New technology is coming out all the time – and it can be exhausting to keep up. But unless you’re a tech savant, there’s no real reason to try and keep up with the times. Plenty of tools have been around for years, and are enjoyed by millions, in part because they’re easy to use, but also because they’re very useful.

Here are four picks.

WhatsApp
Billions of people can’t be wrong. WhatsApp is deliciously simple to use, and very useful too.

To get started, simply ensure you have an internet-enabled phone (can you connect to WiFi, or browse the web on your handset?). From here, go to your App Store and type in “WhatsApp”. Download the tool, and once complete, have your cell number to hand, as WhatsApp will SMS you a shortcode to verify you own the device.

From here, you can import a profile from Facebook, or manually add contacts by inputting their cell number.

The beauty of WhatsApp is that it’s free to use over an internet connection, and it enables you to video chat with loved ones no matter where they are in the world.

Feeling lazy? Tell your loved ones to add you to WhatsApp and message you first. All they’ll need is your cell number to do this.

Netflix
What started out as a DVD mail delivery service in 2002 has morphed into a ground-breaking entertainment service. Yup, Netflix even has Hollywood’s attention.

It costs between $8.99 and $15.99 a month, and you can upgrade, downgrade or cancel at any time.

The cheapest service doesn’t offer HD (high definition), which means you won’t get shows in their crispest quality. Nor will you be able to run Netflix across multiple screens. For many homeowners, since there’s only one main TV in the home, this isn’t an issue.

No matter which package you choose, you’ll get access to an extensive library stuffed with TV shows, documentaries, movies, and more.

Netflix produces a lot of its own content, too, so you’ll be able to watch trending releases like Tiger King safe in the knowledge you wouldn’t be able to get it anywhere else.

Amazon Prime
For $12.99 a month or $119.00 a year, you can sign up for Amazon Prime.

The main benefit of Prime is the expedited delivery service, which allows you same-day delivery on thousands of items at no additional cost. While delivery times are slower during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re still likely to get your goods within a day or two, and you won’t need to pay the delivery fee that normally gets tacked on to the end of your bill.

What’s more, Amazon Prime members get access to Prime Video, a digital video service designed to rival Netflix, and one that has carved a niche in the sports scene in particular. Fans of the NBA will enjoy The Last Dance, which follows Michael Jordan’s career-defining time at the Chicago Bulls, and features interviews with the likes of Dennis Rodman.

If you own an Amazon Kindle you also get to borrow one book per month, or enjoy a “Kindle First pick” on new books.

There are a host of additional benefits, so check out the Amazon.com website to find out more.

Hemingway Editor
Looking to do a spot of writing? Keeping a diary? Working on that first novel all those years after you abandoned it? No matter your reasons for writing, Hemingway is designed to help you. Named after the famous Ernest Hemingway, the app’s goal is simple: to make your writing clear and precise.

Upon visiting the site, you’re treated to a mock piece of writing. Simply highlight it and delete it, then paste your own work into the browser. Hemingway will highlight unnecessary adverbs, phrases with simpler alternatives and sentences that are hard to read. Your work is given a score, too. The lower the score, the easier the text is to understand.

Hemingway’s advice doesn’t need to be taken as gospel, but it’s a handy way of getting a third-party’s view of your work, and streamlining what you’re trying to say in the process.