In case you missed out, here’s a list of things you could be doing with your iPhone or Android that you might not even have thought of. There really is an app for that!
1. Sleeping
Maybe you already use your smart phone to wake you up in the morning, but there are a variety of apps that will help you sleep more and better, and wake up more easily.
Sleep Cycle: This app measures your REM cycles, and wakes you up when you’re sleeping the most lightly, making the transition to wakefulness easier and helping you start your morning feeling great.
There are a lot of apps that do similar things, but this one is rated very well.
Sleepbot: If you suffer from insomnia (which most people do at some point) here’s an app that will graph information about how you sleep, and give you information to help you sleep better. Just put your smart phone under your pillow, and it will record your tossing and turning.
Pzizz: This app will play you sounds that have been proven to be relaxing, like specially designed speech clips and binaural music.
2. VPN Connections
If you’re concerned about your privacy and security, a VPN might be the key to safely locking up your internet connection. Consider how safely you browse not only on your computer but on your smart phone.
Flash VPN: This is an easy, simple, and free app. You get what you pay for, and it isn’t as fancy as other VPN apps, meaning it’s lacking in some features that users might really value.
Hideman VPN: Hideman allows you to buy a very short subscription if you’d like, meaning that you can browse securely during short stops at airports, for example.
Express VPN: One of the most complete and highly rated VPN apps, which allows you to use it on any of your devices.
3. House Hunting
To some of us, house hunting may seem like an impossibility, but maybe you should let yourself dream big.
Doorsteps Swipe: This app is like Tinder for houses, in which you can swipe to rate a property. Even if you’re not in the market, this might be really fun.
Trulia: Trulia uses maps to show you some information you really want to know about the neighborhoods you’re considering living in, like crime statistics, school information, and commute times.
Homesnap: This app allows you to take a picture of a house, and get instant information about it, like whether it’s on the market and how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has. Fun fact: it uses your phone’s GPS, and not the picture, to show you these statistics, but that doesn’t really make it any less cool.
4. Getting Drunk
You might not think you need help drinking, but some smart phone apps can actually make the experience more fun, and turn your weekend escapades into a fulfilling hobby that you can enjoy with friends.
Beer Pad: This app helps you keep track of all the beers you’ve tried and how you feel about them. It’s great to be able to go to the store already knowing what you want to pick up for that summer barbecue!
Vivino: This is similar to Beer Pad, but more likely to impress a date.
Mixology: If you have a selection in front of you but don’t know how to mix it, this app will help you search by ingredients, and decide Browse by ingredient and bartend for your friends.
5. Managing Permissions
Here’s another technological one that gadget lovers might not be thinking about. Some apps, like the notorious flashlight that was eavesdropping on customers’ phones, ask for more permissions than they really need.
SnoopWall: We know you’ve downloaded a bunch of apps, maybe even some from this list, so this tool will help you make sure that none of them are taking more information than they need.
In some ways, what we have on our phones is a measure of what we truly value — productivity? Security? Entertainment? Make sure that your phone is helping you live the best life possible and use all the resources at your fingertips.
This guest post was contributed by Cassie on behalf of Secure Thoughts, one of the best possible online sources for information regarding internet security.
