Filmborn, Tiny Wings, and other awesome apps of the week

In a week in which the App Store went red to mark World AIDS Day and we got a big update on when Apple’s AirPods are set to ship, here are the apps which were keeping us busy.

From a great new game for Apple TV to a superb photography app for iOS, check out our picks for the latest awesome apps.

Filmborn

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There are a plethora of advantages to digital photography over film, but that’s not going to stop some people being nostalgic for days gone by. That’s an audience new iOS film emulation app Filmborn is more than happy to cater for — and with good effect.

Filborn lets users shoot pictures with the look of a classic film by Fuji, Kodak or Ilford, or else import a photo from their camera roll and change their appearance in-app. It may be yet another Instagram-esque filter app — but it’s one that produces stunning results, and which works exceptionally well at simulating the nine different film finishes it offers.

If you love the look of classic film, or just want to find out a bit more about how different film stock impacts different pictures, this is the app for you.

Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free (with in-app purchases)
Get it from: App Store

Tiny Wings

One of the most addictive games you’ll ever play on iOS, Tiny Weeks this week made its debut on the fourth-generation Apple TV. For those unfamiliar with it, in the game you control a bird that uses the hills to take flight, and your aim is to fly for as long as possible before you run out of momentum and it goes dark.

Add great gameplay mechanics and gorgeous visuals to that simple premise and you get a game that you, formerly, kept you glued to your iPad or iPhone — and now to your Apple TV, as well.

Available for: Apple TV
Cost: $2.99
Get it from: App Store

Luminar

If you’re looking for photo editing software that works with your fancy brand new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, look no further than MacPhun’s all-in-one photo editing software Luminar.

Offering more than 300 tools, including simple presets, to help perfect your photography, Luminar’s latest update lets you carry out clone and stamp, noise reduction, crop and transform, and erase features using Apple’s OLED Touch Bar.

The verdict is still out on whether the Touch Bar is gimmick or genuine innovation. However, if you’re searching for a productivity app to help make your mind up, Luminar could be the software you’re looking for.

Available for: Mac
Cost: $59 (or $49 if you already own Macphun photo software)
Get it from: MacPhun

Netflix

Anyone who has been dreaming about watching the excellent Stranger Things or The Crown on the subway to work without munching through their data allowance got a big treat this week — courtesy of a Netflix update which allows users with the official Netflix app to download TV shows and movies for offline viewing.

For more on how to download shows, check out our handy “how to” guide here.

Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free (with subscription costs)
Get it from: App Store

Luke Dormehl

Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.