Fans of Bungie’s online first-person shooter Destiny can now take their looting and shooting on the go, as the company has partnered with mobile gaming giant NetEase for the franchise’s first free-to-play live service mobile title, Destiny: Rising, which translates the hectic massively multiplayer online shooting action into an accessible, portable, and still immensely engaging handheld format.

Much like its two console and PC game counterparts, Destiny: Rising once again thrusts players into a war between humanity and alien invaders, but this time, it’s taking a leap into the past. Set multiple years before the events of 2014’s Destiny, the game is set in an alternate timeline and follows a character called Wolf, who is revived by a Ghost as a Lightbearer, humans capable of wielding special Light powers, in a quest to fight back against the alien threat and restore human civilisation.

Featuring gameplay most fans should feel right at home with, Destiny: Rising offers players the choice between traditional first-person perspective or over-the-shoulder third-person shooting, now with intuitive touch controls and some additional quality-of-life options to ease those new to the shooter genre, such as the ability to automatically aim down weapon sights when pressing the fire button. Additionally, the game features a plethora of options to tweak controls, such as gamepad support, key remapping and even controller dead-zone and sensitivity options players can adjust to suit their preferences.

Apart from taking on its main quests, players can also join others around the world in PvE raids or even PvP matches, with a fair play system that reduces everyone’s Character Relic level to one, ensuring a level playing field. Unlike the mainline games, Destiny: Rising lets players choose from a roster of playable characters, each with their own unique abilities and stories. Additionally, the game also features some systems not seen in past titles, like racing, the ability to dual-wield weapons, and various mini-games like a Flappy Bird-style side scroller or a collectable card game named Shadowshaper Duels.

As a free-to-play title, players might justifiably have concerns about its in-game monetisation systems, and while they are present, fans can rest easy knowing that it isn’t as egregious as most other mobile titles. Weapons are primarily obtained via gameplay, while its gacha system to get new characters definitely benefits paying players more, but all characters can be attained just by playing the game. Additionally, players should expect the live-service mainstays like battle passes and an energy system, with the latter currently being addressed by the development team to provide more freedom and fewer restrictions while still maintaining game balance.

Monetisation and gacha aside, Destiny: Rising is still an ambitious gaming undertaking that has largely succeeded in scratching that looter shooter itch even while on the go, with many players even remarking that it’s a return to form to the days of the OG Destiny. The developers’ commitment to player feedback, alongside the game being completely playable even for players who don’t spend a single cent – at least for now – means that this is one mobile title worth checking out, especially if you are a Destiny or looter shooter fan.

Destiny: Rising is now available for free on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post App Of The Month — Destiny: Rising (Nov 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Experimenting with AI just got a whole lot easier with Opal, Google Labs’ new no-code tool that turns simple prompts into fully functional mini-apps. Whether you want to prototype an idea, showcase a proof of concept, or build a custom AI workflow to boost productivity, Opal makes it possible with no coding experience required. The platform is currently in public beta in the U.S., giving early adopters a first look at what Google hopes will be a game-changer for creators.

Getting started is straightforward. Users describe what they want their app to do in plain language, and Opal transforms those instructions into a visual workflow. Each step represents an action, from user inputs to AI model calls and outputs, and can be tweaked, added to, or rearranged through a drag-and-drop interface. For those who prefer to type their way through changes, Opal also supports conversational mode, letting you update workflows with natural-language commands. Once finished, your mini-app can be shared with friends or colleagues via a link, allowing them to test it with their own Google account.

For inspiration, Opal features a gallery of starter templates, ready to use as-is or remix to your liking. It’s a perfect way to jump in without getting bogged down, while still giving power users full creative control. Google positions Opal as a tool to accelerate AI prototyping, streamline workflows, and even explore new productivity hacks.

The app arrives during a surge in interest around AI-powered creation tools, joining competitors like Canva, Figma, and Replit, all of which aim to make app-building accessible to non-technical users. AI Developer Karim Chaanine commented, “Interesting positioning against Microsoft’s recent moves. Opal feels like Google’s answer to Power Platform + Copilot Studio, with natural language app building and Gemini models underneath.” Venture capitalist Nabeel Hyatt added, “Interesting experiment in the AI apps workflow builder category.”

