These web services, desktop programs and mobile applications were used most often last year. All of them are freely available, and without them we are without hands. Use the list to assemble your must-have package for work and play.
Management and planning
Google Keep
This service, designed for creating and storing notes, was launched by Google in 2013 and has since acquired many additional functions. Google Keep supports hashtags, recognizes text, and has a Chrome extension. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it sorts records itself and creates smart shopping lists. More than 10 million people use Google Keep.OneNote
Everyone else's heart belongs to Microsoft's hierarchical notepad. OneNote is a great free alternative to Evernote. Read about an easy way to transfer data from Evernote to OneNote here. Microsoft OneNote is available on Windows and macOS, as well as on mobile devices (iOS, Android, Windows Phone).Google Calendar
This service for planning meetings, events and affairs is already ten years old. You can create several calendars at once and use them with colleagues. Reminders will help you not to miss important events, and thanks to the task list function with Google Calendar, you can completely abandon other managers. You can even make a diary of your life from it. Google Calendar supports synchronization with mobile devices and can restore deleted events.Trello
It is a Kanban-style project management and scheduling application released by Fog Creek Software in 2011. Every year Trello gets better and acquires useful additions. The application can be used not only as a task manager, but also for learning foreign languages, conducting research and organizing events.
Outlook
The email client from Microsoft is supplemented with the functions of an organizer, scheduler and task manager and is associated with file storage and a calendar. The service allows you to exchange events by mail, send and receive files, and postpone letters for a certain time. There are versions for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. This year, a long-awaited global update of the service was released, as a result of which Outlook acquired functions that challenge Gmail.Gmail
Free email service from Google, working via a web interface and using the POP3, SMTP and IMAP protocols. One of the best, and therefore one of the most popular in the world (and in our editorial office). A user-friendly interface, adaptation for mobile devices, a spam filter, an unsend function and a large mailbox volume - all this has won and continues to win the hearts of users. In addition, a huge number of additional tools have been created for Gmail that make working with this email service even more enjoyable.Inbox
One such tool is called Inbox. This is an email application created in 2015 and initially available only by invitation or application on the official website. Now anyone can download it. There is a version for Android and iOS, as well as for Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers. At the same time, thanks to a number of functions, Inbox even surpasses Gmail itself in convenience.Communication and social networks
Skype
Despite frequent glitches, Skype has been the favorite file sharing service for many of us this year as well. Moreover, this VoIP service has received many innovations. Now you can make calls without registering an account (though only in the web version for now), and for already registered users who sometimes log into Skype from someone else’s computer, an important function for remote session termination has been added. Group video calls on Skype have become available on iOS and Android, and simultaneous translation has finally been made available to Russian-speaking users.Telegram
But the number one messenger throughout the year was the brainchild of Pavel Durov. The first release of the application took place in August 2013, since then the service has been actively developing. In addition to the already familiar stickers, group chats, channels and bots, Telegram recently acquired a number of new features: search by date, reading mode, games, integration with IFTTT, pinned chats, GIF animation and others. This means that it has become even more convenient to conduct personal and work correspondence and read news on Telegram.In contact with
This year the social network VKontakte turned 10 years old. This is one of the most popular and visited Russian-language sites in the world. Users spend so much time there that any innovations are initially met with hostility. Thus, the new design, which appeared at the end of this summer, caused a wave of indignation mixed with a mass desire to roll back to the old version. But people quickly get used to the updates and continue to write messages to each other, listen to music, read public pages, and so on. Moreover, the official VKontakte applications for iOS and Android are more convenient than all the alternatives (the audio recording section has been returned to the iOS version).Folio and Metal
But the official mobile client of the social network Facebook, on the contrary, is one of the most resource-intensive applications and significantly reduces the battery life of gadgets. It's no wonder that users are looking for simpler and more convenient solutions. These are Folio and Metal.Internet surfing
