5 Best Apps of the Week: Google Calendar Gets Prettier + More!

Lisa Raphael
Mar 14, 2015

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but that adage must have been uttered long before Google was around. Maybe even before Yahoo. This week, the ol’ search engine that definitely can brought its revamped calendar app to iOS and your social life has never been illustrated better. All that, a new travel app, a new recipe app, plus a new canine-named app for Android that will let us keep the hound humor going?! Keep reading for our roundup of the best new apps of the week. And possibly (k, definitely) some more puns.

1. Google Calendar: We told you about this glossy, glammed-up, photo and emoticon-filled calendar-come-to-life upgrade for Android but now it’s finally here for iOS. Rejoice, Macheads! And upgrade that cal immediately, because Google’s answer to your day-to-day organizer is a few dozen times more gorgeous than your iCal app, especially if you’re a big Gmail user. Events and things like flights discussed in Gmail will be easily added to your schedule, the auto correct-like Assists will help you fill out your calendar with contacts and regular festivities and the “schedule with a view” will take the stress out of those back-to-back meetings when you can SEE cocktails in your post-6pm future.

DL It: Free on Android and iOS

2. Williams-Sonoma Recipe of the Day: Look. Either you want to gorge on the digital buffet of recipe options Pinterest serves up, or you’re on a lean, mean diet of only the essentials. If a whiff of the latter is making your mouth water, put Williams-Sonoma’s recent Recipe of the Day app on your menu. While you’ll still have access to an extensive database of recipes, the app will dish up one killer how-to 365 days a year. The first month of this app is free and a year subscription rings in at $11.99 for the year, so try it out (and remember, we know a few thousand good recipes for free-zies).

DL It: Free on iOS

3. Passenger: Like a sort of Foursquare for hitting the road, this app might make your travel blog (fond study abroad memories, anyone?) obsolete. It will also make you think of each commute to work or bus ride to see your buds as its own mini journey by letting you log and track where you’re going, earn “travel miles” whether you’re biking or flying and unlock badges to publicly display your wanderlust for all of your friends to Like.

DL It: Free on Android and iOS

4. Corgi for Feedly: There’s nothing cuter than having a fuzzy pup with floppy ears and stubby limbs bring you your morning paper so we won’t pretend this app is as adorable as that idyllic imagery. It is, however, even more practical, transforming your Android’s lockscreen into a feed of freshly-fetched news. Sync your news subscriptions or connect apps like Pocket to read what you want right on screen whenever you pull out your phone.

DL It: Free on Android

5. Periscope: It’s been a good couple of weeks for apps that want to enhance your video experience on Twitter. The latest in the eye of the bird is Periscope, a newly-acquired-by-Twitter-itself video app that remains invite-only but just “joined the flock” to presumably battle with Meerkat. Sources say it actually *meant* to come out before Meerkat was even a twinkle in startup Life on Air’s eye, so will hopefully launch with private stream options and the ability to record and watch broadcasts later like a mini YouTube.

DL It: Sign up to request an invite here

What was your top download of the week? Share with us below!

14 Hilariously Relatable 'Bridgerton' Season 3 Reactions

And just like that, Bridgerton Season 3 has officially been released, and if you ask me, it's for all of us who have wanted the wallflower to finally get the respect (and love) she deserves. I'm still not over the way Colin and Penelope's story developed, or how she took the first step to show women they're able to be more than what society says. Dare I say Mrs. Bridgerton has joined the ranks of women who are all about empowerment in the series?

It seems like other people feel the same way I do about this epic season — and thatending — so I put together a list of the best Twitter reactions!

Violet Bridgerton is the ultimate mama bear who wants her kids to experience a full love like she did.

But, I have to admit I'm here for seeing Violet Bridgerton begin a new chapter in her life with Lady Danbury's brother (hopefully)!

The scream I screamed!

Eloise Bridgerton was so conflicted because she truly still cared for Penelope underneath her hurt masked as anger. And thankfully Kate was there to swoop in with her wisdom.

The music and silent confirmation from Colin that these two have always been destined for each other sent me over the edge. So many happy tears were shed during this scene!

This tweet was too good to ignore! Cressida was like, "I'm leaving here with something," and it doesn't include being married to an older man who wants to dim her light.

IYKYK 👀

It was nice to see a nod to the friendship Penelope and Lady Danbury had in the Bridgerton books this season.

Kilmartin may be introverted, but his charisma is off the charts when he decides to let it show.

Bridgerton Season 4 better give Benedict his flowers.

This is yet another scene that broke me and stitched me together at the same time.

I don't think we're okay after this season 😭.

No, someone should really check on us.

I thought Bridgerton Season 2 was the best one, but it seems like the series keeps getting better. I guess that's the point.

What was YOUR reaction to Bridgerton season 3? Let us know on X!

Lead image via Liam Daniel/Netflix

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“Protective” Peter Gallagher Is “So Grateful” Mischa Barton Survived “Toxic Fame”

No matter what kind of day you're having, Marissa Cooper's having a worse one. Mischa Barton's The O.C. character went through the ringer during the first three seasons of the teen drama (remember how she overdosed in Tijuana...and also saw her parents post-hookup after their divorce?).

