The Apple iPhone was only released into the wild a little over a week ago, and some killer apps have already surfaced.
July 9, 2007 (Press Release) --
While the handheld device lacks support for native applications -- the kind users can download and install -- developers have been busy building programs for the iPhone's version of the Safari web browser. It may not be the most ideal platform for adding functionality to the iPhone, but it works. By squishing down and optimizing their browser-based apps, developers have managed to add a great deal of value to the sleek black device.
Here's a look at the best iPhone web apps so far.
A World of Widgets
Given the small screen size, the iPhone is ideal for widgets -- single-serving apps that do one thing, and one thing well.
To replicate Apple's Dashboard widget interface on your iPhone, try Widgetop. Its slick interface offers quick access to Wikipedia searches, RSS feeds and better-than-average looking sticky notes, complete with custom fonts and colors.
Some of the apps in Widgetop duplicate features already on the iPhone, but unique offerings exist as well -- a site directory includes dozens of customized apps ranging from webcams to quote-of-the-day widgets. Also, signing up at the site will allow you to save a customized widget layout.
Another entry in the widget space is Kudit.com, but its services aren't free. There are some fun apps here, but the listings are nowhere near as extensive as Widgetop. And really, who wants to pay $2 for a Magic 8-ball widget?
Game On
The iPhone doesn't ship with any cool time-wasting games to get you through a boring commute -- rather surprising, since even the iPod has a few.
Halo they're not, but as long as you have a decent Wi-Fi connection, you can play Sudoku, Chess and Tic-Tac-Toe on the iPhone. There's also Diamenty, a very addicting Bejeweled-like game. Dozens of other small games are also available through Widgetop's interface.
Chat Me Up
IChat for iPhone is web-based solution written in JavaScript that makes up for the iPhone's lack of a real AIM client. You can download the source code and host it on your own server for better security, but if you'd like to take it for a spin, point your iPhone to Publictivity, which is hosting a demo version. Sessions are limited to ten minutes, but we didn't run into any problems. While it's ideal with a wireless connection, it's not too bad over EDGE, either.
If you're not an AIM user, just point Safari at Meebo.com, a web-based chat service that supports all the major protocols, including AIM, MSN, Yahoo and ICQ. It may not be optimized for the iPhone yet, but it works, and it should be ready for regular use soon.
Office Docs to Go
Even before the iPhone was released, Zoho hacked together an iPhone-optimized version of the its online office suite. IZoho offers access to Zoho Writer, Sheet, Show and Creator, though only Writer has read and write support thus far. The Zoho Team reports they're working on read/write support for the entire suite, but you'll have to settle for only being able to type into the word processor for the time being.
IZoho performed admirably in our testing, but it's definitely one for Wi-fi -- it took the better part of ten minutes to fully load the Writer editing interface over AT&T's EDGE network.
Read My Feeds
A few small widgets made for collecting RSS news feeds on your iPhone have already sprung up. Widgetop offers one, but Google Reader still rules. Google offers a mobile version of its app, but David Cann has developed a very nice skin for Google Reader which makes it even easier to browse your feeds on the iPhone.
Because Cann's Google Reader skin is actually a JavaScript bookmarklet, you'll need to drag the link up to the toolbar in Safari, then add that bookmarklet to your iPhone by syncing through iTunes. From there, just navigate to Google Reader (the standard version, not the mobile version), open your bookmarks and hit the bookmarklet for the skin. This will cause Google Reader to reload and display your subscriptions as a narrow list which you can navigate by tunneling in horizontally -- much better than Google's default mobile version.
A word of warning: This one has crashed the iPhone's version of Safari a couple of times during testing.
Take the IPhones Shopping
The iPhone's portability makes it an ideal place to store your to-do lists, which makes Apple's decision not to offer list-keeping all the more curious.
That's all right though, because OneTrip, by far the simplest app in this list, is also the most useful. The ingenious interface lets you quickly organize and build a web-based shopping list on your iPhone. Then, when you're at the store, check off items as you find them. OneTrip uses cookies to remember what's on your list the next time you visit the site. Also, as far as we know, OneTrip was the first third party app for the iPhone.
If you need to fill up the car with gas on the way home, use Gas.app. Plug in your ZIP code and you'll get a list of the cheapest gas in your area, complete with maps.
Get Social
When you're done editing docs or shopping and it's time to geek out, iPhonified versions of del.icio.us and Digg are available. Both are pretty simple, but at least you won't feel left out at tonight's party.
