App, App and Away!

Mobile applications have been around long before today’s era of ubiquitous smartphones, but it was really Apple’s iPhone and App Store that truly brought apps into the mainstream and made them the de rigueur mode of personalising one’s handset.

Smartphone owners know that their library of installed apps reveals more about their personality than any fancy ringtone. What many find even more exciting is finding the “Next Killer App” and snagging it before their mates.

Here are some personal favourites culled from those late night app prowls:

SoundHound

soundhound.com – iPhone

Similar to other “name that tune” apps like Shazam, this downloads lyrics and even identifies songs that you sing or can only hum.

RunMeter

abvio.com – iPhone

This GPS-based app records distances covered, keeps a log of your runs with maps, and even allows you to brag about your athleticism on Facebook.

3Banana

snaptic.com – iPhone/Android

More than a simple notepad, you can append photos or product info (via scanned barcodes), which you can send to friends who never seem to know what to get you for your birthday.

Bonsai Blast

glu.com – iPhone/Android

Once you start playing this “simple” jewel-blasting game, you won’t stop until you give up on that impossible level – or when your battery dies.

Documents To Go

dataviz.com – iPhone/Android/BlackBerry/Palm OS/webOS/Windows Mobile/ Maemo

When you finally put away the games, rest assured that the sales presentation is in good hands – literally. DTG supports most work docs, and can even sync remote files.

Fring

fring.com – iPhone/Android/Symbian/Windows Mobile

For those who can’t stand isolation anywhere, this all-in-one instant messaging app puts Skype, MSN Messenger, GoogleTalk, AIM, ICQ, Facebook Chat, Twitter and video chat all at your fingertips.