Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Welcome to the 365th edition of Android Apps Weekly. Here are the big headlines from last week.
- The WWE Network will be closed in March 2021. Peacock has the rights to broadcast and all WWE content will go there after the exchange. NBCUniversal paid $ 1 billion for the rights. The transition takes place on March 18, 2021. After that, you will need to obtain your WWE content from Peacock. You can check out Peacock here.
- Last week, we talked about Google eventually making its Google messaging app available only on certified phones. It turns out that Google Duo can receive the same treatment. This does not change anything for Google Play Store users. However, this will change for people who have devices that do not use Google Play Services. Click the link to learn more.
- The Indian government banned Chinese apps in 2020. The entire disaster was on our list of last year’s most controversial apps. This week, the Indian government has made the ban permanent for about 60 Chinese apps. Some of the names include TikTok, WeChat, Baidu and various Xiaomi applications.
- Plex is entering the game streaming market with its new Plex Arcade. It has several Atari titles and supports titles from its own library. SEGA and Nintendo consoles are also supported, with more support coming soon. It also supports a variety of platforms such as Chromecast, Android TV, Apple TV and others. Click the link to learn more.
- The WhatsApp drama continues this week, but not in the usual way. Telegram now allows you to import your WhatsApp chats to Telegram if you decide to switch. In addition, Signal added several features to attract WhatsApp users as well. The battle for future ex-WhatsApp users is well under way in the end-to-end privacy chat segment now. WhatsApp is still adding features, including biometric authentication to its web and desktop applications.
Star Hunter
Price: Free to play
Stellar Hunter is an engaging mix of space RPG and roguelike. You get the RPG fun of leveling up and getting stronger, but also randomly generated events and stuff to play sticks on your wheels. The game is in the style of mobile RPG with some unique twists. Therefore, it is very simple to learn and play. This one has its ups and downs, but the concepts are fun. There is also a gacha element that you don’t need to pay much attention to. It is very good, although there is a level of expectation with the game’s twists and turns.
Touch Locker
Price: Free / $ 0.99
Touch Locker is a utility application with a very specific function. It allows you to lock your touch screen so that you cannot touch it. The application is mainly for watching media or listening to music. You can start your media, enable the app and you can’t accidentally touch the screen to mess things up. Just swipe down on the status bar and stop the service with the notification. There are a variety of niche use cases for something like that and the app does what it says on our test phones. However, there are some people reporting that it does not work on their phones.
Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Dragon Quest Tact
Price: Free to play
Dragon Quest Tact is a new gacha mobile RPG from Square Enix. He uses the cast of monsters from the Dragon Quest games, both figuratively and literally. You summon monsters, level them up and use them to fight the bad guys. The game can be used even for low rarity monsters, but we haven’t tested the game long enough to see what they were in the course of the game. Otherwise, it’s a pretty decent mobile gacha with Dragon Quest combat and story elements. Our only potential complaint is the gem system. It can end up being a little aggressive during the final game.
Simple notepad
Price: Free / $ 1.99
Simple notepad is, well, a simple notepad application. You can create notes, edit notes, and share notes with others. The application has a simple UI, a light and dark mode, and that is all. The base version comes with advertising and you can remove the ads with a single in-app purchase. The application will not illuminate the Play Store with its originality. However, it works very well, especially for advanced users. Others may want something a little more modern, like Google Keep or ColorNote.
Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom
Price: $ 9.99
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is a mobile version of a remastered classic video game released for the PC last year. The remastering removed some content from the game, but added some other elements. The game allows you to play as SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy as you make your way through various levels to save the Bikini Bottom from the robots. The game also features Google Play Games features, as well as controller support. It’s a little expensive, $ 9.99, but it has no in-app purchases or ads.
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If we missed any great Android app or game launch, tell us about them in the comments!