Free App Friday - Duolingo

Apple's Free App of the Year!

Learning and speaking another language always seemed like such a cool thing growing up. Most of the kids on my favourite shows could speak another language, at least a little, and I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to impress people when I ate out at restaraunts and didn't stumble over the Italian names. (A skill I have yet to master. Also, I was eight, I never went to restaurants, unless you count McDonalds.) I wanted to be able to greet everyone in French and rant angrily in Spanish - something I still cannot do coherently in English.

I wanted this so badly as a youngster that I tried to convince my parents to buy me Rosetta Stone. But, sadly, my dad declared it a rip off - as he did with anything that wasn't free - and insisted on trying to teach me the limited Spanish he knew from his times living up in the mountains in Malaga, where he was surrounded by other English people. Safe to say that by the age of ten, I knew all the Spanish swear words and several jokes about his friend with the name C. A. Jones, but couldn't ask you how you were.

Then, at the ripe old age of 21, I found Duolingo.

To level up, users have to gain Lingots. These are gained by finishing a skill and practicing for several days in a row (even just for five minutes, if that's your goal). You can then use those Lingots to use in the store to buy things like Power-ups and Bonus Skills (which includes some hilarious flirting translations).

My nephews (well, two of them, 6 & 7) were intrigued by the little green owl icon on my phone (don't act like that isn't the cutest green owl you've ever seen) and decided to play it. They sat quietly for over an hour guessing the words and learning new phrases, cheering as the owl celebrated their ten day streak with them. I mean, I completed the other nine, but they wasn't paying attention enough to that, they were just happy they were winning their game. It's been a few weeks now and pretty much the only word they remember is 'Hola!' which they like to yell at random moments at the top of their lungs.

Duolingo is great as long as you don't mind the Spanish word for sandwich being stuck on repeat in your head at all times. (It's emparedado in  case you were wondering. See, the app works!)

Duolingo is a free app (doi!) that  can be found on both Android and Apple phones. Whether you're serious about learning a new language or just want to go at your own pace, Duolingo allows you to set your own targets and goals. And there's an online version too, so you can practice on your phone and on your computer. There's even a little reminder that pops up on your phone when it's time to practice.

There' a whole range of languages too - I have no idea what they are because I only chose Spanish, but there is a pretty impressive range. (Okay, with a little research, I found out that there are 23 different languages - all completely free!) Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, the list goes on.

Founded by Louis von Ahn and Severin Hacker (Please, take a long moment, those names are really cool) and built on the belief that 'free education will really change the world' this is a handy, well intentioned app that benefits everybody. The language-learning platform is constantly adapting and creating new ideas, with new courses for languages such as Hungarian, Hebrew and even Klingon in development. In the last year or so, Duolingo has released a new programme that allows teachers to use the site in schools and focus on each individual student's strengths and weaknesses when it comes to languages.

The app is easy to use and comes in different categories - from basics to medical talks to pronouns. And it uses both written and audio forms of learning, so you can hear and speak the sentences as you learn them. You can even add friends and compete with them.

Free App Friday: Marvel - Contest of Champions

This week’s Free App Friday deviates into mobile gaming. Mobile gaming is a big market, the introduction of the iPhone and the App Store, mobile gaming is a big deal. There are thousands upon thousands of games available for your phone through the App Store if you’re an iPhone user, and the various different stores for the various types of Android powered phone; such as Google’s Play Store, which is the one I use for my Nexus 6P.
Browsing through the millions of apps available for your smartphone can be a tiresome task, going through them all and deciding if this app is worth it? It’s a lot of effort, there’s a lot of apps! I know I’ve spent more time than I like to admit, just scrolling and scrolling and scrolling and scrolling, trying to find something I can get invested in. An app I won’t mind that takes up more memory than I would like, especially as I don’t have much to spare. Do any of us?

So flashback a week ago, when I found myself browsing (again) and I found Marvel Champions - unless you’ve been under a rock, superheroes are a big deal these days. They are now mainstream entertainment - with a different superhero movie coming out in cinemas at least three times a year, Netflix have the rights to at least 3 different Marvel superheroes so now they’re taking over the small screen too.
And now they have reached an even smaller screen (although many a joke have been made that my phone screen is not actually that small..), Marvel Champions is a fighting game featuring various characters of many levels of fame; from Wolverine to Black Panther, Captain America to Black Bolt - there’s many a hero to suit the different degree of superhero knowledge around today.

