Is your phone’s home screen cluttered with apps? Or do you find yourself constantly swiping from screen to screen to locate the apps you actually use? Getting rid of the applications you don’t need will make room for the ones that should be front and center.
Of course, it helps to know which apps will help you eliminate distractions and stay focused during your workday. Keep reading to learn which types of mobile apps deserve pride of place on your home screen.
1. Financial Apps
Financial apps that are tied to your bank account, debit card, or digital wallet let you track your spending. They allow you to make mobile deposits, send money, and verify transactions. By including these applications on your home screen, you can enable notifications about your account balances. You can instantly find out about suspicious activities, report fraud, or cancel a missing card.
If you use a debit card for business expenses or to manage deposits for your company, financial apps provide added convenience. Look up the list of purchases from your phone to itemize your expense report while you’re traveling. Or instantly turn on the capability to use your card in other countries. Shut it back off when you return home to reduce the potential of unauthorized activity.
2. Productivity Apps
Productivity applications include things like mobile word processors, spreadsheets, and note takers. Online project management and scheduling tools also fall into this category. What’s great about smartphone productivity apps is that you don’t have to find a computer to stay on task.
Need to pull up your sales numbers and make a few tweaks? Do you need to finish an assignment for a class? Simply use a smartphone or tablet to access, view, and edit documents stored in the cloud.
Office 365 offers corresponding mobile apps for core programs in the suite. If you’re worried about the stability of your cellular data connection, you can download the document to work on it. Make your changes and additions, then upload the new version later.
When you’re away from the office but need to communicate with team members about projects, project management apps can be a godsend. You can keep things moving by handing off tasks and assigning new ones. Upload documents and let others know your contributions are in progress or complete. Send notes to co-workers impacted by new projects that come in or important changes to existing work.
Need a better way to stay organized? Calendar and scheduling tools can manage your day while letting you see what’s on your agenda. Got a meeting at 10 in the morning? Get a notification 20 minutes before it starts so you’ll remember to be on time. For remote meetings and video calls, notifications can also include links to the meeting ID or call-in number.
To see a wider scope of what’s available, apply a filter to the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. Just designate productivity as the category.
3. News Apps
If you like to stay informed and read breaking news and articles about other topics, you’ll want news and information apps. You may find some options that integrate with other services like email, such as AOL, Yahoo!, and Google News.
Other applications are specific to a certain online publication like Buzzfeed. If you prefer a mix of news sources, some apps let you sort through various media formats. You can find the topics you’re most interested in among podcasts, videos, and articles.
Weather news apps keep you up to date about changing conditions and storm-related stories. Know when it’s expected to rain or snow so you can pack an umbrella and warmer clothes in case. And get a heads up about severe weather alerts in your area or when you’re traveling.
4. Security Apps
Your smartphone isn’t immune to malware attacks and password hacks. Anytime it’s connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular data network, your phone is vulnerable. Secure Wi-Fi networks and VPN apps can provide more protection. But unless you plan on always using your phone in airplane mode, it’s smart to install an anti-malware app.
Basic anti-malware applications can scan your phone or mobile tablet and remove suspicious programs, coding, and executables. Some advanced mobile security apps add protection against phishing attempts and physical theft. If your phone gets stolen, you can use security apps to lock the device and wipe all the data.
You can access these features from a web-based portal, including the ability to lock down certain apps. This can come in handy if you don’t want to completely wipe all the data or lock the entire device. If you think you misplaced your phone or you’ll get it back, locking specific apps might be a better option.
Password managers are other security apps you’ll find useful. These applications can store and keep your passwords under wraps, inputting them when needed. In some cases, password managers can store payment cards, generate new credentials, and rely on two-factor authentication. This authentication method requires another type of verification, such as a code sent to your phone or a fingerprint, to allow access.
5. Utility Apps
Utility apps run the gamut, from those that check your Wi-Fi network’s speed to those that review your grammar as you type. You’ll also find applications that transcribe voice recordings and interviews and programs that serve as predictive text keyboards. Depending on your job and hobbies, there are numerous utility apps that you may find useful.
Many people appreciate that grammar checkers prevent them from making mistakes when composing texts and emails. Others like to use speed test apps to troubleshoot problems with Wi-Fi connections either at home or for clients. Journalists who rely on interviews for stories and articles can press record in transcription apps, knowing they’ll save time.
Now that you know about the types of apps to put on your home screen, it’s time to get busy! Mobile apps dealing with finance and productivity will keep you on task, while news programs will help you stay informed. Don’t forget about anti-malware and password managers to protect your device and the information on it. Finally, include a few utility apps to make some of the work you do on your mobile device easier.
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