Okay, so one of
the most annoying things in the world is finding an awesome app and then
discovering your best mate, girlfriend/boyfriend or work colleague can’t use it because they’re Android and you’re iOS or vice versa. We can’t promise to fix the underlying lack
of compatibility in your meaningful relationships, but here’s our round-up of the top ten apps that are available on both iOS and
Android.
Entertainment
Going out
YPlan. This,
unlike so many entertainment apps, is curated. Why does that matter? Because
somebody else weeds through those events nobody wants to attend to bring you
the best of the best. And it gets better the more you use it, via a smart
function that focuses on what you like. Final hit feature, you can integrate
with your Facebook page to invite your mates via the app and iPhone users can
store tickets bought in app in their iOS 6 Passbook.
Staying in
GoWatchIt. For
movie mavens and geeks in particular, this app hunts down specific movies (“Clerks”, anyone?) through every TV channel,
cinemas, Google, Xbox, Amazon Prime … basically you name it, GoWatchIt will find you places to watch your cult
cinematic joy. Alerts tell you when a particular film is available on a
particular platform. Only downside…?
The occasional discovery that your fave rave can now only be seen in
Azerbaijan or Korea!
Fitness
Best tech
Some of us are
dedicated exercisers. For CrossFitters, serious athletes and those who need to
really monitor their health, you cannot beat Polar Beat. Disclaimer - while the
app is free, you do need a Bluetooth connected chest strap to monitor your
heart rate data. But we have never found anything that matches the visual
feedback that Polar Beat provides on your peak heart-rate zone. Reliable,
visual, simple, usable - if you care about your heart health, this is the app
of choice for you.
Best fun
For those who
are exercise haters rather than exercise lovers, Zombies, Run! is the app of
choice. More than 1,000,000 runners have already entered the zombie zone and
become zombie defeating heroes. As you jog around the real world, you can be
saving lives and destroying evil in the game world. There are in app purchases
of course, but you can save yourself (and others) from Zombies, entirely for
free of charge, on both Android and iOS.
Dating
The app that
learns your likes
Zoosk is a top
dating app for a reason - it learns your likes (and who likes you back) and
starts to filter results so that you get a very personalised set of local
singles … this means that the special someone is more likely to make it to the top
of your listings. For those who want to harness technology to improve their
chances of a great relationship, Zoosk is a great contribution to online dating
success.
The app that
cuts out creeps
Fliqpic is a
great app for those who really hate the lying ways of online daters. Is she
really sporty or did she photoshop herself onto that surfboard? Does he really
drive a Maserati or did he just find one to lean against for that profile
photo? Fliqpic allows live video chatting prior to meeting up so you can spot
liars, exaggerators and slimy catfishers. Connections are more meaningful,
relationships are more tangible and people who post ten year out-of-date profile
pics are instantly weeded out!
Money
The money
sharing app
PayFriendz - the
easy way to stay friends around money. We love apps that let us pay our way
securely - we also love apps that let us get money from our mates for stuff we
paid for, because nobody, but nobody, likes a freeloader. But getting good
integration with banks etc can be tricky. Enter PayFriendz - compliant with all
UK e-money regs, fund holding with HSBC and working with global players like
MasterCard to deliver an app that means we can all feel good about paying our
share after a mates’ night out.
The money
saving app
The app Your
Wealth is free, although if you want to integrate your bank accounts there’s an annual fee. We love it because you get to put in all your payments
(rent, mortgage, gas and electric etc) and then set spending limits for other
things, as well as goals to reach. What makes it really special though, is the
pensions calculator which de-mystifies when to start saving and how much to
ensure a decent later life - awesome!
Travel
When cool is
more important than cheap
Hipmunk finds
the right flight for you, not just the cheapest one. So if you hate stopovers,
or love redeye, adore morning flights or detest getting up before noon, Hipmunk
filters for your preferences, not just for cost. You can pre-select airlines or
stopover points, cut out morning flights or make them a priority - also it has
a cute Hipmunk logo which we think is a plus point as it makes the misery of
filtering flights a whole lot more fun!
When you have
to hit the ground running
We love Entrain
- created by Uni of Michigan boffins, it monitors your personal circadian
clock via your smartphone and works out when you should adjust light levels so
that you move your sleeping schedule to align with your destination. Result?
Much less jet lag! And that means enjoying every minute of your trip to the
full, whether you’re pitching a product, riding a
roller-coaster or climbing a mountain for charity.
*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.