Tap That App Tuesday: RunKeeper's Breezy iOS App, Netflix Roulette, the Closest Thing to iTunes for Android
This week, popular training app RunKeeper has released an iOS app for the less motivated users called Breeze. We're also recommending "doubleTwist," the closest thing to "iTunes for Android," and a web app called "Netflix Roulette" that will solve that common problem of Netflix paralysis.
Breeze: Activity-Tracking for Non-Track Stars
If you've ever tried adding a jogging regimen into your life and wanted to track your progress, you've probably run across the app RunKeeper. It's one of the most popular planning, tracking, and motivational apps to keep you running on a regular schedule.
Now, for those of us who aren't training for a marathon but want to get a little more active, RunKeeper has released an iOS app called Breeze. Unlike RunKeeper, which you open up when you're about to start your workout, Breeze runs in the background all day, tracking your daily motion and motivating you to do a little more every day.
"Breeze tells you where and when you are moving throughout the day, offers personal daily goals, motivating notifications that are subtle yet persuasive, and celebrates big moments and achievements," said RunKeeper's announcement of the new app. "You'll gain more insight into how your daily activities through a simple, easy-to-use interface."
The app gives you little recaps of your daily, weekly, and monthly progress, along with paying attention to the context of your daily habits, in order to give you timely reminders and the motivation to keep being more active. It does this all without any input from you -- just install it, run it, and you're done -- and without draining your iPhone of performance or battery.
That's because it takes advantage of the M7 processor built into every iPhone 5s (it's technically an iOS app, but it'll only work on the iPhone 5s). As we previously reported, Apple built the iPhone 5s with a separate motion sensing processor, intended exactly for running activity-tracking apps without draining the battery.
Together, Breeze and the iPhone 5s's M7 processor make for a "passive" motion-tracking experience with a simple, breezy design that won't take front-and-center of your iPhone 5s -- except when it's sending you an encouraging notification, which it does frequently. If you don't mind being frequently told you're doing a great job of taking X amount of steps in that day, and that you should try to continue walking more, Breeze may be the easiest app there is to help you get a little healthier.
doubleTwist: The Closest Thing to iTunes for Android
Diehard Android users will tell you all about how Google's mobile platform is an ecosystem that gives its users a lot more freedom, customizability, and control.
But one thing it doesn't give you is iTunes, one of the first and still probably the best system for getting and loading music from Mac computers onto (Apple) mobile devices, as well as keeping your collection organized in the easiest way possible. Quite simply put, most stock Android music apps, like Samsung's cleverly-named "Music" app, are unintuitive time-wasters that don't play well with Mac computers.
Luckily there's an older third-party app called doubleTwist, which is designed specifically for this problem. If you haven't heard of it yet, check it out -- it's the closest thing to iTunes for Android. Get it from the Play Store on your Android device, and download a Mac version onto your computer, and suddenly you'll have an iTunes-like music experience.
The doubleTwist app for Mac copies your iTunes library (it's a little clunky, and would be better if somehow you could use iTunes itself for syncing, but that's not in the cards) and syncs your Android through a simple USB connection.
This is a classic "freemium" app, where most options on the free version of the app are frustratingly disabled. But some of the extra features might be worth the cost, including AirSync, which will let you sync your library (slowly) via WiFi, but which also allows for AirPlay device compatibility with your Android. Other extras, like "Magic Radio," with personalized song mixes or adding in an equalizer are less essential.
Netflix Roulette Chooses Something to Watch for You
We've all been there: you finally sit down to veg out and watch something on Netflix and are suddenly paralyzed by all the choices. Do you watch an old favorite, start in on a new series, or take a chance on a recommended movie?
Luckily, you can take the choice out of your life with Netflix Roulette -- a simple website/web app that gives you one random title to watch, based on a few customizable criteria. Choose a genre, select "show movies," "show TV shows" or both, if you're really indecisive, and click the "Spin" button to produce a single choice. You can also choose a ratings span if you want to eliminate the truly terrible titles from the running.
Once the title pops up, just click the button to watch it on your computer or device, or search for it on your Netflix TV app. Finally, something that tells you what to watch!
Did Netflix Roulette eliminate your constant browsing and save your evening? Do you have a better iTunes alternative for Android? Have you gotten tired of Breeze's constant encouragements? Speak up in the comments section below or tweet us @LatinPostTech with the hashtag #TapthatAppTuesday!