Today, Microsoft moved one step closer to full cross-platform integration, following the release of their OneNote mobile app for Android.

In a blog post, Michael Oldenburg, technical writer for Microsoft’s office division, stated: “For all of you who’ve been asking (and patiently waiting) for a version of OneNote for your Android phones, we have great news: OneNote Mobile for Android is now available!”

The software already exists on Windows Phone and iOS, with versions for both iPhone and iPad, but is now also available on Google’s mobile operating system for any user running Android 2.3 or higher.

Regardless of your chosen platform, though, functionality appears to almost identical across the board; all users can create, edit and sync notes through OneNote mobile, which is essentially a productivity suite. The tick list system is ideal for to-do lists and notes can be enhanced with the use of images, as seen above. The mobile version also brings with it offline access to your notes, alongside free technical support.

OneNote files are synced via SkyDrive, which Microsoft has significantly upgraded in the past few months to facilitate the app-centric sharing of office documents. As a result, you’ll need a Windows Live ID in order to use this mobile service.

Available as a free download, users are able to store up to 500 notes in total. Once this limit has been reached, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version (£2.99) to continue using the service as intended. Those who choose not to upgrade can continue to view, sync and delete any notes associated with their account, but will no longer be able to edit old notes or create new ones.

In other news, Google has built a mobile version of Chrome, “from the ground up”, to replace the built-in web browser on Android devices. However, at present, it’s still in beta and only available for those running Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich firmware (Android 4.0).

You can download Microsoft OneNote for Android (£Free) from the Android Marketplace.

Beyond supporting the functionality expected of an app of this nature, namely scanning quick response (QR) and barcodes, QR Pal also provides a backlog of your scanning activity, a number of social sharing options and also the ability to quickly transfer money via PayPal, by using QR codes designed specifically for that purpose. Any code that you scan will also be added to your online wallet, which you can share with others via text, email, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

As you’d expect, the scanning process is fairly simple; simply hold your device up to a QR code or barcode and allow the app to work to work its magic. It’s quick, too, as any code that directs to a webpage is instantly accessible thanks to the in-built web browser. The app is also intelligent when it comes to managing what you’ve scanned into it, automatically categorising entries based on the target content.

These features are available for all, but you can choose to sign-up for a free QR Pal account from within the app, which only takes a moment thanks to the slick interface. And whilst this may appear to be unnecessary at first, it does have the added benefit of allowing you quick access to any social networking profiles that you’ve tied to the service – a notable time-saving benefit, then, particularly as QR Pal is multi-platform. Furthermore, your profile is both backed up and mimicked online, allowing any changes you make to be universal across your account.

By signing up for an account you can also make full use of the social mini-game that’s included in the app – by which you receive points for scanning codes, and bonuses for sharing any findings across your social networks. In an attempt to get users to engage with the social side of the application, there are also monthly cash prizes available for prolific users. As you’d expect, though, you’ll need an account to participate in the draw.

QR Pal is without doubt an impressive application, particularly as it’s available for free and provides far more, feature-wise, than directly competing alternatives. However, some of the features, such as the ability to receive payments via QR code, seem almost unnecessary in 2012 – it’s a step towards a society in which we no longer need to carry physical cash, granted, but it’s unlikely to be heavily used in the immediate future. It’s also doubtful that many users will venture into the QR news tab that’s accessible via the homepage. Still, they’re both nice touches.

A free QR code generator is also offered, called QR Track. At present, it’s only available via the developer’s website, but still helps to complete the service offered by this application. Users can create a QR code, customise it with a choice of colours, and even track scanning analytics by logging in with their account.

The app has been available on the Android Marketplace for some time, but only recently launched onto the iTunes AppStore. Regardless of your chosen platform, QR Pal is available for free.

It’s the age of the internet, after all, and a staggering number of homes now have access to a smartphone of some form. In fact, many are running Apple’s flagship mobile device, the iPhone, and thus have access to all those downloadable apps that go with it – many of which make our lives just that little bit easier.

Eventbrite is the latest brand to try and simplify their online service in this way, and that’s why they’ve released the Eventbrite app. It’s a free ticket-management tool, enabling event attendees, who make use the service, to easily access their event information while the move. And it works very well.

Through the app, virtual tickets, event details, and even directions pushed via Google maps, are all readily available at your fingertips. The app syncs directly with the Eventbrite servers, too, so all that’s required is either Wi-Fi access or a data connection. You can even share event information with your friends, from within the application, via Twitter, email or SMS.

