************************
As much as I appreciate all that technology has offered me in the last few years, I resent how much time it takes away from the here and now. For this reason, I've prided myself on using an antiquated cell phone, no texting, etc. After many break downs (phones) and lots of thought, I now have an iphone. eek! Today, I have another request for your input. Help, please! I'm determined to not let it be a time suck... but I'm very new at this. If you have any favorite apps or uses, I'd love to hear. I don't even have a cover for it... so I'm open to those ideas to. I'm very enamored with this bamboo Vers, but buying anything more felt a little over the top for one day. 
Before I took it out to town, I thought I'd better protect this investment in some way. I made a temporary 10 minute slip cover with a little bit of that green leather I love from a long ago Salvation Army find. I was in too much of a rush to insert a leather needle into my machine, so I blame any imperfections on my impatience. After all, the plan was for a quick fix. But when I took a second to stamp it with my gingko design, I decided it was a very nice quick fix. I can't remember stamping on leather before... ooooh that was fun! I set it with an iron and the pigment of the ink settled into the surface so beautifully. I'll be experimenting with this some more... might need another trip to the thrift store for more old leather. Thanks again for any tips you might have!
Nice cover! I've been happy with my iphone. I use the Notes app that comes with the iphone a lot (the little legal pad). I use Notes for lists I want to have with me when I go out (out-of-print books I want to keep a look out for, etc.). I also use Notes when I go to bookstores and see titles I don't want to buy, but want to remember their names when I go to the library. The Notes app saves me from having to carry a little notebook around. Also, I like the Teux Deux app, for sale on itunes.
ReplyDeletethanks! perfect info, I'll file it away... I do love my real notebooks, but can see the virtues of NOTES, too.
ReplyDeleteI am quite the Luddite when it comes to phones. I prefer not being plugged in. That said, this little thing is handy. In no particular order:
ReplyDeleteI also use the installed notes app, Vogue knitting app, This American Life, The Weather Channel (better than the one preinstalled), WhiteNoise when I travel, and I SWEAR by AntiMosquito. It works, as I am a mosquito magnet, even with the scads of garlic that I consume. I listen to some podcasts and my daughter's audiobooks and music in the car. I use it as my main music source. The photo apps like hipstamatic make the cruddy camera images almost awesome.
Actually, one of my favorite apps has been HeyTell, the equivalent of voice texts to friends. It is nice to be able to place a real person on the other end of even the most rudimentary messages. It adds a human touch to a ubiquitously annoying medium.
Re: covers-I have the Otterbox Defender. It looks like (and is) a hideous, clunky crash helmet for the phone, but I have dropped it in places and ways that should have killed it, and it still survives. Have fun!
I looove this!! If I had a smart phone I would TOTALLY buy this :)
ReplyDeleteI have a windows phone, but i think the apps are the same, no? im not so into it myself yet. but i use the notes too, and mobudget for keeping an eye on my spendings. its great! i like to use shared shopping lists, a function where you can keep shopping lists for different stores and share it with other people (i havent tried that yet, but i love it because i can sort stuff i have to buy to the place i wanna get it from already and it is always with me. so handy!)
ReplyDeletehave fun with the phone! ;o)
I like the Period tracker app. The P tracker lite is free and it helps me with the dates that I tell myself I'll remember in my head and never do.
ReplyDeleteThe camera apps are a must! Any of them, all of them! I particularly like Instigram and Camera+, both take great photos and allow you to edit them with gorgeous effects.
ReplyDeleteI also am rather addicted to the Twitter app and there are some fun card games you can download to play on your phone while you are waiting in the doctors office or something.
Have fun!!
love the print, what kind of ink did you use?
ReplyDeleteI agree -- check out the camera apps. Camera+ is great (be careful, there's also one called 'Camera Plus' which is less good), I love Hipstamatic, and Camerabag. If you use Flickr, there's a Flickr app, but also one called 'Flickit' which lets you upload to groups. Enjoy your new phone!
