7 Must-Add Widgets For Your iOS Device

One of the great features in iOS is widgets, which have been around since iOS 8. When a user swipes all the way to the left of their home screen or of the notification screen, they are presented with the Today View and a variety of widgets. Here are some of the best iOS widgets you definitely should have on your device.

Adding Widgets

First, you should learn how to add these widgets to your iOS device. Unlock your device, then scroll all the way to the left where you will be presented with the date, a variety of preset widgets, and an Edit option at the bottom. Tap Edit, then from there you can add, remove, ands move widgets to fit your needs.

1. Traffic Monitor

Traffic Monitor offers two widgets -- speed and usage. Speed displays the Wi-Fi network name and the current upload and download speeds. Usage, on the other hand, shows data usage on both cellular and Wi-Fi with a daily or monthly view. If you need to keep track of data usage in order to avoid overages, the Traffic Monitor app is a must-have for any device that includes cellular.

2. SurfEasy

SurfEasy is an iOS widget that allows you to easily switch your VPN on or off, as well as select your preferred region -- all without having to open the full app. Amongst all the VPN services available, SurfEasy keeps things simple.

3. Carrot Weather

Carrot gives weather updates at a glance, including an hour by hour forecast. It has a great level of simplicity and yet manages to pack a lot of useful information.

4. Go Launcher

Dock space is limited, and app folders can be pretty messy at times. Because of this, Go Launcher is developed so that users can select a series of frequently used apps, and then just tap to launch one.

5. Commit to 3

Commit to 3 is a basic iOS app where users can set three commitments daily and check them off as they are completed. The iOS home screen widget is a simple and quick way to check off these commitments, which you can do without having to open the full app. Commit to 3 offers an Apple Watch for even quicker access.

6. ESPN

Once you have added your favorite teams in the ESPN app, the ESPN widget will display upcoming matches/games and scores. Tap on Show more to bring up more matches/games and scores. If you would like even more stats, tap the widget to launch the full app experience.

7. Coinbase

Coinbase provides the current rates for both Bitcoin and Ethereum and whether or not the current value is up or down. Tapping the widget will quickly open the full Coinbase app. The app enables users to send bitcoin to friends or shop with merchants who accept bitcoin. It also enables you to access your Coinbase wallets, vaults, and transaction details even when you're on the go. You can also buy and sell bitcoin directly from your phone by connecting your bank account.

Neat iOS Apps That Can Give You More Content Streaming Ideas

There are those moments when you just want to curl up on your couch with your warm blanket and your favorite fall TV series, especially during the cold weather. If you're someone who can get addicted to streaming shows, music, and videos, then you will gladly appreciate using a few more apps than your regular Netflix and Hulu subscription. If you notice that you're running out of things to stream since 'tis the season of staying indoors, check out these apps to help you fill the gaps where your current subscriptions might be missing some of the content you're looking for.

1. Sling

Sling TV is a streaming service owned by DISH. This app allows you to watch live TV anytime and anywhere with a WiFi connection. The service has three options including Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue which provide different channels based on your interests. Service fees range from $20-$40 per month and include up to 50 channels. This is a great options for sports streamers as the Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue packages offer you access to live programming from ESPN.

2. HBO Go & HBO Now

There are various differences between HBO Go and HBO Now, the most important one being that HBO Now is available to customers who do not have access to HBO through another subscription. The key similarity is that both the HBO Go and HBO Now apps give you access to HBO's hit TV shows, movies, and original series. The two apps function similarly to Netflix, but also allow you to view new episodes as they are released on the regular HBO channel that is usually available only to TV service subscribers.

HBO Now is available without a television subscription for $14.99/month. HBO Go can be added to your regular service for a cost that varies depending on your current television service provider.

3. Amazon Movies, Music, and TV

Did you know that subscribing to Amazon Prime gives you movies, music, and TV for free? If you're not aware of this and you are a current Prime member, then you should probably go check out the free movies and TV series that you can avail with your membership. Most of these movies and shows available on the Amazon TV and Movie app will be free for Prime members, while some programs may cost no more than about $4.

Aside from Amazon Movies and TV, you also might want to check out Amazon Music as well. The service is $7.99 for Prime members (which is regularly $9.99 for non-Prime members), which could let you save up to two bucks each month depending on what you're currently paying for streaming with another service.

