' and more

Published on 5 July 2015

With Apple finally launching its music streaming service and new leaks about the upcoming line of iPhones, you may have missed some of this week's best new apps.

Luckily, each weekend, we round up a few of our favorite new and updated apps. This week's list includes an emoji-based puzzle game, a new kind of contacts app and Pushbullet's biggest update yet.

Check out the gallery, below, to see our top picks. If you're looking for more, take a look at our last roundup of can't-miss apps.

 

  • Bigemojiquizcollage

    Big Emoji Quiz

    This pictionary-style game, relies solely on emoji. Each level presents a different string of emoji characters -- the clue -- along with a word bank of letters to fill in the blanks. The puzzles start out easy, but steadily ramp up in difficulty.

    Keep an eye on: The app’s few hints as levels sometimes reveal extra clues about the answers. If you earn enough coins you can also get some extra hints for each puzzle.

    Pro-tip: Sometimes the clues are literal and sometimes they hint at broader themes, like characters in a movie, for example. A $.99 in-app purchase will remove the app’s ads.

    Free: iOS

    Image: ThinkCube Inc.
  • Polarrcollage

    Polarr

    For a photo-editing app, Polarr manages to hit the sweet spot between advanced controls and intuitive controls. The app has a wide range of editing tools like color curves, lightning and exposure controls, local adjustments and HSL channels.

    Keep an eye on: The app’s filters, which can be customized with the rest of the app’s editing features. For those who want even more control, the app also allows you to create your own filters (with an in-app purchase).

    Pro-tip: Enable the app to use your phone’s gyroscope and you can control the amount of each effect by tilting your phone

    Free: iOS

    Image: Polarr, Inc.
  • Pushbulletcollage

    Pushbullet

    Pushbullet got what its creators are saying is one of its biggest updates yet this week. The notification-centric app helps users share files and links between devices so you can, say, share a link from your Mac’s clipboard to your iPhone. The latest update builds out the app’s messaging features by allowing friends to not only share files but also exchange messages with one another in a new conversation view.

    Keep an eye on: The app’s new chat features are also available within the app’s browser extensions and desktop apps.

    Pro-tip: The “me” category shows you the photos, links and other files you’ve shared with yourself from all your devices.

    Free: iOS and Android

    Image: Pushbullet
  • Radarcollage

    Radar

    Part contacts management, part social media, Radar aims to keep you up to date with all the news your friends are sharing on social media. Connect the app to your contacts and to the social networks you use and Radar surfaces a feed of updates based on what your contacts are sharing on each platform.

    Keep an eye on: The app sorts updates chronologically, so the first updates you see are the ones that were most recently shared.

    Pro-tip: If you want to interact with a particular update — like replying to a tweet — tapping on an individual update will open it in the corresponding app on your phone.

    Free: iOS

    Image: Danny Witters
  • Ramboatcollage

    Ramboat

    Ramboat got a Fourth of July-themed makeover with two new “patriotic” characters: Uncle Sam and Elvis. There's also a new level that includes landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Capitol Building.

    Keep an eye on: Your military rank, which changes as your complete more and more missions.

    Pro-tip: Controlling your speed is key to the game. It takes some time to find the right rhythm, but figuring out the strategy for speed and brakes will help you advance past the steadily more difficult levels.

    Free: iOS and Android

    Image: Genera Mobile