ReplyDeleteI use the Pandora app a lot, as well as Facebook and Twitter. Urbanspoon is fun. The Weather Channel. Wikipanion. I also use it with my Square to take credit cards. The Notes app is important. The camera. I use the Calendar all the time--it's my main calendar. It will alert you when you have an appointment, which I love. I know that is not specific to the iPhone, but I love having my entire calendar in my pocket.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your phone sock! I have been knitting and crocheting them, but have been dying to try a sewn one... you have inspired me to give it a go. I'd love to know some more about sewing leather - I have some from when I was a kid that is just sitting around collecting dust. If you feel the need - check my Feb 17 post for iphone sock stuff :)
ReplyDeleteSorry, I do no have any idea about iphone, I have owned the same cell phone for 6 years, I am not very good with technology... but I do know that your slip cover is fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteEvernote! - I am still waiting for an iPhone but Evernote, iPhone and your computer all synchronize and are invaluable for many many things - it is described as your brain but better. See some of the many many many uses here: http://evernote.tumblr.com/ and here: http://www.evernote.com/about/video/. The iPhone makes it even better.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I can't help. I think that I might be the last person in the Western world to not have a cell phone. Even my grandma has one now...
ReplyDeleteAnother big fan of Evernote here. I use it mainly for capturing recipes or craft projects I find online and easily categorizing them for my future reference. The iPhone app is nice because I can easily refer to a particular recipe or craft project when I'm at the store - how many yards of fabric/balls of yarn/eggs do I need for that project/recipe?
ReplyDeleteOne app that I thought at first unnecessary, but find myself now using at least a few times a month is LED Switch, or some similar app that turns on the led flash of the iPhone so you can use it as a quick flashlight. It made it infinitely easier to find that earring that fell under the car seat, the trinket my son dropped in the snow on that dark night, and to read the model number on the furnace in the dark corner of the basement, using the phone that was right there in my pocket, instead of having to get a separate flashlight.
PS. That cover is gorgeous! I've been planning on making a cover for my husband's cell - thick felt looks like it might be the material of choice.
ReplyDeleteI lost my iPhone on Monday and don't think I'll be able to hold out until September when my contract expires. They're awesome and you'll love it.
ReplyDeleteOne app that I love and hasn't been mentioned is Shazam, it listens to a short bit of music (a song on the radio, for instance) and tells you what it is. It settled a few dissagreements in the car with hubs and is great to tag new songs you like to download.
Fantastic apps:
ReplyDelete~Cardstar - put all your grocery, retail, pharmacy, movie, etc cards on there for easy scanning at stores plus you get special deals too!
~iBooks - great app by Apple for ebooks - you can download files and add them here. Also great at Amazon Kindle & BN Nook - you can get free ebooks at both websites too!
~AroundMe - great for traveling! Find anything from restaurants to pharmacies, hospitals, gas stations, etc.
~Bump - transfer data/pics back and forth between two iphones by bumping hands
~ShopSaavy & Red Laser - scan products to find the lowest prices at any stores and online as well.
~Tanger Outlets - great coupons
~Black Friday - great for all the Black Friday shoppers out there plus you get the ads in advance! YAY!
~Dunkin' Donuts & Starbucks - Find the locations nearest to you! ;)
~Pandora Radio - create your own special music stations with only music YOU listen to!
You will LOVE LOVE LOVE your iphone! :)
Opps! Forgot one! Soundhound is also great for listening to music and telling you which song/artist/album it is! :)
ReplyDeleteThe apps that have been mentioned are all ones I would recommend so I don't really have anything extra to add there... BUT... When I got my iPhone a year ago my boyfriend bought me a silicone case for it. At the time I just thought it would help me hold the phone (the 3G is slippery!) but it has saved my phone many times as I am not always the most coordinated person on the planet and it has dropped a time or two.
ReplyDeleteHOWEVER... I love the leather case you made.
Hi Maya! Make sure u have a liitle lens cleaning cloth or chamois cloth to line your leather case with. You'll find it good to keep the front of the phone/the screen clean. But also you need to keep the little camera lens from getting gritty. I clean mine every so often with a qtip and rubbing alcohol. I love the facebook app. Post photos straight from the phone to facebook! Cu in June!
ReplyDeleteI'm only a pace or two behind you w/ the iphone. Last night, I actually heard myself saying outloud that I'm ready to take the leap. My fear of getting one is for all the same reasons as yours, plus I'm concerned about what I'm modelling to my children. My husband has had one for about 6 mos., and we've had to set some ground rules for use so it does not intrude on family life. I think I'll wait until fall when both children are in school....
ReplyDeleteThat said, I've read about some great apps that have GPS technology that can track how far you've run/walked/hiked, etc. as well as calculate pace, calories burned, etc. That's the app I'm most excited to have access to.
