It’s Sunday, the time of the week when Talk Android brings you a report on some of the very best applications we’ve been using over the course of the past seven days. Today we’re focusing our attention on an ultra-reliable media player, a fantastic food ordering service, a useful movie referencing app and a great tool for anyone who has use of a PlayStation 4.
VLC for Android
Up first this week we have VLC for Android, which is a must-have app for anyone who uses their Android-powered smartphone or tablet as a portable media player. I’ve been using this platform for a while now, and I can honestly say that I have not encountered any issues.
Not only is the application extremely fast and stable, it also supports a ton of universal video and audio formats, including MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV, Ogg, FLAC, TS, M2TS and AAC. All the codecs are bundled into the APK, too — so you don’t have to waste any time installing separate downloads.
There’s even a dedicated widget for those who use VLC primarily for audio playback. This enables the widget adoptees to scan through their library and play a song direct from their home screen. I’ve never actually used this feature as I use Spotify for all my audio-related needs, but from what I’ve seen in my widget drawer, it looks pretty good.
To really get to grips with VLC for Android, you have to see it in action, so be sure to check out the gallery below.
Play Store Download Link
JUST EAT
This past week, I’ve been getting home rather late and haven’t been able to muster the energy to cook, so, consequently, I’ve been ordering quite a lot of takeouts. However, I decided to steer away from the traditional method of browsing through a paper menu, noting my order, then phoning the restaurant. Instead, I’ve been using JUST EAT.
The service is free and works flawlessly. First, users input their postcode and a multitude of local takeaways of varying cuisines miraculously appear. Once users have found a restaurant that takes their fancy, they simply browse the menu on their handset adding food to the basket along the way. Once done, they have the facility to pay for the order on their phone or upon delivery.
To see JUST EAT in action, take a look at the promotional video below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Play Store Download Link
IMDb Movies & TV
If like me you have a fondness of being kept up-to-date with all the latest and greatest from the film and TV industry, then you’ll love this application. IMDb is the world’s largest collector of all cinematographic references — so if you’re looking to view a new trailer, want to find out some fun-facts about your favorite movie or simply want to read about an unseen title, this is the perfect service for you.
Once you’ve downloaded IMDb for Android, you’ll have instant access to comprehensive fact files for over two-million movie and TV titles all containing plot breakdowns, critics/user reviews and interesting facts. I found myself turning to this app when I came home to an abundance of recorded TV shows after being away for a while that I just couldn’t be bothered to watch, I deleted them, read through a few quick summary’s so that I was kept in the loop for the next episode.
If you’re scouting for a new film to watch, you’ll be right at home in the Popular Charts section of IMDB, which lets you browse through the top-rated titles in the following categories:
- Best Picture – award winners
- Top rated movies of all time (IMDb Top 250)
- Most popular movies of the day on IMDb (MOVIEmeter)
- Most popular celebrities of the day on IMDb (STARmeter)
- Lowest rated movies of all time (IMDb Bottom 100)
- Most popular TV shows
Be sure to take a look through the gallery below to get a feel for all of IMDb’s features.
Play Store Download Link
PlayStation App
The final app we’re looking at this week is the official PlayStation client for Android, which is great for anyone with a PS4. The application gives users the facility to stay connected to their gaming friends on the go. You’ll be able to see what your mates are playing, compare trophies and chat in real-time.
My favored feature is the in-app second-screen functionality, which enables you to use your smartphone or tablet as a second display when playing compatible games on your PS4. This is particularly useful if you’re playing an action-shooter as you can display a larger version of the mini-map on your mobile device.
To see the application from all-angles, check out the gallery below.
Play Store Download Link
Previous Apps of the Week editions:
- September 27, 2015
- September 20, 2015
- September 13, 2015
- September 6, 2015
Come comment on this article: Talk Android Apps of the Week: October 4, 2015
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