5 apps you need to download this week

App stores are crowded places these days, and because storage space on your phone is often at a premium, you’ll want to fill it with not only the best, but also the most helpful apps out there. Because they come and go quicker than the latest fashion trends, and digging through Google Play, the iTunes App Store, or any of the others is such a mission; a little nudge in the right direction is often very welcome. Here are the apps we think you need to check out this week.

ipiit

 

 The grocery store can be an intimidating place, especially if you’re trying to eat healthy. Each item of food has an individual label with barely legible print explaining what’s is inside, but you often need to look up what half the ingredients actually are. Trying to find the food that fits into your diet can be like finding a needle in a haystack, unless you have a tool like ipiit.
All you have to do is scan the item’s barcode to pull up the relevant information you need to know. Fill the app with your personal preferences and it can help you avoid the stuff that won’t work and find the products that will. Whether you’re going the way of the paleo diet plan or you just want to cut out high fructose corn syrup, ipiit will bring that information to the forefront every time you run an item through its extensive database.

Available on:

iTunes, Google Play

Pause

Everybody could use a little extra break in their day. Make the world slow down around you and get a better grasp on the rest of your day with the help of Pause. Utilizing the ancient principles and mindfulness techniques of Tai Chi, Pause helps you hit the breaks so you can clear your mind of stress. A few minutes with Pause and you’ll be able to approach the remainder of the day with renewed vigor and a stress-free mindset.

Available on:

iTunes

Sunshine

Weather apps are a dime a dozen, but they’re worth even less than that if they aren’t accurate. Instead of relying on weather apps that present old data or get their information from less accurate sources, Sunshine aims to provide as personal and local of a forecast as possible. The app taps into the sensors on your phone to read the world around you and gather data that can provide additional insight into what kind of weather you can expect. You’ll never get caught by surprise in a downpour again.

Available on:

iTunes

Vidku

We’ve seen plenty of apps for sharing photos with friends, but how about moving pictures? Vidku aims to keep you connected with the people you care about by making it easy to share personal video clips with your contacts. You can create a group and invite the people you want to share with, allowing everyone to put their videos in the shared stream. The app will show you who’s viewed and liked the footage. You have complete control over who can see your video at all times so it will only be seen by the eyes its intended for.

Available on:

iTunes, Google Play

Posyt

By now, everyone is familiar with Tinder and the interface that it helped popularize. Swiping right or left has been applied to just about everything imaginable. Posyt is the latest to make use of the UI, though it’s the first one that might actually lead to a better alternative. Posyt is all about sharing ideas. You can toss your thoughts and concepts out anonymously and the app will spread the idea to those who might like it. If you match interest in someone else’s idea, you get connected and can chat. Who knows, you might meet your next business partner.

Available on:

iTunes