Culture

12 apps that do just one (sometimes incredibly silly) thing

These single-minded apps do one thing and one thing only, and sometimes that thing can be pretty frivolous, like guzzling a virtual beer or faking out your boss.

Anthony Domanico

CNET freelancer Anthony Domanico is passionate about all kinds of gadgets and apps. When not making words for the Internet, he can be found watching Star Wars or "Doctor Who" for like the zillionth time. His other car is a Tardis.

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Anthony Domanico

Feb. 11, 2015 10:40 a.m. PT

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LookFor is a one-trick pony that solves a real-world problem

A new app called LookFor (available on iOS and Android) turns your smartphone's screen into a blinking colored light that can help friends and family spot you in a crowd.

App creator Logan Riley lovingly calls LookFor the "world's dumbest app" because it's so simple, but it's got plenty of good company in the category of apps that do just one thing. Sometimes, that one thing can be pretty pointless.

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iBeer lets you pretend to drink a cold one

iBeer for iOS and Android puts a virtual beer on the screen that you can "drink" by tipping your phone toward your mouth. You can buy additional types of beer if you want, but don't worry about your blood-alcohol level going up.

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iFrenchKiss is perfect for those who love their phone

Many of us have an unhealthy addiction to our smartphones, but some people seem to be downright in love with their devices. iFrenchKiss for iOS lets users make out with their phones (yes, by actually smooching their screens) under the guise that it will analyze how well you pucker up.

Sadly, I'm a bad smoocher, I guess.

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iNap helps you catch up with sleep at work

Stayed up too late and need to catch some zzzs while on the job? The iNap@Work app for iOS will mimic the sounds a non-sleeping employee makes (like mouse, keyboard and stapler clicks) so you can make your boss think you're actually working when you're really taking a much-needed nap.

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Poop Analyzer uses your finger to track your bowels

Poop Analyzer is a crappy iOS app (yeah, yeah) that scans your fingerprint to tell you what type of bowel movement you're going to have next (the "gamer poop" for example, done while playing a mobile game on the toilet). Of course, it's all a joke since the app doesn't actually do anything, but that's kind of the point.

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Sleep Fan is, well, you get it

Whether it's to keep cool or just for the ambient noise, some people need a fan to help them sleep. The Sleep Fan app for iOS and Android mimics the noise a fan makes, with a timer set to turn off after a set period of time. It won't keep you cool, but the ambient noise should have you catching zzzs in no time.

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Taco Text tells your friends it's taco time

It's never the wrong time for taco time, and Taco Text for iOS and Android exists solely to remind people of that fact. Users can send one of four emoji-type taco images to their friends to express love for the amazing invention that is the taco.

I have a bit of a soft spot for Taco Text, because every time should be taco time.

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Workaholics will love the Office Sounds app

Some people can't put their work down, even after they've left the office. But when working at home in the evenings, they might really miss hearing the sounds commonly heard in an office setting.

The Office Sounds app for iOS fills the room with the noises of modems, phones and printers so workaholics can relax with the familiar sounds of the office while they work the night away.

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Need a shave? ElecRazor lets you pretend to cut the stubble

ElecRazor (and Electric Shaver on Android) is a digital electric razor with a simple on/off switch that mimics the unmistakable sound of an electric razor. It won't give you the close shave a real electric razor will, but it can at least give you a virtual shave to go with your virtual beer and your virtual kissing companion.

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Hodor Keyboard lets you HODOR HODOR HODOR

Hodor? Hodor Hodor hodor HODOR HODOR!

The Hodor Keyboard app for Android replaces the Android keyboard with one that lets you only type the word Hodor so you can HODOR HODOR all of your friends in honor of the "Game of Thrones" character, Hodor.

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Push for Pizza hooks you up with pizza fast

Of all the apps we've featured so far, Push for Pizza for iOS might just be the most delicious. Basically, it's like the easy button for pizza, letting you order a pie in as few taps as possible so that hot goodness gets to your door faster.

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Lo is like Yo but for sharing your location

You've probably heard of Yo, the simple app that lets you send simple Yo messages to friends and random people on the Internet. Lo-Yo for Android and iOS is kind of like Yo, but for sharing your location. Just one tap on a contact sends a location request, basically a "Where you at?" for the modern age.

Of course, you'll only want to use it with people you trust, making it a perfect quick tool for coordinating meetups with friends and family.