App stores are crowded places these days, and because storage space on your phone is often at a premium, you’ll want to find and fill it with not only the best, but also the most helpful apps out there. Because they come and go quicker than the latest fashion trends, and digging through Google Play, the iTunes App Store, or any of the others is such a mission; a little nudge in the right direction is often very welcome. Here are the apps we think you need to check out this week.
Free
Here’s the paradox of social networks: the more active you are on them, the less social you’re being in real life. You can keep up with everything your friends are doing, but if you take a second, you realize that all those photos they post have a constant: you aren’t in them. If you’d want to step away from the screen and back into the picture, Free might be the tool to help you do it.
Designed as a modern social network for making you actually socialize, it utilizes some familiar tools from the days of internet yesteryear. You’re given three status options that you can set for yourself: going out, flexible, and busy. You and all of your friends list availability, making it easy to see who’s around and who’s ready to do something. From there, organize your pals with a roll call and hit the town together to make some memories that don’t have to be shared on a digital wall.
DrumUp
Every major publication on the web has people in charge of managing their social media presence, but there’s nothing keeping you from having one too. If you’re a massive sharer on Facebook and Twitter, DrumUp can take over some of the tasks for you. The app searches for content that you and your friends and followers will find interesting, then schedules a time to share it on your feeds. If you enjoy curating the Web for your friends, this app will cut down on the amount of work it takes, while making you look even more awesome.
VideoPop
If you’ve seen those cool compilation posts where people create a photo or video gallery cataloging a day in their life, and thought, “I should try that some time;” VideoPop has you covered. The calendar tool reminds you to take a minute each day to capture your experiences for posterity. It’s a great way to remember little moments in your life that might play a bigger role when you look back on them.
Opener
There isn’t much to Opener; it’s a tiny app with a single, specialized skill; but it’s one that’s really handy. Mobile-friendly websites are great, but a deep link to the official app installed on your phone would be even better. For instance, if you click a Twitter link, it usually directs to Twitter’s mobile site instead of the Twitter app. Opener fixes that, sending links directly to their corresponding app installed on your device. Sometimes the simplest tools are the most powerful ones.
Apples to Apples
When it comes to card games, it’s hard to beat Apples to Apples. It’s a game that people of all ages can enjoy — but is often even more amusing when you revisit the game as an adult. Like many classics before it, Apples to Apples is getting a digital rebirth. Available on iOS devices, the title now allows for up to five people to throw out their best cards in real time and let the judge pick the winner. And of course, it picks up some new school flair with social integration and trending card combinations.
