Friday, December 27, 2013

The 25 best entertainment apps to download now

Founded by a group of film-makers in 2004, Vimeo’s USP is its focus on beautifully presented footage from a thriving community of creative-types. Browse hundreds of new videos through the staff-picks page or upload your own straight from your mobile device.

BBC iPlayer

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

This catch-up TV app is still the business when it comes to streaming missed programmes from the past seven days, or live BBC TV in HD. Users on the iPad will like the new image-led interface for search results and there are whispers of a bespoke version of the app (tipped to launch in 2014) that will tailor recommendations based on individual users.

Sonos controller

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Turn your mobile device into a virtual control for any Sonos system. It has now been updated to sync with the latest Sonos Play:1 speaker.

TV Guide

Free; iPad, iPhone and Android

Hands down the best UK listings app, TV Guide filters programmes by scheduled air-times, top-rated shows and your favourites. Now with full-screen photos on the iPad, it also syncs nicely with iPlayer, taking you to the catch-up service with one tap and letting you set alerts for shows you don’t want to miss.

WhoSampled

£1.99; iPhone and iPad

Find out what’s in the DNA of your favourite tracks with this app’s vast music database. Use it to scan your music library and the app will throw back artists, covers and remixes associated with each track. An essential music discovery tool.

BBC Radio iPlayer

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Now available on iOS and Android, the BBC’s radio iPlayer is perfect for streaming live radio shows on the go or simply downloading podcasts to catch-up later.

Soundcloud

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Designed as a social network for music enthusiasts and artists, SoundCloud’s platform gives users the opportunity to explore everything from audio-books to weekly podcasts from the White House.

sporcle

£1.99 iPhone and iPad; £1.31 Android

If you rule the local pub on quiz night, or dream of the day you will, Sporcle is the perfect app. This popular quiz game has got all the bells and whistles and, most importantly, lots of great quizzes.

Netflix

Free (subscription required); iPad, iPhone and Android

Box-set junkies love Netflix for its exhaustive back catalogue of on-demand titles, as well as a growing collection of original series (including the stellar House of Cards). The pin-sharp visuals and new AirPlay function for iOS 7 users â€" allowing devices to sync with any Apple TV â€" make the £5.99 subscription worth every penny.

TED

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Plug into one of TED’s inspiring talks or conferences from anywhere in the world with its library of 1,400 videos and TEDRadio, a continuous audio stream of talks available on demand.

LoveFilm

Free (subscription required); iPad

A worthy rival to Netflix, the film-streaming service has recently signed a deal with CBS to bring US series Under the Dome (based on a Stephen King sci-fi novel) to the UK, a strong indicator that the service plans to evolve from its DVD rental model.

DAILYMOTION

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Nipping at the heels of YouTube, Dailymotion aggregates some of the best video content on the web, presented in a clean format. Fledgling videographers will like the integrated camera app to upload their own creations, too.

Bloom.fm

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Now available on Android devices, Bloom.fm continues to impress with its personalised radio service. Stations are created by users based on their favourite genres and for as little as £1 per month you can ‘borrow’ 20 tracks to listen to offline (£10 gets you unlimited streaming). An affordable alternative to Spotify’s premium service.

YPlan

Free; iPhone and iPad

YPlan helps users snag discounts and deals with last-minute tickets to events around London. Releasing 15 curated events daily, order tickets in two taps and then download them directly from the app. Such is the popularity of YPlan that it’s branching out Stateside starting in New York, which is great for Brits abroad.

BLINK BOX MUSIC

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

This music service is being tipped to rival Spotify with its vault of more than 12 million tunes and ability to stream personalised stations on- and offline.

Songdrop

Free; iPhone and iPad

Love a remix on SoundCloud but you can only catch the original on YouTube? The elegantly designed Songdrop helps you collect music from all over the web and organise it into playlists. An Android version is imminent.

Movies by Flixster

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Movie buffs will love this glossy app. Watch trailers of the latest releases and find local screenings too.

ITV PLAYER

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

The ITV Player app was a slow starter but it’s now one of the best around. It lets you watch old shows as well as live TV. There’s also a £3.99 per month ad-free option.

TVCatchup Live TV

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Hosting more than 50 live TV channels to stream directly to your device, this app lives up to its cheesy tagline of never missing a show. A word of warning: stream using a good wi-fi connection or it will guzzle up your data in no time.

Channel 4 OD

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Homeland fans can rest easy. The latest update for the 4oD app allows users to catch up with content up to 30 days after its original broadcast. A nice extra for iOS users is the thematic collections feature.

Zeebox

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Tune in to programmes your friends are watching by accessing their TV-related tweets, or create customised viewing guides with this social app. Its ‘viewing party’ feature is particularly good fun.

Crackle

Free; iPhone, iPad and Android

Backed by Sony, you will have access to classic shows like Seinfeld and Damages with an app that promises to deliver even more original programming in 2014.

Rdio

Free (subscription required); iPhone, iPad and Android

A shiny US export set to rival Spotify, you can create personalised radio stations using genre-based filters. It’s ad-free too, meaning hours of uninterrupted tracks.

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