Anyone with a smart phone will attest to the
benefit that apps can have on the busy lifestyle of today's consumer. But it's
not all about shopping, some apps can help out with situations like health and
fitness or work issues and some just come in handy to kill time when you're in
a queue. However, things in the world of apps look like they might be changing
soon with the new 64-bit technology adopted by Apple's new iPhone5S. According
to The BBC, "Samsung Electronic's co-chief executive
announced its plan to use 64-bit chips, in an interview with the Korea Times
newspaper." While
the 64-bit operating system makes everything faster, it will have an impact on
the software and current app technology, and "the Android operating system would need to be
updated before Samsung's Galaxy devices could take advantage of a shift to
64-bit."
As most of us are
unlikely to be immediately heading out for the latest smart phone, this new
technology won't have a direct impact on our lives just yet and we can still
enjoy the best apps that have made life easier in 2013.
1)
Mint.com - free, Apple iOS/Android
Mint is like have a
personal accountant inside your smart phone. This nifty and free budgeting app
can let you see transaction history, allow you compile and consolidate your
balances and generally bring all the info from your bank accounts into one
place. It makes suggestions about you and can save money and sends alerts when
a bill is due. Using 128-bit SSL
Mint is like have a
personal accountant inside your smart phone. This nifty and free budgeting app
can let you see transaction history, allow you compile and consolidate your
balances and generally bring all the info from your bank accounts into one
place. It makes suggestions about you and can save money and sends alerts when
a bill is due. Using 128-bit SSL encryption and validated by VeriSign and
TRUSTe, the Mint app is extremely safe and reliable.
Will Thomas from Eccount Money comments, "Mint
is a fantastic app for anyone looking to keep a track on their accounts. We
fully endorse the use of budgeting debt monitoring apps that help the consumer
become a more responsible spender. Banks hold up their end by providing mobile
banking, and so it's great that these apps can tie all the ends together and
help people be smarter with their finances."
2)
Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by MyFitnessPal
Jill Duffy from PcMag.com talks about the popular diet and
fitness app, "the MyFitnessPal iPhone app couldn't be easier
or quicker to use, and that's what sets it apart from the pack of other
calorie-counting apps in the App Store and makes it our Editors' Choice." This free app is ideal for anyone
looking to either lose weight or keep control over their eating habits. Highly
rated, this app is fast and easy to use with an impressive food data base of
over 300,000 items including fast food, for efficient calorie counting. Not
only does this app have excellent diet tracking, but it also lets you put in
your exercise, set goals, track progress and gets tips for weight loss and chat
with friends and on forums about any diet and fitness related topic.
3)
Amazon mobile - free, Apple iOS
Whether it's best
practise or not, most of us use Amazon exclusively to price check most
purchases. If you can get it cheaper, chances are, you'll get it cheapest on
Amazon. The Amazon app is highly rated because
it's easy to use, provides an excellent product listing and reviews and even
has a feature that will identify the product and a bar scanner that takes you
directly to the product as it appears on Amazon. The app syncs up with your
account and so any basket items or wish lists are transferred to the app. Just
one of the many apps Amazon has launched but definitely one that makes life that
much simpler when it
Whether it's best
practise or not, most of us use Amazon exclusively to price check most
purchases. If you can get it cheaper, chances are, you'll get it cheapest on
Amazon. The Amazon app is highly rated because it's easy to use, provides an
excellent product listing and reviews and even has a feature that will identify
the product and a bar scanner that takes you directly to the product as it
appears on Amazon. The app syncs up with your account and so any basket items
or wish lists are transferred to the app. Just one of the many apps Amazon has
launched but definitely one that makes life that much simpler when it comes to
sniffing out a bargain.
4)
NHS Health and Symptom Checker - free, Apple iOS
While the NHS issued app might not have a
great reviews, it is a handy portal for anyone looking to find treatment on the
public health system in the UK. You can check symptoms against their data base,
also get government issued advice on how to look after yourself and on your
condition.
The app provides the
user with a list of contact options and phone lines where you can connect to
the NHS emergency 111 telephone service free of charge.
5)
TripIt - free, Apple iOS/Android
Travel is a big part
many people's lives both in a personal and in a working context. There's always
a certain level of anxiety involved in keeping track of documents and
timetables, and so the TripIt app can come in handy for anyone who travels
regularly. TripIt organises
all your travel documents like boarding passes and includes confirmation
numbers, boarding times and terminal numbers in one user-friendly itinerary.
The paid upgrade will enable more in-depth
Travel is a big part
many people's lives both in a personal and in a working context. There's always
a certain level of anxiety involved in keeping track of documents and
timetables, and so the TripIt app can come in handy for anyone who travels regularly.
TripIt organises all your travel documents like boarding passes and includes
confirmation numbers, boarding times and terminal numbers in one user-friendly
itinerary. The paid upgrade will enable more in-depth features like mobile
alerts, alternate routes, and various VIP clubs and lounges.
From health and fitness
to travel and personal finance, these five free apps are likely to make your
simpler and easier by letting you access certain information using your smart
phone, as opposed to committing dedicated screen time at home or work. You can
catch up on your banking, add in the day's calories or even research that
strange rash that appeared over night, all while standing in the lunch queue.
Author Bio:
Kitty Hastings loves the
kind of technology that makes life that little bit easier, cheaper or more fun.
On the serious side, she advocates personal finances Kitty, especially
advocates the apps that can help you keep in control of your spending. A
London-based writer, Kitty likes to incorporate lifestyle topics in with her
experience and expertise of personal finance journalism.