It’s also worth noting that this new Eventbrite app makes up half of a whole. It’s clearly intended to compliment Eventbrite’s pre-existing yet recently rebranded Entry Manage Tool, which, currently available on iPhone and Android, was created to allow event organisers to easily scan Eventbrite tickets using nothing more than the in-built camera available on a smartphone.

As is to be expected, you’ll need an active account to use the Eventbrite app. Yet, bizarrely, you cannot sign-up from within the app itself – probably a result of an inability to buy tickets within the app, too. Instead you’ll need register through your web browser, over at Eventbrite.com. Overcome this minor hurdle, though, and you’ll be able to track and manage any events you’re attending, ditch physical tickets in favour of an eco-friendly QR code alternative, and also view any upcoming events in your calendar.

The app is already available for iPhone users, with an Android version reportedly on the way. And considering it’s quicker, easier, and also environmentally friendly, there’s really no reason not to adopt this new method of ticket management. Assuming you have the required Apple technology, of course.

You can download the Eventbrite app (£Free) from the AppStore, here.

For the unaware, Amen is a social network with a difference. It does away with all the poking, status updates and direct messages that clutter up what’s really important: the concept of voicing that highly significant personal opinion of yours to others around the world.

And unlike similar services, such as FML or MLIA, Amen requires a user who disagrees with a statement to submit an alternative. Such rebuttals appear in the real-time, Twitter-esque network feed that makes up the homepage for social network, which can then be “Amen’ed” or “Hell No’ed” respectively, in order to spark further debate.

It’s also featured on AppCritic before, and you can check out our review of the Amen iPhone application right here.

A selection of Amen’s best and worst statements can be seen by clicking on the images below.

Designed to promote the UK utilities company, Southern Water, Pipe Dash features a number of clever mini games that require both clear thinking and fast reflexes in order to succeed.

The game spans ten levels, each featuring a unique water-themed puzzle, that’ll require you to connect a house to the national water grid, or occasionally the sewage network, as quickly as possible. But careful planning is important, too, as if you use fewer pipe pieces you’ll receive a higher score.

Speed challenges also feature, where you’re required to plug a number of pipe leaks, by tapping on them, before the time runs out.

As previously stated, the app is also chock-full of educational information, presented by a child-friendly ‘Spanner’ figure, similar to Microsoft Word’s well-known paperclip. Game instructions are also delivered in this fashion.

Further information can be found at pipedash.com, and you can download Pipe Dash (£Free) from the AppStore, here.

Available as a free download, the app offers a comparable service to that found via the company website, redspottedhanky.com, and retains the company stance against any additional booking fees. Users can also collect loyalty points through use of the app, which can be redeemed against future ticket purchases.

Alongside the ability to order tickets, list train times and compare fare prices, the Redspottedhanky app can also be used to store mobile tickets, or ‘mTickets’ as they’re known, which are presented in a scannable barcode format and are tied to the individual user’s account.

“We are proud to unveil our new mobile app, as well as making sure our customers are getting the cheapest rail fares, we are now able to offer them the ease of booking on the move through their phones,” said James Bain, director of Redspottedhanky.

“The ability to build up and spend loyalty points through our app is another reason why we expect the Redspottedhanky app to become a part of rail travellers everyday lives. Redspottedhanky is the only place where rail travellers can accumulate loyalty points and it is the only independent retailer which charges no additional booking fees.” 

Bain also stated that an update, due to be released at some point in the future, will introduce live train times to the app.

You can download the Redspottedhanky app (£Free) from the AppStore, here.

Quarrel Deluxe, the addictive iOS title that combines two popular board games, risk and scrabble, is currently running a holiday sale.

Due to continue until 2^nd January 2012, Quarrel Deluxe is currently available for just £0.69, significantly reduced from the regular price of £1.99. And that’s an absolute steal for a game of this calibre, particularly as we awarded Quarrel Deluxe 10/10 back in September.

For those who are unaware, players in Quarrel must battle their opponents for control of an island split into territories. In order to do this, they must create the highest scoring word from a given eight-letter anagram, ultimately claiming the land on the quest for total vocabulary domination.

UTV Ignition, and developer Denki, has also confirmed that Quarrel Deluxe will be making an appearance on the Xbox Live Arcade soon.

You can download Quarrel Deluxe (£0.69) from the AppStore, here.

MEDL Mobile, the development studio behind Boxhead: The Zombie wars, a game that we awarded a very respectable 8/10 back in February, has released a special Christmas-themed version of the game.

Currently available as a free download, this update features snow-covered maps, new festive enemies and, of course, the ability to play as Santa Claus himself.

