For instance, keeping track of your personal finances is now easier than ever with a raft of apps that enable you to transfer money, pay bills and monitor your daily spending, all from your smartphone.

Of course, when it comes to entering sensitive information, such as bank usernames and passwords, its vital these are kept as secure as possible – it’s important to remember that as mobile technology gets smarter, so do criminals.

Here we take a look at five of the best, most secure apps currently available in the Google Play Store that can be downloaded on to your Android device, such as a Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One, to get you back on the road to financial security.

Mint.com

This is one of the best free apps to help you manage your money, pulling together all your personal finances into one easy to reach place so you can keep track of your money on the go.

The simple user interface makes it even easier to complete all manner of tasks from monitoring your spending habits, creating a personal budget and accessing a range of tips on how to save money.

Each transaction can be categorized into sections and converted into graphs so it’s even easier to see where your money is going. Email and text alerts can also be set up to notify users of upcoming bills, when balances start to drop and if it detects any unusual activity within an account.

Time Clock

Despite being very text heavy this app is a great tool for freelancers or contract workers needing to keep track of the hours they’ve worked as well as their daily expenses.

The data collated by the app can then be used to generate invoices and spreadsheets. And, thanks to a range of customization options documents can be edited before converting into a PDF file to send directly to customers. Note that there is also a free version available.

Individual profiles can be set up for each client, so you can clock in and out of jobs and track expenses individually. The app will set you back a download fee of $6.99, but for the amount of features on board it seems worth it in the long run.

Toshl Finance

This is a personal finance management app made fun! It logs bills and expenses in line with your yearly income, and determines the areas where you should start cutting back and making savings.

The gaming like interface is designed to stimulate smart budgeting, while a range of filters ensure that only the most relevant information is displayed on the main home screen.

All figures are color coded and can be brought together in a monthly report which are all stored with in the app and can be backed up, so users can really keep track of where their money’s going over long periods of time.

Red Laser Barcode and QR Scanner

This free shopping app doesn’t monitor your finances but it’s a great way to help you start cutting back on the money you spend.

Featuring a barcode scanner the app compares prices of products from millions of online and local retailers, to find you the best deal. Once you’ve found an item it can be ordered instantly to be delivered to your home address or a nearby store.

Store loyalty cards can also be scanned in and shared with friends and family who also have the app, enabling you to work together in your mission to bring down your monthly outgoings.

PayPal

The PayPal app lets you enjoy all the benefits of the online payment service on the go, allowing you to send and request money in the tap of a button, so you’re never out of pocket or in debt.

Users can manage accounts, check balances, withdraw funds and view past transactions wherever they are. However the app only stores recent transactions, so if you need to look back at your history you will need to access your account on a web browser.

A ‘local’ feature sits on board so you can also see others in your area that also use PayPal, making it even easier to transfer or receive money at short notice. A free card reader is also provided to ensure all payments are secure as possible.

So, if you’re in need of a helping hand to start saving money and require some assistance in making  those all important cutbacks, then these are just some of the apps that will go a long way to ensuring you’re never left out of pocket.

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“The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com“

Guest Author: Sarah Hazelwood of Dialaphone, the home of all the latest smartphones at great prices.

Do you love games that challenge you to the extreme? You know, the ones that get your heart racing and make your brain function on overdrive? If so, this is definitely the perfect game for you!

Hungry for Blocks, developed by Rebusmind, is an exciting and fast-paced puzzle game for Android. Only the quickest of reflexes will help keep Smilo happy and fed!

Concept and Gameplay: ****~ (4/5)

When I played Hungry for Blocks for the first time, I immediately thought of the game is a unique spin on Tetris. The concept is the same; place falling blocks of various shapes so that they create solid rings and disappear. However, instead of worrying only about matching blocks, you also need to keep Smilo happy and fed.

While Hungry for Blocks seems like a game that would be familiar and fairly easy to play, I found out the hard way that the opposite was true. I’m not saying that the game is impossibly difficult to play, but it definitely takes some time to get used to. However, cute music and graphics definitely help to ease the pain of defeat.

While playing Hungry for Blocks, you can use special abilities based on Smilo’s emotion. As you destroy blocks he becomes happier and you can use special moves like zapping blocks and freezing them. However, if you don’t match blocks at a fairly quick rate, Smilo becomes unhappy and eventually explodes with anger.

