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A phone would be useless without mobile applications. These apps bring life to every phone user and make the phone more helpful than the main purpose, which is for communication. Different apps transform the phone into a more useful instrument ( it can be a book, an iPod, a dictionary, etc.) and make our lives convenient. Mobile apps are efficient in a way that many can be stored in just a single phone so it can benefit the users in many ways.

I have downloaded a lot of mobile applications and I definitely have many favorites but I will share with you three mobile apps that helped me a lot.

1. Youtube 

Youtube is one of the most well-known mobile apps and it has a large number of users. This video streaming app lets you share your videos and at the same time, you can also watch videos uploaded by other users. It contains a variety of videos that includes documentaries, movies, short films, music videos, shows and many more. You can also browse your subscriptions, your playlist and keep up with your preferred channels. 

When you open the app it shows you mixed videos from your subscriptions and youtube recommendations based on what you liked, your watching pattern or just random stuff. The search button is located on the upper portion where you input the titles or keywords of what you want to view. There is also a menu button that can lead you to your account and lets you manage it. The discovery button contains varied videos and large categories that will let you discover new videos and channels. If you find a video favorable you can click the like button or if you want more of the video or more from the channels you can click subscribe so that you can keep track of the channel. 

I am very fond of Youtube because I use this app to listen to music. It helps me discover newly released songs and songs that are related to what I like. I also discover new artists and Youtube gives a chance to get to know them more if they have a Youtube channel. The reason why I like Youtube the most (compared to other video streaming app) is because it is free. You can acquire it and enjoy all of the features without paying anything. You just download it from the AppStore and then you can use it. 

2. Piano Tiles

Piano Tiles is a very simple game but is also highly addictive. The mechanics are simple, you are given a list of musical piece being played in the piano and you just have to click the black tiles according to the note, but one thing is very important, don’t tap the white tiles. It has topped the App store chart and I see two reasons why, it is easy to learn and it is also very relaxing (thanks to the classical music). 

 The game has also different levels. The first round is slow, it mimics that original speed of the song but as you finish the song it will then turn to a race until you can never keep up with it. You can also collect stars and points to unlock other songs. It has also features that will let you play with other players internationally where all of you get ranked after playing. 

My most favorite feature of Piano Tiles is it contains different classic songs that I know and introduced me to new songs. Listening to the music is relaxing and it made me appreciate music of the past. I love how challenging the game is and how it gives you a lot of bonus after winning one round. It satisfies me and at the same time, it frustrates me also. 

3. Google Maps

Google Maps is a web mapping application that is created by google. It is a very useful app most especially when you are new to a place or you don’t know how to arrive at your destination. Because of the upgraded features it was considered more like a lifestyle app rather than just a utility app. Google maps is an easy to use app and it also provides almost complete information. From the directions, to the transportation, the time and the popular spots in the area. You can just input your current location, sometimes the phone does it for you, search your destination and then it gives you the necessary information. 

What I like about it the most is that it is free to download. The google maps also act like a tracking device that tracks your movement and guides you until you arrive at your destination. You can also search for restaurants, malls, and hotels in the area through this app. And lastly its latest update also lets the google to book a ride for you and you can do it without typing. 

These three mobile apps are my favorites in video streaming, gaming, and lifestyle. They have played a big part in my life and these apps helped me a lot. But I won’t limit myself to these apps. As it updates and becomes better, there also new apps that I can use instead of these apps and I want to explore more apps. These apps may be good but who knows maybe there are still better apps.

Public charging stations are very common nowadays, in schools, ports, terminals, and even stores have charging stations and people, without knowing the risk of using public USB charging stations continue to patronize the availability of these things. Honestly, I never have tried using a public charging kiosk because aside from it being costly, I always doubted the safety of plugging in some random USB on my phone and since the cable that we use to recharge our battery is the same cable that enables us to sync data.

It is my first time hearing the word juice jacking, and it sounded serious. Well, it as something to do with stealing information so it must be serious. Identity theft is something my non-techy grandmother would always warn me about and who would have thought that by just simply charging my phone in a public charging station can possibly bring me this kind of danger?

People should be aware of the danger of using public charging stations, but it would be a little bit hard to spread awareness because – One, people love anything convenient. Two, warning them through a blog post or just some articles will not catch their interest. Lastly, you cannot just put warning signs in a public charging station since it is business and if warning signs were written, people will not charge in a kiosk. But on the bright side, warnings about such dangers can be translated to infographics or posters that can be posted publicly anywhere, since people love to read randomly whenever there is something posted.

The posters/infographic can include precautions and tips on how to reduce the possibility of juice jacking. Power banks are popular these days and I think owning one is probably one big step in to prevent juice jacking to happen. It is also a hundred times better than charging stations because you own it, some power banks can actually be just placed in your pocket, it is convenient, and you don’t have to pay for every hour or minutes of use.

In situations where charging is really needed, public charging stations are undeniably helpful, but we should always bear in mind that we should be careful in leaving footprints of our identity because that information is not just money or simple things, it is us and we wouldn’t want it to be stolen.