The Man's Must-Have iPhone Apps

If you have an iPhone (sorry if you don't) and want to take your daily technology coolness quotient to the next level, then you need to pay attention. You won't find silly games or time wasters on this list. These are helpful, and mostly free apps (unless otherwise noted), that will kick your tech life up a notch.

DirectTV - It no longer matters if you forget to program your DVR. Now you no longer have to miss a thing. This app allows you to set your favorite shows to record no matter where you are in the world, even if you have multiple receivers. Search by shows, channel or date and time. It's quick, simple and delivers instant piece of mind.

Remote - Play, pause, skip and shuffle your songs, playlists and album art from your iPhone as if you were right in front of your computer. Works with your Wi-Fi network, so you can control playback from anywhere in and around your home and play it through speakers connected to the network in any room. Gives your home surround sound without the cost of construction. Guaranteed to impress your friends.

AirMouse - $3 - If you have a computer hooked up to your HDTV, like us, this app allows you to use your iPhone as the mouse from your couch. No cords required or direct sight lines needed. Surf the Internet or use your AppleTV in comfort with a single finger. A godsend if your computer is hidden away like ours.

Trail Guru - Capture your next run, ride, walk, hike or biking trip using the iPhone 3G's GPS technology. Displays statistics like distance, duration, elevation, etc. and keeps track of where and how far you've gone. Will even update it to your Facebook page if you want to share/brag how fit you are to your friends.

Sirius/XM - Let's you listen to your favorite satellite channels - except Howard Stern - from your iPhone. It's free if you already have an online or lifetime membership, plus it allows you to immediately purchase most songs played from the iTunes store, so you don't have to live without your latest favorite tune. How cool is that?

Yelp - Great for when you're in a new place and are looking for the best place to eat, drink or shop. Will even find gas stations for you. Uses the phone's built-in location finder to find businesses near you and then shows you what past customers have said about them. No more disappointing dives, unless that's what you're looking for.

Showtimes - Find out what's playing at every theater near you (the app uses GPS technology) and purchase tickets via Fandango. If you can't decide what to see, you can watch trailers of all the films available to help you choose. Will even provide driving directions if you don't know the way.

Cor.kz - $4 - For the wine lover. Even if you don't have a huge cellar, this app taps into the power of CellarTracker, an enormous wine database with over 600,000 bottles listed and 875,000 tasting notes. Allows you to manage your cellar from your phone and share your notes and purchases with your friends via Twitter and Facebook.

Tweetie - $3 - When you just have to tweet, this app is awesome. It allows you to have multiple accounts signed in at once, uploads pics with the greatest of ease (or the push of one button), color codes your tweets (and any that mention you) and is attractive to boot. If only if was available for the Blackberry...

Flashlight, The Weather Channel and iHandy Level - All free. All fairly obvious, but worth having on your phone. You never know when you're going to need to level a shelf in the dark during a hurricane.

Who is the Man? Well, he's my husband and the most knowledgeable computer guy I know. He fixes computers (both MAC and PC) for a living and is obsessed with finding the latest and greatest gadgets, programs and apps. I don't understand half of the things he talks about, but if he thinks something is cool, he's usually proven to be right. That's why our friends call him "The Man."

-- By Lisa Dinsmore

Comments

[COPerez]

I love all the apps you mentioned, Lisa, but I'm surprised you didn't mention "Shazam." Guys like to know everything. And if we don't we like to know right where we can find out. Does your S.O. "loooove" that song on the radio or playing over the speakers at your fave store? What the heck is the name of that song? Shazam "listens" through your iPhone's mic, searches its database and finds the song and artist and provides a link to the iTunes store so you can download it.

Tres suave, no?