Apple ’s iOS is the locomotive that makes the iPad , iPhone , and iPod ghost go . Want to see what all the pother over Apple ’s mobile operating organisation is about ? These three collection showcase apps that take vantage of emplacement - sentience features , iOS 4 ’s multitasking powers , and the societal networking capabilities available to your mobile gadget .
Location, location, location
In the social networking earthly concern , it ’s not always just who you have intercourse — it ’s where you are as well . These apps take reward of the Io ’s geolocation features to retrieve your friends , play new people , and share peachy experiences.—Beau Colburn
Foursquare : If you ’re a Facebook or Twitter drug user , chances are good you ’ve catch friends post about checking into their favorite eating place or coffee workshop via Foursquare . So what ’s all the fuss about ? Just launch the free app on your GPS - enabled iPhone , and it will state you the locus that ’s closet to you . You earn points by checking into spots ; the more you train in , the better your chances of becoming “ Mayor ” of a dedicate maculation . Foursquare make it easy to see where your friends are gathering , and to lend a small friendly competitor your casual modus operandi .
Loopt : Like Foursquare , Loopt offers a way to love where your Quaker are and what they ’re doing ; however this complimentary societal networking app takes a slightly different glide slope . Loopt user can speedily glance at their function to see all nearby friend , events , and hint spotlight . For a steady stream of update , keep the app running in the background on iOS 4 ( if you ’re not afraid of learn the hit on battery life ) . Less about competition , Loopt position its focus on quick accession to your fellow “ Loopster ” booster .
Yelp
Yelp
Waze : Put a societal twirl on the time you spend in the car with the free Waze . Users of the intercrossed iPhone - iPad app aid each other by reporting common delay like construction or stroke . When you do within a sure range of these reports , Waze alarm you . Built - in act - by - bit directions , combined with ready to hand tips along the way make Waze a helpful fellow for your next road slip . The app needs time to “ learn ” the roads in your area , so treat Waze as a more casual GPS arrangement than other dedicated turn - by - number commission apps . For extra fun , a Pac - humans - stylus game pull in you point as you drive over sure featured road .
Multitasking marvels
As iPad possessor have discover with the recent iOS 4.2 update , the beneficial part of iOS 4 has been multitasking . Beyond more rapidly switching between apps , though , you’re able to now let backcloth operation from third - company apps keep running even if you switch to another app . These three apps offer excellent instance of iOS 4 multitasking in action.—Lex Friedman
Skype : The free Skype app for iPhone does n’t yet support picture conferencing , but that ’s about where its limitation end . you could place Skype calls over Wi - Fi and 3 G , and the audio timber is vastly skillful than a steady cell speech sound call . you could also , of class , use Skype ’s instantaneous messaging characteristic . But what work Skype on iOS 4 so magical is that you may exit the app and continue sign in for incur calls , and you may keep talking to your Skype compatriots while run games , checking einsteinium - postal service , or otherwise using your iPhone .
Pandora Radio : Tell Pandora Radio what euphony you like — creative person , composer , or case-by-case song title of respect — and the free app forthwith start rain buckets euphony you will belike savor . The thaumaturgy continue with iOS 4 — Pandora can keep playing euphony while you ’re in other apps . Even best , when you double - tap the Home clitoris to exhibit the iPod controls , they ’ll actually wreak for the Pandora app instead . Pandora excels at see songs that match your preferences , and the audio quality is first-class , too .
Navigon MobileNavigator
Navigon MobileNavigator
Navigon MobileNavigator : It may be one of several act - by - turning navigation apps for the iPhone , but Navigon MobileNavigator garner higher marks fromMacworldthan most of its rivalry . The $ 45 app proffer all sorts of fancy GPS features — text - to - spoken language to announce route name , lane and speed assist , 2D and 3D views , individual - tap home clit , and more . Even better , of course , is that with iOS 4 , it ’s okay to take claim or check your e - postal service while Navigon ’s steer you ; the app sustain running of where you are even while it ’s work in the background . Since Navigon defend fast - app switching , you could switch right back to the app when you ’re quick to steer back to the map .
Stay social
E - chain armour and crying electronic messaging have become passé . These twenty-four hour period , the cool tyke stay put in contact via a slew of other social services . If you ’re part of the societal networking public and you have an iPhone in your pocket , you ’re plugged in 24/7 . This trio of iPhone apps can aid you pilot the social waters.—Lex Milton Friedman
chirrup : Twitter ’s innocent , official iPhone / iPad guest is my pet way to reach the land site . The app provides an attractive and intuitive means of crop your Twitter timeline , with cleverly - implemented subtle gesture that experience like they should be built into the iOS : Pull down on your timeline to freshen it , grabbing the newest updates . Swipe across an individual tweet to expose options for replying , retweeting , e - posting , and such . Beyond its clever gestures , Twitter ports a powerful characteristic solidifying . you could bring through posts as drafts , shorten links , tweet photo and videos , browse lift trends , and lookup .
Tumblr
Tumblr
Tumblr : Anything you’re able to do from the Tumblr Website , you’re able to do just as easily from within the liberal Tumblr app , which makes it sluttish to post to your blog whenever divine guidance strikes . imposingly , the app supports post in all of Tumblr ’s supported formats — text , pic , video , sound , quotes , link , confab copy — and the usance interfaces for create each kind of post look and work great . The iPhone app also provides access to your full Dashboard , where you’re able to scroll through all of your supporter ’ bodily process .
