Free and Handy IPhone Apps
The iPhone is one of the hottest things in cellular communications today. With the recent lowering of prices on new iPhones, there has never been a better time to pick one up. Having only recently purchased my first iPhone for under $200, I am only beginning to learn about the many useful and fun applications (apps) available on the device and what they can do for me.
There are literally hundreds of apps available on the iPhone in a variety of different categories: games, entertainment, utilities, social networking, music, productivity, lifestyle, reference, travel, sports, navigation, healthcare and fitness, news, photography, finance, business, education, weather, books, and medical. Many apps come with a price, starting from as little as 99 cents, but there are also many apps that are absolutely free and can be very useful.
Being a relatively new user of the iPhone, I’ve only just begun to explore some of the many applications available from the device, and I’ve yet to download any that come with a fee. The apps listed below are free ones that can be downloaded from the App Store, and can be very valuable in certain situations.
Shazam
Have you ever heard a song on the radio that you loved, but had no idea what it was called or who sang it? With Shazam, there’s no need to listen through other songs in a string of songs played on a radio station, waiting and hoping the deejay will tell you the information you want. Say you’re listening to the radio and a song comes on that you’d love to add to your collection, but you have no idea what it’s called. All you have to do is touch the Shazam logo on your iPhone, click “Tag Now” and place the iPhone within earshot of the radio. The app listens to about 30 seconds of the tune, analyzes it, and once it’s done, it gives you the name and artist of the tune, as well as links to purchasing it on iTunes, YouTube videos, and all sorts of other information that’s available on the World Wide Web about the song and/or the artist. The app is not 100% accurate, but overall it catches almost every song. Shazam is a music connoisseur’s dream come true!
Around Me
Around Me is another useful app on the iPhone that works like a combination phone directory/GPS. Say you’re on the road, and you need gas. All you need to do is press the Around Me icon on your iPhone and then touch “Gas Stations”. The app will determine your location and give you a listing of gas stations nearby. Touch one that you think may be close by and the app gives you a Google-powered map showing a blue icon where you are and a red icon where the gas station is located.
This application can be very useful in a lot of situations. Categories available on Around Me include: Apple Retail Stores (of course!), banks and ATM’s, bars, coffee, gas stations, hospitals, hotels, movie theaters, parking, pharmacies, restaurants, supermarkets, and more. If you’re looking for a specific address, the app has a search feature that allows you to type in the address, and then will work strictly as a GPS, helping you find your way. Around Me is a must for those anyone who finds themselves constantly on the road.
These are just two of the many free applications offered on the iPhone, each highly useful for different reasons and different people. For music fans who’d love to add their latest favorites to their collection, Shazam is a must, while Around Me is a great resource for those who travel a lot, and may be in need of any of these services, especially in unfamiliar places. Stay tuned for more information on other useful apps in the future.
- By John Myers | Associated Content
- Naiomi Solomon
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