Let me preface my recommendations by admitting that I had been a long-time Windows Mobile OS ‘power user’ before my switch to the iPhone 3G and had been concerned I would lose some functionality going to the iPhone.
Was I wrong or what?
Most of these have been updated to also work on the iPad, but I haven’t tested them as I am waiting for the next generation before I adopt – despite wanting one now!
These are apps I use on practically a daily basis, in no particular order:
iTap RDP
$11.99
Worth every penny, iTap RDP works flawlessly and seems to be the most standards-compliant RDP client currently out there. The controls are gesture based, but quite easy once you’ve done it a couple times.
AroundMe
FREE
AroundMe works with GPS to find practically anything in your immediate vicinity. There are predefined categories like you would expect: hotels, restaurants, gas, etc., but you can also easily search by a specific store name. Google works fairly well for this as well, but I still find myself preferring to use this app in map mode instead.
LogMeIn Ignition
$29.99
LogMeIn is a great service even at the free level and though the iPhone app is one of the more expensive iPhone apps, as a fallback connection to remote servers or desktops, it’s a must have.
Adobe Photoshop Express
FREE
As a frequent Adobe Photoshop user, I downloaded this out of gut reaction, but have found I use it quite often to do quick edits on photos I take with the phone.
WordPress
FREE
Have a WordPress blog or site? If so, you need this app. It’s not the answer to long posts, but is perfect for quick drafts or to moderate comments.
FlightTrack
$4.99 / $9.99
Getting near real-time, graphic updates on flights, including delays and gate information is very handy. I have the $4.99 version and find it does everything I need. The flight data (real time map) tends to be a few minutes behind real time, but it’s been very reliable on data otherwise.
BizExpense
FREE / $2
There are a number of apps to keep track of expenses, but this one works well and has an easy to use interface.
Xtaria Ping
$.99
For network admins, this simple ping tool can be invaluable as a test tool working from an external network.
QuickOffice Mobile Suite
$4.99 / $9.99
The gold standard in MS Office applications for the iPhone.