And during her time on The O.C., Mischa Barton struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. She was arrested for a DUI in 2007 and eventually received involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in 2009 after allegedly threatening to end her own life. And in a new interview, Peter Gallagher (who played Sandy Cohen on the show) says he's "just so grateful" for "the fact that she’s still alive."

  • Mischa Barton starred alongside Peter Gallagher in The O.C. from 2003-2006.
  • The actress has revealed the "trauma" of being a star at that point in her life.
  • Peter recently opened up about how he's thankful "she’s still alive."


Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC/John Lamparski/Getty Images

The O.C. follows Ryan Atwood, who moves in with the Cohens after getting kicked out of his mom's house, and starts a relationship with Marissa shortly after. While Peter Gallagher played Adam Brody's TV dad instead of Mischa's, Sandy was a definitely father figure for Marissa, and it seems like Peter felt that same responsibility off camera.

"I’ve always felt very protective of her," Peter told The Independent. "First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you. She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful."

“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Mischa said in a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times. “There’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early twenties, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage revealed that season 1 overdose not only served as a cliffhanger, but gave “network executives an escape hatch on a performer they had been wary about” (via People). But Mischa Barton got her big break, becoming "how people knew the show," and (thankfully) Marissa recovered — only to die after a car crash in season 3.

As hard as that season 3 ending is to watch, Mischa did have the opportunity to watch it with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke for the first time on their rewatch podcast. "It needed to be a thing, after everything she's been through, but if it's here I'll watch it with you," Mischa says.

"I couldn't do it, Mischa, I couldn't do it," Rachel adds. "But I'm going to do it if you're going to do it."

Mischa says even though being written off the show "was a little bit of a bummer," it wasn't necessarily a surprise. "The character was just doing too much," she told Vanity Fairin 2023. "And I think they ran out of places for her to go. It was not the best thing in the world, [but] there wasn’t much you could do at that point. It was whether she could sail off into the sunset, or die. At that point, I guess it’s better to have the more dramatic ending.”
What did you think of The O.C. season 3 finale? Let us know on Facebook!
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What Is Threads? Everything To Know About The Latest Social Media App

Meta, the parent company to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, recently introduced their latest social media platform to enter the ring, called Threads. The new text-sharing app takes inspiration directly from Instagram, offering a more conversational space via words, rather than photos and videos. If you’ve been feeling skeptical about adopting yet another social media, we have the deets on all things Threads. Read on to vet the platform before you hit ‘download.’

What is Threads?

Threads is a new, text-based social media app built by the teams at Instagram. It’s for sharing text updates and joining public conversations. Sounds just like Twitter, right? 🤪 According to Meta, the mission for Threads is to “take what Instagram does best and expand that to text, creating a positive and creative space to express your ideas.”

How does Threads work?

Threads is connected to Instagram. You can log into the platform using your IG account to begin sharing text posts up to 500 characters long. In these posts, you can include links, photos, *and* videos up to 5 minutes. It’s a scrollable social media app that also allows you to like and repost others’ content. You can choose to follow the same people you follow on Instagram, if they have a Threads account, plus the platform recommends content from new creators you don’t follow.

Is Threads like Twitter?

From what we’ve gathered, Threads is very similar to Twitter. After all, Mark Zuckerberg candidly acknowledged that the platform would be Twitter's competitor before it launched. Both apps follow a newsfeed-type structure and grant users the ability to like and repost content from other users, but Threads posts can reach up to 500 characters, while posts on Twitter are limited to 280.

Is Threads safe to use?

Photo by Kerde Severin / PEXELS

According to Meta, Threads is safe to use. It’s closely connected to Instagram, which Meta has longtime security investments in.

“As with all our products, we’re taking safety seriously, and we’ll enforce Instagram’s Community Guidelines on content and interactions in the app,” Meta’s website says. “Since 2016, we’ve invested more than $16 billion in building up the teams and technologies needed to protect our users, and we remain focused on advancing our industry-leading integrity efforts and investments to protect our community.”

Is Threads popular?

Though it’s still in its infancy, Threads logged 5 million sign-ups *just* in its first four hours of existence, and according to Mark Zuckerberg, the app now hosts more than 100 million users. We’d say it’s pretty popular at the moment!

Is Threads free?

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Yes, Threads is free on Apple and Google app stores.

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Header photo by Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

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See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

Former Disney Channel star Dylan Sprouse and model Barbara Palvin are certainly living the sweet life after tying the knot in Palvin's native Hungary. The couple, who have been together for nearly five years, have always been pretty low-key — except for the occasional and undeniably adorable Instagram post (and a stunning wedding!). We are simply ~obsessed~ with this celebrity couple, especially after they pulled out all the stops for their couple's Halloween costume. Keep scrolling to see some of their best moments :').

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Halloween Couple's Costume!

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A post shared by Barbara Palvin (@realbarbarapalvin)

For Halloween Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin stunned as the Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera. Dylan wore a mask and a black cape, while Barbara wore a beautiful white dress. While the costume is obviously a nod to the musical, it also totally reminds us of their day as bride and groom.

