Facebook – FREE
This one goes without saying. You’re probably using facebook, and if you have an iPhone you may as well have the Facebook app so you can respond to messages or view them quickly in a pleasant interface. While viewing www.facebook.com is pretty seamless through their ‘mobile’ version, or even the full site through Safari, the Facebook app sometimes makes it faster and easier to do what you want to do!
Shazam – FREE; Shazam Encore/RED – $4.99
Shazam is an application that will listen to music that is playing (for about 15 seconds), creating a ‘tag’, and then scour it’s database, and give you an artist, album, and title (if it can find one. So, you’re in a bar, club, or in your car listening to the radio, a song comes on that you wish you knew the title to. Instead of trying to remember lyrics, asking friends, or searching the internet later, just pull your iPhone out, click Shazam, click Tag, and let it do the work for you.
I have a 95% success rate with this, and very rarely is Shazam unable to tag the music that’s playing. This app used to be ‘unlimited’, but recently the free version became a limit of 5 tags per month. Those who ‘purchased’ the app when it was unlimited, still have the benefit of that feature even with updates, but new users have to pay $4.99 for the ‘Encore’ version. They also have a RED version, in case you would like to donate money to help fight AIDS; a worthy cause.
Things – $9.99
I very rarely buy paid apps, it’s a slippery slope. However, Things for iPhone and Things for Mac make it really easy for me to manage my upcoming tasks. This is an application that I’m far from qualified to fully describe, as I use it in a very rudimentary fashion, but I do however find great value (at least $10 worth) being able to organize my to do list, add/remove/check items completed, reminder and other such tasks that were left out of the Calendar app.
Air Mouse – $1.99
This is a really cool app that lets you use your iPhone (or iPod) as a trackpad (like on a laptop). Two different functionality modes which allow to use it traditionally, or take advantage of the device’s accelerometer. You must be on the same WiFi zone as the computers, and need to install the software (free) for your computer, PC or Mac, and have it running for this to function. I have it setup at home with 3 different computers, and can control them all from the comfort of my bed, with my phone. Can also be used in boardroom presentations or other such scenarios.
Flashlight – FREE
Simple application which will turn your entire screen into either a solid or flashing or patterned colours. Handy when you’re in a dark spot and need a flashlight. Turn your iPhone or iPod’s brightness all the way up, launch flashlight, and find your way through a dark room or alley easily!
Urbanspoon – FREE
You’ve no doubt seen this one advertised on T.V. With urbanspoon, you can just shake to find a new place to eat tonight. You can set region, (or have it find you automatically), price range, style/culture of food, or have it shuffle all three categories. You can lock it to low priced Greek food, and find all the cheap Greek places in your area – really handy for couples who are looking to eat someplace new every night! Information returned includes phone number, address, reviews and an easy link to bring up the maps application so you can direct yourselves there.
Bump – FREE
This one is super cool. All you need is a friend with an iPhone, with Bump also installed. You both launch the application, bump your fists while holding your phones, and it will exchange your contact information (as much as you’d like to share). Ideal for people who have iPhones who want to quickly bump their phones to exchange contact information. Share phone numbers, pictures, addresses, emails, web addresses and anything else you can fit on your profile. Really unique application that makes the iPhone worth having.
WhatsApp – $0.99
The equivalent of “BlackBerry Messenger” – free texting through data anywhere in the world. It’s a good App WITH push notification, but it’s only here because Blackberry users are always crying about how amazing BBM is and how they don’t have to send any text messages. I’ll tell you something, it’s 2010, if you have a blackberry or an iPhone, 99% change you’re paying for more text messages a month than you could possibly use. For those of you who enjoy “knowing when they’ve read my message”, you’re insecure, and you need to get a grip.
Traffic Rush – FREE
A game where traffic is traveling in four directions and you’ve got to be the one to govern it’s speed and make sure to avoid all collisions. A good time waster in case you’re on the bus or in the doctors office and need to kill a couple minutes.
The Imbecile Test – FREE
This one is actually indescribable, you need to play it to understand. A series of random questions (and sometimes not) designed to trip you up and make you feel the fool. Learning curve of about 30 seconds, and that’s probably how long it takes you to lose your patience and decide you need a 3 week break before playing some more. Still, a real popular application that deserves your attempt.
