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Best Virtual Reality Apps and Experiences You Should Try Best VR Experiences in 2023For those of you looking for some mind-blowing VR experiences, we’ve compiled a list of VR based experiences that featuring stunning videos that will transport you to a whole new realm. You can explore different 3D environments right from the comfort of your couch and believe me when I say, some of these experiences are just magical.
1. WithinSupported platforms: Android (Google Daydream), iOS, Windows, Oculus, PlayStation VR, HTC Vive
Price: Free
Download Within (Free)
2. BBC Earth: Life in VRSupported platforms: Google Daydream exclusive
Price: Free
Download BBC Earth: Life in VR (Free)
3. InCell VRSupported platforms: Google Cardboard/Daydream, iOS, Samsung Gear VR, Windows, HTC Vive, Oculus
Price: Free
Download InCell VR (Free)
4. HorizonsSupported platforms: Google Daydream
Price: Free
Download Horizons (Free)
5. Star ChartSupported platforms: Android (Google Daydream/Google Cardboard), Windows, iOS, macOS, Xbox 360, Oculus
Price: $4.99
Download Star Chart ($4.99)
6. Google Earth VRNot to mention, you can go back in time and visit places from Google Earth’s repository. Apart from that, there is also an option for flying which I am sure you are going to enjoy. Having said that, keep in mind, Google Earth VR is only available on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows computers.
Supported platforms: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows
Price: Free
Download Google Earth VR (Free)
7. VR Media and Movie Apps – Netflix VR / YouTube VR / Hulu VRMy favorite media streaming VR apps are Netflix VR and YouTube VR as thats where I spent most of my time on. You can find these VR apps by simply searching for them in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Some of these apps also support Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and other VR platforms. Lastly, while these apps are free to download and use, you will need to have a paid account with the service (where it is required) to stream media.
Supported platforms: Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and more.
Price: None of the streaming service charge extra for VR
8. Dream Vision VR AppsDream Vision is a company which makes a ton of VR apps and games. Made by Tzumi Electronics, Dream Vision VR aims to enhance your augmented and virtual reality universe with a collection of the best VR apps, videos, and image content available. Under the brand name Dream360, the company has released tons of VR and AR apps.
Supported platforms: Android and iOS
Download: Free
9. NYT VRDeveloped by New York Times, NYT VR takes you up and close to riveting stories captured by the publications journalists. If you’re looking to stay connected and up to date with everything that’s happening around the world, but don’t just want to read news to get that information, then you should definitely try out NYT VR. The app has some amazing content on offer and due to the fact that it immerses you and takes you to ground zero, the experience and the information that you gain about a particular topic are unmatched. Quick tip, download the videos before you play them or you might encounter a black screen if your internet connection isn’t stable.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream/Google Cardboard), iOS, Samsung Gear VR
Download NYT VR (Free)
10. Fulldive VRSupported platforms: Android (Google Daydream/Google Cardboard), iOS
Download Fulldive VR (Free)
Best VR Games in 2023 1. Mekorama VRMekorama is a fairly popular puzzle game and has featured on many of our best Android games lists, so when I found out that there was a VR version as well, I didn’t think twice before getting it on my phone. For those who haven’t played Mekorama before, it’s a three dimensional puzzle game in which you have to control a cute robot and take him from point A to point B, overcoming tricky obstacles all along the way. The VR version of Mekorama really does justice to the 3D puzzle as it allows you to view the diorama from any angle in full virtual reality.
Price: $3.99
Download Mekorama VR ($3.99)
2. Keep Talking & Nobody ExplodesPrice: $9.99
Download Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes ($9.99)
3. Beat SaberBeat Saber is one of the most popular VR games that you can play right now. In fact, the game was awarded the best VR game of the year on Steam in 2023. It’s a highly immersive game where you have to use your sabers to slash the music beats as they come flying at you, from right, left and center. The game is pretty simple that way, but as I said, with the right music beat and unique visual effects, you are taken to a futuristic world where you start enjoying the game thoroughly. The game is simple and easy to play in the beginning, but once you level up, you need to be fast and precise while slashing the music beats.
Many consider Beat Saber as the best game for a workout as it makes you dance in rapid motion while swinging and slashing the music beats. I would say, if you are new to VR games then you should definitely start with Beat Saber. You just can’t afford to miss this game.
Price: $29.99
Download Beat Saber ($29.99)
4. VR XRacerPrice: Free
Download VR XRacer (Android / iOS)
5. Fractal Combat XPrice: $1.99 on Android, Free on iOS
Download Fractal Combat X (Android / iOS)
6. Romans from Mars 360Price: Free
Download Romans from Mars 360 (Android / iOS / Steam)
7. ThumperDo music based games catch your fancy? Then you should consider trying out Thumper – a rhythm based action game in which you play as a space beetle, running down an endless psychedelic track, trying its best to confront the maniacal giant head from the future. Thumper offers nine different levels of rhythm hell with epic boss battles, simple controls, along with visuals and sounds that will definitely give you a sensory overload. It goes without saying that people who’re susceptible to seizures should stay away from this game as it’s full of flashing lights and images.
Price: $19.99
Download Thumper ($19.99)
8. Virtual Virtual RealityAnother great VR game that has been honored by a Google Play Award for the best VR experience – Virtual Virtual Reality – is also a must try for all of you VR fans out there. As the name suggests, Virtual Virtual Reality puts you in a virtual world where you start as a new worker for Activitude – a sci-fi facility that provides services to AI clients. But that’s not all, there are multiple virtual worlds within this virtual world in which there are a number of mini games that you can play. I won’t spoil the fun for you by giving you all of the details, you really need to try the game to truly experience virtual virtual reality or just too much virtual reality.
