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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2025 21 By Steve Beno Last year Elizabeth Westbrook sent me a recommendation for an app that required a payment. Because of that fact, I didn't share the app with you. But it did cause me to think about this issue of payment. So, I'm devoting this month's column to Apps Worth Paying For. This is what Elizabeth had to say. "Just wanted to share the AllTrails app that I downloaded for $35.99 a year after one week free trial. It's a great app because, before our two-month road trip started this summer, I was able to save the trails we wanted to visit. It has the info from start to end with miles and elevation gains (trail profile) as well as previews (I believe juxtaposed on Google Earth) which came in very handy when we did the last day hike on the Inca Trail in Peru back in June. It has level of difficulty, description, and suggestions. The reviews from users really helped to describe the conditions and surroundings of the trails, including photos. The app also has the link from Get Directions to Apple Maps which was handy for accuracy for accessing trail heads. This is an app that we will keep until we can no longer hike or bike." Too bad someone else didn't respond to the plea that ends each monthly column as Elizabeth did. So, I'll take it from here. I have mentioned numerous times my preferred podcast app Overcast. When I started listening to podcasts, I used the Apple Podcasts app. That actually worked fine for me until they changed it. I disliked the changes enough to search for a replacement. That is when I settled on Overcast. By now, many of the features that attracted me to Overcast may well be found on competing apps. But with the modest charge of $15 a year, I'm happy to continue to support the app. Here are some of the features I like. I can adjust the playback speed in two ways — a general default setting or a setting just for a specific podcast series. Smart Speed shortens silences. Voice Boost makes for clear, consistent volume. I can create multiple playlists so that certain podcasts go to one playlist while other podcasts go to another. I can select individual episodes for entry into a playback queue. Within the queue, I can adjust the playback order. Interestingly, the Apple App Store gives Overcast an Editor's Choice award. While I'm happy to support this app with a payment, you can try it for free. I use the Sunsets and Sunrises app every day (call me crazy). At some point I showed my support with a modest one-time payment. Years ago, while visiting my daughter and her family in Brooklyn. I heard some pleasant background music playing. My younger granddaughter enlightened me about the Jazz in the Background playlist on Spotify. I've been paying for Spotify ever since. The current rate is $12 a month. I now have about two dozen playlists in my library. Some are standard Spotify-created lists and some are compilations I assembled. Almost all of these are background or popular music. Over the years I've purchased countless classical music albums. (I could count them but I'm not going to.) These purchases were made on the free Apple Music app. I find it much easier to make these purchases and create playlists on my computer. But I use the Apple Music app for playback. I use a password manager, and I encourage you to do the same. There are many such apps available for free — I prefer LastPass which I pay for. I use it on my computer and also on my phone. I have my own reasons for preferring LastPass, but most reviewers have other preferences. I fear the future of print media and newspapers in particular. I love to hold magazines in my hands, but many of my favorites have either disappeared or reduced their publication frequency. I love to read the physical editions of the LA Times and Press Enterprise each morning. But I also have their apps on my phone to look up news or read the whole paper when I'm away from home. I also read the New York Times regularly on my phone using their app for which I pay a considerable sum. Actually I pay considerable sums for the LA Times and PE also; call me crazy, I know I'm just holding back the inevitable. If you use an app you'd like to share with others, let me know at steve.benoff@verizon.net. THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT! Apps Worth The $$$

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