8 Unique Apps to Help You Save Gas Money

Although gas prices are currently lower than they have been in years, saving a little pocket change is always a good thing. Americans spend $1,000-$3,000 on gas each year. This average can vary due to commuting distance, market changes, and vehicle health.
Even if you’re not the best at shopping for gas, there’s an app to help. Mobile apps can save you money by helping you efficiently manage your vehicle’s mileage and fuel costs. Test your vehicle’s performance or find the nearest gas station with the best prices. Do the basics well with some app help.
Please note that while the apps listed below are related to driving and your vehicle, you should never use your smartphone while driving. For the safety of yourself and others, please only use these apps either before or after your commute has taken place.

FuelLog (Android, Free)

One of the oldest and most trusted apps designed to help you save money on gas, FuelLog is free to download and use. A unique feature — FuelLog supports electric cars and provides a detailed report of your gas usage and expenses. You can anticipate gas costs by using the fuel calculator and track vehicle maintenance within the app.
The Pro version of FuelLog is available for $2.59 on Android only. It includes an unlimited number of cars, graphs, and cost entries in an ad-free environment. With FuelLogPRO users can import or export data, making in-depth analysis of expense costs simple during tax season.
Either version of FuelLog can help you save money by increasing awareness of fuel expenses, trip costs and car maintenance issues affecting gas purchases.

Garmin Mechanic (Android, Free)

Garmin Mechanic makes it easy to track your vehicle’s speed, total distance and mileage to help you save money on gas. It can be your mobile toolbox on Android smartphones and tablets.
Garmin Mechanic stands out from other apps because it analyzes fuel usage and vehicle performance over time. Entering your information at fill up provides insights into cost per mile, total fuel used, and approximate miles per gallon for one or more vehicles.
Pairing Garmin Mechanic with ecoRoute HD (a $99.99 upgrade) opens up more robust vehicle tracking tools, including real-time data about your vehicle’s essential functions. You can track everything from oil pressure to air flow while accessing precise fuel economy information specific to your vehicle.

GasBuddy (Web, iOS, Android, Free)

Whether gas prices are falling or on an upswing, GasBuddy will help you save money by finding the least-expensive gas prices in your area. Perfect for savvy shoppers seeking the best local deal, GasBuddy is available online and via mobile apps.
Like Waze, it works by user participation. Fellow users update the database daily ensuring the app’s customers can access the lowest local gas prices.
Compared with similar apps, GasBuddy focuses on finding the cheapest gas prices in the area and where to find them. The database spans the U.S. and Canada, making it ideal for road trips and local travel.
GasBuddy also uses gamification to motivate users to update the database. Reporting gas prices earns users awards, points and daily entries for a $100 gas gift card.

AAA TripTik (Web, iOS, Android, Free)

Save money on road trips. AAA’s TripTik web and mobile apps do not need a paid membership for AAA to access the trip planning features.
Besides mapping travel distance, users can search for the nearest gas stations or electric car charging stations, which is helpful when comparison shopping in an unfamiliar location. Fuel-economy aside, you can also find nearby hotels, restaurants, pharmacies and other local amenities.
For AAA members ($66-$126 annually), the mobile apps offer more functionality like in-app roadside help requests, optional Passbook integration, and battery replacement quotes.

Gas Manager (iOS and Android, Free)

Gas Manager is a helpful companion for frugal drivers. The freemium app tracks gas usage and expenses.
Tracking the first 10 fill-ups is free; then, an in-app purchase of $3.99 unlocks unlimited fill-up tracking. Using Gas Manager helps you save money by monitoring gas consumption, price and mile per dollar.
Viewing fuel data within the app also provides a glimpse of your vehicle’s fuel economy and efficiency. The app also helps track your vehicle’s carbon footprint.
Helpful features like geolocation of your parking spot or the ability to find local gas stations and mechanics, add to the app’s value and money-saving potential.
For more apps with a wide variety of vehicle management features, check out these car mode apps for Android.

Waze (Web, iOS, Android, Free)

Like GasBuddy, Waze mobilizes the power of a community to ensure information is constantly updated.
Compared with traditional gas-related apps, Waze saves you time and money by providing traffic and road hazard information in real time.
It is particularly useful for those with long daily commutes. Waze can help you avoid traffic jams (a super inefficient use of fuel) and get to your destination quicker. The app also points you in the direction of the cheapest gas prices.
Specific data transmitted via Waze includes law enforcement traps, closed roads and accidents on local roads. A live map is accessible and customizable within Waze, allowing you to tailor the information shown to include only the most relevant updates. Users gain points for adding new data to Waze and using Waze as their GPS, making travel and fuel tracking a daily game.

