Back in October 2010 I found out about Instagram through the iTunes App Store, I immediately downloaded it and started playing with it, little did I know I would be infatuated with it this much! It’s been a year since I’ve used it and I still love it like the day it was launched. I love it to the point that the first week I had to submit my “App of the Week” recommendation to the newspaper I chose “Instagram” as my first app to feature!
What is it?
Instagram is: A fast, beautiful and fun way to share photos directly from your iPhone. Founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger.
So from their launch day October 6th 2010 to a year later they are celebrating over 2 million users and a bunch load of awesome features. I thought it would be awesome to share with you my stats from this amazing app and later on I’ll give you special links as to what else you can do with it.
I’ve loved using it and spreading the love in pictures and feel that many of you will feel the same way as well, thanks to everyone who follows me out there and to the new followers and thanks to just everyone!
For those of you who haven’t followed me yet check me out .
[iPhone Apps] Skype 3.0 Updated
In a move that can only be summarized by saying “Ending 2010 with a big BANG!” Skype has updated their iPhone App to include Video Calling! Something it has been lacking for quite some time now. I believe Skype is one of the most universal and highly adapted video calling platforms all around the world, and the fact that video was left out on the iPhone put a damper on everyone’s spirits including mine, we all tried to find alternatives such as Tango, FaceTime, Yahoo Messenger, and so much more! But now you can delete all of those except FaceTime of course and focus only on Skype!
Improvements:
• Make Skype to Skype video calls on WiFi and 3G*
• Call Skype desktop users (Mac OS X or Windows) and other iPhone users.
• Two-way video calls supported on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4th gen.
• Receive only video supported on iPad and iPod touch 3rd gen, with no camera.
• Make video calls in portrait and landscape.
• Skype video calling requires iOS 4.0 or above.
*Additional Data charges may apply
I updated my iPhone this morning and downloaded the update for Skype and it was AWESOME! I called my little sister at home and even though I was on 3G and she was on Wi-Fi I saw her crystal clear and it didn’t show as if it’s about to die out on me like it does on Tango! It was fun and a nice way to waste some time in the office! If you haven’t updated Skype for your iPhone go and hurry up download the update and enjoy it! Whether you are on 3G or Wifi the picture is awesome and so much fun!
I actually wanted to get up and dance but then I remembered I was at work while watching that video!
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The iPhone 4 brought to us a new way of video-calling with it’s FaceTime feature. I am not sure if many touch screen phones out there have a form of video-calling but the cool thing about the iPhone is that you can now establish calls on your Wi-Fi network without succumbing to the insane Video Calling charges or even scrambling to your closest computer.
But the one area where the iPhone 4 failed is that Face Time is still Wi-Fi only and not supported on 3G and sometimes you are not in a Wi-Fi zone so you can’t make that video call, so different third parties are trying to give you that 3G calling edge. This is where Yahoo Messenger! comes in, they have updated their iPhone App to now support multitasking, Wi-Fi video calling (iOS to iOS, iOS to Adnroid, or even iOS to PC) and 3G support as well. You can even get instant notifications.
It’s like really cool, it’s what the Skype app should be like because why do I want only voice calls on my phone and not video calls since I have dual facing cameras! I tried it out last night with mom and she was on her PC and it worked awesomely! Now I just have to get some of my sisters to download and create a Yahoo Account and viola we’ll be done!
So go check it out at the App Store, it’s free!
We all probably heard about Google Goggles and how it’s as easy as snapping a picture of a book, an object, takling to your phone, taking pictures of logos, wine labels, or anything popular and getting an instant search item on Google. Google Goggles has been available on the Android for quite some time and everyone loves it!
Well today marks the day that Google Goggles debuts on the iPhone within their Google Mobile App, all you do is click on the “Search” button in the taskbar below and you’ll see a camera icon right next to the search bar in the next page. Take a picture of whatever you want and find an instant answer. I tried that with my office phone and it gave me the exact model available on Google.com I was seriously drooling!
The service works best on copy, logos, book covers, landmarks, wine lables, and other easily recognized images; it doesn’t do well however with the organic shapes like animals, people or food. Goggles works only with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 so if you’ve got those beasts go ahead and try it out.
Google Mobile App is available Free at the App Store.
