My Fav iPhone Apps, Episode 2

Ok. It's been a while since I last posted some iPhone app reviews. And many of my friends are asking me what my fav's are. Well, guess what? They've changed since August. :) This is a good reminder as to how superfluous technology can be. And yet I still chase it. :) Some of the current apps I really don't see how I lived without. And I am literally close to my limit of not being able to add any more apps to my phone. Pretty crazy, huh.

So, here they are. My 2009 iPhone App Review (thus far):

Apps I Use Everyday

Things
Things has become my life vest. Ask my wife. I am NOT a multi-tasker. In fact, I am often dubbed the Uni-Tasker. And being a "one window open at a time guy" has been very stressful for me at work where I am asked to wear multiple, multiple hats each day. I would constantly get stressed out because I couldn't remember what I was supposed to do next..and where I was in the process of different projects. Come along many apps that are based on the GTD (Getting Things Done) time and project management system. This system combined with a desktop and iPhone app that sync have now brought perfect peace and contentment in my life. Ok, not perfect. But they've alleviated much anxiety.

I have tried many of the GTD apps. I was using OmniFocus and liked it a lot. There are so many features/options in OF. But it was a bit too much for me actually. I would spend more time analyzing what folder to create and where to put stuff than I did doing work. :) So, I switched to Things.

Things is very, very simple. And very nice to look at. It's amazing how much I will not use an app just b/c it is visually unappealing...and how much more I gravitate to a product if it looks good. I mean...if I'm going to be looking at it every day, I want to look at nice stuff. But Things is much more than just pretty. It is extremely functional. It has allowed me to categorize my work and order my day. It syncs fluidly and quickly with my Macbook Pro (OF was a bit clunky and frustrating at times). Things is a God-send.

QContacts
I like being able to get to my contacts numbers as fast as possible. And particularly for texting, I hate having to scroll through and find the contact I want. So, enter QContacts. This app lets you type in a few letters and immediately have the ability to text, email, or call the contacts that come up. Why don't I just use the scrolling "find the letter" feature in Contacts? Well, perhaps b/c I have so many things on my phone, that scrolling thing is just too herky jerky and slow. QContacts is pretty quick.

Twitterfon
If you are a Twitter person, this is THE app imho for the iPhone. And it's free. Since adding the ability to retweet, follow people, review public replies in conversation style (even many paid Twitter clients don't have this), I have stopped using my other free and paid Twitter apps. There are no ads either. I don't know how this guy does it.

Bible
Still a staple in my library. They continue to add features, too. Multiple translations (including The Message, NIV, and ESV)(the ones I use the most), public commentaries, a daily reading plan, and free. I used to pay about 40 bucks to get the Bible on my Treo.

Mint.com
If you don't use mint.com (the website), you should. It is the best financial software out there (again, imho). I used Quicken for a while and even Money. But I switched from Quicken to Mint about six months ago. Unlike Quicken, Mint is online (although Quicken is starting that service, too). It basically funnels all of your financial transactions and balances (credit cards, bank accts, stock, you name it) to one website. What I like with Mint: Customizable Budgets on the front page (with Q, I'd have to keep generating reports), online viewing (with Q, I'd have to send reports to my wife each month. Now she just checks herself online), customizable categories (a new feature), and great customer support. Oh, and I don't have to keep updating each year to get new features. Mint is totally free.

And, the iPhone app (which I waited a long time for) did not disappoint. You can quickly view your budgets, transactions, balances, you name it. You can't edit or alter anything (say, create a budget or add custom categories) on it. You have to do that mint.com. But it is very cool for their first edition. And these guys are smart. They will not keep things static.

Gas Cubby, MileBug, and AccuFuel
These three apps are great. Gas Cubby and AccuFuel help you keep track of your gas mileage and repair logs (I'm always wondering stuff like, "When did I get that tire fixed last?") on your car. Great apps. Check 'em out. MileBug helps you keep track of business mileage.

AppSniper
If you LOVE iPhone apps, this program is for you. It will tell you what apps just came out, which apps came down in price recently, and even let you "target" an app (tell you when an app has come down to a certain price). I check this thing daily. :)

Dashbuster
Lets me change my Blockbuster (or Netflix) queue on the fly. You can also browse new releases, etc on it. Great to do before hitting the store and wasting a half hour.

USAToday
This has turned into even my best Sports app. I use Sportacular as well. But USA's interface is nicer to look at and just as good.

Other Cool Apps

Craigsearch
Check Craigs on the run. Used it to hop on and buy a great deal on an entry table and lamp. Might've missed it if I was back at home (probably not the end of the world if I did). :) This is free. I also use Craigsmobile (1.99 at the time I wrote this).

Wikipanion
What was the name of that actor? Movie? Politician? etc. Great for getting on the spot info. And free.

SnapTell
This one's pretty cool. Take a pic of a dvd, book, or cd. It will recognize the cover and tell you how much that item is online and locally. Amazing.

CoffeeFinder, Target, AroundMe, Yelp
GPS retail services finders

Flight Status
Best flight checker I've found. If you're out and about and need to know if your friend is coming in on time, this is for you.

ClickonRadio
Will give you the song list from the last hour of your local stations (if you don't have XM and can't see what song is on).

Time, ESPN, DirecTV, Flickr
Four of the best web apps out there (besides New Valley Church)

Others I Still Like

Amazon
Ambiance
Drinks Free
All Recipes
I Can Has Cheezburger
Evernote
Grocery IQ (Best Grocery List maker)
Slydial (Leave a voicemail for someone w/o having to talk to them) :)
Connect (Call any company and get past their automated system to talk to a real person)
Sunrise (&Sunset times)
Shovel (Best Digg client)
SitorSquat (Find the closest bathroom)
Brightkite (Like Loopt but a bit cooler)
Palringo (if you want to IM)
Email Contact (to email a..well..you get it)

Can you tell I like my iPhone? 9 dots at the bottom just isn't enough! :) Hope you enjoyed this. Leave a comment if you read it or if you've got an app you think is cool. Thx.