Developers Discover the hottest app in town
GOOD WEEKEND’S EXPERT PANEL PICKS THE DIGITAL HELPERS YOU JUST CAN’T DO WITHOUT
Searching for a happening wine bar, or a cafe with Wi-Fi? Want to read a good book or learn how to cook? Need to check your pulse or balance your budget? Look no further than your smartphone … and our selection of 100 apps you soon won’t be able to do without.
Oh, what a brave new world we live in. Who knew that one day we’d be using our mobile phones to do everything from scanning barcodes to checking our heart rates?
Apple currently has more than 350,000 applications available, with more than 10 billion downloads to date. Then there are the apps compatible with Android, Blackberry, Windows and Nokia devices.
To help you sort the gold from the dross, we have created a list of the best 100 apps to enhance the life of the modern phone, iPod touch or tablet user. We brought together a panel of five experts from around the country – researchers, developers, editors and commentators – all of whom are not only in the business, but use apps every day. They’ve each listed their five personal favourites, and helped select the remaining 75.
Because we wanted to focus on utility – apps that make life easier, not just more fun – the panel omitted most games, apart from the juggernauts Words With Friends and Angry Birds. As for sport, most of the major sporting associations (such as the AFL, English Premier League and Cricket Australia) have good official apps, so, for the sake of space, we’ve omitted those but pointed you to some others that also do it well.
We’ve also made no mention of the many excellent magazine and newspaper apps out there (such as The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s new iPad apps) as they’re relatively self-explanatory and easily found through the various app platforms.
NEWS, INFORMATION and BOOKS
FLUENT NEWS
iPad/iPhone, FREE
“Late-breaking news headlines from a diversity of sources, from Fox News to Al Jazeera and everything in between. In-depth opinion pieces and analysis by publications such as The Economist make great reading and you can download the content when you are online and read it offline at your leisure.” – Christine Satchell
MAKE USE OF
Android/iPad/iPhone, FREE
“The best place to find out anything to do with technology, and the many ways in which we attempt to engage with it. A quick visit is almost impossible, though, as one is instantly distracted by the ‘cool websites’ and how-to features.” CS
POCKET WEATHER AU
iPad/iPhone, $2.49
Yes, the iPhone does come with an inbuilt weather app, but it fails miserably in the detail stakes. This sources weather info directly from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and includes the latest synoptic charts, rain radars and national satellite pictures. One for all those weather geeks out there, with an ultra-slick design, too.
STANZA
iPad/iPhone, FREE
A good-looking, easy-to-use e-reader much like Amazon’s Kindle app, except that Stanza isn’t affiliated with a dedicated e-book store. It’s the most customisable e-reader app out there, and offers both free (Dickens, Freud or Fitzgerald, anyone?) and paid books from a variety of different stores.
iBOOKS
iPad/iPhone, FREE
Like Stanza, this allows you to download books to your iPhone or iPad. Titles are stored on a bookshelf, so you can peruse your very own virtual library.
ABC IVIEW
iPad, FREE
“Owners of iPads have learnt to put up with the inconvenience of not being able to view videos made in the Flash format. Thankfully, that’s changing as more publishers deliver their offerings in iPad-friendly formats. ABC iView was one of the first and is still one of the best, with a range of catch-up TV and other back-catalogue shows all up for grabs.” Stephen Hutcheon
FLUD
iPad/iPhone, FREE
A sophisticated news reader, Flud is able to learn what you regularly read online and provide customised content whenever you log on. Just select an article from one of the many personalised news feeds on offer.
IMDB
Android/iPad/iPhone, FREE
You know the score: IMDb is a behemoth collection of film, TV and celeb info. But the app also lets you search show times near you, watch trailers, browse photo galleries and share movie info. We especially love the Best Picture winners list.
EVERPAPER
Android, FREE
It’s the Instapaper client for Android phones and works in the same way, allowing you to cut and curate all the stories you find online.
TRAVEL AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
THE THOUSANDS CITY GUIDE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Hipsters rejoice! You can seek out the cool crowd across the country with these guides to the trendiest places in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
ART GUIDE AUSTRALIA
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Pick a location and this app tells you what exhibitions are on near you, as well as giving an alphabetical list of artists exhibiting each month and galleries in your state.