Google Chrome
This is one of the most popular browsers in RuNet and in the world.Opera
One of the oldest browsers, available on Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems, as well as on mobile devices based on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian and others. This year, Opera has been greatly updated: it has a built-in ad blocker, a laptop battery saving mode, and a free VPN. The latter is especially convenient, since the registry of prohibited sites is expanding. Many people like it precisely because of these additional features that Chrome does not have.Flynx
This browser for Android was included in our list of the best applications last year and has not lost ground this year. Flynx can open websites without distracting the user from the main activity, clear pages of ads and save them for later reading. And at the same time it is fast and light.Finance and shopping
CoinKeeper
This financial accounting application is your personal accountant who is always at hand. A simple and understandable tool even for people who do not like and do not know how to count money. The app is free, but some features, such as data synchronization with cloud storage and collaboration with family members, are only available in the paid premium version. However, a basic application is sufficient to control income and expenses.Sberbank Online
Sberbank is the oldest commercial bank in Russia, serving more than 70% of the country's population. Sberbank has almost 18 thousand branches in 83 regions. Until recently, people often joked about the work of the bank, almost like they joked about Russian Post. But with the introduction of an electronic queue and the improvement of Internet banking, people have become much more loyal. The Sberbank Online service allows you to pay for utilities and the Internet, transfer money to relatives, pay off loans, and much more without leaving your home.AliExpress
AliExpress is one of the largest Asian trading platforms. A site with funny headlines that you open for five minutes to order batteries, and close three hours later with a basket full of hundred-ruble goods. AliExpress is so popular that Lifehacker even created a comprehensive guide to shopping there. In addition, we regularly share Ali news in a special Telegram channel. AliExpress acquired applications not so long ago, and therefore is actively promoting them. For example, through discounts available only there.Navigation and travel
Google and Yandex maps
Maps from search giants most often helped us navigate the space and plot routes. Google Maps has become much clearer this year, and the Android version of the service has learned to plot a route through several points and save traffic.In Yandex Maps you can now create walking routes. Well, electronic maps can be printed in good quality.
2 GIS
The first issue of the electronic directory with city maps “2GIS” was published in 1999. Since then, the service has been constantly updated, which makes users incredibly happy. You can not only find out where the desired organization is located, but also find out its phone number, opening hours and other information. Information is updated four times a year. The developers claim to adhere to 90 percent accuracy standards. 2GIS is available online, there are also desktop and mobile versions.Booking.com
This hotel booking service was launched back in 1996. Today, not a single trip can be done without it. Even if someone does not buy through Booking.com, they still look there to compare prices. After all, the service’s database includes more than 550 thousand hotel establishments around the world, and thanks to the mobile version of the service, you can book a hotel or hostel anywhere and anytime.Uber
Uber is an international company that has created a mobile application of the same name for searching, calling and paying for taxis. Through the application you can reserve a car, track its movement and pay for travel. The service was invented in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp and covers more and more countries and cities every year. Today it is available in more than 500 cities around the world, including Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and others).Aviasales
This is a metasearch engine for airline tickets that helps you monitor prices, track airline promotions, buy plane tickets and travel insurance at a profit, as well as book hotel rooms and rent a car. Aviasales was initially Konstantin Kalinov’s personal blog, where tasty airline offers were accumulated. But then a special search algorithm was developed, and the service began to actively develop. Many features have appeared: “Low Price Calendar”, “Low Price Map” and others. Now Aviasales is one of the best services for travelers. You can use it both on your computer and through mobile applications.TripAdvisor
A travel site by and for travelers, available in 45 countries in 25 languages and with more than 70 million registered users who have already left over 200 million reviews of hotels, attractions and other travel destinations. TripAdvisor was launched in 2000 by Steven Kaufer and became one of the first user-generated content sites. This service makes it easy to plan a trip, even if you've never done it before.Depositories and optimization
