The average smartphone user has 40 apps installed on their device. If we had to guess, that number is much higher for JH team members - we do love our technology! Since we are basically professional app users, we asked some team members to share their favorite or most used app. We're betting you'll find at least one you haven't heard of and maybe a new favorite.
To better manage my stress levels and improve my recovery time after a workout, I often use a guided meditation app called iBreathe to do guided breathing exercises to get into a calm state of mind. You can customize the time, the types of exercise you do, and various other features. There are MANY apps like it, but this is the one I use.
Procreate is one of the top digital illustration apps available. The app is geared towards artists and creators with the capabilities of digital illustration, animations, 3D painting, and more. I am able to use Procreate for both personal and professional projects. I particularly love the dynamic and natural brush movements with the Apple Pencil, which makes it feel like you are drawing with physical mediums (watercolors, brush pens, ink, etc.). Procreate was exclusively developed for iOS, meaning it is only available on the Apple App Store for a one-time, no-subscription purchase of $9.99.
Do you find yourself constantly wondering when the Dew Point will be equal to or less that 55° (a.k.a., ideal)? Or, if wind speeds will be over 20mph within the next hour? Would you rather not be struck by lightning while taking out the trash? Maybe you're just one of those simple folks who wish the forecast was delivered with a snarky and occasionally homicidal attitude. Well, there’s an App for that: CARROT. CARROT stuffs generous helpings of weather data into a clever, easy to scan, and completely customizable interface. There are also badges you can earn for experiencing weather phenomena like… uh, how do I put this… “numerically significant” temperatures, tornados, and life-threatening UV indexes. You can even record your own “local weatherman” style forecasts to share. My favorite extra is a geography game that has you search for things like a fishing village in the middle of a desert; or, the home of a frustrated orphan who needs to go to Toshi Station for power inverters; or, where Napoleon was exiled.
Ahhh, Peloton is my mental health-saving grace. I have a lovely friend who is kind enough to allow me to use her Peloton to fulfill my endorphin rush in the mornings. Turned out she needed an accountability partner in the mornings, and I was wanting to get into the Peloton community. There’s just something about starting a morning with Cody Rigsby or Jess King that makes waking up “easier.” (Before Peloton, I’d do a home workout with Beachbody on Demand or find a virtual Yoga Flow class to attend.) PSA – You don’t need to own a Peloton to take advantage of their app and your first 30 days are free!
Plex is probably my most used and favorite app, but entertainment apps, in general, are helpful for winding down at the end of the day. Plex is my personal DVR and On-Demand video and music streaming service without the monthly fee. Availability: Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, macOS, Windows, etc.
Relive allows you to follow and share workouts with friends, set goals and track against them and record your workouts. I can see a ton of feedback in their reporting and it allows me to take photos during the activities I'm performing so I can later share them with friends and family via a link or socially. The geo-tracking video map is probably my favorite feature and what sets it apart from other workout-related apps. It's available in both the Apple and Google stores.
I am going to go with the Meijer app. The ability to scan items as I put them in my cart is a huge time saver and it even tells you if there is a coupon available for an item you just scanned. It also allows you to easily switch between the scanner and your list so you aren’t constantly trying to navigate to different parts of the app. When you get to the checkout, you just hit the checkout button on your phone and then scan the QR code on the self-checkout station and it transfers all your items over so you can pay.
Fitbod is pretty much a personal trainer in an app. When you start the program you will fill out what you are trying to accomplish, what equipment you have available to you, how long you want to work out for, how often, and more. From here the app gives you work out to do and tracks your muscle group fatigue so you don’t overwork a muscle group. Along with all that it provides videos on how to do each workout in the app. The apps trail isn’t limiting you get 3 full workouts before it asks you to subscribe to it. Available on Google Play and Apple App Store.
I have found that the $3.99 Dark Sky Weather App has been more reliable and accurate than the more traditional weather app options out there. It is also nice that you are not bombarded with ads while looking at the forecast. The app was recently purchased by Apple. As a result of the acquisition, it is no longer available on Android, and while still available on iOS App Store, it is slated to only work through the end of 2022. I am interested in seeing how the Dark Sky functionality may start showing up in the new weather features discussed coming to iOS 15.
Shameless Plug
We not only use apps in our daily lives, but we build them too. Learn more about our custom application development.