NAVFREE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“You can’t complain about a free GPS navigation app. It’s not perfect, but it has a lot of the same features that the paid apps have and is easy to use.” – Andrew Fergusson
TRAPSTER
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia, FREE
Users submit speed traps, cameras and hazards to the app, alerting Trapster users in the area. A bit more high tech than flashing your headlights at oncoming cars.
GOOGLE PLACES
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“This map-based app lets you check out restaurants, shops and pubs with review snippets. Nice way to explore a new city, or get supplies in a hurry.” – Katie Cincotta
GOOGLE EARTH
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“This is a product I’ve enjoyed from its very first days when it was just a free PC download. That so much geospatial detail can be at your fingertips blows me away. Google have done a great job ‘app-ifying’ the desktop program.” -Stephen Hutcheon
WIKIHOOD
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Just like a tour guide, only far less irritating, this app pinpoints your geographic location and combines it with Wikipedia facts to show you important sites, historic events that took place nearby, famous folk linked to the area and other bits of fascinating trivia.
AROUNDME
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Like Google Places, with this you discover the points of interests around you, from museums to the nearest post office. Useful for both out-of-towners and busy locals.
KAYAK
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia, FREE
“Useful for booking last-minute travel on the run. Just watch out for the horrendous global-roaming charges.” CS
TRiPadVISOR
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia/WINDOWS PHONE, FREE
“The pocket version of travel bible TriPadvisor, with access to user reviews of hotels, restaurants and tours. Like a recommendation from a friend on steroids.” KC
GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Translate words and phrases from more than 50 languages, most allowing you to speak the phrase for the translation. Que fácil!
FOURSQUARE
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/ Nokia/WINDOWS PHONE, FREE
The ultimate way to keep up to date with what’s going on around you. Stalk your friends, get insider tips and earn points and rewards for discovering new places.
MOTIONX GPS
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $3.99
GPS for outdoorsy types, this offers four elements of navigation from street, topography, marine and cycle maps. One person, Martin Edström, has used it to log his journey through the Himalayas as part of the Saving Mount Everest Project, but it’s also useful in far less ambitious endeavours.
HEALTH and FITNESS
CALORIE COUNTER PRO
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $4.99
Key in your target weight and get a daily calorie limit, which users can monitor using a database of more than 300,000 foods and an inbuilt barcode scanner for unknown foods. Also includes a pedometer and daily analysis of your food diary.
NIKE+ GPS
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“A great app for the serious runner. There are a stack of cool screens and visuals, all driven by the data you create when you go out for a run. You can map your runs, brag to your friends and family and set goals and targets.” SH
INSTANT HEART RATE
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $1.19
Get an accurate heart-rate reading by putting the tip of your index finger on the smartphone’s camera. If you don’t have a phone with a flash, you need to be somewhere well lit for it to work.
COUCH TO 5K
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $3.99
“I have to admit that I’m the non-runner in the family, but I’m hearing lots of good things about this app. The perfect plan to get someone who is exercise-averse off their butt, out of the house and onto the mean streets. The settings, social-networking links and the integration with your music collection are all designed to swing even the most recalcitrant jogger into action.” SH
COMMUNICATION
POSTINO
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/WINDOWS PHONE, FREE
“This app is the perfect blend of analogue meets digital. You can take a photo from your smartphone, then send a physical postcard of that photo straight to your grandma in England.” AF
VIBER
iPhone, FREE
An iPhone app that lets you make free phone calls to other iPhone users who have Viber installed. “A good alternative to Skype that seems to integrate better with the way people use their phones. It utilises your contacts list to tell you who else is using it and also receives calls when the app isn’t active.” AF
DRAGON DICTATION
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
A surprisingly accurate talk-to-type tool that records your spoken words as text, then sends them via email or text, or copies them to your clipboard. Leaves you with no excuse for texting while driving.
