Whether you’ve recently purchased your first iPhone or you’ve been using one for years, the best use for such a powerful device is productivity. Keep reading to see how that shiny little device can help make you the most productive you’ve ever been.
How did I pick these “must-have” apps? First, they needed to solve a productivity problem for nearly all readers. Second, but equally important, they needed to be free. Not just partially free, but entirely free! Finally, they needed to be very intuitive and appealing for daily use.
1. The Google App
I know, I know, this is an article about iPhones, not Androids. But hear me out, because the Google app is still one of the most effective apps at finding what you want when you want it. In fact, I much prefer Google’s voice search to the built-in Siri functionality of the iPhone, and additional features are added to the Google app on a regular basis. For example, the app has a “Lens” functionality to recognize items with your camera and link you to them online, such as a specific type of dog or a household good. It also has the ability to recognize a song from within the search function…think Shazam or Soundhound.
Overall, the Google app is by far the best app for speeding up your productivity without adding any cost.
2. Microsoft OneNote
If you’re someone who likes to take notes on multiples devices but doesn’t use a Mac computer, then you might want to consider Microsoft’s OneNote. It’s a free app that’s available (for free) on all the major platforms. Since it syncs in the cloud, you can access it on all of your devices. Unlike some notes apps, OneNote allows you to include text, photos, charts, and many other formats.
This note app is truly is in a league of its own!
3. Microsoft Office Lens
Have you ever found yourself in need of a scanning app? If so, the Microsoft Lens app has you covered. It’s free and very intuitive. It has presets to scan a variety of documents to images or PDFs, including whiteboards, documents, business cards, and photos. With the built-in cropping option, it requires very little effort to make a perfect “scan” of your documents. After scanning, you can apply a filter or edit your document before uploading to your OneDrive account, emailing, texting, or printing.
If you’re in need of a scanned PDF, look no further than the Microsoft Lens app.
4. Google Tasks
I’ve struggled for years to find a simple task manager that syncs across devices. Fortunately, Google has provided a solution and it’s totally free. Tasks allows you to make a list when accessing your Gmail in a browser, or via your iPhone or iPad app. It truly is a simple cross-platform task list, but it can also integrate into your Google Calendar.
There is no simpler task app that integrates into all major platforms.
5. Google Drive
In today’s digital world, it’s difficult to work without having access to some form of cloud storage. The average person deals with large files on a regular basis, and that means email and text messages oftentimes are inadequate for sharing those files.
Since free is a criterion here, Google Drive tops the list. At 15 GB, Google Drive offers the most free storage space. Coupled with Gmail, Drive provides some very convenient options for sharing large files with co-workers and friends. If you would like to share a video, you can do so while incorporating the same “player” technology that drives YouTube.
Currently, Google Drive is easily the best free online storage option available.
I’m sure you noticed that every app in this list belongs to Microsoft or Google. Keep in mind, though, that both great and free are difficult to find these days and these two tech giants have risen to the occasion.
I’m sure you’ll agree that each of these meets the selection requirements stated above, which means you can work faster and cheaper, leaving more time to enjoy the better aspects of life, such as friends and family!
I hope this article has provided you with insights that will make you more productive, while also maximizing that amazing investment in your purse or pocket!
Before you go…
A few things that most people either forget to take care of or get overcharged for at the store are screen protectors and cases. Before you have a horrible accident, be sure to protect your investment. I recommend the following tempered glass screen protectors:
iPhone 14 6.1″ – https://amzn.to/3wYgT4f
iPhone 14 Pro Max 6.7″ – https://amzn.to/3HDZzX9
iPhone 14 Plus 6.7″ – https://amzn.to/3HZykro
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