If the Internet were a galaxy, black holes come in the form of websites and apps that purposely suck you in to waste your time, while some turn your life around and keep your shit together. We present to you five apps you had no idea you needed, and will convince you that your phones may really be smarter than you.
Tastebuds
This is for finding the Nick to your Norah, or the Summer to your Tom. That’s right, falling in love at a coffee shop because you just discovered that “Omg, he listens to The Smiths too!” isn’t just the plot of a cheesy novel—it’s the stuff of a tech matchmaker. Tastebuds is a new dating app that lets you connect with people who have the same music taste as you.
Tastebuds. Available on iOS only. Visit their website here.
Tindog
Simply put, it’s Tinder for dogs. The app is highly similar to the human version where one has the option to swipe right or left, depending on your preference, and even uses your GPS location to find nearby matches. Except, of course, it’s all for your canine companion. But hey, you’ll meet the dog owners, too. Your dogs can’t be the only one with a new companion, right?
Tindog. Available on iOS and Android. Visit their website here.
Drunk Mode
Remember kids, never drink and dial. You’re lucky there’s Drunk Mode for when a nasty hangover is all the memorabilia you want to keep from the night that was. Before heading to a night out, users can select which contacts you already want to block, within a time frame of three to 12 hours. If an attempt to contact the blocked number is made, one’s sobriety is put to the test, as you are required to answer a “Drunk Quiz” before being able to do so.
Drunk Mode. Available on iOS and Android. Visit their website here.
This Is Your Out
So you’re in the heat of a bad date, and besides finding out that he’s got a foot fetish, you also realize that he only looks like Johnny Depp in the dark. Behind a wall. With your eyes closed. Enter This Is Your Out.
This tiny device integrates itself to your smartphone, and with the push of a button, lets you receive a fake real phone call. TIYO lets you customize your caller ID, and has someone to speak on the other end of the line, following a repeat-after-me script like a real-time conversation. Now ditch your date and just point to your phone because your boss is calling for an “emergency meeting.”
This is Your Out. Available on iOS and Android. Visit their website here.
Blade
With traffic being the city’s most widespread epidemic, why drive when you can fly? It’s like Uber, but for helicopters. And rich people who can afford a James Bond-esque entrance when going to the Hamptons for high tea with Donald Trump. If you’re not feeling the helicopter ride, you can also opt to book their seaplanes, and still get to sip on your complimentary Rosè. If that isn’t enough for you, Blade also offers compensation in the form of nothing less than a Maserati ride, for when your flight gets grounded due to bad weather.
Blade. Available on iOS. Visit their website here.
Art by Dorothy Guya