BUMP
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“Bump two phones together and you can pass on contact details, photos, music and apps. Great if you’ve run out of business cards.” – KC
WI-FI FINDER
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Whether in the nearest Macca’s, cafe or bookstore, this searches and finds public free and paid Wi-Fi hot spots near you, anywhere in the world. Can filter by venue types and providers.
AIR SHARING
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $3.99
Turns your iPhone into a wireless, external hard drive that you can connect to your email, website or home computer. If you’re greedy for even more space, you can pay $8.99 for the Pro version.
TOUCH MOUSE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Lets you use your iPhone as a wireless touch pad, mouse or keyboard with your computer, so you don’t have to get up from the couch to write that pesky email. It does require you to download and install the app on your PC as well, but that’s relatively simple.
TUNEIN RADIO PRO
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $1.19
Uses live streaming to bring you more than 40,000 radio stations from all around the world, which can be recorded, paused and rewound. Search station by genre, language or location.
PHOTOGRAPHY
SILENT FILM DIRECTOR
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $1.19
Channelling your inner Charlie Chaplin has never been so much fun, or so easy. Choose effects including sepia, ’60s home video and ’20s movie to shoot footage that you can then edit, slow down, and add soundtracks and title cards to.
CROSS PROCESS
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $2.49
“Provides glorious filters to your images by emulating the look of cross-processed film, turning out photographs with a luxurious, retro or black-and-white effect.” CS
HIPSTAMATIC
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $2.49
“As great as phone cameras are, they are still phone cameras. So photo-effects apps have taken off in a big way, and I reckon this is still one of the best. It has a nice analogue touch of choosing the film and flash types you want to use.” -AF
FOTOPEDIA HERITAGE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Explore the world without leaving your bedroom. Pick a location on Fotopedia’s map and browse a selection of pics from the app’s database of more than 25,000 photos of UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as links to information about each destination. Users can also upload their own photos.
PHOTOGENE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $3.99/$2.49
There are so many reasons to love the iPhone, but the inbuilt camera just isn’t one of them. PhotoGene lets you crop, adjust and add fun effects to less-than-snazzy snaps, either ones from your library or taken using the app’s inbuilt camera.
360 PANORAMA
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $1.19
“Microsoft’s Photosynth app was the first one to market with its free 360-degree photo app, but 360 Panorama does a better job of it. The photos are like for like, but 360’s capture-and-display method is far superior. All you have to do is rotate your iPhone in a circle and the software stitches the images together for you.” -SH
PHOTO BOOTH CLASSIC
PLUS iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $2.49
Lets you re-create vintage black-and-white or colour photo-booth strips. All you have to do is push the shoot button and decide which silly faces to pull.
LIFESTYLE
JOTNOT
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $0.99
A document scanner that is far superior to taking a photo. It allows you to process images in batches to create a black-and-white PDF and send back-up scans to your computer from iTunes. It can be used for anything from keeping a copy of a magazine recipe to committing corporate espionage (not that we’re advocating that, of course).
WIKI HOW
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia, FREE
“Provides information about a cross-section of situations that will be more relevant to some users than others. If you are concerned with knowing what to do when ‘you are about to collide with a moose or deer’, ‘need to control a spooked camel’, or ‘deal with police at a party’, this app is for you.” -CS
iCOOKING LITTLE CHEFS
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $1.99
“They already know how to use your iPhone better than you do; now teach them to cook.” -CS
EPICURIOUS
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“My one big beef with this beautiful recipe/cooking app is that it all comes in non-metric measurements. The addition of a setting to turn pounds into kilos and pints into millilitres would make what is already a great app into an awesome one. Beautiful photos, easy-to-follow instructions and intuitive navigation. All you need is a spatter-proof cover for your iPad.” -SH
EYETV
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $5.99
“There is one big catch to this app – you also have to have the tuner stick that is made by the same company, Elgato. Once that’s in place you can turn your iPad or iPhone into a second (or third, or fourth) TV screen. The app can literally channel free-to-air TV from your Mac to your i-device. It even works over 3G.” -SH
WIKIPEDIA MOBILE
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/IPOD TOUCH/Nokia, FREE
There are different versions of this app depending on the device, but one thing remains the same across all platforms: users can settle arguments faster than ever.
