iPhone for Dummies

I've got to tell you, I always thought the iPhone was cool, but unnecessary. But one of my (new/big) customers wanted/needed me to have email access during the day, so I got one.

Wow. It's super easy to use, which I figured. But it's even easier and better than I expected.

The GPS software alone is incredible.

So far I've downloaded the following apps: facebook, Yelp, OpenTable, Fandango, NYTimes, Google, Pandora, and Kindle for iPhone.

I had never even heard of Pandora, but it's cool as shit. The Times app formats their site really well for the iPhone, and the Kindle eReader looks great too.

I realize I probably sound like your grandfather the first time he saw a supermarket scanner, but I'm excited.

If you haven't thought about getting one, you should look into it.

 

Pandora is creepy good when it pulls up some random song you've always liked but seems to have nothing to do with the songs you've inputted.

 

I Heart Radio is a favorite of mine. Not as many stations as I'd like, but it's cool to listen to some different ones around the country.
ESPN's Scorecenter is a must-have. Pandora is awesome. Scan the free apps once in a while and see if there's anything you like. Lots of apps even have "lite" versions that are free.
One thing, though. I have the iPod Touch (basically the same functions as the iPhone, just without the phone part) and playing games drains the battery in a hurry. If you're playing a time waster for any length of time (45 minutes to an hour does it on mine) keep your eye on the battery icon.

 

Must-have's: Facebook, Tweetdeck, ESPN Scorecenter, ConvertBot (I got it for free, plenty of free converters available), a document viewer/sharer like QuickOffice or Air Sharing, Yellow Pages.

Games: Tiger Woods is really well done, there are plenty of free card games, I've been playing a free puzzle game called Toobz for a year and am not bored of it. Basically, name a game you like and there's probably a well-done version of it for the iPod.

Agreed on the battery thing. Bought a charger for my wife's iPod Touch last month that uses AAA batteries, which is great on, say, a plane because you can carry as many AAA's as you'll need for the flight or buy more if you run out.

 

Facebook
twittelator pro
wordpress
MLB
kayak (travel planning)
imdb

best games
Rolando
Shufflepuck
tiger woods strip golf... Oh wait...

 

There's a wall charger, too, that costs around $25 that's pretty good. My iPod goes from under 20 percent to around 90 percent in an hour or so. It also has the cable to charge off the computer, and you can use it while it's plugged into the wall.

 

I have a wall charger or computer at home, my Mac's USB port at work, a USB cigarette adapter in the car and the AAA battery thing on a plane. I'm covered.
Also handy - a USB extension cable for when I'm charging through the wall charger but still want to play games before going to sleep.

 

Most of the main ones have been covered, but I would like to add NewsAddict, it links you to just about every major newspaper or news entity that you could ever want. saves from having to download different papers or bookmarking other newsites.

Also, as far as games go, Need For Speed Shift is freaking amazing.

 

As for charging it on a plane, I have two of these....

http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Battery-Extender-Charger-iPhone/dp/B0018DKODQ

They work pretty well. You charge 'em up via USB in advance, then plug 'em into the phone and it gives another 3-4 hours of juice.

 

bump (amazing how fast you can exchange info with someone)
trivia wars
yelp
the weather channel
ebay

 

Amazon's app is pretty useful. And it's been mentioned already, but I cannot stress enough how good the MLB app is.