Got a New iPhone or Android? These Mobile Apps Make Life Easier

 

A smartphone makes a great gift—whether it's for you someone else. But receiving a smartphone is a bit like buying a pet: the fun parts also come with some work and some adjustments.

Downloading apps that make life easier and incorporate local information is like training a puppy. It results in less hassle and more fun.

The major difference between a smartphone and your computer is that it’s tough to see the whole Internet on that little screen. Apps are simply ways of displaying something you usually do on your computer’s web browser, but in a simpler and more elegant way that makes sense on a little screen.
Each app is represented by a small square icon that you touch once to launch its features and functions, whether it be GPS navigation, local business listings, your to-do list, or your favorite game.
Try these apps to get started:
- UrbanSpoon and Yelp have apps for iPhones, Droids and Windows phones that are great for finding a local restaurant in a hurry, based on your location.

- MapMyRide and MapMyRun offer apps for fitness enthusiasts looking for a new route in their neighborhood.

- Most smartphones have a built-in app for local weather, but you may find it worth experimenting with the Weather Channel’s app, as well as other competitors.

- The Google+ Local app will show you search results similar to what you are used to seeing on the map listings part of Google Search on your computer.

- The GasBuddy app will help you figure out which of your local gas stations has the best price.
A little secret many smartphone users don’t know is that you can make any of your favorite websites look like an app on your phone. If you are frustrated by using your phone’s browser and typing in the web URL, tell your phone’s web browser to “Add to Home Screen.” The resulting button will look like an app, but the button will take you to your favorite website instead of launching an app.