Apps Articles

Article / Updated 08-14-2023

Snapchat is a fun social media app primarily used for sharing photos. Popular for the effects that you can apply to your pictures, Snapchat is a great way to manipulate your images with wacky effects. Snapchat is available for iOS and Android. Here are a few ways you can apply effects to your photos using Snapchat: You can use Lenses to add effects (like the dog face) Filters lets you add colored tints to photos and decorate images with customized backgrounds You can add text, stickers, and emojis to your images Not sure what these mean? Check here for some Snapchat lingo. Launch Snapchat and let’s get started. How to use Snapchat Lenses If you have friends who use Snapchat, you have likely seen a familiar face transformed into an adorable dog. It’s fun to turn yourself into a friendly pup with a playful tongue and adorable ears. You accomplish this with Snapchat’s Lenses. Follow these steps to use Lenses: Switch the camera to selfie mode. Snap a picture.Wait for the white mapping to appear on your face. Once recognized, scroll through the circular icons at the bottom. Choose your preferred Lens. Follow any instructions provided.Some Lenses direct you to do things like “raise your eyebrows.” Doing so usually adds an effect included with a particular Lens. Snapchat is constantly switching up its Lenses. Don’t be surprised to see new Lenses come and go on a regular basis. How to use Snapchat Filters Snapchat also offers Filters for your photos. These overlay your photos with tints and other words. Many of the options use the location of your phone to offer geographically appropriate backgrounds. Here’s an example from Indianapolis. To use Snapchat Filters, follow these simple steps: Snap a picture using either camera. Swipe left or right through the filter options. Choose your preferred filter. If you want to save the photo, select the Save icon from the bottom left corner. How to add text, stickers, and emojis in Snapchat The fun of Snapchat comes with the ability to alter your photos to fit your personality. This wouldn’t be complete without the ability to add text, stickers, and emojis. You do this by using the icons on the right side of the screen. Take a picture with one of the cameras on your phone. A column of options will appear on the right side. Use this column to add effects to your photos. Here are your options: Select the T icon at the top right corner to enter text: Type your text and choose Done when finished. Tap the pencil to write on your image: This allows you to use your finger to add drawings by hand over the top of your photo. Adjust the color on the color palette or add a sticker by selecting the heart at the bottom of the palette. Choose the stickers button to add stickers: This gives you a broad array of emojis and other graphics to add to your image. Make your selection from the options. Use the Scissors icon to create stickers from images in your photo: Tap the scissors. Then use your finger to surround the image you want a duplicate of. Snapchat creates your duplicate sticker and you can reposition in your photo as necessary. The Paperclip icon lets you attach a website to your Snap: Type in the URL to select your site. The recipient of the Snap will see an arrow at the bottom. When selected, the recipient will see the attached website. Choose the Alarm Clock icon to choose how long friends can see your Snaps: Choose between one and ten seconds or the infinity symbol. Snapchat is always upgrading and adding features. Keep your eyes peeled for new fun ways to customize your photos. Check here to learn more about how to use Snapchat.