LastPass
This is a cross-platform service for storing passwords. LastPass has plugins for all popular browsers, even Edge. In addition, there are applications for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. The first release of the program took place in 2008, but in 2015 LastPass joined the LogMeIn company, which worried users and forced them to look for alternatives. This year, LastPass gained Emergency Access and free syncing across all devices.Google Drive
File hosting from Google, which includes Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides, was introduced in 2012, and by the end of 2014 it already had 240 million monthly active users. This is truly one of the most convenient tools for remote collaboration and data sharing. And if by some miracle you don’t already use Google Drive, then we advise you to start as soon as possible. For example, experience the convenience of Google Docs, where you can not only write and edit texts, but also create a resume.Dropbox
This cloud data warehouse was launched in 2007. According to the company's CEO Drew Houston, Dropbox has changed the world of technology. Dropbox's mobile client received a major update this year. Now in the application you can create Microsoft Office files, scan documents, and in the iOS version you can also sign PDF files. Many people use Dropbox not only for personal but also for business purposes. If you are one of these people, be sure to learn 10 tips that will help make your experience with the service even better.IFTTT
This is a service that brings together different applications and makes them perform the actions you need. We wrote in detail about how an IFTTT mashup can connect the work of Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, Evernote, Dropbox and other services here. IFTTT continues to actively develop: the service has already learned to work with Wikipedia, Microsoft Office, Spotify and Telegram.CCleaner and Clean Master
The two operating system cleaning and optimization programs we've used most often this year are CCleaner and Clean Master. What's better? We have already tried to find out this and came to the conclusion that Clean Master is a one-button solution for the masses, and CCleaner will be useful for more advanced users and those who value additional program functions. However, there is an opinion that Clean Master has recently grown too large (now it is also an antivirus, application blocker, processor cooler, startup manager, game accelerator, and so on) and is eating too many resources.TeamViewer
This is a program for remote computer access that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and is also available through mobile applications for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. To show a friend or colleague something on your computer or ask him to configure something, the free functionality of TeamViewer is more than enough. At the same time, you have access to multiple screens and wake up the device over the Internet.Flexy
This is a third-party keyboard for iOS and Android that makes typing on mobile devices much faster and easier.SwiftKey
Another top third-party keyboard for iOS and Android that many have used throughout the year. This fall, it received what the developers say is the most revolutionary update in the entire six years of its existence. The keyboard now uses neural networks to predict text and allows users to work in incognito mode. And recently, all SwiftKey themes became completely free, so now it is not only a smart, but also a very beautiful keyboard.Photos, videos and music
Google Photos
To store and share photos, many of us use a service from Google. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, this is a photo hosting with unlimited storage space for files. Secondly, Google Photos automatically recognizes faces, and the service generally has a very smart search. Thirdly, this year Google Photos learned how to create cool clips from pictures and launched Photo Scanner to digitize old photos.Flickr
The history of this photo hosting began in 2004. Millions of people use Flickr to store photos and videos and search for illustrations. The service advocates for copyright, giving users the opportunity to protect their work using proprietary and free licenses (including Creative Commons licenses). Flickr has both a web version and apps for iOS and Android.GIMP
When you need to quickly crop a photo or write an inscription on it, you can do without professional graphic editors. The free photo editor GIMP copes well with simple tasks. It can work with vector graphics and is available not only on Windows, but also on macOS and Linux. The program was invented by students and is one of the hundred most useful resources for photographers and more.VSCOVSCO is a photo editor that fans of smartphone photography consider one of the best. Beautiful filters, fine-tuning the image, weekly digests of the best photos - these are just some of the functions of the application.
