From finding that first date, to planning a child, there’s an app to aid in every aspect of love.
Stage 1: casual fun #
Grindr/Blendr #
Grindr rose to infamy as the location-based sex hookup app of choice for the gay community. You simply enter a name, upload a photo, and wait for the requests to come flooding in. As it’s location-based, finding a nearby hookup has never been so easy.
The creators of Grindr saw potential here for the straight community, too, so created Blendr in response. Maybe it’s because of its partnership with Badoo, or maybe it’s because of the different interactions between males & females, but Blendr is a bit of a fail, with tons of fake profiles, and little in the way of genuine connectivity. For straighties, try an actual dating app.
Info// For: iOS, Android, BBOS
Price: Free, IAPs for some features
Snapchat #
Billed by the press as the ‘sexting app’, the developers maintain that their intentions are pure. Still, the ability to take a photo (but not video) and send it to a friend (wink), and then have it self-destruct after a few seconds, really does lend itself rather well to sending your ghoulies over the interwebs. Just remember that the other person can take a screen shot (which you will be notified about), or use another camera to take a photo of the screen. Facebook have launched its own clone app, Poke, if you feel some loyalty towards ol’ Zuck.
Info// For: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Stage 2: getting a date #
Ok Cupid #
Ok Cupid is my preferred dating site, because it’s free, not overrun with spam accounts, and the plethora of questions (and there really is a whole lot of them) help match you up with someone that you’re more likely to get along with.
The companion mobile app includes the ability to broadcast a status out to users, or see those users who are nearby, allowing you to make contact with someone for a spontaneous… drink.
It also includes the functionality that you’d expect – profile management, including photo uploads, messaging, and chat. Try Ok Cupid’s Crazy Blind Date app for a more Grindr-like experience.
Info// For: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Skout #
Skout is another of the many dating apps out there, but seems to – once again – be low on the spam profiles. You can meet people by interest or proximity (a combination of both is probably in your interest), chat with them, see who visited your profile, save favourite users, and/or spend money in-app on things like gifts for that special someone, or shameless self-promotion.
The app is ad-supported (even despite all the monetisation within), but if these bug you, you can drop ~$3 on the ‘+’ version of the app – but do note that it brings you no perks beyond removing the ads.
Info// For: iOS, Android
Price: Free (+IAP perks) / ~$3 ad-free.
Urbanspoon #
So, you’ve hit it off with someone online, and you’re ready to go meet them for that all-important first date – you can’t afford to stuff this one up, buddy: you need to find a good restaurant. Urbanspoon allows you to pick a price range (pro tip: ‘$$$’ is impressive enough), type of cuisine (avoid garlic [stinky breath] and chilli [emergency toilet breaks]), and an area, then check the results for user ratings – from critics, bloggers, and users – and photos. Contact details are accessible from within the app, as is the website, menu, and Facebook page.
Coz, let’s face it; there’s nothing romantic about food poisoning.
Info// For: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry.
Price: Free
How to Flirt - wikiHow #
Now, during your date, you’ll need to be charming, witty, generous, and – perhaps above all – flirtatious. No idea how to be these things? Well, perhaps give this app a spin (preferably before you’re on the date), so you have a rough idea on how to show you’re interested, without coming off as a total creeper. Of course, take some of the advice with a grain of salt, including the bizarre admission “If the person seems unresponsive, there’s the possibility that they are on the autism spectrum.”
Still, there are some helpful tips for the chronically shy or inexperienced dater.
Info// For: iOS
Price: Free
Stage 3: going steady #
Avocado #
Avocado provides you with a secure, private connection with your (new?) partner, allowing you to send texts, photos (including galleries), and – on a more practical note – shared lists (for, say grocery shopping), and the fairly cheesy addition of mobile hugs and kisses.
It’s a good way to securely communicate and collaborate (as it also works on your PC’s browser), but, also, allows you to have all your info stored in a single place, where you can access it later as a sort of nostalgic walk through your digital lives (“Remember that time when we ran out of milk, and I added it to the shopping list? NAAAW!”).
Info// For: iOS, Android
Price: $20 annual subscription
iWedding Deluxe #
Well, you’ve done well for yourself, haven’t you? From that nervous first date, to your few years of steady dating, moving in together, and finally popping the question, it’s now time to plan that wedding. Luckily enough, there is a better way than a single, losable, wedding diary – an app, of course!
iWedding Deluxe allows you to keep track of your budget, make guest lists and manage RSVPs, create to-do lists with schedules, take notes and upload photos, arrange seating, track gifts and more. It even supports same-sex marriage, so, in this regard, is more progressive than our government.
Info// For: iOS
Price: $6.49
Wedding Plandroid #
Not an iOS (soon-to-be) family? Wedding Plandroid is a no-nonsense wedding planner for the ‘alternative’ mobile operating system. And, unlike any app I’ve seen before, the icon features Andy the Android in drag, all ready for his big day.
More importantly, however, it also supports budgeting, keeping track of your vendors, managing your guest list including RSVPs, and allows you to view your progress on a timeline, so you can get an idea of when certain tasks should be started and completed by.
Info// For: Android
Price: Free
BabyBump Pro #
I’m hoping that you receive some small respite after your wedding before embarking on the long, winding journey up to the top of Mt Procreation, but if not, at least you’ll have BabyBump Pro to help you and your partner along the way.
The app features a truly enormous number of features, including access to forums; countdowns; daily and weekly information, including images and diagrams; journals and weight tracking, including your own photos; charts, including weight/waist values and predictions; a kick counter; a name database; and planning for the birth, including videos. Even this list gives you but a small overview of this most-thorough app.
Info// For: iOS, Android
Price: Free / $4.49 (pro - iOS) $2.99 (pro - Android)