So what kind of applications does an interpreter need?
Obviously, I can only speak from my personal experience, as an UK-based interpreter who travels quite a bit and often works on the go. There may well be quite a few useful apps I am not aware of, but these are my personal essentials:
Google Maps: as soon as I accept a job, or even before, I run the job location through Google Maps to check how I can get there and how long it will take me. I have tested many alternatives (also offline, free & paid) but simply nothing stands up to Google. The app is precise with time, reliable and offers alternative routes. Occasionally it may get lost in the vicinity of some covert Police sites, but this is to be expected.
National Rail App: My second most used app. I spend at least half of my week on the trains and underground (when in London), so this is my best friend, where I can always find out all the train times, possible delays and cancellations. Very reliable.
Word Reference: I believe that if you consider yourself to be a good linguist you should prepare before the job so that no terminology surprises you on the job. That said, for the few occasions when you hit a blank when trying to come up with a word (or to make sure you don’t confuse Spanish with Italian as it sometimes happens to me), the WordReference dictionary is very good indeed. It offers many language combinations, context of translation and user forum where much priceless information from fellow linguists can be found.
AirBnb: if you get lucky enough to get offered business travels for work (be patient, for me there are always long spells without multiple day assignments and then you get 2-3 international bookings in a month, no rule of thumb here), AirBnB is the only way to travel. Spending days or weeks away from home can be daunting in a new city or country. Well, with AirBnB you get as close to home as possible: find yourself a flat with a kitchen so you can maintain your diet and keep food expenses to minimum, rid yourself of the hassle of hotel lobby and noises of other guests and find out local tips for things to do and see from your host. I dare you to come back to booking a hotel again once you have had your first AirBnb business travel (unless the flat was some old shack or different disaster which can also be a positive experience in its own right 🙂 )
– your personal banking app – whatever bank you have your account with, just get yourself the official app. Sometimes you need to check outstanding payments from clients, pay your utility bills when travelling to a job or sitting somewhere in a cafe. Any self-employed person can relate to that. I prefer to have a secure connection for that and only manage my hard-earned millions through official channels, hence I use my banking app quite often (Lloyds TSB & MbanK.pl nods & endorsements here! 🙂 )
I provided only links to websites above, so if you want to get your hands on any of the apps above, just visit your AppStore/GooglePlay store on your phone. Oh, did I mention that all are free? Scenes!
On a final note, apart from my phone/iPad charger I also use and often take with me:
– ANKER Bluetooth keyboard for iPad
– Mophie Juice Pack portable iPhone charger
That’s me all set for business travel, work on the go and prepared for quickly changing situations!