Pandora iPhone App Screenshot

Whether you’re looking to track your finances, plan a trip, find something to eat or listen to some tunes Apple has you covered when it comes to apps.  Since its set up to deliver music the iPhone is great when it comes to tune related apps.  It’s no wonder they are some of the most popular amongst the tens of thousands out there.

Using my extensive expertise and devoting weeks of my existence to the task, I have complied what me, people around me and the iPhone community in general think are the best music related apps out there.  They are in no particular order and there is no accounting for taste.  I make no guarantees and offer no assurances.  If you don’t like it you can leave a comment telling me how stupid I am but I have a blog and you don’t so you’re going read every damn word I have written about it!

1. Pandora: Pandora is a website that learns from your musical likes and dislikes and streams music it thinks you will dig right to your desktop.  You can organize music into channels and vote on new songs they throw your way to help refine their future selections.  Most of the time it’s dead on; except for that time it try to add Luther Vandross to my Foo Fighters channel.  Seriously, Pandora? But I digress; Pandora’s app is a must have for the music lover as you can stream music wherever you go.  Even on the Edge network it’s pretty responsive.  Now you can waste time away from work listening t music also.
2. Cleartune: I have zero, let me repeat that with emphasis zero, musical talent.  For those that do and need to tune their guitars, woodwinds, brass or string instruments Cleartune allows you to knock out some notes and see what you need to do to get that music maker in tune.  Pretty cool app if you’re into that kind of stuff; I’m not.
3. Voice Memo: I downloaded Voice Memo to, wait for it, record voice memos but I guess people use it to record themselves singing.  Please see the above and note that I would never punish myself or the world by recording me singing but I can see how people would like this.  You can also email or share your creations over MMS.  Next stop, American Idol.
4. Shazam: This was the first app my wife downloaded and she loves it.  Shazam lets you hold your iPhone up to any music source and the app will identify the music.  In a classic capitalistic move you will also be given the chance to buy that song from iTunes but this app is extremely helpful.  Sometimes not knowing what the song is called or who it is by drives you up the wall.  If you’re stuck in the middle of a radio block the DJ might not mention it.  I’ve had days of flirting with lunacy because I could not figure a song out.  Shazam is a life saver and something fun to play with.
5. Ocarina: You might be shocked by this, but I spent a lot time playing Zelda when I was younger.  I know, I know I just don’t fit the bill right?  Well my favorite version of the Zelda saga was “Ocarina of Time.”  Our elf hero, Link, had to play different songs on his Ocarina, a flute like instrument, to warp through time and solve puzzles.  So when I saw this app I had to give it a run.  It’s pretty cool and mildly entertaining even after owning it for a few days.  You take your iPhone and blow into the microphone like it’s a real instrument.  You then move your fingers on the screen to make different notes.  You can play set songs or come up with your own jams.
6. Sirius XM Premium Online: If you have a paid subscription to Sirius or XM then this app is worth it.  You can get your favorite music and talk radio shows beamed right to your iPhone with this app. This way you make sure to listen to the Oparah channel all day; yeah, that’s right I don’t buy that you got Sirius just for Howard Stern!
7. Shoutcast: Why pay for satellite radio when you can get free radio stations streamed from around the world with the Shoutcast app.  This radio-streaming app brings music and talk of every kind right to your iPhone.  It’s pretty cool and has a lot of imitators in the app store.  While I can’t intelligently say anything about the others I have always used Shoutcast and dig it the most.  Rock on.
8. I am T-Pain: Do you ever wonder how no talent ass clowns become pop music icons?  It’s not because of talent; I will guarantee you that.  It’s technology stupid.  A decent producer can find a pretty face or train wreck of the month, have some songs written for them, slap some professional musicians and back up singers behind them and smooth it all over with computers.  If Paris Hilton can cut a track I’m pretty sure anyone can.  I can’t say I know a lot about T-Pain or his music but just like me you will be able to pick out that synthesized voice he has become “famous” for.  Basically, it’s the voice Stephen Hawking would pick if he wanted to sound cooler.  Personally I would shoot for a Barry White computer voice. Oh yeah.  Well with this app you can record your voice and manipulate it to sound just like this dude.  You can then send it to your friends and they too can marvel how this guy is a millionaire.
9. Guitar Toolkit: If you’re looking to learn one of the over 500,000 guitar chord variations out there then this app will help you along the way.  Just make sure to thank Apple and the app maker when you accept your Grammy for best heavy metal album of the year.

