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5 must-have back-to-school apps for your computer and smartphone
From taking notes in class to accessing files at home to staving off forgetfulness, these five highly-useful apps are ready to lend you a hand at all times!
Dropbox
Those of you who need to work on projects with other classmates should definitely check out Dropbox. A free 2GB account gives you plenty of space to store and share documents, images, lecture recordings, or just about anything else. DropBox offers desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux and mobile apps for Android, Blackberry, and iPhone -- plus there's a handy web interface. For anywhere, anytime access to files, Dropbox is an excellent choice.
Like Dropbox, Evernote has apps for just about every device you'd want to use it on. Use it to record voice notes during class, scrawl important details just like you would in a paper notebook, clip items from relevant websites you visit... Put simply, it's one of the most versatile and powerful note-taking apps you'll find for any computer or phone.
Remember the Milk
When I was attending the University of Kentucky, my "reminder service" consisted of my forgetful roommate and an 8.5x11" whiteboard on the back of our door -- which was frequently covered by a hoody. Having a to-do app like Remember the Milk would have been an extremely handy way to stay on top of assignment deadlines. RTM can sync with just about any calendar software and alert you via email, SMS, Twitter, or just about any other method (apart from magical white owls).
You'll need a pro account for the best experience on your mobile, but it's well worth the $25 per year. That should be an easy sell to your parents if you don't want to pony up yourself.
The longtime standard for voice and video calling from a computer, Skype also offers a mobile app for iPhone, and Android and Blackberry apps are on the way. Free calls to your family and friends means more money for happy hour at the off-campus... er... book store. Yeah, that's it...
TeamViewer
At first blush, TeamViewer might seem like an odd choice for this list -- but hear me out. If you've got two computers and you're away from one, there's always a chance you'll need to access a file on it. It's happened to me a hundred times. TeamViewer lets you jump in remotely and transfer files or take control over your system no matter where you are. With iPhone and iPad apps and a browser-based client built with Flash (so you should be able to run it on an Android 2.2 phone), TeamViewer is an excellent way to make sure you can always get at your computer.
Got another great app for school which is just as useful on your phone as it is on your desktop or laptop? Share it in the comments!
Comments
15
Subscribe to commentsrichard.gaileyAug 19th 2010 11:23AM
Dropbox is one of the most useful apps I have come across in a while and I use it a lot. I have heard some very good reviews about TeanViewer so going to check that out now....
P.s You need to fix the link for TeamViewer
RyanAug 19th 2010 11:55AM
+1 for DropBox....and TeamViewer :)
Level 5Aug 19th 2010 11:44AM
Oops.. Verizon Android Phones.
When can we see that Engadget comment system over here at DS?
JamesAug 19th 2010 11:47AM
Well, old school here, says the five apps mentioned are needless and pointless. Much better results learning memory tricks and using paper and pen-pencil. Remember, old school speaking here; yes, I have tried all the apps.
I don't need them. No one really "needs" them--must have them; it's a convenience that may interfere with the ability of the mind to process, retain, recover information within seconds.
Scenario: "Let me find that in my DropBox; I took the notes." Versus. "Yes, Dr. Franklin said that the equivalency of any given body mass can only be determined of both objects are completely static; however, we live in a Universe which is dynamic and fluid."
King AntoniusAug 19th 2010 12:19PM
I'm pretty old school too and while I admit no one NEEDS these, they do NOT degrade your abilities. If you are taking notes then you have to actively be listening, therefore you will still retain plenty of that information. You can say that is not true with the voice recorder function but it's the same as using any other voice recorder. As far as your scenario, here is a more likely one with and without something like dropbox/evernote.
Friend: Hey, you have those notes on the Grandfather Paradox?
You with notebook: Yeah, they're here in my backpack. *shuffling* Um.... they WERE here... *more shuffling then panic*
VS.
You with evernote/dropbox: Yeah, did you need to copy them now or should I just email them to you?
Dropbox/Evernote type apps have saved me and friends many times.
JJAug 30th 2010 2:14PM
Response to Old School: Dropbox is great for more than just an individual working, too. It clears a lot of barriers for working with a team or a study group. Trust me on this - you can spend a lot of time trying to get people on board with the same file sharing protocols, or (as the King pointed out) trying to look for and copy notes, or you can get Dropbox (which is quite intuitive even to novices) and get to work right away. While many of us would love to have the time to memorize everything we're given, in this day and age it's managing sources of knowledge, and often not the knowledge itself, that matters.
BernieAug 19th 2010 12:02PM
No one is suggesting using these to replace learning. But they can make studying and organization easier.
Nakul SharmaAug 19th 2010 1:19PM
Isn't LogMeIn more reliable than teamviewer?
NonprofitTechAug 19th 2010 11:38PM
I don't know if it is more reliable, but I find it infinitely easier to use. Free browser based remote control, so no need to remember/use computer ID numbers to connect to your machines.
SanskritAug 19th 2010 1:24PM
You're running a little late; they just announced it for all Verizon phones.
But I do agree that it should be on other carriers as well.
Level 5Aug 19th 2010 1:30PM
I've known that for months there, champ. Still blows I can't get it on T-Mobile.
BeMasherAug 20th 2010 2:23AM
I'd say the better choice for a remote desktop solution would be LogMeIn.com (they have a free product). It works straight from a browser and if there's another computer on the same network using logmein you can even wake up your computer with it.
llanthomasAug 20th 2010 6:26AM
Skype do NOT offer apps for Android and Blackberry. It would make mine and my girlfriend's life a lot easier if they did, but they don't, so I don't know why you've printed that a fact.
AlphaComptonAug 21st 2010 3:17AM
Thanks a lot for the teamviewer tip. I repair/restore computers for people all the time and they always have to bring the computer to me. I've been looking for software like this for a long time, I've been trying to fiddle with VNC stuff but anything "good" or "easy" seemed to cost money or be too complicated. This helps A LOT.
I'd also like to recommend "Ninite" again, for easy no input required setup of which ever applications you choose.(I use all the time after restoring a computer)
Also "handbrake" for converting video files for our cell phones or PSP's to watch video between classes or at lunch, I know I do.
Also "Any Video converter" is a great free video converter but I recommend it because so many kids these days watch videos or listen to music on YOUTUBE, so if you want to save it "Any Video Converter" has an easy way to do it, just by pasting a link.
napz77Aug 26th 2010 8:02PM
Students who are taking chemistry should check out Chem Pro:
http://www.ihelpnyc.com/chempro/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chem-pro/id386263255?mt=8