The greatest apps you might have missed this week

By

If you're appy and you know it, check our list!
Looking for recommendations for the weekend?
Photo: Cult of Mac

Looking for an app or two to while away the weekend? Then you’ve come to the right place, my friend!

From reading apps to Terminator navigation tools to gorgeous RPGs, we’ve got everything you need to know about the latest must-have apps.

Check out our top picks below:

Waze
Come with me if you want to drive!
Photo: Orion Pictures

Waze

Ever wanted Arnold Schwarzenegger to personally direct you about town? Thanks to a canny bit of cross-promotion between the new Terminator Genisys movie and Google-owned navigation app Waze, now you can have everything you wished for and more.

In his guise as the nigh-indestructable Terminator, Arnie will provide turn-by-turn directions, while throwing in some of his trademark one-liners. To use the app, simply download Waze, navigate to the settings menu, then select “Sound” and “Voice Language.”

Available on: iPhone
Price: Free
Download: App Store

Dark Sky 5.0 displays 24-hour forecasts in a new timeline.
Dark Sky 5.0 displays 24-hour forecasts in a new timeline.
Photo: DarkSky

Dark Sky

Beloved for its super-accurate, minute-by-minute weather forecasts, Dark Sky’s updated version 5.0 app brings a new vertical timeline that lets you check out the next 24 hours of weather — complete with adjustable sliders for viewing precipitation, temperature, wind, humidity, or the UV index.

The app’s makers have thrown in a new notifications system too, while iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners get additional pressure data based on the barometer sensor Apple reportedly added for its latest iPhone. Am I the only one who hadn’t heard of that up until now?

Available on: iPhone/iPad
Price: $4
Download: App Store

Save yourself energy while checking your iPhone's power.
Save yourself energy while checking your iPhone’s power.
Photo: Thientam Beck

Power

Okay so it’s pretty much the definition of #firstworldproblems, but sometimes you want to check how much battery life is remaining on your iPhone without having to pull it out of your pocket. If you have an Apple Watch now you can, thanks to this nifty Watch app by jailbreaker Thientam Beck.

Now why on earth didn’t Apple make something like this a standard part of WatchOS?

Available on: Apple Watch
Price: $0.99
Download: App Store

You should elect to download this ASAP.
You should elect to download this ASAP.
Photo: Brigade Brigade

Brigade

Backed by Sean Parker, Brigade is sort of like the Twitter or Tinder of political opinion — with users quizzed on their answers to various issues to find out where they lie on the political spectrum. While it’s available for download, it’s still in beta — but worth an early look if you’re intrigued by the concept.

Available on: iPhone
Price: Free
Download: App Store

The Netflix for reading just got smarter.
The Netflix for reading just got smarter.
Photo: Oyster

Oyster

There are various studies which show that looking at smartphones and tablets just before bed can negatively affect your sleep cycles because of the blue light they emit — tricking your brain into thinking it’s time to wake up.

With that in mind, e-book subscription service Oyster has just upgraded its app (think “Netflix for books”) to gradually filter out blue-light emissions as it gets later. The result? You can read late at night, safe in the knowledge it won’t keep you past the point that you want.

Unless it’s a really good book, that is!

Available on: iPhone/iPad
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Download: App Store

A top contender for iOS game of the year?
A top contender for iOS game of the year?
Photo: Supergiant

Transistor

The second game of developer Supergiant, Transistor is an epic RPG, originally available for the PlayStation 4, PC and Mac. Featuring console-quality graphics, a great story and one of the most memorable female protagonists I can remember in a recent game, Transistor has my highest recommendations.

So long as you’re happy to lose your entire weekend playing it, that is.

Available on: iPhone/iPad
Price: $9.99
Download: App Store

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.