Downloadable summer

Hearing Voices

By Greg Adams, Auckland | Thursday, 08 December 2011
It’s that time of year when we all start to think of some lazy days ahead over the holidays. In just a few weeks, we’ll all be taking a well-deserved break and enjoying some R&R at our beach/lake/park/resort of choice.

Naturally, what most of us won’t be leaving behind is our technology — our smartphones, tablets, and the like. In fact, they’re probably be top of any ‘things to remember to pack’ list. And, of course, they’ll be just that bit more fun with some new apps to help while away the time.

I’m assuming you’ll probably already have one of the many flashlight/torch apps, so no need to include that — a handy addition when the power to the bach goes down. But is that all you will need?

Clearly when we’re away from home we should be prepared for an emergency. When planning for this summer’s adventures, be sure to download SAS Survival Guide. Forget Man vs Wild, this app has an incredible amount of information to help you survive any situation, from basic essential emergency kits to how to build a lean-to, to how to survive on the beach, in the desert, or in a forest. Other useful features include a climate map, a compass, and a Morse Code signaller.

Worried about getting too much sun? Sun Alert lets you can calculate the maximal sun exposure time, a necessary precaution for protecting your skin from the UV radiation whether you’re at the beach, climbing mountains, walking, jogging or just doing stuff outdoors.

You know how it is after a long, lazy day, it’s great to kick back on the deck and watch the sun slowly disappear. Then some uncle starts showing off by pointing out a few star constellations but someone disagrees and all hell breaks loose. Enter GoSkyWatch Planetarium. You can finally identify all those stars. Simply point your trusty device to the night (or even day) sky and watch constellations flash to life. It even works offline, if you’ve downloaded the right info. There’s so much information in this app that you could spend all night looking up.

There aren’t many places left that let you light up a campfire. How are you going to tell spooky stories without one? Try Camp Fire! It will turn your phone into a fire, instantly, complete with flames and crackling sounds. Unfortunately, it won’t toast marshmallows (not unless the battery overheats) but I guess you can’t have everything.

Lastly, it’s nearly summer and that means the bugs are coming. But forget smelly, sticky spray, protect yourself with an app. Bug Spray emits high frequency tones that repel insects. We can’t hear it, although it does warn not to use it with young children, who apparently might be able, which is a slight worry. There are different modes each emitting different high frequency patterns. It’s just a matter of finding what works for you.

Can’t wait to give it a try on the sand flies!