You spend most of your time on that little digital device that always seems to be no more than three inches away from you. Yes, your smart phone. You might be accustomed to using it for music, texting, random Google searches and of course, social media. But there are a few apps you may or may not have heard of that could make your life easier. The following list is broken down into four categories: food, transit, school and life.
FOOD
RITUAL: You’re busy. Whether it’s running between classes, to work or to see friends. This app allows you to save time when you need to eat or buy a coffee by finding the nearest food spots and ordering in-app (the signup requires your credit card so payment is easy). It notifies you when your order is ready and you pick it right up at the ‘Ritual Pick-Up Spot’ sign (usually near the cash). No line-ups, ever.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
UBEREATS: The counterpart of the ever-popular Uber comes as no surprise. It’s a convenient and easy setup if you already have the Uber app, as your account is an extension of the car service app. It offers the largest selection of food delivery and they are constantly adding more. However, there is surge pricing based on busy areas and times. Your first order waves the delivery fee ($4.99 per order), so use it wisely!
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
FOODORA: Similar to UberEats, without the surge pricing, Foodora allows you to pay the same amount for delivery at any time of the day. It also offers takeout in addition to delivery, and a wide selection of different foods you might not find on the other above apps.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
TRANSIT
TRANSIT APP: This worldwide app shows you nearby routes and arrival times based on your GPS location. It also features integrated route planning which includes all possible modes of transit, that means that you can also see nearby Uber drivers with their arrival times on top of the public transit times. This allows you to see all available options without ever having to leave the app.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
ROCKETMAN: This app also gives you a list of all nearby routes, in any direction, based on location. This app differs because of its use of seconds, and not just minutes for estimated times of arrival, allowing you to get the most accurate times for those mornings where you might be running just a little bit late!
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
TRANSITNOW APP: This app was specifically designed for Toronto’s transportation system, the TTC. It shows you times for streetcars and buses based on your location, and gives you a live countdown timer. You can also get TTC delay and cancellation alerts in-app, without having to switch back and forth from Twitter. It also allows you to share your travel times with others so you can let friends and family know how long you’ll be.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
SCHOOL
MICROSOFT OFFICE: This one may seem obvious, but most may only have it on their laptops. But did you know that there is a free app? Instead of listening to music or a podcast during your commute, you can work on an essay or a presentation from your phone and easily switch back and forth to the versions already in place on your computer. The app offers full mobile capacity for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
WUNDERLIST: This app consistently ranks high on any app list and helps you get as organized as possible. You can make any kind of to-do list, whether it be for assignments and tests, or errands like the grocery store. All the lists can be shared and synced with other apps and devices. The app will notify you of things you may be forgetting!
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
HEADSPACE: We’ve all been there: overwhelmed with assignments, exams, responsibilities and life. This popular wellness and meditation app can help you take time out of your day when you’re feeling down to keep you performing at your best. The app gives you free access to tips and reminders for more mindfulness, hundreds of meditations and exercises for getting better sleep, and to help with anxiety and focus.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
LIFE
BUNZ: You’ve heard of Craigslist and Kijiji for getting rid of unwanted items or shopping for used ones, but this app can help you find even more. It allows you to search items you may want by distance so you can make sure you’re getting the most convenient transaction available to you. They’re also review-based to allow for safe and positive transactions.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
SLEEPCYCLE: Everyone knows getting a lot of sleep and being a good student aren’t exactly synonymous. Maximize on the amount and quality of sleep by focusing on your sleep cycle. With this app, you can set a window of time for when you’d like to wake up. The app will then use your phone’s microphone and/or accelerometer to analyse your sleeping patterns and wake you up at the best time, when you’re in your lightest sleep state, and hopefully avoiding that groggy ‘don’t want to get out of bed’ feeling.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
DUOLINGO: You may have wanted to learn another language, but never found the time to take a class on top of your busy schedule. This app makes learning a language easier and more fun by turning learning into a game. Spend a few minutes a day brushing up on any of the following available languages: Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Irish, Dutch, Danish, Swedish or English.
Price: FREE
Available on: iOS, Android
Nadia Khamsi is a second year Master of Journalism student at Ryerson University.