On The Go
iPhone 6, $199/$299: Haters gonna hate, and that’s OK, because no matter what you say about the iPhone 6, it is without a doubt the best phone you can buy. Coming in both 4.7 and 5.5 inch sizes, the newest phone from Apple is spec’d out in every way you can imagine: 8 megapixel camera with focus pixel tech, NFC Apple Pay (use all your credit cards wirelessly with Touch ID), thinner and lighter than any other iPhone, and the A8 and M8 chips make it faster than any phone you’ve used yet. And of course, lets not forget the biggest app selection on any platform in the App Store. You want the cream of the crop? This is it.
or
Moto X (2014), $99: If Android is more your flavor, then go grab the newest Moto X. It’s price point is almost unbelievable at $99, and the insane amount of customizations you can make with it are almost too good to be true (you can put a bamboo back on this thing). The 13 megapixel camera is comparable to any top Android phone, and its 5.2 inch 1080p screen looks vibrant and gorgeous. It comes with the latest version of Android (Kit-Kat), and features an always-on voice command system. Couple those things with a speedy Snapdragon 801 chip and a capable 2,300mAh battery, and you’ll soon realize _this is_ the droid you’ve been looking for.
Pebble (iOS & Android), $150: Wearables are the latest up-and-coming trend in the tech industry, and in some cases even in normal everyday life. But there’s one glaring fact about most of them to this point: they’re gross. Most wearables, whether it be a fitness tracker, smart watch or even headset camera (I see you Google Glass) fail to deliver on the most basic of necessities people crave from their connected devices: perform a set of functions well, and don’t look ugly. This is where I believe the Pebble not only delivers, but excels. It’s a smart watch that tells the time, pulls in notifications from your phone and tracks your steps… all while being water resistant and lasting 5-7 days on one charge. It’s display isn’t color, but that’s ok because it’s highly readable in direct sunlight. For the student who wants to stay current with everything on their phone, without having to reach in their pocket, this is the smart watch of choice.
or
Moto 360 (Android), $249: For the more fashion-conscious wearable enthusiast, the Moto 360 is by far the best looking smart watch available today. It looks identical to a high-end analog watch, but packs all the power of Android Wear into it’s round frame. This means you can not only view notifications from your Android phone, but also respond using your voice. Android Wear can also be used as a fitness tracker, camera shutter, and much more with a good amount of apps already available for it. As long as you can stomach the price tag and the less-than-satisfying one day battery life, this powerful smart watch is certainly the wearable for you.
Dark Sky (iOS)/Yahoo Weather (Android), Free: Wait, a weather app? Are you serious? The answer is absolutely, especially when their as functional and gorgeous as these two apps. Dark Sky, for example, is simply too accurate not to have on your iOS device. This app can predict when and where it is going to rain, down to the exact minute—and tell you exactly when it will stop. It’s not hyperbole in the least—I’ve used it, and it’s that damn good. For Android fans, a great alternative to the stock weather app is Yahoo Weather. This beautifully designed app makes perusing your local weather a joy, especially when there’s a storm or unusual weather occurrence, as it displays some fun animations as you browse. It may still be hot out, but come late fall and winter, one of these two could be your personal weather savior.