And by crapps, I mean iPhone apps and other inconsequential stuff like that.
1.) Leaf snap:
Have you ever wondered: hey, what is that plant or tree I'm looking at? Boom, the future is here. Break off a leaf, hold it against a whitish background, snap a photo. Press submit. Wait 20 seconds. The app gives you four options that might be the plant you just photographed. Ok, the four options part is kind of a drag. But the app just launched and, as the data base expands, this app is just going to get more and more accurate. Pretty fucking cool. Get smoked and imagine where an app like this is taking us. But personal liberties, dude!
2.) Sky view:
Have you ever wondered: hey, where is the moon right now? Damn yo, this shit is crazy! Download this app and where ever you point your phone (it automatically goes to camera viewer) you can see the planets and moon and stars and sun and constellation formations positioned on top of whatever you point your phone at. (Yes, Steph, I just wrote that, just for you). It's pretty awesome. Point your phone at the wall, whoa, there's Saturn and Venus back there. Point it at your junk, holy shit, there's Neptune and your anus! And you can also fiddle around a little and then it shows the recent past and future trajectory of all those celestial forms. You click on the horizon, and shazam, Venus will rise at 4:32am. Galileo would totally have a stroke. Some idiot in underpants eating gummy worms (or any snack, JZ, it doesn't have to be gummy worms, that was a coincidence) holding a phone can do more with one hand than Astronomers could do in a life time. Oh, the cruel advance of technology.
3.) Tunein Radio.
Do you ever wish your smart phone had an FM radio on it? Well, HAL-9000, it already does. This app lets you tune in (quickly) to any station you want to hear. And it lets you pause while you're listening. And rewind. Fast forward. And allegedly RECORD. But I haven't figured that part out yet. (I might have to pay for that option? I haven't cared enough yet). You can set up your favorite stations on your presets. And you can search through genres. And “favorite” stations in that genre. Etc… It's pretty exciting. Or you can just browse what's being played on the radio at this exact minute in Ireland, Russia, China, Dubai, or South Africa. With a couple flicks of your thumb.
Alright, my apologies to those who don't have iPhones. Actually, apologies to those who do have iPhones. Cause we're totally trapped and limited to only those apps that get through the iTunes approval process and agree to give up a despicably unfair share of their profits to the Overlord. It is sad. I'm such a corporate tool. Why haven't I bought an android phone? Please don't judge me. The flesh is weak. (On the bright side, I also have these three new awesome apps! And an iPhone!)
Let me know what else I'm missing here. And, yes, I know I never comment here when all you great people post way better things than this. I'm lame. So if you don't feel like saying something, I'm totally cool with that. (But, just to be clear, I really loved your last post or pictures or videos or music).
And thanks in advance and much love all you long-suffering tireless provocative commenters. You know who you are. XO!
Farrell, I love when people expose new and exciting apps to the iPhone hordes. Unfortunately, I tend to get all excited about the apps for about five minutes, and then I lose interest. I may not be a good iphone person after all, although my attempts to convince myself that I should just get an android have also not done very well. I’m currently very upset with Apple and their not-so-secret ploy to coerce you into upgrading the OS of whatever device you have, only to find that the new OS doesn’t work with your not-so-old device that was working perfectly fine before the so-called “upgrade”. Macs are fun, as long as you have a lot of money to pour into them every year.
Love Leafsnap! Just downloaded it. It’s got games to help you work on your tree-identifying skillz. It *does*, however, also have a peculiarly limited regional bias, I must say, but I hope that will be corrected in due time.
Thanks for this! I never look for new apps and appreciate your footwork.
P.S. I know you’re always commenting in your heart.
Farrell, I love that the second place where you looked for the stars was your junk.
Oh Farrell, you tickle me pink.
Long-time reader, etc.
