6 best apps to make the most of the summer
A serving of apps that deserve a place in the sun
Summer is the ideal time to get out of the house and enjoy the sun, especially after the year we’ve all endured.
While you shouldn’t let your iOS device get in the way of the glorious weather, a few judiciously chosen apps can help enhance your enjoyment during the long days and warm nights.
We’ve picked six of the best apps for this purpose, from travel planners and organisers to apps packed with ideas for great outdoor activities. Some act as your guide every step of the way, while others provide simple snippets of help when needed. Whatever you want to do, though, you’ll find that there’s a summery app to help you.
TripIt
Free (IAPs) NEEDS iOS 13 or later
Wherever you go this summer, knowing what’s on your plate is key. Instead of juggling tickets, reservations, and itineraries in a million different places, use TripIt to keep everything together – just forward your confirmation emails to the app and it adds them to your master programme. It even has handy destination guides for when you arrive.
Packr
Free (IAPs) NEEDS iOS 10 or later
You don’t want to turn up at your destination only to realise you’ve forgotten half of what you meant to set out with. If that sounds familiar, try Packr. Just tell it where and when you’re going and what activities you’ll do, then it will produce a packing list based on your input and the weather at the destination. You can customise the list as you like, too.
Wolfram Sun Exposure Reference App £0.99 NEEDS iOS 9.3 or later
Nothing ruins a beautiful summer day like a bad case of sunburn. Add this app to your arsenal, though, and you’ll be more protected wherever you go. It takes numerous factors, from your skin type to your location, and the level of sunscreen you’re using, then calculates how long you can stay in the rays without burning.
ALLTRAILS
Free (IAPs) NEEDS iOS 10.3 or later
Going for a walk or hike is a great activity for a sunny day, and AllTrails is the perfect way to make the most of the great outdoors. Enter your location and it presents curated lists of nearby walks, from popular trails and family friendly tours to those less-travelled. Whatever you’re looking for, AllTrails will have an enjoyable summer walk for you.
Sky Guide
£2.99 NEEDS iOS 12 or later
Few things beat stargazing on a summer night. Instead of trying to figure out which particular constellation you’re looking at, hold your device to the sky and this app will do the rest. It uses AR to superimpose star maps overhead, bringing the firmament to life. It can even show where heavenly bodies will be in the future, letting you snap the perfect photo right on time.
what3words
Free NEEDS iOS 11 or later
Summer trips can land you in unfamiliar places, but instead of trying to direct friends to your next meet-up point with vague instructions, use what3words. It divides the world into three-metre squares and assigns a unique three-word identifier to each one. Just use the app to get your identifier and you’ll find that group travel will be made far easier.