Whether you’re a developer, designer, or simply curious about AI, Opal lets you bring your ideas to life visually, quickly, and collaboratively. It’s an inviting playground for creativity, offering a fun, low-pressure way to experiment with AI applications without needing coding skills.

Google Opal is now available in public beta for U.S. users.

Ting Wei

Conversation with Ting Wei is like chatting with a weird AI bot programmed only with One Piece lore and theories, sitcom quotes and other miscellaneous pop culture references. When he’s not sleeping, he’s highly likely reading manga. In fact, the only thing he reads more than manga is the Bible, and it’s honestly pretty close.

The post App Of The Month: Google’s Opal (Aug 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Good company makes for a good time, but it can also mean more work when it comes to calculating the bill. While some may find comfort in doing the math, others are often put off by the tedium of it all, especially with additional factors like multiple payees and uneven splits complicating matters.

Taking the stress out of handling transactions is Splid, aptly conveyed through its tagline of ‘Split bills, not friendships’. Designed to help users stay on top of their shared expenses and settle up in a fuss-free way, it touts a nifty slate of features, starting with a clean, straightforward interface that shows them who owes how much to whom after all the expenses are keyed in.

There’s no need for an Internet connection or account to reap the benefits, either. The app supports offline use and doesn’t require sign-up to work, but going online will sync the group’s spending. In more intricate cases where, say, not everyone orders the same serving or portion of food, the bill can be adjusted without being subjected to mental gymnastics.

With over 150 currencies registered and the ability to automatically convert amounts into just one currency, Splid keeps up the convenience for travelling, allowing users to easily track their overseas spending and split costs while abroad. Those who want to download summaries as PDF or Excel files have to fork out a small sum of US$4.99, but otherwise, the app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for free.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post App of the Month: Splid (May 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Life is always better with a companion, and developer Christian Selig’s Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game knows it. Designed with customisation in mind, the app allows users to place adorable digital pets called Pixel Pals on their home and lock screen, making full use of newer iOS features like Live Activities and Dynamic Island — the black bar at the top of an iPhone display.

While the interactive pixel art creations don’t serve much of a purpose, they bring a fun touch to idle and time-wasting moments. The dog and cat, named Rupert and Hugo by default, are included for all, with the Premium version introducing other options, from more common types like a hedgehog, fox, and butterfly to rarer species such as an axolotl, platypus, and even a T-Rex. There’s also the ability to pin two animals at once for supported devices, delivering twice the dose of serotonin.

These virtual pets can be played with, renamed, and fed like their real-world counterparts, transforming into “Morphs” when showered with enough affection and love. Apart from camping, hiking, or growing food on a farm, Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game lets those harbouring a competitive spirit engage in battles with their friends, courtesy of a recent update that adds a socialising element into the mix.

Joining fully interactive games on the Home Screen are alternative standard photo and transparent widgets, on top of the game widgets, that seek to complete the experience.

Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game is available as a free app on the Apple App Store for the iPhone and iPad, but users can pay S$1.49 per month or US$14.99 yearly for a Premium subscription that offers access to more features.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post App Of The Month: Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game (Apr 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Drowning in distractions has become second nature in a world where notifications, social media feeds, and endless scrolling dominate daily routines. Finding a way to break free from the cycle of mindless phone use is no easy feat, but the Forest app manages to turn this struggle into something productive.

Unlike traditional focus apps that rely on timers and alarms, this one taps into a more instinctive motivation — guilt. Every time a session begins, a virtual seed is planted. If focus remains uninterrupted, that seed grows into a flourishing tree. Give in to temptation, though, and the tree withers, leaving behind a stark reminder of failure.

For those accustomed to productivity apps that let them slide when discipline wavers, Forest is refreshingly unforgiving. The straightforward mechanics make it easy to integrate into daily routines. Setting a timer takes seconds, and once a session begins, the stakes are clear: stay off the phone or kill the tree. For longer commitments, multiple trees can be planted, turning an entire workday into a growing digital forest, which stands as proof of productivity, a visual representation of time well spent rather than lost in an algorithmic abyss.

