10 Mobile Apps That Will Make Your Commute Fly By 

Written by / Inhabitat

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    • commuter_apps_driving_apps.jpgGetting up at the crack of dawn is hard enough, but if you’re one of the many who have to endure a painstakingly long commute, you know that keeping your spirits high and your mind alert can be quite a challenge. The US Census reports that more than 32% of Americans have a daily commute that last longer than 30 minutes (2009) – If this number includes you, you’ll be happy to know that technology is on your side and there are plenty of apps out there to get your creative and analytical juices flowing before you even reach the office. So whether you’re a backseat carpooler, a faithful bus rider, or a subway swiper, check out our 10 favorite inspirational apps that are sure to make your commute fly by in a snap!

    nyt-crossword-app.jpgNew York Times Crosswords
    The New York Times crossword puzzle has been a classic time-killing staple for commuters since 1942 – and now it has gone digital! With this app you can play the same puzzles that are published daily in print, or take on one of over 6,000 classic puzzles from The New York Times archive. You can also compete against top players via the online leader-boards, and write in ‘pen’ or ‘pencil’ for that ‘old world’ feel. 

    Available for Apple products and Android

    brain-trainer.jpgBrain Trainer by Lumosity.com
    Get your brain geared up and ready to go first thing in the morning with the Brain Trainer. This thinking man’s app was developed in part with the world’s leading neuroscientists from top universities — including Stanford, UCSF and Berkeley — who sought to create a cognitive program that enhances memory, processing speed, attention, flexibility, problem solving, and even mood! You can play one session per day, and each session has three games that have been designed to improve different brain functions. This nifty app also allows you to track your progress to see how your Brain Performance Index (BPI) changes over time with use.

    Available for Apple products
    memory-mice.jpgMemory Mice Brain Teasers
    For those of you who want to ease into the day with pleasant graphics (and sans complex math equations), then you’re sure to enjoy the Memory Mice IQ Brain Teaser app. This fun game tests your ability to memorize sequences by asking you to pop memory mice into their proper order. While this app may sound rudimentary, the creators claim that less than 1% of the population is able to complete the full 24 levels. 
    Available for Apple products


    braingle.jpgBraingle – Brain Teasers & Riddles
    Is it a duck or a rabbit? Braingle has wrangled up thousands of brain teasers, riddles, optical illusions, logic problems, and mind puzzles to create a comprehensive app sure to awaken every nerve fiber in your cerebrum. With over 15,000 brain teasers available, and more being added daily, you’ll be well-stocked with enough problems to solve until you hit retirement!

    Available for Apple products

    sodoku-magic.jpgSodoku Magic
    Turn all those Soduku puzzles you find in newspapers and magazines digital with Sodoku Magic. Just take a photo with your iPhone’s camera and get your Sodoku on without a pen or pencil. Sudoku Magic also generates an unlimited number of new puzzles (ranging from easy to extreme), so you’ll never run out. The puzzles are automatically saved when you close the app. 
    Available for Apple products. While this particular version is not available for Android, you can try out Magic Square which equally as mind-tingling.

    Diane Pham
    Diane Pham
    Diane Pham, Architecture and Design Editor of Inhabitat, is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Like so many people out there she too thought she wanted to be an architect when she grew up. After graduating from USC’s Marshall School, she enjoyed a brief stint at SCI-Arc, then working for the A+D Museum in Los Angeles, Perkins Eastman Architects and Resoultion4: Architecture handling their marketing, PR and graphic work. A native Angeleno, she’s also lived in Milan and Paris, and still has her sights set beyond the borders of the US. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, learning languages, cooking, taking photographs and doing as many new things as she can, every moment she can.

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    • http://profile.typepad.com/myclossette MyClossette

      Braingle looks like a lot of fun, even as a coffee table iPad app that you can use as an icebreaker at parties.

    • http://profile.typepad.com/hello27 Hello

      The Adobe Vector app looks awesome!

    • http://profile.typepad.com/charleycameron Charley Cameron

      The NY Times Crossword app has been a total lifesaver for me sooo many times! Will have to check out some of the others

    • http://profile.typepad.com/dpastaface Dpastaface

      the adobe vector app is amazing. i can’t wait to get it on my ipad.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406372133 Yessica

        me!!!!!!!! Cant wait!!!!! Only two more days man!!!!!Im thinking about getitng the super monkey ball game because when I was a little younger i used to LOVE that game and I had it for the gamecube so i guess it would be pretty cool to bring back the old memories and be able to play it on my touch.As for what games I would like to see, definitely some racing games for sure. games similar to need for speed would be cool!In the future I would like to see more apps that don’t require wi-fi (if its possible) lol. like Google maps without the need of wi-fi for it to work.

    • http://profile.typepad.com/d99924888863086349 Emery

      Nice! These all sound like perfect apps for me to try out tomorrow on my commute to work at Dish! I travel about 45 minutes each day on the bus and light rail to get to work, so I can use all the entertainment I can get! I would have to say though that my number one go to app for my commute is Dish Remote Access. It works with the Sling Adapter I have at home, and allows me to view all of my favorite shows on my device, live or recorded, anywhere I go. It’s definitely the one that really makes the trip zoom on by! :)

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406344830 Lutvi

        Personally, I think that the touch and the color are apples and orgenas. The touch is a nicely focused device: very lightweight, trim form factor, with e-ink; i.e. easy on the eyes with a long battery life, but restricted to grayscale. Also, at $140, it’s pretty inexpensive. The color can either be considered a low-end tablet or an expensive and snazzy e-reader with a crappy battery life. If I was tempted to upgrade to a color, I’d just spring for an ipad or an android tablet.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406368902 Syahira

        Greetings! This is my 1st comment here so I just watned to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your blog posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects? Thank you so much!