When you're pouring your free time into mastering the latest addicting game app,
it's easy to forget that smartphones and tablets can actually save you
time and make you more productive. You just need to get the right apps,
and luckily new time-saving apps are available daily.
For example, I just saw an app called FlyCleaners that's like an Uber for dry cleaning. You activate the app and a dry cleaner will swing by, pick up your clothes, have them dry cleaned and then back to you by the end of the day. I want that. Of course, it only works in parts of New York and San Francisco right now, but you'll see a lot more apps like that in the future. But what about apps that you can use now?
There are plenty of those too, from budgeting apps and apps that keep track of people you meet to apps that store your passwords, apps that help you scan and print, and so much more. In fact, there are way too many to cover, which is why I've limited the list to 10.
I know you're excited to see what I've come up with, so without further ado, let's dive in. We'll start with a few to help you with money.
Level Money (Android, Apple; Free) is an app that lets you set a daily spending limit and connects with your bank to make sure that you stick to it. The app shows you how much you're spending and gives you real-time updates on how much you're saving or overspending.
With Venmo, you can pay with a credit or debit card, transfer money from or to friends, all without the hassle of ATM surcharge fees. It's also great for splitting rent, ticket cost or anything else you can think of.
Let Humin (Android, Apple; Free) organize your contacts list. To look up a contact, all you need to do is enter criteria in the search box. For example, "Met last week" or "Met in San Francisco." You can then see all the contacts you met last week, or in San Francisco.
Dashlane (Android, Apple; Free) does away with the hassle. It securely stores your passwords in one place and makes entering them a snap. You'll never fumble through a login attempt again, or forget an important password on the go. Full disclosure: Dashlane is a sponsor, but the app is still free.
Your gadget is only going to play movies in very specific file formats, and converting the files takes time and special programs. Unless you have VLC (Android, Apple; Free), that is. This app can play just about any movie, or music, file around. Just move your movies over and press play; no hassle required.
Magnifying glass apps (Android, Apple; Free) use your smartphone or tablet's camera to zoom in wherever you point it. Tiny text and objects instantly become much easier to see. Plus, using the flash for a light makes it easier to read in darker rooms.
Not only is it easy to create notes and organize them, even note is synced to Evernote's servers. That means you can read and update your notes on any smartphone, tablet or computer you want. Plus, you can add audio recordings and link them up with text, which makes it great for meetings and lectures.
Either way, you usually find yourself later thinking, "What was it I was going to look up?" Pushbullet (Android, Apple; Free) takes care of that. It lets you save links to read for later and access them on any gadget. You can also easily transfer pictures and files.
Speed things up with CamScanner (Android, Apple; Free). Simply point your camera at a picture or document and take a picture. The app helps with color correction and cropping to get a good final result. You can save your scans as regular image files or grouped as a PDF, and then it helps you share them online.
Print Hammermill (Android, Apple; Free) thinks it finally has the solution. It automatically connects to any compatible Wi-Fi or networked printer in the area. Then with a few taps, you can print from any app on your smartphone or tablet. It's about as hassle-free as you can get.
For example, I just saw an app called FlyCleaners that's like an Uber for dry cleaning. You activate the app and a dry cleaner will swing by, pick up your clothes, have them dry cleaned and then back to you by the end of the day. I want that. Of course, it only works in parts of New York and San Francisco right now, but you'll see a lot more apps like that in the future. But what about apps that you can use now?
There are plenty of those too, from budgeting apps and apps that keep track of people you meet to apps that store your passwords, apps that help you scan and print, and so much more. In fact, there are way too many to cover, which is why I've limited the list to 10.
I know you're excited to see what I've come up with, so without further ado, let's dive in. We'll start with a few to help you with money.
Stick to a budget
Managing money is important, but it takes up a lot of time. You have to create a budget and then every week or month see how well you've kept to it.Level Money (Android, Apple; Free) is an app that lets you set a daily spending limit and connects with your bank to make sure that you stick to it. The app shows you how much you're spending and gives you real-time updates on how much you're saving or overspending.
Split the check
How much time of your life have you wasted in restaurants splitting the check and then working out who is paying who? Venmo (Android, Apple; Free) makes it a snap to calculate.With Venmo, you can pay with a credit or debit card, transfer money from or to friends, all without the hassle of ATM surcharge fees. It's also great for splitting rent, ticket cost or anything else you can think of.
A better contact list
If you meet a lot of people in a day, it can be hard to remember them later. That's bad for networking, and you waste energy wracking your brain for someone's name.Let Humin (Android, Apple; Free) organize your contacts list. To look up a contact, all you need to do is enter criteria in the search box. For example, "Met last week" or "Met in San Francisco." You can then see all the contacts you met last week, or in San Francisco.
Store your passwords
Remembering and typing in passwords for your online accounts is annoying and frustrating. It's even worse on a smartphone or tablet with their smaller touch screens.Dashlane (Android, Apple; Free) does away with the hassle. It securely stores your passwords in one place and makes entering them a snap. You'll never fumble through a login attempt again, or forget an important password on the go. Full disclosure: Dashlane is a sponsor, but the app is still free.
Play any media file
If you're traveling a lot, it's nice to take some entertainment with you. Modern smartphones and tablets can hold thousands of songs and several full-length movies. Songs are easy enough to manage, but movies can take some time to get working.Your gadget is only going to play movies in very specific file formats, and converting the files takes time and special programs. Unless you have VLC (Android, Apple; Free), that is. This app can play just about any movie, or music, file around. Just move your movies over and press play; no hassle required.
See anything better
Do you find yourself struggling to read a business contract (it's called "fine print" for a reason), verifying your receipt or even ordering in a restaurant? Turn your gadget into a magnifying glass.Magnifying glass apps (Android, Apple; Free) use your smartphone or tablet's camera to zoom in wherever you point it. Tiny text and objects instantly become much easier to see. Plus, using the flash for a light makes it easier to read in darker rooms.
Better note taking
Whether you're a business pro, student, author or just like to make to-do lists, a note-taking app is essential. Evernote (Android, Apple; Free) is one of the most popular note-taking apps around, with 100 million users.Not only is it easy to create notes and organize them, even note is synced to Evernote's servers. That means you can read and update your notes on any smartphone, tablet or computer you want. Plus, you can add audio recordings and link them up with text, which makes it great for meetings and lectures.
Share links between your gadgets
Speaking of syncing information between gadgets, did you ever pull up a website to read on your phone and decide to save it for later to read on your computer? Maybe you have some research you're doing on your computer and want to revisit it while you're traveling.Either way, you usually find yourself later thinking, "What was it I was going to look up?" Pushbullet (Android, Apple; Free) takes care of that. It lets you save links to read for later and access them on any gadget. You can also easily transfer pictures and files.
Scan pictures and documents the easy way
In the digital world, it makes sense to digitize your old paper documents and print photos. They're easier to organize and back up that way. However, using a traditional flatbed scanner can be a bit slow if you have a lot of scanning to do.Speed things up with CamScanner (Android, Apple; Free). Simply point your camera at a picture or document and take a picture. The app helps with color correction and cropping to get a good final result. You can save your scans as regular image files or grouped as a PDF, and then it helps you share them online.
Printing from your smartphone or tablet
One of the big hurdles of mobile gadgets is still printing. Unless you have the right software and hardware, you still find yourself transferring files to a computer to print them. That's complicated and it takes time.Print Hammermill (Android, Apple; Free) thinks it finally has the solution. It automatically connects to any compatible Wi-Fi or networked printer in the area. Then with a few taps, you can print from any app on your smartphone or tablet. It's about as hassle-free as you can get.
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