Beyond the personal challenge, Forest links digital progress to real-world impact. Coins earned through completed focus sessions can be used to plant actual trees in partnership with environmental organisations. Knowing that successful sessions contribute to reforestation efforts makes each focus period feel even more rewarding. It’s a rare example of gamification that extends beyond the app itself, bridging the gap between digital behaviour and tangible results.

Functionality remains straightforward, but Forest offers several customisation options to make the experience more personal. Tags allow users to categorise focus sessions by task, whether it’s work, study, relaxation, or exercise. Reviewing past sessions through the Forest history feature offers insights into productivity habits, making it easier to identify trends and areas for improvement. Achievements provide an extra incentive, rewarding users with additional coins for hitting milestones like consecutive days of focus or long-duration sessions.

A premium version unlocks advanced features, including the ability to blacklist distracting apps, access more tree varieties, and sync progress across multiple devices. While the free version remains effective, upgrading provides additional flexibility for those looking to refine their focus strategy. Deep Focus mode, exclusive to the premium tier, goes a step further by completely locking the phone during a session, ensuring that even the most persistent distractions are blocked.

The app isn’t just a solo endeavour. Sharing progress with friends or coworkers adds a communal element, turning focus sessions into a shared challenge. Team competitions or personal accountability partnerships can enhance motivation, reinforcing the idea that productivity doesn’t have to be a lonely pursuit.

Forest is available on both the Apple App Store for S$5.98 and Google Play Store for free, with an optional membership plan starting from S$6 available. More information about Forest can be found on the website.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.

The post App Of The Month: Forest (March 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

ZRX has transformed the way running feels, turning routine workouts into fully immersive adventures, and that’s why it’s our App of the Month. For years, Zombies, Run! made running thrilling by dropping users into post-apocalyptic missions filled with undead chases and gripping storytelling. With the evolution into ZRX, the experience has only grown richer, blending fitness with story-driven excitement while expanding to include Marvel Move, an official Marvel fitness experience that places runners alongside superheroes.

Longtime Zombies, Run! users will benefit from terrifying chase sequences with dynamic audio and an updated Base Builder that provides detailed progress tracking. Training plans offer greater flexibility, ensuring runners of all levels can tailor workouts to their needs. Technical benefits include reliable workout duration settings, improved app performance, and a streamlined web login system that enhances security. Even small but meaningful changes, like cast credits for nearly every story, reinforce ZRX’s commitment to delivering an immersive storytelling experience.

Alongside the undead-fueled adventures of Zombies, Run!, Marvel Move offers a fresh way to bring storytelling into workouts. Whether it’s escaping authorities with Hulk and Betty Banner in Hulkville or joining the X-Men in Age of Orchis, the action unfolds dynamically while running, walking, or even cycling. Thor and Loki lead an expertly designed 8-week 5K training program, making this an engaging option for those new to running. For experienced runners, the same adventure plays out in story mode, where the Asgardian brothers guide participants through a dramatic journey of divine mischief and heroic endurance.

Rewards provide another reason to keep going. Every workout earns in-game supplies, which can be exchanged for trophies displayed in a virtual Trophy Cabinet. Squirrel Girl serves as the in-app guide to these achievements, making progression feel even more interactive.

For those curious about Marvel Move, a 7-day free trial offers a chance to test out its features, with subscriptions starting at US$5.99 per month, or US$59.99 per year. Whether escaping a horde or teaming up with Earth’s mightiest heroes, every session feels like stepping into a high-stakes mission — one that just happens to get you moving.

ZRX: Zombies Run + Marvel Move is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for free, but take note that Zombies, Run! and Marvel Move have separate subscription plans. More information about Zombies, Run! and Marvel Move can be found on the ZRX website.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.

The post App Of The Month – ZRX: Zombies Run + Marvel Move (February 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily commute, there’s nothing better than the chill vibes of a relaxing mobile game. Monument Valley, a series of puzzle games made by indie developer Ustwo, aims to scratch this very itch, revolving around increasingly complex, but always relaxing optical illusions and perspective-based mazes that are a feast for both the eyes and mind.

A decade after the release of the original game in 2014, Monument Valley 3 returns with a brand-new suite of creative puzzles in tow. Its core gameplay mechanics remain largely unchanged, and the player will still encounter the many shifting pathways and rotating platforms the series is known for, with each level centred around descending or ascending beautifully crafted interconnected structures.

