The Mike guide to useful iPhone and OS X applications Print
Written by Mike   
Tuesday, 24 February 2009 22:41
Useful Apps For mac and iphone and itouch
I have in my working life in graphic reproduction been associated with early macs, their transformation of the reproduction side of printing was truly revolutionary, changing working practices beyond all recognition. The increase in productivity and reduction in production costs have stimulated the growth of all kinds of communication, be it newspaper production and news gathering, to general printing packaging , etc. Truly a life changing invention not just for people directly associated with it, but for the consumers of its magic also.

It is the nature of the beast that the more that you use and explore the abilities of the mac and the operating system used on the mac the more powerful it seems. Every mac owner will have a collection of apps that enable him to perform the tasks he needs to do. Some come bundled with the operating software, whilst others are purchased or are obtained as freeware often loaded down from the web.

This ability of the mac to perform such a wide variety of different functions is largely due to the use of applications written by third parties. This means that it is very rare to find two macs configured the same, as the user will have collected apps from the various sources to enable him to pursue his interests be they for work, shopping, education, research or pleasure. The uses to which the mac is put seems infinite.
    
Below is listed apps that I have found of interest and a brief resume of their function and cost, together with links to their website and how they have been of use to me. I hope that the reader will explore some of them as I am sure they will make his experience using the mac much the richer.

evernote

An iphone and itouch app that may be useful to maybe a builder, architect , etc., who when on site wants to jot text notes, record voice notes or photographs either from his camera phone or from his iphoto library. All this information syncs from iphone to mac via mobile me. (app store free version upgradeable $5 per month $45 per year) I personally have used it to make lists of building materials that need ordering for a project of garden landscaping. I can walk freely around the site recording my thoughts and material needs for later perusal.

newsfire

A news reader app that allows the mac to sort news subjects from the web that are of interest to the reader, presenting them as a list of headers which can be selected via the mouse. (free www.newsfirerss.com) I have used it to pursue my interests in macs assembling RSS feeds to sites such as Low End Mac, CNET news, Apple Hot News Together with BBC and Telegraph Technology feeds. This enables me to keep abreast with the mac news derived from diverse sources all in the one place.

spotify

A music on tap app, that allows selected music to be streamed to the mac. It allows the building of playlists containing your favourite music which can be streamed to you wherever you are via broadband. ( Free version contains advertising, paid for add free £9.99 a month, £0.99 for 24 hours www.spotify.com/en/) Probably my most used app it allows me to assemble playlists of my favourite music which can reflect my mood of the moment and enables me to play them through my surround sound system which I have connected to my mac. Truly remarkable value, especially the free version.

airmouse

Turns the iphone into a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. (app store £3.49) My mac is connected to my TV which mirrors the mac. I use this app to sit comfortably watching TV controlling my mac from my recliner chair.

remote

Allows the iphone to control music from your itunes library remotely. Whether your music resides in itunes on your mac or on Apple TV. (app store free) Used to control itunes from my recliner gives much more control than the remote supplied by Apple.

Tuner

An iphone app that streams over 500 radio stations over wifi to the iphone. (app store £3.49) 500 stations but no BBC. Superseded for me by spotify and Apple TV

italk

A voice recorder app for the iphone which syncs to the mac. (app store free upgradeable £2.99) A very simple to use voice recorder, may be used for recording shopping lists , etc.

ereader

A book reader app allowing ebooks downloaded from the web to be read on your iphone. it also allows text search which may be useful when doing research. (app store free) Comes with several clasic books bundled with the reader. Useful when there is nothing on TV.

wi-fi finder

Looking for wifi hot spot? This app will help you find it (app store free) I do not use this much as living in a remote area WWi-Fi spots are few and far between, and those listed near me are pay spots which makes connection, time consuming and expensive.

ocarina

Converts the iphone into a flute. (app store £0.59) Should only be used by the truly musical, (please).

cooliris

A searchable photo library for your iphone. (app store free) if you need a picture of a particular place or subject for whatever purpose, the odds are you will find it here.

As you can see I have used many of these apps to enrich my life in many ways, making my mac a centeral resorce in my home and working life.

Surrey Mac User Group would like to hear from you how you use your Apple Mac and associated add ons in your life, please let us know on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 
Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 February 2009 17:29 )