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1) Italian dictionary
On Android devices we can download the dictionary application, very useful for knowing the meaning of a specific word of the Italian language, without having to bother with the Italian dictionary in paper format.
Su iPhone e iPad as an app we recommend that you download Italian dictionary, the best app available directly from the Apple App Store. It offers detailed information on each word of the Italian language, also offers synonyms and antonyms and allows you to create bookmarks for the most searched words.
2) Translator
Those who study English or other languages can use the service offered by the app Google translator to translate into Italian from any foreign language. The app also works offline (by downloading the dictionaries of the languages studied at school or university) and also provides pronunciation and meaning of the word in a given context.
To download it on our phone or tablet, just use the links of the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
As a valid alternative to Google Translate we can use Dictionary.com, the best English dictionary with definitions and translator; if we have to translate a written text, we can rely on WordLens to translate signs and writings.
3) Notes
To take quick notes on your smartphone you need an app that is capable of synchronizing everything that is written or photographed between the different devices, including computers, so that they can also be found at home or via the web.
The best note-taking apps on iPhone and Android are:
- Microsoft OneNote (Android e iPhone/iPad)
- Google Keep (Android e iPhone/iPad)
- Evernote (Android e iPhone/iPad)
We choose the service with which we want to synchronize the notes and log in to the respective app, so as to always have the notes synchronized.
With a smartphone it is also possible dictate the notes aloud to automatically transcribe them by simply using the keyboard on any writing app, by pressing the microphone key. To learn more we can read ours guide to dictate by voice on Android and iPhone.
4) Organize to-dos, homework and exams
The apps can be very useful for organizing the entire study day in detail, so as to easily remember the things to do, the homework to do and which exams we have to prepare for by the end of the month.
The best to-do organization apps are:
- Microsoft To Do (Android and iPhone/iPad)
- Any.do (Android e iPhone/iPad)
- Remember The Milk (Android and iPhone/iPad)
- Google Tasks (Android and iPhone/iPad)
All the apps indicated are rich in features, offer a calendar and with the data synchronized in the cloud of the associated service: it will therefore be sufficient to log in with the same account from a PC or from another device to have the list of things to do always with we.
5) School hours and university booklet
In school, it can be very useful to start using the app Timetable, available for Android and iPhone. This app is perfect for marking times, courses and lessons, for college and high school students.
For those attending the university, the University Booklet app for Android, with which to organize the exam marks, always know the average and make calculations on how much to take to maintain or increase it, calculate credits and taxes to pay, all with the possibility to put a password to protect this information.
6) Encyclopedia
Gone are the days when research was done on huge paper encyclopaedia! Today’s world now offers everything just a tap away on the screen; to read the encyclopedia just download the Wikipedia app, available from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Wikipedia is the most complete free encyclopedia ever, always updated and able to provide answers to any topic. The Italian version of the online encyclopedia is really very useful, but it is above all the English version that offers many more insights and details.
7) Cloud space
When you are in school or university, you have to save files and documents in a cloud space, both to save space on the internal memory, and because any data saved online can be resumed by the computer without having to make inconvenient transfers.
The best cloud apps to use in school and college are:
- Google Drive (Android e iPhone/iPad)
- Microsoft OneDrive (Android e iPhone/iPad)
- Amazon Drive (Android e iPhone/iPad)
- Dropbox (Android e iPhone/iPad)
- MEGA (Android e iPhone/iPad)
We choose the cloud service that suits our needs or that can offer the necessary space for school and university files and we also access them from other devices. Still on the cloud theme, we suggest you read our guides on best free Cloud, comparing them as seen in dedicated guide.
8) Office tools (Office documents and PDFs)
As an application for open Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on the smartphone or tablet we can both use the official apps provided by Microsoft (which are free on mobile) and use the alternatives offered by Google.
If we want to open Office documents with Microsoft apps, just download them using the links below:
- Word (Android & iPhone/iPad)
- Excel (Android & iPhone/iPad)
- PowerPoint (Android & iPhone/iPad)
These apps are free and work well for viewing and editing any Office document. Alternatively we can also install CloudOn & Kingosft Office (Android), all apps already described in other articles.
As a valid alternative we can also use the Google Docs app, which work very well in viewing and editing Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, as well as being able to open PDFs and scan sheets of paper, as also seen in the guide to use Google Drive like a real expert.
If, on the other hand, we are looking for a specific app for open PDFs, the best even on mobile remains Adobe Reader, which we can download for free from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
9) Paper document scanner
Whenever we have a note sheet or a page from a paper book in front of us, we no longer have to go to the photocopy shop to get our personal copy. With modern phones and tablets we can photograph the sheet with a scanner app, so as to turn the photo into a PDF to read on the smartphone, tablet or PC screen.
The best app to take advantage of this feature is Adobe Scan, available free for Android and for iPhone / iPad. If we want to test other similar apps, just read our dedicated article.
10) Print
If you need to print a document on paper, you can use the printer even while at school or university directly from your phone or tablet, without having to transfer the file to the PC (always possible but still annoying, especially if we don’t have a laptop with us).
Printers can be integrated into any phone using the right app or dedicated print plugin. To add the print function on iPhone and iPad just read our dedicated guide, while on Android we will have to download print plugins or print apps.
11) Recorder
A smartphone can be an effective lesson recorder, since it has an efficient microphone and the necessary space to be able to record any lesson without problems. At university this function can become indispensable in order to listen to the professor’s words again and prepare correctly for the exam.
In another article we have seen the best apps for recording on Android. On the iPhone, on the other hand, you can use the application already installed Voice Memos or the best Audio Memos that saves recordings in iCloud.
12) Scientific calculator
There are numerous calculator apps for Android and iPhone so you are spoiled for choice. If it’s not enough to use the calculator built into the phone, we can download the Free Graphing Calculator apps for iOS and Handycalc for Android, as well as the Calculator ++ app.
The apps listed are all free and they add a lot more features, so you can perform even the most complex calculations without having to buy one scientific calculator.
13) Videoconferences and remote lessons
For years Skype has been the most famous and popular app to do video calls also with iPad as well as with iPhone and Android smartphone. Over time, however, new very fierce competitors have appeared, who have also introduced videoconferencing with many people connected at the same time.
The best apps to use for video conferencing and distance learning are without a doubt ZOOM (available for Android and for iPhone / iPad), Google Meet (also available for Android and iPhone / iPad) e Microsoft Teams (an enhanced version of Skype, downloadable from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store).
14) Books
Books in digital format can be read on smartphones and tablets with the app Kindle, available for Android and iPhone / iPad. Alternatively, we can also use the Google Play Books app, available for download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
The application deserves particular mention Libby, a virtual library of free books for Android and iPhone.
In addition to these, there are many in the stores specific apps to study subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Latin, Mathematics and other subjects, which work a bit like Bignami (summarized) for review. We can also find applications that solve mathematical expressions and functions just by framing them from the camera.
The list then continues in another article with the most useful apps for studying and homework. Finally, don’t forget the Skuola.net, all Italian, perfect for finding notes already made on the lessons, papers to study, versions of Latin and Greek and guides to tackle the school.
Conclusions
If before to study it was enough to have a pen and a notebook, in the new millennium the school and the university have fully embraced technology, with the possibility of studying all subjects with an ease that our grandparents, parents or siblings dreamed of at their times! Better to make good use of it, avoiding using your phone or tablet to play games or to waste time.
To do homework at school we can also download the homework app, designed to help students in any subject.