Soooo . . . I finally got a smartphone. Yes, that’s right. If you’re just now joining us, I’ve been living in a state of total technological deprivation, using a VCR and a dumb phone.
But don’t despair! While I may still be using my VCR and watching commercials because my VCR remote is broken and I’m too lazy to get up and push the fast forward button, I am now the proud owner of a smartphone.
Yeah, yeah. As my friend Jill so eloquently put it, “Welcome to 2009, Mary.”
I’ll admit, I’ve tried to play it cool, like it’s not that big of a deal. But it’s possible I may have sat in my driveway last week, mere feet from my laptop inside, looking up movie times on my new phone just because I could.
After having a phone for almost two weeks now, I have my email and social networks all linked up. And last night, I downloaded Angry Birds for my daughter who has been pretending to play it on my old flip phone for months now. (Where did she hear about Angry Birds?! I don’t even know!)
But I don’t really know what other apps I should use.
When I first got the phone, I used the email app it came with, not realizing that my Hotmail was never going to synch properly unless I actually used the Hotmail app. It just didn’t occur to me. Of course there’s an app for that!
(And yes, I’m aware that I am one of approximately 42 people on earth who still use Hotmail and do, in fact, hate Gmail. Just put it on your list of things I’m weird about, like the VCR, being a fan of NCIS and never having seen Goonies.)
So, I’m here to ask you, my fancy phone friends: What apps should I download for my new phone?
Wait, YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THE GOONIES? Can you properly call yourself a child of the 80s?!
Also, I still use, and love, Hotmail.
I don’t have Internet access on my cheapy smartphone, but I do have an iPad with some cool apps on it…however, I quite literally NEVER have time to use any of said apps, except the Facebook one a couple of times a week. Maybe this summer I’ll have more time and can recommend some.
Well, that is a sad story about your iPad. I guess about as sad as my 80s child lame-ness, huh? :)
I also have never seen Goonies. Well, I’ve seen about 10 minutes of it because my husband, then boyfriend, was watching it and I came in and out of the room. However, I don’t think that counts. I also have never seen Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
Have fun with your phone! My (current) favorite apps are Words with Friends, Things (awesome productivity app), DrawSomething (play with me!) and Netflix. :)
Okay, I keep hearing about this DrawSomething. I guess I’m going to have to give in and try it out! Thanks for the ideas!
Melissa!! No Bill and Ted?!!
I am sad now.
;)
OK so my two favorites are solitaire and if you go through Amazon you can download kindle books and with the app you can sit and read books on your phone. I love that because if I’m sitting waiting for anything; i.e., the kids, the doctor, whatever, I can stand there and read my book and it keeps me much calmer than just waiting and waiting! Good luck with it. You will love it!!!
I got that app and read one book – but I need to download some more! I don’t have a Kindle (big surprise), so even remembering this is an option is new to me!
OK now go to Amazon and type in free Kindle books and there are a lot of them to choose from plus they run daily books on there to add to your library. It’s great!
More FREE e-books. Christian Pub has bunches on their site, lots of difference genres.
oh, hey, I too, have yet to see Goonies – grad. hs 1984… maybe I’m too old?? :-)
Thanks for the tip! I will definitely check that out!
Did it! Thanks for the tip!
Okay, I am SHOCKED that you have never seen Goonies! It’s one of my all time faves and a classic. I would give you some suggestions for apps, but I think the first thing on your priority list is to go rent Goonies and watch it on your VCR….(pretty sure you could still find it on VHS somewhere…)!
I know, I know. But, really, at this point, it’s part of who I am. “The one who hasn’t seen Goonies.” Do I really want to give that up? ;)
I love Scramble with Friends and Words With Friends. I play Draw Something. Scramble with Friends is my favorite though.
I use the IMDB app a lot, for all those times you see someone on a show or movie and it is bugging you trying to remember what else they were in.
Of course some kind of weather app. I use the Weather Channel for regular weather, but I also have a local news station’s app for severe weather.
My 4 yo daughter loves to play the Cupcake maker game. I still just have the free version, so the toppings and add-ons are limited but she doesn’t mind. My big girls even still play it! Temple Run is also very popular with my kids. I like Fruit Ninja–something very therapeutic about slicing all that fruit. ;)
Awesome. Thanks! I use IMDB all the time but didn’t even think about it having an app. I really keep forgetting that everything has an app! Anyway. I just downloaded it and the cupcake maker. Thanks!!
I have a smart phone, but very few apps…it runs on Windows. However, I still use Hotmail! I love it because I don’t get spam to it. Not exactly sure why but I think it has something to do with the fact that I’ve had the account since 1998 and so (at least I believe) it flies under the spam radar.
The only game I have is Meon. It’s pretty good though!
I’ve had one of my hotmail accounts since 1999. We are so old! :)
welcome, mary :) hee hee. i only got my first smartphone, the iphone 4s a few months ago. i am really enjoying wordfeud and draw something! haven’t even played angry birds yet : o
I keep hearing about Draw Something!! I need to give it a whirl…although the last thing I need is another time suck!
