Like peeking into a purse, glimpsing at someone's smartphone homescreen shows what they care about, how up-to-date they are on the latest trends, and how organized they are. But it's not static — you can always change it up.
We think it's a good idea to refresh that homescreen every once in a while to reflect the evolution in your app-using habits. So each month, we're presenting you with what our homescreen looks like. These are the apps that we are using, loving...and maybe a little obsessed with. Some may be old staples, such as Netflix or Twitter, while others are apps that just launched in the App Store this week.
And while the screenshots are of the iOS version, most of these apps are available on Android and Windows Phone, too.
Ready to give your home screen a facelift (or just check out what will be rocking our world in August)? Click ahead for Refinery29's favorite apps.
Health & Fitness
Earlier this summer, Nike relaunched its Nike+ Training Club app with special trainer workouts, and a brand-new Nike+ app, with content personalized to fit your interests. Now, Nike has overhauled its running app, rebranded as Nike+ Run Club (because everyone knows that running with a buddy is more fun than going it solo). By far the coolest part of the app is its personalized coaching plans. All you have to do is enter your goals and fitness level, and the app will craft the plan that's right for you. Your plan will change depending on what works with your schedule and as you get more experience. Just do(wnload) it. You'll see.
Photo: Courtesy Nike.
Yes, this app costs money ($2.99), but for a meditative virtual vacation, it's a great deal. You can plug in your headphones and escape to nature from your desk at work or on the bus ride home. Take a trip along the coast or explore the beauty of Red Rock through the app's videos.
Photo: Courtesy App Store.
Entertainment
Add more humor to your day with this free, stand-up comedy radio app. You can search by new releases, trending comedians and albums, as well as channels (which include dating woes, classic, female comedians, and more). This means that if one type of comedy isn't your jam, you're sure to find another that is.
Photo: Courtesy Laugh.ly.
Food & Drink
Cooking at home can feel like a chore, especially after a long workday, but Fork It turns it into a game. You can earn points for achieving weekly cooking goals, share pictures of your food with friends and other members, and search through the app's homemade creations for something tasty.
Photo: Courtesy Fork It.
Google-owned restaurant ratings company Zagat just got a major app makeover. The redesigned iOS app (an Android update will be coming soon) is far simpler to navigate, and makes finding a nearby, well-reviewed restaurant incredibly easy. You can search restaurants by cuisine, find a spot using the interactive map, and get instant recommendations based on your current location. Bon appétit!
Photo: Courtesy Zagat.
For a subscription of $10 per month, Hooch nets you one drink a day at awesome new bars in your city. If you find a place you love, you can go back the next day for another "free" drink there, or you can be adventurous and try a new locale. It's a great way to explore your city's nightlife without spending a fortune on bespoke cocktails. The app is currently available in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami, and Dallas, and will soon be available in Chicago, Hong Kong, San Diego, and San Francisco.
Photo: Courtesy Hooch.
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Fashion
The U.S. finally got its first taste of the outfit-sharing, trend-tagging, lesser-known-brands-finding app from Japan last month. Need proof that the aptly named WEAR leaves users obsessed? Ask the seven million others who've already downloaded it.
Shopping
Wedding season is stressful, whether you're the bride or a guest, but Zola's wedding registry app makes it feel fun and doable. We love the curated product collections, which include categories such as, "Build Your Bar" and, "Upgrade Your Bathroom." But by far our favorite in-app feature is the 360° category, where you can explore rooms and see how products look in a more "natural" setting. Find something you like? You can click on it and purchase instantly.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
Rent The Runway makes it easier to figure out what you want in your closet for work and going out — without having to actually buy anything new. The app is a great, curated way to see all the new designers RTR carries. And we're loving the company's new unlimited option, which lets you keep three items for as long as you want.
Photo: Courtesy Rent The Runway.
Play
The premise of the Dots games are simple — just connect same-color dots to earn points and advance from one level to the next — but so addictively fun. The third version in the franchise introduces different characters, each with a unique power, to join you on your journey through the Dots universe. Each level is also accompanied by fantastical background designs, providing pretty scenes for your puzzle-play adventures.
Photo: Courtesy Dots.
If you haven't downloaded it yet, well…it sure seems like everyone else has! Get on your feet and start trekking around your hood to begin capturing the app's tantalizing and endearing little monsters. You may end up discovering new landmarks you'd never even noticed before — or even find your soulmate.
