The Essential Download: Twitter Engage, Slack, Glastonbury

Welcome to the Essential Download, a selection of new, updated and essential applications that will make working on a mobile device simpler, more productive and secure activity. There’s even room for a bit of fun as well.

New and updated

Dropbox (iOS/Android/Windows)

Dropbox has spent the past few years attempting to evolve from a consumer storage service into a business-grade cloud platform. The latest edition adds mobile scanning, added sharing tools and more powerful version history options. Users can also create Microsoft Office documents directly from within the application and business users can even search within scanned documents and images. Comments can now be added directly from within previews, too.

Twitter Engage (iOS/Android)

Twitter’s new application lets content creators share longer videos of up to 140 seconds with followers. The social network says video Tweets have increased by half since the start of the year and the hope is that the longer format will encourage more people to use the platform and commercialise their creations Longer Vines are also being tested with a select group of people.

Engage should also make it easier for brands and celebrities, who have large followings and can attract some of the more unsavoury elements of social media, to communicate with fans and get detailed analytics.

Slack (iOS/Android)

Slack has added buttons to its collaboration platform, allowing users to complete tasks directly from within the application rather than opening up a new browser tab or email. Message buttons work with 12 apps at present and developers are being invited to add them to their own software. For example, message buttons can be used to respond to expense reports or to pay money to other members of the group.

Slack boasts there are more than 500 applications in its directory, meaning there is scope for expansion.

Microsoft Wallet (Windows)

Microsoft’s answer to Apple Pay and Android Pay might only be available to Windows Insider and so far only US banks have signed up to the service, but Microsoft Wallet is now available. Build version 14360 adds the functionality to a number of select Lumia handsets, allowing users to store debit, credit and loyalty cards for contactless payments. The app is set be made available generally this summer.

For the music fans

BitTorrent Now (iOS/Android)

This is a weird one. BitTorrent has become synonymous with piracy, but its new application is a perfectly legal way for people to share the content they created. On demand video and music is available both free of charge, ad-supported or for a fee, but the difference is it will be smaller artists who choose the business model for their content. Unlike Taylor Swift who spends much of her time campaigning against free streaming.

Only the Android edition is available now, but an iOS version is incoming

Glastonbury Festival 2016 (iOS/Android)

To be honest you’ll probably be caked in mud and your smartphone will have lost all battery by the time the music starts today, but if you’re glamping or have a power bar, EE has created this year’s official application for Glastonbury. Here you can personalise your schedule, view an interactive map of the site and drop pins so you don’t lose your tent, and see which of your Facebook friends are attending the festival.

EE has also built the UK’s biggest and most powerful temporary 4G network at Worthy Farm, helping customers stay connected and to power a free Wi-Fi network that operates until 10pm each night.