This weekend in the App Store -- the best free apps, new apps and app updates

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Updated Sun, Jun 15, 2014, 1:40 PM·3 min read

Here are some of the best free apps, app updates and new apps that have landed in the App Store recently. All app prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly, so grab them while you can.

Apps Now Free

Flick Kick Football [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Can you score the match winning goal? See for yourself why Flick Kick Football is an App Store classic that people simply can't put down!

Pics2Mov Pro - Slideshow [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $4.99] With Pics2Mov, anyone can make a cool video easily and quickly.

Synesthetic [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] Experience your music like never before with Synesthetic, the first IOS game that truly syncs with your music.

15 Coins [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] 15 Coins is a deceptively difficult minimalistic arcade game with one goal: collect 15 Coins before you are killed by your clones.

Damn Little Town [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Damn Little Town is a tactical board game for 1-4 players.

Animated 3D Origami [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] The "How to Make Origami" app is simple and easy to use. Follow the step-by-step instructions and watch the 3D animation carefully. And don't worry, you'd have to try really hard to get confused.

Simplique [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] A revolutionary new way to make personalized, attractive and original lock screens.

New and Notable Apps

Learn Languages with Babbel - Spanish, French, Italian, German and many more [iOS Universal; Free] Discover the new way to learn languages.

ChordShaker Pocket Guitar [iPhone; Free] Learn to play real guitar chords with your iPhone!

DUNGEONy [iOS Universal; $2.99] DUNGEONy™ is an arcade, puzzle-like dungeon crawler with random roguelike elements.

Broken Age [OS X; $24.99] Elijah Wood stars in this hilarious adventure through deep space and fantastic landscapes.

CloudPlayer (for SoundCloud) [OS X; $3.99] With CloudPlayer you can easily control SoundCloud from the menu bar.

Updates you don't want to miss

Happier [iPhone; Free] Happier is a fun social gratitude journal combined with a positive community! Version 3.0 brings the following changes:

OS7, meet Happier :) We've given the entire Happier app a makeover to better take advantage of iOS 7. From a simpler, more focused layout to a new profile page, Happier has a whole new look.
A gorgeous new feed.
Community Challenges!
A new course experience that fits your busy schedule!
Much, much easier access to previous course lessons.
Want more of a taste of Happier Courses? All courses now include a short intro video, so you can learn more about a course before you buy it.

Marco Polo Ocean [iOS Universal; $2.99] Make dolphins jump. Build a coral reef. Explore the deep sea. Version 2.0.1 brings the following changes:

Now for iPhone!

Yoga Studio [iOS Universal; $3.99] Introducing the ultimate yoga app: Play, create, customize and schedule easy-to-follow HD video yoga classes. Version 3.0 brings the following changes:

New iOS 7 design
35 brand new classes
Classes are now organised into Collections

Afterlight [iOS Universal; $0.99] Afterlight is the perfect image editing app for quick and straight forward editing. Version 2.4 brings the following changes:

Introducing the new Double Exposure tool! It can be found in the cropping/rotating menu.
There is a new set of 6 instant film frames created by Jacob Wick (@jacobleewick) at no additional charge to the Instant Film pack in-app purchase.
We have added 43 frames in the new Script category.
Frame categories have been re-grouped.
Choosing a photo is now easier with the ability to swipe left/right when in the preview menu.
Tapping and holding on a photo while using a tool or filter hides the selected effect.
Sub menus are now hidden when moving sliders.
Bug fixes

