App reviews: Google Arts and Culture, Weather Way
Field trips were some of the best parts of being in school - taking little breaks away from the daily grind to explore something or somewhere outside of your everyday experiences. Google Arts and Culture aims to capture a little bit of that magic with an app that lets you explore paintings and other artifacts up close, as well as find out more about the artists and museums around the world. Plus, there's no shushing or scolding about getting too close to the exhibits.
You can take 360-degree tours of certain cultural sites, such as the Prambanan temples in Indonesia or even Niagara Falls. (Beats going over in a barrel.) Although the list of sites to visit is far from comprehensive, there are plenty of destinations to excite your inner adventurer. In any case, it's fun to go on little digital field trips during the day.
Free, for iOS and Android.
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A good weather app can be hard to find. But A Weather Way takes a pretty good approach to keeping you informed about what's going on outside your window - and whether to pack your umbrella. This app provides you with cute up-to-the-minute graphical representations of what the day will look like and will let you keep track of up to 10 cities at once.
It does lack a few things. Many other weather apps have real-time weather maps, for example, which can give you a good feel for what's coming your way and when. It would also be nice if it supported notifications like other apps, so that your phone could better alert you if rain is coming. The app is also best in its premium mode, which costs $2. Upgrading lets you set up your own routines for the day, which can be useful if you have a planned outdoor activity every week.
Free, for iOS devices.
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