Talk Android Apps of the Week: December 20, 2015

It’s Sunday, the time of the week when Talk Android brings you a report on some of the very best applications we’ve been using over the course of the past seven days. Today we’re focusing our attention on a fantastic photo storing platform, a reliable weather tracker, an awesome music streaming service and last, but not least, an addictive game.

Google Photos

Whether you’re an incessant selfie snapper or someone who likes to take shots of your surroundings wherever you go, it’s odds-on you have an abundance of pictures stored on your phone. Backing up these images and having them sync across all of your devices can be a bit of a pain, though. However, last week I unearthed a nifty little application developed in-house by Google that does all the hard work for you.

Google Photos is its name and it replaces the default Gallery application on your handset to become your one-stop-shop for any photo-related tasks. Once you’ve configured the application and linked it to your Google account, all of your pictures will be transferred to the devices you have the app installed on.

There’s no need to worry about how much space the images are taking up, either. You can upload an unlimited amount of images to Photos, providing you give permission for them to be scaled down and compressed. However, If you do want to retain the full size and quality of your pictures, you can simply upload them as part of your Drive storage allowance.

Play Store Download Link

BBC Weather

The weather affects a variety of factors in our day-to-day lives, like, for instance, what we wear, what route we take, what time we leave and even if we go at all. These are just a few reasons why it’s handy to be prepared for what’s in store. My favorite weather tracking application is without a doubt BBC Weather.

Not only is the app extremely simple and clear to use, but it also features the most detailed and reliable information you’ll find on the Web. All of its statistics come straight from the Met Office, so you’ll be the first to see any severe weather warnings issued at your location wherever you maybe.

Unfortunately, one essential feature the application does lack is Android Wear compatibility, but the developers have hinted that it is on its way, and should be available some time during the first Quarter of 2016 — so be sure to keep your browser pointed to Talk Android for more details on that.

Play Store Download Link

Apple Music

Apple’s brand new music streaming platform is now available for Android in beta form, and to be completely honest, it’s by far the best audio service I’ve ever subscribed to. After signing up for a free 3-month trial, you’ll have instant access to over 30 million songs, which you can play live or download for offline playback at any time.

The application itself is a treat to use. When using it, you’ll be presented with recommendations selected purely on what you already listen to and love. You’ll also be able to tune into live radio streams, where you can hear exclusive interviews and tasters of upcoming songs.

One of Apple Music’s greatest features is its ability to bring all of your iTunes purchases to Android. This thankfully bridges the gap between Apple’s music platform and Google’s open-source operating system, which previously never played nicely together, but now it will be easier than ever to access songs from your iTunes library on your Android smartphone.

Play Store Download Link

Circle

Up last this week, we’re looking at Circle, a puzzle game which brings a new lease of life to traditional ‘avoid the wire’ titles. All you have to do is continuously tap your device’s display to make your circle jump so it steers clear of the metal pipe. If you do happen to come into contact with the line, you instantly fail the level and have no other option than to start again. Progress is tracked by the scores that you hit. The higher you go, the better it is.