The concept of the game is to go on quests to compete against Kang; the challenger. You then win crystals, gold and other components needed to level up your heroes and uncover higher lvel ones. It’s a fun to play game, that involves planning and strategy, using your heroes wisely on these quests. You can join an Alliance with other players and go on Alliance quests. This game is a good way to kill time - and kill your battery (just a warning). Once you get the hang of it, it doesn’t seem as complicated as it might at first. The actual fighting concept of the game is also easy to grasp - swipe right to attack, hold right to strong attack and hold left to block. You can then read your opponents and know when is best to do all of these - and for someone who's mobile gaming catalogue stretches as far as Head's Up and Ninjump, I picked this up surprisingly quickly. 

For a free app that doesn't acquire (well, as far I've gotten, Level 8!!) any in app purchases, I highly recommend this app. If you have any fun mobile games that you'd recommend please let me know, I love to try new ones out! 

P.s. As a side note for those of you who do read this blog, it is mainly going to be me (Katy) posting for the next week or so, due to Billie and Steph having a whole load on in their personal lives, just a heads up! Expect lots of ranting reviews and inconsistent weekly's! I try, I fail, what can I say?

Free App Friday - Rightmove

Back again! A somewhat consistent, recurring series that we hope to continue along with ‘stalgia Sunday and a few others that will pop up sometime in the few weeks - but we all work shifts that change every week, without fail, so it is entirely dependant on that! We are aiming for weekly, but for now it might be bi-weekly as we settle into routines and plan fitting this blog in around our everyday lives.

So, back to Free App Friday, last time I focused on Instagram, this time is about the Rightmove app. I moved in my new, and first house without my parents, and with my boyfriend six months ago (more on that in a post coming your way soon! Shameless promo) and the process was made incredibly simple by this app. It’s so incredibly easy to use, the layout, the steps and then being able to contact the estate agents - so impressively easy to navigate.

This isn't going to earn any design awards, it’s basic, it’s blue and green - the company’s colours. It’s simplistic but not for an innovative design, just because there’s no need to over-complicate it. That’s why it works.

Whilst using this app, you are able to set price points, the type of living you want - whether that be a flat, a house, a house-share, or a house-boat! The distance of the surrounding area, all done in the form of simple drop down boxes.

Then scrolling through the houses, flats etc, it gives you snippets of information, all the important  stuff, so you don’t have go trolling through jargon and numbers - just the essential information that will make or break whether you will even consider that house. It (if it is available) will give you, photos and floor-plans, view it on a map, school checkers (if you need it), and then two bright orange buttons enabling you to call or email the estate agents dealing with that house, I mean it when I say this app is simple!

I found my lovely little two bed through this app, and I adore my house and making it my own. And I may have never found it without Rightmove.

Come back every (other, potentially) Friday for more great free app recommendations! If you have any free apps you love and can’t live without, let me know!

Free App Friday - Instagram

I am not ashamed to say that i am mildly (overly) obsessed with Instagram. Since it’s introduction to the world in 2010, the popularity of Instagram has sky rocketed more than probably it’s developer could’ve ever dreamed of - sold to Facebook is 2012 for a sum near the billion mark of cash and stocks (yes, yes i said around a BILLION pounds - not even exaggerating right now), Instagram’s popularity just keeps soaring, more so than it’s now parent company, Facebook and the likes of Twitter as well. 

I started using Instagram in late 2011, and haven’t looked back. It easily became my favourite app, and all you have to do is take a bloomin’ photo! Granted - Instagram itself gives you a few editing tools to tweak your photos to make them better, and those oh so talked about filters. But, now there are more and more apps available outside of Instagram to edit your photos, including a condensed handheld version of Photoshop. 

It’s simple, easy to use - and an easy way to keep up with the happenings in everyones life, without going through the dregs of ‘inspirational’ life quotes and ‘funny’ vines/memes that flood Facebook and the outrageous amounts of Tweets you read through to find one by someone you actually care about. 

Yes, people will complain all people do on Instagram is post photos of their dinner, or their gym workout, or their super cute nail art. AND WHY NOT. Yes, your dinner looks damn delicious, serve me up some. Yes, you work those lats, you look super fly doing it. YES, your nails are damn cute, can you some and do mine, because if I do it, it looks like a 5 year old attempted it for me. 

Sure, it can get slightly boring and repetitive, how many photos of the book I’m reading this week do you wanna see? Eh, not many, but others do. I appreciate a good #shelfie, I really do. But you gain followers who then share the same interests and you know what? A few likes can brighten your day. And if it does? Then I’ll like every damn one of your photos so you have some sunshine in your life. It means someone else enjoys you taking the effort to post. I CAN ENJOY PEOPLE APPRECIATING MY FACE. DO NOT CALL ME VAIN. I look good today - I am going to share this, for some people, that is a rarity and it should be celebrated.

Instagram is accessible. It’s going to have a few trolls and absolute a-holes. But, so does my street and most likely yours. 

So my Free App Friday - goes to reliable ole Insta. Long may you reign.