Here’s a collection of apps for the iPhone that we’ve found to be highly useful, or addictive…or both. We tried to chose mostly free apps across several different categories, but there are a few here that cost a small amount of coin. Nothing that will break the bank though. You really owe it to yourself to check some of these out, and be sure to let us know if you do!
Productivity
Evernote
Evernote is a note taking app extraordinaire. It allows to you jot down text notes, annotated photos, voice memos and more. Combine it with the Evernote desktop application and you’ve got one of the most complete memory assist packages available. The iPhone app is free as is the desktop version, but you can upgrade to a pro account for just $5 a month with several added benefits.
reQall
A virtual memory assistant, reQall allows you to record voice memos on the fly with just a tap, which are then transcribed by reQall’s computers and sent back to you as reminders in a text or email. Makes shopping lists, text notes, and also serves as one of the better to do list apps. Organize things you need to remember by time, place, things, or lists. reQall integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar, and the Pro version can hook up with Evernote as well as making sure you never forget anything again. Like Evernote, reQall has a desktop application which helps you stay organized whether on the go or at home. The phone app and basic desktop functionality are free, with a Pro upgrade for only $2.99 per month.
Utilities
iHandy Level Free
Ever have an emergency picture hanging session and not have a level handy? Well, fret not, iHandy Level is a fully functional level right on your phone. Use it just like you would any level when you need to make sure your wall hangings hang true. One of the tools in the iHandy Carpenter Tool Kit, it’s been separated out and can be had for free!
Alarm Clock Free
A slick green LCD digital display and 7 built in alarm sounds turns your iPhone into a traveling bedside alarm clock. A big snooze button that you can’t miss in the mornings when you feel the need to catch just a few more winks, and the alarm works whether the phone is locked or not. Don’t worry about packing that tiny little, easy to lose, traveling alarm clock next time you’re out and about, just make sure you have your iPhone.
Entertainment
Backgrounds
With over 10,000 images in 60+ categories you’ll never have to worry about a boring iPhone wallpaper again! From beautiful, to bizarre, to cool, there are background images here for everybody. To choose one of the backgrounds simply save it to your phone and you can set it to your wallpaper from the settings menu.
Movies by Flixter
A one stop app for movies. Find movie titles playing near you, or movies that are coming soon. Browse DVD titles, and search for movie titles, actors or directors. Check local movie times in theaters near you and mark your favorite theater. You can even buy tickets right from the app so you won’t have to stand in line. Watch movie trailers, and find out movie ratings from Rotten Tomatoes.
Reference
Wikipedia
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you know about Wikipedia, the open source, user-edited online encyclopedia. Now you can have it on your iPhone and access its massive library of information anywhere! The interface is simple and easy to use. It will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s used the website.
Google Mobile App
The power of Google search in the palm of your hand, the Google Mobile App is location aware and allows you to search by voice! Not only can you search the web, but you can easily find info on your phone’s contacts as well. As an added benefit, the app also gives you access to all of Google’s other useful apps such as Maps, 411, Docs, and Gmail. Quite possibly one of the most useful iPhone apps available.
On This Day…
Ever wondered what interesting historical events occurred today? You can browse through hundreds of dates and events with this app, and read event related articles from Wikipedia if you have the Articles app installed as well.
Music
Shazam
We’ve all been there, you hear a song on the radio and can’t think of the name of it, or the artist to save your life. Just bring up Shazam and let it ‘listen’ to the music and it will identify the song for you, giving you tons of other information in the process. Shazam can identify songs, the performing artist, and the album the song appears on along with song and album reviews, lyrics, discographies and more. If you like a song so much you just have to have it, you can buy it directly from iTunes with a touch. You can also share your new music discoveries with friends via Facebook, and Tweet music tags. Seeing Shazam identify a mystery song for the first time is just plain impressive, and its accuracy is amazing. Download Shazam today and enter a new world of music discovery.
I am T-Pain with Auto Tune
With the I am T-Pain app you can sing along to your favorite songs and the app will record your voice and Auto Tune it. You can then share your song with a single tap through Facebook, Myspace, or email. The app comes bundled with several of T-Pain’s tracks, but you can use it with any track in your iTunes library. When you’re feeling the need to belt out some tunes, this app can take your sound to the world.
Social Networking
Tweetie 2
Tweetie 2 is the premier iPhone Twitter client. With one of the slickest interfaces available on the iPhone, Tweetie 2 might be the only Twitter client you’ll ever need. It’s got all of the common client features and then some. It supports multiple Twitter accounts, composes tweets and drafts with ease, allows you stay on top of Twitter trends and even tweets from near your location. There’s support for landscape mode which you can turn on or off, an in app email composer, and an offline mode when you don’t have a connection. It’s not free, but at $2.99 this much Twitter power in your hands is a bargain. As Twitter has acquired Atebits, the parent company of Tweetie, the app will soon be made free, rebranded as Twittter for iPhone.
