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Evernote/YouTube
essentials
These are the apps everyone should have on their smartphone
Because some apps are more useful than others.
THERE ARE ENOUGH apps out there but only a finite amount of space on your phone. This proves to be a problem at the best of times, mainly which apps are the ones you should definitely have and which ones are worth getting rid of.
The first question is the shorter one to answer so we’ve put together the apps that we think deserve a place on your phone. We’re going to go off the beaten track and not suggest the likes of Facebook or Twitter since it’s likely you already have them.
To keep yourself organised
Sunrise
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
The traditional calendars on your phone are passable at best, but Sunrise shakes things up a bit with a great design and focus. Since it integrates with a number of apps, it can bring all of your events together into the one place.
To help improve your language skills
Duolingo
For: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Cost: Free
Duolingo isn’t going to make you fluent at a language, but it will help you get a good grasp on a new language. Breaking up each language into mini-games that only take a few moments to complete, it’s probably the most accessible way to start learning a new dialect.
To impress your friends
Wolfram Alpha
For: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Cost: €2.69
Sure you could Google the answer to a question, but why not go a step further and use Wolfram Alpha instead. Pretty much answering almost every mathematical question you can think of, it’s a powerful tool to have whatever you doing.
To speed up your texting
Swype
For:iOS, Android
Cost: €0.89
While you have the free version of Swiftkey (with in-app purchases) out there, Swype just happens to be the more comprehensive version. Autocomplete and auto dictionary allows you to complete writing your texts faster and its learning capabilities help improve suggestions over time.
For a nicer view of the weather
Yahoo! Weather
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Despite the jokes that surround Yahoo, its weather app has a nice design and is rather comprehensive. Taking photos from Flickr to highlight the weather for that time is a great idea and the simplicity of it means you don’t have to trawl through useless info to find what you want.
For random fun snippets every day
Ping
For: iOS
Cost: Free
Ping is random. Basically a number of push notification sent to you, these can cover a vast number of topics and while they can be random in nature, they do keep you abreast of what’s new out there.
If you’re travelling abroad
Word Lens
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Since Google bought Quest Visual earlier this year, all of Word Lens’ translation packs are free to download. What it does is use your camera to translate written text and it works rather well.
To help warn you of bad weather
Dark Sky
For: iOS
Cost: €3.59
The hook of Dark Sky tells you whether it’s going to rain or snow an hour in advance. After that, it’s one of the nicest weather apps out there, tying with Yahoo! Weather.
To make you more efficient
Workflow
For: iOS
Cost: €2.99
Originally we were going to have IFTTT in, but the simplicity and versatility of Workflow won it out – if you’re an iOS user, that is. Easy to use, handy prepared combinations and a beautiful interface makes it a winner.
To give yourself peace of mind
Headspace
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Considering how hectic our lives are and how important mental health is, Headspace is one of the best relaxation and meditation services for those who don’t know where to start.
The first 10 days are free to try out, but it’s well worth the subscription.
If you find yourself stuck somewhere
Hailo
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
If you’re in an unfamiliar area in Ireland or in Europe, you will likely be able to rely onHailo to get you somewhere. Easy to use, you won’t have to worry about getting a taxi wherever you go.
For finding your way around town
Google Maps
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
For now, there’s nothing that comes close to matching Google Maps (with maybe the exception of HERE maps), but Google’s version is one of the most comprehensive maps out there.
For keeping yourself and your notes organised
Evernote
For: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Cost: Free
It’s been around for a while, but there are few services which can top Evernote. Allowing to store almost everything in the one place for future use, it’s incredibly useful to have for work and personal use.
For finding a new place to eat or drink
Foursquare
For: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Cost: Free
Earlier this year, Foursquare split its app up into two, the original became a recommendation app while Swarm became a check-in app. While the latter hasn’t worked out, the former has thrived thanks to a new recommendation system that is able to find the best spots in any city.
For catching up on articles
Pocket
For: iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Considering how many articles there are to read, it’s likely you will want to save it for when you’re experiencing a quiet moment or traveling. Pocket allows you to save articles, images and videos onto your phone so you can catch up on articles when your schedule allows it.
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