Gas Guru (iOS and Android, Free)

Developed by Yellowpages.com, Gas Guru’s features are similar to those of GasBuddy, as the app helps you locate the nearest gas station with the lowest prices. But when have you ever just needed gas?
Whether you need an oil change or a quick bite to eat, Gas Guru points you in the right direction. Between enhancing the efficiency of your daily commute and finding the least-expensive gas stations in your area, Gas Guru can help you save a significant sum.
Built-in social sharing and location ratings make it easy to help friends save money on gas and shop at the highest-rated local businesses. In an emergency, Gas Guru also helps you locate nearby mechanics and ATMs.
Fuel price information is consistently updated via the Oil Price Information Service as opposed to the app’s community of users.

Dash (iOS and Android, Free)

Dash stands out on this list for two reasons. First, it does need extra equipment in the form of an on-board diagnostic device (OBD), which, depending on the vendor, begins at around $20.
Dash is a Bluetooth-connected app (itself free to use, minus equipment costs) that tracks your driving style, compares nearby gas prices, and even evaluates what the unexpected check engine light is signaling.
Dash offers real-time MPG information and custom driver scores, while saving you money by helping you become a better driver and scouting the best gas prices. It supports many vehicles.
One of Dash’s most exciting features is the ability to see your driver rating compared to other users, which is a motivator to consistently improve your fuel efficiency habits.
If an OBD device sounds like a good fit for you, you can also check your car’s performance with these other OBD devices.

Where Will You Travel?

The average price of gas within a geographical area can vary by 10 cents or more per gallon. Using any one of these tools can save you a few dollars each time you fill up. Now that you’re equipped with apps to track and save every penny, where will you go with all the extra cash?

How to Use Your Smartphone As a Webcam for Your Computer

Don’t have a webcam, but need to make an urgent video call on Skype or some other video conferencing service? Perhaps you already have a webcam and want to add a second camera to your setup?
All you need is your Android phone and a suitable app.

Why Use Your Phone As A Webcam?

You’re caught short. Your children want to chat with their grandparents over Skype. Or perhaps it’s your boss, wanting a teleconference to discuss that report you submitted.
But you don’t have a webcam.
Although they come built into many monitors and all-in-one PCs, not everyone has a webcam. Peripheral webcams are popular, but they can prove tricky to install and temperamental even when they’re set up correctly.
The solution is something we’ve covered previously on MakeUseOf, but time has moved on. Arguably the best — perhaps really, the only — choice you should make is to install DroidCam, an Android app that turns your smartphone (and if you have a good device for grabbing it, your tablet) into a handy, portable webcam.

DroidCam

DroidCam comes in two parts, an Android app that is free from Google Play (premium $4.00 version also available), and the desktop client component, which is available from www.dev47apps.com/droidcam for Windows and Linux.
Begin by installing the Android app. With this done, switch your attention to your desktop PC. After downloading, unzip and run, following any on-screen instructions.

Once launched, you’ll be invited to input the IP address for your DroidCam. This should be easy to find, just run the app on your Android and it will be displayed, as well as the port number. Back on the desktop client, you’ll notice that it is possible to stream audio from your phone as well, and choose video quality — low, normal, and high are available.
Should you opt to connect via USB, all you’ll need is the USB cable that came with your phone.
When you’re ready to proceed, click Start to begin streaming. The mobile app will then send the image from your phone’s camera to your computer. For devices with two cameras, tap the Settings button on the mobile app and check the appropriate box to switch to the camera you want to use.

Although the free version of DroidCam offers some good options, it isn’t perfect. For instance, you can only use the webcam in landscape mode, zooming is limited as is resolution, brightness, and various other controls that are found in the menu across the bottom of the DroidCam desktop client.
To activate these, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version of DroidCam. Naturally, we would only recommend that you do this if you feel you’ll use these features, otherwise remain with the free DroidCam release.

IP Webcam

A strong alternative to DroidCam, IP Webcam is also available as a free app from Google Play, with a premium upgrade available ($3.99). The PC viewer can be downloaded from ip-webcam.appspot.com.

