apps

After rolling unwillingly out of bed, what's the first thing you check on your phone? The weather? The score to the Warriors game? The day's agenda? For all of the essential info you need right when you wake up, there's an app for that: Google Search (free) for iOS with Google Now.

Google Now is a hyper-personalized, location-based search feature that answers questions before you even think to ask them. Only Android devices were compatible with Google Now — until today's Google Search push for iPhone and iPad, that is.

We know what you iDevice users are thinking: mobile Safari already comes with Google search built in. Why would an iPhone need another search app with voice activation, especially when it's already got Siri? Get Google Now and you'll see. Discover why this know-it-all app will replace Siri and mobile Safari search on your smartphone.

For all you music techies heading to Coachella this April, start downloading! Although Coachella hasn't released its official 2013 app (yet), we found four others to consider that'll have you dancing well into the desert night. Including everything from lineups to live updates, there's nothing you won't miss. Check out which app is right for you — just don't forget your charger!

• Stagecraft: 2013 — Stagecraft's goal is to help you make the most of your music-festival experience. First, start by customizing your schedule so you can hop stages like a pro, then set alarms so you don't forget which band's up next. Live updates will let you know about any important changes, while artist biographies and genres will help you make informed decisions without requiring a cellular or WiFi connection.
• ShowScoop — This app brings social media specifically to the concert scene. Download it to rate concerts, share photos, and read reviews so you never waste your money or risk a Coachella mishap.
• MyCoachella.com — MyCoachella.com is dedicated to covering the desert music scene; Coachella and the Stagecoach country music festival included. Get live blog updates, photos, video, and lineups.
• Coachella 2013 Insider — First, search the lineup. Then set up your schedule. When that's all squared away, check out the site map, Craigslist updates, and the forum. Don't worry about getting lost on the scene; the maps and your favorites are all accessible without an Internet connection.

Whether you're putting up a sublet on Craigslist or selling your old sneaks on eBay, temporary phone numbers are a great way to contact strangers (or vice versa) without having to give up your real digits. Disposable numbers add that extra layer of privacy when communication is necessary, but email just won't do.

These apps offer a wide array of services for short-lived numbers, including SMS, voice calling, recording, and voicemail, among others. Keep in mind that most temp numbers can't make calls to 911 or other emergency services, and do not support SMS. But if you're just looking for a safe, secure line, these temporary number apps will help you stay sleuthy.

Hoping to get a grasp on how my lifestyle habits were affecting my health, I found myself on the hunt for the best weight-loss apps to track calories and fitness. After trial runs with other services, something clicked with using the free mobile and desktop app MyFitnessPal. Easy to use, this online calorie counter monitored both my diet and exercise habits in one place.

When I first created a customized profile on MyFitnessPal, besides entering my age, gender, and activity level, I was also able to add how much weight I wanted to lose. Based on my profile, MyFitnessPal set a healthy time frame for me to do so and offered the number of calories I should strive to eat every day to hit the mark. Besides tracking calories, I like that MyFitnessPal looks at the larger picture and is more than just a straight calorie counter. Through charts and graphs, the app easily displays nutritional breakdowns, exercise habits, and weight-loss trends. All of this made it easy to see where I was overdoing it and where I needed to step up my game — whether that was exercising more or eating less sugar.

Keep reading to get a detailed breakdown of how this app measures food and exercise.