With the ever-growing number of apps and games in the Windows Store, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with what's out there.
For that reason, every Friday we showcase some apps that have piqued our interest. They may have been in the news recently, they may be new to the Windows Store, or they could simply be old apps that we just stumbled upon.
They are the 5 Intriguing Apps of the Week.
1. Pixel Art Studio
Pixel Art is a drawing app for Windows 10 computers, tablets, and phones. However, unlike your average painting program, Pixel Art turns all of your pencil lines and brushstrokes into blocky pixelated edges.
Draw whatever you have in mind using your stylus, finger, or mouse and the result is an 8-bit rendering of your mental image.
The app contains many of the tools that are commonplace in similar programs. There is the pencil for drawing, an eraser, and various types of brushes, some of which respond to the amount of pressure you use on the screen.
You can change the opacity and use layers and effects, like color overlay and shadowing. Pixel Art even has an animation tool that lets you go frame by frame and play at different frame rates.
Pixel Art is a fun app to doodle with, whether you are home-brewing your own mini games, creating custom icons, or just goofing off.
Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile.
Download Pixel Art Studio from the Windows Store
Money Tracker Pro is a personal finance management app for Windows 10 computers and phones.
With an intuitive design, it's easy to plug in your income, bank accounts, stock information, etc. to get a big picture view of your net worth.
Add in your bills, monthly expenses, and one-off purchases to come up with a budget and get a handle on your spending and savings. Money Tracker Pro will keep tabs on your cash, credit, and stock transactions, so it will always be accurate.
Organization and analysis are the heart and soul of the app, letting you create tags and categories, schedule payments, and run reports for reviewing your financial past or forecasting its future. Plus you can export your data to popular formats, like QIF, CSV, and Excel to interact with any other applications that you may use.
And Money Tracker Pro is both safe and convenient. Your information syncs between devices, but is never left vulnerable. The only data stored online is encrypted backups on OneDrive.
If you're looking for an effective way to manage your finances without breaking the bank, then you should look to Money Tracker Pro. Try it for free before you commit.
Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile.
Download Money Tracker Pro from the Windows Store
Amazon disappointed many a Windows phone user when they discontinued their mobile app earlier this week, but some hope was offered when it was reported that a Windows 10 app was in the works.
Lo and behold, Amazon for Windows 10 PC was just released, though it isn't what a lot of us were hoping for…yet.
Amazon's new app was created using Microsoft's Project Westminster, which essentially turns websites into apps. This means that it is essentially just a web wrapper, with few bells and whistles related to Windows-specific features, although it does feature Live Tile notifications.
The good news is that you can fully access everything on your Amazon account, including shopping, wish lists and so on.
The bad news is that not all of the website functionality works correctly. For instance, the Prime Music streaming prompts you to install Adobe Flash. It also lacks some of the things that users loved about the Windows Phone version, like QR/barcode scanning.
So, yes, there is a lot left to be desired with this new version of Amazon. However, it is at least a first step on the path to the retail giant supporting Windows 10. Hopefully, there are more steps to follow, ones that will bring us a mobile app and the features we are missing.
Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile.
Download Amazon for Windows 10
Vinci is an app developed by the Russian social network VK that first hit iOS and Android in late July and just recently landed on Windows 10 Mobile.
Vinci is a photo effects app, much like Prisma, which has blown up all over social media feeds everywhere. The app gives you various filters that you can use to transform your images into something completely new.
Turn your cat's portrait into a black and white sketch, or make that landscape into a beautiful retro-style poster. There are twenty different filters that range from impressionistic to abstract, from vivid to freaky. The developers are currently testing even more and will add them automatically in future updates.
Vinci is fast, too, so you don't have to wait long for each effect to give you a preview. Every time you switch filters, it only takes a second or two to show you what your photo will look like.
Vinci is a pretty incredible way to jazz up any photo, be it for your social media or your own enjoyment.
Available for Windows 10 Mobile.
Download Vinci from the Windows Store {.cta .large}
Cube Cat is an adorable little mix between a brick-breaking game and a pinball adventure.
You play as CubeCat, a box-headed feline who uses a plethora of feline friends to fight off the enemy cats.
Rotate to aim, then tap on the screen to launch your kitty in that direction. Your shot will ricochet based on its trajectory. The goal is to have it bounce into as many enemies as many times as it can in one shot. The more you hit, the better the score.
You will also fill up your fever meter, which when full, will unleash more damage and more points.
The goal is to eliminate all of your foes before the clock ticks to zero. Every few boards, you will also face a boss surrounded by more minions that will need to be defeated in order to make it to the next level.
Each victory will earn you Hypercubes that can be used to purchase upgrades and new cats with different abilities.
Cube Cat features cute cartoon graphics and sound effects that kids will like and gameplay that will keep adults engaged as well. Though you will find it for all devices, it seems best suited to play on a phone or tablet.
Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile.
Download Cube Cat from the Windows Store
Be sure to check out our other selections from previous weeks. Have a great weekend!
Do you have an app you want us to highlight? Drop us an email at tips@windowscentral.com with "5 Intriguing Apps" in the subject line.
Source: 5 Windows 10 apps you should try: Vinci dazzles and Amazon returns
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