Setup is largely the same as with DroidCam. However, although there is a configuration tool that you will need to fill in, IP Webcam requires you to view the output through your web browser. Only Chrome or Firefox are accepted here, so Windows users can’t use Internet Explorer as it doesn’t stream correctly. You’ll need to use the http://[IP ADDRESS]:8080/videofeed URL to view the feed.
Various image resolutions are available for video and stills, and rear smartphone cameras are supported, although front-facing cameras aren’t yet fully supported.
Once you’re up and running, tap the Actions… button on your Android device to check the app is running correctly, to stop and start the camera, and more. Want to know more? Check our previous assessment of IP Webcam, or just start using it…

EpocCam

Another free app with a pro option ($7.00), EpocCam requires the Windows or Mac OS X Drivers from www.kinoni.com to be installed on your computer before it will work.

Once installed (make sure you have no messenger apps running), you’ll need to run EpocCam Viewer to see the output on your desktop. On Android, tap the menu button to open the app settings, and add the IP address for the computer you’re using.
Streaming should then begin automatically, and EpocCam can be used as a webcam in your usual chat programs.

Sharing Your Webcam With Skype

You’ve setup a webcam and it is streaming images from your phone’s camera to your computer. But how do you use it within an application like Skype?
Simple. The client, once installed, is recognised by your operating system as a new webcam. All you need to do is use the appropriate menu option in your chosen video chat app to select the camera.

In Skype, this would be Tools > Options > Video settings, where you’ll find the Select webcam dropdown menu. Select your Android webcam from the menu, click Save and you’re done. This will work with DroidCam and EpocCam, but not IP Webcam. You’re not limited to Skype, incidentally, as other chat services supporting video should accept video from your smartphone camera, including Hangouts, which, as we know, is cooler than Skype.
Remember when using any webcam for video chats to make sure you follow our steps for looking presentable and professional.

Who Wins?

We’ve been looking at the free options for each of these apps, and there is a good reason for this. If the free version works and is competent, then there’s a strong chance that the full version will be equally — if not more — impressive.
Assessing these three Android webcam apps, I’ve noticed two key things: one, the variation in the number of features available in each, and two, how easy they are to setup.
So, the winner is DroidCam, for being very easy to setup and providing good support for messenger apps. While the features on offer are limited, it gets the job done.

But what do you think? Have we missed an Android webcam app that you rely on? Tell us in the comments.

What Is Android Auto And How Can You Get It?

Google continues to push boundaries as its Android brand grows, introducing new technologies, products, and devices that often leave some of its competitors trailing in its wake.
The latest idea to come out of their Mountain View headquarters is Android Auto, an Android-powered in-vehicle infotainment display. After grabbing headlines at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, we take a more detailed look at what it is and the advantages it’ll offer users.

What Is It?

It’s long been possible to connect your Android to a car’s audio system, but the concept for a more full-featured product was first announced at Google’s I/O conference in June 2014. The technology itself is part of the Open Automotive Alliance, an initiative launched by 28 car manufacturers in 2014’s CES that has the sole aim of starting to use the Android OS in cars.

The primary goal of Android Auto is to allow the OS to take control of a car’s dashboard head unit, thus offering the driver Android-backed navigation and apps, as well as certain in-car controls such as starting the engine, locking the doors, and sounding the alarm.

What Can It Do?

The main screen will be familiar to long-time users of Android. It uses a card-based system like Google Now to deliver pertinent information to you as you’re driving.
The official website uses the example of reminding you to buy sunscreen as you’re driving to the beach, but it’s easy to see how this could be extended to everyday situations such as reminding you to buy milk before you get home, or prompting you to take your presentation with you as you’re heading to the office.

Away from the main screen, the technology can be broken down into four key components: maps, music, apps, and voice control.
The most obviously useful and appealing feature is the integration of Google Maps. The flagship app will power a GPS and navigation system that will incorporate voice-guided directions, on-the-go live traffic updates, and guidance on which lanes to use, amongst several more yet-to-be-announced features.
Google Play Music will also be directly integrated, meaning you’ll be able to listen to any of the songs you have uploaded to the free service directly through your in-car stereo without having to use up valuable disk space on your actual device. Currently you’ll need an All Access Google Music subscription to upload more than 20,000 songs or download tracks for offline playback.

Additionally, Android Auto aims to make it simple for you to use your favourite apps and content whilst you’re on the road. Support for popular releases such as Spotify, Soundcloud, Whatsapp, Kik, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and Songza have already been confirmed, with several more confirmations to follow in the coming weeks and months.
The whole system has been designed in a safety-conscious way, with a method of usage that’s intended to minimise distractions whilst you’re driving. It means steering wheel controls are supported and you’ll be locked out of using the phone itself when Android Auto is in use — but the standout safety feature is voice control. It’ll allow users to launch apps, answer calls, and play entertainment without lifting their eyes from the road.

