Touché, Asymmetric, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Looking for some app recommendations to get you through this chilly November Sunday? Want to know which apps have been occupying our Macs and iOS devices this week — and why? Then you’ve come to the right place for our weekly roundup.

Whether you’re looking for an entertaining puzzle game or a great update for a fun fitness app, check out our recommendations below. You won’t regret it!

Touché

macbook pro touch bar
Want to try the new MacBook Pro Touch Bar without dropping a few grand?
Photo: Apple

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The Touch Bar for Apple’s new MacBook Pro has received something of a mixed appraisal from critics, with many people suggesting that it has potential, but maybe isn’t quite right for all users yet.

If you’re tempted by the upgrade, but want to try before you buy, you can get a free taster courtesy of Red Sweater Software’s new Mac app Touché.

Touché lets any Mac replicate the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar, complete with all the customization options Apple has been so keen to sell users on.

Sure, you don’t get the actual “touch” aspect of it, but if you want a menu bar that gives you an idea of how well Apple’s newest innovation works, this is well worth checking out.

Available for: Mac
Cost: Free
Get it from: Red Sweater Software

Asymmetric

If you’re in the mood for a fun puzzle game, Asymmetric has got you covered with a deceptively simple brainteaser in which you must reunite two characters — each on either side of the screen — by guiding them through mazes.

The catch? That each move you make controls both characters, but each moves in opposite directions.

There are 66 different levels in all, offering a variety of obstacles, themes and character pairs. The game also boasts an enjoyable piano-based soundtrack and a charming art style. Recommended!

Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: $1.99
Get it from: App Store

Carrot Fit

I’ve long been a fan of the excellent Carrot series of apps, and this week Carrot Fit just got a big update with the addition of extra content for its “7 Minutes of Hell” workouts, just in time for the holidays.

For those unfamiliar with it, Carrot takes concepts like to-do lists, alarm clocks, weather apps and, yes, workout trackers, and augments them with a sarcastic, wise-cracking AI taskmaster. Carrot Fit’s update incorporates a new visual look, easier accessing of workout history, and Apple Watch integration.

Available for: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Cost: $3.99 (with $1.99 in-app purchase)
Get it from: App Store

WhatsApp

WU
WhatsApp finally got video calling this week.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

We’ve been waiting for WhatsApp to offer video calling since the feature first leaked out last December — and this week it finally rolled it out.

The app’s latest update lets users video chat with other WhatsApp users — including those not using iOS devices — for free. Right now, the feature looks a little bit basic, but Manpreet Singh, a.k.a. WhatsApp’s lead mobile engineer, has promised it will evolve. “We will try to be the best video calling platform out there,” he said.

Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free
Get it from: App Store

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