So . . . we're finally getting iPhones . . . . need some advice on apps.

[Stinky The Clown]

We can't get an AT&T signal where we live. We seem to be in a coverage hole. Anyway, we had to stay with Verizon, which is okay. Except for no iPhone. That all changes Tuesday, when our early order phones arrive.

We've been looking at apps on iTunes' App Store.

Our heads hurt. It is bewildering.

What apps do you use or would you recommend?

[onehandle]

1. That is a wide open question. So many things you can do on it.

First thing you do is sign up for 'Find My iPhone,' now free from Apple:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/find-my-iphone.html

I do have a MobileMe account and the best thing about it is how well it syncs my personal stuff. Apple is finishing a massive data center in NC and I hope it means a major expansion in features.

I have downloaded hundreds of apps, mostly free ones that I only used once. I will just list the apps I use often to now and then.

My data apps are, SimpleNote, Evernote, Dropbox, 1Password, Omnifocus and MindNode.
The first three are free. Simplenote is my quick note program. It syncs instantly with the web based version. I often am recording thoughts and switch back and forth between my iPhone and the web. I find the evernote interface clunky, but it does have its uses. 1Password is a Must, at least for me. There is an iPhone app and a desktop app, Mac and PC. You can sync via Dropbox, but that makes me nervous to have my database of passwords, credit card info etc, so I sync at home via WiFi. Omnifocus is expensive, especially if you have the desktop app to compliment it, but it is a great place to work on lists, projects, and processes. I use it for anything from business projects to grocery lists. MindNode is a great, simple mindmapping tool that also has a desktop version.

I just bought an app called 'Due' (dueapp.com) that it a great reminder app. Fast to record reusable tasks and timer with great 'snooze' functionality.

I have Navigon installed for GPS, but keep in mind it takes up 1.6GB.

Camera+, Instagram, QuadCamera and Hipstamatic are fun camera apps. Instagram is more of a social media app.

Speaking of social media, I don't do Facebook, but the app is supposed to be pretty good. I do do Twitter and the official Twitter app is great. There is a free app called 'Boxcar' for people who want notifications from multiple social apps. It is highly recommended by many.

Video apps: Netflix and Hulu Plus of course. You can get MSNBC live on Justin.tv with their app.

Radio apps: I am addicted to radio apps on my iPhone. Pandora and AOL Radio are great and free, but WunderRadio is the best radio app imo. You can get to almost Every radio stream online on your iPhone. I've rigged a direct feed into my car radio and stream all over town and on major highways between cities.

The catch for you is not being able to do data and voice simultaneously, which would be a deal killer for me. We've got another year in our contract with AT&T, which is just as well. If this changes down the road, I will definitely take a look at Verizon.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Thank you, that's exactly what I'm looking for!!

I can understand the downloading of multiple apps and then tossing them. I'm sure we'll be doing the same!

I am aware that the Verizon plan, right now, can't multitask. Unfortunately, given the fact that I live in an AT&T coverage gap, I have little choice. This has gone back to when AT&T was Cingular. I'm going to have to live with that shortcoming (and I agree with you - it *is* a shortcoming).

Verizon has their GPS program - Verizon Navigator - that is a subscription service ($4.95/mo). We currently use it on our Blackberries and are carrying it over to the iPhones. It is, essentially, the same kind of thing that a TomTom or Garmin do - turn by turn nav with voice commands and a real time on screen display. Is that what Navigon does? I assume it is so big because it stores maps on the phone. The beauty of the Verizon system is that the maps get streamed as needed - no local storage of them. We've liked the service a lot. We had a Garmin, but it quit working six months after its maps were declared obsolete.

How about a book reader? Have you used one of those?

The radio sounds cool, but neither of our cars can connect to the iPhone.

The TV sounds very interesting!

We have MobileMe, too. Do you know if it is possible to connect to multiple MobileMe accounts? I have one, Sparkly has one, we have one in common, and my company has one is common. It woudl be cool to get on all of them. I know that won't work for a desktop or laptop because they can only sync to one account. Not sure if the iPhone is so limited.

Anyway, thanks again. I appreciate your reply.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. Funny you mention Find My iPhone. That was the first thing we got!

Do you know if you can track other iphones, too, or just your own?

With Netflix, can you stream a movie like you can at home?

[Lars39]

19. Yes, get the Netflix app.

With earbuds, waiting rooms aren't so bad now. :D

[TommyO]

3. If you use iTunes, or an Apple TV, get Apple's Remote

If you use a TiVo, get DVR Remote

I don't have an iPhone, but I do have an iPod Touch, so the apps are the same

[Stinky The Clown]

5. The remotes . . . . are these devices or apps?

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. It turns your phone into a remote with a touch screen

Yes its an app.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Here's a few free ones I use on my iTouch

Free

Convert Units for free:
Dictionarycom Dictionary Thesaurus
Discovery News
facebook
free audiobooks from booksinaudio
google earth
huffingtonpost
IMDb movies and TV
NASA app
NYTimes
Remote.... from apple
SKYPE... free phone calls using wifi worldwide
The Weather channel
53,000 famous quotes for free.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Thank you! Quite a few of those came up on our "to be explored" list.

