Check out these top five apps of the week

Cola

Text messaging has been around for so long, but it hasn’t changed too much, except for emoji additions. Cola wants to change that by reducing the amount of back and forth when trying to plan things with groups or individuals. The iOS messaging app lets you choose one of six bubbles to send out to get a faster, hassle-free response from people. For example, you can send out a quick poll for people to vote on something — like a place to eat for lunch. There are also bubbles you can send to ask people their location, best times they are available, and a to-do list. If you send someone that doesn’t use Cola a bubble, they’ll still be able to receive it since Cola uses SMS.

iTunes

Swell

Invite-only social networks always make a buzz when they launch, and Swell doesn’t seem to be any different in that regard. Swell lets you snap and post two pictures, in order to receive quick feedback from friends or strangers nearby. You’ll see people posting two different outfits, for example, asking what they should wear tonight, and the expectation is to receive an immediate response so you can make your decision and get on with the day. You can check the company’s twitter account @swellwtf if you want to try and grab an invite into its network.

iTunes

Pikazo

Pikazo may have been around for a few months, but that hasn’t stopped it from offering a ton of fun every time you use it. The app lets you turn your photo into an artistic masterpiece — but it’s no simple filter. It uses next-generation neural networks to “rip apart and assemble image details into something new and extraordinary.” You can choose the style you want your picture to turn into — whether you want to mimic Van Gogh’s brushstrokes, or Picasso’s cubic style. Since it’s actually a complicated process, it can take a while for your picture to be processed, and Pikazo says sometimes it may not work at all — so be wary.

iTunes

Google Play

SXSW Go

South By Southwest has officially kicked off, and it will run until March 20. If you’re lucky enough to be at the annual cluster of conferences and festivals, consider picking up the official SXSW app. After all, it gets incredibly packed and busy, and you’ll need all the help you can get to navigate and find interesting events that you want to attend. You can browse the lineup in the app and create your own personal schedule, and there’s also a recommended section that offers similar events to those you have already favorited in the app.

iTunes

Google Play