BlackBerry App Roundup for July 25, 2014

Howdy CrackBerry nation! I do not know about you, but the week has certainly flown by and I, for one, am looking forward to the weekend. There have been a few noteworthy announcements to speak of including an updated BBM arriving in the Beta Zone, the first look at the leather flip case for the BlackBerry Passport, confirmation that the Passport will be offered in white, and even a NY investment firm asking for their BlackBerry back over privacy concerns.

Now it is time to bring you this week's picks for all your passionate BlackBerry addicts out there. You can find each app and game by clicking through the gallery below. If your favorite did not make the cut this week, remember you can help by offering your suggestions at the end.

Puzzle Alarm by Utkarsh Kumar Jauhari

I am the type of person who hits the snooze button repeatedly on my alarm until it is absolutely necessary to get out of bed. This headless application actually tries to solve that problem to make sure you stay completely awake. In order to shut the alarm you have to solve the puzzle presented to you with a correct answer. In this case, you will have to re-type the sentence that appears on the display correctly to turn it off and typos don't count. The application is free to download but restricts you to three alarms. You can purchase the full version for BlackBerry 10 with an in-app purchase for $.99. The only downside to this application is that when the alarm sounds it automatically changes your sound profile to Normal.

More information/Download Puzzle Alarm

MoonCalc by Burning Platform

If you enjoy astronomy, or more specifically have an interest in the moon, then be sure to check out this application. It provides rich, real-time calculations of Moon phase, age, illumination, distance, apparent size, coordinates, moonrise and moonset and much more. All of this is pleasantly laid out in a well-designed native Qt application with easy to use and read menus and screens. MoonCalc is $1.99 to purchase for all BlackBerry 10 handsets.

More information/Purchase MoonCalc

Emoji Quiz – Guess the Emoji by Rolltower Studios

There is nothing like a fun, simple, and addicting game that is perfect for all ages. This game not only keeps you entertained but gets the mental juices flowing as well. Your objective is to decipher what the common word, expression, or pop culture reference is based on the emojis presented on the screen. For instance, if you are presented with a picture of a horse and a shoe, of course the obvious answer is horseshoe. As easy as this was, the puzzles do do get more difficult as you progress. All you have to do is tap on the correct letters to place them in the proper order on the game board. Emoji Quiz is free for all BlackBerry 10 devices.

More information/Download Emoji Quiz

Pic Tagger by Adrian-Liviu Serbanescu

This simple application allows you to tag your pictures so you can add important information to them. In addition, it allows you to easily search and find the images you are looking for. There are no restrictions on the number of tags associated with a picture and the tags are written into the files so that they are easily recoverable when switching devices or reinstalling the application. You can grab it for $.99 for BlackBerry 10, albeit as an Android Port, at the link.

More information/Purchase Pic Tagger

Pho.to Lab PRO by VicMan LLC

Being the amateur photographer that I am, I decided to venture out and try this application from the Amazon AppStore. Included are a variety of frames, filters, effects, and even montages. Please keep in mind I am using this on my BlackBerry Q10, Z10 and Z30 using the latest official OS for each. Each of the effects are arranged in different categories, are easy to browse through and select, and are quick to apply so that you can Photoshop in your images and share. While not an editing application per se, it does do a decent job of enhancing your images. The PRO version is $2.99 in the Amazon Appstore or you can download the free version on your device to test it out.

How to install Android apps from the Amazon Appstore

What You Might Have Missed

FlyCraft Herbie: Crazy Machines

Our resident gaming expert James Richardson is at it again showing us the latest iteration in the FlyCraft Herbie franchise. Back with an all new adventure, it is your mission to aid the cool male ladybug Herbie and his girlfriend Mollie fly the crazy machines through the forest without crashing into the obstacles laid out in your path. Fun and entertaining, you can't go wrong with this challenging and graphically pleasing game. The game itself is free to download for BlackBerry 10 though there are various in-app purchase to assist you in your task. There is also gamepad support for those who have the controllers.

More information/Download FlyCraft Herbit: Crazy Machines

Until next week...

That's it for this week folks. For more apps and games be sure to head on over to the CrackBerry Forums where you will find even more hidden gems to choose from whether it be for BlackBerry 10, BBOS or the BlackBerry PlayBook. Of course, you can always find the latest and greatest top editor's picks in the CrackBerry App Gallery. Are there any apps or games you would like to see? Feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments.