Ten Great App Deals Not to Miss This week

In our new weekly series we handpick the best deals going around on apps and games on various platforms. This week, we've got some great deals on PC games, and the apps include a sound mixer, a cookbook, and a custom iOS keyboard that's gone free in preparation for the iOS 8 launch. Here's the list:

1. Worms 3

Worms 3 looks great, and offers both a single player and multiplayer modes that are a lot of fun. There's the expected array of crazy weapons that the series is famous for, and a class system that lets you experiment to find the best approach to each arena. The app also has AirPlay support on iOS, so you can have up to four player matches on the big screen.

On iOS, it is usually Rs.300, but you can download it now at now Rs.60. Worms 3 is also available on Android, usually at Rs.240, and available now at Rs.122.

Download: iOS (Rs.60, usually Rs.300), Android (Rs.120, usually Rs.240)

2. Atom Run

This simple platformer has touchscreen friendly controls and looks great. It is fairly easy to learn, but the layout of the levels can get pretty challenging. It's a very good addition to the platformer genre on mobile phones that brings to mind retro games despite a thoroughly modern look.

The game was the free app of the week on iOS last week, but it is back to Rs.190 on the App Store now. On Android, the price is normally Rs.240, but you can get it now at Rs.70.

Download: iOS (Rs.190), Android (Rs.70, was Rs.240)

3. Thief Collection

The latest iteration in the Thief series was a bit of a disappointment but the three classic games that made Thief a hit in the first place are all available at 66 percent off on Steam right now.

The games look dated, of course, but the gameplay is still as enjoyable as ever, and if you haven't experienced this piece of gaming history, then you really should give it a go. On Steam, the Thief Collection is normally $18.99 (approximately Rs.1,150), but you can get it now at $6.45 (approximately Rs.390), 66 percent off. In case you don't want to buy all the three games, you'll find links to each game on the same page - the individual games are also 66 percent off.

Download: Windows (Rs.390, was Rs.1,150)

4. SoundGrid and SoundGrid Live!

SoundGrid and SoundGrid Live! are audio sequencers for professional musicians. SoundGrid is meant to tweak music post recording, while SoundGrid Live! can be used during actual live performances.

Both apps let you manage multiple "layers" and apply different audio effects to them, in an interface that's designed for fast operation - SoundGrid allows you to create many more layers and apply more effects, while Live! streamlines the process and reduces the number of operations so it can be used on the fly.

SoundGrid and SoundGrid Live! are usually available at Rs.190, and are now free.

Download: SoundGrid, SoundGrid Live! (Free, both normally Rs.190)

5. Photo Cookbook - Quick and Easy,

The Photo Cookbook is one of the nicer cookbook apps available for the iPhone and iPad. As the name suggests, this app focuses on easy recipes that even kitchen novices should be able to follow. There are large pictures to guide you at every stage, and you can look up nutrition facts, or make your own notes to add to recipes. You can scroll horizontally to move between meat, fish, vegetarian and desserts, and vertically to choose between recipes.

This iOS only app was Rs.240, and it's now free, and aside from the Quick and Easy recipes, you can also unlock Italian, Asian and Baking recipes, at Rs.190 each through in-app purchases.

Download: iOS (Free, was Rs.240)

6. 2K games

Green Man Gaming is running a great multi-buy offer with 2K Games - you can choose any three of the publisher's games at $24 (approximately Rs.1,450), four at $28 (approximately Rs.1,695), and five titles at $30 (approximately Rs. 1,815).

The titles on offer include Borderlands GOTY and Borderlands 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM: Enemy Within, Civilization V Gods and Kings, Bioshock, and more - you can buy the games here and you'll also have to install Green Man Gaming's client, called Capsule, in order to download and play the games you buy.

Download: Windows

7. Path Input - Swipe Keyboard

Path Input lets you use swipes to types - the catch is that like other custom keyboards for iOS, this can only be used in a standalone app, with the text then copy-pasted. According to the developer though, this app will be upgraded to a custom keyboard once iOS 8 is released, so if you pick it up for free now, you'll still be able to use it later, without paying the usual price of Rs.120.

Download: iOS (Free, was Rs.120)

8. abc Notes

Free just for Wednesday, abc Notes is a simple note-taking tool for iOS with which you can save your to-do lists and other short notes. It lets you save these as post-it notes on virtual desktops, so you can keep one screen for work related tasks, and one screen for personal stuff, and so on.

What makes this really useful is that it includes iCloud support, which syncs the notes across different devices - letting you list errands on your Mac, and then look them up on the road on your phone, for example. Normally Rs.190, the app is free to download just for Wednesday.

Download: iOS (Free, was Rs.190)

9. Taasky

Taasky is one of the best looking task managers available - it looks a lot like Clear, which is also available on iOS at Rs.300, but comes with some extra functionality that makes it a great choice.

With Taasky, you can also set reminders, or mark tasks as priority, so they show up at the top of your list, and set deadlines. This makes it a great way to keep track of what you need to do, while still being one of the best looking apps of this kind. Normally, Taasky is available at Rs.120, but you can get it Wednesday for free, so don't miss it.

Download: iOS (Free, was Rs.120)

10. Clone Magic

This iOS app lets you combine multiple photographs to create "clones" - what this means is that you take a shot of a clear background, then take the same shot with an object in it, and you can mark it on your screen and add it. Take five or six such pictures, and you can come up with some really creative ideas too.