The Weekend Series: five inventive apps that are actually useful
When smart phones first emerged on the scene, apps were a new novelty – we couldn’t get enough of them! Nowaways, the lustre of smart phone apps has faded and seem to be left ignored, clogging up our home pages. We’ve come a long way from Angry Birds and Words With Friends, these days there are plenty of exciting new apps that are engaging, creative and straight up useful. We’ve compiled a quick list of the ones that we have been playing around with (not in office hours, of course).
Ink Hunter
This app could help save you from future regrets, and it’s a surprise that this technology hasn’t already been invented. Ink Hunter is an ingenious way to find out if a particular tattoo will look good on your skin in real time. Using augmented reality functionality, Ink Hunter allows you to upload a design, size and position the image on your skin using your smartphone camera using three temporary ink markings (see video here). This allows you to see how the ink looks on your skin before you subject yourself to the tattoo gun. Snap a photo of the overlay and show your friends to gauge their opinion (maybe even show your parents, they’re bound to find out sooner or later). Download in the App Store.
PAUSE
For the sake of your mental health, sometimes it’s good to slow things down and collect your thoughts. Typically our phone is a source of distraction and not meditation, but a new app has been built to help give you a calmer state of mind. PAUSE is a joint project by digital product studio USTWO and mental wellness product company PauseAble. PAUSE encourages the act of focused attention in a technique that requires users to continuously move their fingertip across the screen, while audiovisual feedback keeps the attention locked on the present moment. Download in the App Store or on Google Play.
Vent
Another way to improve your state of mind is by venting, but more often than not you don’t have anyone to vent to (or are at least receptive to your venting). Vent is a new social platform maybe by a Melbourne-based company to connect you with supportive and understanding individuals around the world. Share your feelings using emotion categories and get your thoughts out there, or listen to others fears, sadness and anger and respond with a supportive comment or a ‘HUG’, ‘UGH’, ‘OMG’ or ‘SAME’. If you need to unload, maybe reconsider ranting to your co-workers (especially about another co-worker) and taking it online where you are more appreciated. Download in the App Store or on Google Play.
Slide The Shakes
Okay, this is a fun one. We all know that milkshakes are the newest food craze sweeping the nation, now the cold beverages have scored their own app made by Brisbane company PrettyGreat. The premise is simple – slide a shake up slopes, over gaps and into safe zones in a series of increasingly difficult levels. This game is the perfect distraction from crowded public transport, inane lunch room conversations and annoying Uber drivers. Download in the App Store.
Bonjournal
Bonjournal is for the travellers among you that also like to catalogue and share their adventures. Take snaps on your phone and then share the stories and experiences on Facebook, Twitter or email with ease. A built in journal map helps you plot locations you have visited, a timeless and easy to use interface allows you to log your stops simply and your entire trip can be exported as a PDF to attach and share to all your jealous friends and followers. You can also follow fellow travellers and gather inspiration for your next overseas jaunt. Download in the App Store.
