To ‘upp’ your game

Instant assistance for identifying plants and planets, scanning documents, even providing late-night therapy

WHATSAPP, Instagram, Facebook Snapchat, Instagram again, Whatsapp again…

If this series is a little too familiar, you’ve probably settled into a rather mundane routine when it comes to using your cellphone.

If you didn’t know it already, there’s far more to apps than just social media or entertainment. They have transformed beyond that, into useful tools that can save the day.

Here are five cool apps that you’ve probably never heard of:

Plantnet

Ever wondered about the name of a plant in your garden? Perhaps you’ve even tried to Google it by typing a list of visual features into the search box – to no avail. Plantnet helps identify plants, thanks to automated recognition. The system works by comparing visual patterns transmitted by users via photos of plant organs (flowers, fruits, leaves).

These images are analysed and compared to an image bank produced collaboratively and enriched daily.

The system then offers a possible list of species, with illustrations.

Star Walk 2

If you love the night sky and find looking up at the constellation of stars, a luminous moon and velvety darkness is endlessly fascinating, this is the app for you. Star Walk 2 Free – Identify Stars in the Sky Map is a great astronomy guide to explore the starry sky, day and night, find and observe planets, asteroids, comets, the International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, constellations, stars and other celestial bodies in real time.

All you need do is to point your device to the sky.

Tap Scanner

In a pinch, this app is a lifesaver. Tap Scanner is a simple camera document scanner with high-quality PDF output. You can scan documents, receipts and business cards that look freshly scanned, as it automatically detects borders and has fine-tuning features to reach perfection.

Wysa

As life would have it, the moment your head hits the pillow, your mind is flooded with late-night thoughts.

What do I need to pick up from the store tomorrow? Did I fill up enough petrol to get to work?

But other times, these thoughts can be a little heavier. In those instances, Wysa is your 4am AI friend when you have no one to talk to.

It’s great at helping you get unstuck. Co-designed by therapists, coaches, users and AI folk, Wysa lets you set the pace, helps when it can, and never judges. It’s free and anonymous – so give it a try.

Picsart Animator

Named “Most Entertaining” in Google Play’s Best Apps of 2017, this is an animation creator and cartoon maker that’s simple to use and delivers maximum functionality.

Make cartoon videos, animated GIFS and funny doodles in a few simple steps – no advanced skills required! Just doodle, have fun and amaze your friends.