App stores are crowded places these days, and because storage space on your phone is often at a premium, you’ll want to find and fill it with not only the best, but also the most helpful apps out there. Because they come and go quicker than the latest fashion trends, and digging through Google Play, the iTunes App Store, or any of the others is such a mission; a little nudge in the right direction is often very welcome. Here are the apps we think you need to check out this week.
Hopper
Flying has never been easier, but at the same time, it has never been harder. There are more planes in the air than ever and more travel options than the Wright Brothers could have imagined. However, booking a flight and boarding the plane are still needlessly time-consuming tasks. Plus, there is nothing more frustrating than finalizing your flight only to learn you could have saved $100 or so just by waiting a bit longer.
This is the problem Hopper aims to solve. It’s a new app made for travelers who would rather not drop more cash than need be. Which we think is pretty much everyone. It analyzes pricing, trends, and other key data to make suggestions on the best time to buy tickets. The app will notify you when a price drops or may be about to rise, so you’ll hopefully avoid overpaying. Hopper claims it can save you up to 40% on airfares. That makes it an app with real value.
Picturesque Lock Screen
Microsoft continues its trend of releasing solid apps for platforms other than Windows. Picturesque Lock Screen is pretty much exactly what you expect given its name, and it delivers on its promise by bringing gorgeous images (from Bing, of course) to your lock screen. Outside of some stunning backdrops, it also presents pertinent information like a basic weather report, call details, and bite-sized news so you can say informed without having to unlock the phone.
Reserve
Your nights out are about get to easier. Reserve is your own personal concierge service that takes just a few taps to set up the perfect night on the town. Set your reservations, get an alert when your table is available, and pay through the app when you’re done. It’s perfect for impressing your date or looking like an organizational genius while planning a business outing, which are two very good reasons to download it. The one downside is it currently only works in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and San Francisco.
Soul Seeker
Who says mobile games have to be simplistic? Soul Seeker proves just how deep games on the small screen can get. It’s an action-packed RPG with fun characters, great graphics, and plenty of excitement. There are over 200 characters to unlock and collect, many items to craft and combine, various weapons to master, and new worlds to explore. If you have a tendency to get hooked on RPGs, you may want to grab a battery pack to go with this one. You may end up needing it.
Midnight Star
Nothing legitimizes mobile gaming like the presence of one of the big guns from the world of consoles and PCs. The team at Industrial Toys is headed by the co-creator of Halo, and it’s hoped Midnight Star will do to mobile platforms what Halo did for the Xbox. Fight off aliens as you explore the solar system in this on-rails shooter that delivers incredible graphics on iOS. Could this be one of the first must-play, truly gamer focused, first-person shooters for mobile?
