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5 Android apps you shouldn't miss this week! - Android Apps Weekly

Welcome back to Android Apps Weekly! This week we talk about the official launch of Cortana, saying goodbye to some Dropbox services, and more!
By
December 13, 2015
Android Apps Weekly

Welcome back to Android Apps Weekly! Here are your headlines for this week!

  • Nova Launcher is currently selling the prime version of their iconic launcher app for a mere $0.99 and our readers have informed us that it’s even less in other regions. We don’t know how long the sale will go for but it was still going strong for right now. Get it quick because this won’t last forever.
  • The waffling by Google to release their Contacts and Phone app to the Play Store continued this last week. First they were up, then Google took them down but at the time of the making of this video, are back up again. They’re totally free but it seems like you can only get them on select Nexus devices right now.
  • Amazon announced a new initiative called the Streaming Partners Program. The object of this is simple. With your Prime subscription, you can access third party streaming services such as AMC, Showtime, Starz, and IndieFlix. The big players like Hulu or Netflix aren’t available to the surprise of no one, but this could make Amazon Prime a little more fun.
  • After a long wait, Google is finally releasing a family plan for Google Play Music. It’ll be $14.99 per month and can be shared with up to six family members. In applicable regions, you’ll also get YouTube Red access. That’s an excellent deal for pretty much everyone and you can get it right now.
  • Dropbox announced that it was going to shut down its Mailbox and Carousel service in early 2016. While I know there are some people who will be upset about this, the truth is that neither service really took off and they were never really as good as competitor apps. They will join Google Helpouts as great ideas that very few people ever actually used.

For even more Android apps and games headlines, updates, and new releases, don’t forget to check out this week’s newsletter! We had a ton of stuff we didn’t get to include here that you may find interesting. If you so choose, you can sign up for the newsletter using the form below and we’ll send it to you every Sunday!


5miles Android Apps Weekly
5miles

[Price: Free]
5miles is a new application that performs a lot of the same functionality as Craigslist. It’s essentially a classifieds service that lets you sell things, post services and job openings, and a whole lot more. The app uses GPS and zip code to find listings in your area and you can do things like post voice descriptions, register with Facebook, and there’s even a built-in messaging system. It’s a little rough around the edges, but keep an eye on it.


swiftkey symbols Android Apps Weekly
SwiftKey Symbols

[Price: Free]
SwiftKey Symbols is a new, very different type of keyboard. Instead of words and letters, SwiftKey Symbols uses symbols to allow people to communicate. This is a great application and can potentially be useful for those with autism or other, various communication disorders. It’s a bit simplistic right now and users are already asking for more symbols, but still, this is a pretty great little thing. Related: Best keyboard apps for Android

SwiftKey Symbols Android Apps Weekly

snap swipe drawer Android Apps Weekly
Snap Swipe Drawer

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Snap Swipe Drawer is a new app that kind of gives you a second notification shade. Except this one has a bunch of widgets in it. Think of it like a stash for your widgets so you don’t have to use so many on your home screens. It can be configured to be available at any time you want it. There are some release day bugs but that’s to be expected. Don’t let that prevent you from giving it a shot because it is pretty nifty.


age of empires world domination Android Apps Weekly
Age of Empires: World Domination

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Age of Empires: World Domination is the latest Age of Empires game to launch on Android. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to try this one ourselves because it is only available in select markets right now, but you can expect a full release sometime in the near future once the kinks have been worked out. We can tell you that it’s going with a Freemium model which is different from prior titles so it won’t cost you anything to try it. Related: Best new Android games


cortana Android Apps Weekly
Cortana

[Price: Free]
After a long wait, Microsoft has finally released Cortana to the wild. As expected, the app and service are a little rough around the edges, but we’ve no doubt that Microsoft will cure the bugs and improve the service over time, much like Google did with Google Now. It’s totally free to download and use so there’s no harm in seeing it for yourself. It’s also worth noting that you must have a PC running Windows 10 and opted into Cortana before you can use the app.


Wrap up

Did we miss any awesome Android apps and games news? If so, tell us about it in the comments! Thanks for watching and read, and we’ll see you next week!