Android App Review - Pic Collage by Cardinal Blue Software

Android App Review - Pic Collage by Cardinal Blue Software

Android App Review -  Pic Collage by Cardinal Blue Software. This is a collage building app that places its emphasis on simple and intuitive interface. With just a few touches you can pick photos from the smartphone's photo gallery or the internet, retouch them, collect them together and add frames, stickers text and many other effects. If you stick to the frames and stickers available, you can create awesome collages simply and easily, of any size and with many effects.

Put pictures in heart shaped frames, combine many sizes together, create cartoon like collages - almost everything is possible with Pic Collage. Just add the pictures, pick backgrounds, add frames and graphical objects and you're set. Really simple and easy. All of our testers liked this app, which is really one of the best collage makers we tested. The only caveat is the app's simplicity. For the serious photo editing user, this app will not suffice. 

However, to create great collages simply and effectively, this app is among the best of its kind. Just tap the photos, pick a background, arrange the photos and you're all set to go. Just don't try to do too complicated things.

• Score: A conditional 4.5 out of 5. A very good, simple to use and fun app for those who want a fast and simple photo editing and collage making up.
• Description: A collage creation app with simple photo editing capabilities  Users can simply and easily pick photos for a collage, use a large variety of frames, crop and resize images to any size and add fun graphical objects atop the images.
• Good Points: Very simple to use. Allows quick and simple photo editing and collage building. Has a lot of graphical objects that can be added and more can be freely downloaded. Has a large number of good and interesting frames and backgrounds for the collage building. There were very few if any bugs detected. It is a very stable app and only once or twice we discovered a problem in editing a number of photos starting from the fifth or so.
• Bad Points: Simplicity is the main thing for Pic Collage so some of the options available in other pic editing apps are missing, such as picture enhancements  transparent text and sophisticated filters. Of course, it is not a camera app which some would have preferred  Some of our testers thought the photo limit of 15 pics was too restricting while others thought the app's space requirement from the smartphone was excessive. Some of the stickers were lost between app updates which irritated testers that were used to using them.
• Experience: In our experience, it takes about one hour to really start using the neat features this app has to offer. In other words, users can learn to use it very fast as it has a very simple and intuitive interface. Only after a few days of working with it, a few of our testers expressed a desire for more sophisticated capabilities.
• Longevity: Most of our testers loved this app and would continue using it. Only a very few who wanted more sophisticated photo editing capabilities uninstalled it and installed other photo editing apps, with filters and image enhancing features.
• Google Play Link - Pic Collage by Cardinal Blue Software
• Google Play Score: 4.5

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Android App Review - Kik Messenger by Kik Interactive

Android App Review - Kik Messenger by Kik Interactive

Android App Review -  Kik Messenger by Kik Interactive. A messenger that does not use the smartphone's number but allows you to create and use a Kik account, which we're not sure is a good or bad thing ... It does allow one more freedom but apps like Whatsapp that use the smartphone's number for identification insure the user's identity and prevent impersonation, with the drawback that if you change your phone number (for instance, changing carrier sometimes forces you to change your number) you'll lose you Whatsapp conversations. Kik does possess a simple and intuitive interface while still having features such as pic sending, user status updating and group conversations.

Kik Messenger app is advertised to be faster than any other messenger. Our testers have indeed confirmed the app is fast, though they're not sure its the fastest messenger app they ever used .. All together, a good and simple app to use and we can heartily recommend it. The only thing is, just like in any other messenger, is to find out what messenger your contacts are using and use it too ... Just one more thing. Since the Kik accounts can be annonymous, you can never be sure who you're talking to, just like in Internet chat rooms, with all their advantages and drawbacks because of anonymity, adult possible and the like. Just search for Kik 'sexting'.

• Score. 4.5 out of 5. We took half a point away because of the user account management. In our opinion, using the smartphone's number to ID contacts is better. Still, if it doesn't matter to you, this app is great. 

• Description. 
• Good Points. A very simple and intuitive interface. Having a Kik account and not having the messenger app use the smartphone's number has its advantages ... Kik messenger app has all the necessary features - text and pic messages, notifications, group conversations and more.

• Bad Points. Our testers disliked the colors that came with the update. Boring, they called it ... Setting up an account and using it can be difficult at times, as is having to locate your friends (since you usually know their phone numbers anyway).

