iPhone Apps
Now that the app store is about to debut, I thought I’d write a couple of thoughts about it. First and most importantly, I think that any app should strongly consider having an interface with the web. Let’s take a mileage program for example. By itself, it may have a great interface, and functionality. But in today’s connected world, we want access to our information the way we want it. Yeah, you’ll have your iPhone with you at almost all times (for access to the info), but it’d be great if the info was sync’d to a website and you can view it on your much larger desktop or laptop and utilize the larger format’s ability to display the data in different forms. You could then take the data in a csv file and interpret/manipulate it how you see fit in a spreadsheet program of your own choosing. It’d also be backed up more securely (free from loss, not from possible trespassing though 
) than just having a sync with your local computer. Perhaps, taken to another level, data could be backed up into MobileMe or maybe Google could do a hostile takeover and offer MobileMe functionality for free.
Secondly, I’m hoping that with the wireless and GPS functionality built-in, these apps will grow and expand beyond those that were written for the Palm and PocketPC. Right now, iPhone apps are in it’s infancy. This stage is going to be very familiar to those who used to have a PDA. Hopefully, the weak and inferior programs (and/or redundant and overpriced programs) can be quickly weeded out and allowed to die a quick death.
Apps I’m waiting on:
- Smugmug browser (not just uploader)
- Remember the Milk
- Wordpress publisher
- Secure Facebook (https)
Voice Recorder- Google Docs/notes interface
Possible Cool Stuff:
- yelp
- evernote
- moocow pianist
- guitar suite
- pandora
- tuner
- whereto, vicinity - apps that return restaurant, bar, POI information based on your location
- limbo - tells your friends/otheres where you are and what you’re doing — kinda scary too
Might be time for me to get some better in-ear headphones.