Got an iPhone and wondering where to get started? The thing every friend has asked me upon getting this great gadget is “What software should I get”? The real answer is dependent on what you are looking for.
Since I’ve tried many apps and read a lot of reviews I’m keeping my “favorite” list right here for reference. Don’t be afraid to spend a couple bucks on a great application, it’s still cheaper than a latte!
Great Java’s Favorites
- Tweetie ($) and Twitterfon (FREE) for Twitter.
- Facebook for Facebook
- Toodledo for managing your TO-DO list. There are 500 of these, this one is great.
- BibleReader for reading the Bible. This is the best and has the most material.
- FStream for online radio stations. It’s the best, just grab it.
- Pandora for streaming music based on your preference.
- Evernote for taking notes. Syncs online and has OS dependent application.
- Flixster for DVD and Movie information.
- Midomi and Shazam for music identification.
- Wikipanion for viewing wikipedia in style.
- Grocery IQ for tracking your grocery list.
- Old Booth for morphing your iPhone camera pictures into old style photo people.
- Amazon Kindle for reading eBooks. Great integration with online store
Tricks
- Screenshot. Hold down Power and click Home. Deposits a screenshot in your Camera Roll.
- Shortcut to First Screen. Click Home on any screen to return
- iPod Controls. Even when using a program double click “Home” for a pop-up iPod menu.
- Many applications have their settings in the main system settings section. Some have the settings in the program. Don’t miss out on options!
- The headphones are also a headset with mic for phone calls.
- The small plastic bar on the headphone cord can pause music, answer the phone, or forward songs when double clicked
Unlocking
- AT&T has an exclusive arrangement with Apple on the iPhone. Until that ends you use the iPhone on their network or one of the few the phone’s radio is compatible with (T-Mobile). Some people don’t want a data plan, but just to use the phone (unlocking bypasses this requirement) These are reasons to do an unlock. Strangely, it seems unlocking is completely legal [read more]
- There are two basic ways to unlock the 1st Generation iPhone. You can use the “PwangeTool” to create a custom firmware or use “Quickpawn” to unlock whatever firmware you want. Both work, I think Quickpawn is seriously easy.
- Unlocking the 3G iPhone is still an unknown with a lot of Gotchas. You know AT&T network is pretty fast and for $200 it’s a deal
