This post might have had more impact if I'd immediately rattled it off in response to Pete's List of favourite iOS apps. Pete came up with "some really useful apps that are maybe overlooked by the mainstream websites". He listed an app which lets you know when other apps are on special, a very simple text editor app, an app to record wine you've liked and an app which ties in with the LoveFilm mail order DVD service. I appreciate that this is his list (don't worry mate, I'll do the links for you) - well this is mine.
Evernote promises to help you "remember everything". It's like a note book you can tag and search electronically, either by using pictures or text. Evernote stores everything in the cloud and syncs with multiple devices so you have the app on your iPhone/iPad and anything to add/change on one is there on everything else when it syncs. It's free, there's a paid version but I haven't even needed to investigate what it does. I use Evernote for listing films I want to see, music I want to buy, books to read, things I need to do, present lists, restaurants I like, (occasionally) blog ideas, wine I enjoyed - really anything which occurs to me and for which people used to carry little notebooks around for.
Pete could use it for the always interesting lists of comics he needs to read or which are coming soon or whatever. Or just list them on this blog. Just sayin'.
The Best of the Moment app by The Browser recommends five or ten pieces of online content each day. It's usually fairly topical, educated, erudite writing from a range of usually pretty highly-regarded sources. I found out about The Browser on Twitter and I don't know what the people bringing this to us get out of it but I'm not complaining. Free also.
I use Flixter to see what movies are on where, whether film review site rottentomatoes.com thinks they're any good and to record my own views of them. The films appear by default in order of "newness" so you can instantly see what's opening this week, but you can also search the substantial database of older films - it's a nice addition to imdb.com in that respect. You can either just add a star rating out of five or actually add some text. I'm often too lazy to add text, too busy listing comics. You can also mark films you want to see and then go back to that list later. Probably the most useful feature is the ability to "favourite" cinemas you go to most often and see them at the top of the list so you can always quickly see what's on and when at your favourite independent.
Instapaper is great if (like me) you'll see something on Twitter or a link someone sends you and you think "I'm too busy and important now, I have lists of comics to publish! I must read that later" but then forget where it was and never do. With the app on your iDevice and a bookmark in your browser you can instantly select "read it later" and when you have the leisure open the app and there are all the articles you didn't have time to read when they were first drawn to your attention. I realise my use of Instapaper reveals that I'm a shameless victim of information overload but it puts off working, right, or making lists of comics or doing something you should be doing.
So that's my short list.
