Apps of the Week: Notability, Carrot Alarm, Flip, Plants vs Zombies 2 and more

iPhone 5 appsThe weekend is upon us again. No more getting up early, putting on a suit, and heading out for a grueling day’s work. For the next two days, you can rest your head, watch movies on Netflix, and play your favorite games.

Whether you want to take a virtual tour of exotic locations, learn about one of the world’s most epic wars, or just want something new to wake you up in the morning, we have a list of apps to get your through the weekend…

Sphere

Sphere

I have to say, I can’t get enough of this app. I check it daily to see what new locations have been added. I love seeing the beautiful landscapes and luxurious hotels that are featured in this app. Sphere shows you high-quality 360-degree views of places all over the world. Whether you are on a tropical beach in Central America or floating above the Himilayas in a hot air balloon, this app offers a complete view of everything around you in one image. Using augmented reality, you can literally turn around and see what is behind you, or look up to see the ornate ceiling above. This app is available for free.

Plants vs. Zombies 2

PvZ2

I honestly thought I was done with the PvZ universe. I played the original game until I never wanted to hear the groan of a walking dead creature again. As the hype was heating up over the launch of the sequel, I all but rolled my eyes at it. However, when I downloaded it on Thursday morning, I had such a hard time putting it down that I almost didn’t get any work done. Sure, it is practically the same as the original, but at the same time, it’s not. Egyptian zombies. Plant Food. There is all manner of little treats to take you back to the first time you planted a sun-yielding flower. This game is available for free.

Timeline World War I with Robert MacNeil

Timeline WW1

If you are a history buff, then you will want to check out this extraordinary iPad app. It is full of information, journal entries, interviews, and images of every day of the First World War. There is an interactive timeline where you can experience the events of WWI. Watch more than 100 clips of newsreels of the war, see an interactive map that shows the movement of the military forces as they battle each other. Read daily accounts from generals and priests, read by other service men. It is considered an unprecedented exploration of the history of World War I. This app is available for $9.99.

Gurk III

Gurk III 3

Speaking of history. Travel back to a time when computer games were revolutionary at a technological advancement of eight bits in this simple, but engaging role-playing game. Control a party of three adventurers as you travel across the lands, killing monsters and looting gold. Earn experience points for completing quests. Level up your party and earn better armor, weapons, and spells. Spend your gold in the town shops to get the goods you need to survive the dungeons of yore. The first two games in the Gurk series are only available for Android, so iOS users can celebrate the first time this charming RPG is available for the iPhone. This game is available for $1.99.

Notability

notability

The App Store’s most popular note-taking app has finally gone universal. It is now available for the iPhone and iPad. Additionally, the app has been updated to support iCloud for easy access from any iOS device. Plus, it’s got a whole new look for the iOS 7 future. Users can write, draw, and annotate PDF documents, contracts, and more. You can easily import and mark up documents from a wide variety of formats. Notability also includes a word processor for typing up notes, and a recording feature so you can record lectures. This app is available for $2.99.

CARROT Alarm

CARROT Alarm

Another addition to our list of great alarm clock apps is the witty AI Alarm CARROT. She will sing to you, tell you jokes, and even yell at you if you try to sleep in. All you have to do is pick a wake up time and CARROT will be waiting with bells on. She will wake you up in the morning with a song. If that doesn’t get you out of bed, She might try to bribe you. If you are still too lazy to get up, you’d better watch out for your kitten or she’ll have its head. This app is available for $0.99.

FLIP

FLIP

If you are tired of seeing your photos in the same, boring way. Why not cut them into strips and glue them back together, or make a scenic grid out of them. FLIP lets you turn your photos into grid-based collages so you can see the world in a whole new way. Once you’ve flipped your photo into a crazy collage, you can share it with others on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If you want a more permanent version of your artwork, order a photo book of your FLIPs from Printzel. This app is available for $0.99.

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