What Else?

Although the aforementioned four ingredients make it more than apparent that Android Auto is already well on its way to solving in-car navigation and entertainment in a way that car companies have so far failed to do, there are lots of other noteworthy features. They include the ability to make and receive calls, voice-controlled web searches, a way to control the speakers’ fade and balance, and continuous monitoring of in-car data such as speed, distance travelled, and fuel level.

Hyundai is currently offering the most cohesive solution, and perhaps also offering a glimpse into the future of the system. Their Blue Link technology makes use of Android Auto to integrate with other tools such as car alarms and car starters, and they supported this by developing an accompanying Android Wear app that allows users to remotely start or stop the engine, lock or unlock the doors, flash the lights, beep the horn, or geo-locate the car.

Who Can Use It?

If your car supports it, and you have a phone or tablet running Android Lollipop (Android 5.x), you’ll be able to connect your device via the car’s USB port.
Currently, twenty eight car companies have confirmed their involvement. They are: Abarth, Acura, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, RAM, Renault, SEAT, Skoda, Subaru, Suzuki, Volkswagen, and Volvo. The first cars that support Android Auto were released in late 2014.

Competitors And Alternatives?

Google most obvious competitor to Android Auto is the offering from their long-term rival, Apple. The Cupertino-based firm have a similar product called CarPlay, which was introduced in iOS 7.1. Like Auto, it also uses a car’s dashboard display to control the car’s entertainment, make calls, and get directions, though one drawback of the Apple product is that it uses the company’s inferior (but improving) maps software, rather than Google’s ubiquitous app.

A Ferrari FF was the first car to be delivered with a fully functioning version of CarPlay in September 2014, and since then several of the same manufacturers who support Android Auto have also signed up.
Of course, if you have an old car or an older non-Lollipop Android, there are also lots of dashboard ‘car mode’ apps to choose from which will turn your device into an in-car display unit.

Problems?

Like all new technologies, initial tests having uncovered issues and occasionally jarring user experiences.
The nature of the technology means users will be facing with two interfaces on their dashboard, that of Android Auto and that of the car manufacturer. It’s clear that some functions will be supported by Android and others won’t.
For example, while Spotify is supported, if you want to listen to the car’s FM radio you’ll need to exit Auto and navigate via the car’s interface. To a user, this distinction is arbitrary and could quickly become frustrating.
One solution might be for car manufacturers to publish their own Android apps that can control a vehicle’s built-in functions, but there is little suggestion from Google nor the 28 manufacturers that the idea is being developed. Some manufacturers (such as Volvo) have solved the problem by using a large screen that displays both Android and the car’s UI simultaneously, but this solution seems more cumbersome than simply developing an app.

Useful Or Gimmicky?

Could you see yourself using Android Auto? Is it a viable alternative to traditional GPS systems and plug-and-play MP3 players?

What about the future of the Internet of Things and connected-cars? How far can the technology develop? Do you see Auto as a precursor and possible market entry route for Google’s self-driving cars?

5 Sites & Apps To Listen To Police Scanners

The standard tool for crime reporters everywhere, police scanners offer a glimpse into the world of law enforcement for people on the outside looking in. Whether it’s a 187 (murder), a 211 (robbery), a 245 (assault with a deadly weapon), or a 311 (exposing your bits to the public), listening to a real police scanner can sometimes be more interesting than watching yet another Law & Order episode on TV.

In the US (where the vast majority of online scanners are available), it is legal to listen to these scanners, provided you are not committing a crime at the time. Also, you must not get all super-hero involved in the incident and let the criminal(s) get away in the process. So keep your Kick Ass suit in the closet and instead stick to listening to these 5 sources of police scanner streams.

TuneIn

TuneIn has some particularly good ones to listen to. I particularly like the NYPD’s Special Operations Division and Traffic. You can also rely on the Chicago scanner to get the latest on shootings. As I write this, loud gunshots have been reported in Chicago, and “everyone is panicking”.
TuneIn will try and get you to sign up with Facebook or Google+. But if you don’t want to do that, you can just close the box. The streams will still work, even though you haven’t signed up. Connecting to the stream will take a few moments, but it starts eventually.

Broadcastify

This one is heavily slanted towards fire departments, but there are also police departments if you do a bit more browsing. Plus, they are more focused on tiny out-of-the-way places (Pottawatomie in Oklahoma?). So because they are looking at small places, the feed may either be silent or full of static. But then it might suddenly burst with “the cat is up the tree! Let’s lock and load people!”.

