Google Now for Android shows alternate flights when yours gets delayed

   

These days, it's all rush rush rush, isn't it? Our tiny digital assistants are becoming more crucial in getting our days running smoothly, and thanks to a new update to the Google Search Android app, Google Now just got a little bit smarter... at least when it comes to transit and transport. There's nothing like the sinking feeling that strikes when your flight gets delayed (and the existential dread that comes with sitting around an airport for a few more hours), which is why Google bolstered Now with cards that'll highlight alternate flights in case the worst happens to yours. And if you're the sort who prefers traveling on land? Now will also surface your train and bus reservations in card form so you no longer have an excuse for missing the 12:25 to El Paso.

Homer for iPhone lets you peek at the apps your friends use

   

Ever had the urge to peek at your friends' phone screens, whether it's to learn about their favorite apps or simply pry into their digital lives? Well, you can now do that without having to either strike up an awkward conversation or get overly nosy. PayPal co-founder Max Levchin and the HVF crew have launched Homer, an iPhone app that lets you share your app picks with fellow users. All you do is take screenshots of your home screens and submit them; Homer scans the pictures and identifies the apps, making it easy to compare them with pals in your contacts or on social networks.

As you'd hope, there's some privacy features baked in. Besides the voluntary nature of screen captures, you can hide individual apps you'd rather keep a secret -- you don't have to share your Tinder addiction with the rest of the world. There's no mention of Homer versions for other platforms (or people outside the US, for that matter), but you can try it today if you have both an iPhone and an unquenchable curiosity about your buddies' mobile habits.

Weave app brings Tinder-style swipes to job hunting

   

Tinder's swipe-able interface is such a hit, that a lot of new apps are copying it. One new, notable app among them all is called Weave, which is essentially (there's no other way to describe it) a more boring Tinder to find fellow professionals instead of Friday-night dates. In fact, it's so promising that its developers have just raised $630,000 in seed funding. If you're thinking, "But I already have LinkedIn!", well, it works a bit differently from the more traditional social network. To use the iOS or Android app, you'll need to log in using your LinkedIn credentials, after which it'll pair you with professionals in your area. Just like in Tinder, just swipe left to pass, or right to initiate a chat or express interest in meeting up.

According to co-founder Brian Ma, the more you use Weave to engage with other users, the more you show up in other people's streams. Obviously, if the app takes off, it'll be great way to network with like-minded people or find potential local employers and employees.

Watching 'Sharknado' with Syfy Sync and Philips Hue

   

When I open my mailbox, I often find Amazon packages that I don't remember ordering. But today's surprise was a DVD of Sharknado, a movie I absolutely did not purchase. My first instinct was to contact Amazon and change my password, but then I found a note inside: "For you to test out the new Syfy Sync app with your Philips Hue lights." Wait, what? A quick web search cleared things up pretty quickly -- the latest Syfy Sync app enables full control of a Hue bridge (and connected lights) on the same network. The movie, app and lights work together, in theory, to bring you a more immersive entertainment experience.

So I began a desperate search for a laptop with a DVD drive. I found a decade-old Dell in my closet, but once it finally booted up, I discovered that it couldn't read the movie. Fortunately, the app works with any version of the film, so I started streaming it from Netflix on my MacBook. After a few iPad reboots and some more fidgeting with the app, it started to change the color of my lights every few seconds. Some pairings made sense, like bright red to match an exploding shark, but there were plenty of missed opportunities, like flashing my lights when an ambulance came on screen. The experience is as cheesy as the film itself -- there's plenty of room for improvement, but if you have Hue and the latest version of Syfy Sync, it's worth trying once.