Card of the Week

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m an Apple junkie.  I have an iMac.  I have a Mac Book Pro.  I have an iPhone.  I have an iPad.  I bought my kids iPod Touch’s… basically, if Steve Jobs designed it, I bought it.  And you know what, I am happy.  In my opinion, Apple has the best customer care on the planet, and that’s worth it.  Not to mention that they make a hardy product.  My MacBook is 4 years old and runs like a top.  I could never say that about my old Dell.  Sometimes, you get what you pay for.

OK, testimonial over.  I get asked all the time to recommend apps.  At last count, between the 4 of us, we had 230+ apps.  We might be app-oholoics.

Here are my favorites:

1. Google:  seriously, I use this one several times a day.  ”Mom, why is the sky blue?”  ”I don’t know, let’s ask Google!”  I use it for everything — when my favorite restaurant is open to what’s the phone number for the car repair place. Handy app.  Best part?  It has a speech recognition feature, so you can use it while driving and not have to type anything in.
2. Facebook:  I hate to say it but I am on Facebook more than I want to be.  It’s handy to have an app for that.
3. Skype:  This is just a fun app.  It works on iPod Touch’s so I can Skype them when we’re traveling and see their faces and show them what I’m doing.  I love that!
4. Last Pass:  All my computer passwords at my fingertips.  Helps when I’m trying to do something remotely.
5. Evernote:  My memory in an application.  This free service has been my favorite tool for ages.  Love keeping everything from web design ideas to recipes here.   It searches photos for text too, so it’s great for things like remembering where you park.
6. Dropbox:  A great way to store files in the Cloud.  I use this one for work a lot.
7. Scanner Pro:  Scan documents right from your phone.  Ask a friend for a recipe and you no longer have to write it down.  Does a surprisingly great job.
8. MapQuest:  Call out turn by turn directions for about $1.  Why did we buy a GPS again?  This is better and cheaper.
9. Kindle:  All my books at my fingertips.  Syncs between devices so I never have to remember where I left off on a book.
10. Pinterest:  A visual feast.  This is a visual bookmarking tool and addictive.  Great for the iPad.
11. Holy Bible:  I use this in church.  I’m sure people think I”m texting, but it’s easy to search and make notes on.
12. Instacast:  No longer do you have to download your podcasts and store them!  I’m addicted to video podcasts.  This is cloud based streaming of your favorites and you can pick up where you left off online.  Love this.
13. Stitcher:  Podcast streaming too.  This is audio only and has the Paperclipping Roundtable.
14. Flickr:  Well, it’s Flickr.
15. PhotoCaddy:  Do you shoot with a DSLR and you don’t know how to use it?  This is a handy guide for all situations.
16. Photo Buffet:  Similar to PhotoCaddy but by Rick Sammon.  He shoots a Nikon and so do I.
17. Photo Booth:  Old time photo booth strips.  Just for fun.
18. Photo Shake:  Photo collages and borders right on your phone.  Handy if you’re blogging from the phone.
19. Nike+GPS:  Tracks your runs (or in my case walks) and cheers you on.  Plays music too.
20. C2K:  Couch to 5K.  Works within Nike app if you want to become a runner.  It didn’t work out for me, but I still like the app.
21. Netflix:  Stream movies and TV shows right to your phone.  Next time your sitting at football practice, watch Dexter.
22. Instagram:  Fun square photo app. Follow Cathy Zielske because she’s cool.
23. Amazon:  Buy anything on Amazon at the touch of a button.  Take a photo of something you like and Amazon will find it.  Can technology get any more amazing?
24. Groupon:  Local shopping and restaurant deals.
25. Boggle:  Fun game
26. Plants vs Zombies:  Really fun game.  Wish they would make more levels.
27. Tiny Tower:  Wasted hours (perhaps days) of my life on this game….
28. Shazam:  Listens to what’s playing on the radio and tells you what it is and who sings it.  Handy for those of us with no musical memory.
29. TextExpander Touch:  create short cuts for text you hate typing.  It plugs it in like magic.  I use the Mac version all the time.  GREAT application.
30. ESPN:  Really for the kids and husband, but it updates me on how our favorite teams are doing.
31. PhotoSync:  Move those photos off the phone and into your computer.  Great for those of us who don’t use iPhoto but use Lightroom instead.
32. Bump:  Transfer information and photos from phone to phone with a “bump”.  Supposed to work with money too, but I haven’t tried that one.
33. PayPal:  Check on your money, split a check or send money to a friend.
34. All Recipes Pro:  All Recipes mobile app — especially good on the iPad.  You may never buy another cookbook again.
35. QR Reader:  for all those funny scan thingies.  (That’s a technical name).

 

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