App reviews: Melody Jams, Allo

Melody Jams

In Melody Jams, kids can assemble a band of musical monsters. Each monster plays a different instrument, and a player can mix and match to create many combinations of styles and sounds. Players can get in on the action themselves, choosing an instrument and jamming along with the band as they see fit. The app comes with one free stage - a garage jam session - and players can join in with the gang on the piano, the xylophone or the drums.

There admittedly isn't a whole lot to Melody Jams, but it packs a lot of fun in a very simple premise. It's not the app for kids looking to get a music composition education, since you essentially play with lots of loops. And because it doesn't have sharing options or ask for registration, it's a pretty low-risk app to download as well. There are in-app purchases - for 99 cents players can get another stage on which to play, as well as some different instruments for the monster and kid musicians. Further updates and scenes are expected.

Free, for iOS.

Allo

Google's new messaging app Allo has two main advantages: It has an "incognito mode" for extra security and it has Google's personal artificial intelligence assistant. (Named, rather straightforwardly, Google.) Conversations with the AI assistant itself will turn up suggestions for places to hang out that evening, give you weather forecasts and conduct your Google searches. The assistant also understands more conversational language, so you don't have to use an exact phrase to get what you want. When talking to friends, it will also suggest replies for you. Still, there are times when the assistant misses the mark - it should get better over time but may frustrate some more than it helps.

It is worth noting that Google originally promised that all conversations in the app would be de-identified, and therefore not stored on Google's servers. But the app that the firm released this week only offers that option for those starting chats in incognito mode, rather than all chats. That means that chats could be tied to individuals if Google is subpoenaed by the federal government.

Free, for iOS and Android.