So recently, my Windows Mobile smartphone died, and I decided to go over to the dark side and finally get an iPhone. Since then, I've been downloading a TON of apps that look cool, and wasting a whole lot of time trying them out, especially the games. There's so many out there, and a lot of them are actually very useful or entertaining. So I thought we could have a thread about the most useful apps we've found, to share with each other. I'll start, with the apps I've already found useful:
Personal information storage:
- eWallet. I've used this one for years and years, on multiple platforms, and can't live without it anymore. I have HUNDREDS of data bits stored in it, for all those things I need but can't always remember--every website login, birthdays, bank information, clothing sizes, car VIN numbers, insurance, lock combinations, memberships, frequent flyer info, etc. I have it on every mobile device for my family, and it syncs to our home desktops. Only complaint I have so far about the iPhone version is that you have to sync it manually over wi-fi due to Apple restrictions, whereas my previous phone auto-synced when I connected it to my computer.
Music Identification:
- Midomi Sound Hound. I know others really like Shazam, but I think the recent version of it restricts you to 5 searches per month. Anytime I hear a song that I like, and want the name or artist so I can buy it, I just whip it out, press a button, and it automatically tells me what the song is. If I want, it will even connect to iTunes and buy it for me.
Info searching:
- Google app. This thing is AWESOME. Don't even have to push a button. You just put the phone up to your ear like you're going to talk on the phone, and ask the question you want to know. It will listen, search the internet, and give you the answer you want. Very cool.
Navigation:
- I've been using Navigon. Pretty accurate so far, nice display, and it talks to you very well. Expensive, but works great. I know other companies are developing nav programs as well.
Shopping aid:
RedLaser. This is pretty cool. You just hold up your phone to a UPC barcode, and it automatically sees the code, searches the internet, and tells you where you can buy that item for the best prices.
Internet radio:
Pandora. Pretty neat, streaming music that it learns that you like, making a radio station customized just to you.
Favorite games so far:
- iMafia. PlayMesh makes some great games, many of them various versions of iMafia. You build a mafia with thugs, buy weapons and properties, then beat up rivals and go tasks to earn money and grow your mafia. Very addicting.
- FieldRunner. Very addicting tower defense-style game.
- iFarm. Plant crops, harvest them after set growth times, earn money to grow a better farm.
- Touch Pets. This one's for my daughter--you adopt and care for a puppy, with daily care, tricks, playing, petting, playdates with doggie friends, etc.
- Link4. Classic Connect4 game.
- Fling. You flick your finger to knock little furballs against each other to clear the screen.
- Paper Toss. Flick you finger to toss paper wads into a trash can, with varying crosswinds.
- Various versions of Air Traffic Control games, where you guide airplanes to runways without collisions.
Various others:
- Sunrise and Sunset times. Very useful here in Alaska, where we get 5 hours of sunlight on the shortest day of the year, and it stays mostly light for 24 hours in the summer.
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Personal information storage:
- eWallet. I've used this one for years and years, on multiple platforms, and can't live without it anymore. I have HUNDREDS of data bits stored in it, for all those things I need but can't always remember--every website login, birthdays, bank information, clothing sizes, car VIN numbers, insurance, lock combinations, memberships, frequent flyer info, etc. I have it on every mobile device for my family, and it syncs to our home desktops. Only complaint I have so far about the iPhone version is that you have to sync it manually over wi-fi due to Apple restrictions, whereas my previous phone auto-synced when I connected it to my computer.
Music Identification:
- Midomi Sound Hound. I know others really like Shazam, but I think the recent version of it restricts you to 5 searches per month. Anytime I hear a song that I like, and want the name or artist so I can buy it, I just whip it out, press a button, and it automatically tells me what the song is. If I want, it will even connect to iTunes and buy it for me.
Info searching:
- Google app. This thing is AWESOME. Don't even have to push a button. You just put the phone up to your ear like you're going to talk on the phone, and ask the question you want to know. It will listen, search the internet, and give you the answer you want. Very cool.
Navigation:
- I've been using Navigon. Pretty accurate so far, nice display, and it talks to you very well. Expensive, but works great. I know other companies are developing nav programs as well.
Shopping aid:
RedLaser. This is pretty cool. You just hold up your phone to a UPC barcode, and it automatically sees the code, searches the internet, and tells you where you can buy that item for the best prices.
Internet radio:
Pandora. Pretty neat, streaming music that it learns that you like, making a radio station customized just to you.
Favorite games so far:
- iMafia. PlayMesh makes some great games, many of them various versions of iMafia. You build a mafia with thugs, buy weapons and properties, then beat up rivals and go tasks to earn money and grow your mafia. Very addicting.
- FieldRunner. Very addicting tower defense-style game.
- iFarm. Plant crops, harvest them after set growth times, earn money to grow a better farm.
- Touch Pets. This one's for my daughter--you adopt and care for a puppy, with daily care, tricks, playing, petting, playdates with doggie friends, etc.
- Link4. Classic Connect4 game.
- Fling. You flick your finger to knock little furballs against each other to clear the screen.
- Paper Toss. Flick you finger to toss paper wads into a trash can, with varying crosswinds.
- Various versions of Air Traffic Control games, where you guide airplanes to runways without collisions.
Various others:
- Sunrise and Sunset times. Very useful here in Alaska, where we get 5 hours of sunlight on the shortest day of the year, and it stays mostly light for 24 hours in the summer.
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