As an alternative to Google maps, consider the “maps.me” app. It is free, has detailed maps for countries around the world, including the US and Europe, and best of all, it doesn’t require an Internet or data connection, so it’s use is free, ad-free, and completely private.
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I live in Chile and have friends in different countries who I communicate with through WhatsApp. I was shocked when I learnt (a couple years ago) that most Americans don't use it and many don't even know it.
The reason why it became so popular here was that mobile phone companies used to offer very few "free" messages in their plans and they didn't include audio/video/photos. WhatsApp instead can be used with WiFi even if you have used up your data quota for the month. And as someone else mentioned, now most plans offer unlimited social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) navigation.
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Well, so much for the Europeans' commitment to privacy.
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Friends and relatives in other countries use WhatsApp. However, it wants me to give it access to my entire contact list, which I do not want to do, since there are few contacts with whom I would be using it. So unless someone is in as a contact pre-Facebook, or I can get them to contact me first, it is sadly pretty useless.
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@Nancy Harrison
You don't have to give access to your contact list in WhatsApp. You can invite someone to join in a WhatsApp group that you create; it can be a group with just the two of you.
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I like Parker pens but also try Lamy Safari fountain pens. They are cheap and practically perfect.
Thanks for the link to your playlist. I’m listening as I type this.
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Surprised that 1.2 billion users of WeChat don’t earn a mention. With more features than WhatsApp, minus the tawdriness of being part of Facebook, WeChat isn’t just for China anymore.
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WeChat also had close ties to the Chinese government. A great reason to be suspicious of its security and to avoid it.
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The predictable response. We’re suppose that WeChat’s billion users haven’t the intelligence to judge for themselves.
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So glad everybody decided to share all these product promotions.
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Yup - traveling in Colombia you see Whatsapp is used ubiquitously and even cell phone companies (tigo claro etc) there offer plans with tiered data and talk usage but “unlimited Whatsapp / Facebook / Twitter” usage. many taxis prefer you call them on whatsapp too. so without a plan you hunt for free wifi spots (cafes hotel lobbys) to communicate. of course i recommend getting a local branded SIM chip for a monthly plan if you’re there more than two days - much cheaper than verizons travel pass
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Most of my European friends use WhatsApp, yes. They have been pushing me to join. They had NO idea it was owned by Facebook. When I told them they laughed and said, let's just use Messenger, then (for communicating to me, that is). I no longer have FB or Messenger on my phone.
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Enlist your friends to use Signal by Open Whisper Systems. It is owned by a non-profit created by a founder of WhatsApp for the purpose of providing secure communications without the expanding commercialization of Facebook which now owns WhatsApp.
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The only thing remotely appealing is the debit card without foreign transaction fees. That's a nice a service. Although, you'll need an internet connection to reload your card. That's probably not a problem in most countries where debit cards are common but definitely something to think about. I can think of a few occasions where I would have landed in trouble using Revolut's app.
Also, the "free" part of their service isn't exactly free. There's are spending limits and so forth. I think the "free" account is around $6,300 US. After that, they start charging a fee or you have to switch to a paid account. In many ways, Revolut is trying to achieve the same advantages as cyber currencies, borderless money, but within the structure of traditional financial markets and a not-so-innovative SaaS business model.
So maybe not so appealing after all.
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@Andy The free Revolut account goes up to £10,000 as long as you verify your identity (once) using your phone's camera to take a photo of a driving license or ID card. I use it constantly as I have family in several different countries with different currencies. Transfers to and from my regular (UK) bank account are free, but not so for my US account, although this is supposed to change at some point.
I also use Whatsapp multiple times per day for family chatting. Apparently Americans are hooked on iMessage, though I don't know anyone who uses it even though several friends have iPhones. The only time I ever get SMS texts is from my dentist to confirm an appointment.
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I spotted that Parker pen immediately too lol. I have the same one. I use Space Pen refills in mine to make the ultimate inexpensive ballpoint.
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Adam, listening to your spotify playlist. I appreciate the labor of love of compiling such a list over years. I can relate.
If you don't already know it, you'd probably like www.radioparadise.com, a beautifully curated selection of Sunday morning type songs. Enjoy.
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How did you find the playlist on Spotify. I searched but couldn’t find it.
@Esu Anahata
Yes, many shouts out for Radio Paradise!
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I read the article in the paper version of the NYT. When I looked at the digital article, I saw the link.
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The family that makes Parker pens are nice too. When I was getting married, I picked up a couple whose car broke down and took them to my father-in-law's garage. He got them back on the road pretty quickly. They said they owned Parker pens and would send us a gift. Sure enough, my father-in-law and I each received a pen and pencil set in the mail. Unfortunately, I lost them, which I do regret. But I am still married so that's what counts. Oh, we use What'sap to communicate with my cousins in Germany because that's what they use. I wish more people used it. It has such a natural interface and is easy to use. Unless I lose my phone, which hasn't happened yet but is surely coming.
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Waze is a much better option to Google Maps and works very well in Europe as well as the US. It is, unfortunately, owned by Google now.
WhatsApp used to be perfect but is now owned by Facebook. I've toned down how much I use it to communicate with family overseas since that acquisition.
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@Diana: Waze seems to drain my battery real fast. I've checked with friends and they agree that it does.
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Traveling in Italy last year, I discovered that all my AirBnB hosts communicated via WhatsApp, so I joined. While it was fine, little did I know that it was part of the Facebook hegemony, which I had heretofore avoided.
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Parker pens are cool. And so are fountain pens they make - reliable .
And don’t forget the NYT app . My go to place to see what’s happening .
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