NEVER. SEEN. GOONIES.
*choke*
*faint*
*gasp*
Now.
Apps I use a lot:
Dropbox (I throw pics in here I’ve taken on my phone that I want for my blog), Urbanspoon b/c it has good food reviews, waze (a GPS), Michaels (b/c they have coupons on it!), Instagram (ahem. you’ve only uploaded 2 pics!), hootsuite, facebook, kindle and almost all the Amazon apps b/c they are just fun (price checker!).
OK: and a few photo aps (you DID ask, you know) Labelbox, VideoStar, Frames & Big Lens.
I do not do games b/c then my kids would want to play on my phone. So. No games=no kids.
I *did* ask. Thank you. Also. You are so smart with the no-games/no-kids. Dang it.
I’m the worst person to ask……I just like to use my phone for texting and checking Facebook!
Ok, so I don’t have a smart phone either (and my husband is a computer programmer!) but my friend MADE an app for kids and it’s fantastic! (We played it on his brother’s phone!) It’s called Clay-B-C’s and I think you can get it in the US. It’s in the educational section.
Other than that, I have absolutely no idea!
I’ve looked for that one but haven’t found it. I need to look again, though. Thank you for the tip!
Wait wait wait wait… important things first – you haven’t seen Goonies?!?!?!!
Okay so there are a ton of useful and non-useful apps but it kind of depends on which type of smartphone you have. If you have an iPhone I can help, but if it’s one of the others then I have no idea. Either way though, I’m sure that as you learn more and research and try different things, you’ll find what works best for you. :) So glad you have a nifty new toy!!! :)
….and I just realized the above pic must be of your own phone – doh! So nevermind that question ;)
some of my favorite apps are Ziplist (a place to collect recipes and shopping lists – and can be accessed via your desktop as well), Evernote (an app to make list after list, after list, etc…you can store all kinds of info in Evernote – and again, you can access it via your desktop/laptop and sync the info), Soundhound (I can use this app to recognize music that I don’t know who sings it (love this app!), I use several local news weather apps to keep up to date on changing weather (in most of those you can change your settings to be notified of watches/warnings, etc), I use my calendar app ALL the time, and I can sync it with my Google calendar which I use on my desktop, of course Pinterest has an app, and Jewels is one of my all time favorite games, oh, and ColorNote, it’s sticky notes for your phone! Well, that should give you a start =) Enjoy!
Oh wow, thank you for all these suggestions!
You’ve never seen Goonies. Oh, sweet, sweet Mary. You must remedy that now. Don’t make me drive all the way to KC to make you watch it. And I’m almost certain you could find a VHS copy.
My current favorite app – a white noise maker. Talk about a lifesaver when we aren’t home and the baby needs to sleep but won’t.
Other good ones – Pinterest, PBS kids, Kindle and of course, Instagram. Also, HeyTell is pretty cool, it’s like using a walkie-talkie.
Hmmm, I just looked for PBS Kids and couldn’t find it. I’m going to track that puppy down, though. We love that station!! Thanks for the tips!
Loud and proud hotmail user here – have about 5 accounts with them and no intention of switching!
Nice! Glad to know I’m not alone!!
I have never seen Goonies either but I have had several people just about pass out when they find out, but it hasn’t made me want to see it anymore.
I have a smart-phone but it’s a Nokia and there isn’t a lot of apps, but I do love the SportsTracker app – you can start a walk and it will tell you how far you’ve gone, what your pace is and it will store your past workouts so you can see your improvement. I also like cube-touch. It’s a free game.
I know. It’s almost become a point of pride at this point: “No, I have NOT seen Goonies and I never will!! Mwahahaha!” ;)
LOL, I laugh because I refuse to get a smart phone…they get enough of my money every month! I am a HUGE NCIS fan, and I have never seen Goonies (I’m 43!) Sad, I know….well, except for being an NCIS fan…it is the number 1 show! :) And come on, it’s Mark Harmon! :)
Haha, sounds like we are two peas in a pod!
Right now I’m hooked on Scramble with Friends. I’m a total app junkie and try about every one that comes down the pike. (seriously, I almost do!!) There’s an app to find local yard sales (oh, yeah there is!), I have lots of grocery apps I’m trying out, but usually default to the plain old list maker that came with the phone! LOL, but some of my “most fave” apps (right now) are: Rumgr (think Craigslist meets online selling) Home Routines,I have two folders of shopping apps. I especially like my Walgreen’s one, I can scan my prescription bottle labels and it orders my scripts for pickup (so I don’t have to call it in), Cozi is a great app You can do your to do lists, shopping, journal and calendar. And send to other family members. Ihave a folder of “health” apps, two photography folders….. ok, i’m probably giving way more info than you wanted. Those are just the tip of the iceberg…. LOL