Photo: Courtesy Niantic, Inc.
If you're confused when you first open this app, know that you're not alone. There's no main menu or instructions. You simply start and figure it out yourself, clicking one tile and then another until the pieces fit together and a new puzzle appears. It's simplistic and, with the tranquil music in the background, oddly relaxing.
Photo: App Store.
Everyone's ears hear sounds uniquely, including yours. If you don't believe it, give Mimi Music a try. The app runs a short test to figure out your "earprint," and then builds a customized filter to boost audio frequencies your ears normally don't hear as well. The results may be shocking.
Photo: Courtesy Mimi Hearing Technologies.
Productivity
We compartmentalize our lives in so many different ways — our work lives, social lives, and dating lives — and yet, most of us only have one phone number and email address to dole out to contacts. With Sudo, you can create separate virtual identities to keep your privacy intact, and help keep your various social circles organized. Don't want to give your personal email when you subscribe to a retailer's newsletter? Just use a new Sudo identity.
Photo: Courtesy Sudo.
Remembering the usernames and passwords to the dozens of accounts you use on a daily basis is a seemingly impossible feat. To keep things secure — and ensure you don't get locked out when you forget a password — a password manager such as LastPass is a lifesaver.
Photo: Courtesy LastPass.
We’ve been Venmo diehards for a long time, but the app does have some negatives. For one, its privacy policy is suspect, and it also acts as a middleman, holding onto your cash (and making money off of it) until you withdraw funds, which can take several days. Square Cash is a delightfully simple alternative. You can send cash to anyone, whether they have the app or not, using a debit card or credit card. Funds get transferred directly, unless you choose to hold them in the app Venmo-style.
Photo: Courtesy Square.
When I wake up in the morning, I want a quick way to catch up on everything important happening in the world. In this regard, R29's This AM app is an excellent way to start the day. It delivers eight curated stories that you swipe through. Each is presented as only a sentence (so you get the news fast), but you can tap to get more information. It’s fast, fun, and informative, and has made its way into my list of app staples.
Photo: Courtesy Refinery29.
At $5, you may balk at using an app like Fantastical over the free calendar app already on your phone. But let me tell you, Fantastical is leagues better than most any other calendar and to-do list app out there. This app aggregates all your calendar items in one place, including pulling in items and invitations from your email accounts. There’s a ton of customization in the settings, from the coloring, to what sort of alerts you want, to what app you want locations to open up in. You can swipe across the top of the screen to scroll through your upcoming appointments and to-dos, and get an at-a-glance look at what each day holds.
Photo: Courtesy Flexibits.
Social
Sure, you can posts things you like to a friend's Facebook wall, but the new app Rex makes it easier to keep everything in one place. You add your favorites (movies, books, TV, and more) to different categories within your "Vault" and can explore nearby favorites from other users as well as your friends. It's a great way to stay on top of what's new, trending, and worthwhile.
Photo: Courtesy Rex.
If you love Snapchat, but wish you had even more filter options, you need to download Snow. The app has tons of kooky, creative filters you can wear on your face, transforming you into anything from Minnie Mouse to a traffic cone.
Photo: Courtesy CampMobile, Inc.
Creative
Channel your inner Disney animator with Folioscope. The free app makes it easy to create your own animated designs — no prior skills necessary. Share your drawings with others, and check out the community's impressive collection of animations.
Photo: App Store.
If you work with colors — as a designer, for the web, or if you're just looking to revamp your living room's look — you need Pantone's new app. You can build color palettes (up to five colors) using Pantone's library of 10,000 hues, extracting colors from the world around you, and turning those colors and images into useful mood boards. If you're going to use it regularly, though, you will have to pony up for a monthly or yearly subscription.
Photo: Courtesy Pantone.
Google's new keyboard works in any app where you type and combines its search bar with access to emojis and GIFs. Now you won't need to switch from one app to another if you want to look up some information. So if you're texting about dinner plans, you can easily send a friend restaurant info (and the obligatory plate emoji).
Photo: Courtesy Google.
This video editor by GoPro is free and doesn't require a GoPro camera to make magic. Using just the photos on your phone (or Facebook), you can make cool slideshows set to music, edited with special transitions from one image to the next. The same applies for video. It's incredibly easy to put together something that looks professional and is great for sharing.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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