New to the series, however, are its free-control sailing portions, allowing new protagonist Noor to explore and navigate puzzles in her boat, offering a more open-ended twist to the usual linear levels, and encountering lore-building sights along the way.

Other notable inclusions include unfolding cubes – which can be rotated Rubik’s Cube-style to shift Noor to different planes – and a greater emphasis on working with other characters, using them to weigh down switches or trigger specific events, alongside working against them, like altering the movements of the Crow People NPCs who can undo switches by distracting them or blocking their path with various obstacles. All this new content is also wrapped up in an ambitious story focused on the themes of hope, resilience and togetherness, which sees Noor, a lighthouse keeper’s apprentice, venturing out to search for a new power source before light fades from the world forever.

Monument Valley 3 is now available for free on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, exclusively for Netflix subscribers, with no additional in-app purchases or ads.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post App Of The Month: Monument Valley 3 (January 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Last month, Adobe made a bold move to attract digital artists by making its drawing and painting app, Adobe Fresco, entirely free. Previously accessible only through a subscription for premium features, the app now opens its full suite of tools to all users. This development positions Fresco as a compelling free alternative to popular digital art apps like Procreate and Clip Studio Paint, and that’s one of the reasons why it is our App of the Month.

Launched in 2019, Adobe Fresco has undergone over 50 updates, introducing more than 120 new features. Designed for iPads, iPhones, and Windows PCs, it offers seamless compatibility with stylus tools like the Apple Pencil. It supports haptic feedback, tilt recognition, and advanced shortcuts, giving artists a high level of control. Fresco also integrates effortlessly with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, allowing users to switch between apps without the need for exporting files. This makes it an invaluable addition to Adobe’s ecosystem, especially for those who rely on multi-app workflows.

Fresco’s standout feature is its brush variety. It includes over 1,000 pixel brushes, vector brushes, and Live Brushes that mimic real-world tools like watercolours and oils. Artists can even import Photoshop brushes, adding a layer of customisation not commonly found in other apps. Another unique offering is the ability to create symmetrical designs using rotational and reflective symmetry guides, perfect for intricate patterns or mandalas.

The app goes beyond static illustration by incorporating motion tools. Artists can animate their work using frame-by-frame techniques or motion paths, turning static art into dynamic GIFs or MP4 videos. Combined with tools like the magic wand, liquify, and free transform, Fresco provides a powerful toolkit for artists looking to expand their creative possibilities. Additional features like time-lapse exports, built-in tutorials, and automatic colour palettes further enhance its appeal.

Competing with apps like Procreate, which boasts a one-time purchase model and a loyal user base, Adobe Fresco has faced challenges in gaining traction. Procreate’s affordable pricing and stance against generative AI have endeared it to artists concerned about the ethics of AI. However, Fresco has its advantages, including desktop compatibility and cloud storage, which Procreate lacks. Moreover, Adobe Fresco does not have any of Adobe’s generative AI tools.

Despite Adobe’s reputation in the creative community, Fresco remains relatively under-the-radar compared to its flagship products like Photoshop. Yet, its unique blend of features, especially its motion tools and seamless integration with other Adobe apps, makes it a strong contender in the digital art space.

The app’s comprehensive feature set includes tools for precise line art, colour adjustments, and text integration using Adobe’s expansive font library. With unlimited layers, multicolour swatches, and robust export options, Fresco caters to both hobbyists and professional artists. Its built-in tutorials and vibrant community of creators further solidify it as a platform for skill-building and inspiration.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a beginner exploring digital art, Fresco offers tools to elevate your creativity. With its emphasis on versatility and innovation, it’s a worthy contender for your next creative project.

Adobe Fresco is available on both the Apple App Store and Microsoft Store for free. More information about Adobe Fresco can be found on the website.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.

The post App Of The Month: Adobe Fresco (December 2024) appeared first on Geek Culture.

To know a cat is purr joy, but for those with no feline companions at home, pet cafés are a safe bet – and not the only one. Neko Atsume, the idle mobile title by Japanese developer Hit-Point, took the world by cat-astrophic storm when it launched in 2015, offering a healthy dose of serotonin as players grow their cat collection and watch them interact with objects, or simply as they are, virtually.

