The Daily Dot’s weekly app round-up brings you five new, or newly updated, apps for both iOS and Android that are well worth your time and attention.
Live.ly – live video streaming (iOS)
iTunes
“Oh good, another streaming video app.” We get it. The market for live streaming video is flooded at the moment, but Live.ly proves doing something familiar very well can make you a success. Within its first four days of launch the app had almost 500,000 downloads, thanks in part to the massive youth user base of its sister lipsyncing app Musical.ly. Live.ly allows you to easily stream live clips from your life while interacting with your friends and fans. Viewers can sense streamers gifts, basically stickers, and comment in real time.
With an easy to use interface and clear, fast streaming, this is a solid alternative to “going live” on Facebook. It’s also not just teenagers using Live.ly. Entrepreneur Mark Cuban has been an early adopter of the broadcast platform if you’re waiting to see if adults are going to use it. We’re not sure where Live.ly is going in the future, but with it’s explosive debut they’re definately an app to follow.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Creative Play (iOS)
iTunes
Nearly everyone who went to school knows Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It’s the rockstar of the children’s lit world, thanks to its lovely story and gorgeous, interactive, collage art. As children discover the holes the caterpillar has “eaten” through the book they learn about colors, counting, and even the days of the week. It’s a classic that now has become an incredible educational art app.
Utilizing 40 different textures and paper styles children of all ages can experiment with their very own collage art without leaving your home covered in a storm of sliced up paper. There’s a surprising amount of options and graphic design education in this app for kids, including the ability to experiment with layers. Start with a black canvas or choose from a number of templates based off of Eric Carle’s classic stories. Whether you’re an ahead of your time 1st grader or simply young at heart The Very Hungry Caterpillar Creative Play is a lovely art app. Go make something.
7 Minute Workout Challenge (iOS)
iTunes
“I don’t have time,” is the most common excuse people make to explain why they don’t work out, but with record levels of obesity and our increasingly sedentary society maybe, just maybe, it’s worth giving it one more shot. Especially when the 7 Minute Workout Challenge is here to get it done fast. Running you through 12 exercises that last 30 seconds each, with 10 seconds of rest intervals this is a quick workout you can do in your office during lunch without using all of your break.
It doesn’t matter if your online or in a wilderness deadzone, the 7 Minute Workout keeps all of its information in the app, so you won’t be able to use a lack of signal as an excuse. The app features male and female trainer options who will guide you along using video, audio, and text. There’s even support for Apple watch. Extra workout packs are available for purchase but the basics will put you well on your way to a healthy life. Not everyone can run a marathon, but we all have 7 minutes.
Roadside America (iOS)
iTunes
Hitting the road with the family this holiday weekend? Check out Roadside America while you travel and learn about this delightfully weird country of ours. Throw in your location and Roadside America will give you the rundown of all the weirdest hotspots around. Looking for massive balls of twine? Covered. How about a statue of Hulk Hogan? Of course they have it. Using this app in our travels has lead to warehouse sized pinball arcades, monkey sanctuaries, dinosaur worlds, and other oddities that will make you stand up and say “I’m proud to be an American.”
The basic app is free, allowing you to select one region, but it’s worth paying the $5.99 to unlock the entire country. You can save up to 750 locations in the app, keeping track of your favorites, and there’s support for Waze and Google Maps so you won’t get lost trying to find that creepy grave of the Lord pushing a child on a floating swing. Yes, that’s a real thing on the app. No, we won’t tell you which state. Roadside America takes the grind out family vacation. Open your heart to a little adventure and see what weirdness you can find.
Heavy Metal Emoji Keyboard iOS $1.99
iTunes
Finally this week, in honor of the 4th of July and fireworks, we present to you the Heavy Metal Emoji Keyboard. For too long the Kardashians of the world have dominated the emoji keyboard game, leaving those who dwell in darkness and listen to Metallica to wonder, “what about us.” Well wonder no longer fans of darkness. Your emoji is here, and it runs a pale horse.
Pick from a wide range of looks and races, from bald biker to viking god, resize your emoji’s to match your mood, and get ready to finally say “yes, I’d love some pizza” by sending your friend some devil horns. If you’re addicted to texting and Amon Amarth skip a beer this weekend and get into the world of heavy metal emoji.
