Google has picked 49 apps that it thinks defines 2015. The full list can be viewed over on the Google Play Store as a collection in the charts. It isn’t ranked as such and each app is presented simply in a grid view.
The first item on the list is Disney’s official Star Wars companion app. It lets fans of the series see breaking news, social media updates, interactive Star Wars content and special meet-up events from one interface. Over 10,400 people have rated the app, generating an average star count of 4.2.
Next up is digital colouring book Colorfy, followed by Google’s own Google Photos. The app has become a major success story since its launch earlier this year, growing to 100 million users in just five months.
Joining Google Photos, popular editors Retrica and VSCO are present in the list, each giving users access to a wide array of filters and effects to enhance their photos with. For more serious editing, Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom is included with support for more complex images.
For people who prefer gaming on their phone, Google has cherry-picked a selection of the best titles this year. Options range from children’s favourites such as My Very Hungry Caterpillar and Shaun in the City to popular “nature simulator” Toca Nature. Alternatively, YouTube Gaming and Twitch cater for those who enjoy watching others play games as much as they love it themselves.
Not everyone has time to play games or watch videos though. For the productivity champion, Google suggests Microsoft’s Word and Skype or Kingsoft Office’s WPS Office suite. The official app of the UK’s Guardian newspaper is also present for some on-the-go reading.
Even the Android tweaker can find something of note in the collection. Custom launcher interface experiences Nova Launcher and Smart Launcher 3 are featured. Third-party keyboard options Ginger Keyboard and SwiftKey seek to make typing simpler.
Finally, the person who always wants to learn something new can try a new language with Memrise or Busuu or pick up a guitar with Yousician. Once the skills have been acquired, Peak Brain Training can help with retaining mental performance.
Google’s complete list contains several more apps to suit every taste from popular messaging platform Telegram to OGQ’s collection of HD wallpaper backgrounds. The majority of the apps are free but games Toca Nature, Attack the Light and Shaun in the City retail for £2.49, £2.40 and £1.49 respectively.
Author’s Note: This article was written based on the UK version of the Google Play Store. App availability and collection contents may vary depending on region.
