Yesterday I bought my iPhone 3G. When the original iPhone was released, I didn’t buy one because it lacked 3G network connectivity, and the Samsung BlackJack 2 I was using was already 3G capable. In addition, the BlackJack supported ActiveSync for connectivity to my corporate Exchange infrastructure, and the iPhone didn’t. After the iPhone 3G was released, my two primary complaints had now been removed, and I said that I would get one—but not right away. I wanted some time to let early adopters get the phone, figure out the limitations, and find workarounds for those limitations (where possible).
Now that the iPhone 3G has been available for a couple months, and since my birthday is coming up, my family decided that an iPhone 3G would be my (early) birthday present. While others had waited in lines for hours when the iPhone 3G was first released, I walked into my local AT&T store, picked up a 16GB black iPhone 3G, activated it with my existing number (I’m a current AT&T customer), and walked out—all in less than 20 minutes. The longest part of the process was selecting a new belt clip/case for the iPhone. There are definitely some benefits to waiting a while before buying!
So far, I’m pleased with the iPhone 3G. My only concern is battery life, but feedback from other iPhone 3G users in my office have recommended turning off Bluetooth and location-based services until they are needed. Some have even recommended turning off 3G, but I’ll leave that on for right now and see how it works.
I’ve also been browsing the App Store, looking for some useful iPhone applications. I’ll almost certainly buy OmniFocus for iPhone. Of course, then I’ll need to figure out how to get OmniFocus for iPhone synchronizing with OmniFocus for Mac, which I already use. Any other iPhone users have recommendations for useful iPhone applications? Suggestions for useful free applications would be particularly appreciated. Also, any other tips or pointers of which I should be aware? Thanks!
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Monday, September 1, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Tony Nelson
So the top three apps which occupy my main page on my phone are 1Password, OmniFocus and Evernote. By far my three mostly used iphone apps and the most functional. These are my “killer3″
You’ll need to upgrade Onmifocus on your mac to the release that supports syncing. I used to use ONeNote but since moved to Evernote on the Mac, which made a natural fit for the iphone version. Evernote on the phone now supports taking snapshot and voice notes, and editing of your existing notes.
Apps of good mention that I also use besides my “killer3″ are Palringo for IM, Pownce and Wordpress for social media and blogging stuff.
For music, of course Pandora. Works like a charm, even over EDGE. Next is SimplifyMedia. It’s what to do when you have more music than you can fit on your phone. Stream your music from home to your iphone, and works great over EDGE also.
For games, I have PegJump and Tris (Tetris)
For news, I use mobile news and a web app from NPR, http://m.npr.org
For the native apps that already ship, Maps is by far the most used. I travel about 30% and use maps for directions from whichever airport I’m at to my destination. No turn by turn directions but its the next best thing. Next is Exchange support, works like a charm. Only missing function that I would want is to be able to flag items.
Well, good luck and enjoy !!!
have fun and great productivity !!!
Monday, September 1, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Ernie Oporto
I have some discussions on this here. http://www.shokk.com/blog/articles/category/iphone/
Be careful how many apps you load, and what version of iTunes you are using. There are a lot of issues that apple needs to clean up to make this a stable platform.
OmniFocus for Mac looks awesome, but I went with Todo because it syncs with the Toodledo web site. I’m more into syncing with web sites a la Evernote than with local apps because if I ever find myself without my iPhone, I’ll still be able to get to the data when not at my system.
Monday, September 1, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Rasmus Lauridsen
I have a couple of work related nice ones…
Now I could just get connected to our stupid (lovely) work Cisco VPN.
Asubnet is good for when I dont feel like calculating subnets …
iNetworktest.. Still doesnt really give me good stats for my network at home but atleast its a start.
VNC lite is nice for the machines that got VNC
Twitterific for twitter…. Dont really use twitter much anymore but when I do twitter I use twitterific
Wordpress for blogging thats a given
Monday, September 1, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Raph
If you want a good GTG web based app that is both free and open source check out Tracks, it has an iphone interface and you can use it o collaborate on projects, i believe you can setup a free account at morphexchange.com
Thanks for writing this blog!!
Monday, September 1, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Mark Wilson
Hey Scott,
I only picked up my 3G iPhone last week but I have a few apps installed:
TubeStatus - the current running state of London’s tube network (probably only of interest to people who commute in and out of London).
Facebook - social networking.
LinkedIn - professional networking.
Here I Am - read your current location and sent the co-ordinates as a Google Maps link to someone who is looking for you.
WordPress would be another one for me, but you need to be on a recent version on WordPress (and my blog is a few versions out of date right now).
Apps are great but iPhone formatted webpages can be handy too. I have links for Google Reader, Google Calendar and the BBC iPlayer on my iPhone home screen.
Monday, September 1, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Mark Wilson
Another iPhone App I’ve just installed is the last.fm iPhone client (if you haven’t used last.fm it’s a bit like Pandora and is a great way to discover new music).
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 6:22 am
Michael Foster
netnewswire is the best RSS reader ive found and use this all the time, its all setup online so if you have to reset your iphone u dont have to reset ur feeds back up.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 8:13 am
Jim Jones
Hi Scott!
I just have one business-ish app suggestion - zenbe lists. The one thing really lacking in the iPhone/iPod Touch is a ToDo list. Even with the Exchange sync’ing - where it really should be. You can embed your lists in an iGoogle page or any other webpage for easy updating at the desktop, regardless of your platform. http://lists.zenbe.com
Looking forward to seeing you in Vegas… just got my first Mac… would like to chat with you about it some time (not necessarily at VMworld). Looks like it will be a fun ride!
I wish my wife were going this year, sounds like yours has good plans.
See ya!
Jim
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 8:17 am
Jim Jones
And I forgot about the time-wasters… Hanoi, PegJump, Labyrinth, Marocco and of course Tetris… A non-business, non-time-waster is the Olive Tree Bible Reader… just as nice as their Palm version - but not as many texts… Still nice to be able to always have it with you.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 9:29 am
aultl
I use TouchTerm SSH.
Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Eric Siebert
As the proud owner of over 60 apps (unfortunately because of a buggy OS I can’t install even half that amount though) I’ll give you some of my favorites (mine tend to be more on the fun/social side). Also read my comments in Keith’s post…
http://virtualizationreview.com/blogs/weblog.aspx?blog=2705
iBeer/iMilk
WiFinder
aSleep
Fizz Weather
Mote-M
Lumen
HoldEm
Tilt Meter
B-gammon
BattleAtSea
Eleven Balls
TouchTerm SSH
What Tasks
VNC
RssReader
Ping
iConvertIt
WiFiFoFum
Seismometer
Keeper
SportsTap
Sportsacular
AP Mobile News Network
Koi Pond
Monday, September 15, 2008 at 10:50 am
Eric Reitz
I have only paid for one app so far and that was ping
___Apps___
Google mobile app
IM +
tiptap
zenbe
a2z pro
wordpress
iwant
younote
ping
___Games___
othello
pegjump
blip solitaire
sudoku daily
anaconda
sol free
___other nice apps___
movies
ioweyou
ebay (if used)
paypal (if used)
linkedin (if used)
facebook (if used)
shozu
last.fm
wikipanion