What is also nice about Broadcastify is that it lets you choose the web player, or players such as Windows Media Player, Real Player, iTunes, or Winamp.

Emergency Radio Free (iOS)

Now for a look at the mobile apps, for the ambulance chaser lawyers, and the intrepid crime reporters. The first one is for iOS, and I had this on my phone for a long time.
From the screenshot, you can see on the map where all of the scanner streams are. Or your phone’s GPS will find streams in your immediate vicinity. The app gives you thousands of streams from the police, fire, EMS, railroad, air traffic, train, NOAA weather, coast guard, HAM radio, and more.

Police Scanner (Android)

And now one for our Android friends. Police Scanner (a lot of thought went into the name as you can see) gives you more than 3,000 streams to choose from, including fire, EMS, public safety, and more police departments than you can shake a smartphone at.
It requires Android 2.3 at least, and has a very respectable rating of 3.8 out of 5.

Police Scanner

Apparently some people do have Windows Phones, so it would be remiss of me not to mention a WP option.
This one is also called Police Scanner. I mean, come on, can’t these developers come up with another title? How about Cops On Patrol? Lock & Load? Or simply COPS? Anyway, I digress.
The download page provides no information on how many feeds there are, but we can tell some stuff from the screenshots. First, this one is international which is great (check your local laws about police scanners though — it might not be as liberal as the US). Second, each country is broken down into states and areas, and air traffic control is included. Don’t be getting any ideas now.

Do You Tune-In To The Chatter?

So, now it’s your turn. Which online sources of police scanners do you listen to? Do you think we should be listening to them, or should it be encrypted for police’s ears only? Is it unethical for example, to use them to listen out for speed traps? Over to you, folks.

10 Yoga Apps That Help You Workout Anywhere

If you’re like me, and the estimated 20 million other Americans who practice yoga, you can likely benefit from a helpful yoga app.
I like doing yoga indoors in front of my laptop as much as the next person, but sometimes it’s nice to switch up your routine and take your yoga practice elsewhere. With a yoga app on your phone, you can practice your favorite yoga poses anywhere.
Here are 10 different yoga apps to consider if you need some help finding a yoga app that suits your needs.

Yogify (iOS, Free)

The greatest part of Yogify is its appeal to beginners and experts alike. Regardless of your skill level, Yogify’s images and detailed descriptions will help you properly execute the poses. You can even customize the music, so you can find – and maintain – your balance with the help of tunes that accentuate your focus and determination.
It’s free to download the app, and the first five classes are free. After that, most of the programs cost $1.99. An entire level is $3.99, or you can purchase the entire collection for $9.99. You can preview the structure of each class before making the purchase.

Salute the Desk (iOS, $3.99)

Salute the Desk will help you break up your normal workday if you’re stuck at a desk, or anywhere with limited mobility. The cool thing about Salute the Desk is that it was designed to tackle your stress, both mental and physical. Besides the 27 poses it offers, all of which can be done at your desk, the app provides options for guided relaxation.
Many yoga apps out there simply focus on the poses themselves and fail to address the important mental benefits that are intended to come with the exercises. Salute the Desk comes through where others are lacking as far as relaxation. Plus, there’s a tracking feature that allows you to monitor your progress and a reminder function that enables you to schedule helpful reminders.
In addition to Salute the Desk, you might also like some of these easy desk exercises to stay fit while working.

Pocket Yoga (Android & iOS, $2.99)

This app is like having a yoga instructor in your pocket. It also provides a yoga dictionary, which offers you descriptions and benefits of each pose. And if you’re still on the fence about trying out a new pose, you can use the app’s preview feature to see how a pose should look, and determine if it’s too easy or difficult for you.
The neatest function about this app is that it unlocks new environments as you progress through the levels. I also like that the app lets you substitute your own music for the app’s music, so you can listen to whatever you want while you practice. If you bore easily, this yoga app will help keep your attention.

Daily Yoga (Android & iOS, Free)

Whether you want to delve into a five-minute workout or a 45-minute workout, Daily Yoga has options for you. The best feature on Daily Yoga is the HD videos with step-by-step instructions. Besides this captivating feature, Daily Yoga can help you stay motivated by connecting with others via the app’s global community.
One defining feature of Daily Yoga is that it is more weight-loss oriented than some of the other yoga apps mentioned here. As such, you can select from different workout intensities (ranging from casual to intense), so as you lose more weight you can take on more intense workouts. You can also focus on your abs, chest, back and other “problem areas” many of us have so you get a workout in the areas where you need it most.
Also, if you’re someone who struggles to find new yoga poses, this may be a good app for you to consider, since it boasts more than 400 yoga poses, as well as a live voice guide, so you can make sure you’re performing the poses correctly.