Price: $8.99
Download Virtual Virtual Reality ($8.99)
9. Deep Space BattlePrice: Free
Download Deep Space Battle (Free)
10. Rez InfiniteAnother VR game that you should definitely try, Rez Infinite is an action packed shooter with incredible environments that you, as a hacker, have to traverse. The game has an otherworldly premise in which you have to travel through cyberspace filled with firewalls, viruses and other obstacles to jumpstart an AI called Eden that has fallen into a vegetative state. Eden is the core of Project-K, a system designed to curb the rising crime rates in the real world. So your failure to reach Eden and get it back up and running will have some serious consequences.
Price: Free with in-game purchases
Download Rez Infinite (Free, with in-app purchases)
11. Eclipse: Edge of LightPrice: $8.99
Download Eclipse: Edge of Light ($8.99)
12. Twilight PioneersHave you ever wondered if you would experience a full-scale RPG in VR? Well, you can with Twilight Pioneers – a first-person action RPG based in a fantasy world full of magic. The game offers an immersive VR experience, making good use of the Daydream controller to give free movement to the players. You can wield a variety of different weapons and embark on a thrilling quest filled with exploration, skirmishes and epic boss battles. It’s like playing World of Warcraft in first-person. Now, I’m sure some of you are going to love that.
Price: Free
Download Twilight Pioneers (Free)
Best Horror and Scary VR Games in 2023 1. The Exorcist: Legion VRIf you are someone who considers themselves bold, fearless, and daring then you should play this game and find out how nerveless you really are. Created by the horror maestro William Peter Blatty and based on the academy-award winning world, “The Exorcist: Legion VR” will test your mental strength to its extreme. The game is chapterized where each chapter features a new demonic entity which will test your courage.
This game without a doubt delivers one of the best if not the best horror experiences you will ever have. The graphics are scary, the music is ominous, and the demons are well, demonic as hell. The game is available for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift only, so keep that in mind. Finally, this game is not for light-hearted people so if you scare easily, be warned!
Supported platforms: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift
Price: $4.99 for Chapter 1
Download The Exorcist: Legion VR – Chapter 1 ($4.99)
2. House of Terror: Valerie’s Revenge (VR)Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream/Google Cardboard), iOS
Price: Free
3. SistersAnother great VR horror game is the “Sisters” which will always keep you one the edge of your proverbial seat. Sisters is a VR ghost story in which you will have to spend a night alone in the house to find out what happened to yout aunt. The night is long and full of terrors and you will discover that you are not so alone after all. Be careful as there’s something in the house that doesn’t want you there.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream/Google Cardboard), iOS
Download Sisters (Android / iOS)
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5 Best Calendar Apps For Iphone You Should Try
Calendars are important productivity tools, and while the default calendar app on the iPhone is good enough, sometimes you might need additional features. It’s times like these when we all turn to the App Store, looking for similar apps that have better functionality. However, the App Store has such a large number of apps, that it’s not easy to separate the good ones from the ones that are not worth your time. If you are looking for a calendar app for your iPhone, you’re in luck! I’ve dug through the internet and picked out these 7 apps (or at least one), that I think you’ll love. So, here are the 7 best calendar apps for iPhone:
1. Fantastical 2Quite simply the best calendar app that iOS currently has (and it’s difficult to imagine something better), Fantastical 2 is the cremè de la cremè of calendar apps. If you’re looking for an app that will not only make it easy to schedule and manage tasks on your iPhone, but will make it something you’ll positively love doing, then look no further. At $4.99, I wouldn’t call the app inexpensive, per se, but it’s well worth the price.
The app starts off with a very well designed main screen, and shows all of your events, and reminders, in a neat looking table. You can swipe down on the “day ticker” to switch to “month view”, and again to switch back. One of the good things (and there are many) about Fantastical 2, is the fact that it displays your to-dos right alongside your events, because, well, where else should they be?
Another really great feature that Fantastical boasts of, is the awesome widget it has for iOS 10. Seriously, that widget is extremely useful, and can be toggled (“Show Less”, “Show More”) between a full size widget showing the entire month, and a smaller version, that only shows the next event that you have scheduled for the day. In the larger version of the widget, you can tap on individual days of the month to see the events you have on that day.
Aside from all of those great features, Fantastical 2 also offers a Dark Theme, and a lot more customisation than most other calendar apps do.
2. Calendars by ReaddleReaddle has established themselves as one of the “go-tos” for productivity apps. If you doubt it, you should use their email app, “Spark”. The Calendars app, by Readdle is no different. To start with, it offers the ability to sync with both your Google Calendar, and the iCloud calendar. Then comes the home screen – it is simply great. All of your events are placed in the form of cards, that are color coded according to the calendar you added them to. Tap on an event and you’ll get a small pop-up with the details (provided you’re not like me, and you’ve actually added some).
The default view that the app opens up in, is the “Week view“, but you can switch between “List”, “Day”, “Week”, and “Month” views whenever you want. Also, if you prefer your calendar to open on the day view, or the month view, etc, you can easily adjust that in the settings. You just need to go to “View Options”, and change the default “Show on start” view from the list. Personally, I think the week view is amazing, and the day view is a close second. However, we all use our calendars differently, and you might prefer something else, which is why it’s a good thing that “Calendars” offers the ability to set the default view.
Install Calendars (Free, with In-app purchases)
Note: You can either buy the pro version of Calendars by Readdle, or if you so desire, you can simply purchase Calendars 5 (also by Readdle), which comes with all the features that the paid version of Calendars offers. The price, either way, will come in at $6.99
3. Timepage by MoleskineAnother really good calendar app for iOS, is Timepage. The Timepage app, developed by Moleskine, is a minimalistic take on calendars (which, usually are a cluttered mess).
Swipe right on the home screen, and you’ll see a month overview, with individual days colored light to dark based on how busy you’ll be (darker is busier, by the way…just in case you were wondering). Here, you can also tap on the little multi-colored dots on the bottom, to view events by individual calendars, such as your “Work” calendar, or your “Gmail” calendar, etc. It’s all very nicely animated, and the app works smoothly.
The app also comes with an Assistant, that you can access by swiping left on the home screen, and tapping on “Assistant”. Your assistant can warn you about rains, give you daily briefings, remind you to follow up with people and a lot more.
