In a week in which we heard about the impending Apple Music refresh, Drake’s Views album proved a smash hit for Apple, and the LAPD revealed that it had successfully hacked the iPhone 5s as part of a high-profile murder investigation, some great new — and newly-updated — apps arrived in the App Store.
Check out our picks for the week’s best below. What better way to spend a lazy Sunday?
Bentayga TSR
Photo: Bentley
You know that complaint about the Apple Watch that you need an iPhone on you for it to work properly? Well, what about a new Apple Watch app which requires both an iPhone and a Bentley? Okay, so this is an app that most of us won’t be able to take advantage of this weekend (except for maybe Jony Ive), but it is decidedly interesting nonetheless.
British luxury car maker Bentley’s new Watch app works with the company’s Bentayga SUV, and allows Apple Watch wearers to control their vehicle’s in-car climate control, entertainment system, seat angle and massage function, as well as monitor information such as vehicle speed, distance travelled, and outside temperature — all from their wrist.
A glimpse of how we may eventually control the Apple Car? Let’s hope so.
Available for: Apple Watch
Cost: Free (well, plus a $229,100+ Bentley)
Get it from: App Store
Lumi
Photo: Lumi
Lumi is a news app with a difference. Rather than asking users to select their choice of news topics from a long list, Lumi uses algorithms to monitor your browsing preferences and then choose stories that match your reading habits. Like Tinder, you then swipe left (no) or right (yes) to indicate whether the stories are of interest to you — which helps further refine what is selected for you in future.
In addition to choosing stories based on your likes, location, and social media behavior, Lumi News also allows you to read any story you like offline, like a self-contained Pocket or Instapaper. Definitely worth a look!
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free
Get it from: App Store
Moog Model 15
Moog as experimented with synthesizer apps before, but this week it brought one of its most iconic creations — the 1973 era Model 15 snyth — to iOS courtesy of a great new app.
Costing just a fraction of the $10,000 price tag of the real Model 15, this app lets you replicate the experience right down to details like twiddly knobs and the colored patch cables used to change up the sound.
The app works for iPhone 5s and above, but really you’ll want to use the iPad — and ideally the iPad Pro — too get the best out of it.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: $29.99
Get it from: App Store
Netflix
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Netflix admitted back in March that it was throttling video speeds for viewers on AT&T and Verizon, so that users couldn’t enjoy HD video without a Wi-Fi connection. A new update tweaks this, however, by giving Netflix subscribers the right to choose by selecting the quality of video they would like to watch.
On top of that, the app’s latest updates also adds 3D Touch shortcuts for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users — letting users easily search, “continue watching” their most recent selections, or check out what’s “trending now” with a mere press of the Netflix icon on the home screen. Finally, the app brings improved VoiceOver navigation, while fixing an an issue that prevented the app from recognizing an internet connection.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free (plus Netflix subscription costs)
Get it from: App Store
INKS
Created by Lumino City developer State Of Play, INKS is one of the most uniquely gorgeous pinball games I’ve ever seen: with the name referring to the game’s unique visuals in which your ball leaves an inky trace wherever you go, so that the table winds up looking like a modern art canvas.
INKS is comprised of 72 different stages, and there’s an unexpected puzzle element, with the focus being on hitting targets rather than just racking up points and high scores. It’s almost certainly not the deepest pinball game for iOS out there, but as an experiment in something a bit different INKS is certainly worthy of your time.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: $1.99
Get it from: App Store
