What apps do I need for a long-distance relationship?
The world is more connected with every passing year, from enterprise business to knowing what your friends are up to through social networking -- or even your location.
However, even with this vast amount of information at our fingertips, maintaining a relationship over distance is still not that easy. Whether you live on different sides of the pond or you are spending the summer backpacking, maintaining communication is crucial.
That's where mobile technology comes in.
From organising the place to meet on your travels to saying goodnight, there are a number of apps that can make your lives a little easier.
To see the full collection, check out:
Gallery: Essential apps for long-distance relationships
1. Pair
Price: Free
Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 4.1 or later. Android.
Having a Facebook newsfeed full of declarations of love can be highly annoying -- but what if you had the capabilities to share your travels with one person only, and save the rest of your Facebook friends the experience?
That's where 'Pair' comes in. For those in a long-distance relationship, being able to create a private timeline offers something for everyone. Swap messages, photos, videos and locations -- all on a private timeline platform and away from other prying eyes.
Once the app is 'paired' with a partner, you can share content immediately. From simple text messages to joint 'to-do' lists and collaborative drawing, there is a variety of ways this platform allows you to communicate. For true romantics, pressing your thumbs on the same parts of the screen results in a 'thumb kiss' where the phone vibrates.
Source: App store| Google Play
2. Postagram
Developer: Sincerely Inc.
Price: Free
Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 4.0 or later. Android.
Choose a photo from your iPhone library, Instagram, or Facebook account, send it to be printed and a real postcard will be delivered in a few days to your partner -- a personal way to show them what you're experiencing.
Postagram's mailing service can be delivered worldwide, and any image from your mobile or social networking account can be selected. You can also include an 180 character message, and it costs 99c for the U.S, and $1.99 worldwide. If you're trying to send a postcard to the U.S. or Canada, it will be delivered within a week -- but international delivery can take several weeks to arrive.
Source: App Store| Google Play
3. Girlfriend keeper
Developer: Wilshire Shaw Inc.
Price: Free
Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
“My first three wives divorced me because I always forgot anniversaries. I am pretty sure my fourth marriage will work thanks to the Girlfriend app.” -- Mark, 22
This amusing app, Girlfriend Keeper, is designed to help the modern gentleman remember the important aspects of their relationship -- including birthdays, anniversaries, and the name & eye color of their girlfriend.
Setting your criteria of how "intense" the relationship is, messages can be automatically sent from every few hours to several a month. The messages are randomly selected from a database full of thousands -- and any response you receive is sent to your email address.
Don't take it too seriously though -- most girls will figure it out soon enough, but at least it will put a smile on her face.. and you won't forget her birthday (or name).
Source: App store
4. Pinterest
Developer: Pinterest Inc.
Price: Free
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
Pinterest is a web-based platform that is also available as an iOS application. The basic idea of Pinterest is to 'pin' your favourite images to share with the world -- but what if you and your partner are both on separate trips, or living in different places? Share a board and share your experiences.
Source: App store
4. Facetime
Developer: Apple
Price: $0.99/free
Compatibility: Compatible with Apple products OSX 10.6.6 or later
Facetime is a video communications program found installed on many Apple products, including the iPhone, iPad and Mac computers. It allows for real-time chatting with another person who also has Facetime installed.
The video and audio capabilities are great, and in my opinion, far surpass Skype in quality. Since it is available on a number of mobile devices, the portability of this app makes staying in touch with loved ones far easier. A strong WiFi connection is necessary, and for most mobile phones, it can be a severe battery drainer.
Source: App store
5. A toolkit to solve relationship problems: wikiHow's Love Survival Kit
Price: Free
Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
Whether your long-distance relationship is going well or not, even the best of us sometimes need advice. Whether it is how best to ask your partner to move in, or how to get rid of a love bite, wikiHow's Love Survival Kit app is a quick-fix solution to rapidly find the answer to your dilemma.
The app includes articles on dating and maintaining relationships, grooming, romance, tactics and even tips for the bedroom. You don't need an Internet connection to access the app, but you can also use the free service to find YouTube videos, to read the 'How to' of the day, and bookmark items for reading later.
Source: App store
Bonus: Pillow Talk
Not an app but certainly worth a mention, Pillow Talk is an experimental project aimed at creating a physical presence in long-distance relationships. The system has two elements -- one, a ring sensor that each person wears to bed. The second element is a flat fabric panel that is slipped into their pillowcase. Through a wireless connection, once one person goes to bed, the other panel begins to glow -- indicating that your lover has also retired for the night.
Placing your head on the pillow apparently allows you to hear the real-time heartbeat of your partner -- certainly a step-up from the 'good night' text message.
Pillow Talk is currently waiting on funding for manufacturing the project after going viral and receiving almost half a million hits.
Source: Little Riot
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