Install Timepage ($4.99)
4. InformantInformant, previously known as Pocket Informant, is a calendar app that has a lot of power features, but comes with a little bit of a learning curve. Once you get to know how to use it, though, the app is rather great. One complaint that I do have with this app (and it’s a rather irritating one), is that it feels a little slow to respond, almost all the time. It’s not slow to the point of being sluggish, but it is visibly slow, nonetheless.
Jokes apart, the app does offer some really great features, such as the ability to set multiple alarms for an event, which can come in useful if you keep forgetting things. You can also set custom colors for events, if that is something you want to do; however, the feature is only available if you upgrade to the pro version of the app. The free version sets the event color depending on the calendar you’re adding the event to. You can even set a passcode on the app, or use TouchID, if you don’t want any one else gaining access to your calendar for some reason.
The pro version of the app also offers a lot of other features such as the ability to add weather forecasts to the calendar, create custom event/task templates, printing, sharing, and a host of other features that you may find useful. You can unlock the full upgrade for $14.99, and the Power Feature Pack at $4.99.
5. Google CalendarIf you’re looking for a simple, free calendar that syncs with your Google account, then why not use Google’s own offering – Google Calendar? The app stays true to Google’s design philosophies, and displays your events throughout the day in nice, large, colored cards. While I’m usually against the Google designing on iPhone apps, this app carries it with style, and does it so well, you can’t hate it. Not for the UI/UX, at least.
The app supports a number of views ranging from day, and week, to a “3-day” view, and a month view, as well. The events are displayed in a neatly organised manner, and they do look really good. Plus, the calendar syncs with your gmail account, so all of your Google calendar events will be synced across devices.
The app allows you to customise your calendar to some extent, although not as much as Fantastical, or Calendars by Readdle do. You can change the day that will be treated as the start of the week, set a custom time zone, if you don’t want your device timezone to be used by default. There are some more settings that you can play around with, but don’t expect to be amazed by any of them.
The app is meant to be used as a calendar, and that’s all. You can easily add events, reminders, and even goals, simply by tapping on the pencil icon on the bottom right of the screen. Events, reminders, etc can even be set as recurring events, if you want. This is exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned “Calendars by Readdle”- repeating events is a fundamental feature in a calendar app, one that should not need to be paid for.
Install Google Calendar (Free)
Bonus: Rolo Calendaraka: If you don’t like calendar apps, you might like this.
Rolo Calendar’s punch line goes something like “It’s a calendar for people who don’t like calendars”, and that is actually somewhat true. The app presents a completely new way of working with calendars, and days, weeks, even months, are displayed in the form of a ring with events filling them up. You can rotate the ring to move back and forth in time, and see what events are coming up next. The app is very simple, and doesn’t offer a lot of features, but it is compelling, nonetheless.
You can add new events to the calendar by tapping on the plus icon at the bottom of the screen, rotating the ring to select a start and an end time. Then, you get the option to select the kind of event that you’re creating; options vary from breakfast, and lunch, to meetings, appointments, and even parties. You can add a location to the event, and even add the people who will be attending the event with you.
That’s basically all that the app does, but it does it really well, and as far as simple calendars go, this might just be what you’re looking for. The app does stay true to it’s philosophy of being a calendar for people who hate calendars, but for people who love calendars, and for power users, the app will definitely feel underpowered.
Install Rolo (Free)
Manage Your Day With These Calendar Apps
10 Best Google Tango Apps You Should Definitely Try
1. WayfairViewWayfairView is a really useful (and honestly, kinda fun) app. It uses augmented reality to help you visualise what a product will look like in your house. The app supports a number of different furniture, and lighting attachments that you can place around your house. So, if you were putting off buying that new ottoman for your living room, out of fear that it might not go well with the environment, you can simply use WayfairView to place an AR version of the stool in your living room. You can even rotate, and move the ottoman around, to see where it’d look the best. The app has quite a number of different items you can check out, and with the search option, you can even look for a specific object of interest.
If you’re looking at lighting attachments, you can even adjust the color, and intensity of the light, along with the style of reflections. One of the best features in the app, is that it remembers where you’re placing objects, so if you need to remodel an entire room, you can simply keep on adding products to the places you want them in. Then, when you look around, all the objects will be in their positions, and you can better visualise what the entire room would look like.
2. Dinosaurs Among UsDinosaurs Among Us is an app created by the Museum of Natural History, meant as an experiment in augmented reality. The app uses the Tango sensors on your smartphone for depth sensing, and uses that data, to place 3D models of dinosaurs in your environment. The app comes with dinosaurs such as the Velociraptor, Archaeopteryx, and more, right out of the Museum’s “Dinosaurs Among Us” exhibition.
Once you’ve placed a dinosaur, you can resize it, and place it anywhere you want. Plus, for people who’d rather not have dinosaurs all around their living room, even in augmented reality (thanks, Jurassic Park!), the app can also be used to simply place framed photos of the dinosaurs anywhere you want. Dinosaurs Among Us also allows users to learn more about the dinosaurs available in the app.
Download (Free)
3. Solar SimulatorTapping on the “three line” button on the bottom of the screen shows options for additional detail to the Solar System. You can enable “other bodies”, to view asteroids, and moons. You can also turn on revolution, which makes the planets revolve around the sun, in speeds relative to their real speeds. The app is very interesting, and you should definitely give it a shot.
Download ($2.99)
4. Tango VertigoTango Vertigo is a really cool app that you can use on your Google Tango enabled smartphone. The app doesn’t serve any real utility, but it’s an amazing experience to have. With Tango Vertigo, you can open a portal to a different world, right through your floor. You can point your phone toward the ground, and tap on it. The app then gives you three options to choose from – Space, Dungeon, and City. Choosing space opens up a “hatch” in your floor, with the Earth visible through it, and City basically gives you a view o f (what I think is) NYC’s skyline, devoid of any real detail. However, my favourite is the Dungeon. It is a very realistically drawn, and artistically lit space, which will definitely leave you wanting to see more of it.
