Yes, everyone downloaded TikTok this year. But there are plenty of other iOS and Android apps worth using.
Whether we needed to chill out, do some work, or get some fresh air, here are the best apps that the Mashable staff used in 2021.
Angi launched in March 2021, but it may be familiar to some. Formerly known as Angie's List or HomeAdvisor, the app connects people with local contractors and home services such as plumbing, landscaping, and electrical work. Shopping for contractors is an absolute pain, but Angi makes the process just a little bit easier, and lets you see real reviews and ratings from professionals in your area. The quotes are free to you, but keep in mind that Angi charges contractors every time they bid on a project.
Brian Koerber, Culture Editor
Every city thinks its local radio station is the best in the world. But L.A. locals might be right. KCRW DJs spotlight both local and international artists, play live shows, and serve as music supervisors for movies and TV shows.
Luckily, anyone around the world can listen to KCRW programming for free with the station's app. What does that get you? The KCRW app features the excellent "Eclectic 24" channel. As the DJs note on air, this is curated by humans, not algorithms and therefore isn't influenced by money from record labels.
The app has been around for a while, but as of this spring, it became compatible with Apple CarPlay.
Rachel Kraus, Reporter
Does anyone of a certain (younger) age even own a home printer/scanner anymore? The good ones cost way too much to justify the rare usage and the cheap ones are, well, cheap and prone to breaking down.
So, let's give a collective thanks to Google for making the most of our Android phones and putting the power of a scanner in a convenient app called Stack. Now, scans are as simple as pointing your phone at a document and taking a picture. Stack will convert the image to PDF, and give you the tools to sharpen and crop it. And, since this is a Google app, it's seamlessly integrated into all of your GSuite services, so sharing, uploading, and labeling that scanned doc is only a few taps away.
Joseph Volpe, Deputy Tech Editor
Forest (iOS, Android)
An oldie but a goodie, Forest which helps people become less dependent on their phones remains my favorite productivity app. Set a desired number of minutes you want to focus, and Forest will lock your phone screen while a virtual tree grows in your app. When the tree grows to completion you can use your device again, and youll earn coins that you can save and use to plant real trees in Africa, thanks to a partnership with the nonprofit Trees for the Future.
Nicole Gallucci, Assistant Culture Editor
White Noise Lite is the only app that's never let me down. It isn't new, but it's literally the only app I could not live without. Quite simply, it plays white noises for me a fake AC that drown out outside sounds to aid sleep. The app has been a godsend during a strange year, during which good rest was tough to come by. If you're a light sleeper, its an amazing, simple tool to get a better night's sleep.
Tim Marcin, Reporter
I've been using Aloe Bud since 2018, and it's the only app that makes practicing self-care feel like less of a chore. It allows you to set daily reminders to stay hydrated, fuel up with a snack, move your body, and more, and encourages you to check-in via your personal dashboard whenever you complete an activity.
In a world where most of us are stuck at our desks for a majority of our days, it can be easy to forget to take care of ourselves both mentally and physically. But Aloe Bud's gentle nudges make the experience less judgmental and more positive than other self-care apps I've used in the past. Plus its super retro aesthetic is the cherry on top.
Brenda Stolyar, Reporter
Yosemite is much nicer than your couch.Credit: LA Times via Getty Images
The new National Park Service app has info on more than 400 national parks in the U.S., and even lets you reserve campsites where available. Plus, you can use it offline, so you can access maps, visitor guides, and more in remote areas with no cellphone reception. Keith Wagstaff, Tech Editor
Startup Carbon Health developed a streamlined way to set up COVID-19 tests and get results. That includes COVID tests needed for travel.
Sasha Lekach, Reporter
Best app for beginning or returning runners
Not a new app, but new to me. Really easy UI for tracking walking/running for beginners.
Alex Perry, Reporter
More here:
Best iOS and Android apps we used in 2021 (so far) - Mashable
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- SnailBlitz 2017: Citizen Scientists Wanted - NBC Southern California - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
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- Appealing Social Security Decisions Online - CBN News - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
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- Meteor is OpenSignal's own speed test app - SlashGear - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Data limits are the worsthere's how to stay under yours - Popular Science - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
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- A man with vitiligo who was called 'zebra' by bullies has defied their cruel comments by becoming a model - The Sun - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec coaches kids to fuel entrepreneurial spirit - VentureBeat - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Everything new in Stellaris: Utopia, one of Paradox's biggest game updates ever - PC Gamer - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- IN TRANSIT: The Idol Maker - Mumbai Mirror - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Paytm to continue free uploading of money - Business Standard - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- The perils and false rewards of parenting in the era of 'digi-discipline' - Minnesota Public Radio News - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Showtime docu-series sees the 'Dark' side of tech - LA Daily News - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Elon Musk: Australian man pens desperate letter to download his brain - NEWS.com.au - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- How Vestas Wind Systems used outsourced machine learning to transform contract management - Diginomica - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Wednesday Web Artist of the Week: Eva Papamargariti - ArtSlant - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Your Obsolete Brain: Life and Death in the Age of Superintelligent Machines - Digital Journal - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Under Armour launches its first customisable shoes - just-style.com (subscription) - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- I Don't Care What You Think, I Love My Facial Birthmark - SELF - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
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- Just keep pinning: why your business should be on Pinterest - Cambridge Network - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- Track-by-Track of Paramore's 'Riot!' Read Through Emo Teen Memories - Noisey - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Decision day for Go Forward Pine Bluff - Pine Bluff Commercial - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
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- Italy's Samantha Cristoforetti Says Being a Good Astronaut is All About Teamwork - Fortune - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Google Drive will soon make it easy to Backup and Sync PCs, Macs - SlashGear - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- What's worse than getting phished? Getting phished *and* sending a selfie of your Photo ID and credit card - Graham Cluley Security News - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Track Of The Day 16/6 - Maximillian - Clash Magazine - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- AROUND TOWN: GOP chairman questions Ossoff's London office - MDJOnline.com - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY/INNOVATION: ITS Fiber brings fast connections, data center services to local business - TCPalm - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Fiberlink Internet Packages & Prices 2017 - TechJuice (press release) (blog) - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- CS Editors: Creating Content - Security Sales & Integration - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- How to post a GIF to Facebook - Tech Advisor (registration) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- The Living Vampire / Real Vampire FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) - HuffPost - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
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- Mum drops off daughter at college then sends her hilarious texts with football team - NEWS.com.au - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Is Chrome OS right for you? A 3-question quiz to find out - Computerworld - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
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- Stevie Ryan, YouTube personality, found dead at home - Blasting News - July 4th, 2017 [July 4th, 2017]
- 5 tips to a delicious food photo - Orlando Sentinel - July 5th, 2017 [July 5th, 2017]
- Gordon Hayward the best Jazz wing player of all time? Not what the numbers say. - SLC Dunk - July 5th, 2017 [July 5th, 2017]
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- How to prevent bandwidth throttling with a VPN - T3 - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Google will now let you back up your entire computer for FREE on its servers - Mirror.co.uk - July 15th, 2017 [July 15th, 2017]
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- Why Mythology Still Matters: Wisdom from Game of Thrones' 'Dragonstone' - Big Think - July 17th, 2017 [July 17th, 2017]
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