You probably know an iPhone owner or two who just can’t wait to demonstrate their virtual Zippo lighter or I Am T-Pain, the auto-tune recorder. A cursory look at the app store only supports iPhone’s reputation as the flippant teenager of smartphones, with The Moron Test and Pocket Girlfriend (whatever that is) listed among the worldwide top-sellers.
And if you want to tap into the world of ideas? Well, yes, there are apps for that, too. So, for the iPhone owners out there, here are a few suggestions for keeping up with the conversation:
TED (Free). The TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference is an annual four-day invitation-only event consisting of 80 speeches – no panels , just an individual on stage. Just about every boldface brain has given a talk at TED. Stephen Hawking, Jane Goodall, Daniel Dennett, Bill Clinton, Oliver Sacks, Raymond Kurzweil, J.J. Abrams, Amy Tan, Philippe Starck, and Frank Gehry are among the hundreds whose presentations are freely available for streaming on the conference website. Since these talks are minimal on visuals, they are no less compelling on the iPhone’s small screen. Most of these talks, in fact, are just as enjoyable as audio-only podcasts, also available with TED’s app.
IndieBound (Free). Next time you are on vacation and craving a quirky beach read, check out this great app from the independent bookseller alliance IndieBound. It uses GPS to find the nonchain bookstores nearest to you, complete with a contact number, hours of operation, and link to its website. You can use IndieBound to order books to pick up at the indie bookshop of your choice and keep a “wish list??? of books you’d like to read next. It is also excellent for browsing, when no brick-and-mortar shop is nearby. Check out the bestseller lists and reading group recommendations in categories ranging from “Comics and Graphic Novels??? to “Memorable Women.??? Now, isn’t that better than I Am T-Pain?
