It’s the weekend again ya’ll, and that means it’s time for another Apps of the Week roundup. This week we have some fantastic picks for you including a book translator to help you learn new languages, an impressive new finance tracker, and an app that offers up daily photo challenges. And as always, we’ve selected a fun new game for you to check out.
Linga: Books with translations
Raise your hand if you made the not-so-realistic New Year’s resolution to learn a new language. Now keep them up if you’ve started actively working on that goal. That’s what I thought. Well for those of you still holding out hope, there’s Linga. It’s not a brand new app, but it’s an interesting option for those looking to learn a new language by way of reading. It has over 1,000 books in its library translated into at least 5 different languages, and a variety of features to help you learn. There are 6 diverse training modes, a custom vocabulary word builder, pronunciation tools to ensure you master the accent, grammar insights, and much more. Well I don’t know about ya’ll, but yo soy excited.
Pocket: Track all your finances
The Pocket finance app: what’s in your pocket? Oh don’t mind me, I’m just working out tag lines for this awesome-named app. As you’ve probably guessed by now, Pocket is an app that helps you keep track of your finances. It stands out in the crowded space by offering a unified financial perspective, meaning it processes data from all your accounts across all platforms, so you don’t have to constantly switch between apps. It also does this without needing to scrape your email and text messages, making it more private and secure. You get real-time, easy-to-understand financial reports, customized budgets, and in-depth insights into your spending habits. I think there is even some AI mixed in there somewhere, but they don’t tout it like it’s the only feature. Honestly, as far as these apps go, this is the most impressive we’ve seen in a long time. It’s definitely worth checking out…if you’re into the whole “responsible adult” thing.
Picaday
This one might be more of a game than an app, but screw it. The idea is super clever. The app is called Picaday, and it offers up daily photo challenges you can compete in against your friends. Each day at a random time you’re sent a notification of an item you must find and photograph as fast as possible. You’re awarded more points the faster you are, and your entries are analyzed by AI to validate their authenticity. It’s like an everyday scavenger hunt, one item at a time. Some of the challenges are easy—can, hat—but you have to imagine at some point they get more difficult. I know if I was in charge, I’d start feeling mischievous one day and start making weird challenges: find a left-handed person wearing a bow tie, walking their dog in the rain. Identical twins wearing zebra costumes, dancing on top of the Empire State building. Anyway, you get the idea; seems like a fun way to spend the weekend.
Galaxy Swirl: Hexa Endless Run
Tell me this game doesn’t look awesome. It’s called Galaxy Swirl, and it’s an adrenaline-fueled sci-fi infinite runner set in the vastness of outer space. Navigate your spaceship around a mesmerizing sphere made of hexagonal pillars, all while an electrifying electronic soundtrack pumps through your speakers. Master the art of dodging treacherous obstacles like lasers, orbital beams, and relentless currents. Oh man, it even sounds awesome! There are 5 stages to conquer, each with increasing levels of difficulty, and you have all the features you’d expect at your fingertips: customizable space ships, power-ups, protective shields, collectible coins, and more. Hey if the scavenger hunt thing didn’t do it for you, this seems like a nice alternative way to spend your weekend.