May smartphone app recommendations

Find a great new app or two for your smartphone with our monthly app recommendation guide! This month our Agents have found a great range of applications to keep you entertained and organised, from fun games to money-saving communications apps. 

Pick your Operating System: 

Android

Sony Xperia, HTC Desire and One Series, Samsung Galaxy and more

Apple iPhone

Apple iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S 

BlackBerry

BlackBerry Curve, Bold and Torch devices

Windows Phone

 HTC Titan and Radar, Nokia Lumia devices, LG Optimus 7 and more

 

Android apps

Machinarium (£2.49)

One of the best point & click adventure games of the past decade. Previously available for PC only, Machinarium tells the story of an inquisitive robot abandoned in a rubbish heap trying to return to the city and rescue his robotic girlfriend. Everything about this game is solid, from the ambient music to the lush animation style. Winner of Best Indie Game of the Year (DIY Gamer, Gamasutra, VGChartz.com) and an award for Excellence in Visual Art (Independent Games Festival), this game is a must for fans of steampunk and puzzles.

Bill Angel from Carphone Warehouse (free)

Bill Angel is a free app that lets you track how you're using your call, text and data (internet) allowance, so that you can stay on top of your mobile bill and avoid extra charges. You just plug in your mobile allowance details and the date that your allowance resets every month, and the app will start helping you manage your spending. It's currently only available for Android-powered devices via Google Play.

SMS Flash (free)

Tired of receiving text messages while you're trying to complete those last few levels of Peggle? Annoyed when your phone vibrates just as you were about to lose yourself in a YouTube clip? well, worry not! SMS Flash is developed with you in mind. As your handset receives a message it displays it in a translucent box over the screen, allowing you to read the message without needing to come out of the app you're enjoying. The box is completely inactive too, allowing you to ignore it and carry on playing your game without a pop-up obstructing on-screen buttons.

Big Font (free)

Scale the font size on your Android phone so that it suits you better, from 50% of the original size to 180%. This makes it easier to read system messages, scan menu text and digest text messages (for devices with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and up.

Virgin Media TV guide (free)

See what's on the box and set recordings for your TiVo device using your smartphone! The full TV listing is very easy to digest and you can also show or hide specific channels based on your preferences. 

Apple iPhone apps

Max Payne Mobile (£1.99)

This classic, story-driven FPS game is one of my all-time favourites and now available on iPhone! It's surprisingly playable for a mobile port, and a whole lot of fun. Please note that this game is rated 17+.

Stumbleupon! (free)

My new favourite time waster - it basically stumbles across websites that it thinks will appeal to you by learning your interests. Stumbleupon! Is a great way to find new things.

iDaft 2 (free)

If you are a fan of Daft Punk then you will love this  simple soundboard, featuring the hit tracks  "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" and "Technologic". I have had hours  of fun making my own mix.

Showyou (free)

A great way to browse through trending videos (largely tech related) and view videos that your friends have liked and shared on Facebook and Twitter. Showyou integrates seamlessly with your social networks bringing all your friends' favourite videos into one stream.

Waze (free)

This social Sat Nav includes voice-guided navigation, traffic alerts and allows you to build your road if it's not already listed. You can inform people well before AA or RAC of any issues on the road and get quick updates on road conditions from local drivers. 

BlackBerry apps

Telmap Navigator - free

For those of you who get lost as easily as I do, having a voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation program on your phone can literally be the difference between getting to your destination or not!  Telmap Navigator is a premium grade Satellite Navigation solution which has recently been made available for free to UK BlackBerry owners!  It is very accurate and comes with a variety of downloadable voices, everything from the standard male / female combo to Yoda!

Notes: Needs a device with GPS!

Fruit Slash - free (with ads, paid version available)

Just when you thought the BlackBerry doesn’t do games, Fruit Slash was released.  Now I know this is a very basic game, where you use your finger to cut flying fruit whilst watching out for the bombs, but it is highly addictive!  I literally have this game on my BlackBerry smartphone, my PlayBook tablet and my Xbox now!  Hours of fun from something so simple!

Notes: Touchscreen phones only, and the bigger the screen, the better the experience 

Viber - free (it may even save you money on texts!)

Although this is a beta version of the application and does not yet include calls (as stated in their description) Viber is a great application that allows you to send and receive texts and phone calls using your internet connection only!  Already available for iPhone and Android devices, Viber allows you to make worldwide connections without using any airtime minutes!

Notes: App is in beta, therefore is currently missing the ability to make phone calls. 

Windows Phone 

Euro 2012 - £0.70

Reminders, rankings, and countdowns to the final, helping you to keep track of everything Euro 2012 related.

geoDefense Swarm - £2.29

Microsoft's entry into the popular tower defense genre, build creative mazes to confuse and destroy the invaders.

Vouchercloud - free

Scan for deals and coupons around your current location, and present the vouchers to get deals in person.

Tune in next month for more unmissable mobile app recommendations!