Features: ****~ (4/5)

Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon

One of the things I like the most about Hungry for Blocks is how customizable it is. You can choose between easy and normal difficulty modes, along with four different levels for each difficulty setting (for a total of eight individual levels). You can also choose from three different music soundtracks, all of which are great to listen to. Lastly, keeping track of scores is super easy thanks to local and online leaderboards.

As far as personal thoughts on Hungry for Blocks, I believe the game might be too frustrating for some, even in easy mode. It’s very easy to become overwhelmed, and sometimes the game confused touchscreen movements. For example, you’re supposed to move blocks around the screen by rotating your finger in a circular motion, and you can also accelerate their fall rate by sliding your finger toward Smilo. I found more often than not that the game confused these two gestures.

Value: ****½ (4.5/5)

Hungry for Blocks is available to download for $0.99. There’s also a free version that you can download, which is what I always recommend when trying a new app. If you’re looking to try a new puzzle game that will challenge you to the extreme, Hungry for Blocks is definitely worth taking a look at.

Android Apps Review Details: Hungry for Blocks is available for $0.99 and requires Android 2.1+. You can download it from Google Play. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

 

Android App Review’s rating: ****~ (4/5)

The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com

AudioZest 3D, from developer BitCauldron, is a new music listening app on Android. With a wide variety of equalizer functions and a complete 3D sound effect setup, AudioZest 3D offers a unique listening experience on Android.

Features
Have you ever wanted to experience true surround sound or 3D music sound, on your Android cellphone or tablet? Now you can with AudioZest 3D. This app allows you to browse your music, sorted in a variety of options (playlist, artist, etc), then play the music in a wide range of equalizer and 3D modes. You have to be wearing headphones to truly experience the awesomness of AudioZest 3D. You can choose from what location in orientation to you the sound appears to come from. You can also adjust the excellent equalizer feature to take full advantage of the effects on your beats as well. Furthermore, this app is not limited to purely singular enjoyment on headphones. This is because you can hook up your device to speakers and run AudioZest 3D, and it will function in the same manner, with awesome 3D surround sounds as requested. It’s a fully functional, impressive audio app that really lets you rediscover your music on Android!

AudioZest 3D App Review

Appearance and Layout
AudioZest is a little on the plain side as an app, featuring black backgrounds and a neon green linear theme. However, don’t let the simple graphical pattern deter you-this app focuses on listening to the sound, not on flashy graphics. The app’s layout is nicely straightforward, allowing even first time users to figure it out with ease.

Value
Anyone who is a music fan could really appreciate the genius of AudioZest 3D. It really does take the listening experience on Android to another level. The 3D sound, surrounding the user when wearing headphones, is really impressive. The app may not look super polished, but its true worth lies in its awesome funcitonality. Audiphiles, unite, and purchase AudioZest for $4.99 today through Google Play!

Android Apps Review Details: AudioZest 3D is $4.99. This app’s Android requirement requires 3.0 and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

You may download AudioZest 3D from the Android Market.

Features
In Hungry Archie, gamers must use a little archer fish, Archie, to ‘spit’ and knock delicious ants off into the water for food. Believe it or not, the archer fish is actually a real fish and does use this tactic to knock insects into the water, it’s really impressive! Gamers are scored based on how efficiently they solve each puzzle. Hungry Archie features around 50 levels of spittin’ physics puzzle fun. Half of these levels are available for free, which is a very nice number for a free app! Game play is very similar to Angry Birds and other physics-based ‘launcher’ apps. You’ll need to angle the shot just right, combining strength of shots and degrees to make the best ‘spit.’ Also, unlike many similar games, you can actually move Archie around the map, allowing for a lot of custom shot placement and variety in where you ‘spit’ from.

Hungry Archie Android Apps Review

Appearance and Layout
Hungry Archie looks really cute on Android. It features lovely hand-drawn graphics from Silvia Peter. Some users may be put off by the cartoony and colorful graphics, but I actually think it fits the theme of Hungry Archie quite well. The app’s layout is very well done, with all buttons easy to spot and the actual game play relatively easy to figure out. The cute hand drawn tutorials at the start also help make the process easier of starting the game for the first time.

Value
As a free app, with the option to purchase for the last half of the missions, Hungry Archie is really quite neat! I think any gamer, especially younger ones, will enjoy the cute graphics, fun sound track, and physics-based puzzle fun of Hungry Archie. It also raise awareness about this unique little fish, something more people should know about – the accurate archer fish!

