5 Best Apps of the Week: An App That Will Write Letters for You + More!
Tech companies love to change the world and the five apps I’m strongly encouraging you to download this week are no different. Their novel approach to the every day will turn your to do list into a regular resolution roster, make you a smarter shopper, get you bilingual in no time and transform you into the thoughtful thank you note writer you always knew you could never be without the help of a smart app that does the work for you. Get excited, fellow nerds and download these five apps asap:
1. Punkpost: Handwritten notes shouldn’t have to be a thing of the past, but pulling out ye olde quill to pen thoughtful thank yous and thinking of yous aren’t always the New Year’s resolution we succeed in (that 30 day plank challenge tho…). Halfway through that once-new year, it’s time to meet Punkpost — your new BFF. Your new, smart, funny, thoughtful, artsy, really good-looking BFF who wants to remind you it’s your mom’s bday, so-and-so’s graduation and your boo’s first day of work, and then write and mail those handwritten notes *for* you in the time it takes you to text. Type in the greeting, pick from one of their gorgeous, handmade, letterpressed cards and the cute makers behind the app will hand-transcribe the message and send you a pic of the ‘bout-to-be-mailed memo. They can’t call grandma for you, but they’ll write her a letter so you don’t have to ring her up and answer questions about why you’re still single.
DL It: Free on iOS
2. MikMak: Anything that tells me to “watch laugh shop” is speaking in a language I understand and MikMak is making online shopping a binge watch-worthy experience right on your smartphone. You didn’t know your shopping app needed a sense of humor until you download this, which serves up “minimercials” aka short ‘n’ snappy, fresh ‘n’ funny informational videos about each of the products they’re selling. Everything is under $100 and everything is something you’ll want to own or buy for your cool friend/sister/lover/brother.
DL It: Free on iOS
3. Yerdle: Speaking of shopping, Yerdle wants you to do less of it — specifically 25% less — but more of the good, smart, reuse-recycle-reduce kind. The app is more about a movement than a simple download, encouraging users to join its “Unshopping Challenge,” a call to action to stop buying new things for 30 days. Use the app to upload and list pictures of things you don’t want anymore but want to find a good home for and say bye to impulse shopping and unnecessary waste long after that month of mindful purchasing is up.
DL It: Free on Android and iOS
4. Streaks: Good habits have to start somewhere and this new download just might be the place. A to do list that wants to actually help you do more, Streaks lets you track up to six tasks you want to complete every day whether they be fitness related or creativity focused, like writing a few pages of that manuscript, practicing a new instrument or taking a photo. “Streaks” refer to tasks you complete consecutively day after day and you’ll be able to track which ones you do for long periods of time (go, you!). Aesthetically speaking, the app is pretty beautiful allowing you to customize the color and choose from a bunch of cute af icons.
DL It: $4.99 on iOS, sign up here if you want it on Android
5. Lingvist: If you have 200 hours to kill over the next couple months, (hey, maybe you could add this to your Streaks app!) you could learn a new language with the help of this popular website-turned-app. Using words and phrases that are “statistically relevant” and actually used every day — so, no “where is the library?” here we’re guessing — and tech that adapts to your progress, Lingvist will help you add a new language to your rez in the shortest possible time. For free! Currently you can learn how to speak French (if you already speak English or Russian or Eesti) or to speak English (if you speak French or Russian), with more languages coming soon.
What was your favorite app download this week? Share your newest DLs below!