SHOP STYLE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Saves so much time by aggregating shopping content into one portal. Tailors searches to your sizing and nabs you the best bargains by comparing prices from loads of websites.
YOOX.COM
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“A gorgeous app for browsing and buying the coolest international fashion brands right from your mobile. The app itself is as luxurious as the brands it sells and the front-and-back garment perspective gives you a good idea of what your item of clothing will look like on you, once you have bought it.” -CS
RED LASER
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“Quite a nifty little app that allows you to scan the barcode of items and tell you the price of them. Useful for when you come across something in store and you want to see if it’s cheaper online.” -AF
iTUNES REMOTE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“I’m sure some people use this app to control their music. A much more fun way to use it, however, is to mess with your work colleagues’ volume when their headphones are on.” -AF
DISCOVR MUSIC
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $1.19
“This Australian-made music app gives beautiful interactive visualisations of musicians and their connections. It presents users with a wealth of information about artists and bands, and links through to their songs on YouTube. You can spend hours dragging, poking and playing with the bubbles – all of it driven by some smart-alec algorithm quietly crunching data in the background.” -SH
CRACKLE
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“Just launched by Sony, this free app features ad-supported movies, TV series and made-for-web ‘mobisodes’. It’s a promising start but it’s not [online US video service] Hulu. If you missed Mo, Larry and Curly in The Three Stooges the first time around, here’s your chance to catch up. And the movie catalogue seems to be mostly drawn from offerings from the ’70s.” -SH
THE SMH GOOD FOOD GUIDE 2011
iPad/iPhone/ iPod touch, $4.99
Carrying The Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide in your iPhone is pretty convenient and it allows you to book straight from the review.
TED
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia/WINDOWS PHONE, FREE
Organisation TED (Technology, Education and Design) have made it their mission to spread innovative ideas with inspiring talks from some of the world’s greatest thinkers. The TED app lets users watch the talks in any location. Now that’s innovative.
SPORT
FOOTY LITE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
If you can’t get to the game or sneak out to the nearest TV, keep up with the latest AFL round with regular hits of the latest news, statistics and live score updates. It has great player profiles, too – if you are at the game, you can compare the relative heights and weights of the battling full-forwards.
NRL LIVE SCORES LEAGUE NOW
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
The NRL footy tipster’s friend. Find out the latest injuries, weather conditions and betting odds, not to mention up-to-the-minute score updates.
LIVESCORE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
When you’re in the wrong hemisphere, this app is vital for score updates from overseas football games. Also includes tennis, hockey and basketball live-score updates.
RUGBY HEAVEN SUPER RUGBY
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
It’s hard to keep up with how many teams are in the Super Rugby competition these days, let alone everything else. Rugby Heaven’s Super Rugby app keeps rugby fans organised with their team’s latest statistics, news, player profiles, fixtures and results.
iCRICKET
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
One of the most popular cricket apps for the iPhone. Not only do you get score updates, news and statistics, users can play Fantasy Cricket on the latest version.
UTILITIES
iHANDY LEVEL
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Don’t you hate it when you can’t find your spirit level? It’s one of five tools in the iHandy Carpenter Toolkit, so now you can deal with those annoying, crooked paintings any time.
COMPASS
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia, $1.19
“A nifty geo-app that displays and moves like a real compass. Comes in handy for real-estate copywriting when I need to list orientation for a house like ‘north-facing natural light on the deck’.” -KC
CONSUME
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“Initially, it’s a pain to plug in all your account numbers and PINs, but then you can keep track of your usage and spending on everything from your mobile and home phone bills, to your broadband data usage and frequent flyer points via the graphs.” -KC
BUDGET
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $1.19
A way of mending those darned holes in your pockets. Key in income and expenses – via categories
including entertainment, clothing, gas and rent – and graphs show where you’re forking out most.
SOUNDHOUND
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia, FREE
Identify songs in as little as four seconds or simply say or type in the name of an artist to get instant access to their catalogue. Compared to Shazam, SoundHound really goes that extra mile in finding lyrics and YouTube videos of songs. Users can pay $6.99 for the advertisement-free version.