Oh, the seemingly endless music apps out there just go to show that we can never get enough of music, ourselves and the combination of the two.  Check these out if you haven’t already!

Photo Credits: David Berkowitz

Originally posted 2009-12-17 03:44:43.

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iPhone Apps that are a must.

Apple’s iPhone is more than just another cell phone; as millions of people have discovered.  The sky rocketing sales of the smart phone show that the device is more than just a fad or flash in the tech pan.  The iPhone combines style, functionality and a new level of technology never before seen in a phone configuration.  The iPhone has helped convert many non-believers into the Apple faithful and for good reason.

The iPhone has a laundry list of features that make it the best smart phone out there and that have sent its competitors back to the drawing board to crank out imitators to the crown.  Yet, the most impressive aspect of this new platform is the applications.  There are tens of thousands of apps out there covering anything and everything you could ever think of.  With more coming out everyday it’s hard to stay on top of what is worth your time installing and what should be passed up.  While Apple is great at many things searching for and finding new apps is not the easiest thing to do in their App Store.

I could write an encyclopedia about all the apps out there but instead of devoting my life to that I have decided to narrow it down a bit.  I’m the type of dude that has got his mind on his money and his money on his mind.  It’s no surprise then that I’m all about apps that help me keep my money in check and are finance related.  Here’s a list of my favorite, most popular and arguably the best money apps available on the iPhone.

1. Mint: The Mint app, from (you guessed it) Mint.com, takes all of your financial data and complies it in one place.  You can look at your checking, savings, mortgage, credit card and investment balances all at once.  It gives you a complete overview of where you stand financially all in one app.  This is killer if you’re all about simplicity and ease of use; which I am!
2. ATM Hunter: I try not to carry cash all that often because if I have it I tend to spend it.  Therefore, when I find myself in need of paper currency it’s nice to know where I can access some funds quickly.  I can use the ol’ iPhone to search out my bank’s locations or I can hit up this bad boy.  If you travel a lot or are planning to be somewhere you don’t know know the lay of the land then this app is great.  It would be cooler if it told you what ATMs you are more likely to get robbed at though.
3. Bank of America / Wells Fargo Banking Apps: I’m going to go ahead and lump these two together.  I am a WF account holder so I use theirs all the time.  I was sitting in my chiropractor’s office and realized that I hadn’t paid my mortgage and it was due the next day.  Before you can say “PCs suck” I had signed in, checked my checking balance and paid the mortgage.  A confirmation email came through on my Gmail app and I was all set.  Most large banks have these now but these two are the biggest.  If you’re a customer and an iPhone owner why wouldn’t you use this?
4. Tip Tap: This app allows for people to calculate tip with the click of a button.  This is one of the most popular apps out there so I had to include it, but honestly I don’t get it.  As long as you don’t take the slow bus to school or wear a helmet when you leave the house you should be able to figure out tip on a meal.  If it takes you longer to figure how much 20% (come on your cheap skate) of your Denny’s bill is than to pull out your iPhone and open and use this app then you have problems my friend.
5. E*Trade Mobile: E*Trade made their name and formed their business around the “retail”, or amateur, investor.  Day traders could jump into the markets all on their own with low commissions and sophisticated trading software.  Now they have extended this to iPhone users.  Trading on the go has never been so easy.
6. TheStreet.com: If you don’t know who Jim Cramer is then you must have been living under a rock for the last 5 years.  Jim is the bald headed psycho of the financial world who brings you CNBC’s “Mad Money” every night.  He also is an owner and contributor to online finance news service TheStreet.com.  With this app you get quotes, news articles and columnist’s opinions on all of your stocks.
7. Bloomberg Mobile: I use this in conjunction with TheStreet.com’s app to round out my financial data needs.  Bloomberg brings in political news that has an effect on the markets and offers a more global perspective than others.  I dig their style and scope.  If you’re serious about finance this app is a must.
8. Pay Pal: If you’ve ever used this payment system for sending money to someone or paying for an Ebay purchase then setting up the app is a must.  Pay Pal allows you to buy and sell goods all over the world with unprecedented security and peace of mind.  There is nothing like having all of that in your pocket.
9. Daily Finance: A lot of people like this app but I have my investment apps bases covered.  I played with it one day and it does all that you need: charts, news quotes, portfolio tracking and what not.  I think it’s so popular because it’s free, easy to use and the app that is shown on the new iPhone commercial when they mention money apps.  That goes a long way in getting people to download it.
10. Quicken Online: I don’t use Quicken on my personal computer but I know a lot of people that do.  The couple that have iPhones have downloaded and gave this app a whirl and they love it.  You can sync the two through the online function so any budget, transaction history or anything else you have cooking.