Yoga Studio (iOS, $3.99)

Yoga Studio’s library contains more than 280 poses. The app also offers gorgeous HD videos to accompany 65 unique yoga classes and meditation exercises.
The coolest thing about this app is that it also offers the ability to create your own HD classes with video-stitch technology. This means you can tailor a yoga class to suit your needs, choosing different poses ordered in any way you want. The smartlink feature allows your class to flow smoothly, and you then have the option to share your custom yoga classes with friends.
Another user-friendly feature about this app is that the app’s music will continue to play even when your phone goes into its lock screen (you can also check out this article about lockscreen replacement apps ). This means no more abrupt interruptions to your meditative flow and no more constantly tapping your phone’s screen to keep it from locking.

5 Minute Yoga (iOS, $0.99)

The greatest thing about 5 Minute Yoga is its focus on brevity. The most common excuse people use when describing why they don’t work out, is that they don’t have enough time. Sessions never take longer than five minutes with this app, but they focus on helping users get each pose exactly right.
Each pose features clear images and detailed instructions for doing it correctly. If you’re only going to do yoga for five minutes, you want to make sure you’re maximizing your benefits. 5 Minute Yoga will help you do just that, and could make it easier for you to go from a beginner yogi to an intermediate yogi.
If you want to see what else you can cram into five minutes of your day, check out this article on five-minute brain exercises.

YOGAmazing (iOS, $4.99)

I like YOGAmazing because it offers short classes, but ones that are longer than five minutes. The classes are typically 25 minutes long and there are even episodes available for particular ailments, such as yoga for grief, and specific hobbies like yoga for hikers. If you have specific yoga needs, like injuries or joint pain that must be considered, this may be a better yoga app for you than some of the other’s listed here.
The app’s more costly price is due to the fact that the program was developed by a certified yoga instructor who goes simply by “Chaz” and who has taught yoga at Rhinebeck, NY’s OMEGA Institute. The app also includes new bonus sessions each month, and yoga-inspired artwork for your smartphone.

Universal Breathing – Pranayama (iOS and Android, $4.99)

Learning to properly breathe for yoga is a hugely important part of engaging in this form of exercise. This app will help you achieve optimal breathing, which will increase your capacity for getting better at yoga over time.
As we age, we can often lose our natural tendency to breathe through the diaphragm. Universal Breathing – Pranayama offers an intuitive guide to deep breathing, which will surely complement your yoga regime nicely.
The app offers and extensive course in how to breathe properly that will work you through beginner levels and into more advanced breathing exercises. As this kind of breathing becomes more natural to you, you will feel a difference in your yoga practices because you will be breathing more deeply with under-exercised muscle groups.
This app includes yoga poses and practices, but it is also meant to be an aid to such programs.
In addition to improving your yoga practice, some helpful benefits of using this app are that it can naturally help you deal with asthma and COPD, boost your endurance for athletic activities and may help relieve headaches and migraines.

Hatha Yoga (iOS, $9.99)

This app is a bit pricey so only consider using it if you think it would benefit you. The main differences with this app compared to others listed here are that it offers many variations of poses to suit different users needs and skill levels, and it remembers your pose position if you need to take a break.
Hatha Yoga also has breathing cues to help you match your breathing with the poses you are attempting to hold. This makes your practice more efficient and helps you get more out of it.
Another factor contributing to the app’s price is that it is lead by Prahlada, a world-famous yoga instructor.
Besides the features mentioned above, this app is highly customizable and you can set it for different amounts of time, whether it’s five minutes or an hour. The stop-motion visuals are also helpful as you learn new poses and work through the more challenging ones.

Airplane Yoga (iOS, $0.99)

I mainly like this app for the creativity behind the idea, but if you don’t fly very often, it likely isn’t worth your money. (If you do fly often, you might also like these flight-tracking websites).
However, if you do travel a lot, Airplane Yoga can help you avoid jet lag and traveler’s fatigue. Created just for people who are looking for an app to couple yoga with travel, Airplane Yoga offers users a way to make travel a more Zen like experience. You can get a good stretch, feel more relaxed and not bother everyone around you.
Airplane Yoga also offers a free lite version but it only contains one standing and one seated pose. The standard app offers 18 seated poses and six standing poses.