Once you’ve opened a portal, you can walk around, and get closer to the portal to view more of the world beneath your floor. I just wish there was a way to actually enter the portal, and walk around, because that’d be amazing. Either way, the app is on that I’d definitely recommend.
Download (Free)
5. Wally Virtual NotesWally Virtual Notes is an app that will let you place virtual notes around your house. The app works by first learning the area – a task that’ll require you to walk around quite a bit… twice (it verifies the area, as well). Once the app has learned the area, though, you can simply tap on the “+” button, and write notes. These notes can then be placed anywhere around your home. The app remembers the locations of these notes between launches, so they are always there. That is, unless you delete them.
Download (Free)
6. HoloHolo is a fun app that uses augmented reality to place holograms of famous people right inside your living room (or office space, in my case). You get the option to place holograms of people such as Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and a lot more. Plus, the app also offers a number of props, to make the scene even more realistic. You can make the holograms perform one of the preset actions, and I must say, it’s more fun than you’d expect.
There are three different packs in the app, the Sports Pack, the Election Pack, and the Holiday Pack. Each of these packs come packed (no pun intended) with a number of different personalities, and props. If you want my recommendation, you should definitely try out the Election Pack; it’s really quite a bit of fun.
7. MagicPlanMagicPlan is one of the more serious applications that make use of Google Tango. The app is basically aimed at people like architects, redecorators, etc. It makes easy work of mapping out a room, simply by using the depth sensing capabilities of your Google Tango enabled smartphone. The app allows you to add multiple rooms, floors, and uses the cameras on your phone to map the walls, and even measure the lengths of each of the walls. It’s definitely a great way to quickly create accurate floor plans for your next building.
Once a room has been mapped, you can easily add objects to it, including doors, windows, flooring, furniture, and a lot more. You can even add additional corners to walls, in order to manipulate them easily, and create complex designs. MagicPlan is definitely a very powerful app, but it’s not for everyone, and its target audience is a very select group of people.
Download (Free, with in-app purchases)
8. Matterport ScenesYou can save scanned scenes to view them later, or load them up as you need them. The app comes with an easy to follow tutorial, as well, which will get you started in no time. As great as the app’s functionality is, it’s definitely a lot of fun watching the app scan the environment. However, the scanning takes quite a bit of time, some amount of patience, and a steady hand. You could also use a tripod, but that’s totally your choice.
Download (Free)
9. Lowe’s VisionLowe’s Vision is another app that uses AR to help you visualise how furniture, appliances, and other products will look inside your house. The app is not nearly as good as Wayfair View, but it does have some really neat features. You can search for items you want to place around your house. These items are organised by categories, which definitely makes it easier to look for things you want. You can try placing appliances like washing machines, and refrigerators. The app even supports mouldings, and bathroom fittings. You can also try out different types of floorings, all thanks to augmented reality.
You can easily rotate, and move the appliances around, and if you’re trying out flooring, you can define the area where you want the flooring. Lowe’s Vision helpfully shows the length, breadth, and total area of the flooring, so you can easily figure out the amount of raw material needed, along with the approximate cost. Lowe’s Vision also brings other tools such as measures, that can help you plan out a remodel of your house with ease.
Download (Free)
10. SpectraSpectra is a Tango app that you can use to create art from data. With this app, you can capture your world in 3D with the cameras on your Google Tango enabled smartphone, and then apply a number of filters to transform your video recordings to digital artwork.
Download (Free)
SEE ALSO: 10 Examples of Artificial Intelligence You’re Using in Daily Life
Use These Apps on Your Google Tango Smartphone12 Best Podcast Apps For Iphone You Should Try
Podcasts are my favorite way of consuming media. Whether I want to listen to the latest news, get opinions on a new product, or just want to pass some time listening to my favorite shows and interviews, podcasts allow me to do all that without requiring me to pay undivided attention to the programs. That means I can listen to them while I am traveling for work or cleaning my kitchen or doing anything else. Another thing that I love about podcasts is that 99% of podcasts are free and available on any app that you want to use. Since your experience of podcasts also depends on the app you are using, it becomes paramount to choose the right app. In this article, we are going to help you with that problem by showing you the 12 best podcast apps for iPhone that you should use.
Best Podcast Apps for iPhone and iPad 1. Pocket CastsI will start this list with one of the best podcasts apps that you can find on the App Store, and that’s Pocket Casts. In fact, the app is so good and popular that it was recently acquired by a collective group of some of the biggest names in the world of podcasting which include NPR, WNYC Studios, WBEZ Chicago, and This American Life. The app was also recently updated to version 7 which brings a plethora of new features. Now, not only you can search for podcasts but also for episodes inside podcasts.
In fact, the search is so good that you can use any term whether it’s in the title or in the show-notes and it will bring the right result. It also allows you to play podcast episodes without having to subscribe to podcasts which is a good way to check out new podcasts without crowding your feed. Apart from these new features you also get a completely redesigned UI which is native to iOS and looks really good. You also get all the other features like queue episodes, smart speed, silence removal, and more.
Install: Free, $0.99/month
2. OvercastOvercast is possibly the most popular podcasting app on the App Store. Created by Marco Arment, Overcast is an app which is always on the front of podcast technology. From smart speed to Voice Boost to better Apple Watch support, Overcast is always one of the first if not the first app to support these features. I love the simplistic design of Overcast which makes it possible to use even by users who have just downloaded the app and haven’t used any other podcasting app before.
One of the newest features of Overcast is its unique ability to create sharable audio clips of the podcast. While I love the de-centralized nature of podcasts, it makes it hard to recommend them to anyone or share your favorite moments. With Overcasts’s new clip sharing feature, now it is possible. I use Overcast for this feature alone. It is one of the best podcast apps for iPhone and you are going to love it.