• Experience. 
• Longevity. Most of our testers liked Kik app, but eventually some returned to Whatsapp Messenger, citing simplicity, ease of contact locating and an interface that a little more appealing.
• Google Play. Google Play Link - Kik Messenger by Kik Interactive
• Google Play Score 4.4 

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Android App Review - Dr. Driving by SUD

Android App Review - LINE camera by LINE Corporation

Android App Review -  Dr. Driving by SUD. An upgrade of Dr. Parking, this is a very good game with great physics which lets you do one thing - drive! You get to complete missions in very realistically looking city scenes, earn money and then you can buy more expensive and fancy cars. The game is so good it can be used as an aid for car driving lessons but even the more experienced drivers among our testers loved this game. SUD tried and made a very good job in simulating real cars movements - from stops, to accelerations to turning to breaking. 

It did have some very minor annoyances, such as forcing you to link your Google+ and Facebook accounts and the fact money is not so easy to come by so you have to put in a long time to earn enough to buy the better cars (just like in real life!) but still, our testers all loved this game.
Another small annoyance some of our more hard headed testers came up with was rear mirrors and side collisions. The game doesn't have either, so you can make any turns with impunity, which somehow diminishes from the game's fun, at least according to those testers.

• Score: A very solid and deserving 4.5 out of 5. Just a few small things missing to give this driving game a 5 out of 5.
• Description: A driving game that sends the user to drive one of a collection of cars through a city in missions to reach a certain place and park there, naturally. The cars behave in a very realistic way and the graphics are great. The game would have been perfect if it was easier to get the new cars and if rear mirrors existed, along with a way to see cars coming from other lanes when you turn.
• Good Points: Great graphics, at least on a smartphone. Very realistic car behavior, from accelerations to breaks to parking to crashes ... Very addictive and with a simple interface which leaves the focus on the main thing - driving the cars through the city!
• Bad Points: Okay, just a few minor points in a great game. You cannot look right and left when making a turn which is very unrealistic. What a driver earns in the missions is not enough to buy a newer and fancier car fast - you have to spend a lot of time for it ... There were some issues with the game forcing you to log on to your Facebook and Google+ accounts - which is a behavior we do not like on an app. Very few crashes and bugs - a very stable app. 
• Experience: Our testers all installed and ran this app quickly. The game has a smooth learning curve and even our teen testers got to finish the mission quickly, in some cases faster than some of the older testers with a driving license ... All in all, if you have a relatively new smartphone with updated hardware this game will run smoothly.
• Longevity: In a relatively rare show of loyalty, all of our testers elected to have the app installed for good. Some are playing it more often than others, but several months after testing begun, none have uninstalled it yet.
• Google Play Link - Dr. Driving by SUD
• Google Play Score: 4.6

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Android App Review - Google Maps

Android App Review - Google Maps

Android App Review -  Google Maps. Probably the most popular navigation app in the world, and not only because it comes with every Android smartphone and tablet. Every navigation app knows how to get you to your destination but all strive to bring the user something new. Waze tried to make driving a social experience, by sharing traffic information from all the other drivers using Waze on the roads. What makes Google Map special is its comprehensive database of businesses, establishments and points of interest along the road.

Google Maps has really everything in it, every kind of hotel, restaurant, pub and almost everything else you would want. Google leverages its huge database and the result is actually having the whole internet available to you via navigation with Google Maps.

Of course, Google Map comes rich with features, such as navigating and directions for walking or public transportation in addition to driving, like we mentioned before searching for almost anything be it close or far away, getting several courses and picking the best one for you, using Street View to actually see pictures of any place you're getting at. Of course, there is the ability to download maps at the start of the drive (when you're in WiFi range) and then use them for you navigation. The list features goes on and on, including voice activation and navigation.

Even though some of our testers didn't like the new update (while others simply adored it), there have been some crashes of the app while navigating and some features have been hidden away in the new update. Other than that, this is one of the best and most useful navigating app for Android right now.

