BlackBerry App Roundup for May 16, 2014

Howdy CrackBerry readers. It is time once again for the weekly App Roundup where I rustle up some interesting, fun, and useful applications and games for you to try. This time last year I was in beautiful Orlando attending BlackBerry Live with the CrackBerry Team. During that time I made some long-lasting friendships, took part in the different Jam sessions for WebWorks and Cascades, and met a few developers we've featured on the blog including our very our Weekend Coder Brian Scheirer who I had the pleasure of sharing this CB Live interview with.

However, it's time to get on with the show. Be sure to check out this week's picks 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.

Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink by Artifex Mundi sp. z o.o.

Having trouble finding a good puzzle/adventure game? I happened to come across this one that offers pleasant visuals and graphics and is quite interesting . Your objective is to portray Evangeline Glass and not only save Dr. Ink but the town and other cities from mysterious earthquakes. This is accomplished by gathering elements, finding objects, interacting with characters, and solving cases all while defeating mechanical creatures. Available for the BlackBerry PlayBook and touchscreen BlackBerry 10 devices only it will certainly keep you entertained with its unique storytelling twist. You can test drive the free version or unlock the full game for $2.99.

More information/Purchase Clockwork Tales
More information/Download Clockwork Tales Trial

Motion Detection by Simply Apps

Going through the forums I discovered this simple yet useful application with many interesting uses. In this case of the developer it allows him to see what his dog does when he is not around. Motion Detection scans your camera (you can set which one in settings) and when it detects movement it will alert you by email and attach an image of the current view. It also has the capability to enable recording of video when motion is detected and users can set the duration. For security, users have the option to set a password to prevent others from gaining access. While most of us would not want to be without our BlackBerry's it is quite impressive. The only negative I see is that most people do not have multiple devices on hand to just leave one at home. You can find it for BlackBerry 10 for $.99. As it sends you messages, records audio/video, and saves the files it asks for permission t access Shared Files, Camera, Microphone, and Text Messages.

More information/Purchase Motion Detection

UPC Shopper by David Jones II

Another practical application for everyday use is this handy shopper scanner. Once the app is launched all users have to do is scan the UPC barcode (it also scans QR Codes) and it will do the rest. In a matter of moments you can check the prices on various sites including Amazon, PriceGrabber, Shopping.com and iHerb.com. As a window shopper myself this really is a fast way of price checking with multiple sites all at once. UPC Shopper supports BlackBerry 10 and is $.99 to download. In order to function properly it asks for permission to access the Camera.

More information/Purchase UPC Shopper

Max Anti Virus by Max Secure Software

From the developer that brought you Max Safe Browser and Max Mobile Security, you can now include Max Anti Virus to the list. This headless application is similar to their Security software, without the built-in browser capabilities, to try and protect against unknown threats. For those concerned over sideloaded apps or APKs it does have the ability to scan them. It scans email attachments, has live database updates, hub integration, and scans your selected locations. While the price is a little steep at $4.99 it is a cheaper alternative to their Security software and it only supports the BlackBerry Z3.

More information/Purchase Max Anti Virus

The CookBook: Recipes & Shopping List by Riafy Technologies

Usually between work and other activities I just don't have time to sit down and make a proper meal. This Android Port though offers a convenient to have new, healthy, delicious, and quick recipes at your fingertips. Included in the database are recipes from around the globe including Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Mexican, American, and Indian. Whether you wish to experiment, try something new or just want to setup your own shopping list there are a plethora of meals, desserts, and styles to keep you busy all from your device. Users can browse and share complete menus, search for recipes, calculate preparation time, view illustrations, and add ingredients directly to their shopping list. Available for $1.99 it supports all BlackBerry 10 devices save for the Z30, and the BlackBerry PlayBook. For those concerned about security it only asks to access Internet and Shared Files.

More information/Purchase The CookBook

What You Might Have Missed

CB 10 App

This week marked an update to the CB10 application based on contributions from BlackBerry 10 developers in the community call out for BlackBerry 10 developers in the CrackBerry community. Included in this updated is improvements to link handling, new option to clear cache, new option to set the visual theme from settings, and corrections to the active frame image on the BlackBerry Z30. There is no better time than now to download this application.

More information/Download CB10

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.