4. Crackle

Created by Sony, Crackle TV is a free streaming service that features popular TV series and movies. You can also download the app to stream from your iOS device. Similar tp Netflix, you will get recommendations for additional shows you might like based on the content you've streamed, the ability to save your favorite shows, and the ability to pause and resume content across multiple devices. You can also set up alerts to be notified when Crackle has network premieres. The selection seems to be a bit more limited than most streaming sites, but it's free, so you could really use it to get more sources for content that can be streamed, especially if you notice that you can't find a show or a movie that you like from those apps that you are currently paying for.

Apps and Gadgets You Need to Get a Good Night Sleep

Having enough hours of sleep is a huge privilege for anyone. Why? Because not everybody gets to enjoy it. Whether you use up most of your time in front of the TV or PC before going to sleep or you have a sleep disorder, not getting ample sleep hours can disrupt your life. If you are trying to swallow that sleeping pill as your cure for your sleep problems, you might want to choose the healthier way -- and techie that is.

There are lots of apps and gadgets that can help you sleep using different methods, like soothing sounds, hypnosis, meditation, colored lights and some other proven methods. Below we have listed six apps and gadgets that may help you sleep.

Apps to Help You Sleep

Check out these three apps that will help you get a good night sleep using different audio-based techniques.

Relax & Sleep Well Hypnosis

A self hypnosis and meditation app popularized by the famous British hypnotherapist Glenn Harold, Relax & Sleep Well basically consists of recordings of Glenn Harold on multiple self hypnosis types. The free version comes with a 29-minute self hypnosis recording for falling asleep with background sounds and Glenn's calming voice. You will also get a meditation music track of 639 hertz Solfeggio Sonic Meditation that will surely help you relax. As for the rest of the tracks, you will have to buy it as in-app purchases. They each cater to different self hypnosis and meditation needs like relaxing, losing weight, gaining confidence, staying happy, lucid dreams, and smoking cessation.

Relax & Sleep Well is compatible for iOS and Android devices.

Pzizz

The Pzizz app plays a different soundtrack each time you use it to help you relax and fall asleep using sounds, music, voices, and binaural beats all together. The makers of the app claims that it can solve insomnia using its unique random algorithm that generates a new sound track every time you use it. It also claims that there are more than 100 billion combinations, which means it's almost impossible for you to hear the same track twice. Aside from that, it gives full control over track duration (from 10 minutes to 12 hours) and controls individual voices/music/sounds and audio type like stereo or 3D. The best part is that the app is completely free to use now, although it was $9.99 before.

Android and iOS users can get this app.

Sleep Genius

Sleep Genius comes with tracks created using neurosensory algorithms that help your brain get ready to sleep and then guide it during the sleeping cycles. This enables you to sleep easily and deeply the whole night through. It also comes with a unique alarm that takes five minutes to wake you up energized using varying sounds. The app is primarily created for NASA astronauts to help them sleep while in space, and in a NASA 2015 annual publication it was a featured technology. You have to pay $9.99 to enjoy all of the features of Sleep Genius, including power naps and sleep tracking.

Android and iOS users can avail this app.

Gadgets to Help You Sleep

Here are three gadgets that help you sleep using different methods.

Withings Aura

The main function of Withings Aura is sleep tracking, but it also does a great job of helping you fall asleep. Aura comes with a sensor that tucks under your mattress, which tracks body movements, heart rate and breathing cycles, etc. Aura itself works as a lamp and releases light that stimulates melatonin (a hormone responsible for sleep), and it also has soothing soundtracks to help you sleep. If you want a good sleep tracker that also helps you sleep, then you might want to consider Aura.

Price: $299.95

BluBlocker

Do you know that the blue light coming from your PC or TV's screen affects melatonin hormone inversely and makes it hard to sleep afterwards? BluBlocker glasses block the blue light and also UV light to ensure you sleep easily after using a digital device and see things more clearly on them. They come in many styles to suit your styling needs.

Price: $99.95

Drift Light

Drift Light is a bulb that is designed to help you sleep well. This device emits blue light than regular bulbs and comes with a 37-minute dimming time (equal to a sunset) to help you go to sleep. The bulb is capable of emitting light equal to a 40 watt regular bulb, but it only uses 7 watts power.

Price: $24.95