FIND MY iPhone
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Left your phone at the pub? Write it a “please return to owner” message remotely and it will pop up on the display screen. Know it’s in the house somewhere but just can’t find it? Access the online map from your home computer to see exactly where it is, then command it to play a sound. Know it’s been stolen? Set PINs and wipe the phone remotely. Dropped it in the toilet? Sorry, can’t help you there.
SNARL TRAFFIC
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
Locates you on a map (provided you’re in Victoria, NSW or Queensland), then marks nearby traffic incidents, helping you to avoid gridlock and road rage. Tap camera icons to view of-the-moment traffic photos of selected streets.
JUST FOR FUN
TYPE WHILE WALKING
iPhone, $1.19
This is the app that every busy city worker needs. Users can SMS and send emails while their device’s camera keeps an eye on what’s coming up – walk and text, accident-free.
SLEEP MACHINE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $2.49
“Who needs sleeping pills when you can drift off to sleep to sounds such as ‘Beach: waves lapping on the shore’, or ‘Waterfall: Hawaii’? ‘Rain with distant thunder’ is very effective at muffling the sound of someone snoring.” -CS
SOUNDS OF ACTION
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
As the name suggests, this creates the best sounds from action movies – from bar fights to kung fu fighting. Pointless, but wild.
HANDWRITING MAIL
FREE iPad, FREE
When a text message just isn’t enough, HandWriting Mail Free lets you use your finger to quickly jot down personal handwritten notes or pretty pictures, before shooting them off to friends (or, indeed, foes) via email, Facebook or Twitter.
HEYTELL
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
A walkie talkie for adults. Just press the “speak” button and send an instant voice message to any contacts who also have the app. For $2.49, you can buy a voice changer that makes you sound like a creepy robot, or a pitch-perfect singer.
ANGRY BIRDS
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia, $1.19
(the only game we are including, just because.)
“It is just a really easy way to kill a few minutes here and there (usually while waiting for the train). Yes, it is addictive and mindless, but that is why it appeals to me.” -CB
EMOJI FREE!
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“Gives you a range of symbols and icons to add to your text messages, for example: happy, smiley faces, skiers, hot dogs and cocktails. Once you install this app there is pretty much an icon for every situation.” -CS
GOOGLE SKY MAP
Android, FREE
Stargazing for the 21st century. Point your camera to the night sky and this app will identify the stars, planets and constellations.
PANELLISTS’ TOP FIVE PICKS
CHRISTINE SATCHELL
SHOP ETHICAL!
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $3.99
“This gives background information on the parent companies of more than 2800 products. I can make an ethically informed decision about what I buy based on a wide range of criteria from animal cruelty to the support of oppressive military regimes.”
SLEEP CYCLE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $1.19
“This monitors sleep movement to wake you up in the morning when you’re in a light (rather than a deep) sleep phase. It can also produce a data stream of your sleep patterns during the night.”
TOMTOM
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $89.99
“Google Maps always took great delight in proposing a roundabout way to my destination. In the end, the allure of an app that would get me where I wanted to go as seamlessly as possible was enough to convince me to fork out for the TomTom.”
TRIPCASE
Android/ Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“One for frequent flyers, this keeps you up to date on delayed departure times, and you can email your e-ticket to the app and it will populate your TripCase database with all the relevant information about your journey. You can share your itinerary through your phone or social media.”
XTCASSETTE
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $2.49
“By Melbourne designer Smurfo. Create playlists on the run from your iTunes music library and customise the aesthetics of the cassette case to reflect the style of your mega-mix! Gorgeous graphics and seamless integration of music content.”
STEPHEN HUTCHEON
INSTAPAPER
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $5.99
“Allows you to time-shift your reading by letting you clip and store articles you find on the web. You can share this list with others, sub-categorise and pick your favourites. Now all it needs to do is find you the time to read them all.”
DROPBOX
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“Gives you access to your files on the fly. Pop it onto your home or work PC/laptop and download it for the iPad and, voilà, you can access your bits and pieces from any device. Eliminates the need to carry around a USB drive or email yourself your files.”