Other ways to stay culture-current: browse your friends' Flickr photos with the iPhone-optimized iPhlickr, find the closest screening of Transformers with Showtimes and scan the day's headlines with iActu, a very nice looking news site optimized for the small screen.
Author: Scott Gilbertson
Source: http://www.wired.com/
Here's a look at the best iPhone web apps so far.
A World of Widgets
Given the small screen size, the iPhone is ideal for widgets -- single-serving apps that do one thing, and one thing well.
To replicate Apple's Dashboard widget interface on your iPhone, try Widgetop. Its slick interface offers quick access to Wikipedia searches, RSS feeds and better-than-average looking sticky notes, complete with custom fonts and colors.
Some of the apps in Widgetop duplicate features already on the iPhone, but unique offerings exist as well -- a site directory includes dozens of customized apps ranging from webcams to quote-of-the-day widgets. Also, signing up at the site will allow you to save a customized widget layout.
Another entry in the widget space is Kudit.com, but its services aren't free. There are some fun apps here, but the listings are nowhere near as extensive as Widgetop. And really, who wants to pay $2 for a Magic 8-ball widget?
Game On
The iPhone doesn't ship with any cool time-wasting games to get you through a boring commute -- rather surprising, since even the iPod has a few.
Halo they're not, but as long as you have a decent Wi-Fi connection, you can play Sudoku, Chess and Tic-Tac-Toe on the iPhone. There's also Diamenty, a very addicting Bejeweled-like game. Dozens of other small games are also available through Widgetop's interface.
Chat Me Up
IChat for iPhone is web-based solution written in JavaScript that makes up for the iPhone's lack of a real AIM client. You can download the source code and host it on your own server for better security, but if you'd like to take it for a spin, point your iPhone to Publictivity, which is hosting a demo version. Sessions are limited to ten minutes, but we didn't run into any problems. While it's ideal with a wireless connection, it's not too bad over EDGE, either.
If you're not an AIM user, just point Safari at Meebo.com, a web-based chat service that supports all the major protocols, including AIM, MSN, Yahoo and ICQ. It may not be optimized for the iPhone yet, but it works, and it should be ready for regular use soon.
Office Docs to Go
Even before the iPhone was released, Zoho hacked together an iPhone-optimized version of the its online office suite. IZoho offers access to Zoho Writer, Sheet, Show and Creator, though only Writer has read and write support thus far. The Zoho Team reports they're working on read/write support for the entire suite, but you'll have to settle for only being able to type into the word processor for the time being.
IZoho performed admirably in our testing, but it's definitely one for Wi-fi -- it took the better part of ten minutes to fully load the Writer editing interface over AT&T's EDGE network.
Read My Feeds
A few small widgets made for collecting RSS news feeds on your iPhone have already sprung up. Widgetop offers one, but Google Reader still rules. Google offers a mobile version of its app, but David Cann has developed a very nice skin for Google Reader which makes it even easier to browse your feeds on the iPhone.
Because Cann's Google Reader skin is actually a JavaScript bookmarklet, you'll need to drag the link up to the toolbar in Safari, then add that bookmarklet to your iPhone by syncing through iTunes. From there, just navigate to Google Reader (the standard version, not the mobile version), open your bookmarks and hit the bookmarklet for the skin. This will cause Google Reader to reload and display your subscriptions as a narrow list which you can navigate by tunneling in horizontally -- much better than Google's default mobile version.
A word of warning: This one has crashed the iPhone's version of Safari a couple of times during testing.
Take the IPhones Shopping
The iPhone's portability makes it an ideal place to store your to-do lists, which makes Apple's decision not to offer list-keeping all the more curious.
That's all right though, because OneTrip, by far the simplest app in this list, is also the most useful. The ingenious interface lets you quickly organize and build a web-based shopping list on your iPhone. Then, when you're at the store, check off items as you find them. OneTrip uses cookies to remember what's on your list the next time you visit the site. Also, as far as we know, OneTrip was the first third party app for the iPhone.
If you need to fill up the car with gas on the way home, use Gas.app. Plug in your ZIP code and you'll get a list of the cheapest gas in your area, complete with maps.
Get Social
When you're done editing docs or shopping and it's time to geek out, iPhonified versions of del.icio.us and Digg are available. Both are pretty simple, but at least you won't feel left out at tonight's party.
Other ways to stay culture-current: browse your friends' Flickr photos with the iPhone-optimized iPhlickr, find the closest screening of Transformers with Showtimes and scan the day's headlines with iActu, a very nice looking news site optimized for the small screen.
Author: Scott Gilbertson
Source: http://www.wired.com/
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