The iPhone app world is awash in tens of thousands of apps.  Many of them are great while some are pointless.  It seems like every programmer out there is trying to make his name or a quick buck coming up with the next fad.  Money and the obsession of keeping track of your Benjamins will never go out of style though.  If you want to stay on top of your finance and out of the bread lines then check out these apps.

Photo Credits: marcopako 

Originally posted 2010-01-05 03:39:06.

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iPod Touch

I personally hate shopping and I loathe shopping during the holiday season.  I’d rather be buried up to my head next to an ant hill and have honey dumped on me than stand in line outside of a Wal-Mart to bust through the doors to save $20 bucks on a TV.  Like most things in my life I find procrastination helps a bit.  By waiting until about a week before Christmas, or sooner (my personal best was December 23^rd), I find that most of the bargain hunters and uber-shoppers are done.

This year I am prepared though.  Not only am I going to implement my standard shopping procrastination strategy but I am going to harness the awesome power of my iPhone to help me navigate this potential mine field.  While part of me doesn’t want to share with you my iPhone shopping secrets at the end of the day I’m a good person, and I need something to write about.  So here you go; the best holiday shopping iPhone apps:

1. Discounts Galore: Everyone and their brother is offering Black Friday, Cyber Monday and discounts throughout the shopping season.  In order to find the best check out apps like TGI Black Friday and Fat Wallet.  They will pipe the latest coupons and deals right to your phone.
2. Nearest: While this isn’t exactly shopping orientated it will help you locate needed essentials while shopping.  Helpful if you’re in a strange town visiting relatives and need to find the nearest coffee shop, bookstore or pharmacy because you’re little nephew decided to show off his tee ball skills on your groin (true story).
3. Park n Find: This app is killer if you’re shopping in a huge mega mall and easily get turned around while inside.  My sister is notorious for this as large shopping complexes make her lose all sense of direction.  With this app you use GPS to mark your parking spot and then can follow the map back.
4. $ Checkout: I can see why some people might need this app but simple arithmetic has never boggled my mind before so I don’t see the point.  It allows you to calculate your total bill with taxes and discounts included.  No matter how I feel though this one is pretty popular.
5. Shop Savvy: This is one is all kinds of sweet if you have some time to invest during your shopping.  In my opinion shopping should be quick and dirty, like sex.  But if you’re absolutely obsessed with finding the best deal then use this app to take a picture of an item’s bar code and it will search online retailers for the best deal.  It might end up saving you some cash on big ticket items, or at least give you something to do while your girl friend is punishing you with an hour long trip to the candle store.  Did you know they make candles that smell like the beach?  I do now!
6. Mall Maps: For the most part I am anti-paying for apps but this one is well worth the $2.99.  The Mall Maps app feeds you over 1,000 detailed floor plans of shopping centers all around the country.  I used this during a recent trip to a California Bay Area mega mall near my sister’s house.  I was able to see where the stores I was looking for were located before I even got there.  I parked accordingly and was in and out before I knew it.  I was like a shopping Ninja, a shopping Ninja with an Orange Julius in his happy hands!

Photo Credits: Mac Users Guide

Originally posted 2009-12-14 03:47:16.

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Screenshot: Apple Apps Store

Lucky for Apple I’ve sat down and dedicated some time to solving these problems for them.  Feel free to send royalties and/or job offers any time you’re ready for my genius Apple!

