Best Christmas Apps 1

Staying on top of things …

Surviving the holidays in one piece, if you’re going to be planning or attending a lot of events, means getting and staying organized, and Evernote (iOS / Android) is still the best way of doing that. You can use the web clipper on your laptop, to capture recipes to check out, or snap photo notes and make voice recordings on your smartphone while you’re out chasing sales. Plus, you can get to your notes from anywhere, even on your iPad from next to the fireplace. (If you’re on Android, don’t forget to grab the free Evernote Widget for your home screen.)

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If you liked Evernote …

Evernote’s friends, Evernote Food (iOS / Android) and Evernote Hello (iOS / Android) are even more valuable during the holidays, since they help you capture the memories of special meals and desserts or people you met. You can take and organize photos of your grandkids as they grow up, or that amazing cheesecake at the party. Each one records where those photos were taken, and saves your memories to Evernote.

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Getting there in one piece? …

You probably already know of a bunch of apps or websites to get directions and plan air travel. Millions of people in the United States are turning to rail travel, though, and if you’re one of them check out the official Amtrak app (iOS / Android). It lets you check train schedules and statuses, as well as book tickets and plan trips. Plus, you don’t have to deal with the TSA to board a train.

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Better than keeping them in a shoebox …

Putting your photos on Twitter or Facebook? Why not keep them somewhere under your control instead? If you have a free account with Dropbox (iOS / Android), you can automatically upload every picture you take to it, and then sort through, favorite and edit them before publishing on social media sites. You can also use the OpenPhoto app (iOS only for now) to turn that Dropbox into your own personal Facebook-style photo gallery, without all the ads and the clutter. (It also works with Box.net.)

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Spending all the way …

Holiday spending is one of the big ways that people rack up credit card debt. Don’t want it to happen to you? Check out the Mint.com Personal Finance app (iOS / Android). Don’t let the name turn you off; it’s not a spreadsheet, but an unbelievably easy way to see exactly where your cash is going. The Android app includes a widget that lets you see right on your home screen how much you’re in debt, and how much is left in your bank account.

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Planning what to make …?

Epicurious (iOS / Android) is still the biggest name in cookbook and grocery list apps, but BBC’s Good Food app (iOS / Android) certainly gives it a run for its money in terms of style. You have to pay for most of the recipes (as of the time this was published the Android cookbooks were free “for a limited time”), but with “festive,” “seasonal,” and “healthy” cookbooks, there’s something for everyone.

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Keeping the kids occupied …

Your kids have probably played through the holiday-themed levels of Angry Birds and Cut the Rope already. A coloring book app like Color & Draw (iPhone / iPad / Android phone / Android tablet) might keep their attention a little better, at least for a few hours. If they’d rather doodle on (copies of) your holiday photos, Skitch (iOS / Android) might fit the bill; plus, like Food and Hello, it ties into Evernote.

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