App reviews: RadioPublic, Brain Wars
RadioPublic
A good podcast app can be hard to find.
But if you're a devotee of the podcast, then you may want to try RadioPublic. This app lets you subscribe to podcasts and play them in the order of your choosing.
But its best feature is the inclusion of curated playlists from other users, which aim to help you find your way through the great, big world of podcasts out there to home in on the ones that suit you best.
If you are really stumped, you also can ask one of the app's dedicated librarians to help you find your perfect podcast matches.
If you have an idea of what podcasts you like already, it's easy to search for and add them to your listening library.
The app also makes suggestions for podcasts based on topics, such as "comedy" or "science and medicine." The app will recommend podcasts depending on the shows that you pick for yourself.
If you'd like, you also can pick out particularly good episodes and compile them into your own playlist, which you can then choose to share with others.
Free, for iOS and Android.
Brain Wars
Brain Wars is a competitive puzzle game that puts players though a varied battery of cerebellum-twisting puzzles.
Players are pitted against each other in one-on-one challenges, in sets made up of three types of puzzles. The selection is fairly random, but test your arithmetic, memory, word comprehension - and above all - your reflexes.
Whichever player earns the most points over the set is the winner.
You can play five challenges before the app needs to recharge; you can refill your challenge meter with in-game currency, which can be earned in the game or bought.
You can add friends through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. You also can play with strangers; interactions are limited to emoji exchanges, though you can ask strangers to join your friends list if you wish.
The actual medical benefit you get from brain-training games is not clear.
But if you like to tickle your gray matter - and like to be a little competitive, too - then this is a fun app to play.
Free, for iOS and Android.