Almost a decade later, Neko Atsume 2 returns with more cosy enjoyment. The furry friends are as adorable as ever, and like before, has a unique name, personality, and appearance each. Gameplay mechanics also remain largely unchanged, focusing on purchasing food, toys, and furniture to attract different cats, which will leave either Silver or Gold Fish to be used for buying new types of food, goodies, remodels, as well as extensions to the yard.

This time, there are two yard options to pick out: the original yard and a fresh design, with customisation available for both. Pay enough attention, and you might just spot a cute visiting dog on the premises, letting out a bark when tapped on. The best part? It can appear even when no food is put out. Aww.

Other notable additions include new goodies (Box Tissue, Eco Bag, and Golden Fish Statue), wallpapers, and rare cats (Red Purrhood, Survy, and Informeow), alongside the Go Out feature – which allows players to visit each other’s yard through links – and a new Ranking feature in the Catbook that displays the highest frequencies of cat visits and the most-used goodies. There’s also an element of durability now, causing certain goodies to break after cats play with them. Some can be repaired for free, with the alternative being to discard them.

Neko Atsume 2 is now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. While free-to-play, the sequel offers payment options for additional in-game currency. More updates and features are expected to roll out in due time, reminding players that it’s a cat’s world, and we’re all better for it.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post App Of The Month – Neko Atsume 2: Kitty Collector (November 2024) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Procrastination. We all do it. That lingering task, the looming deadline, the ever-growing to-do list that somehow seems to get longer instead of shorter. It’s a universal struggle, a constant battle between what we should be doing and what we want to be doing. But what if there was a way to turn those mundane tasks into something engaging, even exciting? This is where the concept of gamification comes in, transforming mundane tasks into engaging challenges with the help of a little digital magic.

Habitica is a productivity app that takes this concept to heart, turning your real life into a role-playing game. By gamifying your habits, daily tasks, and to-dos, Habitica makes achieving your goals feel less like work and more like play. Think of it as your own personal productivity quest, complete with a customisable avatar, in-game rewards, and a supportive community of fellow “Habiticans.” With Habitica, you don’t just check off tasks, you slay monsters, level up your character, and unlock exciting rewards.

After downloading Habitica, you’re greeted with a charming pixelated world reminiscent of classic 90s video games. You’ll create your own unique avatar and select your habit goals, which can range from work and exercise to school, health, and chores. The app’s homepage features a dashboard displaying your avatar’s health and experience points, along with your initial objectives. Every time you complete a task, you earn coins – the in-game currency that fuels Habitica’s reward system. These coins can be used to purchase virtual tools and upgrades for your avatar, adding a tangible sense of progress to your accomplishments.

Habitica organises your tasks into three categories: Habits, Dailies, and To-Do’s. Habits are tasks you aim to do regularly, like drinking water or practicing mindfulness. Dailies are recurring tasks with deadlines, such as going to the gym or studying for an exam. To-Dos are one-time tasks, like booking a doctor’s appointment or finishing a project. Each time you check off a task, you gain experience and gold, strengthening your avatar and bringing you closer to your goals.

To further enhance the gamified experience, Habitica offers a ‘Party’ feature, allowing you to connect with friends and embark on quests together. This fosters a sense of accountability and encourages collaboration, as you cheer each other on and work towards shared objectives. The app also features challenges and guilds based on your interests, providing opportunities to connect with a wider community and stay motivated.

Habitica’s pixelated aesthetic and nostalgic charm create a welcoming and engaging environment. While the app could benefit from more prominent reminders to help users stay on track, its unique approach to habit formation sets it apart from traditional productivity apps. By blending a playful reward system with a supportive community, Habitica transforms the often-dreaded task of self-improvement into an enjoyable adventure.

Habitica is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for free, with in-game purchases available. More information about Habitica can be found on the website.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.

The post App Of The Month: Habitica (October 2024) appeared first on Geek Culture.

It seems that self-care has found a new ally in technology. Finch, a self-care widget pet, emerges as a novel tool to assist individuals dealing with various mental health challenges, from anxiety and depression to ADHD. This innovative app centres around a charming virtual bird, which users can accompany on daily adventures, encouraging both the avatar and the user to grow and heal.

