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WHICH APPS DO I NEED?

All Things Appy: 5 Best Apple Lifestyle Apps

The introduction of the smartphone can be credited with inspiring many so-called lifestyleimprovements — not the least of which stems from its ability to multitask. Junk that alarmclock and makeup mirror, and gear up for fashion, shopping and art.

This week, TechNewsWorld’s All Things Appy takes a look at the best iOS apps in the lifestyle category.

About the Platform

You can search for apps or browse the offerings in the iTunes App Store.

Access the store from your phone or tablet. Then perform a search for the app you want to download.

No.1: Nightstand Central for iPad Free Alarm Clock

Nightstand Central for iPad Free Alarm Clock by Thomas Huntington is rated 4 stars out of 5for all versions, based on 24,918 ratings, and 4 out of 5 stars for the current version,based on 13 ratings, in the iTunes App Store.

Nightstand Central Free Alarm Clock

This great-looking free alarm clock has similarities to the alarm clock in phonemanufacturer HTC’s highly regarded Sense graphical user interface. Along with an analog-digital flip-style numerical clock with multiple alarms, current weather is beautifully superimposed over various wallpapers.

The ability to set repeat alarms on certain days of the week rather than every day, plus reduction of physical clutter are reasons enough to warrant retiring your classic dedicated alarm clock.

No. 2: @Mirror

@Mirror by Carles Estevadeordal Serra is rated 3+ stars out of 5 for all versions, basedon 785 ratings, and 3+ stars out of 5 for the current version, based on 38 ratings, in theiTunes App Store.

Any of the more recent iPhones that feature a front-facing camera can be morphed into apocket mirror with this free mirror app.

Use it for putting on makeup or checking on unsightly blemishes.

Zoom from 1x to 4x. This app is limited only by the user’s level of narcissism.

No. 3: Pose Fashion App

Gyroscope Technologies’ Pose is rated 4+ stars out of 5 for all versions, based on 1,244ratings, and 4+ stars out of 5 for the current version, based on 252 ratings, in the iTunesApp Store.

Pose lets you explore style and fashion, and this app streams copious images and blogsrelating to fashion.

TechNewsWorld likes this app because it takes the concept of fashion magazine one step further, and it is a good example of how the app can provide a superior experience over paper.

Personal collections can be created with this app, and style categories identify trend setters.

No. 4: Amazon Mobile

Amazon Mobile by AMZN Mobile is rated 3+ stars out of 5 for all versions, based on 105,569 ratings, and3+ stars out of 5 for the current version, based on 57 ratings, in the iTunes App Store.

Kill two lifestyle-birds with one stone.

First, use Amazon’s warehouses of millions ofproducts to move over to all-online shopping, and never enter a brick-and-mortar retailestablishment again, except to do a bit of showrooming — the process of examining goodsand then buying them online.

Second, do it all on your iPhone.

AMZN Mobile’s app includes a massive amount of crowdsourced product reviews and pricecomparisons, as well as a one-click shopping cart to truly demonstrate the 21st centurysmartphone and app palm-of-your-hand experience.

No. 5: Artfinder

Art Discovery Limited’s Artfinder is rated 4 stars out of 5 for all versions, based on 28 ratings, in the iTunes App Store.

Discover new art with a daily art piece push. Plus, buy affordable paintings with amoney-back guarantee, and check out cultural and art openings around the world.

There’salso a magazine-like section where you can read all about culture. This app shows the artof the app.

Want to Suggest an Apps Collection?

Is there a batch of apps you’d like to suggest for review? Remember, they must all be for the same platform, and they must all be geared toward the same general purpose. Please send the names of five or more apps to me, and I’ll consider them for a future All Things Appy column.

And use the Talkback feature below to add your comments!

Patrick Nelson has been a professional writer since 1992. He was editor and publisher of the music industry trade publication Producer Report and has written for a number of technology blogs. Nelson studied design at Hornsey Art School and wrote the cult-classic novel Sprawlism. His introduction to technology was as a nomadic talent scout in the eighties, where regular scrabbling around under hotel room beds was necessary to connect modems with alligator clips to hotel telephone wiring to get a fax out. He tasted down and dirty technology, and never looked back.

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