Best iPhone Apps

DIGITAL TRENDS [27/11/12]

By Jeffrey Van Camp

A list of the best iPhone apps available, from time-saving productivity tools to fun apps you won’t be able to put down.

Productivity

Yog (free)
Apps that allow you to track your running are nothing new, but Yog has a unique hook. You can invite other people from around the world to join you for a scheduled run. Progress appears on a map and there are audio notifications to spur you on. Research suggests that we push harder when we are competing, or even just when we know we are being observed, so Yog can really help to drive you on. It will also chart your performance, track your distance for each run, and you can listen to music while using the app.


Camera + ($0.99)
Photographers looking to get more out of the iPhone have to buy this app. It basically unlocks your iPhone camera allowing you to set exposure, access scene modes, line up shots, and a whole lot more. The options continue after you have captured the shot with a host of filters and effects, and integrated social networking services for sharing your creations.  


Tips and Tricks ($0.99)
For those of you who want to optimize your iPhone experience, but don’t want to dig through various websites or forums — then Tips and Tricks for the iPhone is for you. The informative app, which costs less than a cup of coffee, will serve as a guide to your iPhone as well as show you hidden features, shortcuts, and other useful information.


1Password ($9.99)
One of the worst things about being able to do nearly everything on your iPhone is having to constantly enter and re-enter usernames and passwords to all your favorite Web sites and apps. Even with the hefty price tag, we think the 1Password app is worth the money for ease and convenience. It aims to solve this problem by securely storing all your username and password information. Users can choose to have the app automatically log them into Web sites with a single tap. No more wracking your brain for the right username or having to correctly type a long password in via the iPhone’s typo-prone keyboard. The app can also store notes and other information that you wouldn’t want accessible on your basic Stickies app.


Air To-Do ($1.99)
There are a plethora of to-do list apps out there, and most of the well rated ones are going to accomplish exactly what you need. Still, the Air To-Do app has a sleek UI that doesn’t jumble your chores together, instead allowing you to control how you organize them. You can also check off your list with boxes to mark it something has been completed, versus others that simply delete a task.


CraigsPro+ ($1.99)
Craigslist is a treasure trove of freebies and rarities for cheap, but good luck scoring that free hot tub, cheap air conditioner or the only pair of Klipschhorn speakers in your city if you’re not one of the very first to respond. CraigsPro+ gives you a leg up on the competition by letting you set up Search Agents that buzz your phone as soon as an item you’ve been searching for crops up. Combine it with a swift e-mail and that 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT will be yours. You only get 50 of these search alerts with purchase, but snagging more is as cheap as a tenth of a cent apiece. (CraigsPro+ uses remote servers to continuously scour Craigslist for your search terms then sends push alerts when it scores a hit, rather than grinding your phone battery down. The price goes to reimbursing those expenses.)


Google Voice (Free)
At first Google Voice was not technically an “app” because Google had to subvert Apple’s iTunes store by building it into the Web. But Apple finally let it through and now you can get the official Google Voice apps from the App store. With it, you can make cheap international calls at Google Voice rates, send free unlimited text messages, and even sift through voicemails left at your Google Voice number, all for free.