Pokémon GO, Thinga.me, and other awesome apps of the week

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Appy weekend, all!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

From the augmented reality Pokémon game everyone’s talking about to a notable update to disappearing messaging app Snapchat, we’ve sifted through this week’s most exciting apps to bring you the ones you absolutely need to download now.

Check out our picks below. Trust us, this is the way you want to spend Sunday!

Snapchat Memories

Snapchat’s big hook has always been its ephemeral nature, but this week the disappearing messages app got a big update in the form of Memories — a feature which lets users save Snaps and Stories so they can access them later

To find the new Memories section, swipe up from the camera screen. Specific memories can then be found using search, or by scrolling through the different tiles.

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

Pokémon GO

The eagerly-anticipated augmented reality game Pokémon GO arrived in the App Store this week. A bit like geocaching with Pikachu, Charizard and the rest of the gang thrown in, Pokémon GO sends players on a scavenger hunt in which they must track down a variety of Pokémon in a real-world map.

The game is free with micro transactions, with the possible addition of a $35 optional accessory, which vibrates when a catchable Pokémon is nearby.

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

Thinga.me

Say what you want about Microsoft, but its Garage research lab — dedicated to “developing the hacking culture” — has certainly created some interesting apps and projects. Its latest? A new app called Thinga.me, which takes a different approach to sharing photos by automatically extracting objects from images to build up virtual collections tyou can then display in a variety of ways.

If that sounds confusing, check out the above video, which will give you an idea of how Thinga.me works. Right now it’s a closed beta — which you have to apply to be part of — but I can definitely this appealing to the same audience who have made Pinterest such a success.

Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free
Sign up for the beta at: App Store

Super Stickman Golf 3

A 2D golf-based puzzle game, Super Stickman Golf 3 captures the wacky fun of “crazy golf” in a way I’ve not seen on mobile before. Building on the excellent Super Stickman Golf 2, this third installment in the series boasts a new spin mechanic which adds a previously imaginable level of depth to gameplay.

There are 20 new courses for you to play through, turn-based and real-time multiplayer modes, an assortment of crazy power-ups, plenty of achievements to take a swing at, and far more. There have been some great iOS games so far this year, but Super Stickman Golf 3 can make a strong claim to being one of the absolute best. Download it now!

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

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