Vine

Vine may not be a new app, but thanks to Twitter ending the iOS exclusivity for this application, it certainly is new on Google Play. This app allows users to create and share looping videos of up to six seconds long. Users are also able to view the Vines of other users for inspiration and follow their friends or accounts they like. It is available if you have a mobile device using Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and up.   

Sheep Up!

If you are suffering from virtual rope burn thanks to the addictive nature of Cut the Rope and crave a new galaxy of entertainment after Angry Birds Space, then Sheep Up! may just be the ticket. Within this puzzle title, tiny toy sheep have been stored in a cardboard box together with other old toys. Players are tasked with helping them escape by employing motion-based controls (tilting your mobile device) so that the sheep can reach the top of the box.

JuiceDefender

Smartphones are powerful devices, but they share a common problem which is single-day battery life. JuiceDefender enables users to conserve their devices’ battery life by disabling the most draining features. For instance, the app can automatically turn off LTE connectivity, when your smartphone’s battery runs low. Opting for the paid version (R26, JuiceDefender Plus) adds more features like location-aware Wi-Fi control, enabling users to set the app to turn Wi-Fi on while you are at work and disable it as soon as you leave work.

Android tip

If there is a number that you need to dial frequently, such as your complex’s security gate, why not add a ‘direct dial’ to one of your home screens? A ‘direct dial’ option can be found under your widgets. Long press to add it, while it will also ask you to select the number/contact to link to.
 

This article first appeared in TechSmart 118, July 2013.