I would argue that a 30% cut to Apple from iPhone developers is not unfair given the large iPhone/iPad market that Apple has made available to them and continues to nourish with both new devices and underlying software enhancements. Apple takes the same cut from in-app subscription purchases, about which the MLB.com CEO said this: “We’re hopeful that over time, the margin will fall from 30 percent, but we don’t know if it will. But make no mistake about it, Apple’s been a great partner. Last I checked, they created the iPhone and the iPad.” (taken from http://allthingsd.com/20110401/qa-mlb-com-boss-bob-bowman-on-android-owners-facebook-video-and-apples-subscription-rules/)
Re: the approval process, one can find a few cases in which it seems to take an excessively long time and/or result in a bad verdict, but in general it seems to produce a very high-quality app store, especially compared to competitors’ platforms. More/better thoughts on this (not mine) here: http://www.marco.org/3100131471.
Finally, I would take Apple’s dropping of current OS support for (years-)old phones over carriers having exclusive control of when users can upgrade the OS, e.g., on Android phones. In the latter case, users can find themselves with a 6-month-old phone that is essentially frozen in time because the carrier does not want to support the device and the owner is therefore unable to obtain any further updates to the Android OS. The two-year-old iPhone 3GS is still supported on the current iOS (version 4.3).
My top app recommendations (in decreasing order of awesomeness):
Instapaper ($4.99) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instapaper/id288545208?mt=8
Tweetbot ($1.99) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id428851691?mt=8
Camera+ ($1.99) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id329670577?mt=8
iTunes Remote (free) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/remote/id284417350?mt=8
Nike+ GPS (currently free) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nike-gps/id387771637?mt=8
Calvetica ($2.99) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/calvetica-calendar/id385862462?mt=8
DC Rider (free) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dc-rider/id382298536?mt=8
Shazam (free) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shazam/id284993459?mt=8
BTW, I don’t think I have high enough security clearance to approve a comment in the “pending” hopper, but I can verify that the commenter is a human being I know.
Many blessings.
I just got an iPad and I am unabashedly obsessed by it. But I won’t admit that my favorite app is a list app named “manage” because that would make me a total nerd. whoops.
Bryan,
Don’t mean to create any ill will. But that’s a stunning Rumsfeldian defense of all things Apple. Really? Not even a tiny gripe about The Man? That better be a fucking awesome BJ you’re getting from your iPad right now for that kind of cheerleading. Checked out a few of those apps. As a non commuter, non tweeter, can’t judge instapapter or tweetbot. As for iTunes remote I’ve had it for years, seemed cool, have yet to use it. Nike + GPS app: shit, really? your corporate shilling has reached this level of turd? Congrats! DC Rider looks great for the one person on this blog who lives in DC. And Shazam? Isn’t that just part of the pre-programmed software that comes with the iPhone by now? It should be. It’s like vital signs that don’t include heart rate. Any way, hate to be a nattering nabob of negativism. But that long comment just didn’t help me much. I hope I don’t scare you away. And, no offense to dear AWB who vouched for you as a human being and not a viral software program deployed by Steve Jobs, because if AWB hadn’t said that, I woulda sworn that’s exactly what you were. Can Apple do no wrong? Are there really no more appealing/interesting apps than those you mentioned? C’mon Bryan, I hope a “human being” can do better! Atleast, reference a porn app so we know you’re actually made of flesh. Oh, and welcome to TGW! With all our blessings. Love!
You made my life better. Only this weekend I was walking past trees and wondering.
trixie,
Re: my favorite apps
Instapaper is not limited to commuter use, and is very handy any time you’re stuck waiting somewhere and would like to read things you’ve saved for later. I put it at the top of my list for that reason, and I recommend it anyone that likes to read things on the internet.
iTunes Remote is very cool and many people don’t know about it because (as far as I know) it’s not installed by default.
I’ve been using Nike+ GPS for less than a week but it seems like a good way to track the distance, pace, and course of one’s walks/runs. If anyone can recommend an indie-developer app that does the same thing and does it so well, I would check it out.
DC Rider is pretty great and many people in DC who ride the Metro every day don’t know about it. From years of reading I was aware that at least one of this site’s posters (Stella?) lives in the area, and presumably there are other readers besides the posters and me; stay with me, but maybe some of them even live in DC and would find the app useful.
To my knowledge Shazam has never been included as a default app, though many people know about it. I included it because even in 2011 I think it’s vaguely magical that a phone can listen to a song for 15 seconds and tell me what it is. I’m pretty easily impressed though.