Now that you’ve reviewed and considered this rich variety of yoga apps, which one is most likely to suit your needs?

What Your Smartphone Is Doing To Your Body & Mind

On average, people pick up their smartphone 221 times a day to do things with it. It’s no secret that we are getting more and more addicted to these handsets, but have you wondered what effect that is having on your mind and your body?
Scientists are definitely curious and have a few ideas about the ramifications of smartphone usage. You can measure your own smartphone usage to gather data about how often you check it, and then compare it with the smartphone addiction checklist to know if you have a problem.
Over the past few years, there have been plenty of studies citing how it helps and how it hurts the human being.

Smartphones Are Giving Your Fingers Superpowers

Touchscreens have meant that you use fingertips a lot more for interaction with objects. Apparently, that has translated into more brain activity every time an object now touches your fingertips, according to scientists at the University of Zurich.
Comparing smartphone users to those still on old phones, the researchers touched the tips of the thumb, index and middle fingers of several people and recorded their brain activity with an EEG. The researchers found that the electrical activity in the brains of smartphone users was enhanced when all three fingertips were touched, especially the thumb. And as the interval from when subjects last used a smartphone got shorter, the electrical activity in the brain got higher.
In a nutshell, your sensory perception of the world is being shaped by how often and when you last used a smartphone!

Your Phone Is Tricking You To Drain Your Energy

“Smartphones are almost perfectly designed to disrupt sleep,” says Russell Johnson, Michigan State University’s assistant professor of management. “Because they keep us mentally engaged late into the evening, they make it hard to detach from work so we can relax and fall asleep.”
Johnson and his colleagues studied how people are using their smartphones after work hours, and found that after-hours usage cut into sleep time and left the user with less energy the next day. Plus, there is the added factor of your screen’s blue light, which is the most disruptive of all colours of light and is known to hinder melatonin, a chemical in the body that promotes sleep. In fact, this is one of the ways Dave reckons smartphones are ruining your life.
However, the solution is not as simple as just turning the phone off, Johnson says. That might be impractical at various times, and it actually might be worth the trade-off of energy drain in some cases. Your best bet is getting more sleep, he says.

Looking Down At Your Phone Is Harming Your Neck

Just like using a computer for many hours strains your back, repetitive smartphone usage is wreaking havoc on your neck. But while there are ways to use a laptop in comfort, it’s not so simple with “text neck.”
New York-based spine surgeon Kenneth Hansraj says the degenerative condition is caused by tilting your head downwards to look at your phone. The tilting is putting undue strain on your neck and shoulders. The human head weighs about 12 pounds, and as the head tilts farther forward, the weight of the head on the cervical spine increases, up to 60 pounds, say experts at the University of Utah Orthopaedic Center.
Physical therapist Linda Vernon Scholl suggests two stretches that might help, but text neck is probably something we will be hearing more of in the future:

Shoulder blade squeeze: While in the desired posture, hold a “chin tuck” position and bring the shoulder blades together, as if you are trying to put the shoulder blade in the opposite back pocket. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat two or three times after looking at your phone for more than 10 minutes.
Chest stretch: Putting your arms in a doorway, pushing your chest forward to stretch your shoulders and chest. This works to lengthen the muscles being shortened by smartphone use.

While you’re at it, you might want to try apps that curb your smartphone addiction.

You Feel Obligated To Check Your Phone, Leading To Stress And Unhappiness

A survey of 500 university students found that frequent smartphone usage is directly related to anxiety, happiness, and academic performance. And none of it in a good way.
Kent State University researchers recorded daily mobile phone usage, a clinical measure of anxiety, academic performance charts, and levels of happiness. Once all the statistics were put together, Kent says they found that:

“…high frequency cell phone users tended to have lower GPA, higher anxiety, and lower satisfaction with life (happiness) relative to their peers who used the cell phone less often. The statistical model illustrating these relationships was highly significant.”

In a different study by the same researchers, high-frequency users reportedly felt uptight, stressed, and anxious during their leisure time. “In our previously published research, we found that high-frequency cell phone users often described feeling obligated to remain constantly connected to their phones,” said co-researcher Jacob Barkley. “This obligation was described as stressful, and the present study suggests the stress may be spilling over into their leisure.”
The researchers think it’s advisable to disconnect from your smartphone for short periods of time so that leisure time is more beneficial. Akshata has some other great tips to keep digitally induced stress at bay.

