In this digital age, our smartphones and computers can be used for everything from watching viral videos of llamas to writing an honors thesis. With midterms coming up and the general stress of the semester sinking in, look no further than your mobile device for apps to help you get through this grueling time and get to spring break.
RefME
Price: Free
Available on: App Store, Google Play
If you have an essay to write for your midterms (which I’m guessing is going to be most students at the UA), this app is going to be your new best friend. RefME allows users to scan the barcodes of books and journals in order to create citations with ease. Users can also input an ISBN or URL into the app, which has over 7,000 different referencing styles. So, whether your professor wants everything in MLA, Chicago or APA style, RefME is bound to have the citation you need. When you’re done, you can export your citations to an email address, Microsoft Word and other platforms.
WolframAlpha
Price: $2.99
Available on: App Store, Google Play
If you’ve been hiding under a rock or have never taken a math course in your life, the famed website allows anyone to input an equation, and the site will solve it for you. The website is now in app form, but it does much more than solve math problems. The app provides info on DNA sequences and metabolic pathways, current and historical weather data, genealogy and mythology, morse code, socioeconomic data and more. The app is a go-to guide for any data or statistic you may need, regardless of your major or random fact that piqued your interest.
Handle
Price: Free
Available on: App Store
If you have a sea of emails and have barely begun to wade through them, Handle can help you. Handle allows iOS users to sync their emails with a to-do lists that allows for the ultimate control over prioritization. Users can create to-do lists and set reminders and dates in the in-app calendar. If you’re working on a group presentation or paper, different tasks can be assigned under a single project to allow for better organization. This app is clean and easy to use and does more than countless other “to-do” apps on the market.
30/30
Price: Free
Available on: App Store
For those who have trouble staying on task or have a hard time using your time wisely, 30/30 can help you. The app is essentially a to-do list but with a set amount of time that users designate for each task. For example, if you have a test to study for and a paper to write, you can designate 45 minutes doing research, give yourself a 15-minute break and then set aside an hour for studying. It may seem matter-of-fact, but this colorful app makes it easy to move on from a task at hand with an alarm that does the timekeeping for you.
AnkiApp or AnkiDroid
Price: Free for Android
Available on: App Store, Google Play, Kindle Fire, Windows Store
IRL flashcards are so 2014. Like everything else that’s moving from print to digital, AnkiApp lets users create and download decks on thousands of different topics, from different cat breeds to country capitals to GRE vocabulary. Users can make multimedia flashcards with images or sounds, and all your flashcards are automatically synced to the app so they can be used with other devices.
Wi-Fi Finder
Price: Free
Available on: App Store, Google Play
Though Wi-Fi Finder is fairly self-explanatory, you don’t know how useful it is until you really need it. The app allows users to search for locations with Wi-Fi nearby and tells whether those locations offer a free or paid Internet connection. Users can sort by location (such as a hotel lobby or coffee shop) or provider type, and will give directions to the locations of their choosing.
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