Apps We’re Trying This Week: an App for Screen Recording, a Classic iPhone Game, and the Best Cloud Backup Service

There are many apps that grace the Mac and iOS App Stores that simply don’t get enough attention or admiration. Sometimes an app is so good at what it does, it becomes the default app for the task and is rarely questioned. Sometimes a new app debuts in a given category and, while it shows promise, doesn’t quite live up to our pick for the best in that category.

There are millions of apps to try out on any given day, so here are three we’re trying this week.

Screenflick for Mac

A few months ago, a nationally televised hockey event came to my hometown, and my mom was set to be a part of the introduction scenes before the big game. (She makes a mean “Taco in a Bag”, if you want to know why.) Without the ability to record with a PVR, I struggled to figure out how I would share the scene with her, since she had to be at the event and missed her part on TV.

Enter Screenflick.

Screenflick is a great piece of software for capturing your screen (or specified parts of your screen) and record audio at the same time. This was the kicker for me — it’s easy to record only a small part of your screen and system audio at the same time, so I could easily continue working while the nationally televised event took place.

Screenflick is ideal for those who need to record and share their screen for an audience — be they seminar or webinar leaders, screencast creators, professional video game players, and more. Of course, Screenflick can also capture live movies and live TV, if you’re subscribed and able to stream.

This last part should go as a fair warning: Be sure you have the right to record and share your Screenflick recording.

You can download Screenflick for macOS from the Araelium website. A free version of the app will record your screen or selected parts of your screen and put a giant watermark over top. To remove the watermark, you can purchase Screenflick for $35 as a one-time purchase.

Two Dots

Two Dots has been around for awhile, and for all intents and purposes, is one of the best games to ever roam the iOS App Store. I remember when it first started out on the App Store, completed simply by connecting dots, creating squares, and in the later days, by moving the anchors to the bottom of the screen.

Two Dots has grown far beyond that original game and now comes packed with new game types, new tutorials, new tips and tricks and strategies, and a plethora of in-app purchases to move you forward through the game.

But through the thick and thin, the main Two Dots game hasn’t changed — creating squares and finishing off goals in as few moves as possible is still the name of the game, and is still as addicting as ever. I redownloaded the game over the weekend and greatly enjoyed played a game or two instead of perusing Instagram or Twitter a few extra minutes before bed.

If you discovered Two Dots a long time ago, I recommend giving it another download. If this is the first you’ve heard of it, you can download it for free on the iOS App Store.

Backblaze

One of our very first major reviews here on The Sweet Setup was a review of the best cloud backup service for the Mac. The review has gone through a few revisions since the early days, but Backblaze has always been a major competitor and one of the best options in this field. Right now, Backblaze is our pick for the best cloud backup service for the Mac.

For the longest time, I was never able to take advantage of a service like Backblaze. Backblaze will backup an entire Mac and all connected drives for you if you have an active subscription. The backup process stays active and backs up continuously, if you choose. And if tragedy strikes, you can download your files anywhere you have a browser or you can order a physical copy of your files which will be mailed to you.

The caveat with a cloud backup service? That very first initial backup. With a slow internet connection, it can take weeks or months to upload your first backup, making the backup service somewhat moot within that time period. (With my old copper internet connection, my initial backup was literally set to take multiple years to complete.)

With a new fiber internet connection, I have now fully adopted Backblaze, bringing another level of peace of mind when it comes to the files on my Mac and my attached hard drive. That initial backup only took a day or two (yay for 300/300 internet!) and now all changes sync effortlessly to the cloud without me even noticing.

Backblaze offers 2 backup tiers: personal and business. For personal Backblaze subscriptions, you can backup one Mac plus all attached hard drives for $6/month, $60/year or $110 for a two-year subscription. Business plan pricing is about the same, with a cost of $60/year/computer. All these plans come with unlimited data, so all your needed files will be backed up at all times.

We love Backblaze here at The Sweet Setup, and I’m pumped to finally be able to enjoy the service. For more information about Backblaze, check out our in-depth review.