New Android apps worth downloading: PayPal update, Granny Smith, Horn

Here are three great Android apps to enjoy going into the weekend. The Android PayPal app got a significant update the other day that was more than just skin deep. Weve also got a couple of fun games in contrasting styles: Granny Smith is a casual, endless platformer which is addictive and cute, while Horn is a sprawling, epic action/adventure game with console-quality production values.

PayPal update (Free)

Whats it about? The popular digital wallet and payment service just got a brand new app refresh complete with some useful extra functionality.

Whats cool? The newly redesigned PayPal app has much improved navigation and a fresh look and feel. It now matches Androids design standards to offer a better user experience. Your profile is easier to access, and the account section shows a transaction log of account activity. But more than just aesthetics, PayPal also added some new functionality like the ability to scan a credit or debit card and add it to your account as a funding source.

Who is it for? Current users of PayPal will appreciate the new redesign. Admittedly, I use PayPal quite a lot on the Web, but Ive never felt the need to download the dedicated Android app. This new refresh and increased functionality might convince me.

Whats it like? Other payment/finance and digial wallet apps are out there like Google Wallet, Pay With Square and Lemon Wallet, amongst others.

Granny Smith ($0.99)

Whats it about? Granny Smith, from the makers of Sprinkle, is a fast-paced platformer with some fun physics and dazzling visuals.

Whats cool? Help this old lady as she skates through cityscapes and farmland in pursuit of a thief who has been stealing apples from her garden. Our fearless heroine, despite her advancing years, is happy to crash through anything to get her apples back and there are 36 levels to enjoy. The touch-controls are intuitive and simple, and Granny can sure pull off some amazing stunts.

Whos it for? Fans of endless runners will like Granny Smith. There are power-ups to collect along the way and alternative characters with which to play to keep things fresh. If youre fortunate enough to own a Tegra 3 device, expect additional breakable objects, dust particles, flowers and more detail.

Whats it like? With numerous endless runners in Google Play, Granny Smith is hardly the most original game around. But its charming graphics, smooth gameplay and high level of polish make it a cut above many of its peers.

Horn ($6.99)

Whats it about? Horn is a visually stunning third-person action-adventure. Its appearance on Android follows hot on the heels of the iOS release which topped our iPhone Games of the Week.

Whats cool? The game tells an engaging fantasy story and features some impressive 3-D graphics. Horn is controlled completely by touch gestures, yet it wouldnt feel out of place on a powerful console system. Theres also plenty to explore and lots of action as you use your sword, crossbow, trusty musical horn, and wits to explore the lands, defeat enemies, and solve puzzles.

Whos it for? For now, Horn is only compatible with Tegra 2 and Tegra 3 devices, so that excludes a lot of gamers, unfortunately. With elements of role-playing, action and adventure, Horn should please those who want console-quality games on their handheld. By the way, the game is a massive 1.8GB download, so watch that storage space!

Whats it like? Its rare to find games like Horn with such impressive production values on Android. But imagine traditional Nintendo games like Legends of Zelda meeting iOS favorite Infinity Blade, and you get the idea.

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