If you’re like us, you probably love technology – otherwise, you wouldn’t have clicked on this article. And like us, you probably know that today’s tech makes managing your daily life a breeze.
From navigation to finance and everything else in between, there’s an app that can help. Which of the millions of apps are more important than others? Here’s our list of must-have apps for tech lovers.
Google Maps
Paper maps and guides are a thing of the past, so it stands to reason that Maps is our number-one pick. Especially useful if you’re traveling, Google Maps can help you find the nearest coffee shops, hotels, and other local businesses.
If you still manage to get lost even with Maps by your side, try Google translate to help you ask questions in the local dialect. Just be warned that Google’s literal translations leave a lot to be desired; thankfully, natural language processing technologies are coming along nicely, and soon enough, machine translation will be much better!
VPN
People who spend a lot of time online and running their lives from a smartphone are aware that not all networks are secure, and not all sites are to be trusted. Thankfully, there’s an app for that.
The ExpressVPN app allows you to access blocked geo-blocked websites and connect to servers in different countries, and keeps your traffic safe as you browse. It’s a must-have for people who work or use their personal accounts on open networks, such as on public transport or at the airport.
Encryption means your data is protected, and your activity is shielded from any would-be prying eyes.
NewsBeat
You’re a busy person, but you also like staying informed and aware of the latest current events and news. Outsource your daily news reading to NewsBeat, an app that will read you the news whenever it suits you, and we love it for the daily commute.
The app has a clean interface, with plenty of news sources to choose from, including the Washinton Post, the BBC, Al Jazeera, and more. Plus, it provides links to articles from other apps and sources if you want additional information on the topic.
Mint
Mint is a personal finance app that helps you track your spending and save money. Like the other apps on our list, it’s available for Android, iOS, and the web.
It can be used to track expenses, set budgets, get alerts about unusual spending patterns, and even find ways to save. The app offers recommendations based on data from your spending habits.
For example, suppose you tend not to spend much at Starbucks but do spend a lot on grocery shopping on weekdays at 3 pm. In that case, Mint will suggest setting up two separate budget categories (one for groceries and one for coffee) so that it can give accurate advice about how much money should go where.
Headspace
There’s little doubt that the world’s pace of life has increased significantly. Make the most of what downtime you do have with Headspace, a meditation app that aims to improve your focus and reduce stress through breathing exercises.
The company recommends you use the app for at least 10 minutes daily, though some people have said they prefer using it in longer sessions.