Engadget
Threads now lets you control who can quote your posts
Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced the update this weekend, saying he hopes it will “help keep Threads a more positive place.” Users can choose to turn off quotes entirely or limit them only to people they follow.
Engadget
Parrots in captivity seem to enjoy video-chatting with their friends on Messenger
A small study led by researchers at the University of Glasgow and Northeastern University compared parrots’ responses when given the option to video chat with other birds via Messenger versus watching pre-recorded videos.
Engadget
Google prohibits ads promoting websites and apps that generate deepfake porn
Google has updated its Inappropriate Content Policy to include language that expressly prohibits advertisers from promoting websites and services that generate deepfake pornography.
Engadget
X is using Grok to publish AI-generated news summaries
X is using Grok to publish AI-generated summaries of news and other topics that trend on the platform.
Engadget
Nintendo blitzes GitHub with over 8,000 emulator-related DMCA takedowns
Nintendo sent a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice for over 8,000 GitHub repositories hosting code from the Yuzu Switch emulator, which the Zelda maker previously described as enabling “piracy at a colossal scale.”
Engadget
Helldivers 2 PC players suddenly have to link to a PSN account and they're not being chill about it
Helldivers 2 players have become frustrated after Sony suddenly required linking to a PSN account to play the game on PC. This was not necessary when the title launched in February.
Engadget
Redfall’s two DLC heroes are still MIA a year later
Microsoft may want to be more careful about leaving a trail of broken promises when games don’t go as planned. A year after Redfall landed with a thud, players are still waiting for the advertised post-launch DLC they already paid for.
Engadget
Instagram's 'Add Yours' sticker now lets you share songs
Instagram has released some new interactive stickers for use in Stories. One of these is a “Reveal” sticker that blurs content, so people have to DM the creator to get it unlocked.
Engadget
Apex Legends is getting a solo mode for the first time in five years
Apex Legends will have a solo mode for the first time in five years when the new season starts on May 7. Respawn said as recently as January it had no plans to bring back the single-player option.
Engadget
A four-pack of Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 trackers is back on sale for $70
A bundle of Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 Bluetooth trackers is back on sale for $70, matching the lowest price we've tracked.
Engadget
Research indicates that carbon dioxide removal plans will not be enough to meet Paris treaty goals
New research indicates a large “emissions gap” between what actions nations have committed to help remove carbon from the atmosphere and what’s required to meet Paris treaty goals.
Engadget
Rabbit R1 review: A $199 AI toy that fails at almost everything
The Rabbit R1 is a cute AI gadget, but at launch it’s riddled with issues and terrible battery life. When phones can handle similar AI tasks, the R1 doesn’t do enough to justify its existence.
Engadget
The Apple Watch Series 9 is back on sale for $299, plus the rest of this week's best tech deals
This week, we found deals on gear from Samsung, Apple, Bose, Anker and more.
Engadget
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft may finally take its first crewed flight next week
Boeing's Starliner crew capsule is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex-41 in Florida on Monday, May 6. The launch window opens at 10:34PM ET. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be on board.
Engadget
Google says Epic’s Play Store demands are too much and too self-serving
Google has filed an injunction telling the court that it will not give Epic what it wants without a fight, because the company's asks "stray far beyond the trial record."
Engadget
The best gifts to upgrade your grad’s tech setup
College grads are probably using the same tech they started out with four years ago. Here are the best gadgets you can get them to upgrade their kit, including laptops, headphones, monitors and more.
Engadget
Boom's XB-1 supersonic jet has been authorized to break the speed of sound
Boom's supersonic XB-1 test jet has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to fly past Mach 1.
Engadget
The Morning After: Peloton's grim post-pandemic reality
The biggest news stories this morning: Huawei has been secretly funding research in America after being blacklisted, The best noise-canceling earbuds, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake and other Universal artists return to TikTok.
Engadget
Engadget Podcast: Kill the Rabbit (R1)
The Rabbit R1 is finally here, and it's yet another useless AI gadget.
Engadget
The best password manager for 2024
Remembering dozens of passwords can be difficult for anyone. These are the best password managers you can use to keep your information safe and secure.

This weekend in the App Store -- the best free apps, new apps and app updates

Apps Now Free

New and Notable Apps

Updates you don't want to miss

Latest Stories

Threads now lets you control who can quote your posts

Parrots in captivity seem to enjoy video-chatting with their friends on Messenger

Google prohibits ads promoting websites and apps that generate deepfake porn

X is using Grok to publish AI-generated news summaries

Nintendo blitzes GitHub with over 8,000 emulator-related DMCA takedowns

Helldivers 2 PC players suddenly have to link to a PSN account and they're not being chill about it

Redfall’s two DLC heroes are still MIA a year later

Instagram's 'Add Yours' sticker now lets you share songs

Apex Legends is getting a solo mode for the first time in five years

A four-pack of Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 trackers is back on sale for $70

Research indicates that carbon dioxide removal plans will not be enough to meet Paris treaty goals

Rabbit R1 review: A $199 AI toy that fails at almost everything

The Apple Watch Series 9 is back on sale for $299, plus the rest of this week's best tech deals

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft may finally take its first crewed flight next week

Google says Epic’s Play Store demands are too much and too self-serving

The best gifts to upgrade your grad’s tech setup

Boom's XB-1 supersonic jet has been authorized to break the speed of sound

The Morning After: Peloton's grim post-pandemic reality

Engadget Podcast: Kill the Rabbit (R1)

The best password manager for 2024

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