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 hottest new apps and games. Let’s jump right in and take a look at some of the biggest events from the past week:
- As promised, this week Google introduced new changes to comply with the Digital Markets Act coming into force in the EU. There are now new screens that appear when setting up Android, allowing you to select the browser and search engine of your choice. Similar changes will also be coming to Chrome for desktop and iOS, 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 interoperability, allowing you to use them with third-party messaging apps in Europe.
- Speaking of WhatsApp, Instagram will now add some new features directly from it, including the ability to edit sent messages, read receipts, and the ability to pin up to three conversations to the top of the message inbox.
- Google One Premium gets even better with the addition of Fitbit Premium and Nest Aware features, at least if you’re in the UK. There’s no word on if or when these features will come to other countries where Google One Premium is offered.
- The latest Pixel Drop arrived earlier this week and with it came the removal of the battery information section. This means that you can no longer access battery statistics including date of manufacture and number of cycles. This feature was first introduced in 2014 and was considered a nice addition, so why the sudden removal? Google has yet to say, though it’s possible that it could just be a bug that will be fixed in the future.
- Google is testing a new Maps feature that tells you where building entrances are. This appears to be currently only being tested with select users. Entrances to the building are marked with a white circle, an entrance icon or a simple green arrow.
- The arrival of Windows 11 promised many big changes, including support for Android. This feature came much later than expected and was always somewhat of a beta experience. For those who have never used it, Windows 11 had the ability to download Android apps and games through the Amazon AppStore, using a compatibility layer within Windows to make them work seamlessly. It seems that Microsoft is finally giving up on the effort, as it has announced that it is ending support and will close access completely next year, on March 5, 2025.
Android Apps Weekly: New apps and games
Looking for new Android apps and Android games to keep you busy? This week we saw two new apps worth highlighting, as well as three great games.
Pet Shop Fever: Hotel for animals
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
Pet Shop Fever: Animal Hospital has a fairly familiar concept for a children’s game: you take care of sick animals. The interface allows you to control different staff members in the hospital, you can also pick up pets and take them to the doctor, for care and more. It’s an easy game to learn and even though I’m not the target demographic, my seven year old played this game for almost an hour and she loved it. We both felt the tutorial was a bit unnecessary as this game is super easy to pick up. All in all, it’s not a bad title, but be aware that annoying ads and other pop-ups may appear from time to time.
The title might make you 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 harkens back to the point-and-click classics of yesteryear, such as King’s Quest, Monkey Island, and many others. This is actually an anthology series of several graphic adventures that were previously released for free with in-app purchases. This new collection seamlessly brings everything together in a premium package that’s worth every fraction of the $3.49 asking price.
Kingdom: Blood
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
Kingdom: The Blood is an action game based on the popular South Korean Netflix series Kingdom. The game pits you and your allies against hordes of zombies in a Joseon-era setting. Let’s start with the positives: the graphics are stunning for a mobile title, and the story isn’t half bad either. Unfortunately, it suffers from less-than-stellar gameplay with a combat system that makes it impossible to dodge an enemy’s mid-attack and many other inconsistencies. The UI is also quite slow at times, and even the game itself can feel sluggish, especially on older devices. If you’re a fan of Kingdom or action games in general, this is worth checking out, but be aware that it’s far from a flawless experience. Hopefully, future updates can improve some of the biggest gameplay issues, though only time will tell.
The duel revolution
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
As a Pokémon fan, I wanted to like this one. The creature design is decent and the graphics are reminiscent of the more classic Pokémon titles from the GBA/DS era. In many ways, this is a good game and worth checking out, but it’s definitely held back by the aggressive pay-to-win model. There are better versions of their Poké Balls that are only available for real money, and the regular “free” balls have terrible catch rates. There are also quite a few bugs and other issues holding this back as well. While it’s possible that it will get better with a software update, right now you’d be better off paying for a premium version of Pokémon like the one in the Coromon game.
Adobe Express
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
I personally use Adobe Express on my desktop daily or almost daily and am a huge fan. That’s why I was happy to learn that the same experience is coming to Android (and iOS) devices in the form of a new app. You can try the app for free, although many of its best features require a monthly subscription of $9.99. The app makes it easy to resize images, change formats, create website banners and more. Those with a Creative Cloud membership will also be able to access and edit Illustrator and Photoshop files directly in the app. Additionally, Adobe’s powerful generative tools powered by Firefly are also included.