If you’re not willing to pay for additional apps, the iPhone has plenty of free apps that are useful and fun. Despite their low price tag, these apps can drastically improve your iPhone experience. Here are our top picks rated based on use, entertainment value and design.
Extremely convenient app that answers the common question, “what’s the name of that song?” Shazam can tag and identify almost any recorded song just by listening to it. When you hear a song on the radio that you like, simply place your iPhone’s microphone near the speaker. Within seconds, the app reports back details including the artist name, song title, and album. It keeps your tagged songs stored so you can look them up later, but also provides a direct link to purchasing the song over iTunes.
Tired of listening to the music on your iPod? This app connects to Pandora Internet Radio where you can create personalized radio stations based on your favorite artists, songs and genres. Pandora taps into a huge music database and plays songs similar to your tastes. Best of all, it’s completely free to use.
Must-have app for frequent Facebook users. Lets you update your status, chat with friends, read and write wall posts, view photo albums, and check your messages – all on the go. You can also snap pictures with the iPhone’s camera and upload them directly to your profile page.
Fun and useful app that uses the iPhone’s GPS and a large database of restaurant listings to find restaurants in your area. Looking for a wine bar in your area? Sushi? Smoothies? Just give your iPhone a shake and Urban Spoon will find it for you. Recommendations are sorted by price, area, or food type, all of which are user selectable. Or if you have no idea what to eat, Urban Spoon will select a restaurant randomly. Once you find a restaurant, you can find more details, read user reviews, and see what percentage of users recommend it. Connect with friends to share opinions on restaurants and get recommendations. Especially useful for frequent travelers.
Why pay a buck everyday to get the news? NYTimes brings the New York Times straight to your phone for free. A great layout lets you sort through the latest news, business news, opinion columns, photos, and more.