IPhone apps exist for any need

It's all true.

In a recent commercial, Apple, Inc. boasts there's an iPhone application for everything. And while not exactly everything (such as my idea for an application to track squirrels in the name of Family Guy)  is covered – basically, there is an application for everything.

Steven Cain, previously an Apple certified technician and currently a University of Nebraska-Lincoln sophomore news-editorial major, said these applications have revitalized the basic functions of smartphones.

"Apps added expandability," Cain said. "It used to just be e-mail, texts and phone calls."


And the "apps" are almost always free. Cain said he has only paid a couple dollars for few apps, including a Netflix program to manage his movie-renting queue on the go. Other applications – perhaps some of the best – are free.


Without further banter, here are five of the most recent, interesting and useful applications for the iPhone – all free. Enjoy.



Bad Decisions Blocker



We all (well, most) have been there: A late night of social activity and adult beverages gives way to early-morning texts and calls to the worst choices possible in one's contact list. For example, every time I fumble to call my friend Molly for a ride, the contact directly below her on the contact list suddenly, groggily, and then disapprovingly, picks up – Mom.

John Genest has the answer to keeping one's exes, parents and no-longer-friends sleeping soundly through the night.


Genest is the creator of the Bad Decisions Blocker app for the iPhone.

"The inspiration came from college and even today. Too much drinking led to calling someone I shouldn't," Genest said with a chuckle. "I was susceptible to that frequently."


The application lets users select what contacts they know they'll be prone to call and block them for a certain time frame (preferably until the users are sober). At the very least, it'll make it more difficult to set up those midnight booty calls people know they'll regret.




Shazam



However much users think they know about music trivia, there's still plenty to learn. Simply hold the iPhone up to a music source, hit "Tag Now" and relax as Shazam does a little background research.

In under 10 seconds, the title of the song, artist and album name is shown. It then allows users to proceed to purchase the song. Now users don't have to remember the lyrics of the chorus, go home and Google them in quotes to find the mystery artist.

And all this sophisticated audio recognition is free? SHAZAM!



Kindle for the iPhone



Before protesting another $350 purchase, fully realize this: users don't need a Kindle to reap the benefits of this app. A good buddy of mine just purchased a schoolbook he needed for 99 cents via the Kindle app. It would've been $15 in print. Not a bad move, right?

Amazon, among other sites, offers a downloadable version of books for the iPhone alongside the printed copy on the Web site.

Reviews say it's surprisingly easy to read books on the iPhone, and if the user has a Kindle the app is perfect. The iPhone program syncs with Kindles, pulling up the page the user left off when he/she gets on the road and wants to continue a light reading of "Overqualified" by Joey Comeau.

Saving money on books and staying on top of reading them has never been easier.



Urbanspoon



Walking downtown with friends for food might not be for everyone. Problems arise immediately: Someone is a vegetarian, another is hatin' on Chipotle and yet one more friend wants to go somewhere "nice this time, guys" – everyone the direct opposite of being on the same page.

Pull out the iPhone and do work.

With the Urbanspoon application, searching for restaurants is a piece of cake. Type in criteria such as style of food and price, and up comes options found by GPS.

Users submit ratings in case others want to know if something weird ever ended up in a burrito at a given location. One-touch calling puts users within a receptionist's reflexes of a reservation.

And, best of all, to solve the conundrum of finally agreeing on somewhere to eat, Urbanspoon offers a random choice at the shake of the iPhone.

Call it in the air, food-hunters.



Flixster



No one can say "no" to keeping up with the latest movies. With the Flixster application for the iPhone, movie-going is at the touch of a finger. The application includes maps and one-touch calling for theater box offices.


What's more, Flixster has direct links to Rotten Tomatoes and the Internet Movie Database for all one's time-killing, movie-trivia needs.

"It's like how Seth Rogen wrote the part of drug-dealing Saul for himself in "Pineapple Express," until he realized James Franco was perfect for it." – See? That's the kind of conversation starter you'll need at the next awkward first date with the cute classmate you just realized has nothing in common with you.


anthonyTroester@dailynebraskan.com