Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Download these five apps of the week

HTC 10
Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends
This week’s top five new apps include a keyboard from Microsoft that will make your life easier; the official HTC Vive app that will blend the real world with virtual reality; an Android launcher that offers the best of the Android N developer preview; and more. Check them out below.

Hub Keyboard

microsoft-android-hub-keyboard-garage-project
Microsoft’s Hub Keyboard has been available on Android since February of this year, but now the popular keyboard has finally made its way to iOS. Now you’ll be able to attach documents, add contact information, and paste text from your clipboard quickly on iOS, without having to leave your conversation or app. Hub Keyboard also has a built-in translator, so you can type in anything and have it translate to another language on the go.

iOS

Google Play

Recommended Videos

Zero Click

Zero Click
If you usually feel too lazy to go online and order your favorite pie, download Domino’s Zero Click app to have a pizza pie delivered right to you, just by opening the app. After you initially download the app and set up your “Pizza Profile,” which includes your favorite pie, your address, and credit card information. All you need to do whenever you’re craving a cheesy slice is open the app. That’s it. A 10-second timer will go off just in case you didn’t mean to open the app, allowing you to cancel, but once the timer hits zero, your order will be placed and will be on the way soon.

iOS

Google Play

HTC Vive app

Vive
Now that HTC’s Vive is shipping out to everyone, you may want to download the official HTC Vive app to pair it with. Whether you’re off traversing unexplored planets, shooting up robots, or painting a landscape in another reality, you won’t be able to see any notifications from the real world — that’s where the Vive app comes in. Connect to your VR headset via Bluetooth, and then you’ll be able to see your calls, texts, and calendar reminders while you’re off doing something else in a different world. Though, doing so might defeat the point of escaping reality.

iOS

Google Play

Politalk

politalk
Still having a tough time deciding on a candidate in the presidential election? There’s an app for that. Politalk gives you a curated feed that features some of today’s most pressing issues, and you can agree or disagree with them. As you cast a decision on the issues, the app will show you which candidate matches you best. The app also gives you a live feed of the candidates Twitter posts, and keeps you updated on what the democrats and the republicans running for president are up to, so you can stay informed until election day.

iOS

N Launcher

N launcher
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Can’t wait to get your hands on Android N? Sadly, if you’re not using a Nexus phone, the update may take quite a while to get to you, and on top of that, you probably will have a manufacturer skin that won’t give you the stock Android launcher. Luckily, third-party launchers are ripe in the Play Store, and N Launcher is one that is based off of Google’s upcoming update. It’s based off of the most recent Developer Preview, but also has added customization features like a notification counter, icon pack support, and a slide screen concept.

Google Play

If you want to take a look at more apps, you can find last weeks top five here.

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
Apple’s latest Find My feature taps airlines to rescue lost luggage
Share Item Location feature introduced with iOS 18 beta 2 update.

Apple’s Find My platform for item location is one of the most lucrative elements of its ecosystem. Now, the company is introducing a new feature called Share Item Location, which allows users to securely share the location of any accessory (or item with an AirTag attached) with friends or commercial airline service providers.

To that end, the company has joined hands with over 15 airline service providers operating across North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe to help passengers locate their lost items. The airline partners will kick-start their respective tracking assistance services in the coming months.

Read more
Google Gemini is about to get a big upgrade for iPhone users
Person holding a phone with Google Gemini Live being shown.

Google Gemini, launched earlier this year for Android and iOS devices, has up until now only been available as a standalone app for Android users. In contrast, Apple users have had to access Google Gemini through the Google app. However, this situation is about to change.

As noted by 9to5Mac, at least one Apple user in the Philippines has been able to download the Google Gemini app from the App Store. However, it hasn’t appeared in other App Stores worldwide, including in the U.S.

Read more
A hidden iOS 18.1 upgrade made it harder to extract data from iPhones
A person holding the Apple iPhone 16 Plus.

Apple Intelligence was the most notable upgrade that arrived on iPhones with the iOS 18 series of updates. But it seems Apple reinforced the security protocols in the background that could prevent bad actors from gaining unauthorized access to iPhones that haven’t been unlocked in a while by their legitimate owner.

Earlier this month, 404Media reported that law enforcement officials are troubled by iPhones that are mysteriously rebooting. Citing a report courtesy of officials in Michigan, the outlet notes that the reboots are hampering the ability to access what’s stored on the phones through brute-force unlock methods.

Read more