by GJ Vitug

School has just begun but students are already complaining about all the requirements and stuff they have to do. From remembering their schedules to studying for quizzes (Seriously, who gives quizzes this early in the sem!?), we students have to take into account every action we do lest the pressure will break us down. Luckily, there are apps out there that’ll help make our school lives a tad easier and manageable. What I am about to list here are some essential apps which could help you guys get through the daily (bump and) grind of college life.

Note: I tried my best to scour for apps throughout the three main operating systems: Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile. If you feel there better alternatives, do leave a comment! 😀

The Document Reader App

Nowadays, some profs give out copies of their readings and powerpoints online. This way of distribution should make it easier for students to prepare for their classes and tests. For those busybodies, stuffing their readings into their handheld devices is the best option for studying on the fly.

Android:

Kingsoft Office is the app you want. Not only can you open files, you can also organize and edit, and even grab files from any cloud storage service that you have. The very familiar interface will make sure any first time users will get the hang of it quickly.

iOS:

Goodreader is your weapon of choice.  You can open the usual file types like .pdf and .ppt and organize your files. There’s also a feature where you can annotate readings which makes it easier to take down notes. It also supports cloud storage and can open video and image files as well.

Windows Mobile:

There’s Office Mobile. Like its counterpart for PCs and laptops, Office allows you to open .doc and .ppt files while being able to edit them. It also includes OneNote, another app which will be explained later on. For .pdf files, the Foxit Reader is your best bet. Its Office-like interface makes it easy to use and easy on the eyes. It also has multiple features which include organizing, bookmarking, and commenting.

Word Apps

Ever tried to look up the definitions of unknown words without having a dictionary around? That won’t be the case anymore! These apps will help you with your grammar problems whether it’s to find the definition or simply spell it right.

Offline

For those who don’t have a continuous data service, these offline dictionaries will do the trick.

Android and iOS:

There’s the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (Android and iOS) with its straightforward interface lets you easily search for the desired words and it even has an automatic prediction function just in case you’re not sure of how the word is spelled out.

Windows Mobile:

The Windows version of this would be the Dictionary app which has the same functions, along with a beautiful start page featuring a cloud of words to pique your curiosity.

Online

For those with constant connection to the Internet on their devices, there’s Dictionary.com for all the operating devices (Android, iPhone/iTouch, iPad, Windows Mobile). This online dictionary does more than give you the definition. It gives you the words’ origins and history and it guides you on their proper pronunciation through the audio pronunciation feature. It also includes a thesaurus, idioms and phrases, and has a voice search function.

Another good online word app is the translator app. This type of app makes it easier to translate words from one language to another. Simply type in the word/s you want to translate and select the language you want it in and BOOM! You are now multilingual (or at least acting like it). For Android and iOS, there’s the trusty Google Translate app and for Windows Mobile, there’s Translate This.

The Notebook Apps (No, not the sappy drama Notebook movie kind)

These apps will surely help students take down important notes and stay on track with the tasks they have to do.

Android and iOS:

First off is Evernote for Android and iOS. Evernote is THE app for school productivity. It brings note-taking to another level. Not only can you use it to write down notes, but you can also add images or take photos to make them easier to remember. You can organize your note by notebooks or tags you added. Aside from next level note taking, you can create to-do lists or voice reminders to keep yourselves on track with your tasks. Missed a class? If you have a friend with Evernote, he/she can share his/her notes with you! You also don’t have to worry about losing your notes because Evernote also supports cloud storage. Dandy little app, isn’t it?

Windows Mobile:

There’s OneNote for the note taking part and Top Task List for the organizer part. OneNote takes it to the next level by allowing users to not only add pictures to their notes, but entire documents, and videos as well. If you decide to put in an Excel spreadsheet, it’ll show you a preview of any diagram or charts in the file. OneNote also allows you to create tables and charts. There’s a feature where you can even convert the table you made into an Excel spreadsheet and vice versa. Top Task List, is a simple to-do list app. It gives users the ability to customize their reminders and prioritize their activities. Users can even turn tasks into start screen tiles and they can shake their device to remove any completed tasks.

Numbers Apps

These apps are guaranteed to help students crunch big the important numbers they’ll encounter in their daily struggles.

The Scientific Calculator

It is a gigantic hassle to calculate long complicated equations with sin, P, !, and whatnots when you don’t have a scientific calculator handy. These apps will turn your devices into your best friend during math classes.

Android: Realcalc Scientific Calculator

iOS: CalcMadeEasy Free

Windows Mobile: Calculator²

Personal Finance

Want to know where your daily allowance is going? Or maybe you want to save up for a concert or two but can’t budget you funds properly? These apps are for you!

Android and iOS:

Mint.com Personal Finance (Android, iOS )

Windows Mobile: Money Wallet (free)

These apps will help you properly look at your spending and budget and they’ll warn you when your spending habits have gone overboard. With these apps, you can categorize your transactions to save and manage your funds.

Cloud Storage Apps

Last, but certainly not the least, are the cloud storage apps. These apps make it easier for us to keep backups and transfer files to multiple devices. You forgot your USB drive at home? Luckily, you uploaded it to a cloud storage service, which means you can grab it so long as your device has a connection. SAFE! Thank you, Internet, for having an almost infinite space to store our digital stuff. For this category, I recommend the famous Dropbox and Google Drive for Android and iOS and SkyDrive for Windows Mobile.

Android: Dropbox, Google Drive

iOS: Dropbox, Google Drive

Windows Mobile: Boxfiles for Dropbox, SkyDrive