Install: Free, $9.99/year
3. CastroIf you are someone who subscribes to a ton of podcasts and is finding hard to manage the feed then Castro 3 is for you. Castro 3 brings a unique triage feature which is not available on any other podcast app. This feature allows you to see all the new episodes and then either place them in your listening queue or discard them within seconds. Castro does that by using the concept of “Inbox” which hosts all the new episodes of podcasts to which you are subscribed. From here, you can use taps or drag and drop to sort through these episodes. You can either put them in your queue list or archive them. The whole process is pretty easy and I love it.
Install: Free, $18.99/year
4. StitcherStitcher is a great place to find and listen to exclusive podcasts and episodes which you cannot find anywhere else. Remember when I told you that 99% of podcasts are free, well, if you want to find that missing 1%, Stitcher is the place you need to go to. While the free app of Stitcher is like any other podcast player on this list and allows you to subscribe, download, and listen to podcasts, it is the premium version which excites me.
Once you subscribe to “Stitcher Premium” you will not only get access to premium podcasts but also things like bonus episodes of your favorite podcasts, early access to new releases, and more. Many podcast creators also only allow you to access the last 3 or 4 months of released episodes for free. If you want the entire library, you can get it via Stitcher premium. As I said, Stitcher is a great place to discover and listen to podcasts you cannot find anywhere else and that’s its USP. If you are ready pay for premium content, Stitcher can be the podcast app for you.
5. BreakerIn fact, if there’s a podcast that you are running, you can claim it on Breaker and then interact with the community to see what your fans like and don’t like. Apart from the social features, Breaker is also just a great podcast player. The overall design is really good with elegant UI elements and the features like downloading and streaming podcast, removing silence, dark mode, and more are all there. If you want to add a social twist to your podcast listening experience, check out Breaker.
Install: Free, in-app purchases
6. DowncastHowever, the most defining feature of Downcast which is not something you will find on most of the apps on this list is a separate Mac app ($4.99) and progress-sync across devices. The best part is that you don’t have to pay any syncing charges. Once you pay for the application, all your progress will sync across devices using iCloud sync. Apart from that you also get features like “Start Up” view which allows users to open the app at a specific location, location-specific app refresh, chapter support, and more. So, if you enjoy listening to podcasts on multiple devices, Downcast can be a great option for you.
Install: $2.99
7. CastboxOne of the unique features of Castbox is that it allows users to create their own podcasts and release episodes. Just create an account, record your episode, and release it to the world. Another unique feature of Castbox is the in-Audio search which matches your phrase to the content of episodes to give you most relevant results. The search learns from your usage so the more you use the app the smarter it will become. Overall, I quite like this app and you should definitely check it out.
Install: Free, $0.99/month
8. Apple PodcastsComes Pre-installed
9. TuneIn RadioTuneIn Radio is a little different than all the other podcast players mentioned on this list. It not only lets you listen to your favorite podcasts but also over 100,000 radio stations around the world. This is the biggest power of TuneIn Radio. With this app, you can listen to both your local radio stations and all the popular radio stations from around the world. If you are a sports fan you will also enjoy the direct integration of NHL, MLB, NBA, and other sports platforms.
There’s also a library of more than 40,000 audiobooks which is perfect for long travels or days where you have a lot of time kill. Do note that not all the radio stations are free and you will have to pay a premium subscription to avail all its features. That said, even the free version has more than enough content to last you multiple lifetimes. If you enjoy listing to radio stations, this is the one to get.
10. SpotifySpotify is not necessarily a podcast app as it primarily a music streaming service. That said, it’s great for users who just enjoy occasional podcast episodes here and there and don’t want to download another dedicated app for that. Spotify lets you access all the podcasts that you can from any other dedicated podcasting app on this list so it’s not that you are losing out on anything. It’s just that its UI is not meant to bring podcasts in the foreground.
However, that might change in the near future as the company seems to be in talks to acquire Gimlet Media for a reportedly 200 million US dollars. For those who don’t know Gimlet Media is one of the biggest podcast producing studios in the world with hit shows like Start-Up, Reply All, Homecoming, and more. If Spotify is considering buying this awesome podcast company, it might be taking the podcast game more seriously than we thought.
Install: Free
11. The Podcast AppFor a fully personalized podcast listening experience, you can bank on “The Podcast App”. Boasting an ever-growing catalog of over 500, 000 podcasts, it has got both a wide variety and huge library to let you listen to all sorts of programs including comedy, politics, education, news, and more. Moreover, it also provides curated lists of podcasts based on your interest. So, you won’t have to spend a lot of time to find out the sort of podcasts that you prefer to catch up with.
In terms of user-interface, The Podcast App has kept everything neat. One of my top picks of this app is the ability to create an episode playlist, which is great for a seamless listening experience. Another feature that’s worth taking note of is the multiple organizing tools that make it easier to keep podcasts organized for quick access. Plus, the option to adjust playback speed also comes in handy when you want to skip certain portions or listen to some segments with a bit more attention. Everything considered; it’s one of the most user-friendly podcast apps for iOS and iPadOS.
Install: Free, $9.99/year
12. PodbeanBut my favorite Podbean feature is the CarPlay support which comes into play during a long drive. As I prefer to listen to some of my top picks on the drive to prevent boredom from creeping into the journey, I really appreciate this feature. Another feature that has called for my attention is the built-in audio recorder with a variety of sound effects. And with some easy-to-use tools like editing, splitting, merging, and exporting, you also have the flexibility to craft the post-production. Considering these notable features including a massive library of more than 50 million episodes of podcasts, Podbean becomes really hard to overlook.
Install: Free, $9.99/year
The Best Podcast Apps on the App Store25 Best New Windows 11 Features You Should Check Out
After Microsoft first announced Windows 11, it released some major Windows 11 previews, including Build 22000.51 and 22000.100, to Windows Insiders a good look at all the new features. And today, Microsoft has finally released the first stable build of Windows 11 to all eligible users. If you are excited to try the next-gen Windows OS update, we have written a tutorial on how to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10. We have been testing Windows 11 for weeks now and have come across some of the best new Windows 11 features that you should know about. From hidden features to the major ones, we have covered all the new features of Windows 11 in great detail here.
