Whilst there are millions around the world that love the snow – snowboarding, cross-country skiing and downhill skiing, for example, few enjoy shovelling all that snow and ice every morning. Add to that the dreary bother of having to get up to get ready for work, and you often have disasterous arrival times at your desk.
How would you like some winter-oriented apps for your mobile phone that may make winter life a little easier?
Winter Wake-Up
Every smartphone and flip phone and wrist phone on the market has an alarm clock on it. Whether you use it or a standard alarm is irrelevant: If you have a mobile phone of any design, you have an alarm clock.
How many people set their alarms earlier during the winter, just in case they have to clear off the car and the drive – once they’re able to get to them? No? Those few hands that just went up aren’t a surprise, but they are definitely in the minority. That’s okay. Put the hands down now.
Many smartphones also come loaded with a weather app.
Winter Wake-up by boondoggle combines the alarm clock function with your local weather conditions and takes care of that ‘what if’ influence for you.
You set your smartphone alarm to your normal time. You activate Winter Wake-up. If the weather conditions wherever you are warrants getting up earlier for winter recovery, Winter Wake-Up, well, wakes you up before the preset time.
You may still be late for work, but it won’t be from discovering too late that you needed extra time in the driveway or at the curb.
Bonus #1: The app is for both Android and iOS users.
Bonus #2: It’s free!
Met Office Weather App
This weather app, originally made for the iPhone, isn’t a new mobile phone application: It’s one of the most popular in the UK since its development early in 2010.
However, we list it here because there’s a brilliant update from November 2011. Better maps, better detail, school closures, wind chill factors – You get them all and more.
Don’t forget to update your current app or download the new one for either your iPhone or your Android smartphone.
It’s free, so there’s no excuse.