You put them close to the top of the list!

Are weather channel, NYT, Discovery, etc., apps or just links to their websites?

Google Earth is very cool, but what do you do with it?

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Today I bought MotionX's GPS Drive. I really like it.

It is a turn by turn voice guided navigation app. It is a 99¢ app and is functional on its own. You get the first month of the premium version free. That includes voice and traffic. After a month, it is $3.00 a month or $20.00 for the year. We were paying $4.95 for Verizon's own VZNavigator. That was okay. This one is better and for less money.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. That's where the iPhone is superior to my iTouch

My daughter uses her iPhone as her major wifi/modem bridge connection for herlaptop. Thus the only wifi connection she pays for is her iphone and can use it anywhere.


How-To: Use Your iPhone as a Wireless Laptop Modem from PC magazine


http://www.pcworld.com/article/159627/howto_use_your_iphone_as_a_wireless_laptop_modem.html

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. All are apps made for the iPhone iTouch

Weather channel allows you to have personal cities around the world to check their weather up to a 10 day forecast. I can check my friends; weather instantly All apps look nothing like their websites'

I use google earth for maps and to get or give directions.

A nice paid one is iHandy Carpenter... it gives you a level and 5 more tools
you can use.... I use it to hang a pictures or shelfs.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ihandy-carpenter/id293621500?mt=8

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Here you go

radio:

Wunder Radio, that is the ONLY one I use.

Book reader.

Both Kindle and Nook work, but Apple might be changing the policy (they want their cut)... I prefer nook.

There is also Stanza for free books and oh google books.

Docs to Go is a solid office suite.

If you are into writing... manuscript or Auteureist work

For organization I use Project Planner and to do

After that... sky is limit Hubby liked Angry Birds until he realized it was data mining.

Oh and if you like art and dabble in it, there are several good art apps. I prefer to use a stylus for that,

[alfredo]

12. PBS, NPR, TED, Maddow, Justin.TV to get MSNBC,

Google Earth, WunderMap for the weather.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. WunderMap appears to be iPad only

I can find an ipad version, but not for the iphone. On what platform do you use it?

[alfredo]

15. iPad. The Weather Channel app is available for the iPhone

[emulatorloo]

16. Slacker Radio, Shoutcast for streaming radio. WeatherBug for Weather updates

Slacker Radio - is kind of like Pandora - you tell it what music you like, and it puts together songs for you. The thing is the SOUND QUALITY is way better than Pandora. Free, although you can buy a "subscription" for more features. Free is good enough for me.

Shoutcast - is an app to listen to internet radio broadcasts. Free.

AOL Radio - another streaming radio app, Actually some good stations on this. Also Free.

WeatherBug - I like it better than the Weather channel application. Free. Also a paid version. Free version has little ads at the bottom. They do not bother me.

Ebay - if you are an ebayer

New York Times - free app

Other shopping stuff I have

- Target
- Amazon

I also have online banking stuff -see if your financial or credit card institution has an app

See also if your local newspaper and or TV Station has an app.

I'll probably think of more, hope this helps

[northoftheborder]

17. I like Urban Spoon. It is a restaurant finder. There are...

....some others, but this is the only one I have tried. It has restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, etc. even in small towns. It locates where you are, and recommends whatever type and price food you choose. Some places have their menu, and all have the number and percent of recommends. It maps how to get to the restaurant from your location. You can enter a new restaurant, remove one that has gone out of business, and enter your own recommender. I have used it a lot.

You can get the app for several great recipe lists, and Epi links with your recipe box on Epicurius on your computer. All Recipes is a great app also.

I am still looking for the best organizer, lists, etc.. I have tried Wunderlist, Awesome Note, Moesnotes, but don't use them much. I want one which will organize in at least two levels of folders and albums. I don't want all the bells and whistles. I'm going to try some suggested above. I haven't had my IPhone very long, but love it. I like Pandora, the Browser, TED, and the only game I have is Scrabble Free. IPhone tips is a free list of tips for use. News: BBC, local npr, AP, local paper, local NBC and I can't wait until DU has it's App developed. There are many, many apps, most free or very inexpensive! Have fun!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

18. I have iBook and the Kindle app, weather radar, BBC News, AlJazeera English,

a couple of games, Google Earth, iTorch (your iPhone becomes a flashlight), Virtuoso (your iPhone becomes a piano keyboard), Minnesota Public Radio, and I forget what else.

[Ready4Change]

20. Star Walk

It was the first thing that made me go 'Wow' when looking at iPads, and still the #1 reason I'd like to get one.

Basically, when you hold it up against the sky, it shows you what stars you are looking at. It's motion and orientation aware, so if you turn around it now shows you what stars are over there. Look down, and it shows you what stars are 'beneath' the Earth. Wonder what that bright star in the sky is? find it on the iPad, then zoom in and tap on it, and you get detailed information on it.

Looking at my brother in laws, we noticed some of the stars were moving. He didn't realize it, but it also stores the orbits of a slew of major satellites. Found the International Space Station then. It was under my feet. :)

Like magic. Want muchly.