Best Android Apps of the Week: App Swap, BBM 2.6, Plex, Shazam 5.1, VLC

Best Android Apps of the Week: App Swap, BBM 2.6, Plex, Shazam 5.1, VLC

If you are a loyal reader of Android Geeks, you most likely know already what to expect from the Best Android Apps of the Week post. If this is the first time you landed on the Best Android Android apps of the Week column, you should know that here you will be able to find the most noteworthy apps released in Google Play store over the past week. Besides new apps, you will also find older apps that received major updates.

We are also inviting you to let us know in comments whether we have missed any important apps. Without further ado, let’s have a look at the apps that are worth an install this week.

Google Play Books 3.3 – Free

Google Play Books got updated with Material Design a few weeks ago and even though this update is not as big, regular users will definitely find it useful. Let’s take a look at the features introduced by the 3.3 update.

Google Play Books 3.3 adds an offline dictionary that it’s very easy to apply. Just highlight a word then select “Download” from the pop-up window that will appear. The update also tweaks the slide-out menu which brings a new look to the tool that switches between Google accounts.

The new update is already being pushed to users. You can check the full changelog in Google Play Store here.

App Swap – Free

We all know that Android is highly customizable and for some customization options you won’t even need to root your device. App Swap is a quite cool app drawer replacement app.

App Swap can replace the Google Now default gesture and show the app drawer instead. A new update also adds a new feature called Quick Swipe which allows you to swipe left or right from the app drawer to access apps of your choice. Via an in-app purchase of $1.99 you will be able to unlock even more features.

App Swap is free. You can download it from Play Store using this link.

My Tracks 2.0.9 – Free

Google’s My Tracks app wasn’t quite handy in the past, but after the latest update you might start to use it more often. Last week it go updated to version 2.0.9.

My Tracks 2.0.9 introduces support for Google Fit, bringing it closer to a usable fitness app. After updating My Tracks to version 2.0.9 you should also be able to notice when you want to save a track you will be prompted to sync it with Google Fit automatically.

The new update is already being pushed to users. You can check it out in Play Store here.

BlackBerry Messenger 2.6 – Free

BlackBerry’s BBM is quite popular among Android users and a recent update makes it Android 5.0-ready. We are talking about version 2.6.

Even though BBM has received support for Android 5.0 Lollipop, the UI is untouched. The new update also allows you send stickers in group chats, see when a contact has received and viewed your sent pictures, and adds support for landscape mode. You can also add photo attachments from your SD card and timed pictures and messages can be viewed multiple times before the timer expires.

BBM 2.6 is a free app. Hit the following link to download it from Play Store.

Plex – $4.99

Plex is my go-to app when it comes to streaming media content whether it’s a smart TV, phone, or tablet. Well, Plex got a big update last week.

Plex has reached version 3.7.1.286 and it received support for Android TV playlists along with enhanced playback notifications. The settings to show each category in new page have been reorganized, it comes with improved usability of play queues, and allows you to play episodes from On Deck continuously.

Plex has a price of $4.99, but it’s worth every penny. You can download it from Play Store here.

Google Play Movies and TV 3.6 – Free

Google Play Moves and TV got updated to version 3.6 last week. Let’s have a look at the new features introduced by this update.

The first thing you’ll notice are the new slides that introduce you to the app. Among others the 3.6 update brings a refreshed Manged Downloads screen with content separated into My Movies and My Episodes. It also comes with in-app Screen Pinning which works even though the option is disabeled at the OS level.

The Play Movies and TV 3.6 update is already rolling out. You can check it out in Google Play Store here.

Chromecast 1.9.6 – Free

Lollipop brought a new design philosophy called Material Design. Now, the folks at Google are spreading Material Design over their entire app portfolio.

The Chromecast 1.9.6 update adds Material Design UI making the app more Lollipop-friendly. A new feature (which is still in beta) allows you to cast your screen if your device is running Android 4.4.2 or higher. You will be able to find the Cast Screen option in the slide-out menu.

Chromecast 1.9.6 should already be available for your device. You can check the app’s Play Store page here.

Muzei 2.0 – Free

Since Roman Nurik released Muzei in Play Store back in February, I am enjoying a famous work of art on my phone’s background each day. Now Muzei has reached version 2.0.

Muzei 2.0 arrives with a Lollipop-ready interface and has a new launcher icon. You should also notice the new saturation slider in the advanced settings menu. There’s also an option to remove effects on the lock screen, along with bug fixes and a watch face.

Muzei 2.0 is already available for download in Play Store. The app is free and it can be downloaded from here.

Cerberus 3.0 – Free / $6.21

The popular anti-theft app, Cerberus, received a massive update last week. The new update brings it to version 3.0.

Cerberus 3.0 arrives with a Material Design-inspired UI and a couple of new neat features. You will be able to disable the Power Off option while in the lock screen or to block USB debugging remotely. You can also use Cerberus 3.0 to enable or disable WiFi hotspot or to record 30 seconds of screen activity. Cerberus is compatible with devices running Android 4.0 or later.

You can enjoy a week of Cerberus trial for free, but in order to use it beyond that point you will have to pay $6.21. Cerberus 3.0 can be downloaded from Play Store here.

Shazam 5.1 – Free

Shazam is one of the most popular music identification and discovery apps available in Play Store. Now it got updated to version 5.1 and, unsurprisingly, it received a Material Design makeover.

Besides the updated UI, Shazam also comes with Spotify integration. You will also get access to Shazam charts, you can find out what songs your friends have discovered if you log in with Facebook, and more. Of course it also brings bug fixes.

Shazam is free. You can download it from Play Store here.

Hangouts 2.5.8 – Free

Google’s Hangouts has received a big update which brings it to version 2.5.8. Among others, the new update introduces confirmed phone numbers which should come in handy to international users.

It also brings UI tweaks, a contextual tool system. For example, if someone asks you “where are you” Hangouts will show a button to allow you to share your location. You will also be able to view when the person you are talking to has viewed the conversation. The new Hangouts version also adds stickers which are larger, more colorful emoticons, also allowing you to download sticker packs.

Hangouts is free. The 2.5.8 update is now available in Play Store and it can be downloaded from here.

VLC For Android – Free

If aliens ever contact us and send us a video or audio file, I am pretty sure that we would be able to open it with VLC. VLC for Android is now finally out of beta, so if aliens contact us you would be prepared.

VLC 1.0 was released in Google Play Store last week and you will now be able to download it on your Android device without warring too much about stability. Unfortunately, it still doesn’t have Chromecast integration, a feature that was announced in the summer.

VLC for Android is free and you will need a device running Android 2.1 or later to be able to install it. Here’s the Google Play Store link.