Apps, whether on your phone, tablet or desktop, provide a host of services and abilities to their user. Need an answer to a general-knowledge question? There's an app for that. Need to keep track of work flow, or passwords? There's an app for that too. Need to take a mental break, or recharge your batteries? Too many apps to name.
As there are a host of programs out there, how do you know which are best for the working technology professional? Below, 12 Forbes Technology Council members share what app they could not live without in their day-to-day lives.
1. Slack
Slack is how I communicate with everyone on the team no matter where I'm at. It gives me access to files and information on the go, so I can make decisions quickly and keep everyone moving. - Chalmers Brown, Due
2. Omnifocus
I've come to believe strongly in the value of David Allen's "getting things done" approach: It's been a mainstay for how I approach task management for close to a decade now. I find that having Omnifocus on my phone, tablet and computer has been invaluable for getting things out of my mind and into a trusted system, regardless of when, how or why they hit. - James Phillips, Domain7
3. Google Now
Google Now has morphed into the go-to app on my phone. It keeps me up to date on finances, news, sports, weather and upcoming calendar events. - Pin Chen, ONTRAPORT
4. Kanbanize
I use Kanbanize to maintain kanban boards for personal and work related activities. It sure beats trying to keep your inbox as a to-do list. - Sagi Brody, Webair
5. LastPass
It's not possible to remember passwords for everything in my life anymore, and using the same password everywhere is not secure. A good password manager (I use LastPass) lets you create and store unique secure passwords for every site, so you don't have to remember them all. I have LastPass on my desktop, phone and browser, and can't imagine life without it. - Alexander Kharlamov, Mark43
6. Jing
As a UX agency, we are constantly sending suggestions and feedback to clients or designers on how digital experiences can be improved. Jing makes it easy for us to take screenshots or record videos, mark them up with suggestions, and send using either a unique link or image file. - Andrew Kucheriavy, Intechnic
7. Pocket
Continued learning is crucial, yet time is scarce and distractions are plentiful. I've found I need a workflow that separates what's time-worthy from the rest of life, and for me, Pocket provides that safe space. It's my primary reading list and makes it easy to harvest fleeting moments of free time — like standing in line for something — by syncing your list and reading position across devices. - Aaron Rankin, Sprout Social
8. Gmail
I could not live without Gmail, plain and simple. - Chris Ciabarra, Authentciated Reality
9. Camera App
The camera app on my phone is something I cannot live without. It's simple, but has changed everything. With a cell phone camera, you can take pictures of everything as you move through your day and your work. Need to save whiteboard notes? Take a picture. Want to remember the error code on a device? Take a picture. Need to note the configuration of a wiring bay? Take a picture. - Chris Kirby, Voices.com
10. Headspace
I start each morning with meditation and exercise. I use the Headspace app and its guided meditation to keep me on track and prepare me for the mental challenges to come. It's a fantastic app, which makes it easy to reinforce the habit and increase focus. - Eric Wilson, MD Insider
11. Google Calendar
I'm a busy guy traveling between offices in New York City, Scranton, Pittsburgh, and Moncton (Canada) - that's why I can't live without my Google Calendar app. Google Calendar notifies me via a push notification prior to my next meeting (I set it for a 10 minutes reminder) so I have enough time to finish an existing meeting and move on to the next one. I can't live without Google Calendar. - Scott Stiner, UM Technologies, LLC
12. Audible
Audible allows me to escape my sliver in time and space, expanding my horizons by immersing me in ideas and alternative contexts shared by the sharpest minds and deepest thinkers. Whatever one's lifespan or job, the time we have is limited. By bringing value to hours that would otherwise be lost, Audible becomes not just a recreational tool, but a way to maintain an edge in my professional life. - Matthew Russell, Digital Reasoning
