23 Mobile Things: Thing 3 (Utilities)

When I think of utilities, I think this:

 (Thank you, Uncle Pennybags.)

Utility apps maximize the usability and usefulness of one's mobile device. Prior to starting 23 Mobile Things, I made use of my iPhone's calculator, calendar, and clock regularly as my utility app staples.

Something Old -- Calendar:
I set up my iPhone's Calendar app to show also my Google Calendars. Since the iOS 7 upgrade, I've noticed that the Calendar app seems to have increased functionality options (which may have been something I didn't notice before with iOS 6 when I did not have the complex scheduling issues I have now) but also has become "buggier" on my iPhone 4 -- freezing up and becoming unresponsive. I had been looking for more ways to mesh and merge my Google Calendars (all color-coordinated and separating out my complicated job and life scheduling) with my readily-available Calendar app on my iPhone, and I like that I can add events to my Google Calendars readily and quickly from my iPhone's Calendar app, making it easier for me to add desk shifts for my respective libraries in each of my library work calendars and Zelda the kitten's vet appointments in my personal calendar. My one big complaint, other than the bugginess: my carefully-created-and-coordinated color scheme for my Google calendars does not transfer to my iPhone's Calendar app -- boo. (Seeing my work schedules in Calendar app's light gray and dark gray, as opposed to Google Calendar's bright pink and bright green, is not just depressing but it also fails to clearly, easily, and readily differentiate my calendars.) Maybe this cannot be done through immobile means.

Something New -- Wi-Fi Finder:
First of all, this could have been named much more cleverly and less clunkily (Hello, Wi-Finder! Which is what I took to calling this app anyway.). Second, this might appeal more to someone with a mobile provider's limited data plan or with a wi-fi only device (Hello, first-generation iPad users!), except that it requires a connection initially to use it (Is it irony to use one's 3G data plan to search for free wi-fi?), but there is an offline database option available. Third, I found that one of the locations shown near me was an out-of-date listing, so not all information may be accurate, but there is an option to report a closed hotspot.