1. Higher Quality, Less Quantity:  Apple hits us over the head all the time with the fact that they have 100,000 plus apps in the app store.  Yeah, it’s an awesome stat and solicits “ohhs” and “ahhs” from everyone but at the end of the day the app store is filled with a lot of crap.  There are many killer apps out there but there also tons of useless and pointless ones too.  Maybe if they cut down on the apps available and raised their standards of quality a little more or instituted some sort of minimum download rate then we wouldn’t be awash in a world of apps and could find the best ones easier.
2. Taking Care of Business:  TCB, it’s not just a cool rock song from the 80’s or a sweet abbreviation your boss uses anymore.  Apple needs to up its focus on business related apps to further trump the Black Berry.  I am tired of hearing people talk about their “Crack Berry” and how they have to have it for work.  Apple needs to deliver the deathblow and encourage developers to develop more enterprise related apps or do the heavy lifting themselves.
3. Be Nice to the Developers:  Apple needs to stop acting like developers are lucky to be working on their platform and listen to their complaints.  Apple has already opened up their review process a bit to keep mass defections from happening but if they want to stop software engineers from exclusively working on other platforms they need to embrace the developers.  Yes, you can’t give them everything they want but involving them more in the process and treating them like stakeholders as opposed to servants would be a good first step.
4. More Transparency:  The updated Apple review process is better than before but still needs work.  Now developers know what stage of review their work is in but that’s about it.  Apple needs to let developers see under the hood a little bit more and let them feel good that when they put in serious work they will have a good shot at getting it approved.
5. Ditch Ma Bell:  A lot of people don’t like AT&T as it is and having them involved in the app process is only making things worse.  They let Apple know that the Google Voice app couldn’t be approved and that no VOIP apps will be able to run on their 3G network.  This has raised some eyebrows over at the FCC and may lead to government intervention where none really should be.  For that and thousand other reasons Apple needs to open up the iPhone to other carriers.
6. Secrets Don’t Make Friends:  Apple is notorious for it’s CIA-like secret keeping.  This usually applies to new product launches and strategic future plans but when applied to the app store it spells trouble.  Apple doesn’t tell users or developers anything they don’t have to and this effects the overall experience.  Let us in Apple!  Who hurt you so bad in the past. . .?
7. Admit When You’re Wrong:  Apple has been caught before rejecting perfectly good apps while letting crap (baby shaking app) slip through the app review process.  When they get nailed by the media or disgruntled developers with good contacts they approve the app and never say anything.  Hey, you’re human and everyone makes mistakes; that’s why pencils have erasers.  Just fess up and say you’ve learned your lesson and move on.  But the problem is they haven’t learned anything and the problems continue.
8. Better Navigation:  One of the biggest issues I have with the app store is finding the one I want.  I usually have to hear about one second hand and then go hunting for it.  Even when I know something about it, actually finding the app actually takes some work.  The app store needs revamped navigation and advanced search features to help us find stuff a little more easily.
9. Don’t Forget the End User:  Apple needs to program one of their super computers to better understand the human consumer, or hire someone to do it.  They just don’t seem to get what people are looking for when it comes to apps.  While developers often pick up on it they are usually faced with a 50/50 chance of getting their work approved leaving the consumer in the dark.  Talk to some people, do a focus group and find out what your customers are looking for before Google or Black Berry does.
10. Hearing Footsteps?  Maybe the problem that is the driving issues behind all other problems listed here is that Apple doesn’t fear competition from anyone else.  While Google’s Android phones and Black Berrys have their appeal and are getting apps they are nowhere near what Apple offers.  Competition often pushes development and without the fear that someone is going to snatch the crown off their pretty little heads Apple doesn’t have the motivation to radically change.  Yeah, it works out great for their bottom line but at the end of the day if you stop innovating and pushing the envelope someone else will.

Originally posted 2009-12-28 03:39:44.

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Screenshot of apprejections.com

Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch are some of the most popular tech gadgets in the world and a large part of that popularity is due to the wide range of applications available. Apple has over 100,000 apps available that pretty much cover just about anything you can think of, and even some stuff that you would never bother to think of!

