I know about three people who use their cell phone as a phone. Most of the people I know use their phone for a plethora of alternate reasons: to text, play music, provide directions, purchase movie tickets or take photos. So it makes sense that companies are constantly developing new apps for consumers to download on their non-phone phones. In keeping with the alternative uses for a phone theme, below are three of my favorite, sometimes pointless, but free apps for you to try.
DuoLingo
Let’s be real…even after taking years and years of a foreign language in school, you’re still not mastering a second language. And if you are lucky determined enough to become quasi-bilingual, unless you practice on a regular basis you’re likely not going to retain everything that you learn. Enter DuoLingo, an app that turns the process of learning a totally new language or refreshing your existing knowledge, into a game. With timed quizzes, listening and speaking exercises and other activities in a game form, learning English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese and / or Italian is entertaining.
Prisma
Ever look at a photo of yourself and think, “I wish this looked like a Picasso version of me?” No? I’m the only one? For those of you that have… Prisma is for you. I find myself spending a ridiculous amount of time on this app editing photos that I will never post, but regardless, you should download it. Prisma is probably the easiest app you’ll ever use: take or select a photo, crop it and choose an art style. Within a few seconds, your favorite Facebook profile picture is turned into a masterpiece. Don’t be fooled – this is very much for novices. If you want to edit photos to a more professional and detailed level, you should probably use the PhotoPea App download on Windows instead. But if you just want to play around with your photos, then give Prisma a try.
Sleep Cycle
The worst part about waking up to an alarm (besides the fact that you’re waking up when you have to, no when you want to) is that the alarm doesn’t care if you’re in a deep sleep or in the middle of a dream. But Sleep Cycle cares. This app attempts to wake you at the best possible time, in a pleasant manner (my favorite alarm is the warm breeze) but using sound or motion to analyze you while you sleep. The app also provides detailed statistics, like sleep quality, time in bed, time asleep, etc. Might seem a little hokey, but at the very least, waking up to a warm breeze is better than a blaring alarm.
