By Isabel Eva Bohrer on June 9, 2012 in
Father's Day is approaching. If you haven't picked this year's present, consider giving your smartphone or tablet-touting Dad an app. And no, we don't mean something like DropBox or Evernote; we mean something he can have fun with. Whether your father loves grilling, golf, computer games or sports in general, there are apps to keep him entertained. And if he's too busy to think straight, help him keep organized with the Remember the Milk app. He'll be a happier dad, and you'll be happy to have contributed to that.
Grill Guide (Available for iPhone, $0.99)
Heavy cookbooks are done. If your dad is big on BBQs, the Grill Guide is the app to get. From red meat to poultry to vegetables -- the app divides foods into seven different groups -- and will show him how to prepare over 100 different foods. Whether he's planning to grill burgers or even pumpkin slices, the app will assist Dad in determining how long and at which temperature to grill it. For Android, there's the free Grill Guide app (same name, different developer) for similar grilling instructions.
ESPN Score Center (available for iPhone and Android for free)
No matter which sport your dad loves to watch -- from Formula One to the NFL -- this app from ESPN will keep him posted on global sporting events, right from his smartphone. He can create personalized scoreboards for the games that interest him, and stay updated on all of his favorite teams using the "myTeams" feature. A feature called Push Scoring Alerts will keep Dad in the know about individual game scores as well as full season records.
Golfshot GPS (available for iPhone and Android; $29.99)
At first sight, the price of this app might be a deterrent. But when you consider what it offers, it is well worth considering for the Golf-obsessed dad. Golfshot GPS provides information on over 38,000 professionally mapped golf courses worldwide. No matter where he's teeing off, your father can use the app to get a better grip on his yardages and to see where his game needs work. Note that dad will need a GPS-enabled phone to ensure that the app will work.
Angry Birds ($0.99 for iPhone, $2.99 for iPad and free for Android)
If your Dad loves playing computer games, chances are, he will like Angry Birds -- if it's not already part of his collection. The gist of the game is that you are carrying out revenge on behalf of the titular Angry Birds, whose eggs were stolen by pigs. There are numerous levels to which you can ascend, allowing Dad to play for hours on end. If he's really eager, get him the Mighty Eagle in-app purchase, which gives him more power to eliminate the pigs.
Remember the Milk (Available for free for the iPhone and iPad)
For a busy father, The Remember the Milk app can be a big help. With the app, he can create a to-do list and take it on the go. Lists can be organized according to priorities, due dates, time estimates, repeating and tags. In fact, the app can help dad become even more efficient by showing him tasks that can be accomplished nearby (based on his location). Your Dad will never forget the milk again -- and he'll have more time to have fun.
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