You have correctly pegged me as an Apple fan. I have not owned an Apple computer for >10 years, but I grew up using them and would probably enjoy having one today. Currently, I use a Dell laptop and on the whole I’m pretty happy with it. I do think that Apple has the most impressive mobile phone and tablet offerings of anyone competing in those markets.
You didn’t seem to challenge the actual merit of any of my statements, just called me names and complained about points I didn’t make and apps I didn’t mention. In Paul Graham’s disagreement hierarchy (http://www.paulgraham.com/disagree.html), nothing seemed to rise above the level of DH0/DH1. My opinions on Apple and its products are not intractable beliefs, but I’m more likely to be persuaded by an argument that refutes my central points rather than being dismissed as a corporate viral software program who lacks flesh but somehow gets BJs from his iPad. (I don’t have an iPad.)
Bryan,
Bravo! Yes! My comment definitely did not rise above the level of DH0. You are right to call it out. And that was NOT NOT trixie (apologies to her and the default setting on our home computer). That was me, FF. And your defenses of those apps are well-supported and appreciated. I get it. And I totally relate to your “vaguely magical” response to Shazam. It’s the same feeling of awe that made me include Leafsnap on my list. Thanks for writing (righting) back. And I’m sorry for being so harsh.
As to a proper argument: Yes, I love Apple too (clearly). But the control that Apple has over music and apps and beyond triggers a deep visceral and intellectual response. It’s simply about Power. And the way it limits choice. And many other nasty things. And a company I love is growing into something I hate. I don’t feel strongly enough about it to try to convince you–or anyone really. I grow weary trying to persuade. But I do admire those who do try and are good at it. (Tim, Dave, Scott, AWB, etc…) Basically I wish Apple played nicer.
Keep on responding, Bryan. You have a strong voice. Thanks for tangling!
Yes, Bryan, please do keep on responding. It’s actually really nice to have longtime readers / lurkers post!
Farrell,
Thank you for the quick response. I do wish Apple did some things differently. For example, the App Store approval process can be opaque and frustrating for app developers. (I’m not one, but I listen to their podcasts for some reason.) Because Apple has the ability to change the rules at any time, a developer can find themselves shut out of the market after putting a lot of work into building an app and a user community. But, devil’s advocate, all of that is known to developers when they enter the market, and they’ve decided that the potential reward (significant amount of $) is worth the risk/uncertainty.
I’m also wary of giving Apple exclusive control over my music-listening experience. While I use iTunes to organize playlists and sync to devices, I usually buy DRM-free MP3s from Amazon, which can be easily transferred between computers. If one day I decide that I’m done with iTunes/iPod/iPhone, I can pick up my MP3s and listen to them another way without difficulty. I don’t use the iTunes store to purchase much beyond apps for the phone; for example, I’d be uncomfortable spending a lot of money on movies or TV shows and then being limited to Apple devices for video playback.
As I said before I’ve been a fan of Apple’s computers since the 80s, but I think my strongest current feelings stem from the introduction of the iPhone in 2007. Think about mobile phones before then — the user experience ranged from “OK, I guess” to “ehhhh” to frustrating to awful, even with relatively expensive phones. And this is coming from someone who owned and vocally endorsed Nokia and then BlackBerry devices because they were the best I could find to meet my needs at the time. But then the iPhone set the bar so colossally higher in terms of delightful user experience, and so I will always be grateful to Apple for having the vision and talent to build the phone, and the drive to demand unheard-of concessions from the carriers (first A&T and now Verizon) — essentially giving the carriers zero control over the user experience (which they were awful at).
(At the same time I recognize that Apple did all of those things first and foremost to make a boatload of money, and that my gratitude or whatever doesn’t mean anything to them beyond the future revenue they will obtain from me.)
I do think that Apple products will only get better as a result of better competition, and I hope that companies will continue to challenge them on features and price. I’d agree with Andy Inhatko’s statement that “Apple versus Amazon is like Ali versus Frasier. This is two evenly-matched fighters and the outcome of their battle can only benefit consumers.” (http://ihnatko.com/2011/03/29/amazon-to-apple-oh-it-is-sooo-on/)
Thanks again for your response and for welcoming me to TGW. (Please buy me an iPad.)