Welcome to the 525th edition of Android Apps Weekly, where we discuss the latest mobile news and take a closer look at some of the most interesting new apps and games. Let’s jump right in and take a look at some of last week’s biggest highlights:
- As promised, Google this week rolled out new changes to comply with the Digital Markets Act coming into effect in the European Union. A new screen will now pop up when setting up Android, allowing you to choose your preferred browser and search engine. Similar changes will also appear on desktop Chrome and iOS versions, making it easier to switch browsers.
- Google isn’t the only company pushing for changes to comply with the EU’s new DMA regulations, as Meta will soon make WhatsApp and Messenger interoperable, allowing you to use them with third-party messaging apps in Europe.
- Speaking of WhatsApp, Instagram will now be adding a few new features directly from it, including the ability to edit sent messages, read receipts, and pin up to three chats to the top of your messaging inbox.
- With the addition of Fitbit Premium and Nest Aware features, Google One Premium gets even better, at least if you’re in the UK. It’s unclear if or when these features will make their way to other countries where Google One Premium is available.
- The latest Pixel Drop was released earlier this week and removed the battery information stub. This means you can no longer access battery statistics, including manufacturing date and cycle count. The feature was first introduced in 2014 and was considered a great addition, so why was it suddenly removed? Google hasn’t revealed it yet, though it’s possible this is just a bug that will be fixed in the future.
- Google is testing a new mapping feature that can tell you where building entrances are. It seems that it is currently only being tested on some users. Building entrances are marked with a white circle, entrance icon, or a simple green arrow.
- The arrival of Windows 11 brings a number of big changes, including support for Android. The feature arrived much later than expected and remains in beta. For those who have never used it, Windows 11 has the ability to download Android apps and games through the Amazon AppStore and make them run seamlessly using a compatibility layer within Windows. Microsoft appears to have finally given up on this effort, announcing that it will end support and shut down access completely next year on March 5, 2025.
Android App Weekly: New Apps and Games
Looking for some new Android apps and Android games to keep you busy? There are two new apps to highlight this week, and three fantastic games.
Pet Shop Craze: Animal Hotels
- price: Free with in-app purchases
Pet Shop Frenzy: Animal Hospital has a very familiar kid’s game concept: you have to take care of sick animals. Through the interface, you can control different staff members in the hospital, and you can also pick up pets and take them to the doctor, groom them, and more. It’s an easy game to learn, and while I’m not the target demographic, my seven-year-old son played it for almost an hour and really enjoyed it. We both felt that the tutorial was a bit unnecessary as the game is very easy to understand. Overall, it’s not a bad title, but be aware that some annoying ads and other pop-ups may appear from time to time.
The title might lead you to think this is a horror game, but from the moment you watch the trailer or play the game, it’s clear that’s not the case. Instead, it’s a fun, quirky game that hearkens back to point-and-click classics from the past like King’s Quest, Monkey Island, and more. This is actually an anthology of graphic adventures that were previously released for free with in-app purchases. This new series seamlessly combines everything into a premium package that’s great value for the $3.49 asking price.
Kingdom: Blood
- price: Free with in-app purchases
“Kingdom: Hot Blood” is an action game adapted from the popular Korean Netflix series “Kingdom”. In the game, you and your allies fight against hordes of zombies in a Joseon-era setting. Let’s start with the positives: the graphics are pretty good for a mobile game, and the story isn’t bad. Unfortunately, the gameplay isn’t great, with a combat system that doesn’t allow you to dodge enemy attacks mid-attack, and a host of other inconsistencies. The user interface can also be quite laggy at times, and even the game itself can be sluggish, especially on older devices. If you’re a fan of Kingdom or action games, this game is worth a look, but be warned, it’s far from a perfect experience. Hopefully future updates will improve some of the game’s biggest issues, though only time will tell.
duel revolution
- price: Free with in-app purchases
As a Pokémon fan, I want to like this. The creatures are well designed, with graphics reminiscent of the more classic GBA/DS era Pokémon games. In many ways, it’s a good game and worth trying, but it’s definitely hampered by an aggressive pay-to-win model. They have better versions of Poké Balls that can only be obtained with real money, while the regular “free” balls have a terrible catch rate. There are a lot of bugs and other issues hampering the process as well. While it may get better with software updates, for now you’re better off paying extra to get Pokémon like in the game Coromon.
Adobe Express
- price: Free with in-app purchases
I personally use Adobe Express on my desktop computer every day or almost every day and am a huge fan. That’s why I’m excited to learn that the same experience will be coming to Android (and iOS) devices in the form of a new app. You can try the app for free, but many of its best features do require a $9.99 monthly subscription fee. The app makes it easy to resize images, change formats, create website banners, and more. Users with a Creative Cloud membership can also access and edit Illustrator and Photoshop files directly within the application. In addition, Adobe’s powerful Firefly-driven generation tools are also here.