Lately, a few of my friends and family have decided to upgrade to a smartphone and several have made the choice to buy an iPhone. I can't say that I blame them, as I am a proud iPhone user as well. I'm not always an Apple fangirl and I really do love the Android operating system. Still, I think that as far as ease of use goes, the iPhone is always a winner.
One of the things that a new iPhone user has to learn about is Apps. They are wonderful, but there are so many of them, it's hard to know which ones are a must have and which ones you don't really need. Since my friends upgraded, I keep getting asked about what apps are best, so I decided that I would make a list of the 5 best iPhone apps that you might not already know about.. If you don't have all of these, you should check them out:
Find my iPhone - This is by far the greatest and most important app. Install it on your phone and then use your computer, tablet, laptop or other device to bookmark the Apple website. With this app, you can use your device or computer to search for your iPhone. It will give you a map and show you exactly where your iPhone is located. Although it can't tell you that it's behind the couch, it can at least confirm that it's in your house. You can send a message to display on your lock screen, make your phone ring (even if it is on mute), lock the screen remotely and even remotely wipe your device. It's not an app you will use everyday, but if you aren't sure where you left your phone, or it gets stolen, this app will give you more control.
iTunes U - If you're a lifelong learner, this app is for you. The app features free courses from Yale, Stanford, MIT and more. With the touch of a finger, you can read or listen to lectures on just about any topic you want. It's a great way to learn something new and gives you something productive to do when you have some time to kill.
CardMunch - This app is created by Linkedin and it is a valuable networking tool. One of the problems that many professionals have is finding ways to organize all of the business cards they receive. With this app, you can use the camera on your iPhone to save all of the contact information into your phone's address book. You can even link it up with your Linkedin account and have the contacts updated there as well. Another plus is that if the person who gave you the card has a Linkedin profile, you can get lots of information about them right away.
Find my Friends - At first, I was a little skeptical of this app, but after I used it a little, it became one of my go-to tools. With this program, you can create lists of your close friends and family. Then, you can find out where they are just by using the app. Not only will it give you their location, but it will give you a map to get there. If you're concerned about privacy, you can set your visibility for just a couple of hours. For example, before I go out, I can turn my visibility on, then when my friends are trying to find me, they can just use the app rather than texting or calling me to ask where to meet. Another great feature is that if you have kids, you can override their privacy settings and see where they are at any time.
Instapaper -This app isn't free, but it's worth the $5 asking price. When you see an article or someone posts a link to an article you want to read, but don't have the time right now, you can send it to Instapaper on your computer and it will be there for you on your iPhone app. The next time you are stuck somewhere waiting, you can just pull up the app and catch up on your reading. It makes things so easy and helps you keep up with what's going on in the world.
What other apps do you use often? Please share your suggestions!
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