Fresh Meat: 10 new Android apps worth checking out

New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play Store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. We’ve shown in the past that this community can discover great apps and propel them to new heights. Our weekly Fresh Meat column highlights new apps with fewer than 100,000 installs. Browse our new Android app picks below and let us know which ones you enjoy.

uPod Light

 

Description:  The brand new podcast player at Google play! with outstanding features like cross device synchronization, inbox and library concept and a modern, holo-based, coverart centric design.

uPod light – Podcast player

33 ratings

by Sven Wiegand
500 - 1,000 downloads

Appears in a list of Apps for everyday usage.

QR Code

Install (FREE)

widget by Playboard.me

CastPad for Chromecast

Description: CastPad lets you draw on your phone and see it show up instantly on your TV and all other devices connected to the Chromecast!

CastPad for Chromecast

197 ratings

Offers in-app purchases

by Hillman Works
1,000 - 5,000 downloads

Appears in a list of For Chromecast Owners

QR Code

Install (FREE)

widget by Playboard.me

MyCastScreen

Description: MyCastScreen is the first custom home screen replacement application for Google Chromecast. It doesn’t actually replace your home screen – as that’s not actually possible (yet) – but you can cast this screen, close the app, and go on with your day.

MyCastScreen

60 ratings

by musicalbigfoot
100 - 500 downloads

Appears in a list of For Chromecast Owners

QR Code

Install ($0.99)

widget by Playboard.me

Voice Balloon Photo

Description: Add dialogues to photos to keep your memories alive! Voice Balloon Photos uses voice recognition so you can save photos with speech balloons. This application also lets you edit text and change the theme of the speech balloons so you can recreate the atmosphere at the time of shooting and relive good times captured in your photos.

Voice balloon photo

0 ratings

by Sony Mobile Communications

Appears in a list of Favorite Apps of an Average Power User

QR Code

Install (FREE)

widget by Playboard.me

Flood – American Red Cross

Description: Get your family and home ready for a flood. The American Red Cross Flood app is the complete solution you need to understand and prepare for flooding and all that comes with it. With interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to be ready!

Flood - American Red Cross

21 ratings

by American Red Cross
500 - 1,000 downloads

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Install (FREE)

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METAL GEAR SOLID V: GZ

Description: Use this app as a support terminal to display maps, call support helicopters while playing the console version of METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES. While away from the main game, brush up on intel by reviewing classified recordings or listen to music tracks featuired within the game.

METAL GEAR SOLID V: GZ

1,206 ratings

by KONAMI
10,000 - 50,000 downloads

Appears in a list of The best Apps and Games - Daily Update

QR Code

Install (FREE)

widget by Playboard.me

Cast Store for Chromecast

Description: Google Play is at this moment a mess and it’s hard to find Chromecast-Apps. You’ll find with this app an overview about all Google Cast compatible Apps in the Google Play Store.

Cast Store for Chromecast

471 ratings

Offers in-app purchases

by GoKo
10,000 - 50,000 downloads

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Install (FREE)

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Motorola Help

Description: Motorola Help (replaces Moto Care on some devices) is all that you need to learn about your Motorola phone. View FAQs, tutorials and tips about your phone – plus, get direct access to real people at Motorola Customer Care when you need more assistance.

Motorola Help

405 ratings

by Motorola Mobility LLC.
1,000,000 - 5,000,000 downloads

Discover more apps with Playboard for Android

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Install (FREE)

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Al Jazeera America News

Description: Download the free Al Jazeera America News app now and get more depth and more perspectives on the most important U.S. and global news stories of the day. Swipe through top news picks and listen to the latest stories read aloud via our unique hands-free “commuter mode.”

Al Jazeera America News

115 ratings

by Al Jazeera America
1,000 - 5,000 downloads

Appears in a list of My apps on ®pocket plus 

QR Code

Install (FREE)

widget by Playboard.me

 Network Monitor

Description:  Would you like to know what app is using network in your phone? Would you like to know what address is the application connecting? Network monitor could help you.

Network Monitor

25 ratings

by JuanHoo
500 - 1,000 downloads

Appears in a list of Just-in Apps

QR Code

Install (FREE)

widget by Playboard.me

LG TrueSteam dishwasher blasts bugs with UV lamp

this for my wife i will buy one for him

LG has revealed its latest TrueSteam dishwasher, the D1494CF, which goes one step further than cleaning your crockery - it disinfects it too using a UV lamp built into the machine, automatically sterilising each load before you unpack it.

Left on a four hour deep clean after completing its rinse cycle, the D1494CF can kill up to 99.9% of all common bacteria on your cutlery, pots and pans, and anything else you can fit on the two main racks or additional cutlery tray - which should be roomy enough for 14 place settings. It activates the lamp for 25 minutes, remaining efficient for up to 95 minutes, before repeating the process if the dishwasher door hasn't been opened. It could be a real boon for parents with newborns, as it would eliminate the need to sterilise bottles separately.

Inside, the D1494CF looks incredibly flexible - each of the plate racks can be split in half, to make room for bowls, or laid flat completely for cleaning large pans. The top rack can be raised or lowered to make room for larger dishes on the top or bottom rack. It releases quickly using two clips, and locks back into place with a swift pull. The top tray above the two standard racks makes extra room for cutlery, but can also be detached to make room for larger items.

