Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat. Repeat. This gets boring after a while, right? It’s about time we broaden our horizons when it comes to apps. Last July, Apple announced that the App Store was adding over 1,000 new apps each day. So why are we sticking to the same old things? If you are looking to switch up your photo editing skills, learn new game strategies, finish your to do lists, or get better grades, here are some apps to try out…

Social Media Apps:

                               Mia Dolce (12) shows off her Portillo’s chicken nuggets on Phhhoto.

Phhhoto – (Free) 

Phhhoto is just like Instagram, but with a fun twist. On Instagram you can just take one photo and post it at a time. With Phhhoto, the camera takes 5 pictures at a time to create an interesting moving picture. Also, with Instagram, people are always worrying about how well their photos are edited. With this new app, it’s totally casual. Just post what you’re doing in that moment and it will instantly make it look pretty cool. Plus, you can post your Phhhoto to Instagram, or use Insta’s new similar app, Boomerang.

    Juniors Cassidy Raasch, Zak Bauman, and Shane Williamson receive

                                  compliments through Brighten.

Brighten- (Free)

Similar to apps like Ask.fm and Yik Yak, Brighten allows you to communicate anonymously with others. Although Ask.fm and Yik Yak are notorious for their negativity, Brighten is all about positivity. This app is strictly for compliments, or brightening someone’s day.

Photo Editing Apps:

                                                  Isabelle Bogojevic’s (11) VSCO feed.

VSCOcam- (Free)

VSCOcam has gained HUGE popularity from photo editors. Ditch the lame old filters on Instagram and try out VSCOCam. This app has hundreds of tools and filters you can use to edit your photos. It lets you set up the photo you are going to post on Instagram before you even post it. If you are someone who is obsessed with the way your feed is and how your pictures look next to each other, you’ll love this app.

Mid editing of a photo on Over. *hint hint nudge nudge*

Over- (Free)

Most of the time when someone thinks about editing Instagram photos, they think of things like a filter, brightness, or clarity. However, using all of these makes a photo lack uniqueness. The Over app lets you put text and pictures over the photo. There are many fonts to choose from and they add a little something extra to your photos to make them stand out from the rest.

Games:

Kelsey Carido’s (10) active Stop matches.

Stop – (Free)

Last year was Trivia Crack. The year before that was Flappy Bird. It’s bound to happen that a new game will take over all of our lives. Many students have already hopped on to the Stop craze. Stop is a game just like the board game, Scattergories. You and a friend go head to head trying to form words that start with a specific letter. There are many different categories and the time limit can drive one insane.

Lifestyle:

Carrot’s homepage.

Carrot – ($2.99)

Carrot is a lifestyle app that takes to-do lists to the next level. Carrot turns your to do lists into a game. Once you have completed a task, you have reached a new level in the game. This app is for people who need a little more motivation to be organized and stay on top of things. Carrot also has more than the to do list aspect of it. You can download Carrot alarm clock, Carrot Fit, or Carrot Weather.

School:

MyScript Calculator detects your handwriting and solves it for you!

MyScript Calculator- (Free)

Ti84 calculators can be so confusing. Pushing a button doesn’t help one study compared to writing a problem down. This is what MyScript Calculator is designed for. You can use your own writing in the app, either with your finger or a stylus, and it will solve the problem for you. It’s just like a regular calculator except you are in control. It may seem unnecessary but the little switch goes a long way.

                                               Calm offers multiple noises to relax to.

Calm- (Free)

Need a break from writing that really long essay due tomorrow? Calm is an app designated just for that. Calm lets you set aside time to meditate and relax. There are tons of relaxing sounds to choose from that you can listen to and take deep breaths with. On top of that, this app has a feature to help you relax your mind while trying to fall asleep. So if you are lying in bed and that memory of that one really embarrassing thing you did in 4th grade keeps popping back into your head, download this app.