Article / Updated 03-26-2018

What is Waze and why is it so popular? Waze is a fantastic tool for assisting you in your travels. The popularity of social media has made the importance of integrating with other people obvious. Why not use the knowledge and experience of others to your advantage when you travel? This free app helps you navigate your route with the real-time input of other travelers. Waze provides live information to help you be safe and timely in your travels. Waze utilizes input from other users to provide the most up-to-date information regarding accidents, travel obstacles, gas prices, and even lurking police vehicles. By viewing the live map, you will see the latest information on the road ahead and be able to accommodate your route accordingly. Downloading Waze If you haven’t already done so, you will need to download Waze to your device. This handy app is free and available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Click on the link below that matches your device: Waze for iOS Waze for Android Waze for Windows Once you have installed the app on your device, simply launch and get ready for the most informed travel possible. Signing up for Waze Using Waze is easy. The app is designed to assist you on the road, however, you should not interact with the app while driving. Either set your destination before traveling or have a co-passenger safely at the helm of a mobile device equipped with Waze. Launch the app and get moving. To get started, launch Waze and accept the Waze End User License Agreement by choosing Accept. Enter your mobile number in the field provided and choose Next. Waze will send you a text message with a verification code. Once you have received the code, enter it into the field provided and choose Next. Next, enter your information in the Create Your Profile box using one of two options: Type your first and last name in the boxes provided. Or Choose the Import from Facebook option and the boxes will autofill for you. (Optional) If you tap on the box above the words Add Photo, you can choose to add your profile picture using one of two options: Take a pic Or Choose existing picture Next, choose your user nickname. Keep in mind that this is the name other Wazers will see when you are using the app. If you don’t want other Wazers to know your identity, using your first and last name may not be a good idea. As you type, Waze will alert you if the username you have selected is already taken. The app will also provide suggestions for a username in the event that your desired choice is already being used. Choose Next. Accept Waze Push Notifications by choosing Next. You will be notified that Waze will be sending you notifications. This is necessary to receive the information provided by other Wazers. You are ready to experience the awesome information provided by Waze. Using Waze Waze is a great navigation tool. When you first open the Waze application, a pop-up at the bottom of the screen will alert you to your current location and the number of Wazers around you. Among the many capabilities within this app, you can do the following: Add your Home, Work, and other frequented addresses for quick access to drive information. Program planned drives so that you receive notifications of issues along the way and reminders of when you should leave to arrive on time, based on live traffic conditions. Sync your drives to calendar and Facebook events, getting directions to these events directly from Waze. Send your drives via text to a contact. The recipient will be given a map via Waze so that they can follow your progress as you drive. Send and receive messages to other Wazers from your inbox. You can also make changes to your Settings to gain other information, play games with other Wazers, and choose to go invisible to keep yourself from being identified by other users. The orange circle at the bottom right-hand corner provides you with options for reporting information you see along your drive. The icons that you see here are the same as the icons that will appear along your map to alert you of specific conditions. Report what you see to keep other Wazers informed. The options include: Traffic: This option lets you report a traffic jam. Police: The Police feature offers you a way to report upcoming police officers to other users. Accident: Obviously, the Accident option is a way for you to report vehicle accidents along your drive to alert other Wazers to conditions related to collisions or other mishaps. Hazard: The Hazard option gives you a way to provide intel on road hazards. Gas Prices: This handy little feature helps you report gas prices. Chat: This option gives you a forum for chatting with other Wazers. Map Issue: This great feature is incredibly handy and lets you pick up where most GPS’s leave off. This option lets you report problems you have with the map in a certain area, such as missing roads, exits, or bridges. Place: This option lets you take a picture of a place on a map so that other Wazers can recognize it when they come across it. Camera: The camera lets you provides pictures to other users of road conditions, obstacles, and other hazards. Closure: This option lets you choose a specific location on the map that has been closed. If others have reported a closure, Waze will provide you with a route around the road obstruction. All of these options allow you to provide more specific details, too many to go into here, to give Wazers the most up-to-date, accurate information possible. This is just a small sampling of the possibilities within this great app. Happy Wazing!

Article / Updated 06-26-2017

The Maps app on your iPhone offers four views: Standard, Satellite, Hybrid, and List. iPhone displays the Standard view (see the top-left image) by default the first time you open Maps. To change views, with Maps open, tap the Settings button in the bottom-right corner of the screen to turn the page, so to speak, and reveal the Maps menu. Tap the Satellite option. The Satellite view appears. Tap the Settings button to reveal the menu again, and then tap Hybrid. In Hybrid view, Satellite view is displayed with street names superimposed. Finally, tap the Settings button to reveal the menu one more time, and then tap List. A list of locations on the map is displayed. On the Maps menu, you can also access a Traffic overlay feature. If you live in a larger metropolitan area (this feature doesn’t really work in small towns), turn on this feature by tapping the Show Traffic button. The traffic overlay shows different colors on roads indicating accidents or road closures to help you navigate your rush hour commute or trip to the mall. Green tells you you’re good to go, yellow indicates slowdowns, and red means avoid at all costs. To print any displayed map to an AirPrint-compatible wireless printer, just tap the Print button on the Maps menu.

