Since I got the iPod Touch that I won through the 2009 edition of Passports With Purpose (seriously, the best raffle ever, as I’ve won something both years I’ve bought tickets), I’ve been trying to play with it a little bit every day. I don’t think I’ll ever be one of those “cult of Mac” people, but I also didn’t want to be one of those anti-Mac people who scoffs at Apple products without actually trying them out.
So far, I’m having a little fun with it, but I’m also glad I didn’t pay for it myself.
Having said that, part of the reason I’m still so-so on it is that I haven’t downloaded a zillion fun apps. I have a few that I love (mostly ones that the husband found for his iPhone and told me about), but I’m looking for more. Which is the purpose of this post. I’m hoping you’ll help me find the cool apps.
The kinds of apps I’m interested in are ones that are about travel, Italy, or the Italian language, or are just fun/interesting games. I’m also vaguely curious about using the iPod Touch to read e-books, although I’m not ready to make it my primary method of reading yet, so if there’s a particular app for reading e-books that’s stellar, let me know. Oh, and I’m also kind of a cheapskate – unless it’s going to rock my world, I probably won’t pay for it.
I know, I know.
In return for your generous tips, here are the apps I’ve downloaded and love:
- Auditorium – This is a highly addictive game where you move arrows around on the screen to redirect streams of light through boxes; when the boxes are “full” they produce music, and when you move the light around correctly so that all the boxes are “full,” all the parts of the music play together. It’s deceptively simple, and a joy for music lovers. (Auditorium Lite is free, the full game is $2.99)
- Nike Goal – For fans of Italian soccer, this is a must. You’ll get scores for all the games in the Serie A, an up-to-date league table, and details about each game (if you missed it). Since it’s a Nike thing, you’ll get special information on the Nike boots worn by goal scorers, but you can ignore that. (free)
- WordReference Italian English Dictionary – The WordReference website is my go-to site for Italian-English translations (and vice versa), so I’m delighted their iPhone app is just as useful. There are versions for other languages, too. (free)
- GlobeConvert – This is great for anyone who travels between places where you go from feet to meters, ounces to centiliters, dollars to euro (or any other currency), fahrenheit to celsius, pounds to kilograms – and more. It’ll convert in either direction, and you can set favorites that you use often. (free)
- Echofon – I’m a Twitter addict, and this is the app I’m using to play with Twitter on the iPod Touch. I’m using the free version, but there’s a paid version that offers more options. So far, I haven’t found the free version to be lacking anything critical. (free)
Okay, so dish – what are the iPhone/iPod Touch apps that I’ll love?
photo by odolphie
6 comments on “Tell Me Your Favorite iPhone Apps”
Late in commenting here…
I have an iPod Touch also. I recently discovered a way to use a mic with the iPod Touch by using the Earphones with Remote & Mic from Apple. There may also be other earphones out there with a mic but these are the only ones I am aware of (except another Apple option which is much more expensive). I can do voice memos with these earphones (and attached mic) so I am assuming would also be able to use Skype and Shazam with these earphones.
For an alarm clock option, I use Night Stand.
For games, I like Sol Free, Sudoku, Tangram Pro, Pathways, Pac-Man lite, Topple, Bouncedown, Rat on Run (they were all free when I downloaded them – not sure if they are all free now).
I also second Sara’s suggestion on Air Sharing. I think it is one of the most useful apps out there. It really came in handy when preparing for my trip last summer. I was able to download all the info I would have printed in the past.
Thanks so much for the WordReference Italian English Dictionary recommendation.
These are great suggestions, thanks, folks. Unfortunately, Trisha, with an iPod Touch instead of an iPhone things like phone calls on Skype & Shazam don’t work (no mic on the Touch). But I’m looking forward to checking out the other ones y’all listed. 🙂
Oh, Sara, I downloaded GlobeConvert already, and it’s full of all those conversions between metric & whatever the heck we use in the US – excellent app, I’ve already used it a few times for work.
Don’t forget Skype – when you’re on a wifi network you can use it to make free calls (and save your cell minutes)….I also use FlightTrack (both the free and paid versions), iGasUp to find local gas stations when I’m in unfamiliar places, iCarPark because now that I’m a blonde I tend to forget where I parked my car, I use Shazam for when I hear a song I like but don’t know what it is, and of course I use Yelp all the time…..
Hi!
Feed Me! (Italian): App for kids to learn / repeat Italian
Stanza: reading books (Gutenberg)
Photoshop Mobile
Games: BeeCellsLite, StoneLoops!Lite, PushyLite
Useful: WhatKnot
Kind regards,
Bettina
Sigh. Where do I begin? 🙂
Air Sharing – you can put PDFs / other docs on your iTouch (think: a Google Map of your destination, flight reservations, etc.) – great for when there’s no wifi around.
Units (there are other similar) a great app for Americans, especially as you can convert kilograms / kilometers / miles / etc. on the fly. Also does currency with the last known exchange rate (can update it with wifi).
You will love Ambiance – it’s a noise generator, and I bet it would be a good option for you if you need a nap somewhere and don’t have your machine with you 🙂
Not sure you can get to the Italian radio apps, but try Radio 105 and iDeejay.
Fun to try and have iphone versions of your favorite sites/apps:
Tweetdeck for iPhone, NPR News, Facebook, Flickr, Adobe Photoshop (PS Mobile), IMDB, Bing, Dopplr, Wikipedia.
I don’t play many games but I like Skee-Ball and Paper Toss. I find Pumpkin Lite (make Jack-o-lantern faces) is a good one if you have to entertain kids.
My ereader apps, but I have an entire URL for that…you know where.
Just a few to get you started.
Easy
Scrabble!