Most of us couldn’t survive a day without our mobile devices. After all, they’re no longer just handheld phones – they’re fitness trackers, schedulers, payment machines and so much more. However, a smartphone is only as good as the apps it employs. But The Atlanta Voice has you covered. We’ve rounded up the best apps to add to your smartphone or tablet in 2018.
FOR THE ORGANIZER IN YOU
Adulting can be quite difficult, especially if you’re not the most organized person in your social network. Don’t worry, because either of these two apps will help make your life much easier and provide you with the timely notifications you need to in order to be the corporate rock star we all aspire to be.
Any.do
Busy people often forget daily tasks and chores, but Any.do is there to keep your schedule on track with to-do list, reminders, notes and the ability to share lists with and assign tasks to others. The app lets you sync between phone, desktop, web, and tablet to keep your lists up to the minute. Calendar integration is available for better task list management.
Remember the Milk
Create smart to-do lists on Remember the Milk and receive reminders via email, IM, text, Twitter, or mobile notifications. You can prioritize and organize your tasks by due dates, tags, or importance and assign tasks to others. Gmail, Twitter, Google Calendar, Evernote, and other services are integrated and all your information is synced to your devices.
FOR THE FOODIE IN YOU
Whether you’re dining in, enjoying a meal (or cocktails!) at your favorite local restaurant or exploring dining options in a new city, there are food apps to help you save time and choose right. Here are three of our favorites. #grub
Happy Hour Finder
It never fails. You and your friends decide to do happy hour. You’d like to go somewhere new but have no idea where. Thirty minutes later, you’re still scrolling through dozens of options online. The Happy Hour Finder app tells you what time bars and restaurants offer their happy hours as well as what their specials are.
Fork It
Fork It, which has been referred to as “fitbit for food,” was created to develop the home chef in you. The app hosts recipes sourced from various sites and is a tool to encourage people to cook more instead of dining out. It also has a gaming feature that allows users to compete with friends based on who is cooking more and using certain ingredients or making certain types of meals (like vegan or gluten free meals, for example).
FOR THE LIFE HACKER IN YOU
There some apps that save you time or and some apps that save you money. And then there are apps like these that promise to do both at the same time. These apps automate what can be a couple of the most tedious challenges to your patience — looking for available parking and figuring out how to best invest your hard-earned pennies for long term wealth.
Park Mobile
With 22 million users throughout the U.S. and continental America, Atlanta-based ParkMobile LLC. helps North American drivers find and pay for parking spots, and make reservations for garage parking. What helps ensure this app will be around for a long, long time, is that Park Mobile has been acquired by BMW for a cool $22 million.
Betterment
When it comes to investing for the future, you’ve likely had a couple of options: You could do it yourself, or you could hand it off to an investment manager. Betterment uses really sophisticated computer programs to figure out the best — and cheapest — fund mix just for you. It even factors in taxes. You just need $1 to begin. You answer a few basic questions and then Betterment does all the work by actually investing your money and monitoring it over time.
FOR THE BEAUTY ENTHUSIAST IN YOU
The ability to digitally book appointments or try on looks is the ultimate in convenience for busy women. Luckily, there are two beauty apps we can depend on to keep our tresses in and weave in tact—iWeave and Colour. #glam
iWeave
Researching the right cut, color, and style can take a lot of time—especially if you switch weaves often. With weaves being as expensive as $10,000, this tool is sure to help you be sure about your next purchase.
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, iWeave app was created in 2013. The app allows users to try on their weave before they purchase it. The user uploads a pic of themselves and tries out different hairstyles, and if they like it, they can purchase the hair immediately.
Colour Beauty
Founded by Debra Shigley, this Atlanta-based app connects women of color with local hair stylists for in-home appointments. For only $65 per month, users can peruse a lookbook of up to six different popular styles or take advantage of the app’s premium service, which includes unlimited visits for $200 per month. Being able to enjoy a talented stylist pamper you in your home is a godsend for many women. No more waiting in a crowded salon. It’s like Ubereats, but for hair.