GOODREADER
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $5.99
“Another really useful utility that can store documents in their native format (PDFs, etc) in one central place for future reference rather than leave them as attachments, dangling from an email. Comes with an excellent file-management interface.”
PAGES
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $12.99
“While there are many alternatives to Apple’s own word-processing app for the iPad, Pages is still my favourite. While the iPad is not ideal for typing – especially on the virtual keyboard – you almost certainly need at least one word-processing app. This one has many extras for formatting, etc, and complements the full Mac version nicely.”
INSTAGRAM
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“A photo-sharing app that’s become quite the rage in recent months because (a) it’s free, and (b) it comes with a suite of filters that allow you to remake your photo with a retro finish from the ’50s, ’60s or ’70s, then share it with the world either through the app’s own social network or through Twitter and Facebook.”
KATIE CINCOTTA
KINDLE
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPOD TOUCH/Nokia/WINDOWS PHONE, FREE
“Let’s me read on the run. Syncs with my Kindle to bring me to exactly the page I’m up to in my book. Great if you’re stuck in a doctor’s waiting room.”
WORDS WITH FRIENDS
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $3.99
“A mobile version of Scrabble. Highly addictive. There’s a free version if you’re happy to put up with ads after each move.”
URBANSPOON
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“User-based restaurant reviews, which you can search by location, cuisine, price or a pokies-style mystery ‘shake’. I recently discovered a great new gourmet pizza spot after they made one of the app’s “Top 5″ lists for Melbourne.”
SHAZAM
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPOD TOUCH/Nokia/WINDOWS PHONE, FREE
“Genius app that names a tune and artist, using an inbuilt tagging system. Give it a five-second grab of the music and it’ll deliver the goods (well, most of the time).”
DICTIONARY.COM
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPOD TOUCH/Nokia, FREE
“Beats lugging around the 1392-page Macquarie. Also gives you a ‘word of the day’ when you load up.”
CHARLIE BROWN
SKYPE
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch/Nokia, FREE
“This allows me to get cheap communication to everywhere, from the office to a camera crew filming a tech event on the other side of the world. It is cheap, fast communication and, now that it works easily on 3G networks on most platforms, it is getting easier to use as a primary- connection platform.”
TWITTER
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPOD TOUCH/Nokia/WINDOWS PHONE, FREE
“I can’t research without Twitter any more. The app is fast and easy to use in my downtime.”
MAPS
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“I know a maps app is on every smartphone, but the live traffic feature on this is used before I plan every trip in the car. Slow traffic shows as a yellow line and “stop/start” traffic as a red line. I have on occasion parked the car and caught the train after seeing a number of red lines around my destination.”
XE CURRENCY
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“As I have a young family, I can no longer justify jumping on a plane and flying across the world to attend the launch of a new gadget, so I pay freelance camera crews in those locations to film the launch for me. I use XE’s app to check the currency-exchange rate, which seems to change daily.”
SPEEDTEST.NET
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“All mobile providers tell me they have a fantastic network, with fast download speeds and strong coverage. With this little app I run frequent tests around Sydney (and the rest of Australia), which tells me which network is best.”
ANDREW FERGUSSON
TWEETDECK
Android/iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
A useful app for checking your Twitter and Facebook updates from one place. It’s great being able to segment different groups into columns, so you don’t have to mix business with pleasure.”
FACEBOOK
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPOD TOUCH/Nokia/WINDOWS PHONE, FREE
“I like this app because they’ve managed to make it feel really simple, while still including all the Facebook features I want to use.”
WHATSAPP MESSENGER
Android/Blackberry/iPad/iPhone/iPOD TOUCH/Nokia, $1.19
“A great, simple instant-message program that works with your existing contacts list to show you who’s using it. It’s a quick, free way to keep in touch with mates overseas.”
ABC AT THE MOVIES
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, FREE
“I’m a big fan of David and Margaret, so I got this app for the reviews, but found
it was jam-packed full of useful stuff like session times and movie news as well. It’s great content, but not as user-friendly as it could be.”
ZENBE LISTS
iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, $5.99
“There isn’t a built-in to-do list on the iPhone, so I use Zenbe Lists to keep my life in check. You can sort and prioritise all your lists, as well as share important ones.”