Top 40 free iPhone software applications to download
By Sean P. Aune
Don’t know where to start with your applications for your iPhone or iPod Touch? Well, considering the speed with which the number of them is growing, it’s probably always best to start off with the free ones so you don’t break the bank getting your start. We’ve gathered up 40 of the most interesting ones to give you a jumping off point, and hopefully save you some browsing time.
Please note that all of the links in this list are direct iTunes links, so it will launch your copy of the program when you click on it.
Communication Applications
AIM: This application brings you the best features of AIM to the iPhone such as switching between multiple screen names, receiving SMS alerts to new IMs, staying logged in for up to 24 hours even when the app is closed plus other features.
Fring: Fring allows you to communicate with your contacts on AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger, SIP, Skype, Twitter and Yahoo! Messenger. You can also make Skype VoIP calls via the application.
Nimbuzz: Nimbuzz is another multi-protocol instant messaging program that allows you to interact with your contacts on AIM, Facebook, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk, Hyves, ICQ, Jabber, MSN Messenger, MySpace, Skype, studiVZ, Twitter and Yahoo! Messenger. It also gives you the ability to use the VoIP capabilities of Google Talk, MSN, Skype and Yahoo!.
Skype: The official Skype application allows you to make free calls to other Skype users over a Wi-Fi connection, and discounted calls to landlines & cell phones in other countries. When not around a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can still use the application to instant message with your contacts.
Yahoo! Messenger: The dedicated Yahoo! Messenger application allows you to share photos with your contacts, pass on emoticons, use the app in landscape mode and more.
Entertainment Applications
6500+ Cool Facts: How can you pass up learning information such as “Did you know that a cup of gasoline, when ignited, has the same explosive power as 5 dyanimite sticks?” Well, you would if you downloaded this free application.
F-MyLife: A popular website for venting frustrations with the surreal events of one’s day, and the app allows you to reply to postings, make your own, share them on sites like Twitter and more.
Lightsaber Unleashed: Lightsaber Unleashed is one of the most useless apps out there, but there is something fun about hearing that familiar lightsaber sound coming out of your iPhone or iPod Touch as you swing it around. You can also customize which saber hilt you want and you have complete control over the color of the blade with color sliders in the settings area.
Movies: This handy application will allow you to locate movie theaters near your current location and then show you the schedule for the films it’s showing. You can also access trailers for current movies to see if there is one that interests you.
Miscellaneous Applications
A Fake Caller: Need to get out of a meeting? Want to make sure a call comes during that awkward first date? A Fake Caller will let you set up a fake phone call to pop up on your iPhone at a time of your choosing.
Dictionary.com: This application gives you 275,000 definitions and 80,000 synonyms in your pocket, along with audio pronunciation guide for each word, example sentences, non-standard uses. Do be warned that this is a large application weighing in at over 35 MBs.
PayPal: Access all the important aspects of your PayPal account with this handy application such as sending payments, checking your balance, glancing at the latest history and a few other features.
The Weather Channel: While the iPhone OS comes with a weather application, it is pretty limited in the information it delivers. The Weather Channel app allows you to see forecasts for up to 10 days in advance, see videos from the channel, check out radar maps and a lot more.
Music Applications
Last.fm: The music site that mixes in aspects of a social network is in the palm of your hand as you make your way through the day. Check out bios on your favorite artists, share tracks with your friends, create playlists, view upcoming events and a whole lot more.
Pandora Radio: Pandora is one of the most popular free streaming music sites on the Web, and this application makes all of your favorite features of the service go with you anywhere you are. While you can just listen for free, if you already have an account on their site you can sign in and have full access to your account and personalized channels.
Public Radio Tuner: The Public Radio Tuner allows you to enjoy your favorite Public Radio stations while you are anywhere in the world, or if you’re travelling the USA for business, simply enter you location and find the station that is closest to you at any given time.
Slacker Radio: Slacker Radio is another popular Web music app that has made the transition to mobility and kept all of your favorite features. You can listen to unlimited streaming music on its over 100 pre-programmed genre stations, create your own, or fine tine an existing one. In a nifty twist, if you’re a subscriber to the pay version, the app will even deliver lyrics to your mobile device as you listen.
