PLANET OF THE APPS: 8TH NOVEMBER 2011

Three more apps go under the microscope of tech-head Stuart Dredge.

Doctor Who Encyclopedia (iPad - £4.99)

Doctor Who geeks can rejoice in an iPad encyclopedia app offering entries for all the characters, aliens, places and objects that have appeared in the world of the Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith - with additional bundles for the previous two (Christopher Ecclestone and David Tennant) available as £4.99 in-app purchases.

Famigo Sandbox (Android - free)

This is a great idea: an app that basically makes your Android smartphone or tablet child-safe - they can only access apps that have been designated as child-friendly by its network of testers (who have chosen 40,000+ so far). The app also provides a weekly report of what apps children have been using for parents - is this a bit spy-like? - and recommends other apps that they might like. It's an example of Android going beyond iPhone/iPad, where there's still no child-safe mode or Kids category on the App Store.

Kinectimals (Windows Phone - £2.29)

Kinectimals is a Windows Phone game that's a sign of things to come: it's designed to link in with the main Kinectimals game for the Xbox 360 console. People play with virtual pets on their phone, unlocking them for use in the main version at home. And this is part of a bigger trend: the idea of playing games at home and then continuing them on the train/bus etc. It's something Microsoft hopes will make its Windows Phones compete with iPhone and Android, anyway.