Best New Windows 11 Features (Updated October 202`1) 1. New Start MenuOf all the new Windows 11 features, the new launcher-style floating Start Menu is the most distinctive part of Microsoft’s next-gen desktop OS. Unlike the traditional Start Menu, the new Start — as Microsoft is calling it — sits right at the center of the taskbar. It has a flyout design with pinned and recommended apps accompanying each other. So far in my usage, the recommendations are pretty good. It quickly offers me access to documents, photos, and apps I have recently installed.
Apart from that, you can hover your mouse over the Search menu, and it will offer you a few suggested apps based on your past searches. Overall, I think the new Start is the best thing about Windows 11. It’s fast, resolves your queries smartly, and offers the best results within seconds.
2. New Action CenterWhat’s more interesting is that the Bluetooth connection is now much faster, and you don’t need to dive into Settings to pair your device. It also houses the notifications in a clean design with badge support and offers ample space to reply or clear the clutter. Not to mention, the new Action Center is responsive in comparison to the laggy mess that was Windows 10’s Action Center. Kudos Microsoft!
3. Universal Media ControlYeah, you can now control all your media playback from the new Action Center on Windows 11. No matter if you are playing a YouTube video, Spotify playlist, a Twitter clip, or a local video, everything shows up in the Action Center. Note that I tried playing a video with VLC, but it didn’t show up. However, when I played the same local video through the native “Films & TV” app, it worked flawlessly. So yeah, Universal Media Control is another neat feature in Windows 11.
4. Modern File ExplorerThe File Explorer on Windows has been a major point of contention among Windows users. Diehard fans have disapproved of any change to the File Explorer, stating why to change something if it works perfectly well. That said, it indeed needed a modern makeover, and I am happy to report that the new File Explorer is functional and has all the features you need. You now have colorful new icons, a new Context menu, and a Command bar up top, which replaces the existing Ribbon menu bar.
5. New Microsoft StoreThe newly-designed Microsoft Store is another great new feature of Windows 11. It’s built from the ground up and now supports Win32, .NET, UWP, Xamarin, Electron, React Native, Java, and even Progressive Web Apps. You can even find themes and extensions for Microsoft Edge on the new Microsoft Store.
Frankly, I have never been a fan of Microsoft Store because of the sluggish and janky experience in the past, but the new one truly looks great. One thing to note in the current build is that you still can’t view the last updated date of an app. Moreover, the new Microsoft Store will also support Android apps, but support for the same will arrive at a later stage. You can read more about it right below.
6. Android Apps Support in Windows 11A major highlight of Windows 11 is that it can now run Android apps powered by the Amazon App Store. However, Android app support has not been rolled out in the stable Windows 11 build. Microsoft has confirmed that the option to install Android apps will arrive in the upcoming builds. But wait, there’s more. The best part is that you can even sideload APKs on your Windows 11 PC. How cool is that?
As for the implementation, Microsoft has taken the same approach as WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux). That means Android apps will run natively on Windows 11, and the performance will be pretty good. Not to mention, Android apps will run both on Intel and AMD processors, irrespective of the Intel Bridge technology that brings this amazing feature to life. To learn more about Android app support on Windows 11, check out our explainer on Project Latte.
7. Redesigned Settings AppYou also get a power and battery usage report (screen on time in Windows 11) similar to smartphones, some stunning themes, and more. All in all, I really like the new Settings redesign, but in its current form, it’s a bit slow and not as responsive as one would expect. And for those who are wondering, yes, you still have Control Panel at your disposal.
Yes, you read that right. With Windows 11, you will have a much faster Windows update process, thanks to the background installation mechanism. Microsoft has promised that Windows updates will now be 40% smaller, making the process even more efficient.
Not to mention, if an update installation is pending while restarting your PC, it will show you the estimated time required to complete the update. This nifty addition will save you time and hassle. The new update system is one of the best, if not the best, features of Windows 11.
9. Snap Layout & Other New Multitasking FeaturesSnapping was already great on Windows 10, but Microsoft has taken it a notch further with easier Snap Assist. This new feature is called Snap Layouts. Now, when you hover your mouse pointer over a window’s maximize button, you will find various layouts for how you want to position the window. You can also invoke the snap layout option with the “Win + Z” Windows keyboard shortcut. If you use a large monitor, this will help maximize your productivity.
10. Windows 11 Widgets 11. New Context Menu & Rounded CornersWindows 11 has finally brought a modern context menu sans the sharp corners. It gels well with the overall Windows 11 aesthetics. But let me tell you something, there was no “Refresh” button in the context menu in the initial builds. Don’t worry, though. Microsoft listened to user feedback and brought back the “Refresh” button in recent Windows Insider preview builds. And well, the “F5” shortcut still works in Windows 11.
If you take my opinion, I really like the new UI, and the new Mica effect used for Windows UI elements is great. Besides that, you will find rounded corners everywhere, and I hope Microsoft maintains this level of consistency as we move along.
12. Teams Chat Integration 13. New Your Phone AppSince its release in 2023, Microsoft has continuously improved the Your Phone app, but after the stable Windows 11 release, it seems a new redesigned version of Your Phone has come to Windows 11 with the stable release. Recently, during the Surface event, a new version of the Your Phone app was teased, and it’s built on the Windows 11 aesthetics to match the rest of the UI.
While the existing version of Your Phone app supports launching Android apps from your phone, but it’s only limited to flagship Samsung phones. We hope that the new Your Phone on Windows 11 brings app mirroring to all Android phones.
14. New MS Paint, Photos, MS Office, Media PlayerOne of the best things about Windows 11 is that Microsoft is not just reskinning the OS to the new Fluent UI, along with rounded corners and Mica material, but the company is also showing similar effort to redesign its first-party apps. Microsoft has overhauled one of its oldest apps, Paint, to the new design language, and it looks beautiful. The recent Windows 11 Dev build brought the new Paint app and it syncs with the rest of the UI elements.
