As is traditional at this time of year, Apple held a media event to launch…
No…not The Beatles finally available on iTunes. Instead it was…
…the return of Steve Jobs on stage. Very nice to see and despite looking very gaunt after his recent medical troubles it should bring confidence that he is back at the helm and guiding the direction of the company. A pity then, that much of what he had to say and introduce was underwhelming. Here’s the highlights.
NEW iTunes 9
NEW iPod Nano with video camera
NEW iPod Touch and Shuffle range (with lower prices)
I’m interested in this…
iTunes 9
The features introduced in the latest version of iTunes are not min-blowing, but some deserve a mention. Take, for example, iTunes LP.
This allows you, with certain albums, to enjoy an interactive world of lyrics, photos, video and other “bonus materials” within iTunes while you listen to said album. If you’re interested in that sort of thing then you’re going to enjoy this. It’s one of Apple’s ‘nice touches’ and not a ground breaking development as far as this music listener is concerned.
Similarly, the iTunes store has been redesigned. Aesthetically more pleasing though it is, I’m not yet ‘feeling’ the improvement. I’m sure over time and with more experience I will find new features that do make life easier, but right now it’s just prettier.
Home Sharing, however, is an improvement. Allowing you to share everything purchased through iTunes with up to five computers on the same network, importing from them and automatically updating new purchases bought on any of them, Home Sharing could make family (or, let’s face it, work life) a lot fairer – and cheaper? More on this if and when I ever get to play with it.
Meanwhile, downloading movies through iTunes has now become even more like buying the DVD. The introduction of the unimaginatively named ‘Special Features’ means you get interviews, trailers and photos related to your chosen movie. Nice. But not stunning.
Not stunning is a common theme as we continue, with Genius Mixes (searches your library and returns songs that go well together, mixing them automtaically to create playlists (or channels as Apple likes to call them)), improved syncing (it is better – but for me, it NEEDED to be) and the late, late introduction of ringtones through the Store proving just as underwhelming – but at least welcome.
One feature I do want to look more closely at, however, is iPhone app management.
You know how moving apps around on your phone is a pain, especially when you have four or more pages of them? How moving one app from page five to page one usually messes up the other pages – even with Apple’s improvement of tha in OS 3.0? Well, now you can organise your apps through iTunes. Check out the screenshot on the right. This, frankly, is brilliant.
iTunes App Management
Drag and drop one or more apps from page to page within iTunes and then ‘Apply’ and your iPhone takes on the set up. You can check and uncheck those you want to include onyour phone too, taking management to a new level. Check…it…out.
It’s underwhelming is what it is. Nevertheless, I shall report back soon. But basically it’s iTunes 9 with a few nice but unamazing features and iPods with cameras…including the Nano!!
That’s what gets screamed at you when you consider an iPhone or even after you’ve bought one and you are wondering what to do with it. It’s a genuine claim – but how many of them are of any use at all?
Let’s take games out of the equation. If you like games, you can spend your own time digging through them for the ones you like. Instead we’ll focus on the social networking, entertainment and news apps to start with. Which are the good ones, the ones that will actually help you? It can be hard to tell and when you’re asked to spend as much as £5.99 in some cases then you need to know.
I have avoided paying for too many apps just yet, so here’s my top 7 FREE iPhone apps for helping you be more productive and informed.
1) Evernote
This is a brilliant app that keeps you in touch with all the notes you’ll ever make. Install the app on your iPhone and the software on your various laptops and PCs and they stay in sync, permanently. So no matter what you use or where you are, you’re up to date. So what is it really?
Evernote allows you to keep ‘notes’ – whether written in, full web pages, snippets of web pages, PDF files, images..as much as you can think of, you can store them through Evernote. The clever thing is that it is fully searchable. Evernote will search within any file – INCLUDING images.
Give it a try. It’ll really keep you organised on the move.
2) ESPN ScoreCenter
For the sports fans this is an absolute must. ESPN ScoreCenter does what it says on the tin. Gives you sports scores for a wide range of sports. There are many like it, of course, but here’s why I prefer this one over the rest. Firstly, it’s ESPN – you can’t go wrong. Secondly you can save your favourite sports, tournaments and even teams so you never have to look around. And finally, the interface is just beautiful. Nothing wasted, it just works.
I love it.
3) Urbanspoon
There are mixed reviews for this but I don’t know why. The app itself is excellent. It’s content is only as good as its users though – in other words, don’t be lazy, if you know a good restaurant, add it to Urbanspoon!
Yes, it’ll find places to eat based on where you are, providing address, phone number, email, website, map and reviews. What more do you need? You can also use it to find by the type of food you like. Mexican restaurant in Camden? Urbanspoon will tell you where, how much and how to get there – assuming someone has entered it into the database of course…
Ok, it’s not infallible – but it’s the best one I can find and it works all over the world. Best results in the UK and US from what I can work out so far in testing.
4) IM+ Lite
For a free app this is pretty powerful. Combine your MSN/Windows Live, AIM, MySpaceIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber, Twitter and GoogleTalk accounts into one and take it with you wherever you go. IM+ Lite is immense.
It’s simple to use, you can see who is signed in on what chat client and it even includes smileys. Happy days for chat addicts!
Oh, you can also get the paid for version (£5.99) which also includes Skype and Facebook.
5) Shazam
You’re in a pub or club. A tune comes on and you love it. But the name of it escapes you. None of your mates can think of it either and it’s SO good you want to download it. How? Shazam.
Shazam will listen, search and report back with the song title, artist and iTunes download link. It’s never been wrong in my experience either. Nuff said? I think so.
6) TV Guide
One for the UK based (or those with Sky access) only I’m afraid. TV Guide.co.uk is just that. A super comprehensive TV guide for all UK digital terrestrial, satellite and cable channels. What I like about this one is that it is accurate and in depth.
It is based on a Now & Next interface, but tap a channel and you get the full day, with a brief synopsis of each programme on. You couldn’t ask for more. From BBC One through Sky Sports to The Adult Channel. Get it!
And finally…because you have to have SOME fun (and it’s topical)…
7) Terminator Salvation (Lite)
I love the Terminator franchise and to get to play this for free is just fun. Download it yourself and blast some cyborgs away. It is only the Lite version, yes, but it might give you a taste for the full paid for version – £2.99 at your nearest iTunes Store.
What are your favourite free (or paid for if you like) apps that make your life easier? I’m dying to build up a decent set on my iPhone.
As is traditional at this time of year, Apple held a media event to launch…
