iPhone 5 Upgrade: My Top 7 Apps

So, as many of you (may not) know, I recently upgrade from a Blackbery Crackberry to the new, beautiful iPhone 5. It was a major upgrade in every sense of the word. Beautiful display, light weight, sleek looking, fun case, and a “keyboard” that won’t fade because of my incessant typing. I managed to fade most of the letters on my Blackberry’s keypad for the two years I had it. As soon as I received my iPhone on the 21st, I got to downloading apps, apps, and more apps. I have everything from news, horoscope, exercise, list-making, fashion and metro time apps. I’m not going to complain about the Map, because everyone already has. Drumroll please, here are my top 7 most used apps (outside Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram):

1. Pulse News

This little gem populates everything from GQ to the New York Times and Living Social. I have about 5 pages of different news and magazines I like to scroll through when I wake up in the morning and right before I go to bed. It’s nice to catch up on what happens overnight and then through the day. I get to scroll through and see the fashionistas of the day as well as the breaking news, international and local. I also get to see what other people are cooking and what new restaurants are opening. Currently Zagat Washington DC keeps me in the loop with what is going in the area restaurant wise. Living Social gives me all my discounts. The New York, Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg News give me quick updates on the present.

2. ChicFeed

My go to fashion app and outfit inspiration. This app populates the best outfits from LookBook, The Satorialist, Face Hunter, Jak and Jill Blog, Cherry Blossom Girl, and altamira. LookBook actually has it’s own app as well, which I have downloaded as well. I love going through this app because it is strictly visuals. The photos are of high quality and has both men’s and women’s fashion. I’m always in the know with this easy to use fashion app. You just scroll to the left and continue through a stream of pictures, virtually forever.

3. iHeartRadio

My morning routine begins with this app (after I check Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and the above two). It wakes me up and pumps me up while I brush my teeth, shower, and get ready for the day. The best part is that I can make my own stations or listen to one of the 100s stations played nationally. Since moving away from NYC/NJ, I don’t have access to z100 as readily unless I want to stream it on my computer. Now, I get to just listen to it on my phone and the speaker and sound quality is great, so the experience isn’t altered even though I am not listening on my laptop. Best of all, I can switch easily through different stations — but who doesn’t love listening to Elvis Duran and the ZMorning Zoo?

4. iBooks

What is more amazing than being able to read without carrying a bulky book around all day? With iBooks, I just load my pdf books and purchased books right onto my phone and access them through this app. Reading on the metro, reading during my downtime at work, reading while sitting on the couch. It’s so convenient and so easy. The pages flip so smoothly and since being involved in a book club, I love that this app lets me take notes, highlight, and bookmark pages to bring up in discussion later. Currently spending my time between The Corrections by Johnathan Franzen and Bond Girl by Erin Duffy, this app gives me access to the books without the extra weight in my already heavy handbag. Get the point? So much to rave about.

5. DC Rider

As an avid Metro and public transportation user in DC, this is the best app. The app updates every 20 seconds and mirrors the time boards at each station. Never will I have to stand out in the cold for too long or in the hot heat during the summer. The metro can be quite unreliable here with all the construction, station closings, derailments, etc. I get updates constantly and it allows me to plan my trip so I know where I’m going. You can also favorite your most used routes so you don’t have to manually input each time you want to check the train times.

6. Mint.com

I have a love-hate relationship with this app. Since it tracks all my spending, I love it, but it also tells me when I’m spending too much on a certain “category.” I mean, it is my money, I can spend it how I want! Haha, but no it’s great because it populates all my accounts into one area and I can see how much cash I have, how much I’ve been spending on my credit card, and it helps me budget my expenditures, which is something I really need since I’ve started working in the real world. Paying all these bills, my rent, making sure I don’t overspend at restaurants, and my biggest downfall – shopping. It’s really an easy to use and informative app that I check on a daily basis.

7. Urbanspoon

For an indecisive person like me, having an app like this solves so many problems. I get to see what’s nearby, I get to search certain cuisines in certain price ranges, I can use the shake feature when I’m extra indecisive. I can see the menu, call the restaurant, add my own reviews and pictures and more. I love it. Opentable is also another great option. I use both on a daily basis.

Last thing: The best thing about all these apps? They’re all FREE.