Discovering Helix: The Helix app
If you have a compatible iOS or Android device, you should try the Helix app. It has some great features. You can use the app to watch your content on different screens (tablet, phone). This mobility allows you to program your recordings remotely and even watch them from wherever you are. The feature I find the most interesting is that you can download content to watch it later without using data. So you can download episodes from your favourite show and watch them on your mobile device without using up your data. Not only is that cost saving, it’s also really useful if you’re somewhere with poor coverage or on the plane. Try it out! Check out other articles by our technology correspondentMathieu Roy.What’s the right audio app for you?
While the status of traditional on-air radio is increasingly precarious, each day brings new applications and other online platforms designed for sharing audio content. New alternatives to FM radio are not only broadening the variety of content that’s offered and the ways in which it’s made available, they’re also increasingly efficient. They emphasize a unique user experience, whether you use a mobile app or an interface on your PC. In addition to the abundance of options available to your ears, these platforms have given rise to new ways of consuming audio content that are more intuitive and personalized. Using public transit, working out at the gym, chilling before bedtime or struggling with an Excel sheet for a whole afternoon—each situation warrants a certain type of content. And more often than not, specific content justifies the use of a specific interface. It’s never been so easy to access such a wide range of content, whether it’s your favourite singer’s new album, the story of Napoleon’s reign, a sunny playlist to help you forget the winter or the secrets of the salmon ricotta pie that will make you the official Ricardo of your group of friends. All you need to know is what you want and where to look. The entire world’s music and knowledge, from the most mainstream to the most arcane, are available in just two taps of the screen. The only prerequisites are a smart phone, earphones and an application you can download for a couple of bucks (if it isn’t free). The possibilities for streaming music are endless! There are currently hundreds of music streaming platforms, and although they might—almost—all seem identical when you just want to listen to some tunes, some have a stronger appeal than others and offer unique features or benefits. These can include: catalogue size and diversity possibility of uploading your own music option to pay through your mobile service package “family” subscription (same subscription, several accounts) superior sound quality (FLAC or MP3, 160 or 320 kbps) Ultimately, these details (along with an app’s overall reputation) will guide your choice. And, if you’re like me, once this happens you can expect your phone’s battery to be zapped pretty quickly. As far as industry giants go, Spotify and Deezer are among the most conventional and efficient options out there. Tidal—owned by Jay-Z and Beyoncé—comes in third. According to the powerhouse couple, it was developed by and for artists (yeah right…). Other notable options are Napster, Google Play Music, Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited. Among the less mainstream apps that tend to favour the artists over the industry, Soundcloud is one of the major players, although its policies have changed slightly over time. The same applies to Bandcamp, which has always put forward more independent productions and been quick to add new emerging artists. Enjoy the web-based version of these music players, or add them to your mobile. Get them from the App Store or Google Play. Obviously, there is no need to reinvent the wheel, and after trying out some apps that pride themselves on being more “underground,” one quickly comes back to the basics. You can trust me on that one. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Videotron clients, here is the only music app you’ll ever need There are so many apps for music buffs that it’s easy to lose your bearings. Stingray Music stands out by combining performance and an impressive musical variety curated free of charge. So what’s the catch? There is none. Stingray Music is a Videotron partner, so the app is included with all TV or mobile subscriptions and you automatically have access when you buy a mobile phone with Videotron. Get Stingray Music at the App Store if you have an iOS device. Get Stingray Music on Google Play if you power on Android. Clients with a Videotron mobile plan can take advantage of exclusive and easily accessible channels. These feature Quebec artists, as well as exclusive content produced by Videotron’s various partners, and themes that have a unique local flavour. Suffice it to say that Stingray Music channels offer you the perfect soundtrack for any occasion and you can access them wherever and whenever you want! All you need to do is download the app from the App Store or Google Play to the device of your choosing. Then you’ll be all set to take advantage of over 2,000 music channels. Without getting into too many technical details, Stingray Music includes a number of specially designed features that create a super intuitive and personalized listening experience—and that, my friends, is something we all want. Become a fountain of knowledge thanks to the millions of online podcasts Finally, since you also enjoy learning about new things, let’s talk about podcasts. Based on the simple principle of information on demand, podcasts allow you to easily and instantly access audio and video content through the Internet. These can include your favourite radio or TV shows as well as content produced solely for the purpose of being shared in podcast format. Podcasts can take pretty much any shape or form and cover an infinity of subjects. Science, sports, tourism, video games and cooking are only a few examples. Not to mention the fast-growing trend of podcasts focused on culture, which can teach you more about history, politics and geography, help you learn a new language or discover encyclopedia-style facts. As with music, choosing an app for podcasts can be overwhelming. You’ll probably have to do some research to find the right match for you, not only in terms of content, but also interface-wise. Generally speaking, Podcast Addict and Podcast Republic are pretty much the top choices if you have an Android device. For iOS, top marks go to Overcast, Pocket Casts or Castro. But hey, that’s just one guy’s opinion! Happy listening!Top 3 back-to-school apps from Google
#1: Never lose your work again with Google Drive Google Drive is a virtual storage system that lets you sync and save documents via your Gmail account. You can later access your documents using the Google Chrome browser on any Windows, Apple or Android device. To access Google Drive from your computer, simply: Open Google Chrome Expand the apps menu from the upper-right corner of the page Click on Google Drive After entering your user name and password, you'll have access to your Drive. Use Google Drive to save documents or download them to your computer's hard drive. If you're using a tablet or smartphone, simply select the Google Drive app (installed by default on all Android devices, available for download from the App Store for all Apple devices). Besides always keeping all your work within easy reach, Google Drive lets you scan documents using the camera function on your tablet or smartphone. This scanning function works by converting photos of your documents into PDF files, which you can then save, share or print. Another great feature of Google Drive is the ability to collaborate on documents. The app lets you add collaborators who can view or edit files—a highly useful tool for team projects! Collaborators must also have a Gmail account and access to Google Drive. To add collaborators: First, save your document in Google Drive Access the document's settings Select “Collaborators” Add each collaborator's Gmail account #2: Taking notes has never been easier thanks to Google Keep Google Keep is an app developed by Google that is available for download via the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store. Google Keep offers a range of note-taking tools including text, lists, images and audio. Notes can be colour-coded, and you can add labels for easy organization. The app also lets you set up reminders for your notes. Reminders may be configured based on time (date and time) or even your location using geolocation. For example, you can create a note to remind yourself to pack your lunch before leaving home and set up a reminder based on your home address. As soon as you leave home, a notification will pop up on your phone. You can also add collaborators on Google Keep in a similar way to Google Drive. Your notes will then be available for viewing and editing in real time by any collaborator. This feature can be particularly handy for coordinating projects, or simply creating a joint grocery list with your spouse. #3: Never miss an event with Google Agenda Whether you use it for work, school or personal life, Google Agenda is a great way to stay organized. Got an important appointment coming up? Simply add it to your agenda, set up your personalized reminder and assign the event a colour that will make it stand out more. You can even enter an address and let Google Maps guide you to your destination. You also have the option of adding other people via their Gmail accounts. The event will then show up on their agendas. Finally, like all Google apps, Google Agenda is always accessible from your Gmail account on Google Chrome, no matter what device or platform you're using. No more excuses! Now is the time to get organized!
