We don’t just make apps, we use ‘em too! 2011 was a great year for new apps and updates to existing classics. Here are a few of our favorites that you might want to check out:
OmniFocus
http://www.omnigroup.com/products/omnifocus-iphone/
This professional-grade task management app allows you to get things done in a more organized way. With versions on iPhone, iPad, and the Mac, you can access your data from wherever you are. As our Director of Technology Neal Enssle says, “…this “Getting Things Done” task manager is helping keep my life under some kind of control.”
Instacast
http://vemedio.com/products/instacast
If you listen to a lot of podcasts, you’ll quickly run into the limits of managing them via iTunes. Enter Instacast. Available on both iPhone and iPad, Instacast allows you to subscribe and update on the go, sync subscriptions via iCloud, and even read show notes inside the app.
“I can’t understand why Apple hasn’t built this functionality into their own app.”—Neal Enssle, Director of Technology.
If you’re looking for a podcast client for Android, our Senior Project Manager Michael Ball-Marian suggests DoggCatcher, which he will tell you is “…worth the cost.”
Safari
http://www.apple.com/iphone/built-in-apps/safari.html
Yes, it’s the built in Web browser but that doesn’t mean it isn’t great. When Safari was introduced in 2007, it showed the world that mobile browsing didn’t have to be watered down. As our Web App UI Designer Mike Bucks says, “It’s the best mobile browser I’ve used and is the reason I own an iPhone.”
Elements
http://www.secondgearsoftware.com/elements/
When keeping track of notes and TODOs, sometimes text files are the simplest solution. Enter Elements, a text editor for Dropbox. Foraker Labs’ Vice President Derek Olson offers this praise: “…it lets me keep track of files across all devices: Laptop, iPad, iPhone. Very nice.”
Square
Want to accept credit cards at your garage sale? Or pay for that sidewalk espresso with your debit card? Square is the perfect solution for both regular vendors and everyday Joes. With a simple dongle (free at squareup.com) and this powerful app, you can easily accept cards and have the funds deposited into your checking account.
“I love Square as a consumer. Makes food truck purchases very nice.”—Jake Sutton, Senior Software Developer.
TweetList
One sometimes overlooked feature of Twitter is lists. Following too many people? Want to group them by interest or other criteria? You should consider using lists. On iPhone, TweetList is a great way to manage the noise. As our Director of Technology Neal Enssle says, “…it’s a great app for managing my Twitter lists, which in turn helps me filter the chaos.”
ForeFlight
Are you a pilot? If so, you’re missing out if you don’t have ForeFlight loaded on your device. From pre-flight intelligence to charts, maps and more, this is an essential tool for amateurs and professionals.
“…AWESOME. Moving maps, GPS integration, tons of flight data. Takes advantage of everything the iPad and iPhone have to offer.”—Stirling Olson, Foraker Labs President.
Flashlight
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flashlight./id285281827?mt=8
Sometimes the best apps are the simplest. Need to find your keys in the dark? Try Flashlight. “…it’s just a light that uses the camera flash. I use it all the time. It’s fast, bright, and simple.”—Derek Olson, Foraker Labs VP.
Evernote
Need to keep track of notes, photos, and other snippets of information? Evernote can help bring order to the chaos. Log your data and sync it between your iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Mac or PC. They even have a Web client. Evernote is everywhere and the basic service is 100% free!
“One example of how awesome it is: search does OCR (optical character recognition) in attached photos. That is crazy…”—Michael Ball-Marian, Senior Project Manager.
“I keep cocktail recipes in Evernote, which is handy.”—Jake Sutton, Senior Software Engineer and Chief Mixology Officer.
FlightTrack Pro
http://www.mobiata.com/apps/flighttrackpro-iphone
When you travel, keeping track of your flights can be a pain. By entering them into FlightTrack Pro, you’ll not only be able to reference everything in one spot but you’ll also be notified if there’s a delay. Easily pull up information about the route when required and find alternate flights if need be. As Foraker Labs President Stirling Olson says, “…great for keeping track of my flights and the flights of visitors.”
Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/iphone
When it comes to reading electronically, the name Kindle is the first thing that most people think of, and for good reason. From the excellent e-ink readers to apps on iPad, iPhone, Android, and everywhere else, Kindle is the best way to read e-books. As Director of Technology Neal Enssle reminds us, it’s “…a wonderful app, especially because it syncs across all Kindle devices.”
Power Tuner
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/power-tuner/id291127374?mt=8
There are many great options for musicians available on the App Store, ranging from the simple to the complex. When you need to tune up your guitar, check out Power Tuner. As our Vice President Derek Olson says: “Simple, accurate tuner for a guitar, or just about any other instrument. A camping and travel must-have for musicians.”
Carcassonne and Civilization Revolutions
http://carcassonneapp.com/
http://www.civilizationrevolution.com/iphone/
Looking for some games to occupy your time at the Christmas dinner table? There are tens of thousands of choices.
Two of our favorites are Civilization Revolutions and Carcassonne. According to Neal, Civilization “…does a great job of giving a Civilization junkie enough of the feel of a ‘real’ game on such a small screen.”
If you’re looking for some sweet board game conversions, Mike Bucks recommends Carcassonne and says “…it has a beautiful UI that really respects the table-top version of the game and also has great multiplayer support…”
Those are some of the apps we’ve been using this year. How about you? Share your favorites in the comments.
Steve M
on December 22, 2011 said:
Great list Hunter!
We thought we should let you know about our app (LifeTopix – http://www.lightarrow.com/lifetopix). Unlike OmniFocus which focuses only on task management, LifeTopix manages all the important information in your life, including tasks & projects, service providers, events, trips, shopping, education, finances, bookmarks, media, notes & files, and health & activity logs. While there are lots of apps on the market for managing each of those types of things individually, LifeTopix is the first app to manage them together using an integrated design that lets you be more productive and get more done with less effort.
It is a universal app and it even has a free desktop client that lets you access the information on your device from your desktop. It integrates with 3rd party tools like Dropbox, Google Docs, Facebook, and Twitter. Evernote integration and device-to-device sync via iCloud will be released soon.
Take a look and let us know what you think!