Using an App to Track New Years Resolutions or Goals

One of the ways to help yourself achieve your resolutions or goals for the new years is to track your progress.  At the end of last year I went on a search for something to use on my iPhone to track my goals.  After searching the app store, reading reviews, and looking at features, I bought The Habit Factor when it was on sale of half price.

The Habit Factor is built on the idea that you set goals, decide what habits you want to develop to achieve them, and track those habits until they truly become habits.  With the app you can also track a percentage achievement of each goal, a feature common on most of the goal apps in the app store.

So far, the app is doing what I need it to but it's early in the year. There are a lot of goal tracking apps in the app store so this may or may not be the best. I'd encourage you to look around, read the reviews, and decide yourself. However, the bottom line is that you have a better chance of achieving your goals if you regularly track your progress toward them. It's easier to regularly track your progress if the means of tracking it is always at your fingertips.

Do you use an app for tracking goals or resolutions? If so, which one?

Reading Through the Bible with Your iOS Device

Many Christians make new year's resolutions to read through the Bible.  Some just take several chapters, starting at Genesis and reading through Revelations. Others find a plan, print it out, and keep it in their Bible, checking off each day as they go.  If you have an iPhone or iPad, there's an even simpler way using YouVersion for the iPhone or iPad.

YouVersion has hundreds of different reading plans, from reading through the Bible chronologically (which, if you haven't tried, gives you a new perspective on the history), to reading a few verses a day along with a devotional. Once you start a plan, you simply open the app that morning, or whenever you do your reading, and you are presented with the passages to read. Click them and start reading. The app keeps up with your progress and always shows you the right passages of Scripture for the current day.

RunPee: Finding Out Whether to Stay for the Credits at the Movie

When  I wrote about the RunPee app in my The Right Time to Pee...at the Movies post, it was for it's practical purpose of letting you know when to take care of your biological needs while not missing an important part of the movie you paid so much to watch. If you don't order a large drink like I do and don't need the app for the primary purpose it's intended, there is another reason to have it.

Preview Tracks in Naturespace

Naturespace, an app I've written about a couple of times already and one of my favorites, has undergone a major update. If you've never heard of Naturespace before, it's an app that plays ambient nature sounds that are of a quality that is unrivaled in any other similar app out there.  It's a free download so if you don't have it, download it and try the five free tracks that come with it. Try them with headphones to appreciate the quality.  The huge catalog of tracks beyond the free ones range from $0.99 to $2.99, most being $1.99.

Back to the update: In addition to fifteen additional tracks, which would make for a really nice update, Naturespace now offers non-looping shortened previews of tracks. The previews are available if you make an in-app purchase of a "Visitors Pass". The Visitor's Pass is free if you have purchased five or more tracks. Otherwise it is $1.99. If you have the Visitor's Pass, you simply click the Visit button for a track for which you want to download a preview.

'Tis the Bowl Season

It's December and you know what that means...the beginning of Bowl Game Season.  OK, that pales in comparison to Christmas, but it still makes for a lot of football enjoyment.  With games starting on December 17, how can you prepare and what can augment your bowl-watching experience?  ESPN produced an app for your iPhone for that, and it's free.

ESPN Bowl Bound for the iPhone is a wealth of information and news for the upcoming bowl season.  Prior to the games, you can use it to check up on news, schedules, season highlight videos, rankings, game previews, and Twitter commentary from select sports commentators and colleges.

During the games, follow the game stats and check the rosters.  You can also follow, or contribute to, the discussion.  For quick access, you can set your favorite team.

For the price, ESPN Bowl Bound is a great way to keep bowl info at your fingertips, whether watching the games or just checking the bowl schedules.

For My Android Friends...

No, this is not a post for friends that are androids.  It is a post for my friends that own Android phones. Although I much prefer the iPhone for it's usability, software design, and huge app store, I realize that the choice of smart phones is largely a personal preference. So, in the spirit of unity around Christmas time, I offer this list of my past posts which I think are also useful to Android phone users.  Most of these posts mention apps that are available both on iOS and on the Android operating system. To find out about one of those app, simply search for it followed by the word "Android" (e.g., "grocery iq android").

Apps as Gifts or Stocking Stuffers

Did you know you could buy iPhone and iPad apps from iTunes and give them as Christmas presents? By default, iTunes (on your Mac or PC) will email a redemption email with a gift.  While this is great for someone far away, that you won't see at Christmas, there is a better option that is a little more personal. You can print the gift and iTunes will create a decent-looking page with who the gift is to and from, what the app is, and instructions on redeeming it.

Since only the "Redeem Code" on the printed sheet matters, you can simply write that on your own, more personal card if you want and put it in a box or in a stocking.  For a stocking-stuffer you'll want to use a small card.  If you are the creative type with graphical talents, you can create a business-sized card with the apps icon, a special message, and the redeem code.