Foursquare
Foursquare is a great way to open a whole new world right in your own backyard. When you sign up for Foursquare and use this app you can check in at various locations around your town or city and find out what your friends and others have to say about those places. It’s a fun way to keep tabs on your friends or family and maybe learn something new about where you live!
MySpace Mobile
Just like MySpace, only smaller! Stay up to date with your network of friends, send and receive messages, comment, update your status, and upload photos all with this app.
Sports
ESPN ScoreCenter
With ESPN ScoreCenter you’ll never miss another game result. With live game details and scoring summaries you’ll always be in the know with your favorite sport. Follow your favorite teams, and set up alerts for almost any point during a game and the app will send you a notification with the latest action. The interface is colorful and packed with information but still easy to use. A nice addition to the app catalog of any die hard sports fan.
Sports Illustrated
If you like Sports Illustrated magazine you’ll love the free SI app. Keep up with all the latest news, scores and standings from all over the world of sports, plus get access to all the great photography you’ve come to expect from SI. It’s really amazing this app is free!
Finance
Mint.com Personal Finance
This is one powerful and free little personal finance app. It integrates with your free account at Mint.com and gives you an amazing amount of information and control over your finances. Mint automatically tracks the balances of your checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, and more. Set up budgets to track your spending in any number of categories and receive alerts when you’ve exceeded an area of your budget. See what you’re spending in real time, and get information on the performance of your investment accounts. If you’ve been trying to get a handle on your finances, Mint can definitely lend you a hand.
Bloomberg
Bloomberg is one of the most trusted financial information sources in the world and now you can take it with you everywhere with this free app. Stay on top of financial news, stock quotes, and the state of the market, plus you can track your own investments when you create a list of stocks from any market.
Business
Dragon Dictation
The Dragon Dictation app is an amazingly accurate voice recognition tool that lets you speak your texts, emails, and even status updates to your favorite social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. When you don’t have time to type, use Dragon and just speak!
Currency Converter
For those of you who find yourselves overseas on business, this handy little app can convert currency exchanges in over 180 currencies and 4 metals. The app uses highly accurate conversion rates, and lets you choose between different rates depending on your particular situation. Quick and easy to use, it’s perfect for the businessman on the go abroad.
Agricultural
If you’re in the agriculture industry you haven’t been left out when it comes to great apps. We’ve highlighted a couple of particularly useful ones here. While not specifically for the mobile market, we came across an agricultural industry news widget as well. Worth checking out if you own an agricultural or farm-related blog.
USDA News Reader
This news reader grabs all the latest news and stories from the USDA and delivers them right to your iPhone. It has simple no frills interface that’s a snap to use and the articles are easy to read in landscape or portrait mode.
MyGarden
This little app allows users to keep track of the plants they have in their garden, along with things like watering times, light and soil requirements, bloom time, and more. Perfect for the tech savvy gardener!
Games
Doodle Jump
This simple little game is so addictive iTunes even warns you about it when you land on the page. The little dude you see in the icon there is Doodle and you have to guide him up a playfully drawn sheet of graph paper, hitting platforms, and avoiding obstacles all along the way just by titling your phone. You can measure your progress against others who’ve posted their scores as you climb because those scores are shown on the right side of the screen! It’s one of the number one games for the iPhone and at 99 cents it’s the the #1 top paid app in the US. Go ahead and try it, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Tap Fish
Maintain one or more beautiful aquariums in this spin off of Tap Farm. Buy and grow several different types of fish and marine life as you decorate your tanks. Raise fish from eggs to sell so you can buy rarer, more expensive fish, or breed different types to come up with a new species! Be careful though, you can’t leave your tanks unattended too long or your fish will grow hungry and die. The game itself is free, with a few different paid versions which give you more starting Fish Bucks which is a currency used in the game to buy tank equipment and/or fish. Once in the game you can choose to use real cash to get special upgrades or a much needed cash infusion.
The Creeps
Talk about addictive. The Creeps is a tower /defense game that you’ll soon find yourself really getting involved with. Even at $1.99, it’s well worth the investment as it is a fun, addictive, and challenging game. If you look closely there are even a few Easter eggs as well as a secret level.
Haven’t had your fill of iPhone games yet? Appchronicles has a list of paid iPhone games gone free.
Did we leave out your favorite iPhone app? Let us know in the comments.
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