Technology is most reliable in two ways: its susceptibility to error and its constant production of new doohickeys and doodads (the Clarion notes these are proven scientific and technical terms). Among some of these new doohickeys are brand new apps for iPhones and Androids.
Never mind scrolling through weirdly worded customer reviews; here is a list of the latest and greatest apps everyone’s device is waiting to download.
Can’t quite place a face? For the forgetful or the especially social, Humin is an apt app for remembering the context of meeting people. Humin allows users to organize their contacts, old and new, based on “the way you naturally think,” like “met last week,” “lives near Denver” or “had a great beard.”
The app also allows users to connect with friends overseas and can remind (or warn) users when a contact is nearby. Available for free in iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
“Powerful automation made simple,” boasts Workflow. This organizational app helps users connect other apps and actions on their phone. It also painlessly allows users to create their own apps, make .gif files, share custom workflows with other users and designate easily accessible shortcuts across the device. It’s not a free app, but the amount of crossover and in-app extension it boasts makes it worth the price. Available for $2.99 in the iTunes App Store.
RefMe is a godsend for those last minute bibliographies. The app automatically creates citations (in any format: Harvard, APA, MLA and more) by searching the title, ISBN or by simply copying and pasting a website URL. It can also create a citation by scanning a book or journal’s barcode. Thanks to the cloud, the app can store and sync information across devices as well. Available for free in iTunes App Store.
Ever needed a portable scanner? Scannable does exactly what its names implies—and more. What makes it better than the average camera phone is its ability to convert photographs of documents into printable and shareable high-quality .pdf files. As a bonus feature, it also scans business cards and will automatically upload the information into the user’s contacts and sync up with LinkedIn—the perfect app for the young networking professional. Available for free in iTunes App Store.
Adobe’s Creative Cloud users can now work on their projects from their phone. Adobe’s Lightroom Mobile can sync edits from the desktop version, share work online and import photos from a phone’s camera. While the app is free, it requires a $10/month subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud. It’s the perfect app for lovers of photography looking to give their photos a little extra flair. Available for free in iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
Pocket is the perfect app for procrastinators—or people too busy to enjoy the frivolity of the Internet. The app bookmarks and downloads articles, videos and documents across apps (including Twitter and Flipboard) for the user to read or watch later. Once the original content has been downloaded to Pocket, the user doesn’t even need an internet connection to consume the saved content. Available for free in iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
