TECHnically Speaking: My Top 5 Apps

Top 5 AppsThis week is TECHnically Speaking I figured I would go simple and just do my top 5 used apps on my phone. First thing we need to note is how I use my phone. I consume and manage media. I don’t play games. I don’t use it to help me cook. I use it to multitask the ever-loving hell out of my day. Some of these are repeats from my Liberating Working Moms’ posts but whatever. They are still my Top 5 for a reason.

Tweetbot-icon Tweetbot

Platforms: iOS 5+ (also available in the Mac App Store)

For Twitter…hands down best app. The gestures and mutliclick actions are great. It takes some practice but they have really thought out all functionality. You aren’t missing something you have to go to the web for. We love Tweetbot so much as a family, we own the Mac version…which costs $20 (we share an iTunes library…therefore apps everywhere). Yup. That good.

dropbox2 Dropbox

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Web, PC and Mac (probably more)

Sometimes I wonder how I managed life without Dropbox. I keep all my working Photoshop files, headshots and working documents for the blog. I can get to them anywhere. Work, home, on the road. We also share folders as a family. We keep coloring sheets for Landon. We keep a running folder of awesome wallpapers. It keeps me organized and is so easy to use. The web interface makes it even more versatile when you need a file fast.

Best part? Free basic account! You get 2 GB free and then you can add on more space by various ways including referrals.

spotify-logoSpotify

Platforms: iOS, Android, PC and Mac {mobile has subscription cost associated}

I have discussed before that I don’t really listen to the radio. Once we got Spotify, it was a whole new world. Play whatever we wanted. Whenever we wanted. We pay $10 a month{mobile requires a cost. Just a desktop account is free} for this and it is well worth it. We would easily buy that in albums or even more. We stream in our cars using a bluetooth hookup and can even stream the Cars’ soundtrack anywhere needed :). I stream in my office and share songs with friends all day long. You can make public playlists and subscribe to ones you like. I think you can get a free mobile trial if you want to see how it works. BTW, it really doesn’t eat that much data streaming on my phone. I never hit my 2GB limit…but that is another rant for another post.

CameraCamera+

Platforms: iOS 

I talked about this in my iPhoneography post. I love Camera + for multiple reasons. You can independently focus and white balance. You can do a burst of photos on fast moving children. You can edit in it. You can manage photos without filling your camera roll and only save what you want. You can also import from the roll to edit as well. I do this when I take photos from the lock screen in a hurry. And, being the nerd that I am, I love their release notes. They are always humorous. I appreciate little things like that.

WunderlistWunderlist

Platforms: iOS, Andorid, Web, PC and Mac

Are you a list maker? This is the app for you. Keep lists of everything. Groceries. Blog posts. Project break down tasks. Dr. appointment questions (I keep one for each kid to remember when they have well visits). Pantry contents. ANYTHING. It will sync everywhere for you. Set reminders. Give them dates. Then the next best thing? Share with your spouse. We have a grocery list, target list and we even did a baby name list when we were thinking about Ollie’s name. Simple concept for an app but these guys have a beautiful interface and is really thought out. GO MAKE ALL THE LISTS!

<soapbox>

Now to speak on a issue that weighs on me sometimes. Basically I use my phone for everything. That being said, I sometimes have that twinge of guilt for being on my phone a lot. You see the judgey comments on Facebook and sometimes you feel like you are ignoring your children. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret,

Sometimes ignoring your children is not a bad thing.

As an only child {married to an only child}, we know what it means to entertain yourself {shut it, perv}. I have harped on this before many times. Kids are way too entertained these days. Too many activities and devices. I love watching Landon play by himself and then now even play with his brother. He makes up the craziest stories and has so much fun. This is crucial. Yes, they are little and won’t be for long, but you aren’t going to miss out if you are making grocery lists or even ::gasp:: reading something. Stop with the “cherish every moment” crap because it isn’t realistic. You are telling me our mothers didn’t read their own books, plan our birthday parties, look up recipes? They just didn’t have it RIGHT THERE to do in a quarter of the time…yet we judge NOW? Forget it. I could bitch about this “mom enough” movement until the cows come home but I ran across this post this morning and just started nodding. Oh this this this.

In summary, stop judging people you don’t know and it’s perfectly fine to ignore your children. It is good for them. Promise.

</soapbox>

If I can get my act together, next week’s TECHnically Speaking will be up to you. I have had a couple of requests and want to put it up for a vote.

Leave a comment voting for either

iPhone Photo/Camera Tips

or

HTML Blogger Cheat Sheet {bonus points if you give specific needs}

6 thoughts on “TECHnically Speaking: My Top 5 Apps

  • March 8, 2013 at 4:04 pm
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    As the mom of a boy who will stay and only child, amen. I can’t be all over him all the time, at home or elsewhere. I know this isn’t the point of this post though so I’ll stay off my own soapbox. Your tech suggestions are awesome, I’m gonna have to give Wunderlist a try.

    Reply
  • March 8, 2013 at 4:08 pm
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    I need to try all if these, especially Wunderlist. And I agree 100% w/ your soapbox & that Fried Okra post made me cry. As a fellow only who will like have an only, I agree that it is so important for D to be able to entertain himself.

    Reply
  • March 8, 2013 at 7:42 pm
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    Great list! I need to try that Twitter app, because what I’m using isn’t working. And ::fist bumps:: to you for fighting the good fight and ignoring your kids!

    Reply
  • March 9, 2013 at 10:45 am
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    I wobble on the fence with the whole phone thing. I definitely try to limit my time in general but only because I feel like I’m on it too much some days. And I totally agree with the entertain yourself a bit, kid. Lucky for me, my one and only has been pretty independent and good at playing on his own since he was tiny. If he really wants/needs attention, we’ll know. 😉 Enjoyed the post! The only app I have from your list is Camera+. About to check out Wunderlist as I could definitely use a good list app.

    Reply
  • March 11, 2013 at 10:08 pm
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    Thanks for sharing your favorite apps, Brandy. I’m going to try out Dropbox and Camera+ when I get home from my shift at DISH tonight. While I am here, I would like to tell everyone about my favorite app DISH Anywhere. I use it to stream all of my TV channels and DVR recordings to my phone over 3g, 4g and WIFI. I am a news addict, and with this app I can constantly stream CNN or HLN, even when I am stuck at work.

    Reply
    • March 12, 2013 at 8:51 am
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      Ha. THanks well I guess you won’t really like my stance on cutting cable/satellite. My bills thank me 🙂

      Reply

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