Apps that make life in Malta so much easier

Sometimes it feels like life is on fast-forward. There never seem to be enough hours in the day to tick everything off that never-ending to-do list. And it doesn’t help when your memory forgets to remind you to book that restaurant for your mother’s birthday dinner or your upcoming date night.

The cause of these common-day problems is, no doubt, the rise of technology. It has pretty much infiltrated into every aspect of our lives,demanding every last drop of our time and attention!

So what do we do? We fight fire with fire. Or technology with technology, in this case. Many apps are being developed to help us do things quicker, from booking a hair appointment to paying our taxes. Here are some of the apps and web apps (which you don’t actually download) that will make your life in Malta much easier.

COMMUTING

When it comes to getting from A to B, it’s not always as easy as ABC. These apps make it easier to get to your destination.

Tallinja - pick the right route 

This app provides access to real-time information on buses and their arrival at each bus stop. Users can browse an interactive bus stop map with information on all bus stops in Malta and Gozo. They can access a route map with information about the frequency of each route, and save bus stops as favourites to find them instantly. Customers owning a Tallinja card can also top it up or check their credit through the app.

Taxi apps - call a cab 

If public transport does not work for you, there are many taxi service apps being developed to speed up the call-to-destination process. Two of the existing apps are Taxify and Ecabs. Both work by sending over a cab that’s closest to your location. They also allow for various payment options.

LEISURE

Sometimes we struggle to figure out what to do and where to go in our free time. These apps help with such decisions. 

Kultura Malta - know what’s happening 

This app is the official cultural calendar of events organised by public entities around Malta and Gozo. The calendar is always kept up to date, and users can browse through the activities using a series of filters including date range and category. Detailed information is available about each event, including the organiser, dates, ticket prices, venue and target audience.

WhichBeach - find the best beach

Ever turned up at your favourite beach to find strong winds and rough seas instead of the calm Utopia you envisioned? WhichBeach recommends the best beaches to go to in real time. It takes into consideration the current wind speed direction and other weather conditions. It also factors in water cleanliness, possibility of jellyfish, and how sheltered the beach is. Finally it provides the type of beach (sandy, pebbles, or rocky) and directions to help you get there.

Free Hour - make the most of a free lesson

Free Hour is the go-to app for all students. Created by students for students, the app allows the sharing of weekly lecture timetables with friends in order to find free common slots when they can meet up. Students can also set lecture reminders and exam countdowns, apart from use the inbuilt chat function. The app also has a job-seeking function for summer jobs.

FINDING & BOOKING

Convenience is the driving force behind these local apps. They were created to help you find what you need - from wherever you are and at any time of day - with a few simple clicks. 

Yellow Malta  - find whatever you need

This app offers one-touch access to all you need to know about local businesses. Whatever you need, it’s only a search away - plumbers, pet shops, pharmacies, taxis, restaurants, lawyers - you name it! The Yellow Malta app allows you to search for local business information on the move, including opening hours and directions to get there. It also offers a local nearby search using GPS, so that users can find the business they need which is nearest to them in real time.

Timify - book your appointments online 

Wouldn’t it be great to book your weekly blow-dry or monthly facial at any time of day? Timify is a web app that allows you to book appointments online - 24/7. All you have to do is find the business you want on Yellow, or on Facebook, or visit their website and click “Book Now” (so long as that business uses Timify). Then pick from the options made available to you, which may even include selecting a specific staff member to handle your appointment. 

Tablein - book a table online 

This online table booking system allows you to make a reservation at your favourite restaurant without having to pick up the phone. You can book through the restaurant’s website, Facebook page or their Yellow listing - from where you’ll be directed to Tablein. There you can pick your preferred date and time on a calendar and even select your table. Then, just wait for the restaurant’s approval and you’re all set. 

MONEY MANAGEMENT

When it comes to managing your money, it can get complicated - these apps make things simpler. 

MyTax Toolkit - pay your dues… easily

Yes - there’s a local app for it too. Taxpayers can view a detailed breakdown of their income tax balance with the Revenue Department. The app allows you to settle any pending bills through Malta’s Government Payment Gateway. It is also designed to assist taxpayers in checking tax and social security contributions deducted from their salary. 

Mobile banking - manage your cash 

Malta’s two major local banks - HSBC and Bank of Valletta - both have apps that allow you to manage and move your money around the clock. Apart from allowing you to check your balance, the apps allow you to transfer money. BOV also offers the option of paying other subscribers simply by knowing their mobile number.

CIVIC DUTY

We all have a role to play in society. And being good citizens ultimately makes Malta a better place for everyone. These apps help us make Malta better which, in turn, makes life easier. 

Don't Waste Waste - recycle right

Here’s an app that allows you to find out how to sort your waste correctly by using the search function of the app. You can also find your nearest waste facilities by using the map and checking the collection schedule of your locality. The app even provides handy waste management tips and news updates.

Malta Animal Welfare - report animal abuse

This app offers the possibility to report the abuse of pets directly to the Animal Welfare Directorate. The app also includes a list of veterinary clinics and dog-friendly parks in Malta.

Citizen watch apps - report public hazards 

There are apps that make it easier for us to report hazards when we spot them. The Malta Electrical Hazards app helps users report electrical hazards in public places. Such hazards include damaged electricity poles, exposed electrical equipment, broken aerial lines and shocking equipment. Another app, called Clean and Upkeep, allows for reporting on maintenance or cleaning of public areas to the government’s Cleansing and Maintenance Division.

LEARNING & INFO

And then there are apps designed to help us appreciate what’s around us - like our language and environment. And life is easier when equipped with the right knowledge, right?

Maltese dictionary - find the correct word

This online dictionary is the result of collaboration between the Malta Communications Authority, the Institute of Linguistics and the Department of Intelligent Computer Systems at the University of Malta, as well as the Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti. Each entity has embarked on this initiative with the intent of collating various Maltese lexical resources into one easily accessible database for everyone to use.

Malta Flora & Fauna 

This app offers a digital catalogue of the flora and fauna which can be found on the Maltese Islands. Users can submit geo-tagged photos to help the Environment and Resources Authority discover and record new endemic and alien species. The app also offers a section helping users recognise the most common pests which could attack plants and trees, with the possibility of reporting real cases to the Plant Health Directorate. The Parks section provides a list of Maltese public parks, with the respective information and events.

MCA Malta Free Wifi

It’s always good to know where the nearest free Wifi spot is. So the Malta Communications Authority (MCA), which provides free wifi connectivity around Malta and Gozo in collaboration with other entities, thoughtfully put together an app that lets you know where the nearest hotspot is. The app uses GPS to track your location and point you towards the nearest wifi spot. It also includes a map view that displays all hotspots as markers on a Google map.

So there you go. These are some of the local apps that are guaranteed to make your life in Malta easier, in one way or another. Try them while you’re on the go by accessing them on your mobile phone. 

If you’re looking to change your phone, you can check out one of these mobile phone and accessories shops listed on Yellow. 

Find time to learn, explore and discover local — always use yellow.com.mt!