Technically Easy

Tag: Mobile Apps

  • Best Apps for Hosting a House Party

    Best Apps for Hosting a House Party

    Summertime means perfect party weather. Plenty of opportunities for beach parties or backyard barbeques. But what about the fun and games? If you’re looking to host a house party, you may find you need some help from your smartphone.

    The internet is often the solution to problems. You can find dozens of fun applications that can liven up your party. Listed below are just a lucky seven of the best party entertainment apps to check out.

    Party Mixer

    No matter what party you throw, you’ll always need music. Part Mixer is a free app that turns your Android-enabled phone or tablet into a DJ’s mix table. Create playlists using music imported from your device. Play two tracks simultaneously and even change their pitch and tempo (free on left deck, paid on the right).

    Spaceteam

    Competitive games are great for large gatherings, but small, intimate groups require something more collaborative. Spaceteam is a game that puts you and 3-7 friends in a race against time. Each teammate gets a random control panel with all sorts of buttons, switches and dials. Shout technobabble at each other in an effort to outrun a supernova before your spaceship falls apart! Available for Android and iOS.

    Heads Up

    You know that guessing game from “The Ellen DeGeneres Show?” Heads Up is that game. Draw a “card” with a name on it without looking at it. Let your friends see it and ask them questions to find out. The app allows you to shuffle the deck by tilting your smartphone. Choose from categories such as celebrities, animals, characters, and more. It costs $.99 for iOS, or free on Android.

    Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

    Just like Spaceteam, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a cooperative, edge-of-your-seat activity. You’re trapped in a room with a bomb you can see, but your friends can’t. Your friends have to give you instructions on how to disarm it. This game is formatted for Samsung Galaxy S6-7 or Daydream-compatible devices. $9.99 from Oculus, $14.99 from Steam.

    Evil Apples

    The Evil Apples free app is better saved for when the kids are in bed. Those familiar with “Cards Against Humanity” will love playing Evil Apples. You and three friends get together to decide who has the best dirty answer to your suggestive “Question Card.” The first player to make 7 points wins.

    Rifftrax

    Throwing a “movie night” or a “bad movie night?” The team behind Mystery Science Theater 3000 brings the funny with the free Rifftrax app. Choose from 106 “Just the Jokes” mp3s (individually priced between $1.99-$3.99) to synch with your movie automatically. Compatible with Netflix, Amazon Video, iTunes, and other streaming media platforms.

    Special Guest

    There’s still nothing like good old fashioned live entertainment for hire. The Special Guest app is your all-access pass to live performers local and nationwide. Use the app to book musical acts, comedians, magicians, and even circus acts! If you’re a live performer who’s looking for exposure, you can sign up to create a free profile and start getting bookings.

  • Top 5 Most Helpful Technology for Mobile Users

    Top 5 Most Helpful Technology for Mobile Users

    Mobile tech continues to change our lives with every passing day. The advent of the smartphone is possibly the most important social invention ever. Now it’s possible to take your mobile phone out of your pocket and get in touch with anyone on your contacts list with a click of a button.

    After that, open up your YouTube account and check on an instructional video to bake a birthday cake, or replace your car’s engine fan. Information is readily available at your fingertips at any time of the day, anywhere in the world.

    With so many apps and widgets available for our mobile phones, how do you choose the best options? Here are five essential technologies for mobile users. Give one, or all of them a try and revolutionize your communications.

    Mobile tracking apps

    Did you lose your phone at the movies? Maybe you dropped it when you were out shopping? Third-party tracking apps like Handy Orten allow you to keep tabs on your mobile device. Download and install a tracking app to prevent the total loss of your phone. When things go wrong, and at some stage they always do, be prepared for the situation.

    A mobile tracking app gives you accurate location data of your phone, including your location history. This app lets you find your phone right where you left it, never lose sensitive data again.

    Tracking apps allow you to create a private network of your family and friend’s devices. This tech keeps you in contact with them at any stage. Other functionality in these apps includes driver behavior reports, text and call monitoring, as well as device information; such as battery levels.

    Fitness apps

    Are you in training for a marathon? Maybe you want to monitor your progress at the gym? Fitness apps allow you to track your improvement within your sport or chosen activity. The app collects data on your heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, and much more.

    Devices like Fitbit integrate with your mobile phone to give you instant access to all of your fitness data. Use the information to improve your training and monitor your progress. Join groups of other fitness freaks and compete with one another through the app.

    Lifestyle apps

    What’s showing at the movies? What’s worth watching when you get there? Do you know how your favorite sports team did on the weekend? News apps put this information right where you need it, without the need to sift through ads on TV.

    Ask Alexa to order you a pizza from the comfort of your armchair while you browse Amazon for the latest deals on any product you can imagine. Auction off old possessions you no longer need on eBay and learn how to cook a roast by reading a cooking blog. Download the latest video game and keep yourself busy on your commute home.

