IPhone apps and tips abound
In case you haven't been paying attention, the Apple iPhone is now available to Verizon customers. My wife got hers Monday, taking advantage of the early ordering for current customers offered this past Thursday. Verizon said the iPhone is the best-selling phone in its history, and that all the preorder units sold out quickly.
I'm sure people will line up outside Verizon, Apple and Best Buy stores in the wee hours Thursday, as the iPhone goes on sale to all customers at 7 a.m. I plan to swing by the Verizon store near my home to get a feel for the frenzy.
Millions of customers will join the iPhone club in the coming days and months. And they'll all be jumping on the app bandwagon. But, you may wonder, “Which apps are good and which should I avoid?”
I have 147 apps on my iPhone, including the ones that come preinstalled and can't be deleted, such as messaging, calendar, contacts, e-mail, Safari, iPod and the all-important phone. In my three years using an iPhone, I have downloaded several apps that I intended to use but ended up deleting for whatever reason.
One of the best ways to determine whether an app suits your needs is to read the user reviews. They're included in the App Store with each app, and usually tell it like it is. The star ratings (five stars is best) also help, as does the "Top 25" area for both free and paid apps. It also helps to talk to your iPhone-toting friends to see which apps they like best and use the most.
Organizing your apps got easier when Apple introduced folders. I use just two screens to keep track of my apps, which are sorted in categories like camera; darkroom; news; tech news; sports; weather; shopping; movies and video; fun and games; and utilities.
The apps I use most often include Weather Bug, Twitter, Facebook, Hisptamatic, Camera+, Photogene, ESPN Sports Center, At Bat from MLB.com, AP Mobile, NPR News, Flixster, Notespark, messages and mail.
Here are three good resources for new iPhone owners:
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
Verizon iPhone 101: What new owners need to know to get started
http://aol.it/hI4Z3X
Time magazine
50 Best iPhone apps 2011
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2044480,00.html
CIO magazine
iPhone 4 newbies: 10 essential tips and tricks
http://bit.ly/glIVaT
Welcome to all new iPhone users! Your mobile life is about to change.
