Essential cloud apps
Goodreader
Platforms: iPad and iPhone
Price: $6.8
Ratings: 9/10
Goodreader
is the ultimate reader app.
Goodreader is the ultimate reader app. It
allows you to import and view almost any type of text file (and take notes), in
a handy high powered browser. It is wonderfully simple - you can pretty much
view any kind of media, from comic books and PDF5 to movies. It also works
brilliantly well with other apps. For example, you can import a work document
from Google Docs, scribble notes all over it by hand, and then export it
instantly. It works with Dropbox, email or any other fìlesharing/synching
function.
Dropbox
Platforms: All platforms
Price: free
Ratings: 10/10
This is the standard. The simplest
interface yet, and the widest compatibility with apps across all the major
platforms and even your desktop/laptop computer. Essential. 10/10 Runner up:
Box - a more business focused Dropbox, with a focus on document collaboration
for workplaces. Drop one document, anyone can edit it remotely, with changes
and edits ail marked. It also focuses on large file sharing and the highest
level 256-bit encryption (that‘s pretty much un-hackable)
Cloudmagic
Platforms: Google Android, Apple iOS,
Kindle Fire, WP8
Price: free
Ratings: 10/10
A
single search box for your Facebook, Gmail, Dropbox and Evernote (and others)
As you may have noticed from the rest of
this feature, the choices are incredibly varied. What happens if consumers use
more than one cloud service? How will you remember where you put that one
particular document or photo? Cloudmagic solves that - it’s effectively a search
across all cloud platforms so a single search box for your Facebook, Gmail,
Dropbox and Evernote (and others). A pain to set up however.
Pocket
Platforms: Google Android and Apple iOS
Price: free
Ratings: 8/10
Formerly known as ‘Read it Later’, Pocket
is the best free app for doing just that; saving old webpages or online content
to view later. Presentation wise it’s wonderful, while you’re browsing through
the internet you can keep stones you didn’t get to finish or you simply want to
preserve. Design wise, it lays it all out in app like a newspaper or magazine,
and now also works with video.
Runner up: Instapaper is slightly better in terms of usability, but costs $75
Readability has also come on in leaps and bounds (and is free) but seems to
warp some webpages when saving them.
Kindle
Platforms: Google Android and Apple lOS
Price: free
Ratings: 10/10
Nevermind Google, Microsoft and Apple’s own
book store offering, the original is still the best. Use Amazon’s online cloud
book store to buy and read all of the world’s best books on your tablet or
smartphone Better suited to Retina Display class tablets, rather than
smartphones - but if your eyes can take the punishment..
Evemote
Platforms: Google Android, Apple iOS
Price: free
Ratings: 8/10
Evernote lets you take notes (handwritten
or text), capture photos, create to do lists, record voice reminders all while
making it completely searchable on any compatible device. Essential for working
on the go. Tough to use for newcomers though, it is a worker’s tool.
Runner up: Notability - it x6’Ls $2.2, has most of Evernote‘s functionality
(but is more free with its handwritten notetaking) - but is limited to Apple‘s
iPad and iPhone
Flipboard
Platforms: Android, iOS
Price: free
Ratings: 10/10
Flipboard
produces your own magazine based upon your preferences
Flipboard produces your own magazine based
upon your preferences, drawn from all across the internet. Love cars? Turn
Flipboard into a concise summary of everything car related from all your
favorite titles, it will then sell update and learn to suit your preferences.
This is especially brilliant on a tablet.
Shazam!
Platforms: Google Android, Apple iOS
Price: free
Ratings: 9/10
Do you get annoyed when you’re stuck in a
bar and an awesome song comes on and you can’t remember its name (or never knew
it in the first place)? Shazam will listen, compare the song to its records in
the cloud, and bounce back the answer within 30 seconds. It also can direct you
to Metacritic reviews and online shops to purchase from.
Runkeeper
Platforms: Google Android, Apple iOS
Price: free
Ratings: 9/10
Track
every bit of outdoors exercise you do
Track every bit of outdoors exercise you
do. Runkeeper uses GPS to track your location, your speed and your distance,
constantly giving you updates on your performance. You can even input training
programs (such as losing 10kg in 3 months) and it will work out a training
regimen for you. All the data is stored online so you can compare your fitness
to a year ago, your friends, and even plot new routes via maps. Brilliant. You
can also add heart rate monitors, pedometers and the like to increase accuracy.
