G&B opinion

G&B OPINION

Apps

BY: XAVIER EDWARDS

DESIGN: CASEY KSAU

GAS BUDDY TRAVEL • Gas Buddy • Road Ninja

G a s prices seem to rise and fall of their own accord, while keeping a steady pace above $3.00. Fortunately, GasBuddy can help you find the cheapest pumps in your area through the use of reported prices from registered users. You can sort by grade (regular, premium, etc.) and even get directions to your station of choice. (Android/iOS: Free)

ROAD NINJA

If you're traveling back home after a rough semester or taking a trip with friends and want to try something new along the way, you'll want RoadNinja handy. This is an awesome app that can find information about things to do at upcoming exits, nearby locations or places across the U.S. Categories range from attractions and education to nightlife and tacos. (Android/iOS: Free)

iStudiezPro EDUCATION

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Istudiezpro

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teambox

Looking to get more organized this semester, but don't want to carry around extra books and folders? iStudiez pro is a powerful planner used to sort your homework assignments, tests, exams and everything in between. The interface is simple, and allows you to input deadlines, locations and even teacher contact information all within the same assignment. What's more, iStudiez allows syncing to iPads and MacBooks so you're never out of the loop. (iOS: Pro-$2.99 | Lite-Free)

TeamBox

Trying to coordinate and collaborate with a group of people can be a real pain. But through its project management tools, Teambox aims to make the process more streamlined without sacrificing any power. It features a Twitter style timeline for communication, and boasts integration with Dropbox, Github and Google Apps through the Chrome Web Store. You can create several project files right from your iPad and, from there, assign tasks, add people to different projects and participate in an integrated group chat. (iOS: Free)

AlcoDroid

Every night on the town doesn't need to end with fights, lost wallets or random encounters—awesome as they may be.

Alcodroid was created to help you drink responsibly by measuring your blood alcohol level throughout the night and predicting when you'll sober up. After inputting your weight and sex, add drinks by choosing from a few presets, or create a new preset if your particular drink isn't listed. The only trick is remembering to add another drink after your third shot. (Android: Free)

happy hour

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alcodroid

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textalyzer

Textalyzer

Two ingredients that never mix well together, alcohol and bitterness, can be an even more toxic combo when technology comes into play. This is why Textalyzer exists—to prevent you from messaging your ex when you’re several scotch-and-sodas deep. First, enter your “forbidden list”—those folks you fumble through your contacts to find every time you’re hammered.

Then, when last call rolls around, you’ll have to complete a series of tough memory and concentration tests if you want to unlock the list and make some bad decisions. It’s the sober babysitter you never knew you needed. (iOS: $0.99)

AppsFire INFORMATION

42 | GARNET & BLACK 2013

• Appsfire

Trying to keep up with new apps can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there's an app for that! Appsfire is updated on a daily basis to give you information about featured products, apps that have dropped in price and, if you connect via Facebook, apps your friends have downloaded. Android users can also choose to get results from Google's Play Store or Amazon's own app store.

(Android/iOS: Free)

gandbmagazine.com

MUSIC

literature re literatu

FILM

If you want to play catch-up from the past year or so, here are some suggestions for the best items you may have missed.

DOCUMENTARY:

EDUCATIONAL:

RAP:

Gun Fight: In light of last year’s tragedies and the increasing number of gun related deaths, American gun control laws are worth another round of consideration. That being said, this film is a bit biased due to the people portrayed on both sides — cautious intellectuals versus lowbrow gun lovers, but the bigger discussion concerning tighter gun control should still be explored.

Four Hour Work Week: Get ideas and techniques from Princeton graduate, Tim Ferriss, on ways to enjoy a millionaire lifestyle. Ferriss tells you his story of how he became a record holding tango dancer, a cage fighter, business owner, and much more, all while asserting that your ideal lifestyle can be achieved by working only four hours a week.

“R.A.P Music” | Killer Mike – Producer El-P creates an interesting mix of new and old school style beats, as Killer Mike delivers energetic verses over each track.

If you want something different from the radio hits, give this album a try. Notable tracks: “Go!”, “Don’t Die”, “Willie Burke Sherwood” ROCK:

A CLASSIC: INDIE: Beasts of the Southern Wild: A story showcasing the development of a nineyear-old girl, Hushpuppy, and the culture behind a group of people willfully separated from society. The young actress, Quvenzhané Wallis, puts on an excellent performance and is currently the youngest actress nominated for an Academy Award.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: It may do some good to take another look at this classical tale, and follow James Joyce’s semiautobiographical story of religious rebellion, sexual frustration and a struggle for independence. One overarching theme is the potential dichotomy between loyalty to society and loyalty to oneself. Sound familiar?

“Yellow and Green” | Baroness – This is a fun double disc undertaking that offers a nice mix of high energy and melodic tracks to dig into. The changes of pace often happen during songs, which keeps things interesting, though the second disc is a little more stagnant than the first. Notable tracks: “Twinkler”, “Sea Lungs”, “MTNS. (The Crown & Anchor)”

Y G O L O N H TEC Tons of new electronics are released every year, and 2012 had its own fair share of high quality products and useless commodities.

For starters, Microsoft released the eighth version of Windows late last year, but should you upgrade? Good question! No, you probably shouldn’t. Windows 7 is very well established at this point and, aside from a portable, “metro” inspired interface, Windows 8 ($69.99) doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table.

Instead, I would suggest taking that money and spending it on the newly designed fitness tracker, Fitbit One ($99.95). If you’re interested in monitoring the number of calories you burn or the distance you travel each day, this is the device for you. It also monitors how well you sleep at night, which can play an important role in your overall health.

8LIWI ETT VEXM

RKW EVI

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