From a Snapchat-inspired Instagram update to a beautifully frustrating endless runner puzzle game, 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!
Disney Mix
Chances are that Disney Mix isn’t designed for you, but if you have young children who regularly use smartphones or tablets, this could well be an app for them. It’s yet another messaging app, but one which packs in all the Disney emojis, content updates, custom cartoon avatars, games, and — perhaps most importantly — safety features you (or your kids) could want.
On this last note, the group chat feature allows users to summon an adult if they’re concerned about anything, via a single button press — at which point an adult moderator gets involved. There are also steps to avoid bullying or harassing behavior so that, while it’s still important to keep an eye on what your kids are doing, you can be fairly confident this is an environment in which they’ll be safe.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free
Get it from: App Store
Spotify
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
You can be an Apple Music fan, a Tidal fan, or a Spotify fan, but the fact of the matter is that having as many strong competitors as possible in the streaming music space improves the experience for everyone. This week, Spotify added a new feature to its service in the form of Release Radar: a new playlist system which makes it easier than ever to follow the artists you’re a fan of.
Unlike discovery systems designed to let you find out about new artists, Release Radar instead focuses on on aggregating the latest music from the acts you’re already an enjoyer of — and then alerts you of their latest tracks in the form of a new weekly playlist, updated every Friday. To access the feature, visit the “Discover” section of the app and then go to “New Releases for You.”
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free (subscription available)
Get it from: App Store
Crooked Path
If Saul Bass, the legendary movie credits designer, created an endless running game for iOS, I imagine it wouldn’t look dissimilar to Ruvix’s Crooked Path. It’s a gorgeous, isometric-view puzzle game with an absorbing soundtrack — and the misleadingly simple goal of guiding your silhouetted runner toward the bright light at the end of every level.
I was made aware of the existence of Crooked Path courtesy of the good folks at App Advice, and it’s certainly a puzzle game I’ve very much enjoyed since downloading it. Perhaps not one for the easily frustrated, though…
Available for: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Cost: $1.99
Get it from: App Store
Instagram Stories
Instagram rolled out a new feature this week, basically ripping off borrowing Snapchat Stories by giving users the ability to share multiple photos and videos in a single slideshow, which then disappears after 24 hours.
While Instagram still sees an average of 60 million photos uploaded per day from its user base of 500 million, this shakeup is still a positive move to keep up with other image sharing apps which have also managed to find a place in the daily lives of users everywhere.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free
Get it from: App Store