Ranging from free to expensive, these apps are a giant force behind the wave of Apple sales that have swept most of the civilized world. Much to the chagrin of app developers though Apple has final say on what can and cannot be put on the devices. They have developed a strict review process that dictates what programs get approved for sale or free download through the app store.

This has made many app developers a little pissy. Many have been put off by what they see as Apple’s interference with their freedoms as developers. High profile programmers have abandoned iPhone projects in favor of other platforms that are not as tightly controlled. While I agree that there should not be restrictions placed on the creativity of developers and that interference is inherently wrong, there is something to be said for Apple’s level of control.

Apple is running a business not trying to give software designers around the world a platform to show off their skills. They have to make sure that the apps provided to the growing legions of users are useful and serve some sort of purpose. Furthermore, these are our phones we’re talking about. If you download a bad piece of software you could be hit with anything from slowed performance to a total system meltdown. Imagine that on your phone!

Sure now you would have a great excuse why you don’t call your mom as often as she’d like but imagine the headaches. “Oh sorry I missed that important conference call today, see I downloaded a Girls of Hooters calendar app and the next thing I know my phone was calling 1-900 numbers in China. . .”

However, Adam White claims that the Apple has a “secret, undocumented, unquestionable, random process for deciding which applications to ‘allow’ onto the deck.” The process by which Apple allows apps to be included in their system has even raised eyebrows at the FCC. They are checking into Apple to make sure they are not engaged in monopolistic or unfair business practices by blocking potential competitors like Google from producing apps.

So what is a tech fan supposed to do?

Well some developers are focusing more on other platforms like the Google Android or Black Berry phones. These apparently have more of an open source type format and allow a lot more leeway when it comes to what is allowable.

If you’re not ready to part with your iPhone just yet, and quite honestly you’d be nuts to, there are other options. Some of the hardcore out there have turned to hacking their phones. These “jailbreak” phones can run any apps you can get your mitts on and also aren’t tied to the AT&T network.

I guess some people will do anything to get away from Ma Bell, no matter what Owen Wilson says.

Originally posted 2010-01-11 03:54:19.

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Mac OS X

While Pystar had only been able to sell 728 of these computers Apple came down like a ton of bricks to stop them dead in their tracks and make an example of them.  Just in case you think about bogarting Apple’s technology you might want to consider the legal costs and $2.1 million payment Pystar is going to have to dish out for the “damage” they did to the Apple brand.

Apple is notorious for keeping Stalin-like control over its patents and proprietary technology.  They develop their own hardware and software in house and only allow third party developers the honor of cranking out products after closely monitored review processes.

This has most recently reared its ugly head with iPhone app developers either walking away from projects or voicing their displeasure with the Apple approval process.  While Apple dominates the smart phone market with its iPhone and over 100,000 plus apps up and coming platforms like Google’s Android and the business go-to Black Berry are luring developers away.  Fearing a mass exodus Apple has offered some clarity into their review process, however many developers scoff at progress updates as significant progress.

While getting pissed off that your brand new fart sound-making app is being delayed by Apple is one thing, jacking their hardware and software technology is something completely different.  Pystar’s computers are basically bad knockoffs of Macs and Macbooks that come preloaded with Apple’s operating systems.  They use a lot of fancy technological footwork to install the operating systems and circumvent copyright laws and Apple’s own defense mechanisms.

In reaction to the California lawsuit Pystar filed their own lawsuit in Florida over the Snow Leopard issue.  Apple has struck back by saying that the second lawsuit should be dismissed or rolled into the first.  Apple’s stance is that they “should not be required to file a new lawsuit to stop Pystar from infringing Apple’s intellectual property each time Apple releases a new version of Mac OS X.”

What is most shocking about all of this is that this company only sold 728 machines in all of 2009.  While they projected to sell 470,000 this year and as many as 12 million in 2011 their sales fell drastically short of that.  While I do think Apple has every right to stop people from stealing their technology it seems like a huge reaction to a company that took a year to sell as many computers that they sell in 40 minutes!

Apple does need to defend their technology but at some point if they want to become as ubiquitous as PCs they need to open up hardware and software development to more third party developers.  If this means loosening the reigns and accepting less control over the process then that’s what they may have to do.

For the time being though don’t expect any big changes coming from Apple.  They are kings of the mountain and aren’t going to give anyone a shot at the crown any time soon.

