Mobile phones hold people’s entire worlds nowadays. There are many apps out there to help people have seamless use of their devices. With so many options, it can be hard to figure out which ones are worth your time and which ones just take up space. Here are two apps that I have found that are worth more of your time than others. Google Calendar and Spotify.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is an organizational app that helps keep all appointments and events in line. I use it to keep track of classes, work, doctor appointments, and other monthly reminders. With Google Calendar you can set recurring events, share events with family and friends, and set reminders for events. You can also choose from a variety of colors to categorize events or types of events. For example, I have a class every week, and an hour before class time, I get a reminder. This is useful for someone like me who gets distracted easily, even when I know I have something coming up. There are a couple of groups that could be classified as the target audience for Google Calendar. Busy students like me may find it helpful to keep track of school, work, appointments, and due dates or deadlines. Another group would be families. With family sharing, you can link your calendar to others and share important events to keep everyone on track. Organization is important for both groups and Google Calendar can provide that.
Google Calendar itself doesn’t bring in money but, Google Groups does. They make money off of Google One subscriptions however the bulk of their income comes from advertising. They don’t have ads on the Google Calendar app so the experience is not changed for you as the user. Google Calendar is a fairly seamless program however, I do have some tips and tricks to make it even easier.
- Make use of the color coding. Set specific colors for each type of event. For example, orange is school, green is work, red is appointments, and purple is other.
- Set additional reminders for events. The default is 30 minutes before.
- If you are an IOS user, add the widget to your home screen so you can see upcoming events and stay on track easier.
Spotify
Spotify is an app used to listen to music, podcasts, and other auditory entertainment. Spotify is free with ads however, you can also purchase subscriptions for student, single, or family plans. You can follow artists, sign up for alerts about live events, and even shop for merch. Spotify allows you to make playlists and listen to radio stations based on a certain mood, artist, or song. Spotify is a mobile app but it can also be accessed on a laptop or desktop. Spotify’s target audience is definitely younger, Gen-Z. It is marketed toward younger audiences with bright colors, flashy ads, and colorful playlist covers. You can listen to music with friends, have collaborative playlists, and see what your friends are listening to. As a student, I know that the $ 5-a-month plan is a lifesaver. I love music and it is extremely affordable.
Spotify makes its money through advertisements and through its subscription services. Spotify is also a fairly straightforward program but, there are some things that I have found that make it even easier.
- Pin your favorite playlists. It makes them easier to access especially when trying to readily get music playing.
- Download your music. If it’s not downloaded, streaming takes time and data that can be frustrating to wait or pay for.
- Make use of Spotify’s AI playlist creator. It can be hard to find new music that you like so using this tool is extremely useful.