<p>D uses FaceTime to keep in touch with us and also likes being able to track the buses in real time on her iPhone. The UA offers a security app, the Guardian for added peace of mind. As random parent said, the smartphones offer man useful (but not necessary) apps to make life easier and help with organization. While you could use the iPad or the Macbook Pro for some of these, I’m not sure how practical it is to walk around with it all of the time.</p>