The machine itself is powered by a direct drive motor, which LG says is more reliable than a traditional belt driven system - so much so that the company will guarantee it for ten years. It should also be quieter when in operation and use less energy, with the D1494CF earning an A+++ energy rating.

TrueSteam technology returns in the new model, having previously appeared in last year's machines. It blasts steam into the machine during the rinse cycle to dislodge stubborn stains, separately from the steam created naturally from the hot rinse water.

The D1494CF should be going on sale in the UK in the next few months, in a choice of "Noble Steel", White, Black and "Luxury Silver" finishes. Unfortunately prices are still to be determined.

Apple iPhone 5c with 8 GB is now official

The wing man to the flagship iPhone 5s hasn't been selling all too well around the world and today, as expected, Apple is taking a step to fix that.

Meet the 8GB Apple iPhone 5c. The phone has appeared on UK carrier O2's website with a variety of tariffs and prices. With the highest 43 quid a month contract the smartphone will be free, but there's also a £410 option with a £13 plan. French carrier SFR has also listed the new iPhone 5c version and a huge number of other operators are expected to join the list in the following hours - basically anyone who has offered the iPhone 5c so far should also get the new version.

The US Store doesn't feature the device yet but the UK Apple Store offers it for £429, compared to £469 for the 16 GB model and £549 for the 32 GB.

In Germany the prices go as follows: €549 for 8GB, €599 for 16GB and €699 for 32GB iPhone 5c.

This means that the 8GB Apple iPhone 5c will cost £40/€50 less than the 16 GB version. It's hardly the kind of bargain that will turn an underperformer in a best seller, but you never know.

Details of entry-level KitKat Android Samsung G310 surface

Android 4.4 KitKat supports fairly low-end devices with as little as 512MB. It wasn’t meant for aging devices though, instead it was to enable affordable new handsets. One of those will be the Samsung G310.

It was certified by the FCC, showrf up on import manifests on Zauba, a NenaMark 2 benchmark and there’s a user agent profile. Stringing the info from all these together, here’s what we get.

The Samsung G310 will have a 4” WVGA screen (480 x 800 pixels). It will run Android 4.4.2 on a Broadcom chipset with two Cortex-A9 cores @ 1.2GHz and a VideoCore IV GPU.

On the connectivity side there’s optional dual-SIM, Wi-Fi b/g/n (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.0 + LE and NFC. The battery is a 5.7Wh, 3.8V unit meaning 1,500mAh capacity. The device's footprint measures 121 x 62.7mm.

There's no launch date or pricing info yet, not even a spy shot of the device. Still, if the Samsung G310 is already in testing, we probably won't have to wait long.

HTC One 2014 to hit stores minutes after premiere

The All New HTC One, a.k.a. HTC One M8, or as we decided to call it - HTC One 2014 - is going to be announced on March 25 at simultaneous events in London and New York. We already know probably everything there is to know about the upcoming flagship, but we are still hoping HTC has managed to keep at least some details under wraps.

Carphone Warehouse has just announced it will receive the first stock of HTC One 2014 units minutes after the official premiere in London, straight from the event's venue. It will be deployed over six stores in London and you will be able to purchase it from there until supplies last.

The selected stores to get the first HTC One 2014 units released on the market are Westfield Stratford, Westfield White City, Oxford Circus, Centrepoint, Tottenham Court Road and Carphone Warehouse at Selfridges. They will all be hosting special events in celebration of the new flagship arrival.

Carphone Warehouse also promises customers will be able to order the HTC One 2014 on the phone the same afternoon the announcement event kicks in - March 25 at 4PM GMT. It will become available for order both online and retail shortly after (probably a few days) the premiere.

Samsung ATIV SE press image leaks out on Twitter

An alleged press photo of Samsung ATIV SE made the rounds on Twitter, courtesy of @evleaks. Previously known as Samsung Huron, the Windows Phone handset is bound for Verizon Wireless in the United States.

As you can see in the image above, the Samsung ATIV SE looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S4. There is no word on the specs of the upcoming smartphone just yet, though past rumors suggest that the ATIV SE will pack 1080p display (likely the same 5” unit as the one found in the Samsung Galaxy S4) and 13MP main camera.

There are no details on pricing and availability of the Samsung ATIV SE just yet. We doubt it will be a long wait before the smartphone joins the Nokia Lumia Icon in Verizon’s Windows Phone ranks.

Quad-core Samsung Galaxy S3 Slim quietly launched

Samsung has very quietly launched a new smartphone: the Samsung Galaxy S3 Slim in the Brazilian market.

The name is a bit misleading, considering that the specs of the S3 Slim are some way below the original Galaxy S3.

The phone is rocking Android 4.2 out of the box and a 4.5” display of qHD (960 x 540) resolution. It also only comes with 8GB storage with 1GB RAM, and a quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. On the photography side, it's sporting a 5MP primary shooter, with a VGA front-facing unit. The handset is available in both black and white color variants.

Given the specifications of the device, don't expect it to break the bank, but pricing is yet to be confirmed. So far the smartphone has only appeared on the Brazilian Samsung website, but it won't be surprising if it makes it to other developing markets, too.