KinoPoisk
This web service was created specifically for movie buffs and people who watch a lot of TV series. The website kinopoisk.ru was launched in 2003, and since then its audience has only grown. Using the web version or mobile application (iOS, Android, Windows Phone), you can learn about new movies and find a good movie to watch. For this, KinoPoisk has ratings, reviews and selections. You can also watch the trailer and read about the creators of the film.YouTube
This is not just a video hosting service, it is a whole world with its own rules and fashion trends. YouTube launched in 2005, and over the past 10 years it has developed a strong community of active users. And that’s why Google is adding more and more social features to the service. Some come to YouTube for funny videos, some watch exclusively educational and educational channels, and some make videos themselves. Be that as it may, it is a rare user who does not look at YouTube and open its application at least once a day.Shazam
This is a service that calculates the title and artist of a song based on its excerpt. Simply put, you can ride in a taxi, hear a cool song on the radio, record it and upload it to Shazam, and it will identify the track and tell you everything about it. You can also search for songs by lyrics and album names. Initially, the service was available only on mobile devices (iOS, Android, Windows Phone and others), but then a desktop version appeared. And more recently, Shazam acquired a Lite version, in which all the variety of additional functions was cut down in favor of the main one: identifying music.Spotify
This is a service for streaming music from the cloud, as well as playing songs downloaded to your computer. Spotify comes from Sweden and is one of the most popular music services in the West. He came to Russia in 2014, and in 2015 he also learned to personalize users’ musical preferences and make recommendations.Subscriptions and books
Feedly
This is a news aggregator optimized for RSS feeds. The service was launched in 2008 as an alternative to Google Reader, which later closed. Now Feedly is used by millions of users: some through mobile applications (Android and iOS), while others prefer to read subscriptions through a browser extension.In addition to delayed reading, Pocket has another interesting feature - recommendations. The service will tell you what to read based on what articles you have saved before.
Inkitt
This is an application for iPhone and iPad that allows you to read works by as yet unknown or little-known authors. The developers themselves position the application as a hipster library. Fantasy, detective stories, romance novels - there are many genres to suit every taste.FBReader
This is an ereader that supports most popular e-book formats: from ePub and FB2 to DOC and RTF. The program can open files inside archives and is a kind of universal librarian: books can be grouped by topic.Bookmate
This is a service for reading e-books, making the process as convenient as possible both on a computer and on iOS and Android devices. At the same time, you can upload books to the application yourself or download them from Bookmate’s rich library with a paid subscription. The social component of the service is that you can create your own bookshelf on the Internet and share it with friends, as well as view the bookshelves of other users, adding their books to your library (only with a subscription).Style and inspiration
Polyvore
Polyvore is a service that allows you to complete clothing, jewelry, cosmetics and other things that girls need. In the application you can create looks, come up with new looks and thereby shape your own style.It is very important for a modern teacher to keep up with the times, constantly develop and, no matter what, remain professionals in their field. That is why we are pleased to present a selection of applications that every teacher can find extremely useful and apply in their work.
Evernote
This completely free text editor can actually make life easier for any teacher. You can also store graphic files and audio recordings in one single document. Among the features of the program, it is also worth noting convenient synchronization - if you install the application on both your smartphone and your laptop, then everything that you record on your phone will almost instantly appear on the server and, as a result, on your computer. Very comfortably!
Trello
Trello is a fun card-based system and an excellent project management tool. In Trello, you can create boards, add and edit workflows, add checklists, assign tasks to yourself or your colleagues or students, attach files, and much more. One of the main advantages of Trello is the ability to monitor multiple projects at once, as well as the ability to track their status in real time.
Todoist
Todoist promises order in everything. This convenient and truly easy-to-use application can record and schedule tasks, remember deadlines, highlight tasks based on their importance and urgency, and also build weekly productivity charts. The program has always been free, but if you wish, you can also download the Premium version, which offers unlimited access to all tools without exception.
Clear
The Clear task manager has been called almost innovative. There is a calendar function, a notebook function, and the ability to control and improve your productivity by creating separate to-do lists and reminders. The application is very easy to use and has a simple design that will not distract you from important tasks.
Canva
With the Canva app, you can create stunning layouts, edit photos, and add text and other graphic elements. The application has more than a hundred unique and professional templates and layouts that you can change according to your desires and objectives. Turn your activity into something special and exciting!
