Starter apps for your new iPhone
Congratulations on unwrapping your brand-new iPhone! Undoubtedly, you’ve already fired up the device and are eagerly exploring what the phone has to offer. Now that you’ve learned your way around a bit, it’s time to load your iPhone up with apps, both fun and functional.
Although the iPhone comes preloaded with a handful of Apple’s own apps, you have thousands upon thousands of third-party apps to choose from in the App Store. Sorting through the lists can be an overwhelming task, so here are a few suggestions to help get you started. With these excellent apps, you can make the most of your iPhone and really show off its capabilities.
Downcast
Recently, Apple released a stand-alone app for managing podcasts, separating the podcast-listening experience from the iPhone's Music app. While the Podcasts app is good, Downcast ($2 in the App Store) is even better. Downcast lets you easily search for and subscribe to podcasts directly from your device. The app also allows you to create playlists, so you can arrange to listen to, say, Radiolab right after This American Life without too much toggling. And—as is standard these days—the audio can play in the background while you use other applications. You can also share your listening habits with Facebook and Twitter friends. Downcast stands out due to its simple navigation and iCloud integration—if you have an iPad or another iOS device, you can use iCloud to sync episodes, podcast subscriptions, and playlists between devices.
Google Maps
Since Apple’s native map app still has some flaws to work around, consider adding another map tool to your app collection. Google Maps for iPhone (free in the App Store) is a very good mapping application that returns some much-missed features to the platform. Before the launch of iOS 6, Google Maps used to be the iPhone’s default map app; now users must install it separately. Launch Google Maps and tap the arrow in the bottom-left corner to find your location, and then navigate through the map using the familiar swipe, pinch-to-zoom, and two-finger rotate gestures you use in countless other apps. Type in an address or landmark in the Search bar at the top of the screen to find and get directions to that location. You can show traffic, or you can view the map in a traditional view, in a satellite view, or through Google Earth (if you have that app installed). Another beloved feature is the option to get directions for driving, walking, or public transit, which is a real lifesaver when you’re exploring unfamiliar territory.
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