The brand new, sparkling iPhone 6 just rolled out, and in honor of its appearance, we've compiled a list of the top apps your Dallas dwelling just a little bit easier.
Between sports teams, arts district and more fairs and festivals than you can count, Dallas is a hell of a city in which to live or frequent. We're here to make sure that notorious Texas weather, pesky transportation woes, and scheduling conflicts don't get in the way of you enjoying everything this city has to offer.
- NTTA Tollmate. In a pinch, this trip calculator is a life-saver for those of you who still don't have a toll tag. For those of you who do have a tag, you can pay your bill and check for lane closures and road conditions.
- Waze. Sadly, traffic is a daily part of life in Dallas. This app attempts to delay your inevitable road rage (there's no offsetting it entirely), by including nearby gas stations, traffic conditions and construction zones. You can also commiserate with your fellow DFW drivers through their active community forum. Users can report delays, or note when they see a cop on the prowl.
- Weather Channel. It's Texas, guys. You will wake up to freezing cold, pile on the long underwear and need to exchange your sweat-soaked garments for breezy summer shorts by lunchtime. Best to have an idea what extra clothes to pack before you leave the house.
- BestParking. It's an indisputable fact that downtown parking sucks. Whether you're in need of a spot for a cumbersome work event or a Saturday afternoon out, this app provides user-friendly tips to find the cheapest spots on any given day. Locations are conveniently color-coded too, for those who can't discern that $4 a day is, in fact, a better deal than $11.
- Dallas Map and Walks. Fancy a nice downtown stroll during lunch? Or a path that hits every major art gallery in town? Maybe you've paid for that parking space for the day, and want to get your money's worth? This app suggests walking paths, which can be adjusted for desired distance, that focus on a variety of tours: Fair Park for the Kids, Live Music in Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas Landmarks are just a few highlights.
- Dallas Public iLibrary. Make a wish list, request items, pay late fines, review books. Plus you can look up a book's Dewey decimal number ahead of your visit and strategically plan your book-grabbing experience. Please tell me there's someone else out there as excited about this as I am.
- Dallas 311. Maybe it's not a big enough emergency to call 911 -- maybe your neighbor's cat is stuck in a tree. Maybe your neighbor's tree is stuck in a cat. Assuming your reportable offense isn't drastic enough to require immediate intervention, you can quickly file a report while you're thinking about it, wherever you are. The app also includes a map, so you can track where others have filed minor reports with the city -- potholes on your block, for instance.
- ESPN. You can personalize this app to send you automatic notifications for your favorite teams, whether they're Dallas-based or not. Can be programmed to focus on just about every sport in the books.
- GoPass. The trip planner is the coolest thing about this DART app. You can also buy tickets in advance from your phone and skip the slow-moving kiosks at the station. The app also posts major events and entertainment to help you plan your public transit schedule.
- JFK in Dallas. You've seen the movie, now check out the app that offers the morbidly curious maps, video interviews with witnesses and historic photos of all the places in Dallas linked to the Kennedy assassination.