Explain Everything
This application is an ideal tool for teachers to create educational videos and visual slideshows for their students. It makes it easier to explain new material, annotate documents and images, and create presentations. Ideal for any discipline! Teachers can also record their lessons, create short educational videos and thumbnails to illustrate the most important points.
Quizlet
With Quizlet's easy-to-use software, you can create your own flashcards and study modules, or choose from a large selection of ready-made ones. It’s not for nothing that they say that Quizlet is one of the easiest and most effective ways to learn and remember new material. Ideal for both teachers and their students.
Socrative
Socrative is everything a teacher needs. The application allows you to create various tasks in the form of tests, quizzes, surveys and games. Each Socrative report is saved to your teacher account and can also be downloaded, emailed, and even saved to Google Drive.
Rescue Time
This is the best time tracker and work controller! This application will help you measure productivity, better organize your workday and, most importantly, avoid wasted time. Rescue Time tracks your computer activity and provides detailed statistics about your busiest work hours. In addition, you can find out how much time you actually spend on work and how much time spent on extraneous sites.
Messengers, food delivery, buying tickets, making an appointment for a manicure - it’s worth finding a place in your phone for useful applications. We have collected seven that you may not know about, but they will definitely come in handy.
Wunderlist
“Failure to plan is planning to fail; you always have to think about tomorrow. I'm a fan of notebooks, but I leave them somewhere too often, so lately I've been using an app on my phone called Wunderlist,” recently from PEOPLETALK . And the application is really convenient! All tasks are divided into separate lists: purchases, meetings, movies you want to watch, and much more. You can also set up memories or work in Wunderlist together with friends or colleagues - send them your to-do lists, edit them.
iTranslate Converse
iTranslate Converse was included in the ranking of the best apps of 2018 (according to Apple statistics). It turns your iPhone into a full-fledged translator - the application recognizes 38 languages and can work even in noisy environments. You tap and hold the screen to record speech and get an instant translation.
Lightroom
Lightroom can keep you company with the well-known VSCO and Facetune on your phone. This application is always recommended to subscribers by Elina Fedorova, a model from Kyiv who has been living and working in Los Angeles for more than two years. Here you can do color and light correction. The program recognizes eight shades and allows, for example, to create the perfect tan, highlight the color of a dress, or add snow-white sand in the background.
WiFi Finder
A very useful application for traveling (and also useful in the city), which will help you find free and safe Wi-Fi hotspots around the world. The application itself does not require the Internet; it navigates through cell towers.
Hourly Exercise
An application for those who lead a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle (and in the evenings prefer to watch Netflix instead of jogging). Hourly Exercise regularly reminds the user to stretch. For example, do ten squats, do five push-ups, or perform another simple exercise. The hero of the movie “Perfect Strangers” had such an application.
Lingualeo
There are so many apps on Google Play and the App Store that you probably won’t be able to test even 1%. And no need - we have made the top proven software for work and life. Almost all options are free.
This selection will be useful for those who want to increase the efficiency of their lives or simply install good applications on a new smartphone.
