Best Boyfriend Apps - Dating Chivalry Tips

Thanks to the ubiquity and ease of the text message, romance via a nervous phone call asking you out on a date has (mostly) gone by the wayside. But technology isn’t responsible for the death of chivalry. In fact, there are plenty of ways that new tech can bring out the best in your date and make you feel super-special at the same time.

Sadly, while there’s no app or program that will open your car door or offer you a jacket on a cold night...yet (take note, Silicon Valley), there are plenty of smart ways your tech-savvy sweetie can ride in on his proverbial white horse and make your day. (And, yes, of course, we women are perfectly capable of using these technologies for ourselves, but a little bit of effort goes a long way, fellas.)

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The next time you find yourself in need of a knight in shining armor, nudge your date to try one of these new twists on old-fashioned chivalry.

Situation: You’re ending a late night out (or maybe a morning after a late night out), and it’s time to go home. Public transit isn’t an option, and you don’t feel like standing outside to hail a cab at an odd hour.
Your guy uses: Uber
In 35 cities worldwide, your date can summon a fancy SUV, town car, or hybrid vehicle with his phone. Your driver arrives, and thanks to the power of GPS, your guy can monitor your ride home and safe arrival. You don’t have to deal with fumbling for cash or a credit card — since your date called the car, he’s billed for the ride.

Situation: You’re at the park on a gorgeous day and suddenly crave an impromptu picnic.
Your guy uses: Postmates
Launched in San Francisco and New York, Postmates will deliver just about anything to your current location. A pizza from your favorite restaurant. A dozen roses. Balloons. Wine, with a twist top, discreetly wrapped in a brown paper bag. The app uses data from Foursquare, so if you’re craving cupcakes when you’re in unfamiliar territory, it’s easy to find a nearby hot spot. Deliveries arrive within one hour.

Situation: You’re walking home alone at night.
Your guy uses: Find My Friends
If he can’t walk you home, he can track your progress via Apple’s Find my Friends feature. Sign in and authorize your guy to view your phone’s location. Or, after he chivalrously walks you home, you can use the app to make sure he gets home safely. However, use this with caution: It’s best for committed couples — or at least those who will remember to turn it off when they’d rather go undetected. It's also good if he wants to surprise you at your location, conveniently toting a bouquet of flowers. Just sayin'.

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Situation: You’re at a restaurant or out for coffee when it suddenly starts to pour. You have no umbrella.
Your guy uses: Dark Sky
While no amount of digital technology will actually hold an umbrella over your head, Dark Sky tracks local weather in real time; with helpful visualizations of the likelihood and severity of wet weather at your precise location. Using this super-local data, you can judge the best moment to leave your dry spot and get to another place (or umbrella store) without getting soaked.

Situation: You’re home sick, dying for your favorite wonton soup.
Your guy uses: Seamless or GrubHub
These two food-delivery giants just merged, creating the largest network of digital ordering and delivery in the country — 20,000 restaurants in 500 cities. The digitally savvy dude can order your favorite food online or through the app and have it delivered straight to your door. You’ll have to get off the couch to answer it, but otherwise you won’t have to lift a finger.

Photo: Courtesy of Givenchy