Andrew Grush / Android Authority
Welcome to the latest edition of Android Apps Weekly, where we discuss the latest in mobile news and take a closer look at some of the most interesting new apps and games. Let’s jump right in and take a look at some of the biggest highlights from the last week:
- Google’s Magic Eraser may soon be available for free, at least according to a recent APK teardown performed by Android Authority. Right now, Magic Eraser is exclusive to Google One subscribers or those with Pixel phones, but a string of code suggests this may be changing in the near future. The only catch is that Magic Eraser use would be limited, with only a few edits available per month.
- Android 15 Beta is finally here and it brings several new changes and features, including the ability to change the default wallet app to something other than Google Wallet. This change isn’t too surprising with all the recent law changes in the EU, though there are not many details yet on which 3rd party wallets will be fully supported.
- Speaking of Google Wallet changes, Google also introduced a new website for its digital payment service. The site will let you access passes and IDs directly from the website.
- Google Messenger received a major update this week that includes several new features, most of which relate to images and photography. Firstly, there is now significantly improved image quality support. Secondly, file size limits have been increased from 25MB to 100MB. Additionally, there’s a new feature allowing users to add contacts using a QR code. Although this feature has been present in WhatsApp for years, it’s nice to see Google catching up here.
- Getting paid to watch TikTok may soon become a reality, according to a new report. In a bid to boost engagement in Europe, the company plans to introduce a new Rewards feature in its app, offering monetary incentives for watching videos, inviting friends to sign up, and more. However, there’s no word yet on whether or when this feature might also be available in additional markets like the US.
- Beeper earned a lot of notoriety for its attempts to bring iMessage to Android, but ultimately the effort has failed due to Apple’s measures to keep access restricted from Android devices. The app has become a more generalist messaging service after losing iMessage support, but even that’s not enough to keep the company going on its own. Beeper has announced an acquisition with Automattic, the company behind Wordpress.
- It looks like a VPN by Google One is on its way out, as announced by Google itself. While there’s no exact timeframe for when the service will go away, the company has revealed plans to shut it down later this year. Pixel users will still have access to Google VPN software, however.
Android Apps Weekly: New apps and games
Looking for some new Android apps and Android games to keep you occupied? This week didn’t see any major new apps but there were quite a few games worth highlighting.
Mythic Samkok
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
Mythic Samkok is an action-adventure game set in the world of the Three Kingdoms. I’ll be totally honest; while this game has reasonably decent graphics and gameplay, it feels like just about any other typical pay-to-play action game. The story is pretty generic and easy to overlook, and while it’s a stable game, it’s nothing too special either. Although there are some challenges to be had, like many mobile games, there are also a lot of automated aspects.
Ikemen Villians Otome Game
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
Ikeman Villians is a Japanese dating sim and adventure game centering around a secret organization comprised of cursed members with unique powers that are supposed to serve Her Majesty the Queen, but these so-called gifts have a hidden dark side. Dating sims have become more and more commonplace in recent years, and while this one doesn’t look much different from some of the others that have crossed my desk over the last year or so, at least it has a bit of a darker vibe to it. During my limited time playing the game, I found it had enough story and dialogue to draw me in and the fact it’s free to play means you have very little to risk.
Happy Dessert Cafe
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
Cafe management games are a dime a dozen in the mobile world, but not all of these experiences are equal and many feel like simple cash grabs. The good news is that Happy Dessert Cafe might feel familiar but it’s a well fleshed out game with cute graphics and plenty to keep you busy. On the downside, microtransactions can be a bit aggressive here and if you don’t want to pay extra to remove video ads, you’ll also have to deal with short ads as well.
Fortias Saga
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
It is the year 730 in the Eradel calendar and a war has erupted between the humans and the dark forces in the land. You must journey across the land by foot and sometimes flying ship, fighting enemies and bringing balance to the world. If you’re looking for a fun action adventure game with a story that is actually at least slightly fleshed out for a change, you’ll like this one. Just be aware that the beginning tutorial isn’t very well done, but if you can get through that you’ll find a pretty decent experience underneath.
Wild Frost
- Price: Free demo, $6.99
The popular card game Wildfrost is transitioning to the digital realm with an Android roguelite experience. Set in a world perpetually shrouded in winter, you find yourself among the inhabitants of Snowdell, one of the few remaining strongholds against the eternal cold. It’s worth noting that while the game is free to try, you’ll only get a limited taste. To access the full game, you’ll need to pay $6.99, which is reasonable given that this is a complete game rather than just a brief mobile experience.
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