Gift Giving Guide

Calm:

Calm’s purpose is to give you ways to relax, sleep sounder, and (ironically) disconnect. The app provides a variety of “sleep stories,” meditations, and simple breathing techniques – all designed beautifully so that you feel more calm just by opening the app.

• $12.99/month or $60/year for full access to all sleep stories and meditations
• Honestly, for all of us right now

Skimm Ahead:

TheSkimm is an email newsletter that hits your inbox each weekday as you’re leaving for work. It provides a snapshot of the day’s news in an understandable, witty voice that young professionals and college students have latched onto. Skimm Ahead is an app by the same team that populates your smartphone’s calendar (currently just Android or iOS) with important things to watch, read, or look out for. The suggestions span from the Golden Globes to the State of the Union.

• $2.99 a month
• For that friend who never knows what’s going on in current events, but should

My Social Book:

While social media and apps gather more of your photos each year, printing photos has become less popular. We all have those people in our lives who want to have a copy of that Facebook photo on their bookcase. My Social Book turns your Facebook posts and photos into a book. Through the app, you can curate what’s in your digital scrapbook and have it printed and delivered to your house!

• Cost per book depends on how much you include – for my photos from 2014-2015, it came out to $50.00
• For the scrap-booker

FilmStruck:

Even with more streaming services than ever, some sections of pop culture still aren’t represented on the Netflixes or the Amazons. FilmStruck provides users access to foreign films, films from Hollywood’s “Golden Age,” and other curated categories that aren’t typically found online.

• $10.99/month for full access, $6.99/month for basic access
• For your cousin who only watches Japanese avant-garde films

Infltr:

You can get lost in the hundreds of photo editing apps out there. Infltr is different because it can integrate right into iMessage, allowing you to edit live photos and videos before you send them. Whether in iMessage or through the app, you can control the photo filters through a color process. The infinite number of color combination filters are great for those who get tired of editing apps with a limited number of options.

• $2.99
• For your selfie-obsessed younger sister

Super Mario Run:

The day has come… you can finally play Mario Kart on your iPhone! The game is a little different, altered so you can play with just one hand, but the essence of the classic game is all there.

• $9.99 to unlock full game
• For the early millennial, late Gen-Xer obsessed with OG Nintendo

Goat Simulator:

Do you need a rationale? In “Key Features” it says “you can be a goat.” Twice.

• $2.99/iTunes, $4.99/Android, $9.99/Steam
• For everyone

Scanner Pro:

This app lets you take a photo on your phone and convert it into a PDF or JPEG. If you’re on the go or just don’t have access to a scanner, this app will save you time and effort. Practicality at its finest.

• $3.99
• For the business professional

Coach.me:

This app comes with habit-tracking tools so it can keep you on course with a goal you’ve set. It also has personal coaches for hire if you need more direct motivation and instruction. You can choose from tracks for fitness and health, professional goals, productivity, and more.

• Gift a personal coach starting at $15.00 per week
• For the procrastinator who has always wanted to run a half marathon

A Family Matters:

This app promotes family engagement that can be perfect for bonding time over the holidays. Find new ways to get your kids to open up during family time, or learn a new game to play while waiting at a restaurant.  You can also share what has worked for your family with others!

• $1.99
• For your friend with the moody teenager or restless toddler

Creative Writing Bundle:

This collection of four brainstorming apps is everything a writer needs to get their creative juices flowing.  Including Lists for Writers, Story Dice, Story Spark, and Spooky Story Dice, these apps are designed to get a writer thinking and out of writer’s block.

• $7.99
• For the writer in your life who can’t seem to put pen to paper

Happi Full Throttle:

Instead of getting the youngsters a traditional toy car, put your child in the driver’s seat of your iPad and watch them have the ride of their holiday season. Happi Full Throttle lets you steer four different driving experiences, so your kid can feel like they are a firefighter or a helicopter pilot!

• $1.99
• For the person with a curious child who keeps grabbing the steering wheel

Stack the States:

This app makes learning about the 50 states a little too much fun. Get it for a kid or maybe to refresh your own knowledge about the United States! You’ll learn about capitals, locations, neighboring states, flags, and more.

• $2.99
• For the fourth grader in all of us, but also for any young person beginning to learn about American history and geography

Hardbound:

In today’s media landscape it has never been easier to stay informed. Hardbound stands apart from traditional article- and update-based news sources because of its visual-centered content. The app focuses on a few stories each day, telling the story in a visual way and letting you click through it like a Snapchat story. They also create visual lessons on topics like history or science, in a specific and creative way.

• Free, with in-app purchases to “unlock” past stories or lessons
• For the person who loves “fun facts” and learning new things

Star Chart:

If you can only recognize Orion in a starry sky, this app will tell you just what else you are looking at by holding up your phone to the sky. It teaches you about the stars, planets, and moons that may be right in front of you. It also has features that show meteor showers, satellites, and more.

• Free, with in-app purchases for features like Meteor Showers ($2.99) or Comets ($2.99)
• For someone looking for a new hobby or trying to impress someone with their celestial knowledge