Best Windows apps this week
One-hundred and thirty-seven in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows in the past seven days.
Microsoft released Windows 10 Build 10240 this week which is the RTM version of the operating system that will be released in less than two weeks to the public. The company plans launch celebrations even though there won't be many devices available on launch day that have the new operating system installed.
This week saw the release of several very good applications including the impressive Siegefall game, Video 360, and My Twitch.
As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.
Discounts This Week
The new Windows 10 Store does not list Red Stripe Deals yet Therefore, no deals listing until this changes.
Best app of the week
Siegefall is a real-time strategy game in which you control heroes, troops and mighty spells to attack enemy castles and fortifications.
On top of that, you are building your own castle that you need to defend against attackers by adding walls, towers and buildings to it.
The game has a lot to offer. Recruit special troops and units, use dragons and mighty spells in battle to take out enemies and their fortifications, and expand your kingdom to get the economy running and recruit mightier troops and heroes.
Graphics and visuals are stunning and while battles don't give you full movement control over heroes or units, you will have lots of fun bashing and destroying enemy fortifications and conquering them.
Other Apps
Sim City has probably been the main inspiration for eCity. The simulation game offers a sandbox mode and different scenarios.
Scenarios challenge you to solve engineering tasks, for instance to supply energy to a town or connect two cities to the Internet.
Time and money is limited in all scenarios while you have plenty of time in sandbox mode to build a city.
The game lacks a proper tutorial which makes things a lot harder than they should be. For instance, it's not obvious how to transport energy from sources to residential buildings.
While you do get some help in form of text, you will still have to resort to trial and error to find out how things work.
Voices Admin is an administrative application for the popular UserVoice service.
It enables you to manage suggestions and support tickets, and handle articles and knowledge base information.
Please note that you need to grab an API key on the User Voice website after signing in to use the external client.
Mino Saga ($0.99, free trial available)
Mino Saga mixes Tetris elements with puzzle game elements. Basically, what you do is use shapes familiar from Tetris to fill objects displayed on the screen.
This is done by dragging and dropping the falling blocks on to the object you need to fill in.
You may rotate blocks and it does not matter if they reach the bottom of the screen as you can continue the level regardless of that.
Wiki Note ($2.49, free trial available)
This is a personal note taking application for Windows that you can use to store information and ideas.
It supports the Creole markup language and WikiWords.
The app features an edit history and diff functionality on top of that.
The free trial version limits you to a single document that you can edit.
Video 360 ($1.99, free trial available)
Video 360 is the first 360 degree video player for Windows. It enables you to control the video camera using various input devices and types including device sensors, touch or mouse and keyboard.
The app integrates with the company's Tubecast application so you can find 360 videos using it.
You may open videos from the local computer and network as well to play those using Video 360.
The unofficial Twitch client displays live channels and top videos on start that you can tune in with a tap or click of the mouse.
You may use it to watch live broadcasts or videos, log in to a Twitch account to use chat and manage favorite channels and such.
If you link your account to the app, you'll get notifications when favorite channels are live.
The application works well and advertisements are only displayed outside of streams.
The free limited version of PixelDefense is a unique Tower Defense game that displays levels as 2D platforms instead of the usual top down perspective that most tower defense games seem to favor.
You place defense towers and buildings in each level to prevent enemies from reaching the level exit. Weapons include saw blades placed on the floor and lasers that shoot targets from afar.
You may place towers only in designated areas in each level. Towers can be upgraded for a price to become more effective.
Match Love is a free match-3 type of game that adds a whole new level of cute to the popular game type.
The main mechanics remain the same: collect a certain number of points or complete other tasks such as matching enough blocks of a type to proceed to the next level.
It appears to be harder than comparable games which is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you have played of its kind in the past.