Information, languages
"Wikipedia". The wisdom of humanity in your smartphone. You can read and edit pages even without registration. It's easy to get lost while surfing Wikipedia - the application remembers which pages you opened. You can save the information you need to read it later without an Internet connection. / iOS
Pocket. Save any content to watch it later offline. Convenient for traveling on the metro, outside the city and when there is a lack of traffic. You can configure minimalistic text display without complex layout and animation. / iOS
Memrise. Learn foreign languages in an interesting way. You can start from scratch, you can hone your skills: improve your pronunciation, master difficult words and phrases, get rid of a rough accent. There are classes with native speakers. Even the free version is enough to master English, Spanish, Japanese... / iOS
Google Translate. Quickly translates text into 103 languages, in both directions, and works offline with 59 popular languages. You can translate texts from 39 languages by pointing the camera at them. There is a conversation mode: you will understand the interlocutor, and he will understand you, if you speak one of the 32 most popular languages. / iOS
Work with documents
WPS Office. Compact office for working with documents. Supports and essentially replaces Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Sheets, Slide, Adobe PDF and OpenOffice. You can convert electronic documents to PDF, scan paper media. Works with 51 languages and all office file formats. Supports multi-window mode for solving different tasks in parallel. Encrypts documents and stores them in the cloud. / iOS
CamScanner. Scan documents, receipts and business cards with your smartphone's camera. The application itself crops fields, improves sharpness and contrast. PDF documents are stored in the cloud, and important files can be protected with a password. / iOS
DU Recorder. Record video from your smartphone screen and edit it. It is convenient to test mobile applications, conduct live broadcasts, webinars, sweepstakes and streams. The video is recorded in good quality: 1080 p, 12 Mb/s, 60 frames per second. / iOS
Tasks, projects, files
"Megaplan". Mobile version of our CRM system. Just as powerful, simple and convenient. In it, as in the web platform, you can plan business processes, manage tasks and projects. The mobile application consists of two modules:
1. “Tasks” and “Cases”. They simplify collaboration and project management on a Gantt chart, help plan your workday and the order of tasks.
2. “Clients” and “Transactions”. Help maintain a contact database, manage sales and communications. Customize sales schemes to suit your business processes, manage transactions on the Kanban board, and plan profits in the sales funnel. / iOS
Dropbox. Cloud for file storage and collaboration. You can edit Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents in it. Files can be sent even to users who do not have a Dropbox account. In the free plan for individuals, space is limited to 2 GB. An account with 1 TB of storage costs from $8.25 per month. The maximum plan with unlimited space will cost $20 per user. / iOS
ZOOM Cloud Meetings. Convenient application for conference calls. Supports up to 100 video call participants. During a conversation, you can share documents, show your smartphone screen and multimedia files. / iOS
Daily routine, planning
Smart alarm clocks. If you continue to sleep after swiping across the screen, this app is for you. Choose how you want to wake up: solving math problems, shaking your phone 10-50 times, scanning a random barcode, or drawing according to a pattern. And so that the familiar melody does not lull you to sleep, the alarm clock has air raid sounds. / iOS
Stay Focused. Block apps that distract you from your work. The next time you mechanically poke at the messenger or Instagram icon, nothing will happen. And you will be happy to return to work. / iOS
MyLifeOrganized. Organize your tasks for the day, week, month and... life. Yes, in this application you can set life goals and track your progress towards them. Notifications about tasks can be received by time and place: when you go to the store, the application will remind you what you need to buy. / iOS
Evernote. Notes app. Write down ideas, take notes on speakers, make to-do and shopping lists. Set reminders if notes are time-bound. In recordings you can save not only text, but also multimedia, web pages, and scans of documents. Notes can be shared for collaboration. / iOS
Payments, government services
"Sberbank Online". In the application you can view the movement of funds, transfer money from card to card, and pay bills. If you connect your Visa or MasterCard to Google Pay, you can pay for purchases by touching your phone. In the application you can also exchange currency, open a deposit, find out the address of the nearest Sberbank branch. The developers position the software as the most secure banking application in the world. / iOS
Investments. Invest money in securities and take profits. The broker takes his own commission, but this is not always indicated, be careful. And don't risk your last money. Verified applications: Sberbank Investor (/iOS) and Tinkoff Investments (/iOS).
Wallet. This application helps you understand your personal finances. Analyze expenses, save money, plan a budget. Wallet supports sharing - keep records with family or colleagues. The application works with all popular banks. / iOS
"Post office". Useful if you often receive or send parcels. Here you can track your mail, arrange delivery to your home or office, find the nearest branch, ask a question to a postal employee in chat, etc. / iOS
Transport, travel
"Yandex. Metro". Even native Muscovites get confused in the subway. To create the shortest route and find out the travel time including transfers, use this application. Calculate the route to the metro in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Kharkov, Minsk and Istanbul. It will even tell you the car that will be closer to the crossing or exit. Through Yandex. Metro" you can top up your Troika card. /
At our small, fast-growing nonprofit, everyone multitasks, so productivity apps help us manage our responsibilities, which range from programming and design to running conferences twice a year. We asked TED employees which apps they couldn't imagine living without. And besides the classics - Instagram, Google Maps, Spotify, Uber, Seamless (the American version of Delivery Club) - we found some great apps that may be useful to you too. (An asterisk means the app is free or has a free version).