News Applications
All Things Digital: Odds are that if you are an iPhone or iPod Touch user, than you probably like technology news, and there aren’t too many sources more trusted than Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at All Things Digital. This app delivers all of their blogs, articles, breaking news, video interviews and more from their very popular site.
BBCReader: The BBCReader delivers BBC stories from all around the world, and uses a caching system to store them so that you can read them even when you have no access to the Internet.
NYTimes: The New York Times application won the 2009 Mobie Award for Best News Application due to its many features. You can save articles, search, read articles offline after syncing and a whole lot more.
USA Today: The only national newspaper in the United States allows you to consume news from a variety of sections such as News, Money, Sports, Tech and more. It also allows you to share stories you find interesting via email, text message, Twitter or Facebook so that you can always let your friends and family know the latest news that may effect their lives.
Social Networking Applications
Facebook: The Facebook app brings all of the best features of the popular social network to your iPhone or iPod Touch. Check your inbox, see what your friends are up to, check out your wall, see the latest tagged photos and more. Basically it’s everything you need to stay in touch with Facebook from no matter where you are.
LinkedIn: LinkedIn has become an essential tool to not only social networking gurus, but professionals of all kinds in all fields of work. While it isn’t a network you need to check as often as something like Facebook, being able to look up your contacts while out of the office can be very handy.
Loopt: A social network that uses your current location to see what other members may be around you at any given time so that you can meet up with them for coffee, go to clubs, take in a movie or just about any thing else you can think of.
MySpace Mobile: Remember when MySpace was actually a fun place to visit, and you didn’t find your senses being assaulted by glittery/blinking images that tell you to “Cheer up!” or “Have an awesome day!”? Well, the MySpace Mobile app brings back some of that by separating people’s profiles into easily navigated sections that cleans up the interface considerably, and brings back a bit of that original feel of the site.
Television Applications
Joost: Get access to the complete library of videos on Joost from iPhone or iPod Touch and watch complete episodes of shows like Star Trek, Transformers, The Beverly Hillbillies and thouands of more. The service works only on Wi-Fi connections and not over 3G or EDGE.
TV.com: TV.com is a production of CBS television networks and delivers full episodes of series from their various channels such as CBS, The CW, Showtime and more. You can subscribe to specific shows if you like to always receie the newest episodes, browse by channels and more.
Travel Applications
Cheap Gas!: An essential tool while you are travelling to find the cheapest gas prices in your surrounding area.
Google Earth: While this application can be a bit sluggish, it gives you access to the wonders of Google Earth and even lets you change the topography view depending on how you are tilting your device.
Taxi Magic: Simply tap a button while in one of the 25 major cities they service, and a cab will be on its way to your location. You can also track where your cab is, and even pay for your ride securely via credit card using the application.
Travelocity TravelTools: Even if you didn’t use Travelocity to book your trip, this app will let you know of airport delays, security wait times, locating hotels in your general vicinity and so on. If you did book through them, then you can view your past, current and future travel itineraries.
Twitter Applications
Twitter Trend: Twitter Trend serves up the latest hot topics on Twitter as a tag cloud that allows you to explore what is being said on the hot subject by simply clicking on the word.
TwitterFon: TwitterFon focuses on a clean interface and gives you easy tab navigation to flip between the different timelines so you can get to what you want quicker.
Twittelator: This app allows you to not only browse the public timeline and your friend streams, but you can also post photos and maps of your location.
Twitterrific: This winner of the Apple Design Award for Best Social Networking Application allows you to manage multiple Twitter accounts, keep an eye on trends, has a unified timeline for all of your communications and more.
Twittervision: A popular Twitter mashup Web application that allows you to see recent Tweets from the public timeline overlayed on a map so that you can see which parts of the world they come from.
Utility Applications
Flashlight: This free application turns your iPhone or iPod Touch screen into a flashlight by turning the screen completely white. You also have the option to change the screen to all black, blue, green or red.
iHandy Level Free: Turn your gadget into a functioning level to help you hang pictures, build cabinets or anything else you might need it for.
Units: This application allows you to convert units of measure for things like weight, speed, distance and so on into other formats.
Wi-Fi Finder: Either use your GPS to set your location, or enter it by hand, and you can find both free and paid Wi-Fi hotspots around you in countries all over the world.
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