HIGHLIGHTS OF MY FAVORITES FROM ITUNES APP STORE

Since the opening of the iTunes App Store, I've been downloading a wide variety of applications and so far, it's been a blast. Sure there are some duds being offered, some are diamonds in the rough and some are full-fledged gems. But then again, that's pretty much the case when it comes to computer software in general so that shouldn't be surprising. What I thought I'd do this week is tell you about some of the apps I like as a sampling if what's being offered.

I think part of what makes an app a successful one on the iPhone is if it takes advantage of any of the iPhone's hardware abilities. For example, the iPhone has a built-in accelerometer. That's the hardware that senses the iPhone's physical orientation. So when you rotate the iPhone using the web browser for example, the accelerometer will re-orientate the browser window from a vertical or portrait page to a landscape or horizontal view. So let's take a look at a clever app that use that ability.

"A Level" (99 cents) converts the iPhone into a sophisticated bubble level.
Run A Level and you see both a vertical and horizontal bubble level that's incredibly accurate and visually realistic. Rotate the iPhone 90 degrees and the image repositions the levels so that you can use either the short or long edge of the iPhone for a measure. It also digitally displays the degree of tilt in radians or degrees. Plus there's a "hold" button that freezes the bubble if you want to keep the measurement when you move the phone. Try doing that with a real bubble level. And if you lay the iPhone flat on its back, the image automatically changes to a center bubble level.
We just bought a new painting this weekend and yes, I used my iPhone to insure that our new work of art was positioned perfectly on the wall.

Come on, admit it! How many times have you forgotten where you parked your car? "G-Park" (99 cents) presents you with two big buttons. When you park your car, press the "Park Me!" button and the app uses the iPhone's location ability or the new 3G model's built-in GPS to record your car's location.
When you're ready to return to your car, just press the "Where Did I Park?"
button and the iPhone literally draws you a map from where you are standing to your parked car. And as you walk along that path, the app animates your position as a confirmation. It's a simple software idea made possible with the iPhone's hardware.

I went grocery shopping but instead of carrying a paper list, I had it all on "Listomni" ($6.99) which lets me keep track of my grocery and other lists as well. The built-in dictionary looks up possible items so I don't have to type it all in. Type in "Green Beans" and it offers both fresh and frozen options. It makes shopping easier because it places them in store categories such as Produce so I can get everything in one pass through the store. Just touch an item when you get it and it's checked off the list.

"Midomi" (Free) lets me just hum a song and it will tell me the name of the song, artists that have recorded it and it plays the actual music which I can then download directly from iTunes. Or if I hear the song on the radio, Midomi will grab it and perform the same identification. I can also just choose to speak a title such as "I Will Survive" or "Fallin by Alicia Keys"
an get the same results too. It's totally amazing that this even works and works so accurately.

MyLite (Free) turns the very bright, white screen on the iPhone into a flashlight when I can't read a dinner menu in a dark restaurant. That's proven to be very handy.

"BoxOffice" (Free) displays what movies are playing at my local theatres along with the times they are playing. I can even watch complete movie previews and order the tickets so they'll be waiting for me when I arrive without having to wait in line.

The iTunes App store has only been open for about a month and yet I've just scratched the surface. So it will continue as I discover even more of these clever and really useful apps for the iPhone. I can't wait.

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