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I’ve had lots of friends ask me what are my favorite apps on the iPhone, what I use most and stuff. I thought what better way than to compile a new list of what I use. I have a total of 55 apps that I use more than others but the top important essential apps are only 22.
My 22 Essential App List:
- Whatsapp (0.o99$) The anti-Blackberry Messenger application and really the best there is on the iPhone.
- Skype (Free) No introduction there, we all use Skype and what better way to communicate with loved ones abroad than using this application over Wi-Fi or 3G.
- BeeJive IM (9.99$) The all-in-one messenger to use when you want to get connected with MSN, Yahoo, Google Talk, etc. However it’s not cheap and there are other alternatives but it’s quite light to use.
- Twitter for iPhone (Free) The official Twitter for the iPhone application, previously known as Tweetie.
- Echofon Pro for Twitter (4.99$) Another Twitter client for the iPhone but this one is better because it gives you Push notification and on top of that it’s compatible with your Firefox browser & Mac Client it syncs to your last read tweets.
- iHeartRadio (Free) I enjoy using it to listen to my favorite station KIIS FM (Los Angeles)
- WunderRadio(6.99$) Another great Radio Player with more Stations from all over the world and ability to play them in the background.
- Navigon MiddleEast (99.99$) A navigation app that brings you the best graphics there is and maps for local regions including Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, KSA, Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, and Qatar.
- Battery Doctor Pro (0.99$) The iPhone 4 battery issues is no secret so this is one of the greatest app there is, charging while having this app running makes the battery last longer sometimes gives you up to 7 hours of actual usage time.
- Deliveries (4.99$) I track my packages on my Mac with this widget so the iPhone app gives you the ability to sync all your packages is awesome. It’s fun to know where your package is when you order something.
- Private Info (1.99$) Ever took a picture/video and didn’t want anyone else to w
- Tomorrow To Do+ (Free) A very simple to-do list gives you only 2 days but it is very simple and looks like a moleskine book.
- TVStatus (1.99$) It’s no secret I’ve got a lot of shows on my plate so I keep them organized with this application to know when the next episode airs.
- Kindle (Free) the best e-book reader app there is, period. No need to say anything else about it.
- Reeder (2.99$) The best feed reader there is in terms of ease of use, synchronization with Google Reader and more.
- Chomp (Free) Ever wanted to grab an app but was worried about whether you’ll get it for free later on? or wanted to read more reviews, this is the best app for this to give you all the details about the latest submissions in the app store.
- Weather HD (0.99$) A beautiful Weather application gives you awesome graphics and nice details.
- Hipstamatic (1.99$) Taking photos now bring back the look, feel, unpredictable beauty and fun of plastic toy cameras of the past. It has lots of cool effects and makes you enjoy taking photos again.
- IncrediBooth (0.99$) No need to have to drive to the mall in order to get a cute Photo Booth picture you now can do it on your iPhone snap 4 consecutive shots with cute effects.
- iMovie (4.99$) With the iPhone 4 you get awesome HD video capabilities and what better way to edit them than to use iMovie to edit the video right there on your iPhone giving you awesome footage afterwards.
- Facebook (Free) The official Facebook client app where you can stay up to date with all your friends.
- WordPress (Free) Want to blog on the go? Have a WordPress blog? Be sure to use this app it’s very nice and easy to use.
And that for now is my Essential app list. I’ve got more apps that I use but not that often. So I’ll give them an honorable mention right here: Camera Sutra, Camera +, CameraBag, CinemaFXV, Vintage Video Maker, PhotoFunia, PocketBooth, Pandora, Shazam, MusicID, Trapster, Speedtest, Opera Mini, Dropbox, iDisk, ZumoDrive, Aramex, Push!, Radio Alarm, Flight Track Pro, Genius Scan, Calengoo, Amazon, Google, Flixter, netTV, TVUPlayer, Zara, H&M, iBooks, Instapaper, Appadvice, and AppShopper among others not worth the mention.
I’ve been abusing my iPhone capabilities to the maximum, at least I hope I am. I do have lots of games installed on it, and well when the time comes where I get bored and I want to ignore people around me, I just take it out and start playing one of the many games and that way I let off some of the steam that has piled inside of me. So I decided why not show you the most used applications on my iPhone. These are applications which I have used every single day at least once.