Article / Updated 04-26-2017

Jott is a messenger app that has become widely popular among a younger audience. Available without a data plan or internet connection, this messenger app lets the user send messages both online and offline. Why is it so popular? The answer lies in the capabilities of the app. Jott offers texting functions to a younger crowd, a way for those that may be without a cellphone. Available on Android and iOS platforms, the app is easily accessible. Those without a cellphone only need access to a tablet, iPod or other smart device. It is no secret that this app targets middle school users, many of whom have an iPod or iPad, but no cell phone or data plan. These young users simply need a Wi-Fi connection to download the app and then it will function with a simple Bluetooth connection. No internet is required to use the app after the initial download. What features does this app provide for users? Disappearing texts Group chat Unblockable messaging Access to others user’s phone numbers Stickers Screen shot detection Photos So, how does it work? First, you have to sign up for the app. The users are grouped by school networks. In order to gain access, students must provide real names, birthdates, location, and phone number or email address. Using the social feature of student verification makes it difficult for fake users to gain access. According to Jott.com, the messenger uses a technology known as AirChat to connect users to one another. The website defines this is an “offline mesh network” that uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to allow users to send messages to other users. Without an internet connection, users must be within 100 feet of each other to send and receive messages. And, the major draw for young users is that no cellphone or data plan is required. Another feature that is capturing the attention of young audiences is the ability to use Jott at school. Jott.com encourages users to try out the messenger at school or on route to a school function. Users are also grouped by closed school networks and can find others within that network or by name. Many similar apps are banned from use in a school environment, blocking use of these messengers by geofencing, which prohibits their use near a school. In addition, the app has vanishing text and picture functionalities. Any parent will tell you that privacy is always an issue with younger kids. The app’s ability to keep statements from being etched in stone is an alluring feature. Parents no longer need to warn that pictures and texts last forever, because with this app, they don’t. However, this does not mean that any user can say anything they want. Unlike apps like YikYak, which feature anonymous users, young people must identify themselves with real names. Although the text may disappear, the social pressure remains and the comments posted on Jott have much the same effect that face-to-face comments do. The inability to block messages also provides a level of accountability. What does this mean for parents? You won’t be able to monitor conversations that your child is having on Jott Messenger. However, talking to your child about appropriate communication skills goes a long way. Continue to discuss appropriate behavior for social media and other technology. This will encourage your children to consider their words, and texts, before posting.

Article / Updated 04-26-2017

Instacart is a grocery delivery service. Do you hate waiting in lines at the store? Instacart gives you the freedom to order groceries from computer or mobile device. The groceries are then delivered to your doorstep for a small fee. Signing up for Instacart Using Instacart makes is easy to get your groceries at your doorstep when you need them. This is a delivery service. There is a charge in addition to the price of your groceries. For many deliveries, the charge is $5.99, but this may differ depending on your location. Download the Instacart app or visit Instacart.com. If you need to download the app, click the appropriate link below or search your device’s app store: Instacart for iOS Instacart for Android Sign up for Instacart. When you first sign up for Instacart using the app, you will be asked to sign in one of three ways. Connect with Facebook Connect with Google Connect with Email After you choose an option, you will be asked for your login information. Enter your information. If you are using Instacart.com, you can sign in using Facebook or register for an account. Choose your preferred method and enter your login information. Enter your zip code when prompted. If this service is not available in your area, Instacart will let you know. They will also put you on a mailing list and will email you when Instacart does become available in your area. Next, you will be prompted to choose a store. Choose a store you would like to browse. The store options will vary depending on your area. Now you’re ready to shop! Shopping with Instacart After you have completed the sign up process, it’s time to get shopping. Log into your Instacart account or continue from the steps above. Select items you would like to purchase and place in your cart. Instacart gives you all the options you need to make your purchase, much like shopping in the grocery store. You can select the quantity you would like or the weight for necessary items, such as produce. When you select an item, Instacart also offers Related items. This is a great feature that may help you find an item you are having difficulty locating. Continue selecting items until you are finished shopping. You can view your cart at any time to see what you have placed there. Simply click the shopping cart in the right-hand corner to see your items and a running total. Each time you check your cart, Instacart notifies you of the next available delivery time. When you are ready to check out, click the Checkout now button at the bottom of the screen. You must have a $10 minimum to make a purchase through Instacart. If you do not have the required amount, the Checkout now button will be gray and will not allow you to make your purchase. On the next screen, you will enter your address, credit card, and phone number into the fields provided. This information is used to bill you for your purchase and alert you of your drop-off status. Delivery times will only become available after you have added your address. Choose a delivery time. Delivery times are available in two-hour windows. (Optional) Leave drop-off instructions in the field provided. You can also choose to leave a tip for your Instacart delivery person. This is your opportunity to tell the delivery person not to ring the doorbell or to place your delivery inside a doorway. If you choose to leave a tip, enter the amount in the specified field. (Optional) If a loyalty card is available for the store you have chosen, enter the number or add a picture of your loyalty card. When you have finished entering your information, choose Next. A bag fee may be charged depending on your area. Place your order. Enjoy your purchases without the hassle of waiting in line at the store. Navigating Instacart Instacart gives you all the options you have in store. You can search for your items by the following categories: Department Sales Popular Featured Products Instacart goes beyond just choosing items for purchase. You can do so much more. Check out the following options: If you’re interested in grabbing a good deal, you can choose the Deals tab along the top navigation bar. This will show you only items marked for sale. You can also view popular lists and recipes. This option gives you many options for recipes if you need help putting all of your purchases to use. In a rush? View the upcoming delivery time options to see if a delivery will fit your schedule before you do the work of shopping. Refer a friend for a $25 credit. This is an easy way to earn money. Confused or have a delivery issue? Just choose the Help option. You can get assistance with a number of different problems.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

