by Melissa Stewart
Ready for the Fourth of July? Need a few apps to get the party started? Well then, it’s America’s birthday and we want to share some technology our founding fathers never imagined! So grab that smartphone or tablet and get ready to celebrate. we’ve gathered together a list of apps to keep you entertained and informed.
Pro tip: Keep that smartphone out of the sun (and pool)! You’re welcome 🙂
Make your own fireworks show:
Wish you were watching fireworks at the Eiffel Tower? How about Sydney Australia? Rome? Chicago? Create your own show with the Fireworks ($.99) app and choose from 15 locations around the globe. This interactive app was designed to sync with your iTunes library, so you can build your show while listening to music on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
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With the fun Fireworks Arcade (free) app, you can either tap the screen or drag your finger to create firework displays with light and sound. Choose your own music, save pictures of your work, and then shake the phone for one big fireworks finale.
Slow Shutter Cam
Turn your firework photos into works of art with the Slow Shutter Cam ($1.99) app. It allows you to capture images with slow shutter speed effects in three different modes: Automatic, Manual, and Light Trail, which lets you “paint” with light.
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Find Firework Shows Nearby:
EventBrite
The Fourth of July is best spent in good company. Hey, it’s a birthday after all and what’s a birthday without a party? See what events are going on near you or organize your own using Eventbrite. It’s a hyper-local app, focusing on what is happening in a small radius of your location. Find parties and gatherings planned for the Fourth, see where your friends will be spending the day, or send out invitations to your own gathering. You can find everything from neighborhood block parties to massive city parades on Eventbrite.
Foursquare
To Help Get You There:
GasBuddy
iExit
Become a Grillmaster:
GrillTime
If you plan to fire up the grill, then the GrillTime ($1.99) app is a must have. You’ll see grilling times and guides for 11 different food types, as well as a reminder of when to flip over the food. All the grilling guides are also based on the size of the food and how you’d like it cooked, so it’s pretty customizable.
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Weber Grills
Use the free Weber Grills app to get access to 250 amazing recipes and a timer that can help you track how long each different item on your grill needs to be cooked to make sure they are done just right.
There are grill guides that show you how long to cook, whether you should cook direct or indirect and more. The app also trains you will Grill Skills lessons that will shoe you setup, knife skills, food prep and grilling tips.
