Top 5 Android and iOS apps of the week

Warbits Plus is an interesting turn-based tactical strategy game that will definitely require you to use your thinking skills while facing off against computer AI or other humans. Want a wallpaper that’s constantly changing? We also thought of you. Need an app to track your book collection? Openreads leaves no stone unturned, while Zoom Earth offers a great overview of the weather. Finally, Bitwarden Authenticator provides an extra layer of security on your mobile device.

Find the applications for the month of June unearthed by the nextpit community (thanks Luna)

Warbits+ (Android and iOS)

When I had my Nintendo Game Boy Advance, one of the GBA exclusive titles that caught my eye was Advance Wars. It is a tactical strategy game in which you must use cunning and strategy to defeat the opposing forces. With the right strategy, you can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In 2024, Warbits+ offers a similar feel, going back in time but offering similar gameplay in a brand new version.

This is the sequel to the original Warbits game released in 2016, with new and improved graphics, not to mention the ability to play in landscape mode. So far, my experience with this game has been mostly pleasant, although I found that my phone’s battery suffered more than usual.

• Price: €4.59 / Advertisement: None / In-app purchases: None / Account required: Yes

While you can defeat anything the AI ​​throws at you, the true measure of your strategic superiority is found in playing against other humans. This is where the game shines, especially when you face off against your friends or strangers residing on the other side of the world, unleashing your inner general.

Openreads (Android and iOS)

Do you have a bunch of books at home and you can’t do without buying them? You know, the paper ones, not the ones you scroll through on the screen of your smartphone or tablet? Yes, there’s something irreplaceable about flipping through the pages of a physical book, and if you’ve built up a nice collection over the years, maybe it’s time to consider cataloging them for facilitate its management. Enter Openreads, an app that helps you track your books without ads or nasty tracking codes!

• Price: Free / Advertisement: None / In-app purchases: None / Account required: No

Openreads works as a reading list app that helps you organize your library through three different lists: books you’ve finished reading, books you’ve buried your nose in, and books you’re saving to read more late. If you have new books, you can add them to the list by searching the Open Library, scanning their barcode, or simply entering the details manually.

I love the user interface, which is clear and easy to understand, without being convoluted. The lists are generally very comprehensive and you don’t need to go out of your way to fill in the information in the book entries. If you’re hoping to discover a community through this app, be aware that there are no social elements, which introverts would appreciate.

Bitwarden Authenticator (Android and iOS)

Smartphones are amazing devices, giving you the power of a computer in the palm of your hand. While it is true that one can reap a lot of benefits from it, one should not forget that many people have lost their savings or had their personal information stolen simply because of lax security on the smartphone, social engineering or scam. Bitwarden Authenticator isn’t going to solve security issues overnight, but it is a way to improve security by managing verification codes for two-factor authentication so your online accounts are protected.

• Price: Free / Advertisement: None / In-app purchases: None / Account required: No

The user interface is clear and without unnecessary frills. Bitwarden Authenticator provides an extra layer of protection by generating verification codes to ensure your identity is verified, helping keep your sensitive data out of the hands of people pretending to be you. You can breathe easier knowing that Bitwarden Authenticator relies on industry standard methods for generating verification codes, making it compatible with any website or app that uses passwords to single use based on time.

Simply enter the information manually or use the QR code scanner to scan and store the relevant information. All stored information will then be displayed on the main page. Note that you can’t import save tokens or JSON files from other authenticators, but maybe that’s why it’s free.

Zoom Earth – Live Weather Map (Android & iOS)

Lately, the global weather has been changing more and more often. Climate change is real, and don’t let crazy politicians and conspiracy theorists tell you otherwise. For those interested in the weather, why not track the weather around the world with Zoom Earth? This is an interactive weather map of the world that also offers real-time hurricane tracking.

I love the way the animation is presented and depending on the map overlays I can choose to include animation of winds, hot spots (not real-time), active fires, tropical systems, dividing lines, and more. By tapping on a specific location, you will see the wind direction and speed in a rectangle.

• Price: Free / Advertisement: Yes / In-app purchases: None / Account required: No

I also like how I can measure a particular area just by tapping on different points on the map. This is not so much to measure the length and breadth of my kingdom, but simply to satisfy my curiosity as to how much land or sea it encompasses. Additionally, as the crow flies, I can also measure the distance from one point to another by simply touching the start and end points on the map. Of course, actual topography and actual route availability are two very different things.

I think this app is best suited if you tend to spend most of your time outdoors, in large areas. For city dwellers, simply turn on the weather channel or use the weather app built into your phone.

Wallpaper changer (Android)

First of all, this is an extremely well-designed app, even if the UI is a bit crude at times. I loved the ability to choose to darken the wallpaper by having the app apply a dark overlay so that the icons and text on your home screen are more readable. I guess the app is still giving birth, because there were times when, at the preset time, the wallpaper didn’t change. And even when it changes, the same wallpapers are recycled instead of using other, newer wallpapers in the same folder.

• Price: Free / Advertisement: None / In-app purchases: Yes / Account required: No

The transition animation is sometimes a bit slow, but this may depend on the processor type of your smartphone. In summary, Wallpaper Changer generally delivers on what it promises, with the ability to rescan added folders to accommodate new images based on the number of times you preset, among other things.

More importantly, my smartphone’s battery life wasn’t affected too much. In fact, the difference was negligible, and with fast charging available on any smartphone worth its salt these days, pointing out this weakness would be nitpicking at the highest level. I recommend this app if you want to be pleasantly surprised by your own list of wallpapers at the frequency of your choice.

What do you think of the list of applications presented this week? Did you like any of our recommendations? Is there another app you’re dying to share with the rest of the world? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments!