We live in an app-based world. Now, more than ever, application software plays a vital role in our lives, whether it’s managing a work team or ordering an Uber.
2023 is set to be a year of big progress in app technology as we start to see the widespread use of 5G technology. Apps will be quicker, smoother, and more impressive than ever.
With that in mind, here are seven apps you should consider using in 2023.
FastCustomer
Sick of talking to automated voices whenever you call up a company? Often when we want to talk to a human agent, companies will put us in touch with a robot, or leave us on hold for several minutes, which adds to our phone bills.
FastCustomer is an app that has over 3,000 US and Canada customer service numbers and does the waiting for you while you do other things. When a human agent becomes available, the app notifies you with an alarm, and you can pick up your phone right away.
There’s a small cost for using the app depending on where you’re based, but this is nothing compared to the phone bills you’ll save. It’s also ad-free.
While the app has yet to reach countries outside North America, there are rumors that it will start to spread over the next year or so.
Cabin
The best way to describe this app is a type of private mini social network for just you and your friends or family.
Like with the major platforms, you can share photos and send messages, but only your group will see them. It also has a location tracker so that you don’t have to keep messaging your mom to see how far she is from arriving at your house.
Cabin is totally free and easy to use, so getting it set up should take everyone in your group no time at all, even your technophobe uncle.
Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator helps you sign into your accounts when using two-step verification. Put simply, this is the added layer of security that you need to go through when signing into a sensitive account, like your bank or an online casino account.
The Authenticator lets you use your mobile device as this extra step. Let’s say someone gets hold of your bank password: they would need to respond to a notification on this app on your mobile to get through, something that is much more difficult to achieve.
The app uses fingerprint or face recognition, making it super secure and also handy for businesses which want to protect private information.
12ft Ladder
‘Show me a 10-foot wall and I’ll show you a 12-foot ladder’ is a common saying that indicates that the speaker has a readymade solution to the problem. The problem that this app looks to solve is bypassing paywalls that protect online articles.
While this sounds slightly illegal, don’t worry. 12ft Ladder operates as a search engine crawler when requesting a webpage, letting it access unblocked versions of articles. Websites allow access to crawlers to ensure their pages appear in search engines.
All you need to do is type the webpage URL into 12ft Ladder’s search box to see if it can conjure up your free article.
Doodle
Doodle is the app you’ve been dreaming of if you have a tough time getting busy friends together.
Cutting down on the avalanche of emails and texts that come with organizing meetups, Doodle lets you choose a few date options and then provides your group with a poll so that you can see which one works for everyone, or as many as possible.
Not only does this improve your chances of seeing everyone, but it cuts down on a whole lot of time and effort.
The app costs $3, but there should be a free trial for you to give it a whirl before deciding if you like it.
Waze
If, like most people, you’re always trying to avoid traffic, then Waze provides real-time traffic conditions reported by users who are out on the roads at that moment. You’ll be the first to hear about traffic conditions, delays, and accidents, even before most news sites get to them.
As well as individual benefits, Waze works for the collective good. If people know where to avoid traffic jams, then they disperse over a wider area and help ease congestion.
While Google Maps offers a similar traffic feature, Waze offers a more personalized version tailored to your favorite routes and travel times.
Fetch Rewards
Ever wanted a personal shopper? Fetch markets itself as the electronic version of this, taking minimal information about your needs and constructing a tailored shopping list.
All you need to do is write or speak your requirements into your app and you’ll get the best prices and coupons for that product. If you need to find something specific, then you can upload a picture and Fetch will go fetch it for you.
On top of that, it can also use your billing info to place the order for you, so you don’t have to keep reaching for your credit card each time. Easy.