IM+: its free and lets u coordinate all the chats in one program, even facebook
ReplyDeleteTap 'n'lite: great game, addictive though
bringmeback: brings u back to ur carpark
and i also like the iPeriod app that was mentioned before..i always forget too
i have a soft silicon cover on mine, it really helps protect, but i would advice to get one that doesnt cover thte front, where u can use the phone straight away, and not have to pull it out once u get a call
I was the same way for years. My husband convinced me to get an iPhone and I do love it now! stitchminder is great for knitting projects, I love the NPR and NYT apps. If I'm waiting somewhere I get read headlines and feel I know a little about whats going on outside of my head. I must admit I also have the boggle app. I love word games:) enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI'll add my vote for a soft silicone cover, P Tracker, Shazam and Pandora.
ReplyDeleteI'll also recommend Gas Cubby (free with ads or paid without ads), which I track my car's fuel consumption with (love). I like Photogene for doing simple photo editing before emailing pics to friends and family. I also like 'TipCalculator' for restaurants, and 'Shopper', which I use to keep track of various shopping lists, and it also allows me to email my lists (to my husband), which is convenient.
Oh, I love my iPhone. Still kicking after 2 years. Make sure you keep WiFi off, unless you know you're in a hot spot. That will save your battery, because the iPhone keeps searching for a signal.
I also use Notes when I go to bookstores and see titles I don't want to buy, but want to remember their names when I go to the library. The Notes app saves me from having to carry a little notebook around. My husband has had one for about 6 mos., and we've had to set some ground rules for use so it does not intrude on family life. I think I'll wait until fall when both children are in school..
ReplyDeleteiPhone- how I love thee! In random order- Kindle- I love having my book on my phone- it has saved many a wait.Ravelry and 123 knit(this is my primary knitting app- keeps track of several projects at once, with row counts and stitch counts as well as needles/yarn/pattern info) I prefer Soundhound to Shazam. I listen to books in the car on Audible(great for knitting times as well)and use the calendar app to help my increasingly poor memory(maybe cause I rely on my phone ans not my brain!)I can't wait to check some of the other apps listed! Oh- put a game on there- keeps fussy kids quiet! I like Angry Birds
ReplyDeleteI don't have an iPhone yet. A friend of mine said you can use your iPhone for Joannes coupons at the store. They scan right from your phone. Not sure if that is an app or just browsing to the coupon. This function tips me just a little closer to getting a smart phone. I never have the current coupons with me.
ReplyDeleteI love my itouch, but it is very easy to spend too much time on it! I have to watch myself. ;) I mentioned the Hipstamatic App, which I highly recommend, and I love a lot of the cooking/food apps - Everyday Food, Epicurious, Cooks Illustrated. ABCA is a super fun word game (made by my cousin!), and I also like Scrabble.
ReplyDeleteI love your cover! So simple and lovely.
I love the way the stamp looks on the leather. Very nice!
ReplyDeletexo,
Sena
Hi Maya, Love the cover very much. I adore that color green, esp nice for leather! I wanted to let you know, the post I told you about earlier in the week is posted: http://thewritewayz.blogspot.com/2011/02/blogs-i-love-share-time-mayamade.html
ReplyDeleteIts all about you and your blog! Looking forward to you checking it out!
Thanks,
Tiffany Layden-Ooley
http://thewritewayz.blogspot.com/
I don't have an iPhone, but your thrift store leather is brilliant. I made a few bracelets for Christmas gifts from a jacket I bought for $8 and never wore (did't inspect it well enough - falling apart and ill-fitting). Then, in the midst of packing for a recent move, I tore out the (faux) furry lining of an old leather jacket that I'd been lugging around since high school. I just *had* to keep the suede for future projects.
ReplyDeleteA great app for little ones to use while chatting with friends is:
ReplyDelete"i DO it!Flowers". teaches order, numbers and colors in a simple little game. Graphics are very child friendly as they looks like crayon drawings.
Love the Ginko
Ha! Though I've had an iTouch since they first came out several years back- I still have an old school flip phone. I'm still not sure %100 if I should upgrade to a smart phone.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have several fun/educational/bilingual aps that I love for my little ones (they are only allowed to use it as a treat- rarely). I better send you an email for that. I also love the wordsearch ap, perfect for me to play while waiting for the doctor. hahaha.