The Best Apps Around

The app store is an endless abyss, where you can find apps on everything from doodling pads to workout challenges and everything in between. When I first got my iPhone a few months ago (I know, I know I was a little late on the bandwagon) I had no clue what apps to start downloading first. After becoming completely addicted to my iPhone over the last four months, I have narrowed down the five apps I can not live without.

1. Next Issue. This app is literally a dream come true. I love a good magazine but having them pile up in a room that's already crammed for space doesn't work out very well. For $9.99 a month, you have access to over 100 magazines. Like many great apps, this will probably seriously hurt your productivity. If you're not sure about it, they offer a free 30 day trial before you hand over your money.

2. Rocket Man. So you may not all live in Toronto. However, for those that do, this app alone is a good enough reason to buy an iPhone. Not only does it count down for you when the next bus or streetcar is coming, but you can also set reminders to alert you when your mode of transit is arriving in the next 5, 10 or 15 minutes.

3. Hailo. Sorry again for those who don't live in Toronto or Montreal. This app lets you hail a taxi, track how far away they are and pay for your ride all from your phone. Not having to struggle for cash on the cab ride home late at night is a miracle.

4. Starbucks App. I know this is no new revelation but I had to include it on my list. The app is also adding a new feature within the next few days which allows you to tip your barista using the app after your finished the transaction. Let's show some love to those cheerful baristas!

5. AfterLight. There are so many great apps for editing photos but AfterLight is my go-to. It costs a measly $1.99 but is worth it for how great it makes your photos (cough, you) look.

Did I miss an amazing app? Let me know in the comments below!

- JS

I see your 'True Colours' shining through...

Ever meet someone and wonder "why do they act like that?" or "why can't they just be more like this?". Whether it's my parents, colleagues, or EX- boyfriends (especially this one) it is hard for me to fully understand people who behave differently than me. I think we get so stuck in our own ways that it is hard to understand other peoples' way of doing things.

After a short two hours with Doug from iLearn2, and the "True Colours" workshop, I could place those people in my life in one of four different colour groups. By understanding a person's colour, you can understand what makes them tick.

True Colours is a personality test which groups you into one of four colour groups. After you finish the test you are given a ranking of your colours from the most prominent to least prominent. We are all a combination of the four colours, they just appear in unique levels in each person.

I wasn't surprised when my test revealed I was orange. Oranges are driven by the need to show skill and are master negotiators. They also love attention... no, me?! I knew I belonged in orange, but there was one group I really envied, the golds. The golds were sparse in our class, however there is a lot I could learn from them. Golds are known to be very organized... definitely not one of my strong suits. I try to accomplish so much that organization takes a backseat, I  feel my time is better spent actually getting things done than planning how to do them. However, I think my sanity would benefit greatly if I could take a few lessons from golds.

My other oranges... I made them pose like the Real Housewives of Orange County.

Doug from iLearn2 did an excellent job of making the content engaging and easy to understand. The workshop was given to us at 8:30am and when we all arrived half asleep. Doug managed to wake us all up and keep us entertained with his outgoing personality and anecdotes.

It surprised me that the workshop really stuck with me. I've done other similar tests but they tend to seem useless and don't fully explain the complexities of personality. However, by giving you a ranking of colours instead of confining you into one single bin, it allows you to understand yourself and others in a more complete way. Many workshops leave you thinking for the day but by the next day you've completely forgotten what it was about. Our CCPR class still refers to the workshop and people's colours... two weeks later.

After the workshop I can see how peoples' colours affect how they work and live. Groups in class which are dominated by a certain colour, green for example, will act very differently than a group dominated by orange. In groups, I feel it is essential to have a variety of colours, each colour brings its own unique contributions to the table. As an orange with a low gold & green, I always want a gold and green in any of my professional or academic groups. Greens ensure they do things in the most efficient way possible and have the research to back up any of their decisions. Not bad as a team member right?

However, it won't always be possible to have a variety of colours in groups or teams. If you end up with a group with mainly one colour, the project and its tasks need to be tailored towards that colour's strengths. It also may be necessary to bring in outside help of other colours for small tasks. This makes having a network of many colours very important.

If our True Colours workshop was a movie, it would be a comedy. Not just a silly comedy that can make you laugh but nothing else, one that still makes you think. Not only did Doug make us laugh so hard we couldn't breathe (seriously), he taught us very useful ways of relating to others, something which isn't always the easiest. This movie would get two thumbs up in my books.

If you ever have the opportunity to take the "True Colours" workshop, embrace it completely. I know this totally sounds like a promotion but it's NOT. I was truly so impressed with the concept and presentation.

Your favourite ORANGE,

JS

All "True Colours" information taken from iLearn2 - http://www.ilearn2.com/