This week’s top iOS apps has a few entries from some heavy hitters, as Apple and Google have come out swinging with some interesting offerings. While Google brings a version of Chrome to iOS along with its Google Drive app, Apple counters with a dedicated Podcasts app. Other featured apps this week include a music editing app and an app for fans of history.
Chrome (Free)
Chrome users who have long bristled at having to use Safari when they browse the web on their iPhones can breathe a sigh of relief now that Chrome is available as an app. Users can sign-in to their Google account through the Chrome app and sync open tabs, bookmarks, passwords and omnibox data from their computer to their iPhone. While browsing web pages on the iPhone or iPad, Chrome users can flip through tabs like flipping through a deck of cards rather than simply having to tap each individual tab. And of course, incognito browsing is also available in the Chrome app, so users can browse without leaving a history trail.
Podcasts (Free)
Podcasts now have their very own hangout on the iPhone thanks to the Podcasts app. Users can listen to all of their audio and video podcasts from the same hub and download thousands more right from the app. Serious fans of certain podcasts can subscribe and automatically receive the new episodes free when they’re released. The Podcasts app also lets users set a sleep timer that will automatically stop playing a podcast after a specific time period, so you can finally fall asleep to your favorite show.
Google Drive (Free)
Google Drive finally comes to iOS. Now Drive users can access their 5GB worth of docs, photos and videos right on their iPhone. Google Drive also lets you sync files across multiple platforms and even open files from Drive with other iPhone apps. Users without cellular access from time to time should also appreciate that you can make files available for offline viewing. Unfortunately, the Google Drive app won’t yet let users edit documents within the app.
Micro DJ Pro ($0.99)
If you fancy yourself a music manipulator, you should try your hand at Micro DJ Pro. The music app lets you take the songs in your iTunes library and mess with the files to give them a whole new sound. Any song’s pitch, speed and tempo can be edited from Micro DJ Pro. Once you’ve messed around with a song by layering in numerous effects, you can save the edited track on your iPhone or upload it to Facebook or Twitter.
This Day in History Free (Free)
History buffs should appreciate This Day in History. The scholarly app gives you a glimpse back in time by letting you look at any day in history to see what events transpired over the years. For example, the app cites June 20th and goes all the way back to 451 to let you know the Battle of Chalons occurred on that date, while in 1605 16-year-old Russian tsar Feodor II was assassinated.
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