Android Apps Review Details: Hungry Archie is free. This app’s Android requirement requires 2.3 and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

You may download Hungry Archie from the Android Market.

“The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com“

Here at the Android Apps Review, because we have the opportunity to write for the most open-minded mobile platform, we have the unique opportunity to review “tweak” applications that don’t offer entertainment so much as they offer a great way to improve your productivity. With that in mind, we’re happy to present you today with an app called Photo Button. It’s a free app that allows you to rapidly snap photos using nothing but your phone’s volume buttons: A common jailbreak feature on the iPhone, and a useful one here. For our full review of the app, you need only to slide on down below the break!

Concept and Functionality

Photo Button for Android

As mentioned already, the core concept behind Photo Button is relatively easy to get an angle on: The app serves as a background utility that allows you to double press on your volume buttons. In return, the application activates the device’s camera, snaps a photo, and then saves the end results to a folder you specify. It’s quick and gets the job done in a pinch.

If you’re not sold on this as a useful concept, think about it this way: How often have you rapidly pulled your phone out of your pocket in order to take a picture, only to miss the moment because of the clunky menus and options? With Photo Button, you’ll never have to experience this again.

Best of all, the app also adds a few notable additions to the mix. For instance, you can specify whether or not you want landscape or portrait mode for the photos. You can also setup the flash settings, as well as the autofocus so that your photos are exactly as you want them. It’ll even give you haptic feedback and notifications to let you know that everything went peachy keen. All in all, it’s neat stuff, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Design and Implementation

Now, we’ve heard from other users and reviews that the application doesn’t yet work on all devices. With that in mind, we had no problem getting Photo Button setup and jamming on our own Android phone. It worked in a pinch, and was actually quite useful.

As far as design goes, the app is as simple as you might expect, largely consisting of a single Android-styled menu. Then again, it also comes with a neatly tidy widget to turn the app on or off. It’s these small touches, plus the customization, that still make this a fantastic outing, though a minimalistic one.

Overall Value

If you’re concerned about the phone working on your device, look at it this way: Photo Button is completely free, making it hardly a risk to have a go at. Go ahead and download the app if the functionality sounds worth looking into. At the least, it’ll leave you wanting. At the most, it’ll satisfy you for years to come.

Android Apps Review Details: Photo Button is FREE. This app requires Android 2.2 and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

You may download Photo Button.

“The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com“

In a former life, we used to spend our days pushing around amplifiers, setting up gigs, and generally speaking rocking the house down with our guitars. That was a long time ago, though, and now our musical interests have largely been relegated to the digital realm. However, this is hardly a bad thing, especially with awesome applications like Guitarcraft, from Digitl, becoming more and more prevalent with every passing day. The app is perhaps the best guitar replicator we have seen yet on the Android platform, and more importantly, it’s a blast to play around with. If you’re looking for a unique way to indulge your inner shred, you need only to slide on down to our full review below.

Concept and Functionality

The idea behind Guitarcraft begins and ends with its main feature: A fully replicated six-string electric guitar that sits on the screen just waiting for you to touch it. You can tap its frets to produce individual notes. These are recorded above in the form of tablature. You can also setup bends, vibrato, and repeats by simply tapping the appropriate buttons above. If you’d like to enter a chord, simply tap the chord button, then all of the notes contained therein. You do this until you’re satisfied with your lick, and then the real fun begins.

Once you’ve set out your notes, you can then go back and record the rhythm for each with the help of a metronome. This is accomplished by simply tapping the “Hit” button when you want the note to sound, and in time with the counter. The end result is a fully formed riff that can be played back at any time, and at your specified tempo. You can then save your lick for playback at any point in the near future. And if that doesn’t sound like a concept that’s been cranked to eleven, then you’re obviously not about to rock—no salute for you!

Graphics and Design

Guitarcraft for Android

Obviously, this sort of thing would be rather useless without a rock-solid design. Thankfully, the app delivers and then some. The strings respond exactly as you might expect them too, and even the touch-based bend and vibrato features are spot-on. Furthermore, recording your hits is a snap, and is much more accurate than we might have guessed. Oh, and the simulated amps sound pretty fantastic, too. All in all, it’s clear that the developers didn’t intend to just pump out a shill product. The end result shines in ways that we couldn’t have imagined, and it’s truly wonderful.