The app shows the weather with amazing accuracy. It displays weather information in message format. For example, “Light rain will begin in 22 minutes.” It will also show you beautiful weather maps that let you imagine yourself as a local news weather forecaster. “It’s like a wizard,” says our technical director Gavin Hall, “if it existed in the 17th century, it would have been burned at the stake for witchcraft.”
Several of our employees love this app. It's Google Calendar with a number of key improvements. Sunrise provides weather forecasts and birthday reminders for your Facebook friends, adding them to your calendar. “It's just awesome,” says our IT manager Francia Richards.
Communications Manager Samantha Kelly was excited about the app because she recently lost her apartment keys and couldn't get home. The app makes a digital copy of the key after you take a photo of it. With this copy, you can get a new key by mail or at a KeyMe kiosk (they recently opened 5 more in New York). A scanned fingerprint is required.
The app will show you all the ingredients of the personal care products you are about to buy. You scan the barcode, and the app provides information about harmful ingredients (and suggests alternatives if you wish). It helps to check such labels on packages as “100% natural ingredients”, “organic product”. Kylie Shearer, from our events team, says: “It helps me make informed choices.”
You probably already know about the existence of this application - it allows you to save posts from social networks and electronic articles so that you can read them even when there is no network connection. TEDx digital strategist Alex Rudlof says: “It gives me the ability to keep track of all the articles that are sent to me. Since Google Reader, it's been my main way of staying up to date." Community support manager Morel Pilot added: “They send me a weekly email with the most popular articles that have been recommended to me.” Another feature that our employees love is the ability to change the font.
An app with a name that's not the easiest to pronounce turns banal photos into works of art. Janet Lee from distribution says: “A year ago I was checking my Instagram and noticed a lot of tacky photos. The beauty of this app is that no matter how bad your shot is, it can be easily improved. The result is that you get maximum likes with minimal effort.”
This application has more than 200 filters and 10 modes. But the real benefit, according to TED Media executive producer June Cohen, is the ability to view these photos without posting them to social media. “I love that my Instagram-like photos can be viewed by only me,” June says.
Allows you to create sheets of favorites - be it restaurants, attractions or movies - which you can then share with friends. But the application is better known for its to-do lists, which can also be published on social media. networks. “It organizes my life!” says Anhali Mohan from Customer Service, “I use it at work and at home. The app even sends alerts to my husband when he needs to clean up.” Production Manager Christel Otti is also pleased with the app: “It’s only thanks to Wunderlist that I can keep track of all the little details of every production process.”
The main function of this application is that with two taps you can send yourself an email with a reminder or ideas that you don’t want to forget. “It eliminated a lot of scraps of paper in every pocket,” says development officer Bedirhan Kinar.
The app visualizes your to-do list, allowing you to create boards for different projects and separate lists within them. Each task is recorded on a separate card. “I've tried a lot of scheduling apps,” says social media editor Nadia Goodman, “I love how easy it is to customize, move, and even change colors. Creating joint boards and storing information (files, posts, pictures) is also very simple. The only downside for me is that the app doesn't remind me when a deadline is approaching."
A spin-off of the Notational Velocity program, the app is popular among techies because... contains MMD function. Software developer Joe Bartlett explains: “I'm naturally absent-minded and love nvALT for its ability to monitor and index details that I tend to write down in different places and end up forgetting: conference notes, math and command line tricks, printer cartridge model. The app also has advanced customization options,” he says.
