App Radar: Latest apps and games for iOS and Android

Security and privacy remains a major concern for phone makers and users. Leading anti-virus company McAfee has partnered with Micromax to provide a security app on all their smartphones. It is not just a remotely located hacker or snooping government agency that can give you sleepless nights. Visual hacking in public places can be a threat too, according to an August 2016 study conducted by Ponemon Institute, US. People in public places can acquire critical information by simply looking at a user’s phone screen.

Here are the latest Android and iOS apps and games you should try.

BlackBerry’s new app can protect users’ privacy in public places by switching on a semi-transparent filter over select areas of their phone’s screen.

BlackBerry Privacy Shade

Free

Android

BlackBerry’s new app can protect users’ privacy in public places by switching on a semi-transparent filter over select areas of their phone’s screen. So if you are typing a message, the filter will appear right over all the previous messages, making it hard for a prying bystander to read your messages. The app allows users to increase or decrease the transparency level of the filter. Though available in Play store, the app works only with BlackBerry’s Android smartphones at the moment.

EazLi works on similar lines as the assistive Touch tool on Apple iPhones but with a few extra features. So you can access your favourite apps, as well as start a new draft in Gmail or land on your favourite

EazLi

Free

Android

EazLi works on similar lines as the assistive Touch tool on Apple iPhones but with a few extra features. So you can access your favourite apps, as well as start a new draft in Gmail or land on your favourite YouTube channel with a single tap. EazLi works by creating multiple shortcuts for every single app and then shows them on the shortcut page. You can access it by tapping on the always on EazLi widget or by swiping towards right from the edge of the home screen.

OverPlay VPN app works by masking users’ IP address by creating a secure communication channel between the user’s device and their private servers

OverPlay VPN

Free (Monthly subscription ₹ 544)

Andorid, iOS

One of the leading providers of VPN services for desktop users, OverPlay VPN is now available on smaller screen. The app works by masking users’ IP address by creating a secure communication channel between the user’s device and their private servers. This not only makes users online activities secure, but also protects them against advertisers and snooping by government. It also allows users to access online content that is otherwise blocked in their country due to geographical licensing restrictions.

Kingdom: New Lands

Free

Android, iOS

The highly addictive PC game Kingdom: New Lands is now available in smartphones.

It is a classic city building game set in the medieval age which requires players to develop their own kingdom and then defend it against AI-powered enemies. The pixelated-style graphics look beautiful and refreshing. The controls are touch based and intuitive but the gameplay is immensely challenging. The side scrolling movement is a break from the top down view that is more common in strategy games.

Active Soccer 2 DX doesn’t have the licence to use original player names and teams, but uses very similar made up names

Active Soccer 2 DX

Rs180

Android

Sequel to the Active Soccer 2, the new game doesn’t have the licence to use original player names and teams, but uses very similar made up names. You can control player movements and skill moves such a dribbling through on-screen controls, which are big and easy to master. The graphics are simple and lack the level of detailing seen in games such as FIFA 16 or PES 2017. The top down view helps with the game plan. It provides plenty of game modes and customisation options such as duration of match, camera angle, difficulty level and game speed.