1. Gazette
I really enjoy reading my blogs, and news feeds. I fell in love with this Feed Reader because well it sync’s with my Google Reader and I get to see everything updated quickly and nicely. The presentation is simple, the speed of it’s updating is fast, and I’ve tried so many other readers I have found that this one is the only one that allows me to be me.
Rate: [Rate 5]
2. TwitterFon
After checking my feeds I jump into TwitterFon to check my tweets and tweet some more. Out of all the apps out there for Twitter I find that TwitterFon suits my needs quite well. One of the features that I love in it, that exceed those of Tweetie, is that is caches your tweets, i.e. I checked my Twitter last night, this morning when I launch the app it loads the tweets and starts from the last spot I was at, so I would read them from oldest –> newest. That’s how Tweeting should be read seriously. Without TwitterFon on my phone I don’t know what I would do…
Rate: 
3. iHeart Radio
So pretty much every morning on my way to work, rather than turning on 99.7RKFM or 88.8 Marina FM to listen to some lame attempt at waking me up, I tune into LA’s KIIS FM and tune into some Jojo listening and on my way back I get to listen to Ryan Seacrest no matter how much I hate him or dislike him at least I get to hear some of the popular music in the States and really enjoy it. It’s my guilty pleasure and I love having this access, unfortunately it doesn’t get the Local Radio Stations but who cares about that for now.
Rate: 
4. Kindle for iPhone
When it comes to books I no longer have the time to sit and read a book from cover to cover and that has depressed me quite so often, I have a huge library of books that I can escape in but no time to escape. Therefore when they launched this app in the iTunes App Store I went crazy and said I had to get it. At first I ran into an issue where you can’t purchase books unless you have a US Issued Bank Card and well I do so that pretty much means I can actually use and abuse my account there and buy as many books. Of course it doesn’t beat having the actual paperback in your hands but at least I can read it anywhere, in between shifts if I stay at work and all that jazz. I bought a book last night and started it, I finished it this afternoon because well I couldn’t put it down. I love you Amazon for giving me THIS! :*wa
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5. BeeJive Instant Messenger
When you reach a point, that you’re too bored or when you wonder who is online, or even want to talk to that specific someone and you want to login to your IM, BeeJive gets the job done and done nicely, it’s got such a beautiful interface, landscape mode for when you get bored of typing vertically, and well pretty much many different features such as sending/receiving files, voice chats, and so forth. I find that I use this as my main messaging client and I love it. Behaves quite nicely.
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A week ago, Amazon released it’s second bit of software for the iPhone, apart from their shopping online experience on the iPhone they are now offering the Kindle for the iPhone. I have always been excited about the Kindle and so I thought hey since it’s free why don’t I check it out?
I downloaded it free off my iPhone and started to browse through the Kindle Store, I tried to purchase a book but it did not allow me to purchase it for some reason. After doing some reading I discovered that my 1-Click Credit Card that I was using is the one issued by NBK and that I should only purchase with US Issued Cards, therefore I easily identified my US Account onto it and viola, I got to purchase one of the latest books that I enjoy to read “Tempted All Night” by Liz Carlyle (check it out in the sidebar).
I recently lost all track of reading what with my busy schedule at work and all, doing three thousand things at once, and the only thing I seem to be able to commit to reading is the blogs I follow daily as well as the story blogs (see: Scarletlights) So I thought this is for sure the only thing that will get me to reading again. I started the journey of reading a book on my iPhone and “OH MY GOD!” I could not get over the fact that it took me the same amount of time that it usually takes when reading an actual paper back book, that I finished a novel in 4 days and did not feel any sort of pain for reading it on an iPhone.
You can pretty much do everything you can on the iPhone that you do on the Kindle except the text-to-speech function. And you can also read your book wherever you are, without having to feel weird about it, you know some of my books might have graphic covers so I would feel self conscious reading it at work or something, but reading my iPhone is just a normal thing. And it was just so awesome, in between clients, in between shifts, I got in many hours of drifting off into another world and that is what I miss about reading.
In short, this little application is a gem really in the world of iPhone Applications, and I thank Amazon for coming up with this amazing way of reading.
a 28 year old Kuwaiti Gadget Freak who is obsessively in love with Apple Products so much that she probably has everything made by Apple. Currently she's being a lazy bum and putting off writing and everything else but when she does this is her space where she likes to vent and release everything, so welcome to it.
A blogger for the past 8 years and still loving it.
