There's an App for That - Tips, Tricks, & Giveaways

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Jan 17, 2012
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Millions of us unwrapped the seasons hottest gifts during the holidays  - the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, Droid RAZR, Kindle Fire, Nikon 1 and more. For many people these new gadgets were also the first they've owned in a whole new generation of touchscreen and voice activation technology. How many of you were excited but found that after 5 minutes you had to set them down and decided to figure out how to use them later?

With technology overload these days, many of us use our electronics on the "easy" setting. We do what we can easily figure out and never end up using the "really cool" settings and getting value from our investment.

There are some basic steps that can help you get the most fun out of your new "toys." Here are our tips for improving your electronic gadget experience:

  1. Set time in your day to read the manual. Even if it is a short manual, we recommend splitting it up reading a few pages at a time. If you read it all at once it can be overwhelming.
  2. Utilize what is at your fingertips - YouTube! YouTube has great 101 videos. Received an iPhone over the holidays? Learn how to use it with the help of the 101 videos on TodaysiPhone's YouTube Channel. Received an Android over the holidays? Learn how to use it with the help of 101 videos on MobileUnlimited's YouTube Channel.
  3. Follow the company of your new electronics on Facebook and Twitter. These are great customer service outlets. Why spend time waiting on hold when you can have a response on twitter before the agent picks up the phone? Most companies also post tips, videos and important software updates on their feeds.
  4. Be brave! Believe it or not, it's pretty hard to break things. Use random settings and see what happens. You can always reset items back to the default.

The trick to getting the most out of your phones and tablets are apps. Here are our five must-have useful, user-friendly apps for 2012:

Apple:

  1. Shopper: This is the best-selling grocery app in the App Store, according to MacWorld. With Shopper you can create multiple lists and organize them to match the aisle layout of the stores you shop in. On a budget? Add prices, quantities, and coupons to track expenses.
  2. Mint.com Personal Finance: With this app you can easily organize all your finances in one place. It provides you with a look at where you spent your money over the month and helps you come up with a budget. Also, with having it on your mobile device no spending goes unaccounted for.
  3. Silent Body Guard: Everyone, every age and gender, should have this app. You hope you will never need it, but if you ever find yourself in trouble this app sends a text message and email with your GPS location to your emergency contacts every 60 seconds. All you have to do is open the app and tap the silent alarm button.
  4. Nike Training Club: This app is a personal trainer with you at all times. You get detailed workouts designed to match your fitness goals with step-by-step instructions. Our favorite feature is the ability to set your music to go with your workout.
  5. allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner: How many times have you looked in your pantry and thought to yourself, "what in the world can I cook with these ingredients?" Now the answer is at your fingertips! Type in what you have to this app and it will search its recipe database for corresponding dishes.

Android:

  1. Grocery King 6 Shopping List: This is the best-selling grocery app in Android Market Store. With app you can create multiple lists and organize them to match the aisle layout of the stores you shop in. Our favorite feature is you can compare product prices to other retailers. Simply scan the barcode of the item you are about to purchase, and it will indicate if it is cheaper or more expensive than other retailers.
  2. Mint.com Personal Finance: With this app you can easily organize all your finances in one place. It provides you with a look at where you spent your money over the month and helps you come up with a budget. Also, with having it on your mobile device no spending goes unaccounted for.
  3. Emergency Panic Button (SOS): Everyone, every age and gender, should have this app. You hope you will never need it, but if you ever find yourself in trouble this app sends a text message and email with your GPS location.
  4. Pocket Trainer: This app turns your phone into a personal trainer. It includes both written and video descriptions of how to perform each exercise. What we really love is that it shows you how to do easy exercises using what you have at home.
  5. allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner: How many times have you looked in your pantry and thought to yourself, "what in the world can I cook with these ingredients?" Now the answer is at your fingertips! Type in what you have to this app and it will search its recipe database for corresponding dishes.

Most importantly, remember the goal of apps is to help you simplify and organize. You can get bogged down by downloading too many apps and actually defeat the purpose. Make a list of things you would like help with and then narrow it down to categories. Then purchase an app for each category.

We want to hear from you and which electronics you find are the most user-friendly? We want your recommendations.

If you share your user-friendly electronics reviews and recommendations this week you'll be entered for a chance to win one of our 4 giveaway prizes - a gift card to either iTunes or Amazon for Android Market. Submit your favorite electronic product to SheSpeaks Reviews OR add a comment to this blog post by 6pm EST on January 23rd, 2012. You can enter a review AND a comment and you will have two entries to win!

review

 Prizes*:

*Winners will have a choice of either an iTunes or Amazon for Android Market gift card. 4 winners total.



