Though some of us are more enthusiastic adopters of technology than others, at the end of the day, we all rely on our smartphones and laptops. And that is because modern technology – apps, websites, digital platforms, the sharing economy, and more – has revolutionized the way that we live. For everything from the trivial to the practical, technology has a solution. These tech tools will show you just how easy life can be if you put your devices to good use.
1. Spotify
Streaming is not just the future of music, it is the present too. Though vinyl is making a resurgence among people who appreciate a tactile experience, the statistics don’t lie;streaming has immense popularity and is still surging. And one of the best streaming platforms available, if not the best, is Spotify. With access to millions of songs and an affordable “Premium” option that is commercial-free, Spotify takes many of the best elements of radio and on-demand digital music and combines them under one umbrella. If you have yet to take the plunge, it’s time to correct the error of your ways. If you want to try it out but don’t want to spend the money, Spotify is offering some stellar deals, most recently 3 months of Premium for only $9.99.
2. ForRent & Sortly
Ask anyone, and they are likely to tell you that moving is up there with dentist appointments and filing taxes as their least favorite thing. From finding a place to live to packing and organizing, moving is an undeniable hassle. However, two new digital tools, ForRent and Sortly, make the process much easier than it has ever been – and less stressful as a result. Take finding apartments for rent in NYC, for example. In the past, this would have required combing through newspaper ads, calling landlords, and perhaps even working with a broker. With ForRent, you can filter through thousands of available options to easily find apartments that meet your budgetary constraints and lifestyle needs. Technology does the dirty work for you!
3. Google Flights
When it comes to booking a flight, you have many options. You can book directly through the carrier of your choice – for example, if you live in Southern California, you may choose to go through Southwest Airlines and cut out the middleman – or you can go with a booking site like Travelocity, Orbitz, or Expedia. However, one of the newest, most intuitive, and most user friendly options is Google Flights. Launched in 2011 and gaining traction ever since, Google Flights pulls data from multiple carriers, requires no account or login, and makes it easy to see ticket cost differences based on travel dates. It will also check one way fares to find you the best options airlines would love for you to miss. If you have never used Google Flights, give it a try and see for yourself.
4. Waze
Waze is a community-based navigation application that draws on data from every active Waze user to populate real-time data on traffic patterns. This means being alerted of traffic accidents, road closures, and other time-consuming hurdles before you get to them. This can not only save you time and gas, but peace of mind as well. And on a lighter note, the app’s on-screen display is also delightfully silly, with cartoons and bright colors. In a world chock full of boring map displays, having funny avatars and caricatures certainly doesn’t hurt. In other words, Waze is helpful and fun. Waze directions are also read by celebrities, including Ed Helms, Elvis Prseley, Jay Leno, Kevin Hart, and even Morgan Freeman.
5. G Suite
Google’s G Suite contains all of the software programs you need for home and business, is completely free, and is available on all of your devices. The various programs under the G Suite umbrella, including Google Docs and Google Sheets, are available as mobile apps, which means you can use G Suite on your mobile device or your computer. Being cloud-based, there is no need to download G Suite either; all you need is a Gmail account and an internet connection, and you can access your documents at any time. Best of all, G Suite documents continuously auto-save, so you don’t have to worry about losing your work. G Suite is business (and home) software for the 21st century. If you’re looking for a trial period, use one of these codes here.