"In Sleep He Sang to Me," Barbara said in a post, quoting the musical's titular number. "@dylansprouse my forever Phantom."

Who did Dylan Sprouse marry?

www.instagram.com

On the couple's wedding day (July 15, 2023), Barbara wore a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown to celebrate her Hungarian nuptials, bringing together their nearest and dearest for an intimate(-ish) celebration. Barbara and Dylan tied the knot on her parent's property, which conveniently doubles as an event venue, with plans to host an larger wedding in California in the fall.

"This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there," Barbara told Vogue.

When did Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin get engaged?

www.instagram.com

Barbara Palvin on Instagram: "♥️"

After months of speculation surrounding the couple's engagement, Dylan and Barbara confirmed their engagement in conversation with Sprouse's twin brother, actor Cole Sprouse, for V Magazine in June, sharing that they got engaged last September.

"We didn't necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement," Dylan said. "What we wanted to do with Stephen [Gan, V editor-in-chief] and the V team is make something that was kind of tongue-in-cheek about the nature of private versus public. We're playing with the idea of perception."

Barbara noted that the lovebirds wanted to announce the news "on our time," adding, "When some people leaked the information that we got engaged, our PR team was like, 'Hey, so you guys should do maybe a post about it or talk to this magazine or talk to that magazine…' That really annoyed me because I knew we were building this story up. So, I'm very happy that we ended up doing it our way."

When did Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse start dating?

Sean Zanni / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

According to People, the couple met back in 2017 after a party when the Suite Life On Deck star slid into the model’s DMs (and as they say, the rest is history). The duo made their relationship Instagram official back in 2018 with Barbara’s sweet birthday tribute for Dylan’s 26th birthday.

Let’s be real here for a second though, we all knew they were endgame the minute Dylan went above and beyond to support Barbara at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show that same year (remember this viral video?). Three days after the fashion show, the Hungarian model told Vogue Australia that she hadn’t had a boyfriend in six years, but had now found “the perfect guy” in Dylan (we aren’t crying, you are).

How old are Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse?

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Barbara Palvin was born on October 8, 1993, making her 31 years old. Dylan Sprouse was born on August 4, 1992, meaning he's 32 years old. So there's only a one-year age gap between them!

Stay up to date with all of Brit + Co's favorite celebrity relationships. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter!

This post has been updated.

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Elle & Dakota Fanning Will Collab On Apple's 'Margo's Got Money Troubles'

2017's The Beguiled gave us one of the best groups of people of all time: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Sofia Coppola, and Kirsten Dunst just to name a few. And we're finally getting an Elle and Nicole reunion thanks to Apple TV+! "THRILLED to bring @rufithorpe genius hysterical heart-wrenching heartwarming book to your TV screens alongside a dream group of people!" Elle says on Instagram. Rather than having to test the success of its pilot, the series has already been ordered — even though the book it's based on isn't even out yet! Here's everything you need to know about the series.

  • Dakota and Elle Fanning will produce the upcoming Apple TV+ show Margo's Got Money Troubles.
  • The series follows Margo, who signs up for OnlyFans after learning she's pregnant.
  • The cast includes Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman.

Who's in the Margo's Got Money Troubles cast?

Amy Sussman/Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Margo's Got Money Troubles Cast

We couldn't contain our excitement when we learned Margo's Got Money Troubles will star Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, but knowing Michelle Pfeiffer is also joining the cast is too much to bear! This is the first time the actress will collaborate with her husband, TV creator David E. Kelley, so we can't wait to see the magic they'll create (via Deadline).

Nick Offerman from The Last of Us and Parks and Rec will also star.

When is Margo's Got Money Troubles coming out?

Ron Lach/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles Release Date

We don't have an official release date for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV show yet. I'm thinking if the TV show is in the early stages of planning, we could see it in 2025! Check out all of this year's best New TV Shows to hold you over until then.

What is Margo's Got Money Troubles about?

Amazon

Margo's Got Money Troubles Plot

Margo Millet is the daughter of a Hooter's waitress named Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex-wrestler (via Deadline). She's always had to make it on her own, even though she's not sure how. When she enrolls in her local junior college, she's totally unprepared to get swept up into a torrid love affair with her English professor — or to get pregnant.

Now at 20 years old, Margo needs an income and fast. She decides to experiment with OnlyFans and ends up taking some of her estranged father's advice from the world of wrestling to create a character users will fall in love with. You can order the book now!

What is Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's new TV show?

Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles is coming soon to Apple TV+ thanks to a bunch of different producers. A24 is backing the film, as well as Elle and Dakota Fanning’s production company Lewellen Pictures and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, to name a few.

What else has Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in?

Focus Features

Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in 2017's The Beguiled. The movie follows John McBurney, an injured Union soldier, who winds up at a female Southern boarding school after deserting the Civil War. But soon, as the women help him, tensions turn to rivalries and friends turn to enemies.

Are you excited for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV reunion? Let us know what other New TV Shows you're watching in the comments.

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This post has been updated.

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