Mobility

10 must-have iPod Touch apps, according to Tricia Liebert

By // August 4, 2010, 11:48 PM PST // sonjathompson

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  • Note

    With so many useful and entertaining mobile apps available on the market, we thought we'd ask our editors, contributor writers, and members what apps they prefer above the rest.

    In this particular gallery, Tricia Liebert (aka TiggerTwo) highlights her favorite Apple iPod Touch apps.

    Tricia said, "I have never been a big fan of full-on word processors on my small device. Let's face it, I have aging eyes and tiny type is an anathema. Screens that I have to scroll all over don't make me a happy girl either. What I use is Note by Mobience.

    "Note synchs with my mail and lets me do things like assign priority, turn the Note into an actual document - generally the Note is just an idea fragment - or move contact information into my contacts with a mouse click. For something that is really quite lightweight, Note is quite flexible (and it's free)."

  • Strip - Password Manager

    "Password management is something that came up repeatedly in TechRepublic's planned conference discussions and "un-conference" topics. A product called Strip (www.getstrip.com) by Zetetic LLC is a handy tool that can reside on your handheld device as well as on your desktop (using the StripSync app in your desktop).

    "The Strip tool, for only $9.99, allows the user to categorize information in a way that makes sense to them and provides 256-bit AES encryption and secure password protection.

    "If you are tired of trying to remember too many passwords, this tool is indispensable."

  • Paperless

    "I use checklists almost constantly and Note isn't the right tool to do that job. Paperless by Crush Apps is.

    "For only $1.99, Paperless will manage your grocery list, action items, and even the outline for your next blog.

    "Check it out at www.crushapps.com."

  • Dragon Dictation

    "I have a fingertip stylus for that impossibly small touch keyboard on screen. While it makes adding an entry easier, it can still be kludgy. Enter the Dragon, a free voice-to-text tool that truly simplifies the process.

    "If you use a Touch or iPhone, this tool is absolutely a must have. It is made by Nuance Communications, the people who have been maintaining the Dragon Naturally Speaking tool for quite some time.

    "Touch users will need an external microphone, but the gains are well worth it."

  • Dragon Search

    "Also available from Nuance Communications is Dragon Search, a free voice-activated search tool."

  • Flashlight.

    "Have you ever needed a flashlight and just didn't have one? One evening during the conference, jdclyde was trying to do something and the only light available was from a cell phone. Not nearly bright enough. I went looking and found Flashlight.

    "This free app, by John Haney Software, will turn on your screen at the maximum brightness and allow you to determine when you no longer need it - as opposed to the one minute timeout."

  • iHandy Flashlight Pro

    iHandy Flashlight Pro, by iHandySoft Inc, provides many more lighting effects, all for the low price of $0.99.

  • TimeTracker

    "If you need to record time spent in an activity, consider a simple tool called Time Tracker by Jens EickMeyer.

    "For $4.99, this app lets you define an activity, and then establish your start and end time with a touch. You can also pause a task and restart.

    "While this tool is still quite simple, it is also useful."

  • Riffer Lite

    "If you are a creative person or in a creative role and need to come up with an idea that will break you out of a block, consider a tool called Riffer.

    This simple app by Global Empire Soft will produce connection-rich images and words, presenting your brain with concepts that you might not have considered without the prompt. It also is a 'brain gym' that helps you to strengthen your creative edge.

    "This tool is another free tool and well worth a look."

  • Bic Concert Lighter

    "Once upon a time, you never went to a concert without a handy Bic lighter. This was your way of communicating to the musicians that you appreciated a song or would like to hear more.

    "Sadly, concert goers are no longer encouraged to light up and the Bic lighter has been replaced. But can you really ever replace a classic? Not as far as I'm concerned.

    "So, I have the free Bic Concert Lighter app by BIC USA Inc. Now I can light up like I did when I was a teenager... ish."

Note

With so many useful and entertaining mobile apps available on the market, we thought we'd ask our editors, contributor writers, and members what apps they prefer above the rest.

In this particular gallery, Tricia Liebert (aka TiggerTwo) highlights her favorite Apple iPod Touch apps.

Tricia said, "I have never been a big fan of full-on word processors on my small device. Let's face it, I have aging eyes and tiny type is an anathema. Screens that I have to scroll all over don't make me a happy girl either. What I use is Note by Mobience.

"Note synchs with my mail and lets me do things like assign priority, turn the Note into an actual document - generally the Note is just an idea fragment - or move contact information into my contacts with a mouse click. For something that is really quite lightweight, Note is quite flexible (and it's free)."

Related Topics:

Mobility Security Hardware Software Apple Android Google

By Sonja Thompson

Sonja Thompson started at TechRepublic in October 1999. She is a former Senior Editor at TechRepublic.