From a great update for an already fantastic iPhone keyboard to a couple of tremendous iOS games that’ll keep you busy on the subway to work, 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!
Hidden Folks
Do you like original, attractive iOS puzzle games? Do you have fond memories of the “Where’s Waldo?” books (or “Where’s Wally?”, as they’re known elsewhere in the world.)
If you answered in the affirmative to both of these questions, you’ll likely find something to enjoy about Adriaan de Jongh and Sylvian Tegroeg’s Hidden Folks, a charmingly hand-drawn and animated hidden objects game, in which you must identify particular objects within densely crowded scenes.
It’s a lot of fun, and the concept is delivered to such a high standard that you can’t help but enjoy it.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: $3.99
Get it from: App Store
Gboard
Photo: Cult of Mac
Google’s excellent Gboard keyboard for iPhone got a great update this week, adding voice dictation. That’s something that the regular iOS keyboard has offered for a while, but a couple of things make Gboard worth considering.
The first is that it uses Google’s own voice recognition technology, which you access by holding down the space bar. If you’ve had issues with Apple’s voice recognition service in the past (on the whole, I think it’s pretty good), Google’s offering is a tremendous alternative.
The second reason to get it is that Gboard is a great keyboard either way. This update also brings new emoji, Google Doodles, and support for 15 additional languages to a keyboard that’s built around harnessing the full power of Google’s search capabilities. Definitely recommended.
Available for: iPhone
Cost: Free
Get it from: App Store
Castro 2
Photo: Castro 2
Supertop’s Castro 2 podcast player is one of my favorite podcast apps out there, making it easier and more manageable to organize your commute playlist with some nifty queue tools.
Its update this week added custom notifications to allow “episode triage” without you having to open the app. It also tweaked some of its existing features, so that episode playback happens faster, animations are smoother, and it’s easier to skip between podcast episodes.
If you’re a regular podcast listener, and have only tried Apple’s standard Podcasts app, it’s definitely worth checking out Castro 2. Especially if, like myself, you find yourself subscribing to more podcasts than you can possibly listen to.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: $3.99
Get it from: App Store
Turmoil
Ever wanted to be an uber-capitalist oil baron? Turmoil will let you live those “There Will Be Blood” fantasies, courtesy of a great resource management game in which you compete against other likeminded entrepreneurs to become king (or queen) of the pipelines.
Things start small, with limited options to play with, but before long you’ll be bribing folks, upgrading pipes, and generally doing whatever it takes to succeed.
Having previously appeared on PC, this iPad version manages the jump to touch interface very well. If this concept appeals to you, I think you’ll really dig the results. Pun kind of intended.
Available for: iPad
Cost: $5.99
Get it from: App Store