• Score: We gave it 4.5 out of 5, an almost perfect score because some of our testers had problems with the new update, mainly with crashes and losing save data and waypoints, not to mention hidden features.
• Description: A navigation app with incredibly rich features, from voice activation to free text locale searching to picture available of virtually any place to offline maps to more and more features ... This is a app worthy of the giant that is Google.
• Good Points: Free text searching for locales is very important and useful, such as looking for the nearest convenience store. Street View is also very useful as it allows you to see what your destination looks before you reach it.
• Bad Points: Some of our testers disliked the new app update, claiming the old interface and maps were better. There are reported crashes here and there, common to most navigation apps.
• Experience: Our testers used the app extensively, some using the walking and public transportation routes the app gives. All were quite enthusiastic about the more special features like Street View and Google's extensive database (find a nearby pizza, will you?!?)
• Longevity: Of course, it is installed on every Android machine, but most of our testers still continue to use the app, though most not exclusively.
• Google Play Link - Business Calendar Free by Appgenix Software
• Google Play Score: 4.5

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Android App Review - GO Keyboard by GO Dev Team

Android App Review - GO Keyboard by GO Dev Team

Android App Review -  GO Keyboard by GO Dev Team

Score	Under Construction
Description	Under Construction
Good Points	Under Construction
Bad Points	Under Construction
Experience	Under Construction
Longevity	Under Construction
Google Play	Google Play Link - GO Keyboard by GO Dev Team
Google Play Score	Score 4.4

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Android App Review - LINE: Free Calls & Messages by Line Corporation

Android App Review -  LINE: Free Calls & Messages by Line Corporation

Android App Review -   LINE: Free Calls & Messages by Line Corporation. This is one of the best and most popular calls and messenger apps on Android, and not without good reason. A simple and slick interface, good features and it has that all important quality, the 'Cute' quality.

With Line you can place calls (all over the world) for free all over the internet (just make sure you have a large or unlimited data plan), send messages with stickers, emoticons, pictures and even location reports to you contacts. Of course, more stickers are available for download online.

There really aren't major negative issues with this messenger. Audio and video quality is generally good, at least if you have a fast enough internet connection via cellular or wifi. There isn't a status indicator for you contact like there is in WhatsApp and no logout function for when you DON'T want to receive any calls ... We would have liked some indicator of missed calls, the notifications in general are sometimes buggy and if a contact uninstalled this app, he still appears as if he can receive messages ...

Other than that, it really is one of the best Android messengers out there, making it easy to communicate by voice, video, sms or chat and share images between contacts.

Of course, one of the dominating factors in using Android messengers is finding our what others are using ... But Line is one of the best options out there right now.

• Score: A very solid 4.5 out of 5. Just short of perfect.
• Description: A video chat, messenger and file sharing Android app that enables a user to communicate with his or her contacts over an internet connection. One of the most popular Android messenger app, its simple and attractive interface was liked by most of our testers.
• Good Points: Very attractive interface that all of our testers (from teens to grandmothers) loved. The app works like a charm (in most cases) even when communicating across continents, if the internet connection is good enough. Cute and plentiful stickers. Easy sharing of files, images and even location reports between users.
• Bad Points: Wouldn't be much of a review without them ... A very few of our testers encountered some problems with notifications, with missed calls and messages that needed an hour to finally understand they've been read ... Some missing features of contact management - deleting contacts and status updates.
• Experience: Line messenger worked very well on all the smartphones we tried (mainly Samsung and LG brands). Our testers loved the simple interface and cute stickers which some other messengers app do not possess. A few testers found some problems with downloading videos sent by Line messengers but in general, all our testers agreed this was a very professional and stable app.
• Longevity: All of our testers kept this app installed on their smartphones and at least half made it their major messenger app, running a close second after WhatApp.
• Google Play Link - Android App Review - LINE: Free Calls & Messages by Line Corporation
• Google Play Score: 4.2

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Android App Review - RunKeeper - GPS Track Run Walk by FitnessKeeper

Android App Review - RunKeeper - GPS Track Run Walk by FitnessKeeper

Android App Review -  RunKeeper - GPS Track Run Walk by FitnessKeeper

Score	Under Construction
Description	Under Construction
Good Points	Under Construction
Bad Points	Under Construction
Experience	Under Construction
Longevity	Under Construction
Google Play	Google Play Link - RunKeeper - GPS Track Run Walk by FitnessKeeper
Google Play Score	Score 4.5

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