Like Wunderlist and Trello, Todoist has an app and a web client linked together. “I found it in my never-ending search for the perfect task management app,” says development employee Will True. “It may not be perfect, but it makes it easy to organize tasks by category, importance, project or deadline. It's not pretentious and that's what attracted me the most. It also has good APIs, which allows me to create my own tools using the data provided.”
This app keeps track of all your bills and due dates, and also monitors your bank account and credit card. Most importantly, Check will notify you in a critical situation, for example, if you are close to exceeding your card limit. “It’s much better than Mint,” says IT manager Francil Richards, “and thanks to it, I pay for everything on time.”
Evernote is an organizational tool that you can use to both create notes and store your thoughts—links, photos, notes—for larger projects. “I love Evernote for its versatility,” says junior designer Lilian Chen. “You can use it to store recipes, future plans, and meeting notes.”
To move...
This app downloads searchable, offline, zoomable maps of major cities, so even if you're walking around Tokyo and can't read the signs, you won't get lost. “It's perfect for those who, like me, travel a lot but don't like to plan their itinerary in advance,” says one of our editors, Tu-Huong Ha.
Another great app for travelers. Word Lens translates written/typed text into your language in real time. After you take a photo of the sign or text, the application will give you a translated version of the image. "This is madness! - says Kylie Shearer from the events department, - the translation is not always 100% accurate, but what it gives is enough.
The application tracks your every move. It sounds creepy, but it's actually quite useful. “It calculates how many kilometers you have walked, run or cycled,” says Patrick Darcy, one of the TED interns. “I don’t care about the calories I burned, but I’m just interested in seeing the route I took that day on a map. My friend told me about this app when he returned from Mexico City, showing me his exact routes.”
The application will allow you to minimize the likelihood of getting stuck in a traffic jam. Drivers submit real-time reports of accidents, traffic jams, etc. so others can avoid them. Head of Media Relations June Cohen mentioned the app in a meeting one day, and many of us have been using it ever since.
The application will provide you with complete data on possible routes to your final destination in 50 cities in the USA and Canada. “I know exactly when the next bus or train is coming,” says Anna Fergese, deputy director of the TED Prize. “I like the fact that when I look at the app, I know that the train is 4 minutes away and I can take my time on the way down to the subway.”
The app will help you prepare for a 5 km race. It sends audio alerts when you need to start running or walking. Accountant Earlene Maruhom said: “The goal is to run 5km in nine weeks. We’ll see... I really hope so.”
To simplify office work...
A very useful application for working with Gmail. You can set up an alert to be sent if you do not receive a response to an email within a specified time. It also boomerangs important emails to you so that they are at the top of your list and you don't forget about them at the right time. Our employees especially love the scheduling feature. “I usually write email on the weekend or late at night, but I don't want to disturb my recipients at that time. It's nice to be able to set the time to send a message,” says writer Kate Torgovnik May.
The application helps you archive and delete emails, as well as postpone those that do not require an urgent response. You have the opportunity to fully see the correspondence, which, thanks to the excellent interface, is presented in the form of a chat. “On the way to work, I look through my email, weeding out the unnecessary. This allows me to start the day with a clear head,” says processing manager Gwen Schroeder.
This application organizes 2-step authentication before sending messages and allows you to protect your correspondence in case your phone falls into the wrong hands. “Google has a similar app, but I like Authy better because of the password protection feature.”
“The app will allow you to search and open files and applications on your Mac faster using special shortcuts,” says brand coordinator Boyan Filev, “It speeds up the process of working with files that are stored in numerous folders on your computer.”
This application is a godsend for anyone whose eyes are too sensitive to the bright light of the monitor. It forces your computer or iOS device to adjust to the time of day and the screen light becomes softer and dimmed at night. “I now have fewer headaches in the evening,” says writer Kate Torgovnik May. “I especially appreciate it during TED conferences, when we can sit in a dark theater all day.”
But enough about us. What apps can't you imagine your life without? Share in the comments!
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