Andy Walker / Android Authority
Welcome to the 506th edition of Android Apps Weekly. We’re back with the latest news and apps from the past week. Let’s start with some of last week’s biggest headlines.
- X (formerly Twitter) has announced that it is rolling out its new Not-a-Bot subscription in New Zealand and the Philippines. A $1 annual subscription is required for all new account holders, but existing accounts are not affected.
- Google Photos adds support for RAW photos, automatically uploading RAW and accompanying JPEG files. Archiving RAW is certainly useful, but be aware that these files can take up a lot of space.
- Whatsapp has finally started supporting a second account on one device without much hassle. However, this only works on dual SIM devices, as each account requires a phone number.
- Speaking of Whatsapp, the app now officially accepts passkeys for login authentication. This will allow you to log in using your face, PIN, or fingerprint.
- Google Wallet announced that it is expanding support for digital state IDs to three new states: Georgia, Arizona, and Colorado. Google was initially testing this feature with Maryland residents, so there are four in total.
- Google Play Protect has a new update that now asks if you want to scan apps before installing them.
- Youtube is implementing several new features on the site that can make finding content easier, avoid interruptions, and get a more stable audio experience. Youtube’s stable volume toggle reduces jarring volume differences from video to video.
Android App Weekly: This week’s best new apps and games
Looking for a new Android app or game to immerse yourself in? Here are some of our favorite suggestions from this week. This week he has three game and two app suggestions.
Gacha life 2
- price: Free with ads
- release date: October 12th
Gacha Life 2 has finally arrived on Android. Get your very own anime character, add accessories and more in this sequel to the popular dress-up and role-playing game. The general premise of the game is almost the same as his Gacha Life and Club, but it has a new art style, new accessories, a new color slider, and many other improvements. Overall, this is a huge upgrade, especially in terms of graphics.
warm snow
- price: $8.75
- release date: October 12th
Warm Snow is a roguelite Chinese martial arts game that has been quite successful on Steam, and now it’s coming to Google Play. The mobile version includes Endless Mode and DLC1. There are also several mobile upgrades designed for the on-the-go nature of Android smartphones. In practice, I found this game to be a lot of fun and easy to get started with.
Kingdom Eighties
- price: $4.99
- release date: October 14th
The latest installment in the Kingdom series continues the same side-scrolling resource management action that many of us know and love, but this time with an 80’s twist. The characters and animation are all clearly aimed at evoking nostalgia for his 80s series such as ET, Back to the Future, etc. We’re building and fighting once again, but this time we’re focusing a little more on the story. The game costs $5 and is perfect for anyone looking for a premium, ad-free experience that’s easy to get started.
Franz
- price: Free with in-app purchases
- release date: October 16th
Your cell phone is haunted by Franz’s spirit. She has her own will and desires, and you learn more about what they are through her phone notifications and visual novel gameplay. As the game’s story progresses, you will have to make moral choices and difficult decisions. The game is mainly about pressing prompts, listening to notifications, and puzzle everything together.
rainbow journey
- price: subscription required
- release date: October 19th
Midjourney is one of the best AI image generators, and now you can access its features directly from the app. I agree. Niji Journey was built in partnership with Midjourney, but has a more focused use case. A new app helps you create anime characters and scenes. You can generate 20 images for free, but full access requires a Midjourney subscription.