iPhone App Recommendations

**Updated 10/14/11**

I have gotten three requests for iPhone app suggestions from friends who have been picking up the phone. I figured thats a good sign I should write up a quick post giving a list of some starter apps that are generally applicable. As great as the App Store is, it is hard to discern what is a good app, from what is just crap.

These are all free unless I mention otherwise.

“Notifications” are something fairly new to iphone. Some programs allows your phone to be pinged like it would be if you suddenly got a text message, a little box pops up with some information. But, these are free and don’t use your texting plan.

Mobile Sites –  If there is a website you use a lot, you can add a “bookmark” to the site on the app screen. An icon will be added to your apps, and it goes straight to the website. Some websites, like CNN have iphone specific sites which are very easy to navigate, so it is wise to make links to those.

If you have iTunes on your computer, you can click the link and be taken right to the download page.

News:

AP Mobile – Notifications for big news items. Also, general news browsing.

CNN Mobile – Allows you to watch LIVE cnn video of breaking news. Also has notifications of big events like AP.

NPR News – lets you listen to streaming NPR shows on your phone, as well as text news.

NYTimes – Yup.

USA Today – what?

Weather Channel – yeah, the iphone has a weather app built in. and it sucks. This one adds radar and more details

Chat:

AIM (Free) – don’t pay for the paid version. Free because there is a small banner ad at the top, but otherwise the same. Keeps you logged in for 6 hours and has Notifications for new IMs.

Skype – if you have a skype account pretty useful. This app just got even better because it allows you to video chat like Facetime, but over the cellular network instead of being limited to Wi-Fi. Can do voice chats over WiFi.

Meebo -  Meebo is a great service that logs you into all your chat service on one website (AIM, Facebook, Gtalk are all supported plus MANY more), and even after you close the app, it keeps you logged in and pings you (kind of like when you get a new text message) so you can open the app and read the IM.

Social:

Facebook – yup.

Google + – yup.

LinkedIn – yup.

Twitter – the official twitter app.

Foursquare - A cool social game where you check in to different venues in your city.

For more picks follow the link

Music:

Pandora/Spotify/Mog/Rdio/iheartradio – internet streaming radio stations online. Now you can listen on the go on your iPhone, if you get tired of the music you have, or want to find new artists.

Shazam – really neat. Ever hear a song and can’t remember what it is? Hold this phone up to the speaker for 20 seconds and it tells you what the song is.

Stitcher – The normal ipod app lets you listen to podcasts. However, you have to sync to itunes to update most of them. This app allows you to stream podcasts, so you aren’t constantly running back to your computer to update.

Video:

Netflix – If you are a netflix member, you can watch their entire instant streaming content on your phone.

HBO Go – If you subscribe to HBO you can stream shows and movies on demand to your iOS device.

Shopping:

Amazon – buy things on amazon even if not near computer. I use this to price compare when out at a place like best buy. Can find out if I could get a better deal online.

CardStar – you know those member cards that you get from grocery stores and other member clubs? (costco, hallmark, men’s warehouse) you enter the bar codes in here and you don’t have to carry around the little keychain things anymore, just scan your phone.

Chipotle – order from your phone, and skip the line and go straight to the register. GREAT during busy lunch times.

eBay Mobile – order from ebay, allows you to track your bidding even when not near a computer

PayPal – send payments to anyone with a paypal account.

Fandango – buy your movie tickets on your phone and skip the line. Great for opening nights and weekends when the lines are TERRIBLE.

Happy Hours – Lists all the local bars happy hour deals! Essential.

Kayak – iphone version of the popular travel site. Cheap tickets. (if you have a preference like expedia or Travelocity, they all have their own apps too)

OpenTable – Make reservations from your phone

Pizza Hut/Papa Johns – order from your phone.

ShopSavvy – Run this program and scan the barcode of any product you are about to buy. It will then give you the lowest price and where you can buy it! Awesome.

Yelp – popular restaurant review site on the web. Yelp.com- this is the iphone version. Shows you ratings and reviews of places around you.

Books:

Kindle - amazon’s bookstore on your phone. Keeps track of your library across all kindle devices.

Zinio - E-magazine app

Utilities:

AT&T MyWireless Mobile – keep track of your minutes/texts/data and pay your bill from your phone

Flickr – For fans of the mobile photo site, this lets you upload your pics, as well as browse the site.

Google Mobile – (official) packs a ton of google’s products into one app. News, Talk, Buzz, Voice,  reader, translate, Calendar, gmail, search by speaking what you are searching for.

IMDb – Internet movie database – what was the name of the actor in that movie? Now you can find out.

Light – use your phone’s flash as a flashlight.

Remote – control itunes on your computer from your phone. Like a remote control.

Evernote - neat note taking app. You can take pictures, record audio, or just type out notes and then access these notes on your phone, or any computer with internet access.

Pano - Make panorama pictures

Sports:

ESPN ScoreCenter – official ESPN app. Gives you scores of your favorite teams via notifications, and quick access to your fantasy team. ESPN also has a mobile site which is great for messing with your fantasy team.

ESPN Radio – $2.99 Listen to your favorite ESPN personalities’ radio shows.