[archived] Favorite iPhone/iPad applications
 

Hello,

Just picked up a new iPhone 3G and have been playing around with it for a day though I am wondering what everyone's favorite applications are for their iPhone or iPod touch.

So far I really like

• Remote (free)
• Urbanspoon (free)
• Sportstap (free)
• Shazam (free) -- amazing

Haven't tried to actually buy an app yet since I don't like how there is no demo and you have to commit before you buy it. Though maybe something will come highly recommended.

Got mine yesterday (had a Gen1 but it broke before the apps were available), and I also downloaded a bunch of goodies (all freebies for now) to play with.

So far I am most impressed with Remote, eBay, AIM and the MySpace apps. Tried a couple of the free weather apps and wasn't too impressed.

I haven't tried any games yet, although that will come before my next travels if not sooner.

I really am impressed with how these all function, and this is only the beginning! :)

Craig

Weatherbug
Pandora
Google
Jott
Hold 'Em ($5)

Just downloaded Shazam. Awesome. For those who aren't familiar with it, you can let Shazam "listen" to a song and it'll figure out what song it is.

Been out on WinMo for years :D

Urbanscoop is hit or miss, I might say, but the first time I used it, we went to a Japanese restaurant it suggested and had a great meal. The next time, Jamba Juice popped up.

My favorite app so far, and I'm sure there must be more like it, is "Save Benjis." You can enter a upc code from any product and it will search the web to find out what it's going for online. Helpful for larger purchases. It can search by manufacturer, model number also. It doesn't scan the barcode, though, you have to enter it manually but still a very helpful, free program.

I also like Shakespeare, which is the complete folio in one tiny (again free) program, even the sonnets. Nothing like trying to win an argument by quoting Shakespeare!

The ones I have installed (all free) are:

• Bible - great for searching for verses
• BoxOffice - great for finding showtimes near you
• Facebook - not that useful
• Travelocity - nice app, lets you see flight times, schedules, and security wait times
• LocalPicks - TripAdvisor app to find good restaurants near you.
• Google - Not that great, but quick access to lots of Google sites.
• BookSearch - Price comparison for books.
• Cellfire - Coupons for nearby stores (not much selection, though)
• Shazam - Identify songs.
• Flashlight - Use your iPhone as a flashlight.

AIM, by far. I'm able to chat with a friend who can't really take calls at work. His company encourages it's employees to talk to anyone, especially clients on AIM.

Does he work for AOL?

As has most of this other stuff.

Amazing thing to me is how much everyone is gaga over the iphone when similar devices have been available for years. I had a T-Mobile powerpc thingie in 2003 that did almost everything that my iphone does.

AIM
Pandora
AOL Radio
Weatherbug

Pandora is quite possibly one of the best applications I have. AIM is great for waiting in airports.

Mrgh. PPC when I had one was crashy and had a lousy UI. And the form factor sucked.

YMMV.

Remote - "it just works"
Facebook - only some features, the webapp has the rest
Myspace - better than the web version!!!
Shazam - I don't think people realize just how amazing this is. There will be probably be legal issues with this in the future...
Bloomberg - best designed app so far, incorporating accelerometer. When you rotate, it goes to a full screen chart
Jamd - photo stack feature utilizes multitouch well
Cube Runner - best free game

There won't be legal issues with Shazam; it's using the licensed Gracenote database. It's also identical to the "Track ID" service that has been included with Sony Ericsson phones for a couple of years now.

I'm pretty disappointed with most of the apps so far. In fact, I think I'd rather go back to the stuff I had on Installer.

Pandora - Sorry, doesn't work in your country.
Last.fm - crashes every time
Hotels.com - LAME, just launches their (non-iphone) web site for the country you're in
TripAdvisor - horrible UI, clunky, odd recommendations
Facebook - OK, but not appreciably different than their excellent web-based iphone app

I miss my Converter, Taskbar Notifier, and location-based apps from Installer.

Are there any GOOD apps that dont have to necessarily go ONLINE and fetch information from the Internet to be functional.

e.g How Windows Mobile & BB have some apps that are just for OFFLINE use as a PDA. PDA like Tools.

Another thing about the TripAdvisor app: I've noticed that every time you load it, it uses the previous location. For instance, I used it several times at home when I first installed it. It did have one suggestion that looked interesting, which I hope to check out soon. Then I used it near the airport (about 20 miles away) and it had the same suggestions. I tried it again and it had ones near the airport. Then I tried it again on the way home and it had the airport suggestions still. I tried again and it was nearby ones. Now, I'm in Chicago for a few days and I tried it again. It suggested places near my house. Tried again and it listed nearby ones. Workaround: Load it twice anytime you want local suggestions. Anyone know who to contact at TripAdvisor to let them know about the bug? I searched and couldn't find anything.