In keeping with the original game, it’s your job to help Santa the zombie slayer battle his way through wave after wave of enemies; zombies, undead elves and evil snowmen, in an attempt to obtain the highest score possible. Numerous weapons and power-ups are also available to help you succeed.

MEDL Mobile has also released a Christmas version of their DJ Pauly D Beat that Boardwalk app, featuring similar winter-themed alterations to the in-game graphics. And that’s available for 69p.

You can download Boxhead: Santa Edition (£Free) from the AppStore, here.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. We’re an increasingly frugal bunch, us iOS gamers, and these days we demand a little more bang from our hard-earned buck. As such, those few games capable of striking a solid balance between simplicity and longevity – such as Lane Splitter or Reckless Getaway – are generally well received.

And now there’s another game to add to this elusive category; Rough Roads.

The concept here is simple. As the proud owner of a VW camper van, with a penchant for global travel, it’s your job to navigate the treacherous roads of six very different locations: from the busy streets of Tokyo to the dusty trails of Egypt. Australia, India, New York and London also feature. Each location is represented visually, too, be that through the presence of elephants in India, or the existence of Big Ben jutting out of the London skyline.

As the game progresses your camper van will speed up dramatically, making it harder to weave between traffic or to avoid the location-specific debris that litters the road. Stars can be collected to bolster your score, and flash tokens allow you to jump between locations at will.

Gameplay remains fresh through the use of achievements, although, somewhat startlingly, there are over one hundred to collect – a feat that I fear few gamers will manage to achieve. Players can also unlock a number of ‘fun-fact’ cards for each of the six locations, a welcome bonus.

Based heavily upon the Rough Roads flash game, there are a number of instantly recognisable differences between the two. For the most part, the iOS version of the game appears to be a far more polished effort; jumps between locations are now controlled by the user, through the collection of ‘flash tokens’ rather than a random event.

However, the flash game does possess a speedometer, a visual treat that’s sadly missing from the iPhone version. Instead, a simple kph counter can be seen in the top right. This is understandable, of course, due to the rather limited screen size, but it’s a slight disappointment nonetheless.

Also, although a marked improvement upon the flash version, the movement of traffic remains often unpredictable and illogical, resulting in the all too frequent loss of a life to a situation that’s entirely beyond your control. Irrelevant of their variable size, other road users also take up the entire lane, making it impossible to squeeze past on the inside even where, visually, it appears that you have plenty of room.

The options menu also appeared to be bugged, on our test device at least, by which the two audio levels in the game (music and sound effects) could not be altered. This is a rather small issue, though, particularly as the rest of the game performs relatively well, and without fault.

Rough Roads isn’t likely to wow you with stunning graphics or an immersive storyline. It’s not going to render you a slave to your iPhone, either. But then that’s not its purpose, and to review this app as such would simply be wrong. There are flaws here, sure, but for the most part these can be overlooked, thanks to the simplistic gameplay coupled with stunning replay value. Rough Roads is relatively cheap, too, making this game a serious contender for the pick-up-and-play market.

Verdict – 8/10

You can download Rough Roads (69p) from the AppStore, here.

So what happens if you take the Farmville micro-management concept, and combine it with, say, Foursquare’s geo-location tagging tool? Well, you’d get Beebble.

Designed by SeventhSide Games, Beebble is a social networking adventure designed to help you discover both new places and new friends, by harnessing the power of your iPhone.

Unusually, there’s also a storyline associated with this game – in an attempt to preserve the future of planet earth, Professor Beebblestein has release an array of genetically modified bees, capable of communicating with humans. It’s a cute concept, designed to raise awareness of the important role that bees play in nature, and while the message is certainly there, it’s not overwhelming, which is nice.

Beebble requires an active Facebook account in order to play the game; not only so that you can draw upon your friends list for in-game support, but also to provide access to ‘Facebook Places’, which are used alongside your current location. Upon logging in, you’ll be able to create your own city and fill it with an assortment of colourful buildings from three main categories: residence, service and commercial properties.

In a similar style to Foursquare’s check-in system, Beebble includes a ‘Nearby Places’ button. If clicked, the game will present you with a list of places, created by other users, which are close to your current location. Tapping something from the list will allow you to discover more bees, who will automatically move into any available housing you have to offer. Once they do so, you can then collect rent money, and use this to further improve upon the selection of buildings your city has to offer.

Beebble is a social take on the thousands of sim-management games currently littering Facebook. And considering it’s free-to-play, there’s no excuse not to give this one a try.

According to a post on the official game forums, non-iPhone users can also get in on the action by visiting http://m.beebble.com/.

You can download Beebble (£Free) from the iTunes AppStore, here.