“Hot town, summer in the city, Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty” – Lovin’ Spoonful. Who else can feel that summer is just around the corner?

I can’t wait! For the first time, in a long time, I want to shuck off the cold miserable Melbourne winter and embrace all the options that summer can bring… picnics, day long music festivals, beach bumming — hot nights and long lazy weekends. Of course, life could always be better with an app or two to help us through, and I’ve done the research – scoured the millions of apps on the market and whittled it down to:

My Top 5

1. Sun Smart by the Cancer Council Australia
Not only does this little app let you know the current weather, but it also advises when you need to Slip, Slop, and Slap. There is a Vitamin D tracker great for all us alabaster office workers and daily UV updates across the whole country. You can set a reminder to apply sunscreen every 2 hours as recommended, which if you’re like me – outside and busy – you definitely need. Comprehensive is the word I would use for this app, and greatly needed for any fun (or not so fun) in the sun!
Beware: the reminder will flash on the screen – you will need to stop it via the notifications bar.

2. Eventfinder.com.au
OK, OK, not an app – a mobile site – still an awesome find. Since research began on this list I have used ‘Eventfinder’ to great effect twice, Friday night and Saturday afternoon. It’s the most comprehensive database of events going on in our major cities and regions. From the Timber and Woodworking Expo to the Art Centre’s rendition of Swan Lake, major visiting acts to hipster off-culture bands in urban chic pubs and clubs. Eventfinder is a necessary addition to every smartphone.

3. Glympse by Share Your Where
Available for most types of smartphones, Glympse is a great way to let your friends know exactly where you are and for how long you’ll be there. I can see two great uses for this, both in a music festival environment and those long lazy Saturday catch-ups across multiple establishments of nosh and slosh. Awesomely there is no interconnected social network or even a smart phone requirement for this app. If you send the map to your friends email, they could access your information from anywhere.
Your phone does need to have a good location service (GPS, wireless networks, sensor aiding) and you can publish your location publicly, should you wish.
Also, if your friends don’t know what you’re doing – and you send them a request to meet somewhere, the notification may appear a little spammy.

4. Tribe by Telstra
What is the point in going out to the best events, without telling people where you are, and organising days by Australia’s beautiful beaches or hiking our gorgeous mountains if you can’t tell the rest of your peeps? Tribe keeps your favourite social networks in one place on your mobile, so it’s easier to share with friends and keep up with what’s happening while you’re on the go.

5. Toilet/Bathroom Finder by BeTomorrow
Who doesn’t get a little freer in the summer months, checking out the happenings in areas you’re not closely acquainted to? Of course, when you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go and this little beauty helps you find the nearest service location for your immediate needs. Plus if you travel overseas, it might work there too. BeTomorrow the apps developer has combined the location of 600,000 loo locations all over the world.

Mentionables:

The Thousands City Guides by Right Angle Studio – brilliant at letting you know what’s on in your city.

Timeout Australia (Mel/Syd Apps) – also brilliant for events in your area. Sydney iPhone app – www.au.timeout.com/sydney/iphone Melbourne iPhone app -  www.au.timeout.com/melbourne/iphone

Related links:

• App of the week: Glympse – Free location-based service application

Do you have any favourite summer apps?