Upon commencing your journey with Finch, the app prompts you to set personal goals, which can range from simple daily tasks like getting out of bed to more involved activities such as meal prepping. The goals are suggested with empathy, recognising that everyone’s capabilities and challenges are unique, thus removing any judgment about the ‘difficulty’ of the goals. Users can customise their virtual bird and even name it, adding a personal touch to the experience.

What sets Finch apart is its interactive features that foster a community-centric approach to mental health. Users can connect with friends and family, sharing ‘good vibes’ like virtual hugs or high-fives, enhancing the communal support system.

Additionally, the app offers a plethora of activities aimed at personal growth. From focus timers with ambient sounds to breathing exercises and gentle yoga, these features are occasionally integrated into the user’s routine, promoting mindfulness and self-reflection, and offering rewards in the form of in-game currency. This currency can be used to acquire new accessories for the pet, enhancing the gaming aspect of the app.

The journaling feature is particularly robust, allowing users to document their thoughts and activities freely or in response to prompts. The app analyses these entries to offer insights into emotional patterns, sometimes with amusing inaccuracies, yet often providing valuable reflections on one’s mental state.

Finch provides a weekly summary that attempts to conclude user-inputted data, offering an automated yet insightful look at one’s emotional well-being over time. Users can also opt for the paid version of Finch (Finch Plus), which opens all of the self-care features on the app. A subscription of S$14.98 a month/S$99.98 for 12 months is required to unlock over 100 exercises, access mailbox content, and change tag emojis, among others.

While not a substitute for professional mental health care, Finch offers a unique blend of game-like interaction and mental health support, making it a delightful addition to anyone’s daily routine. This app is recommended for those seeking a sprinkle of joy and digital companionship through a charmingly animated bird, enriching their path to self-care and mental wellness.

Finch is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for free, with an optional membership plan available. More information about Finch can be found on the website.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.

The post App Of The Month: Finch (September 2024) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Discover a new frontier of personal development with Mindvalley, a transformative learning platform that’s revolutionising the way we approach self-improvement. Whether you’re looking to enhance your mental health, boost your career, or enrich your personal relationships, Mindvalley offers over 100 meticulously curated wellness programmes designed to elevate every aspect of your life.

As August’s App of the Month, Mindvalley stands out with its programmes, each meticulously tailored to improve your body, mind, soul, career, and entrepreneurial skills. Users can dive into specific categories like mental health, where they can select programmes focused on enhancing happiness or life quality. Basic meditation techniques and complex psychological concepts are also offered to help users unlock their full potential. From the comfort of their home, users can access a wealth of knowledge that empowers them to step into their greatness.

The app also offers a unique feature where users can fine-tune their objectives, ensuring the recommendations perfectly align with their personal growth goals. Users can engage with an array of meditations led by world-class experts like Sadhguru, and absorb wisdom from top entrepreneurs like Mark Cuban.

Mindvalley’s interface is user-friendly, making it simple to navigate through an extensive catalog of quests and lessons. Each programme is presented with detailed descriptions of the curriculum and instructor, ensuring you know exactly what to expect. The platform is also equipped with cutting-edge machine-learning technology that enhances your educational experience by adapting to your learning pace and style.

Moreover, the platform’s social features allow you to connect with fellow users, sharing insights and experiences that foster a supportive learning environment within the community. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to sharpen your skills or someone starting their personal development journey, Mindvalley offers something for everyone.

Mindvalley is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for free, with an optional membership plan available. More information about Mindvalley can be found on the website.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.

The post App Of The Month: Mindvalley (August 2024) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Summer is synonymous with travel, and Wanderlog is here to enhance your travel experience. This comprehensive travel planning app is perfect for anyone looking to organise trips effectively, offering a suite of tools designed for everything from road trips to group adventures. Wanderlog makes it easy to craft detailed itineraries, organise flights, hotels, and car reservations, set your budget, and manage every detail of your journey, all within a user-friendly interface.

Wanderlog’s real-time collaboration feature stands out, allowing friends to plan together much like they would in Google Docs. You can set permissions for editing or viewing, ensuring that planning is a collaborative effort. Moreover, all your plans are accessible offline, which is particularly useful for road trips or international travels where internet access may be limited.

