With classes fast approaching it is time to pack up your bags and head back to Blacksburg, but not without stocking up on back to school gadgets first.
From notebooks to calculators, every student has their own back to school list, but below is my list of essential smartphone apps that every student should have.
EVERNOTE is the ultimate note-taking application. Notes range from basic text to webpages, photographs, voice memos and handwritten notes. You can add attachments to notes, sort them into folders, tag notes and make comments, along with other options. Also, Evernote backs up and syncs online so you can access your information on more than just your smartphone. Evernote operates on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7 and is a free application. You can upgrade to Evernote Premium for $5 a month or $45 a year.
FLASHCARDS is an easy-to-use alternative to making flash cards on notebook paper or index cards. Each flash card can contain text, an image or a video on either the front or the back. Flash cards can be divided into groups based on the exam. You can edit the font size, color or background of your flash cards to suit your specific study needs. FlashCards backs up to your computer, making it easy to study in your residence hall or on the go. FlashCards is compatible with iPhone and is currently on sale for $1.99.
GRADES 2 is a GPA calculator that allows you to determine your grades for each of your courses individually. You start by creating a course and entering your assignments and their weight in the course. After this, you add your target grade for the course and enter in your grades as you receive them. Grades 2 allows you to view all of your grades in one application and compare your GPA to that of prior terms. Grades 2 is available on the iPhone only. It is a free application, the ad-free version is only $.99.
SCANLIFE acts as an in-phone scanner, allowing you to scan most 1D and 2D bar codes. This application allows you to scan bar codes on DVDS, books, food, etc. to get information about pricing, reviews and accessories available. ScanLife allows you to create your own free bar codes to share links. These codes can be shared on social networking sites like Twitter, Google+ and Facebook. Also, you can add a code to your resume that links to your online portfolio or website. ScanLife is compatible with iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone and Nokia Ovi. This is a free application.
KINDLE by Amazon is a great application that allows you to read books, magazines and newspaper from your smartphone. If you already have a Kindle, this device syncs automatically, retaining bookmarks, notes and highlights. If you don’t have a Kindle you can still use this application. Books and magazine and newspaper subscriptions can be purchased through the Kindle Store. You can personalize your reading experience by choosing your background color, font size and orientation. Kindle is available on iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Phone 7. It is a free application.
RATE MY PROFESSORS is an application that will help you choose your classes, and is particularly helpful to new students. Rate My Professors allows you to read comments about professors and add your own. You can find almost any Virginia Tech professor on this app and view their statistics. Professors are rated in different categories including easiness, clarity, helpfulness, hotness and an overall rating. You can also add comments about a professor, share with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or email and add a professor to your favorites list. Rate My Professors is compatible with iPhone and is a free application.
AROUNDME is the ideal application for anyone new to Blacksburg or those moving into an off-campus apartment or house. Using GPS technology, AroundMe determines your location and provides information about destinations near you. This app divides locations into categories like coffee shops, gas stations, movie theatres, restaurants, supermarkets and more. It then provides the name, address, phone number, and opens the location up in a map application. AroundMe is compatible with iPhone and Android. It is a free application, the ad-free version can be purchased for $2.99
WEATHERBUG is consistently rated a top weather application for smartphones. This is definitely something you will need in Blacksburg with the unpredictable weather. WeatherBug provides live weather information, along with weekly and hourly forecasts. Through WeatherBug you will receive National Weather Service alerts for your area. You will also have access to weather cameras and radar maps. WeatherBug caches data so you will be able to access weather information in areas without Internet access. This application works with iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and some Samsung and Nokia phone models. WeatherBug is a free application, but upgrade to the ad-free version, WeatherBug Elite for only $.99
GOOD MORNING is described as a “personal wake-up assistant.” This application is perfect for those of you with an 8 a.m. class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. With Good Morning, you have the option of setting an alarm and having it play a song, read the date, time, weather, news or even your calendar. You also set a personal message to be read to you with the alarm. For those of you who just can’t wake up, you have the option of solving a math problem in order for the alarm to turn off. Good Morning is only available on Android and is a free application.
FITNESS PRO is a great way to keep off the freshman 15 or shed that extra summer weight. This application has an exercise reference with over 450 exercises that can be done at home or at the gym. Fitness Pro also allows you to create your own workout plan, by scheduling up to seven days worth of routines. If you are new to working out, you can choose a preset routine. There is also a section of the application that lets you view the body and select the areas that you want to exercise. Fitness Pro also lets you track and log your runs and view this data afterward. Fitness Pro works on iPhone and is a free application.