The iPhone has changed the way I access information and communicate with other people. It has also changed the assumptions I have about what an electronic gadget can do and how I think information will consumed – and published – in the future.
But it can also be a ton of fun. And since I enjoy learning what apps other people consider “must-haves,” I decided to make my own top 10 list from the 60 apps I have downloaded to my iPhone:
Essential:
1. Pandora (It’s like satellite radio on your phone)
2. Facebook (Now I never go to Facebook.com on a computer)
3. SportsTap (All the scores – fast)
4. Jott (Because all that talking to yourself in the car can be useful)
5. Mint (It’s like being having a personal banker in your pocket)
For fun:
1. More Cowbell (Complete with Christopher Walken’s voice)
2. LED Football (Just like the version you grew up with)
3. Ocarina (Turns your iPhone into a flute-thingy)
4. Shazam (Discover one-hit wonders, impress your friends)
5. MotoChaser (Just like riding a motorcycle, but safer)
For the kids:
1. Lightsaber (Fun for grown-ups, too)
2. iChalky (If you like to Elf yourself, you’ll love this)
3. Penguin Lite (Who knew throwing penguins at polar bears would be so fun?)
4. Jumbalu Zoo (Mix and match cartoon animals)
5. iBaseball (Do not allow kids to try this unless you have a protective cover on your iPhone)
I was particularly fascinated by the number of inauguration related apps. Particularly ones put out by journalistic organizations like NPR specifically to aid in citizen reporting. Check out: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=301986752&mt=8
I truly believe newspapers should be contracting with iPhone developers to start creating iPhone apps and jumping on this bandwagon. A medium-size metropolitan newspaper could create an app that offers any number of services for the city they cover. It might not make the Top 25 list on iTunes, but if they market it right on a local level, it could reach an emerging audience that don’t traditional read the paper.
At any rate, newspapers really need to start doing something with all of this mobile stuff or else we will be left behind on this one as well.
thank you for this great article. I’d just like to add:
Linked IN client: http://linktoapp.com/LinkedIN
Calculator & Converter: http://linktoapp.com/CalcConv
This is great. I like how you subdivided essential, fun and for the kids. I made a list today that is essentially focused on productivity:
http://robpaterson.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/top-ten-favorite-iphone-apps/
A different take, I think. Pandora is the only one I haven’t explored fully in essential. I’ll check it out.
Rob
Good list of fav apps although I have to say that I find mine changing quite a lot But recently loving Artificial life which is fascinating especially if your a Geek like me Jas
I enjoyed reading your Top iPhone Apps. Would you be interested in writing about iPhone Apps for a new magazine? If so, please contact me ASAP with your name and contact info.
Thank you,
Doug
dkale@beckett.com