What’s On Your iPhone?
Every iPhone owner has a list of his or her favorite applications; Peter and I thought we’d share ours. As a special bonus, we’ve even included the preferred apps of our beloved techno-savvy Provost, Sona Andrews.
Shad
I’m a bit fickle when it comes to iPhone apps; if I don’t find myself using something more than once a week, I delete it. Thankfully, there are several I use regularly:
Awesome Note
Awesome Note is a terrific-looking and robust note-taking application to gather all your notes in one place. Shopping lists, Netflix movies to rent, website ideas, phone numbers and other notes can be created and organized. They’ll even sync with a personal Google Docs account. Awesome Note is like the built-in Notes application on steroids.
New York Times
Our nation’s paper of record is also the best newspaper app on the iPhone.
BBC Reader
The best global news app available, offering a perspective beyond our shores.
BeejiveIM
A terrific instant messaging application, though it’s best used with WiFi, as it often suffers from connection stability issues on 3G for an extended period of time.
ESPN ScoreCenter
Keep up to date on your Boise State Broncos, as well as any other football, baseball, basketball, hockey, or even cricket and rugby teams. Complete with live Gamecasts, in-game summaries, and more.
Trope
I’m a big fan of generative music and an even bigger fan of Brian Eno. Trope, along with its sister companion Bloom, are music/art apps by Eno and Peter Chilvers that will generate original compositions and allow you to perform the iPhone as an interactive instrument. Trope is the better performer of the two, allowing you determine note length.
Scrabble
The ability to play against your friends via Facebook or WiFi adds to the playability of this iteration of Scrabble.
FlightControl
A terrific apps that is just right for a quick, engrossing game waiting around 5 minutes for the tea to steep.
Google Earth
If you think it’s great on the desktop, wait until you see it on the iPhone. Works surprisingly fast with 3G.
Yelp
Hold your iPhone in front of you, activate the Monocle feature, and watch the camera app open and display nearby restaurants, banks, gas stations, drugstores and more in whatever direction you’re pointing the lens.
Google Apps via Safari
This isn’t an application you download and install on your iPhone. Instead, launch Safari and browse to Google Apps via http://apps.boisestate.edu/ to access your Boise State Gmail Labels, add Stars, view your Google Tasks, look at multiple calendars, read your Google Docs, chat with colleagues, and search your entire email account.
Peter
Google Mobile App
If I ever need to search for something, I use the Google Mobile App. It’s great if you are searching for a business and its phone number; you can dial the number from the search results.
Boxed In
Fun time waster if you like solving puzzles.
Wikipedia
For information at the tips of your fingers. Being a geek, information must be easily accessible at any time and Wikipedia comes to the rescue.
BigStopWatch
The iPhone has a timer with the native Clock app, but it only counts down (great for baking). I wanted a stopwatch. Great presentation and functionality.
Apple Remote
It’s great to be able to control your iTunes library playback on your computer from your iPhone. I use it all the time at home.
Shazam
If you suck at “name that tune” (like I do), this is the tool to have with you at all times. It listens to a chunk of music, then identifies it. It even works in an environment where there is a lot of noise (e.g., a restaurant).
Sona
SnapTell
I can take a picture of any book, and SnapTell will tell me the author, publisher, and give me purchase options.
Find My Car
When venturing out into a huge parking lot, this app helps me find my car. Simply activate Find My Car when you park your vehicle, and then have the app direct you to your car on your way back.
College Football Mobile
Complete NCAA football coverage. Similar to ESPN ScoreCenter (see above).
Ping Lite
iPhone to iPhone instant messaging.
UrbanSpoon
If you’re in a major city and looking for good eats, Urbanspoon will feed you info about local restaurants, menus, and reviews and recommendations from bloggers and critics.
Flashlight
Lights up your screen, giving you just enough illumination to fit the key in the door lock.