For road trip enthusiasts, Wanderlog offers robust tools that allow you to add unlimited stops, optimise your route, and view the distance and estimated travel times between locations. This helps ensure that your travel plans are both realistic and enjoyable. The app displays your route on an interactive map, with lines connecting each destination for easy visualisation.

Integration is also seamless with Wanderlog. You can automatically import reservations by forwarding confirmation emails or connecting your Gmail account. Each destination in your itinerary is detailed with descriptions, user ratings, opening hours, and contact information, sourced from top travel guides and platforms like TripAdvisor and Google Travel.

Additionally, the app not only helps you organise your trip, but also inspires your next adventure. Wanderlog features a rich selection of travel guides and user recommendations, enabling you to discover popular attractions and hidden gems. With just one click, you can add suggested activities directly to your itinerary, enriching your travel experience.

Whether travelling solo or with friends, managing finances is crucial. Wanderlog provides tools to set a budget, track every expense, and even split bills among your group, simplifying financial management throughout your trip. After your journey, you can create and share a travel guide to inspire other travellers, making Wanderlog not just a planning tool but also a platform for sharing experiences.

Wanderlog is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for free, with an optional Pro subscription that offers additional features such as exporting trips to Google Maps and linking your Gmail account.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.

The post App Of The Month: Wanderlog (July 2024) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Demand for emulator apps has only increased with Apple lifting the ban on retro game emulators on the App Store. Now, classic emulator RetroArch has made its way onto the platform, supporting Atari 2600, PSP, and SNES games among various options.

The app has been around for over 20 years and was first developed in 2010, becoming one of the first few established emulators, boasting advanced GPU shader support, dynamic rate control, and audio DSP plugins.

The best part is that it’s entirely free-to-play, and its diverse range of supported console types means you can play hundreds of games on it, from Asteroids to Castlevania, and practically any libretro core game.

The app supports iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices running iOS 14 or later, and is currently unavailable on Mac devices. Loading up a game works the same way as any other emulator —download the desired ROM, import it into the app, and you’ll be able to play.

And if you’ve played solo for long enough, the app also has an online multiplayer function where you can challenge players across the globe, or grab a few friends for a gaming session. There’s plenty of customisation in RetroArch that might take a while to get used to, but it enables users to remap buttons or keys for each emulation core or game, fast-forward and rewind, and access gyro controls.

RetroArch is currently free to play on the App Store.

Trinity Sun

Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.

The post App Of The Month: RetroArch (May 2024) appeared first on Geek Culture.

Gone are the days of jailbreaking to play retro game emulators on iOS devices. After years of stringent regulations, Apple has finally lifted the ban on them, allowing players to revisit the consoles of yesteryear — and legally, to boot. Less than a month later, Delta is leading the charge as an all-in-one emulator, making waves with support for various retro devices, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), N64, Nintendo DS, and more.

It’s been a strong start for developer Riley Testut. The app is currently ranked top in the Entertainment category, scoring an average score of 4.9 (out of five) against 13.6K ratings. Being free of charge certainly adds to its appeal, but the host of nifty features is largely responsible for its quick rise to popularity.

For starters, the Delta emulator is compatible with all major console controllers, as well as Bluetooth and wired keyboards. Specific input methods, such as gyroscope and microphone controls, are supported for select titles, while Delta Sync lets users sync their games, save files/states, cheats, controller skins, and mappings between different devices.

Personalisation options are available as well, taking the form of layout customisation, additional button mapping, and custom skin creation. Those looking to share the joy are in luck – the app supports local multiplayer on the NES, SNES, and N64, inviting up to four players in a team.

As with all emulators, Delta requires ROMs (short for “read only memory”), or digital copies of a game, to work. Simply download the desired ROM, import it into the app, and it’ll automatically be sorted to its corresponding platform. To successfully run the game, ensure that the following prerequisites are met:

• iPhone and iPod touch – requires iOS 14.0 or later
• Mac – requires macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later, and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later
• Apple Vision – requires visionOS 1.0 or later

Delta is available on the Apple App Store for free. For those familiar with the emulator scene, its popularity shouldn’t be a surprise – the app has had five years to iron out any kinks since entering version 1.0 in 2019, and is now recognised as one of the most polished options on the market.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post App Of The Month: Delta Emulator (April 2024) appeared first on Geek Culture.