TECHNOLOGY

APP TO IT

Free mobile apps you need to download - NOW!

Are you in a public place? Have a quick look around you. Note how many individuals are lost in concentration, tapping wildly at their smart phones. 

Quite often, it is amusing to witness how many couples in a restaurant are having more fun updating their statuses or throwing an angry bird instead of conversing with their date.
With smart-phone apps being more popular than ever, it’s time to get updated on the best free apps you need to own. Alex McCully, tech wiz, offers his advice.

“To all the music lovers out there - Shazam is the answer to all of your dreams. Forget those mind-numbing instances where you’re stuck whistling a tune to a friend in the hope they can name the song – well, now there’s an app for that. Simply open Shazam whenever you hear a song you like and the handy little app identifies the song artist and title, also giving you the option if you want to download it.” 

Download from www.shazam.com/

“Have you ever taken one too many right-turns then found yourself completely lost in our nation’s capital? Well, you can disguise your inner-tourist from now on with citymapper. Wherever you are in London, simply enter where you’re trying to go and this app will do the rest for you, it will find the quickest route and tell you how to complete your journey step-by-step. Citymapper really lives up to its mission of making the city easier to navigate.”

Download from www.citymapper.com

“For those with bellies bigger than their budgets, we have Vouchercloud. Simply enter in your location, then search for local deals for featured offers, restaurants, casual dining, food to go and bars and pubs. This app isn’t just food based – it also offers discount codes for leisure activities and shops also, so works out as a great little money-saver in your pocket in the run up to Christmas.” 

Download from www.vouchercloud.com/

“The beauty of Tinder is its simplicity – this super-popular dating app lets you either pick or pass on a potential date in the nearby vicinity, and if that person happens to also like what they see, then the app hooks you up and lets you chat. This is an app that would be perfect for use in real life, such as in a club or a bar, but it takes out all the awkwardness of punching above your weight or settling for slim pickings at the end of the night.” 

Download from www.gotinder.com

___________________________________________

Ask Santa for...

HOT-POT BBQ

Let’s face it, when living in the UK, long hot summer days are few and far between. That’s where this little beauty comes in – what looks like an innocent terracotta plant pot actually houses a secret BBQ. 
Ideal for guys who like to cook, but not be constantly reminded of the climate in Britain.

£79, www.prezzybox.com

iKETTLE

For those who wake up dreading leaving the duvet to make your beloved cuppa, the geeks over at Firebox have come up with the perfect solution. For under £100, you get the kettle and wifi base unit, that once 
synced with your smart phone actually greets you in the morning by asking if you’d like the kettle on. Perfection. 

£99.99, www.firebox.com

LOMOGRAPHY SMARTPHONE SCANNER

This handy item is perfect for the photographers who shoot on film. Instead waiting for the prints to be developed, just turn on the scanner’s back-light, insert your film, take a photo of it using your smartphone and use your phone’s camera to edit and share. 
You need to download the relevant app to process the images, but it’s worth it for that proper vintage feel. 

£50, www.urbanoutfitters.com

EXPLORER UNDERWATER CAMERA MASK

If you’re planning an exotic holiday for next summer, read on. This item is one of a kind, being the world’s only swim mask that has an integrated waterproof digital / video camera, meaning you can swim with your hands free. The goggle lenses work to a depth of 15ft, so you can make your friends jealous with endless shots of your near-death experience with a mildly threatening shark. 

£119.94, www.play.com