Hal, Telescope, Weightroom Workout Tracker, and other apps to check out this weekend

This week’s edition of our Apps of the Week roundup features a new digital assistant run by humans, a powerful news reader app and a minimal workout tracker. And as usual, we’ve selected two great new games for you to check out.

Hal

No, it can’t open the pod bay doors. But the new Hal app promises to be the digital assistant you’ve been pining for. It’s not power by AI though, it’s powered by real live humans. Hungry for pizza? Hal’s got you covered. Need a plumber? They’re on the way. Think of Hal as a network of humans sitting at their computers, ready to answer your questions and help you with tasks. Privacy is key here, with every connection being made to a random person who knows nothing about you. Early reviews say the service works like magic. Unfortunately, it’s currently only available in a handful of cities, but the app was just too interesting not to mention.

Download for free

Telescope

Telescope is a news reader app where you can follow news sources, video channels and the RSS you love. All of the content you describe to is aggregated into a ‘Home Feed’ with the latest articles and videos sorted by their popularity amongst readers. The app is packed full of features and UI is very sharp. I know these days Twitter and other platforms have sort of replaced RSS apps like this, but for those looking for a different (or nostalgic) way to get the news, Telescope seems worth checking out.

Download for free

Weightroom Workout Tracker

Weightroom Workout Tracker is….well I’m sure you can guess. I know the name is a bit on the nose, and there are already hundreds of these apps in the App Store, but I think this type of software is extremely subjective—meaning, different features and designs are going to appeal to different people. And the most important thing about an app like this is that you like it, because then you’re far more likely to use it. WWT lets you track your workouts, progress and easily share both with friends. Features include detailed graphs, photo/video upload and it even has a built-in rest timer. If you’re looking for a simple workout tracker, that’s not flooded with IAPs, check this one out.

Download for free

Crazy Path

Looking for a quick-twitch game you can just pick up and play during brief moments of downtime? Check out Crazy Path. In it, players are tasked with escaping revolving mazes that get progressively more difficult. The gameplay is super simple: when blank spaces line up between side-by-side rings, tap the screen. Your piece will move to the next level. Tap your way through the entire maze, and a new one will load up. This is one of those games where I imagine there are several versions of it in the App Store, but this is the first one I’ve come across. It’s fast, it’s fun and it’s deceptively challenging.

Download for free 

R.B.I. Baseball 18

With baseball season now in full swing, it only felt right to mention this year’s version of the excellent R.B.I. Baseball game. The title has taken a significant leap this year, delivering an all-new Franchise Mode, new detailed player models, hundreds of new animations, high fidelity MLB ballparks, revamped crowd system, more dynamic camera angles and a stunning UI presentation. This is widely regarded as one of the best mobile baseball games available, so if you’re a fan of the sport, or are just looking for a new arcade/simulation game to play, be sure to check it out this weekend.

Download for $6.99

Other app news to check out