Furthermore, the Photos app has also been updated with rounded corners and new features such as side-by-side comparison, floating toolbar, smart categorization, and a lot more. If you have not got the new UI, follow our tutorial and learn how to manually install the new Photos app on Windows 11.
15. Focus SessionsFocus Sessions is one of the best new features of Windows 11 as it brings something new to Microsoft’s desktop OS, similar to what we have seen on smartphones. To be productive on Windows 11, Microsoft wants users to utilize the dedicated Focus Sessions feature in the Alarms and Clock app. You can link your Microsoft To-Do list to manage your tasks and integrate Spotify to listen to your favorite music during work.
It also reminds you to take a break after longs hours of work, lets you set timers so that you remain disciplined to the task, and brings a helpful dashboard to keep track of your progress. What I love the most is that there is a widget as well for Focus Sessions, which you can place on the desktop for quick glancing. If you want to learn how to use Focus Sessions on Windows 11, go through our linked guide.
16. Voice TypingVoice Typing is among my favorite Windows 11 features as it makes typing much easier and acts as a great accessibility tool. You just need to press the Windows 11 keyboard shortcut “Win + H“, and you can dictate whatever you want to write.
I use Google voice typing on my Android device, and it’s fairly accurate, but I was surprised to find that Microsoft has indeed improved its voice recognition algorithm, and it works wonderfully well. It even supports auto punctuation which is just awesome. So go ahead and try out Voice Typing on Windows 11.
17. Advanced Gesture ControlsAfter testing the Windows 11 Insider Preview build 22000.51, I can confidently say that the new gestures feel smooth while moving between apps, virtual desktops, handling webpage, and more. You will almost feel like you are interacting with a tablet. I love the three-swipe down gesture to minimize all the open windows instantly.
18. New Minimal Lock ScreenWhile everyone is pumped about the new design and what is inside Windows 11, let me tell you that the new lock screen on Windows 11 looks stunning as well. It applies an acrylic blur in the background, and the new variable Segoe UI font makes things even better. If you don’t want all the links and recommendations on the lock screen, you can disable them from Settings for a clean lock screen.
19. New Wallpapers & SoundsAlong with Windows 11, Microsoft has also brought a series of beautiful wallpapers, sounds, and themes. Wallpapers such as Captured Motion, Flow, Sunrise, Glow are some of the nicest wallpapers you can find on a desktop OS. Also, the startup and notification sound is really good. You can download Windows 11 wallpapers and listen to Windows 11 sounds from our linked articles.
Needless to say, Windows 11 has support for both light and dark mode, and this time around, the dark theme is pretty consistent across UI elements. We can disregard the few legacy components in Windows 11 build 22000.51 since Microsoft will polish it before the final release.
20. Snappy AnimationsSwipe away the widgets panel or close the Action Center, every UI element responds to the neat animation, and they look and feel amazing. As far as UI and UX are concerned, I think Windows 11 has knocked it out of the park, incorporating functional elements and beautiful design.
21. Touch Keyboard ImprovementsWe know that Microsoft has removed the tablet mode from Windows 11, and for a good reason. It has now developed a unified interface that works for both desktop and tablet form factors. To enhance the tablet experience, the touch keyboard has got some major improvements in Windows 11. This includes support for themes, background image, the ability to customize text size, typing behavior, and more. So if you have a Windows tablet, Windows 11 is going to bring a whole new experience to your device.
22. Auto HDR and Dynamic Refresh RateDuring the Windows 11 unveiling, Microsoft announced support for Auto HDR that would elevate the viewing experience while playing games. While we have not tried it on our system so far, it sure sounds like a great feature for the massive gaming community on Windows.
23. Clipboard SyncingCurrently, it does not support image and video sharing through cloud clipboard, but we might get these features in the future. If you want to learn how to sync clipboard across Android phone and Windows 11 PC, follow our linked tutorial.
24. Screen Time and Battery UsageAs Microsoft has completely overhauled the Settings page, some new features have also made their way to Windows 11. You can now find out how long the screen has been turned on after a full cycle of charging the battery. Apart from that, it also displays a graph of battery usage so that you can gauge the battery health of your laptop. Not to mention, you can also discover the list of apps that have consumed the battery juice.
For Windows laptops users, this is a great Windows 11 feature, and you should definitely check it out. To learn more about how to check screen on time in Windows 11, head over to the linked article.
25. ARM EmulationNot many have paid attention, but Windows 11 has also brought support for 64-bit emulation on ARM PCs with the ARM64EC layer. It’s a huge development, and Microsoft has made a great effort after many years of stagnation. Finally, you will be able to run Win32 64-bit apps on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs.
Check Out the Best Windows 11 Features Available Today
21 Best Time Management Tools And Apps You Need To Try
As a famous movie villain once said: “Who has time? Who has time? But then if we do not ever take time, how can we ever have time?” While the Merovingian from the Matrix films may be an ethically dubious source for wisdom, it is true that time is the one resource that you can’t have more of.
Whether you’re rich or poor, you only have so many days on this earth. Therefore you need to manage that time to get to all the important stuff.
Table of Contents
Time management is a tough skill to learn, but these 21 time management tools all have their own contribution to make when it comes to doling out your precious time to the demands of modern life.
1. TrelloTrello is one of our absolute favorite time and project management tools. It’s what we use! You can easily break any project into phases, with columns and cards representing specific tasks. Alternatively, use the column and card system any way you want!
Key Features:
Create columns and cards to suit your project and team.
Pack all related info for a card directly into it.
Assign due dates and specific team members responsible for each card on the board.
Pricing: Free with various paid options starting at $12.50 per user, per month.
2. Rescue TimeAn automatic time management tool that gives you insight into how you’re using your time and where you can win some of it back. Ideal for those who never seem to have enough time to get it all done, but don’t know where the time went!
Key Features:
Pricing: 14-day trial with prices starting at $6.50 per user, per month.
3. TodoistAn amazing to-do list application that seems to have thought of everything. It can help you make sure you have enough time to get to everything, in the right order, without the anxiety.
