Have Yourself A Tecchy Little Christmas
For millions of people across the world, Christmas Day can be daunting - filled with cooking and endless trips to the recycling bin. To stave off those festive fears, E2Save has compiled a foolproof list of 21st century tools to help your Christmas, and the crucial cooking of the turkey, go smoothly.
Seasons Tweetings
Delivering your Christmas greetings cards are almost a thing of the past for the average 21st century social-media mad family. With little time on your hands and the price of overseas postage charges soaring, many turn to online messaging apps – Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat – for their efficient, not to mention, cost-effective, seasons greetings.
Avoid digging out the old, unused cards from years before and writing the same repetitive message - e-cards have got you covered. Try the free Christmas Card Maker on Apple or Android, where you can create and send a meaningful message to your nearest and dearest at the click of a button. Add a few personal touches, by putting to use the app’s quirky ‘handwriting technology’ or even snap and attach a family-photograph to send to those overseas.
Santa's Arrival
Anticipate the Big Guy’s arrival with Norad’s Santa Tracker. No longer do you have to sit by the window or fireplace, simply download the free app and you can get Santa’s exact geographical location, his ETA for arriving at your home and even the amount of carrots devoured by his trusty reindeer clan – so chill the milk and warm the mince pies, he’ll be on his way soon.
Over previous years, Google have also got in on the Santa-tracking game, with Google Santa Tracker. This version indulges Google's love of stats - letting you know Santa's proximity to you and number of presents delivered - as well as an advent calendar, games galore, and even a VR option.
Don't Be A Turkey
Once the presents have been opened and the breakfast Bucks-Fizz de-corked, it’s time to get the food on the go! Managing the Christmas dinner rush can be hectic, so arm yourself with the KitchenPad Timer on Apple – a visual kitchen timer that will help to manage multiple cooking times for both your hob and oven… meaning, no more burnt parsnips or soggy carrots!
Including a whopping nine timers, for an equivalent of four ovens and five stoves, this is the app for those feeding the hungry hordes, and at £2.99, it’s a bargain.
Jingle All The Way
More than any other time of the year, Christmas is defined by the music that celebrates the season. So, for the Christmas lovers amongst you, the thought of non-stop jingles is a tempting prospect.
Whilst you’re cooking up a feast in the kitchen, keep the family entertained by turning on Christmas RADIO on Apple and Android. Whether classic carols or niche Kristmas Kountry, this radio app features over 70 stations dedicated to the festive period and the musical aficionados amongst us.
Entertain Family And Friends:
What’s Christmas without a board game or two? Those classic family feuds fuelled purely by a seemingly endless game of Monopoly will always remain within our Christmas classic to-do lists - this one however, is a digital version.
Sure fire to enrage its contestants, Monopoly Here and Now on Apple and Android is free to purchase, but may take a few board game prisoners. You can even Chromecast to your TV for some big-screen competitive fall-outs after the turkey has been seen off.
Enjoy A Festive Tipple:
Impress your guests with a complex list of alcoholic concoctions from the Mixology on Apple and Android - featuring over 8,000 recipes and 1,000 ingredients; you’ll soon know your zingy mojitos from your classic martinis.
Put to use the app’s unique ‘Liquor Cabinet’ feature - input the ingredients you have at home and watch in awe as the interactive cabinet puts together an extensive list of beverages you can make from your inventory. Can’t decide? Click the ‘Random Tab’; a slot machine interface that will make the hard decisions for you - just call it a cocktail roulette!
Digital Warmth:
Once the cocktails have been prepared, sit back and relax in front of the fire. No fire installed at home? Never fear, as with Fireplace HD on Apple, you can have the warmth, glow and soothing crackle of a roaring fire at your fingertips.
Simply open up the free app on your iPad, iPhone or TV (for Apple TV owners), choose your ‘warmth’ setting and customise your fireplace features to suit your living room or dining room – no need to even budge off the sofa!
However and wherever you celebrate Christmas this year, do it with your 21st century family and e2save mobiles.