I agree, though, that the UI could use some work. Give us the ability to choose a location or use our current location. Let us refine results based a price range (not just a filter for a maximum price), location and cuisine. Might be tough, though, since price and cuisine data is missing for many restaurants.

Another interesting app I just discovered:

PageOnce - Gives you quick summary information for tons of finance and travel sites.

Anyone have a good recommendation for a To-Do list app? And/or a Birthday app that will remind you ahead of the birthdays? ("Birthdays" seems to require that you look at it to know whose are coming up.)

WeatherBug
Facebook
Pandora

but I just have a Touch. Phone is useless to me as it still doesnt have the Slingbox player. that is my must have travel program and I use my Treo for that. Plus I like the tactile feedback of the Treo keyboard

If I could get the Treo form factor with the iPhone OS and Slingbox via the AppStore, I'd be set. At this point, the Touch is my MP3/video player and the Treo is my phone/Slingbox companion

•Remote
•Facebook
•ebay

What I'm really waiting for is Sling Player.

I have an ipod Touch and the same complaint, particularly as I can't get wifi at my new office. :(

Still waiting for a program to transfer Notes from my Palm backup to the iPod (without outlook) - could not tell if any of the new productivity ones would do the trick.

So far I have installed:

• BofA
• Currency
• AOL Radio
• Google
• LiveSportz
• Moo
• Instapaper
• Travelocity
• Ebay
• NetNewsWire

Most are pretty worthless without the internet hookup except Moo :D

It is too bad that ipod don't come with a wireless card slot (though it would make for a thick device) - ATT iPhone service is too rich (and too crappy).

I'd like to have some Apps that allow Offline usage. i.e. My information.. locally only. PDA Phone functionality when PDA Phone "utlities" did not depend on the Internet.

Twinkle !

Who wants to create an FT app? :cool:

KiwiPanda

To do what? Can't the iPhone just browse FT like any other smartphone?

Well as a shortcut it would be nice and who knows what clever developers might put into the app? Just a thought.

KiwiPanda

No need for an app or anything like that. I have the mobile flyertalk page bookmarked on my home screen.

Just go to the FT mobile (or regular FT page), click the + key, next to the bookmark and forward/back key and click the thing that says "add to home screen."

Great - thankyou ^

KiwiPanda

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5A345 Safari/525.20)

if only we did not have to enter our login info every single time we use the mobile FT website...

Something like the KVS tool on your phone I think would be the most beneficial for a quick lookup when you don't want to get your computer out.

FWIW, it looks like the latest update fixes this.

I am amazed at Shazam. I keep trying to find songs it DOESN'T know.

It would be great if there were an app that would make reading vBulletin forums (like FT) as easy as reading email. Ideally, it should take into consideration the multitude of ways that people read forums (keeping up with everything through the New Posts link, just checking New Subscribed Threads, checking New Posts in specific forums, etc.) so that we don't miss things. I think quite a few of us would pay for an app like that.

I have an ipod touch with:

Jawbreaker - Game
Crosswords lite
Remote - only tested this once and it was very impressive
Facebook - sort of neat but will only be more useful when I am travelling and have access to wireless rather than in my office
Palringo - going to be great whilst travelling and maybe at home

There is a travel tracker app that I would like to test but at A$36.99 it seems a little steep without being able to trial it :(

Facebook v2.0 has been released and is a great upgrade in functionality.

I agree 100%!

I stumped Shazam with Don Ho's "E Lei Ka Lei Lei" ^

I'm also eagerly anticipating Map My Run's iPhone app which is supposed to be out later in October. :D

I downloaded Pageonce 2 weeks ago and it is by far the best free application. Tracks all of your bank balances, credit cards charges, and more importantly all frequent flyer and hotel accounts! Like a better version of USAToday Miletracker but without the bugs (and no WinOS required).

LiveSportz and Sportacular are also good, though like others require WiFi

I am playing Spore now - great fun and makes me want to upgrade my home comp to get the full version :)

I just downloaded Asphalt 4 (car racing game - $9.95).

All of the sudden, my iPhone turned into a PSP. It was a true revelation! ^ ^

Pandora
Jackpot Casino
Jott
fring
Facebook 2.0