Key Features:
Fast task-adding system, with recurring date options.
Easy delegation of tasks to other users.
Useful template library for various project types.
Pricing: Free, with premium options starting at $4 per month, per user.
4. Toggl TrackToggle Track is one of the three Toggle tools that specializes in time tracking. WIth a particularly attractive and intuitive design.
Key Features:
Pricing: Free with plans starting at $10 per user, per month.
5. TickTickTickTick is a todo list and task manager application that’s available across a staggering number of devices, platforms and operating systems. Including the Apple Watch!
Key Features:
Supports voice input for tasks.
Location-based reminders.
Multi-priority task system.
Pricing: Free to start, with $27.99 per user annually.
6. TymeKey Features:
Peerless integration with Apple software such as Calendar and Siri.
Tyme reminders straight to your notification center.
Clock in and out based on location.
Pricing: $3.99 per month, per user.
7. TimelyKey Features:
All your time spent in various work apps are automatically drafted into a daily timeline.
Real time team dashboards.
Location tracking support for location-based time tracking.
Pricing: Starts at $96 per year, per user.
8. PocketPocket is a time management tool that lets you avoid the distraction of interesting content, by letting you easily save it all for later when your work is done. Also great for organizing planned reading for work or study.
Key Features:
Save content from anywhere and virtually any type.
Offline reading support.
Save on your desktop browser, and view your pocket from any device.
9. Remember The MilkRemember The Milk is a smart and simple to use task manager designed specifically to keep busy people on track and avoid forgetting that one crucial task. A great choice for anyone with a high density of tasks who tends to let some slip through.
Key Features:
Smart Add allows detailed task creation in a single line of text.
Reminders can be sent to multiple services such as Gmail or Skype.
Supports subtasks and file attachments to tasks.
Pricing: Free with $39.99 per year for Pro users.
10. HarvestHarvest is a time management and expense tracking app with a focus on team management and insight via an intuitive dashboard.
Key Features:
Pricing: Free trial available. $12 per user, per month.
11. Avaza[Avaza]
All-in-one business management software that includes integrated time and expense tracking. A good choice for teams that have complex roles and tasks.
Key Features:
Pricing: Free, starting at $9,95 per month for paid plans.
12.ClockifyA popular, simple and free time tracker that works for teams as well as individuals.
Key Features:
Pricing: Free!
13. ForestA unique app that helps you prevent smartphone distraction by rewarding you with the planting of real trees, limited to five real trees per user.
Key Features:
Start a task by planting a virtual tree.
If you leave the app before 30 minutes have elapsed, the tree withers and dies.
Virtual coins earned growing virtual trees can be spent on real tree planting charities.
Pricing: $1.99 with optional in-app purchases.
14. Epic WinA cool gamified time management tool that turns your real-life tasks into a roleplaying game. Perfect for MMORPG addicts!
Key Features:
Earn experience points by completing your tasks.
Level up your character.
Progress on the quest map by completing tasks.
Pricing: $1.99
15. LoopLoop uses innovative tracking and feedback to help you cultivate good daily habits and time efficiency, based on a unique understanding of how habits are formed and sustained.
Key Features:
Proprietary habit score algorithm.
Open source, works offline and completely private.
Reminders, complex schedule support and attractive widgets.
Pricing: Free and open source
16. MyLifeOrganizedFlexible, fully-featured time management app with optional paid cloud-syncing feature.
Key Features:
Simple, elegant drag-and-drop to-do list creation.
Support for intuitive hierarchical to-do lists.
Generates smart lists from complex hierarchical task outlines.
Pricing: Free on mobile with $29.99 PRO version. $49.95 Windows Standard Edition. $59.95 Windows Pro Edition..
17. Google TasksBarebones time management tool from Google, brilliantly integrated with the Google suite. Simplicity is its strength, but it might be too sparse for some.
Key Features:
Stripped-down and core functionality only.
Supports sub-tasks.
Create tasks directly from Gmail.
Pricing: Free!
Website: Find it on the Play Store or Apple App Store
18. Clear TodosAn incredibly minimalist yet powerful touch-centric to-do list tool for iPad and iOS.
Key Features:
Simple Today View to see your immediate tasks at a glance.
Free of all clutter.
Designed for touch-interfaces from the ground up.
Pricing: $4.99
Website: Find it on the iOS App Store
19. Microsoft To DoPowerful and integrated to-do tool from Microsoft, which replaces the popular and well-regarded Wunderlist. Perfect for those already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem at work.
Key Features:
Offers a web-app, so you can access it from anywhere.
The smart daily planner offers personalized suggestions to ensure an accurate and useful task list.
Tasks can be broken down into simple sub-steps.
Pricing: Free!
20. Tomato/Pomodoro TimersAvailable as a web-based timer or an app, Tomato Timers offers a simple and elegant way to implement the “Pomodoro” technique. Each pomodoro is 25 minutes long. Users work on the task till the timer runs out. Check off a pomodoro and then take a five minute break. After every four pomodoros, take a long break. The method is meant to improve efficiency.
Key Features:
Simple interface that helps users understand and use the pomodoro technique.
Great, simple web app.
App has only enough tools to stick to your pomodoro practice.
Pricing: Free with ad support and in-app purchases.
21.Nirvana For GTDNirvana is a cloud-based task management and to-do application that’s built around the Getting Things Done time management method invented by David Allen. This method is based around knowing which action you can and should take next, making sure that you only focus on the next step or goal until you get everything done.
Key Features:
Items can be filtered by properties such as time, energy and labels.
Choose where to focus by using the Areas feature.
Can sync across the web, Android and iOS phones and tablets.
Pricing: Free with Pro starting at $5 a month.
Oh My Fur And Whiskers! I’m Late, I’m Late!That is a long, long list of time management tools. Which, ironically, must have taken you quite a bit of time to work through! However, think of it as an investment of time now, to have more of it later.
Just remember that it’s not only the work aspect of life that deserves to have some time set aside!
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