App reviews: Planets, Hashnote

Planets: Discover the cosmos

Are your eyes to the sky? For astronomy enthusiasts -- or those cultivating a love of the really great outdoors -- there are plenty of apps that let you pursue your cosmic hobby. One option is Planets, which lets you explore the sky either by scrolling around with your finger or pointing your phone at sections of the sky you want to explore more deeply. You can use the app to check out individual planets (and Earth’s moon) one at a time. Free, for Android and iOS devices.

Hashnote: #organized

If you’re looking for a simple way to organize your notes and thoughts, take a leaf out of the social media playbook with this app, and just add a hashtag. This note-taking app also lets you “mention” important people or places in your life with the symbol as an alternate method for organizing. Notes are easy to add and easy to manage since you can delete them with just a swipe. It would be nice to be able to reorganize your notes, but with the easy filing system, it shouldn’t take you too long to find what you’re looking for. Free, for Android devices.