With the new iPhone 6 recently being released, people are looking for different ways to make their phone worth the cost. Facebook, Snapchat, and Candy Crush are the first apps people will generally buy, but what about after those? Here’s a few ideas to help make your phone more useful and awesome.
1. DuoLingo
Free for Apple and Android
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/saltzman/2013/12/24/best-ap…
With this app, you can learn different language for free with daily exercises and a points system to keep track of your practices. The different languages offered are German, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian. This app could definitely be helpful to people taking a language class. Some users wish more languages could be offered along with practice with grammar. Overall, DuoLingo offers many opportunities for free, and you should check it out before paying a bunch of money for other lessons.
2. WOD Deck of Cards
Free for Apple and Android
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wod-deck-of-cards/id590984741?mt=8
With this nifty app, your workout depends on the card that is drawn. This app is great for quick workouts, especially if you can’t make time to make it to the gym today or can’t afford a gym membership. It logs and tracks your workouts to help you reach your goals. The app has overall very good ratings and comments.
3. MyScript Calculator
Free for Apple and Android
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/myscript-calculator-handwriting/id578979…
This app is new and different because it lets you use your own handwriting when inputting math problems. For some reason, people like this a lot better than pressing buttons like normal calculators. Just make sure your handwriting isn’t too messy!
4. Doorsteps Swipe
Free for Apple
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doorsteps-swipe-for-real-estate/id839814…
This new app has been dubbed the “Tinder for Real Estate.” You can quickly swipe through different apartments or houses for sale or rent just by downloading a free app. Some criticism this app has gotten is that there is no satellite view which shows the surrounding area, and it also does not give the lot size. Overall, the app has much potential and is a good starting point.
5. Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock
$.99 for Apple and Android
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sleep-cycle-alarm-clock/id320606217?mt=8
This alarm will track your sleeping patterns throughout night and wake you up during your lightest sleeping phase, so you will wake up feeling refreshed. There is a 30 minute window for your alarm to go off, and when you wake up, you can view your data from the night. The data consists of when your lightest and deepest sleep cycles were based on your movements during the night. It has been the #1 Top Paid App in the US, UK, Japan, Germany, and many more.
6. PhotoMath
Free on Apple
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photomath/id919087726?mt=8
Can’t figure out some math homework? You can easily download this app, snap a photo, and have the result within seconds. It also gives step by step explanations as to how it came up with the answer. Most of the criticism for the app is because some math is “too advanced” for the app, so the app is rendered useless. It does not cover inequalities or many algebra equations.
7. Pizza Compass
Free on Apple and Android
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pizza-compass/id642652985?mt=8
This app is exactly what it claims to be: a compass to find pizza. Many different features of the app help you find the location of pizza closest to you. The pizza will start steaming the closer you get, and it even tells you if the store is open or closed. Perfect for the pizza-monster in you!
8. Waze
Free for Apple and Android
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/waze-social-gps-maps-traffic/id323229106…
Download this app and add your friends, so you can warn each other about accidents, trash in the roads, and even lurking police officers. Use the app as your GPS and earn points for every mile you travel with the app open. You can log traffic, debris, and construction that can delay the commutes of your friends or people around you. Some minor errors in the app include warnings that should go away after a certain time and rotation. Still, try it out. What have you got to lose except a speeding ticket?
9. RescueTime
Free on Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rescuetime.android
This app stalks how long you spend on email, social media, and other apps on your phone. You can rig it to alert you when you have spent too long procrastinating and should return studying. This can be very helpful for high school and college students. It also logs your progress over time, which is a feature many people seem to enjoy.