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App Reviews: SimCity BuildIt and Scannable

SimCity BuildIt: This land is your land

Urban planners-in-training, your app is here. Based on the classic SimCity franchise, this official mobile version from Electronic Arts gives players the chance to craft their own metropolis - and take on all the decisions that come with that role. As with the desktop games, BuildIt players have to build houses, provide utilities and direct commerce within their cities, simultaneously dealing with disasters and keeping the population happy.

Users can also establish trade relationships with other friends' cities, by way of Facebook, Apple's Game Center and Google Play. The app is free to download, but does include in-app purchases that will help you build more resources more quickly. It can be a bit of a slog to get to where you want to go without paying real money, but it can be done. Free, for iOS and Android devices.

Scannable: Turn your smartphone into a scanner

Scannable, an app from the note-taking service Evernote, turns your smartphone or tablet into a scanner by simply taking a picture of the document you want to record. Using recognition software, the app can then identify the words on the documents you're scanning, so that you can search for keywords later. It will scan business cards and let you create new contact cards on the iPhone or iPad straight from the app - no typing required.

The app doesn't pick up every thing on a document, particularly if papers have been folded or crumpled. If you're working on something for an official application or document, you may still want to opt for the old-fashioned scanner. But if you're looking to keep quick notes or add contacts to your address book in a pinch, it's reliable, free and easy to use. Free, for iOS devices.

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