Want to make the most of the summer weather? Here we outline five mobile/cellular apps that will help you make the most of the long, and sometimes unpredictable, summer days.

 

In the northern hemisphere, we are well into the dog-days of summer. In the Caribbean and other similar areas near the Equator, summer tends to be the the time for cyclones, tropical storms and hurricanes. Below are five mobile/cellular applications that you might find useful to have, not only for the summer months, but year round.

 

Weather check: Accuweather

Want to be better prepared, weather-wise, for the day? Having an accurate and trusted weather app, such as Accuweather, is essential. This app can provide live alerts, minute-by-minute updates, track severe weather, such as tropical storms and hurricanes, with animated radar maps, and more.

Also, when you might be planning to travel, you can start to track the weather at your destination, so that you are not underprepare for the trip.

Platform:  iOS; Android, Windows

Price:  Free; Premium

 

Sun safety:  UV Index Now

At this time of the year and in the northern hemisphere, the sun can be quite intense, with temperatures well over 30 degrees Celsius, especially in the Caribbean. Even for those of us that are melanin-blessed, it is important to be vigilant about sun exposure to reduce possibility of sunburn, limit the signs of aging, and the chance of developing skin cancers in the future.

Using basic information, such as your location and skin type,UVI Mate can provide a 6-hour Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation forecast, UV alarms, sunscreen SPF (sun protection factor) recommendations, and reminders to reapply your sunscreen. It will also advise you when it might be best to stay or move indoors.

Platform:  iOS; Android

Price:  Free

 

Running/Fitness:  Endomondo

With the days getting longer, vacations imminent, and the Carnival season scheduled for in several Caribbean countries, many of us might be hoping to get our bodies in tip-top condition over the next few weeks. Endomondois a feature-rich fitness app that might become our best fitness companion, by helping you track, log and analyse our runs, walks, rides, and other workouts.

Thanks to its GPS and live mapping capabilities, the app can record your exercise time, distance  covered, pace/speed, calories, etc., all of which can help understand our progress towards our fitness goals. Endomondo can also be connected to a several brands of heart rate monitors, which increases the accuracy of the data, along with the analysis and recommendations made.

The app also has a social component, thus allowing you and your friends to share workouts, track each other’s progress, and just support each other. Finally, it should be noted that a premium version, of Endomondo is available that can provide, among other things, personal training plans, advanced statistics and weather information.

Platform:  iOS; Android

Price:  Free; Premium for a monthly fee

 

Star-gazing:  Sky Map

With clear and cloudless skies being frequent in the summer months, checking out the stars and constellations that can be seen in your neck of the woods could be an enjoyable pastime with family and friends.

Sky Map uses your phone’s GPS to determine your location and displays a detailed star map based on where your device is pointed. The map includes the constellations, the names of stars and planets, and the app has a night mode/low-light feature so that it does not affect or otherwise compromise your viewing experience.

Platform:  Android

Price:  Free

 

Star-gazing:  Sky Guide AR

Similar to Sky Map, Sky Guide ARuses GPS to help you spot and identify planets, stars, constellations, and even satellite that might be hovering over your area. The app also has am augmented reality (AR) feature that overlays the star map on your camera view, so even if you cannot physically see the planet and stars, you can still experience them.

Platform:  iOS

Price:  USD 1.99

 

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Image credit:  MOHI SYED (Pexels);   Google Play;  Google Play;   Google Play;  Google Play; Fifth Star Labs