Short Smartphone Breaks Are Good For Your Work

While most of these studies seem to suggest putting that phone away, it’s actually beneficial if you use it right. Most productivity experts recommend taking short breaks, like in the famous Pomodoro technique. You’ll be glad to know that scientists say using your phone in those breaks is a good thing.
“By interacting with friends or family members through a smartphone or by playing a short game, we found that employees can recover from some of their stress to refresh their minds and take a break,” says Sooyeol Kim, a psychology student who led the research at Kent State University.
Kim’s study shows that employees spend only an average of 22 minutes out of an 8-hour work day on their smartphone, so encouraging these short breaks is in the company’s interest. Plus, employees who took these breaks were also happier at the end of the work day.

The Good News: Forget About Cancer, Low Fertility

There are two prevailing notions around mobile phone usage. First, that the radiation in phones can cause cancer, especially in the head and neck area. Second, that the low-level electromagnetic fields reduce male fertility. Well, it’s time to debunk both these myths.
After studying the effects of mobile phones on people who have used them for 20 years, analyzing data of cancer cases in those years and before it, and accounting for several factors to ensure that the uncertainty is as low as it can be, scientists have said that smartphones can’t cause any of these health problems. Here’s an excerpt from the study by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health:

The group found no evidence that the low-level fields around mobile phones and other transmitters increase the risk of cancer, impair male fertility, cause other reproductive damage or lead to other diseases and adverse health effects, such as changes to the endocrine and immune systems.

Are You Worried About Your Smartphone’s Effects?

All of the information here is what the best scientific minds know as of January 2015. But things change, new discoveries are made over time. Right now, what worries you about how your smartphone is going to affect your mind or body?

5 Location-Based Reminder Apps For The Forgetful

Smartphones have become so smartypants these days that they are now virtually holding our hand every day, making sure that we successfully navigate the hazardous minefield known as life. From making sure that we don’t miss any important birthdays, anniversaries, or dinner dates, phones these days can also give you reminders when you reach a certain place. These are called “location-based reminders” and they require that you switch on your GPS.
The most famous app which does location-based reminders, is of course Apple’s Siri (my girlfriend).  But there are other apps which are vying for a piece of the location reminder pie. Here are 5 of them – 2 free, 3 paid.

Geobells (Android)

We’ll start off with an Android-only app. With Geobells (which got confused with an infamous historical figure when I put it into Google), you can set reminders for when you enter or leave a location. You are apparently able to set reminders for a type of place, rather than an actual address. So as the screenshot above shows, you can say “grocery store” and “movie theater”, and it will find some on the map for you.
To be notified, you can get either voice reminders or pop-ups on the screen.

LocationMinder (iOS)

LocationMinder is for iOS, and costs 99 US cents. With this, you can have multiple locations in every reminder, as well as multiple reminders in every location. So when you get to the store for example, you will get your checklist of what you need to buy. One nice function is that you can fine-tune the locations right down to 500ft.
It also keeps a history of all your old reminders, so you don’t have to keep typing in the same old thing, over and over. Just go into the history, and reactivate the one you want.

Snowman (iOS)

Costing $3.99, this app seems to be one of the nicer and more functional ones. It also has a very strange video with an even stranger weirdo in it.

It synchronizes all of your data into iCloud, which is very convenient if you use multiple iOS devices. With one tap, you can also move the reminder ahead by a few minutes, hours, or days. Reminders can also be recurring — daily, weekly, monthly — and you can pick and choose particular days of the week.

Todoist Premium (Android / iOS)

Todoist is slightly different because you pay a subscription to use the Premium Todoist service. Which isn’t so bad, because you get a lot of other features for your money as well. The paid version comes to about $30 a year. That’s $2.50 a month, so it isn’t wallet-busting or anything. Especially when you see the feature list which is much more extensive than what the other apps here are offering you. Even poor Siri pales in comparison (don’t worry Siri, I’ll give you a hug later).

TickTick (Android)

Finally, a free option for Android, although there is a paid option as well, if you feel like breaking out the big bucks. TickTick has a pleasant looking interface. As well as the location-based reminder function, you can also synchronize across devices, create a widget to easily access the app, integrate with the phone’s calendar app, and voice inputs via Google Now.
Instead of being called a smartphone, our phone should be called “the nanny” because pretty soon, we will never have to think for ourselves. The phone will handle everything. Which location-based reminder app do you use on your phone? Or is smartphone privacy a more important concern?