If you were a Sci-Fi writer in the 1970s or 1980s and you wrote a device like a modern smartphone, your editor would have probably advised you to either tone it down or split it into a few different devices.
As Mark Twain once said, truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn’t.
In other words, your phone is the ultimate tool, unlike even the most creative of Sci-Fi authors ever dared to dream of, but a lot of people are still not using it up to its full potential. Here are seven apps that can right this wrong.
Password manager
Having an automatic login on all the apps on your phone is not just unsafe; it’s completely reckless. Just imagine if someone were to steal your phone and figure out your unlocking pattern. Even face recognition isn’t as ironclad as you think, and, in the past, it struggled with being unable to tell a part of a cardboard cutout from an actual human face.
So, all your apps are automatically logged in, which means that this is one of the recognized devices (you won’t get the notification until it’s too late), and they can easily access your email. Why is this so problematic? Well, in most scenarios, it’s your email that’s used as a method for 2FA. In other words, they can easily bypass one of the most common ways of protection.
An alternative to this is a code in SMS messages, which they also have access to by default.
Even with all the protection, there’s a way to unlock the passcode.
With a password manager, you get to memorize one password instead of multiple, and you protect all the sensitive apps far more effectively.
Antivirus
One of the biggest problems with viruses is that, contrary to popular belief, they don’t specifically target desktop devices. They can infect the smartphone just as easily.
The big problem with this is that the majority of people browse the internet via their phones and download files on their mobile devices, yet they rarely have antivirus software on their phones. They have it exclusively on the devices that they use less. It’s counterintuitive, but it’s the way it goes.
So, you need to download the antivirus as early as today. Not only is this great for malware protection, app scanning, and phishing protection, but you can also use it to scan the apps that you’re currently using.
Previously, we’ve mentioned the risk of your phone getting stolen; well, some of the best antivirus systems have anti-theft features, which will make it easier to track and find your phone. You get all of that in one app.
VPN
With the help of a VPN, the whole world is your oyster. You see, there is a lot of content that’s geo-restricted. Even some of the largest streaming platforms have content that’s only available in some regions. With a good VPN, you can easily bypass all of this.
Even if it’s not restricted, the content that you’re exposed to is heavily influenced by your geographical location. This may affect the level of censorship that you’re exposed to and even media bias that’s imposed upon your social media.
Another thing you need to keep in mind is the security factor. VPN keeps your IP safe and adds an extra layer of encryption. Since the majority of people aren’t really that vigilant when checking the networks that they’re using and the way they handle their devices, this extra security measure might even make a difference.
Ultimately, it’s important that you pick the right tool. Ideally, you’ll find it at the very top of a credible ranked list.
Task manager
If you’re working in 2024 (either in the office or remotely), you’re probably on some sort of collaboration tool. The company that you’re working for is usually paying an enterprise license and has made you an account that you can use. There, you have your project schedule, to-do lists, and a graphically organized schedule. It’s a great thing, but you don’t really have to restrict yourself to these company-issued platforms and accounts.
Instead, what you should do is get a time-management/task-manager tool of your own. This way, you can run a much more efficient schedule.
Since you’ll also get sophisticated analytics and suggestions (most of the modern tools are AI-enhanced either way), you’ll be able to boost your productivity and run a more efficient schedule.
This will reflect positively on your work-life balance, as well as improve your professional performance. The best part is that there’s literally no downside to using it. These tools are often completely free and incredibly easy to master (and use).
Audible
Reading is one of those things that we know we need in our lives. People make resolutions to start reading all the time. They use methods like the ones from Atomic Habits where they try to read one or two pages every night for months in order to develop a habit of reading.
So, why do they fail?
The main reason is the fact that reading is time and attention-consuming. An average person doesn’t have the time to sit with a book for hours. We’re also not accustomed to the old media formats that consume all of our senses. Instead, we have social media on one monitor, work tasks on another, and a sitcom on the third.
However, reading is not the only way to consume literature, at least not in the 21st century. Instead of torturing yourself with a model that you know won’t work, you should try reading audiobooks, and platforms like Audible have the greatest selection.
Duolingo
The main reason why learning the language as a kid is so easy is because you see it like this big game. You learn a word, and you just can’t stop using it. You don’t even care that it’s out of context; you come up with a context in your head just so that you can get an excuse to use it.
When you grow up, you lose some of this playful spirit. This is where apps like Duolingo step up big time. By gamifying the learning experience, they make learning the rules fun.
Not only that, but they also break away from the traditional way the language is taught. Instead of memorizing the rules, you’ll have them etched into your mind through countless instances of in-app use.
Music recognition
A platform like Shazam is a blessing in disguise. It has solved one of the oldest problems you always had but could never actually verbalize. Namely, how many times have you heard of a song that you just couldn’t identify later on?
With a platform like Shazam, you just turn it on, and it recognizes the song. This way, you can re-listen to it at a later date and even include it in your music collection.
Depending on how important this is to you, it might be a major quality of life improvement.
Each app adds a new function to your phone
Your phone is just a platform for your OS. How useful it is depends on the list of apps you choose to download. Sure, some apps you’ll get by default, but others (like social media apps and streaming services), you’re bound to install sooner or later. When it comes to the rest, this is what will truly come to define the app.
Taylor is a freelance SEO copywriter and blogger. His areas of expertise include technology, pop culture, and marketing.