Photo Credits: DeclanTM

Originally posted 2009-12-31 03:52:13.

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iPhone Bump

The Good and Bad?

The very nice news about the Bump app is the price…free! You can find it at iTunes in their App store. The down side is the leeriness some security minded data gatekeepers have about any program that performs the sort of functions that this one does.

Bump Technologies’ response to those concerns is that all the communications between a user’s iPhone and their servers is encrypted and sent using https which is the same as you see with online banking. They also point out that the user is in control of deciding who to share information with and when. No one should be able to exchange information, unless the phones are bumped together. Bump also states they never share a user’s personal information with third parties.

Bump is also available for use on Google’s Android, and can share photos, link Facebook friends, and compare friends as well as exchange contact information.

How to do the Bump

Locate the app on iTunes App store and install it on your iPhone.

Even if you do not intend to use it immediately open the application and read through the “Terms of Service”. You will need to select “agree” to complete the installation and be allowed use of the application. Once the application is running it will be able to detect your location.

You can now open Bump and choose My Profile. If you haven’t created a profile on your iPhone you can scroll to the bottom and choose the red “I Can’t Find My Name” button. A contact form will open up so you can fill it out. Since you will be sharing this you might want to keep it to only information you want others to see. Select “Done” when you are completed.

When you meet someone else who is also using the application then both of you will need to open the Bump app. Hold the iPhone in your hand with your fingers and hand protecting it from the other user’s iPhone. Gently bump or tap your fist to the other user’s hand. This should initiate the transfer of information. It is a good idea to check and make sure the transfer worked especially the first few times you try using the application.

Some have speculated that if applications like Bump catch on, they might eliminate the use of business cards, or at least badly scribbled impossible to read notes will no longer be necessary. At least, for the time being with this free application the price is right, and it is easy to use.

Photo Credits: Sorgatron

Originally posted 2010-05-13 03:28:49.

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Google Calendar on iPhone

If you love your iPhone and your favorite personal calendar is that cool free one you get from Google then you certainly noticed a problem. While you can set your Gmail account to mobile and then set up your email application to read it this didn’t work for your iPhone calendar. True, you could get Google Calendar to send notifications to your Gmail account, which could be read from your iPhone, but it just isn’t the same as being able to use the Calendar app on the phone. Making changes to Google’s calendar using Safari was problematic compared to using the regular Calendar app, but if you didn’t remember to make the changes on your Google calendar than there could be a scheduling disaster. Fortunately, as so many people have pointed out there is an app for everything.

The iPlan synch

First is the easy part. Simply go to iTunes and load the iPlan app. The iPlan is a calendar application that will allow you to view your events pretty much however you wish to look at them. You can use this with a variety of other tools, but its chief claim to fame is the ability to synch with Google’s calendar so you can see your events off-line. It has been around since summer of 2009 and costs $3.99. If you missed the launch of this app or if you like to wait until all the bugs are worked out before trying any application now is a good time to give iPlan a try. The easy part is making the purchase and loading the app onto your phone.

Getting your Google Calendar ready

If you haven’t already set your Gmail to mobile you should do that now. Open your Google Calendar and select Settings from the options located on the upper right. Select Mobile Setup from the option bar in the left corner of the calendar setting's box.

Fill in the information then wait for the verification code to appear on your iPhone text screen. If you don’t receive the code, there is an option to run further checks under the Status field which is the very first field in the box. You don’t actually need the mobile access to be running to use iPlan, but if there is a communication issue with the phone or with your Google settings you will discover it here running this test.

Synching the Calendar

The next part is very easy. Open your Google Calendar and make a few entries labeled ‘test’. Then select the iPlan app on your iPhone, and look at the bottom bar. In the right corner, there is a menu button. Select this button and it will take you to the popup screen with three choices Go to Date, Google Synch, and Settings. Select Google Synch.

You should now be seeing the iPhone’s light blue box message. It should say Synchronizing and it will say this for several minutes. When the waiting screen drops go to the iPhone calendar and find your test entries.

***There is a similar app called CalenGoo which performs similarly. CalenGoo is $6.99.

Photo Credits: daecon

Originally posted 2010-05-12 03:24:20.

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