An App a Day

For everyone else out there, whose iPhone is their new best friend (did you know that a staggering 91 per cent of users would recommend the device?) , I feel it’s only fair to share some of my current favourites from the hundreds of fast-emerging apps.

Over the last few months, everyone who’s anyone seems to have been developing an app and we’ve seen ever-more innovative offerings.  From Wagamama becoming the first restaurant brand to launch a take-out order service via the platform to Tesco’s app which turns the phone into a scannable electronic clubcard; through to the Labour Party app designed to help canvassers in the run-up to the general election (complete with the party’s Virtual Phone Bank); to Ikea’s catalogue app which has been downloaded 300,000 times since December!

So, here are my top ten FREE apps:

1.       The Business Desk

Yes, TheBusinessDesk.com is continuing to lead the way by this week becoming the first regional news publisher to launch an app!  Now it’s even easier to keep up with breaking news in Yorkshire, the North West and the Midlands direct from your iPhone

2.       RunKeeper

With the Leeds 10K in July fast approaching, this could be a useful training device, giving the benefits of an expensive GPS watch, but FREE!  I used it for the first time this morning and it’s a great way of setting yourself training targets

3.       Shazam

This must be one of the all-time best ideas – next time you’re in a shop and they’re playing a track you love, but can’t quite remember the name, just hit Shazam and it will listen for you and put you out of your misery

4.       TweetDeck/LinkedIn

The easy way of keeping track of your social media networks while on the move

5.       toptable

Wherever you are, if you’re looking for a restaurant, just tap toptable

6.       Orange Wednesdays (or  Flixster)

Easy access to everything you need to know before you head for the silver screen

7.       vouchercloud

An app dedicated to discounts

8.       Appsilicious Inc

Aesthetics are important to iPhone users – choose great wallpapers for every occasion, anything from cool Apple logos to Shrek or even Easter bunnies!

9.       Squeeze it/LEGO photo

You’ve got to have a couple of apps purely for fun – these allow you to manipulate photos and even to turn your pictures into Lego

10.   BBC – coming soon!

Okay, so this hasn’t been launched yet, but the good old Beeb has announced that it is currently developing news, sports and iPlayer apps.  Just when I thought my iPhone couldn’t get any better…

PS  If you can stretch to a paid for app, Sccope could be a wise investment.  For £1.19, you can download an app which scans product barcodes and compares prices to make sure you save money as you shop.

If you’ve come across any great apps that you can’t live without, please share them!