James Bond and Batman did not just rely on their wits to get them out of near-death situations. They also relied on the benefit of gadgets and "wonderful toys." It was not luck that these fictitious heroes always managed to have the perfect tool or device for any situation—it was the magic of a Hollywood script. In life unscripted, it takes effort to be prepared for any situation.
Smartphones and tablets function the same way as Bond's attaché case and Batman's utility belt—a fine fashion statement until equipped with the right tools. Some apps help you stay organized, others offer assistance with social media, and a vast majority simply provide entertainment. Then there are the miscellaneous "junk-drawer" apps that have value, but are not necessarily used every day. Why keep them around? You never know when they might save the day.
Read on about five apps that offer great function in less-than-conventional situations.
Situation: "I need a flashlight, a level, a stop watch and currency converter—right now!"
Solution: AppBox Pro
Available for iOS
Price: $0.99
AppBox Pro is the quintessential Swiss Army knife for tablets and smartphones. It has a secure wallet, alarm clock, currency calculator, flashlight, mirror, ruler, translator, carpenter toolkit, date calculator, unit converter and more. You're probably thinking this app has way too many bells and whistles, and you're free to think that, but there will come a day when you use your device to level a picture and convert dineros to Deutsche Marks.
Situation: "I'm at the store and I need to check customer reviews and compare prices—right now!"
Solution: ScanLife Barcode Reader
Price: free
Your smart device's camera is capable of reading product barcodes. Versatile apps can read barcodes and QR codes without flinching. ScanLife Barcode Reader can do both and more. It can save your scan histories, share the content of your scans to social media pages and create a personalized QR code to share your contact information with others. It will also gather prices from more than 25 different online retailers to help you find the best deal.
Situation: "I just heard the greatest song ever on the radio/TV/movie/live concert and I need to know what it is—right now!"
Situation: "I'm at the Grand Canyon and I need to properly capture every detail I can see from this spot—right now!"
Situation: "I have to deliver a speech, but I always lose my place on my notecards—help!"