Overall Value

At the end of the day, Guitarcraft is one incredible value for any one with even a casual interest in playing around with the guitar on their Android phone. And for that experience, the fact that you’ll only have to pay $2.56 is one heck of a steal. Trust us on this: You’ll want to get your rock on, and Guitarcraft is the way to do it.

Android Apps Review Details: Guitarcraft costs $2.56. This app requires Android 2.0.1 and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

You may download Guitarcraft.

“The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com“

For today’s review of the free edition of Odyssey Adventure—the full version can be had, as well—we’re going to take you back to a land before modern graphics, complex environments, and sandbox realism. We’re going to hark back to the days of King’s Quest and Monkey Island. A time when point-and-click adventure games ruled supreme. With this in mind, Odyssey Adventure is perhaps one of the best new Android editions into the genre that we have seen yet. If you’re looking for a quick, ye olden fix to scratch that itch, then slide on down below the break to view our full review!

Concept and Gameplay

Odyssey Adventure for Android

If you’re familiar with the point-and-click genre at all, then you’re likely already aware of how Odyssey Adventure works. The game has you pushed into various scenarios, requiring you to click on inventory items to collect them, then use them to surpass various challenges. It’s all classic gameplay, and though it doesn’t necessarily bring anything new gameplay wise to the table, its unique twist is its core story element.

The app is centered around the plight of Ulysses. If you remember him from high school, he’s the one who found himself waylaid (a whole lot) fate the Trojan war. You’ll follow each and every one of his exploits during the course of Odyssey Adventure, using strategy and cunningness to sneak past the cyclops, evade sirens, and protect the sanctity of your men. It’s a fantastic run through the series, especially if you’re a lifelong devoted fan. In fact, though we love the original form beyond reason, Odyssey Adventure is perhaps one of the best renditions we’ve seen. The poetry of the prose is gone, but it’s been replaced with raw gameplay and excitement—and this is a very welcome addition.

Graphics and Design

Here’s where things get a bit tricky with Odyssey Adventure. The art is all hand drawn, and at times, it can be rather beautiful. However, though it harks back to the glory of previous titles like Monkey Island, it’s just not quite on the same level. Occasionally it feels like the art was made in Microsoft Paint. Character models are unique at the least, though we might perhaps say a bit off in the perspective. Either way, it’s the sort of thing that will either bother you, or will be fine. Regardless, the gameplay mechanics are solid and well-designed, while the plot is as tasty as always.

Overall Value

Best of all, you can give Odyssey Adventure a trial run for free. Up to the third chapter, you’ve got as much of Ulysses as you can stand. If you choose to upgrade to the full version, you can proceed through the rest of Th. story. No matter which path you take, though, it’s a great bargain, and a fantastic romp through a classic gameplay format. If you’re a fan of the series, then we can’t recommend Odyssey Adventure enough.

Android Apps Review Details: Odyssey Adventure is FREE. This app requires Android 4.0+ and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

You may download Odyssey Adventure.

“The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com“

The Visible City is a new way to explore the history in Vancouver, British Columbia. Using the latest in augmented reality technology, this app from the fantastic Museum of Vancouver offers a free route to historical adventure on Android.

Features
Have you experienced ‘augmented reality’ yet? If you live in the Vancouver, BC area, or are planning to visit that metropolis anytime soon, give AR a shot with The Visible City app. This app, using GPS location data, maps, audio and, of course, AR, allows you to virtually explore the history of Vancouver, B.C.It includes two virtual guided walking tours through Granville Street and Chinatown/Hasting Street, both important historical locations.

If users hold up their cameras when prompted to along the tour, they can enjoy the augmented reality experience with scenes shows from the past at that location-1950s-1970s. Also included is a wide range of interviews and recounts from famous Vancouver citizens along the way, discussing the famous neon history behind these areas. The guided tours are approximately 30 minutes each, and allow for social media features-voting, check in (and receive 2 for 1 ticket special at the Museum of Vancouver).

The Visible City Android Apps Review

Appearance and Layout
The Visible City looks great on mobile devices. The developers have taken an interesting approach to offering a private guided tour, using digital tech to do so, and it works! The app is laid out well, with the tours easy to set up and the augmented reality feature well implemented. Furthermore, the graphics are quite eye catching and the video/audio quality excellent.

Value

If you are ever in the Vancouver, B.C. area please give The Visible City a shot. It’s a remarkably well done and unique app, with plenty of interesting features to keep you entertained and education. I hope more museums take a cue from the Museum of Vancouver and offer educational augmented reality apps for their region as well. Oh, and The Visible City is free-get it today for Android!