    Education apps

    Are you studying for that midterm exam? Why not download an education app that puts you in touch with the critical information you need for your course? Learn how to complete challenging tasks by watching instructional videos. Access libraries through your phone with a click of a button.

    Educational apps save you time and improve learning by giving you instant access to any media you desire. There’s no need to spend time commuting to the library when you can get everything you need on the screen of your mobile phone.

    Download the latest podcasts for the train ride and educate yourself on any topic you like while you kill time during your commute.

    Social apps

    Social media apps like Facebook and Twitter revolutionized our lives with constant content on what’s going on in the world. It’s now possible to create a community of friends from all over the world. Reach out to celebrities, friends, leaders, and influencers, all from the palm of your hand.

    Hashtags and mentions mean you can have a say on any topic, and make sure that people pay attention to your point of view. In the digital age, we’re more connected with each other than at any point in history.

    Wrapping up – Explore your world

    There’s an app for anything. What do you enjoy doing with your time? There’s something for everyone, whether its playing games, learning new concepts, improving your health, or keeping up with world trends. Decide what you want and start downloading.

  • Smartphone Security: 9 Ways to Protect You and Your Phone

    Smartphone Security: 9 Ways to Protect You and Your Phone

    Your smartphone is your lifeline for connecting to the world. It’s also a computer in your pocket, with more apps and tools than a Swiss Army knife. All that functionality creates new risks, in addition to the old risks of loss and theft. Like a computer, your phone can get hacked, fatally crash due to malware or bad apps, or track your activity and send it to third parties. Here are nine ways to protect you and your phone.

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  • Work Smart, Not Hard With These 5 Efficient Apps And Online Software

    Work Smart, Not Hard With These 5 Efficient Apps And Online Software

    Are communication and organization lacking in your business? Do employees have a hard time sharing files or getting assignments completed on time? There’s an app for that. More than just an app, there are online software programs that can be accessed by smartphones or tablets from virtually anywhere in the world. Learn about resource planning, then streamline your company and your employees.

    Before spending too much money on software that may not solve the problem, consider these 5 apps and online software programs that can streamline communication and efficiency.

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  • 5 Top Apps for Educators

    5 Top Apps for Educators

    All teachers lead busy lives but thankfully, technology has made it easier than ever to stay organized and increase productivity. Here are five apps for educators of all grade levels.

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  • Kids Apps: Why Parents Should Be Concerned About App Security [Infographic]

    Kids Apps: Why Parents Should Be Concerned About App Security [Infographic]

    With the incredible fast adoption of mobile technology in all spaces of everyday life such as in work, home, recreation, and education, it comes as no surprise that mobile usage is on a steep rise among children and young adults as well. Back when there were only cell phones, it was understandable for parents to be able to withhold giving their children access to a personal mobile device for quite some time with the exception of emergency purposes.

    But now that we are somewhat of digital technology age, where in order to be a successful and competitive member of society and in the workplace you have to be knowledgeable of all things mobile and internet, parents don’t really have the option of sheltering their children from the internet – they need to know about it or else they suffer as they grow into adults. However, it is still alarming to realize that children in kindergarten and and even younger are already using mobile apps as frequently as most adults.

    Meanwhile, many of the apps they use probably don’t have proper security measures for child-use. This infographic, “Kids Apps – Why Parents Should Be Concerned About App Security,” gives a great overview of the statistics of child mobile app usage, vital stats of mobile app development, how these apps can find and use your personal information, how these apps might allow your children to spend money without permission, and most importantly, the things you need to know to protect your information and your children. Find out more below.

    Kids Apps: Why Parents Should Be Concerned About App Security

    This infographic is by Veracode, an award-winning application security company specializing in secure software supply chain and other security breaches with effective risk assessment tools.

  • 3 Of The Best Social Interactive Games

    3 Of The Best Social Interactive Games

    Everyone loves a good game – whether it’s a simple game of tic-tac-toe to cure the boredom of a long train journey, or beating a family member at a game on your video game console.

    Playing games against others, getting competitive and sharing the excitement of a game is a great form of social interaction, so it’s no wonder so many of us continue to buy, download and play games on a daily basis. After all, why play a game against yourself when there’s the possibility to gain gaming acclamation by beating someone else?

    But, with hundreds of games being created and released everyday, how do you know which ones are good to play against others, and which ones aren’t?

    Well, to help you, here’s my guide to the 3 best social games currently out there at the moment – so get downloading, playing and beating today!

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  • How to Be More Productive with Mobile in 2013

    How to Be More Productive with Mobile in 2013

    Smartphone apps can offer more than brief periods of entertainment and helpful ways to find parking spots. They can also make you more productive. Check out these mobile apps to make you a more productive person in 2013.

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