So, I agree that there was some very useful information in your piece about desktop apps in the first part of this series. But what I’m really looking for is information about apps that I can use on the spot while I am travelling in foreign countries. And I am talking ones that are REALLY useful.
Fair enough. In this, the second part of a two-part series, I will look at apps that are typically used on a mobile device. And they are the ones that I am constantly using on my phone either where I am staying or when we are out and about wandering around.
The first of these is an app that I had not really heard of until we went to Europe in 2017, namely, WhatsApp.
This article uses a lot of smaller images. You can view them in a larger, more legible format by just clicking on the individual images.
I was introduced to WhatsApp by an Airbnb host in Dublin. She suggested we use it to text communicate after we had landed at the airport to arrange meeting at the apartment. It wasn’t ‘till then that I realized that text messages are not sent in the same manner in Europe as we are used to in North America.
Canada and the United States are amongst a very small number of countries left in the world that still use “old school” SMS text messaging. Most other countries have moved on to more robust multimedia apps for device-to-device communication. To that end, WhatsApp is now the most popular messaging app in the world and is used in nearly 200 countries.
Part of the disadvantage of SMS is that messages are restricted to 160 characters each. If you type more than that it will break out what you are typing into a second message. So, it makes sending longer messages very awkward.
WhatsApp – Need to Knows – If you don’t currently use WhatsApp, there is a reasonable chance that you have at least heard of it. It’s one of those apps that’s kind of hard to avoid. The good news is that it is a free download.
In its basic use, WhatsApp mimics SMS texting services. So, you can send text messages like you normally do with whatever app you currently use. One of the most positive aspects of this app is that it offers cross-device support; that means Apple iPhones can talk directly to Android phones. This back-and-forth communication is not always possible with some proprietary apps offered by Apple and Android.
In its full use, WhatsApp is a multiplatform messaging app that lets you make video and voice calls, as well as text messages, etc. Happily, you do not need a cellular connection to use WhatsApp. It works fine over Wi-Fi. Additionally, it offers end-to-end encryption for each message. This means that messages you send with WhatsApp are only readable by the intended recipient.
WhatsApp – How to Use It – When you launch WhatsApp, the default position is to allow you to send text messages. The first image below is of a WhatsApp text communication between me and our trusted contractor doing work in our home. This communication took place while I was sitting in Spain, and he was working in our basement. As you can see, it’s easy to exchange messages and photos in real time just as you can with your current texting app.
The second image is of a communication with Veronica, the host of our recent rental unit in Spain. We had left the apartment at the end of March and were spending a few days in Malaga. As you can gather, she could not get the washing machine to work in order to do the laundry we left behind (towels and sheets). She has sent me a video clip to see if I could help her figure out what the problem was. Ultimately, we had a video conference so I could follow what she was doing.
You can see in the second image that I have circled the phone and video icon in the top right-hand corner. You can do video calls, as I have just mentioned, or phone calls from your cell phone to the cell phones of other WhatsApp users. I got my first taste of this when Veronica phoned me from Spain using WhatsApp while we were still in Canada and getting close to our departure date.
In the third image, you can see that you can do multi-person video chats in WhatsApp just like you can in Zoom and other video communication platforms. Thanks to the Love-goddess and friends for posing for an early morning picture with me. J
WhatsApp is a very powerful mobile device application. It shows its true worth when you are travelling abroad and need to communicate with folks locally or in other parts of the world.
Google Translate
I have talked about the desktop version of Google Translate, but it demonstrates its real power as a mobile device application when you are on the road.
As you can see in the first image, the default position is to provide the exact same translation feature as a desktop model. You type in… (I now almost exclusively use voice to text rather than type )… what you want to have translated and it instantly translates what you have typed into the specific language you have chosen.
This is handy if you are out and about and need to ask someone a question. You can simply fire up this app, type or talk your message, and it will spit out a translation that you can show to the person you want to communicate with. Much handier than doing it at home on your laptop and then writing it out in a note to hand to someone who does not speak English.
The second extremely useful feature is the “Conversation” feature shown in the second image. This is an enhanced version of the “type in one language, and it translates it into another language” feature in the desktop version. In this one, you can carry on a conversation with another individual. This is done by voice. You say what you want to say in English, hand your phone over to the other person and they read the translation in their language, and then they say what they need to say back to you, and so on.
BUT, for me, the real power of this app lies in the “Camera” translation feature. It is very handy when you’re out grocery shopping or need to read signs or messages written in a language other than English.
These next two photos demonstrate this feature. In the first, I am looking at a soup mix for which I would like to understand the cooking instructions before I buy it. So, I whip out Google Translate, click on the camera icon and hold it over the text I want to be able to read in English, and POOF… Instant translation. Very useful.
SMS Text Messages
Mr. Retiree guy you just said we shouldn’t use conventional SMS text messages while travelling internationally. What gives?
That is true, but it does not mean that you won’t receive SMS text messages from local sources in other countries while you are on the road.
The text messages I’m showing in these images are ones that I received from our cell phone plan provider this past winter, Orange. Clearly, they are sending me information or marketing information that they would like me to read. Unfortunately, my Spanish isn’t good enough to have a clear picture of what they want to say to me.
Not to worry. Previously, I would push gently on the message on the screen, and this would allow me to copy it and paste it into Google Translate. On my iPhone this year, I noticed that when I gently pushed on the message the dialogue box that popped up also offered a “Translate” feature. In the third photo, the message is translated into English, and I can now understand what it said. I am assuming that this feature is available on Android phones as well, but I am not certain, of course.
