What can one say when one has become so dependent on smartphones that we now use them to plan and execute successful meet-ups with human beings? Not much. Except, here are the apps that’ll help you do so.
WireYes, we know that you can’t do without WhatsApp. But let’s move on, shall we? Say hello to Wire, an app that lets you text, share music, photos and video chat. Plus, it already has a desktop version. Calling (subject to the speed of your internet connection) is pretty high-quality; the app allows group conversations, animated GIFs and link sharing. Discussing a meet-up with all the bells and whistles is super easy. Not to mention the interface just happens to be beautifully sleek.
Glympse ExpressEspecially useful for guiding directionally-challenged friends, Glympse Express lets you add the “temporary location feature from Glympse to WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, or Facebook Messenger… [it] enables you to quickly share a temporary link, so others can see your location on a live map.” Simply open the app and copy-paste your location link into any conversation you may be having. The link will let your friend(s) view your location in real-time for as long as you want them to. Once the timer expires, so does the link. Plus, your friends don’t need to have this app installed to view your location.
InstabridgeWhile meeting up in random places might be fun, sometimes you really need to (as in the case of the earlier app) share your location, a selfie, or a reunion photo, or just video-call that one friend who couldn’t make it, to get him to go green with jealousy. And if you’re in a 3G dead zone, good luck, sucker. Well, Instabridge attempts to address all that by making use of crowd-sourcing to help you find the nearest Wi-Fi spot (free or otherwise) – Wi-Fi passwords are shared by other members so you can stay connected when you really need to. Best of all, it works offline too.
Quality TimeOnce you’re all at the meet-up, what do you do? Meet, of course! Put the phone away! Can’t do it? Then use the Quality Time app. It tracks your phone usage and once you figure you’re wasting half your life away on it and set a time limit on your usage, the app makes sure you adhere to it. You can ‘Take a Break’ or a ‘Scheduled Break’ from your phone, while the app collects all the info on your missed notifications. You can also use Quality Time in conjunction with IF to further streamline your ‘Digital Diet’. Go, get some sun, you.
