All the best new apps and app updates to land in the App Store this week [April 20 – April 24]

BY Kelly Hodgkins

Published 24 Apr 2015

app store

Each week, a new round of apps and app updates land in the iOS App Store. This week is no exception with the debut of Rally Racer Drift and a major update to Sortly – Moving Organization & Inventory. These titles are only a sampling of what is available. Read on for our weekly picks of the best new apps and app updates that you shouldn’t miss.

New and notable apps

Kayos [$0.99] From the developer that brought you the award-winning original game Boost 2, comes another adrenaline rushing experience.

Sago Mini Toolbox [$2.99] Come build with the Sago Mini friends! Use a wrench, try a saw, or hammer some nails.

Rally Racer Drift [$1.99] You will fill the roads with dust thanks to specially developed car physics and effective drift system for you to feel the real rally experience

Caves n’ Chasms [$3.99] Dig deep into hidden caves. Explore forgotten civilizations. Mine your way through blocks.

Spellcrafter: The Path of Magic [$2.99] Magic is neither an art nor a religion. Magic is a craft.

Lifeline… [$$2.99] Lifeline is a playable, branching story of survival against all odds.

Fusion – HDR Camera [$1.99] Fusion creates HDR (high dynamic range) photos by capturing different exposures and then combining them into one perfectly exposed photo.

App updates you shouldn’t miss

Weather Nerd – Forecasts and Radar [$3.99] Weather Nerd is the ultimate weather report and forecast app!. Version 1.7 includes the following changes:

  • NEW Apple Watch app and glance!
  • NEW Radar and satellite map
  • Added icon to daily forecasts
  • Shows weather alerts full screen (for readability)
  • Clarified precipitation projections

Sortly – Moving Organization & Inventory [$Free] Sortly is the incredibly simple way to organize your next move!. Version 5.0 includes the following changes:

  • A video is worth a thousand photos. Now you can add 15-second video to your items. (Premium)
  • Create elegant Sortly QR labels and attach them to boxes and items, so you can scan and search later. (Premium)
  • Attractive one-time purchase price for Premium features.
  • We have built in a moving checklist to make your move easier.
  • Add product details such as serial numbers, warranty expiration, purchase dates in their own fields.
  • Schedule reminders on warranty expiration and return dates.
  • Keep track of who you lent your favorite items to, and schedule reminders to get back.
  • Locations, sub-locations are now called Folders.
  • Add 5 levels of folders within the app. You asked, we delivered.
  • Manually sort your folders and items.
  • New users can sign up to cloud using Facebook login
  • Ability to contact us for support right within the app.
  • Many more features that you have been asking us for!

Curious [Free] Introducing the Curious app, designed for the lifelong learner in each of us! Version 1.4 includes the following changes:

  • This is a big update, bringing lots of free content, Curious+ subscription for all-you-can-eat learning, Apple Watch support and a great new look and feel!

STAR WARS™: FORCE COLLECTION [$1.99] Collect over 400 character cards and vehicles including Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Create your own unique battle formations. Version 3.1.18 includes the following changes:

  • Exclusive Contra mini-game now available for a limited time!
  • The game is now available in French and German. Language settings can be changed on the title page.
  • In-game fonts and UI have been improved.
  • A reconnaissance function, allowing you to scout out the enemy’s charge status, has been added to “Legions at War” Starship Battles!
  • Tatooine maps 6, 7, and 8 have been added to Map Quests! Defeat targets hiding in these maps to increase your maximum number of Ally slots!
  • Other minor issues have been addressed.

Week Weather [$1.99] You never got a quicker and better overview of the weather for the next 7 days. Version 1.1 includes the following changes:

  • We added a new data source to Week Weather: Open Weather Map.
  • You have the choice between the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and Open Weather Map now. You can switch the weather source at any time and find out which one is more accurate for your location.
  • We also added actual live temperature readings for the forecast location. “Current conditions” now include a map with live temperature data from Netatmo Weather Stations (visible on iPhone 5 or newer but not on iPhone 4S or iPad).

Stackables – Layered Textures, Effects, and Masks [$1.99] Stackables is the most advanced and comprehensive effects layering and blending app. Version 3.2 includes the following changes:

  • Completely revamped rendering engine. Now all elements are rendered in accordnace with image dimensions, thereby producing superior and more consistent results across all aspect ratios.
  • Added an elliptical gradient mask and a reflected elliptical gradient mask that conform to image dimensions. Particularly useful for masking non-square format images along the peripheries.
  • Added “Winter Blues” preset formula.

Apple’s App of the Week

djay 2: Ready to rock your next party? Introducing djay 2 – the next generation of the world’s best-selling DJ app and winner of the Apple Design Award has been redesigned from the ground up. $9.99 → Free

Apple’s highlighted collections

Apple this week updated the iOS App Store and is now featuring apps for Mother’s Day, which is celebrated Sunday, May 10th. Other collections include games to chill out and play and the ongoing group of practical apps for exploring the great outdoors.

Top iPhone and iPad Apps in the App store

  • Top Paid iPhone and iPad: Minecraft – Pocket Edition [$6.99] Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures.
  • Top Free iPhone: Facebook [Free] Keeping up with friends is faster than ever.
  • Top Free iPad: YouTube [Free] Get the official YouTube app for iPhone and iPad. Catch up with your favorite channels, enjoy the world’s largest music collection, and share easily with friends.
  • Top Grossing iPhone and iPad: Clash of Clans [Free] From rage-­filled Barbarians with glorious mustaches to pyromaniac wizards, raise your own army and lead your clan to victory! Build your village to fend off raiders, battle against millions of players worldwide, and forge a powerful clan with others to destroy enemy clans.

Know of a new app or app update that is not on the list? Then share your personal favorites in the comments.