Google/Apple Maps
The most practical use for any of the mapping apps you might use while travelling is to plot walking paths (Image 1) to places you need to get to. After plotting a walking route, both Google maps and Apple Maps will guide you forward (Image 2) on a turn by turn, street by street basis. Very handy.
I now use Apple Maps almost exclusively for this purpose because the step-by-step walk-through appears on my Apple Watch (Image 3), so I don’t even have to have my phone out in front of me. One of the really cool aspects of the Apple Watch is that if you are approaching a spot where you will need to make a change in direction, it vibrates to encourage you to glance down at it.
The other map feature I use somewhat frequently while abroad is finding transit routes. As you can see in the three images below, lots of useful information is provided when you search for a public transit route. In the first image, I have queried how to get out to La Cañada Shopping Mall from where we were staying in Marbella. It gives me a list of the times I can catch a nearby bus to take me there, how long the ride will be, and that the bus stop is only a four minute walk away. It also provides the name of the bus route that I will need to travel on. This will ensure that I get on the right bus. 🙂
Clicking on “Go” the app provides a map of the entire route. This is not terribly useful because I will not actually be driving the bus myself. J But when I zoom in on the portion of the route close to where I am, I can see exactly to where I have to walk in order to catch the bus… Also very handy.
That generally wraps up a look at the apps that I think everyone would benefit from having on their mobile devices when abroad. To finish this piece off, I will look at a couple of specialized apps that I think would be useful for a few of our readers.
Specialized Apps
First off, I return to the recipe app that I spoke about in the first part of this two-part series. This sort of thing may be not useful to most travelers, but it has proved to be invaluable to us over the last couple of years. The reason for this is when we are abroad, we are often located in one spot for a while and do most of our own cooking. “Paprika 3” allows me to carry all the recipes that I use at home on my cell phone.
The second app I will look at is a rail planner that lets you instantly look for train schedules anywhere in Europe without having to deal with foreign rail websites. We travel by train a great deal when in Europe so it gets a lot of use when we are on the road.
Finally, a quick chat about the fitness app that I use to track my fitness activities while we are wandering around in other parts of the world.
Paprika 3
I will not regale you with all the great features that “Paprika 3” offers – of which most I use. If you want to refresh your memory you can go back and read what I had to say about it in part one.
What I did want to show you is just how useful the features we use most often are. The Love-goddess and I “share” the app so when I enter or change something it pops up on her phone as well. As you can see below, the grocery list is easy to read and use, and has a box for you to check off items that you have already picked up as you move around the store.
One feature of that is very useful allows whichever of us is at home while the other is out shopping to add things to the list on the fly. If I enter something on the list at home, I know that after a short period of time, it will pop up in the list on the Love-goddess’ phone.
The second thing I want you to see is just how legible and easy to work with recipes are in this app on your phone. Only two tabs are needed, one that shows you all the ingredients you require, and the second, which provides the directions (as you can see).
One thing to take note of is in the “Directions” image you will see that the cooking time required, “45 minutes” is highlighted in blue. If you touch those words a 45-minute timer countdown begins. This is very helpful and eliminates having to set another timer or look at the clock and calculate how long it will take to cook.
When I am cooking at home or abroad either my iPhone or my iPad is propped up against something as I prepare the evening’s meal. Another nice little feature is that this app prevents your phone from going to sleep. It is constantly on, so you don’t have to continually tap your phone or log back in.
Rail Planner
Real Planner is a useful little app if you are going to be doing a lot of travelling around Europe by rail. It is very handy in that it collates all… I am assuming it is all… the rail schedules across Europe, and makes them available for easy reference in one spot. This eliminates having to go to the website of the rail service of whatever country you are in to find out what train options are available on the day you want to travel. It also provides useful information like total travel time and stops along the way.
It does not allow you to purchase tickets. For that you must still go to a ticket office somewhere… typically at the train station… to pick up your tickets. But we have found it very handy when we’re planning when and how we will move to another city.
I don’t think I would allow Rail Planner to be my definitive source for changes to train schedules because I’m not certain how rapidly it updates any sudden changes. For that information, on the day of departure, I would check the actual website of the folks from whom I bought the tickets.
Fitness App
The other app I use a lot when in Europe is my fitness app. This is primarily because when we are travelling internationally, I am typically doing a whole lot more walking than I do at home, and it is worth tracking.
I use an Apple iPhone and Apple Watch combo, and this gives me some pretty detailed information about any fitness related activities, like long walks. I am assuming that Fitbit devices offer the same sort of features that I am showing here.
If you’re not using your watch/Fitbit mobile phone combo all that much it would be a good idea to start doing so while you are travelling. It’s a great time to start figuring out how it all works.
As you can see in the images, the app provides a lot of data for each individual event – so much so that I’ve had to use two screenshots to capture it all for you to see. I love looking at the map feature when I have been wandering around generally unaware of where I am going. And yes, I have always had a high heart rate.
As you can see in the images, the app provides a lot of data for each individual event – so much so that I’ve had to use two screenshots to capture it all for you to see. I love looking at the map feature when I have been wandering around generally unaware of where I am going. And yes, I have always had a high heart rate. 🙂
I would love to hear from you if you have other apps you use while travelling that I should be made aware of. Happy travels!
