Whether it’s when we’re bored in class, killing time on the subway, or pretending not to look like a loner while waiting for your friends at lunchtime, collegiettes spend an inordinate amount of time on their cell phones. When calling and texting don’t cut it, we turn to social media, updating our Facebook status or following @princessprobz on Twitter. New apps are created at an incredibly rapid pace, and as savvy young women, we’ve got to keep up with the amazing things our phones can do! So here are the top apps for the iPhone, iPad and Droid that every collegiette needs to download.
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The very useful
Find iPhone. This app is a godsend for every collegiette who tends to wake up on Sunday mornings, only to find her phone missing. With Find iPhone, Apple users can sign on to an online account and get the GPS coordinates of their phone’s whereabouts. This app eases the search for the frequently phone-less. No longer do confused collegiettes need to retrace their steps from the night before! Whether it’s hiding in your bed sheets or at the bottom of a dumpster, you’ll always be able to find your phone.
Flashlight. The cell phone is the modern day flashlight. How many of us have whipped out our smartphones when the room is too dark? There are several variations of this app, but most illuminate the screen with bright white light, or keep the camera flash on continuously. Never again will you be lost in the dark!
Calorie Counter. This app is super popular among the health buffs. You can enter your meals and snacks, and track your daily calorie intake to help regulate your diet. Calorie Counter boasts the largest food database of any calorie counter with over 1.1 million foods to choose from. Want to diet with friends? This app allows to you to see how your friends are progressing and encourage each other. Download, watch the extra pounds come off!
OpenTable. Search your area for new restaurants, read the ratings, and make reservations, all on one app. OpenTable tracks your favorite restaurants and allows you to earn points for reviewing those you’ve tried. Watch the Dining Rewards Points total up as you eat out and redeem them for Dining Cheques good at any OpenTable restaurant.
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The super cool:
Shazam. The worst feeling is hearing a catchy song on the radio and not knowing who sings it, or what the name is. Worry no longer, collegiettes – Shazam is the solution to your musical despair. Simply hold the phone up to the music source for a few seconds and Shazam will identify the song name, artist and album for you. It will even tell you where you can purchase it later!
Textalyzer. Need to stop drunk-texting your ex? There’s an app for that. Textalyzer acts as your sober best friend during a night out. First, you create a “Don’t Text” forbidden list, including your exes, parents, enemies and other people you definitely don’t want to have an intoxicated conversation with. Then, when you go out, the app prevents inebriated texters from using their phone by forcing them to go through a series of puzzles and tests of memory and concentration. If you fail, the app saves your text for 12 hours and then asks you if you still wish to hit “send.”
Have2P Restroom Locator. This app is for the frequent goers, and those who hate waiting in line for restroom. Have2P locates all the nearby restrooms and rates them. If you can hold it a little longer, the app reviews the level of cleanliness and whether or not you have to be a customer to use the facilities. You can automatically rule out which businesses do not offer public restrooms as well. Conveniently, the app also features an urgency detector that senses when you (and the phone) are shaking, and starts a fresh search for nearby restrooms.
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The just for fun
Temple Run. This hugely popular game is perfect for curing boredom. Why? Because it never ends. Temple Run is a sprint through ancient runes without a finish line. The object of the game is to run as far as possible while being pursued by demonic monkeys. There are plenty of twists, turns and other obstacles to avoid as you race to beat the clock and rack up coins.
Fruit Ninja. Fruit Ninja is popular among all ages because of its simplicity. Melons, apples and bananas are tossed into the air, and it’s your job to slash the fruit in half before they fall. If your ninja skills are particularly sharp, you can get extra points for making combos by cutting multiple fruit at once. Be sure to watch out for the bombs though – slashing one of those will end your game. This game is particularly fun for iPads and phones with large touch screens, as they allow for wider swiping.
Words with Friends. This is the game made popular by Alec Baldwin who, in December 2011, was kicked off an American Airlines flight after refusing to stop playing it on his iPad – yeah, it’s that addicting. With this app you can challenge your friends to a friendly Scrabble-like game on your cell phone that has a bunch of cool features. There’s a built-in chat perfect for trash-talking and whining about how “qi” shouldn’t be considered a word. (Seriously, WTH.) Also popular is Words with Friends’ cousin, Hanging with Friends, a multiplayer Hangman game.
Draw Something. Another entertaining multiplayer game, Draw Something is like an electronic Pictionary. Pick from three words, ranging from easy to hard, and try to draw it out for your partner. If they can guess it with the letter provided, you win that round. No artistic skills are necessary, but creative doodles are a must. The more images guessed correctly, the more coins you earn. You can redeem the coins for more colors to draw with or for bombs, which help eliminate possible letters when you’re stumped.
If you’re not yet part of the Apple® club (Blackberry anyone?), then these apps should convince you to switch. And if not, at least you can look over your friends’ shoulders when they’re playing Temple Run! Either way, these are some of the best apps a collegiette could have, so download them if you haven’t already!
Think we missed any? Let us know your favorite apps in the comments below!