March Madness Can't Miss Apps

Medium

Medium, the blogging platform created by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams, launched its first mobile app this week. The app lets users browse the latest posts or follow the site’s curated topic-based collections.

Medium's app is still relatively bare-bones — users can’t look up or post new content, for example — but what it lacks in features, it makes up in design.

Medium is available on iOS.

Newsbeat

Newsbeat, the Tribune Co.’s new app, pulls in stories from hundreds of the company’s newspapers to create customized playlists of articles to be read out loud by an automated voice. It sounds gimmicky, but it’s not the first app to use this method. What's more, the robot voices sounds surprisingly un-robotic.

However, the free app is ad-supported, with brief ads playing about every 10 minutes.

Newsbeat is available on iOS and Android .

Fire Chat

Unlike other messaging apps, FireChat allows users to message people without the need of a cellphone signal or Wi-Fi connection.

The app uses Apple’s Multipeer Connectivity Framework, built into iOS 7, to connect users with those around them.

FireChat's creators say the app works best for chatting with those within a 30-foot radius if you don’t have a mobile connection. But if you do, you can participate in a massive group chat with other users from around the world.

FireChat is available on iOS.

Runtastic Six Pack

The Runtastic Six Pack app, which provides tailored workouts complete with step-by-step videos that show you how to get six-pack abs, was updated to version 2.0 this week.

The update introduced new features, including body fat-visualization tools and integration with Runtastic’s heart-rate monitor.

The app is free, although most of the workouts require in-app purchases.

Runtastic Six Pack 2.0 is available on iOS. (There’s an Android version also available, but it hasn’t gotten the 2.0 update yet.)

NCAA March Madness Live

March Madness Live, the NCAA's official app for March Madness, gives you all the tools to ensure you don’t miss a second of the tournament.

Live stream games (games broadcasted on CBS are free, but all others require a cable subscription), get real-time score alerts and keep tabs on your bracket, while receiving all the latest news and updates from your favorite teams.

The free app is available on iOS and Android.