The Obama campaign’s iPhone application isn’t just brochureware. It actually provides timely information, interactivity and a powerful sense of connection.
Sorry, Verizon, but after six years I jumped at the chance to get a 3G iPhone. None of your products offered hardware like this and coverage that includes the part of upstate New York where I spend weeks at a time, formerly bereft of both mobile phone and Internet access.
I bought my iPhone on September 30, so I’ve had it a full month now. I’ve been trying out a bunch of the apps, pretty much just the free ones since I’m not making much money these days. Here are my favorites:
Social Networking
Facebook — The app replicates almost all the functionality of the social-networking Web site. In some ways it’s easier to navigate than the “real” site. Shaking your iPhone forces an update to the Facebook page you’re reading.
Twittelator — This Twitter client’s chief competitor, Twitterriffic, is great on the desktop, and the iPhone version is pretty. But it falls flat in such features as posting photos via twitpic.com. Twittelator auto-generates a caption for your photo from the accompanying tweet. Twitterriffic unfortunately leaves your twitpic caption-free.
Fliq — A flick of your finger shares photos and contact information with other iPhone users. Downsides: Connectivity sometimes requires a few tries, and the person you’re trying to share with has to have Fliq, too. Upside: It’s free for everyone to download!
Productivity
Briefcase Lite — This handy app lets you transfer files to and from your iPhone and your desktop Mac via a local WiFi network. You can browse through your desktop computer’s hard drive. The free “lite” version only lets you do it via a local network. The full version lets you do it via the Internet. It also lets you view a wide variety of desktop files (e.g., Pages, Keynote, Numbers, MS Office, MP3, M4V and PDF).
Discover — Similar to Briefcase Lite, but it uses Safari on your desktop to facilitate file-sharing. Downside: You have to manually type an IP address in your desktop Safari to access the iPhone but you get immediate access to your iPhone’s files. Connectivity isn’t as easy as with Briefcase but sharing files is more intuitive.
Jott for iPhone — This amazing app lets you record your voice. Jott transcribes your voice into text with incredible accuracy then places your memo in a list that you can manipulate. You can also use Jott to post onto various popular blog services, and to post onto Twitter using a phone call.
WritePad — This application is still in its early development but it lets you write directly onto the iPhone screen and it converts your writing to text very accurately. Some of the editing gestures don’t quite work consistently but it augurs well for the future of text entry free from the constraining iPhone keyboard.
Music
FlyCast — Streaming audio from 500 channels. When I was stuck in Vermont without a TV, I was able to stream the audio from second Obama-McCain debate.
Last.fm — A lot of Americans use the similar Pandora but I like the friendliness and ease of use from this British online music service.
Midomi — Hum or tap the song you’re trying to remember the name of, and Midomi will suggest which one it is from its 17 million-song database. The similar Shazam only works with recorded music. Midomi’s like magic.
Entertainment
Rimshot & Crickets — Simple but useful sound effects for good, bad and really bad jokes. Besides the sounds in the name of the app, the latest version also offers a sour trombone for the truly horrible jokes — all by pressing the big red button.
Showtimes —This app uses your Location Services to find the movies and theaters nearest to you. No having to find the ZIP code of where you’re at like with other Web-based services. Downside: No links to purchase tickets.
Travel
Google Earth — Discover how wonderful a multi-touch interface can be with the iPhone version of this popular desktop app. You really feel like you’re flying above the earth as you navigate.
Urbanspoon — Finding a place to eat is fun. Set some parameters and a part of the town you’re in and shake the iPhone. Like a slot machine it serves up a random dining option. If you know where you’re going, its search engine is good, too.
Reference
Wikiamo — This lightweight app lets you browse and search Wikipedia, with the display customized for the iPhone’s screen.
Constitution for iPhone — Sure the Bush administration is whittling it away, but it’s a good idea to have the U.S. Constitution handy to remind others what we actually mean when we talk about freedom.
Obama ’08 — The Obama campaign’s iPhone application isn’t just brochureware. It actually provides timely information, interactivity and a powerful sense of connection.