Apple iTunes $15 App Store Gift Card



Amazon for Android Market Gift Card

 

The contest starts January 17, 2012 and ends January 23, 2012; at 6:00 p.m. Must be a US resident. No purchase necessary.

GOOD LUCK!

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Comments
hblysko by hblysko | JACKSON, NJ
Jan 18, 2012

I am downloading Shopper as I type! LOL. It takes me so long to meal plan, make a list of what I need, then re-write that list a few times because I am trying to remember what aisle everything is in. It usually takes 3 hours just getting everything on paper! Hopefully the Shopper app will help me save some time.

Emilycoo by Emilycoo | LONG BEACH, CA
Jan 18, 2012

I have the iPhone 4s 16gb and I love it! It definitely took some playing around with and getting used to but there are some really great features that help me in so many ways! I had trouble getting the Nike app to work (apparently I don't walk hard enough because the sensor could not tell I was walking! However, there are some great aps that help me with everyday things. I love the all recipes ap because I can easily find recipes and read reviews then save them for later. I also like the couch to 5k running ap, yelp, eeba

robinwitte by robinwitte | Valparaiso, IN
Jan 18, 2012

I have an android smart phone that I love. New apps are coming out all the time and you can frequently find cheap or free deals on the apps if you keep a look out!

LivinginLaLaLand by LivinginLaLaLand | Price, UT
Jan 18, 2012

I just got a smart phone and my son had it all figured out before I did! I just say to him, 'Hey, can you help me?' He says yeah, has it for a few minutes and has Facebook, Twitter, all of my contacts, and my ring-tone all 'mom-friendly!' Thank goodness for our app friendly children eh?

yukicharley by yukicharley | CROWN POINT, IN
Jan 18, 2012

I have an Android phone and I LOVE my Cardio Trainer app. It comes in both free and PRO versions, with the pro adding additional functionality and features. I love that I can put in a goal of XX pounds per week/month/year, and it will tell me how much exercise I need and how many calories to not eat. It has every imaginable workout selection, including my treadmill walks, and integrates with music. If you have your phone/device clipped to your arm or beltloop, etc., it will automatically begin to track your workout. It really helps for you to see what you've done, especially when you look at your history for the week, month, etc. Love it!!

floridagal by floridagal | SARASOTA, FL
Jan 18, 2012

Thanks for the hints. I have a samsung galaxy 2 phone and love it. I will have to try that allrecipes tab, sounds like a winner. Right now my fave app is Checkpoints. You scan items at the grocery stores and it gives you points to cash in for gift cards. It is better than Shopkick (a similar app)...Shopkick is not as generous with the points and kind of a time waster.

MizTerry by MizTerry | Elgin, SC
Jan 18, 2012

I have an android that really sucked up battery life, so there is an app for that (I sound like a commercial...LOL) called Battery Widget that gives tips on how to save battery life and gives details on what is sucking up the power, exactly how much life you have, etc. Fabulous app for those that need every ounce of battery life they can get.

smiling_mama by smiling_mama | MERIDIAN, ID
Jan 18, 2012

I don't have a smart phone.... yet. I am hoping to get one in March, when my contract on my current phone is up. Great giveaway!!!

Misschelle by Misschelle | JAMESTOWN, NY
Jan 18, 2012

I am going to download all 6 iPhone apps now!! So excited! Thanks for the list!

drose10276 by drose10276 | STONY POINT, NY
Jan 18, 2012

I got the Kindle Fire for Christmas and LOVE it.I can get on facebook,listen to music watch movies read books It's fabulous.The apps are numerous and easy to use.I play words with friends all the time.The fire goes with me while I am cooking,cleaning anything! I throw in a word while I am doing other things.No 3g which some don't like but for $300 less its a good way to have a ton of things on hand to card around easily.And I can travel to other homes with it and jump on wireless or open spots.

vizz13 by vizz13 | Montville, NJ
Jan 18, 2012

I got an IPAD2 for christmas & I am loving it! I have been connecting with old friends via Words With Friends Ap

reakilgore by reakilgore | KITTANNING, PA
Jan 18, 2012

I got a Craig Android tablet for Christmas. It takes some time to get used to a stylus & learning to use it, but it's worth it for all the fun apps available. My 7-yr. old loves it & plays Angry Birds.

mizzsonya22 by mizzsonya22 | OLIVE BRANCH, MS
Jan 18, 2012

i absolutely love The Coupons App....freebies & coupons in the palm of your hand! what more could you ask for

mizzsonya22 by mizzsonya22 | OLIVE BRANCH, MS
Jan 18, 2012

i absolutely love The Coupons App....freebies & coupons in the palm of your hand! what more could you ask for

PatoNguyen by PatoNguyen | Austin, TX
Jan 18, 2012

I love my fitness pal app for the iphone. Also, shopkick is another must have.