New apps for every platform

Hope Corrigan reviews the most interesting new apps for iOS and Android.

Signal BOOSTING.

Android/iOS, Free

This messaging app has been a staple for many who are concerned with privacy but it recently exploded in popularity. This came in part thanks to a confusing update to WhatsApp which implied more sharing of user data. But Signal is pretty good in a lot of ways - I’ve been using it for years now so it deserves a mention.

It’s easily one of the best and most transparent services out there when it comes to security. This is because it’s all done by the Signal Technology Foundation – a non-profit that’s all about open-source privacy. Signal’s encryption isn’t opt in, like a lot of other services so you have it by default. The app is a bit no frills when it comes to stickers and other gimmicks. There’s a pretty tight limit on video files you can send, and it’s just not exactly the prettiest. However, if you want a messaging app that puts your security first, it’s a really good choice. ★★★★☆

Video Crop & Trim OR JUST CROP.

Android, Free/$2.99 per month

It’s always nice when an app does exactly what it says on the tin. I needed to crop a video and nothing preinstalled on my device can do that. So I did a fairly basic search for an app that suited my needs and came across this one. There are a bunch out there so I picked the one with the best and most genuine looking ratings. Video Crop & Trim is a free app that has a paid subscription model if you want extra features. As all I was looking for was something to crop, the free variant works really well. There are even helpful presets for things like standard instagram sizes and other social media too. The free version will show you an ad while it processes the video, but if you just want a quick and easy tool to use occasionally, it’s simple and does a good job. As an added bonus it also doesn’t leave a watermark, which is pretty neat for a free app. ★★★☆☆

EpocCam IPHONE TO WEBCAM.

iOS, Free/$12.99

The folks at popular gaming brand Elgato, owned by Corsair, recently released EpocCam. This app lets you use your iOS device as a webcam via a wifi or USB and it connects to both Windows and Mac computers. If you’re wanting a wired connection and you’re running Windows you’ll need iTunes, which is a bit of a bummer, but the wifi connection will run just by installing the PC drivers. Wi-Fi set up is very easy and just requires both your i-device and computer to be on the same network. From there you should be able to simply choose EpocCam as a webcam source in other programs. The cropping can feel a little off depending on the app, however. For example, the free version does have a watermark at the bottom of the screen but it was almost totally cropped out on my videocall anyway. If you don’t want the watermark, and are after a few extra features, the pro version for $12.99 is well worthwhile. ★★★★★

Tado TOAD.

Android/iOS

Free (whatever your unit costs)/subscription

This app is for the Tado brand smart controllers which work with air conditioners or heat pumps, so you’ll need to purchase a Tado device to get any use out of it. What’s cool about these is they turn your regular unit into one with some smart functionality. When we brought our reverse cycle aircon we decided to save several hundred by keeping it simple, so it’s really nice to have the option to add this kind of thing on. Even though the Tado unit is around $170 it’s still worked out to be a better deal. Set up was very easy though some learning curves with the controls had me confused for the first day of use. Now, I can easily use my phone to control the aircon, no matter where we are. We can also set up schedules and geofencing options using our devices to determine whether or not we’re home. There are extra features in the app you can pay for to get additional functionality, but we haven’t felt the need. ★★★★☆

AnyDesk RISING STAR.

Android/iOS, Free/ up to $53 a month

Another app that’s been around for a little bit now but seeing an uptick in popularity is AnyDesk. This is an app that, when installed on each device, allows you to let one control the other via remote desktoping. It’s a great alternative to TeamViewer, which has been known to lock people out of accessing its free version pretty arbitrarily. Both AnyDesk and TeamViewer have a free option designed for private use, but many users have found themselves unable to access TeamViewer’s despite only using it in their homes. I’m one of them. So I turned to AnyDesk, which does a really good job. You can set it up so all devices on your network are automatically included to connect to and have passwords so you don’t need to be at a device to allow remote access. Recently, an option to automatically lock a device once you disconnect from the session has been added too. AnyDesk is really catching up to TeamViewer in functionality, and I can actually use it. ★★★★☆

Screen Dimmer MUST HAVE.

Android, Free/$1.09

If you too sit and stare at your phone long into the night when you should be sleeping, then you’re also probably aware that phones nowadays are too damn bright. I went hunting for a solution and came across the super useful Screen Dimmer. This puts a dark overlay on top of your screen, so where you usually couldn’t lower that brightness anymore, now you can. The settings are also incredibly handy. I have it set up so that whenever my phone is at minimum brightness, Screen Dimmer pops up and makes that even dimmer - perfect for bedroom browsing. You can also set it up to work on a time system, or give shake controls. It’s one of those things that feels like phones should come with natively. You can even get controls for it in your swipe down menu. It’s also free, or you can remove the ads for the low price of $1.09. ★★★★★

Screen Dimmer pops up and makes that even dimmer - perfect for bedroom browsing.