Android Apps Review Details: The Visible City is free. This app’s Android requirement requires 2.2 and up.

You may download The Visible City from the Android Market.

“The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com“

Now, we’ve been using Android for a long time (more or less since it hit the scene) and we cannot begin to tell you how much we enjoy the platform. Still, we do wish there were a few more apps that were just . . . well, interesting. With that in mind, we’re just chuffed to bits to be bringing you a full review of Acccelerando, an engaging new way to create soundscapes from your Android device using spreading, pinching, and a little bit of ingenuity. It’s great fun, and for the price, it’s a pretty phenomenal bargain, too. For our full review, you need only to slide on down below the break!

Concept and Functionality

Acccelerando for Android

Any app that we define as “interesting” is going to come with a difficult concept, so we’re going to do our best now to describe the process of creating music with Acccelerando to you. Essentially, the entire process centers around the concept of nodes. Each node you create is designed to act as a single instrument, and spit out orbs at a given rate. You can define this rate (which is based on the set tempo, as well as the beat you set it to) that way the sound is your own. These orbs spin out at the given trajectory (also defined by you using some handy spreading) until they hit another like-colored bubble. When this happens, they heat up, burst and create a sound. It’s a cool idea, and if that sounds too simple, don’t you worry: There’s bucket loads of complexity here.

Just about every inch of the app can be customized by you, and there are also neat additions under the surface. You’ll get a sound-boosting synthesizer, as well as percussion and adjustable chord progressions. Add in a recorder, and you’ve got yourself one solid concept at work!

Design and Graphics

Strictly speaking, no Acccelerando is not a game. Then again, with how good it looks, it could have fooled us. The app positively glistens and sparkles with energy, and the longer your song goes on, it only gets more so. Furthermore, the app’s interface is pretty cleverly designed, too. It was easy for us to edit the scenes to our liking, and of course the playback itself is a cinch. All in all, this is a stunningly well designed application, and if you’re not mesmerized by your own explorations, you’re doing something wrong.

Overall Value

At the end of the day, you’ll get as much out of Acccelerando as you put in. It’s a fantastic idea that’s a lot of fun to play around with, and the more you play with it, the more rewarding you’ll find it. With that in mind, just shy of two dollars is hardly a lot to ask for Acccelerando. If you’re interest has been piqued, spend that half a Starbucks latte and give it a go: You won’t be disappointed.

Android Apps Review Details: Acccelerando is FREE. This app requires Android 4.0+ and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

You may download Acccelerando.

“The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com“

Looking for a fun game that will keep the boredom away? Then the Signs HD app from developer Tooflya Inc. is just the app for you!

Features

When you initially load the Signs HD app, you will be prompted with the main menu screen where you can begin playing the game, view your current score, your unlocked achievements, make various purchases with stars earned (or through in app purchases), change settings,  view more games by the developer, and access social networking links.

The basic premise of the game is this. You can choose from either “easy”, “normal”, or “expert” game playing modes. Once the game play screen loads, your aim is to get rid of as many eye signs as possible by tapping on eye signs of the same color in pairs or greater. You will be timed, so give it your best shot! If you find yourself in a rut, but time is still running on the clock, simply tap on the “roll” icon on the left had side of the screen which will refill the screen with other eye signs, but this will cost you in earning star bonuses that can be redeemed for different eye sings in the game shop.

Signs HD Android App Review

Appearance and Layout

The overall appearance of the Signs HD app can be described as simplistic and easy on the eyes (no pun intended!). Users should have no difficulty figuring out the gist of the game and the main goal, since the layout and navigation is just as simple. There is minimal ad placement, but not to the point of being distracting. The ads can be removed with an in-app purchase. The background music and sound effects are fun and light-hearted, and enhance the overall game play for the users.

Please note that there were some game freezing occurring during some of the game play which caused the game to be cut in the middle and had to be restarted.

Value

Since the Signs HD app is offered for free, there really is not much to complain about. It is a fun and entertaining game that is suitable for users of all ages and backgrounds. Some might even find this game addicting. It is definitely a great game to escape with during down times, break periods, or when waiting in those long lines. It is a game app worth checking out, and who knows your eyes may be glued to it for awhile!

Android Apps Review Details: Signs HD is Free. This app’s Android requirement requires 1.6 and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

You may download Signs HD from the Android Market.

“The best Android apps are reviewed by AndroidAppsReview.com“