I love apps for my iPhone, and am a little ashamed to admit that I have downloaded over 150 apps. Games, weather, news, video – I love the potential in a new app. I'm also particularly fond of free apps (if it's free it's for me!) which is why, despite my app-addiction, I've spent very little money on the programs.
But recently, after I couldn't find the map app on my overstuffed iPhone, I decided it was time to cut back on the apps, leaving only those that I actually use on a regular basis. It was painful, but I was able to cut down the apps to just the basics (mail, iTunes, Safari), plus a few "must haves."
Here are the top five apps that made the cut (and yes, they were all free):
- Amazon Kindle – Now that I have a Kindle, I use this app less frequently, but still appreciate the convenience of reading books on my iPhone. Plus, it syncs with my Kindle, so I never have to remember what I read last.
- Facebook – Yes, I'm hooked on Facebook. At least with this app, I'm not also hooked to my computer.
- Sonos – We use a Sonos system to control the audio in our house (both upstairs and downstairs). The system includes a wireless controller that is never in the room I'm in when I want to change the channel or adjust the volume. But with this app, I can turn my iPhone into a Sonos controller that actually works better than the actual controller.
- HootSuite – With the HootSuite app I can manage my multiple Twitter accounts.
- ExtraLife – I am a fan of the web comic by Scott Johnson of MyExtraLife.com, but I have a hard time remembering to visit the site to see what's new. The ExtraLife Comic Reader lets me get my geek fix, on the go.
As you can see from the picture above, although I have a few more apps on my phone (including an app for attendees of next week's SXSW, as well as our new Manic Mommies app), I'm enjoying my new, lighter, iPhone.
But I can't help ask . . . What are your "must have" apps?