The iPhone Maps app can help you get from here to there, whether you're walking, driving, or using public transportation. If you're ready to stretch your legs, follow these instructions for finding walking directions on your iPhone.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Snapchat is a free application, supported by both Android and iOS. Some third-party partner applications are also available as well as Snapchat knock-off host apps on Windows, Mac, and Chrome. (Host apps try to mimic the Snapchat environment on a computer, and do so poorly!) To download Snapchat, follow these steps:

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

The AutoRap application is packed full of cool features. The menu bar along the bottom of every screen provides the tool you need to navigate the application. Each screen has a specific use. The application is pretty straight forward once you have figured out what each screen does.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Sometimes you love or hate an app so much that you want to tell the world about it. In that case, you can write a review of any app directly from your iPhone. Tap the App Store icon to launch the App Store. Navigate to the detail screen for the app. Scroll down the page to the Reviews item and tap it. From the Reviews screen, tap the New Document icon. Tap the Write a Review button. You may or may not have to type your iTunes store password at this point. Tap one to five of the dots at the top of the Submit Review screen to rate the app. In the Title field, type a title for your review. In the Review field, type your review. Tap the Send button in the upper-right corner of the screen. After you submit your review, Apple reviews your submission. As long as it doesn’t violate the (unpublished) rules of conduct for app reviews, it will appear in a day or two in the App Store, in the Reviews section for the particular app.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

iPhone's Maps app gets where you need to go by providing driving directions and giving you the latest traffic info. You can get route maps and driving directions to any location from any other location in a couple of ways. If there's a pushpin already marking your starting or ending location, do the following to find some driving directions: Tap the pushpin. The name or description of that location appears. Tap the little > in a blue circle to the right of the name or description. The item's Info screen appears. Tap the Directions to Here or Directions from Here button to get directions to or from that location, respectively. When you're looking at a map screen: Tap the Directions button at the bottom of the map screen. The Start and End fields appear at the top of the screen. Type the start and end points. Alternatively, select them from your bookmarks, recent maps, or contacts, if you prefer. If you want to swap the starting and ending locations, tap the little swirly arrow button to the left of the Start and End fields. Weird but true: If you type the end location, you'll have to tap the Route button before you can perform the next step; but if you select the end location from your Bookmarks, Contacts, or Recents list, the Route button doesn't appear and thus doesn't need to be tapped before you perform the next step. When the start and end locations are correct, tap the Route button in the bottom-right corner of the screen. The route map appears. If you need to change the start or end location, tap the Edit button in the top-left corner and type a new start or end location in the appropriate field. Tap the Start button in the top-right corner. The Maps app gives you turn-by-turn driving directions. The two arrows in the top-right corner take you to the next and previous step in the turn-by-turn directions. If you prefer your driving directions displayed as a list with all the steps, tap the curling page button in the lower-right corner, and then tap the List button in the list that appears. When you're finished with the step-by-step directions, tap the Search button at the bottom of the screen. You return to the regular map screen and single search field. The iPhone can speak directions if you use one of several GPS apps, such as TomTom U.S.A., Navigon MobileNavigator, or MotionX GPS Drive, which are all decent. Plug the iPhone into a power outlet if at all possible while driving because such apps can quickly drain the battery.