Handy iPhone Apps A Baby Boomer Could Love
June 1, 2010 by 50 Plus
Filed under iphoneapp, Recent Posts, Resources
I’m a Baby Boomer, “techie come lately” life coach having a midlife love affair – with my iPhone! If you haven’t gotten one of these cutting-edge innovative smart-phones, you’re missing out on a great mobile phone experience and other “perks” you didn’t even know existed. The perks are tiny computer applications or “apps” designed for a specific task.
You can download them for free or a small charge. Apps are a computer programmer’s heaven and an iPhone user’s dream. More importantly, all of this wireless technology has given us Baby Boomers a new lease on life with a wide variety of apps to make life easier and more fun – on the go.
But the big question is how do you get apps for your iPhone (or iTouch and iPad) from the gazillion out there. Well, Apple gets you started with a small group of apps that are loaded on your iPhone when you purchase it. From that point on, you’re on your own.
There are apps for business, for fun, for personal productivity, for safety and for just about any hobby or interest you might have or want to have. In fact, as of April, 2010, there were more than 185,000 apps available so you have lots to choose from. As a woman who’s 50 plus and loves to shop – even I’m daunted by the selection of apps to choose from.
That’s why I decided to put together a list of apps that Baby Boomers could love to get you started. This collection has grown out of my explorations in the iPhone App store and beyond. Because there are so many apps available, I want you to have some to play around with to get you familiar with the big wide world of apps. Then you can add more that suit your particular interests and needs. Getting started is easy:
- Sign up for an iTunes account from your computer so you can purchase your apps. Once you’re on iTunes, you can buy them online or directly through your iPhone. Make sure to save your username and password because you’ll be prompted for that every time you purchase an app.
- Visit the iPhone App mega-store online where you’ll find a video tutorial and other help. You can make a purchase from the App store now or -
- Go to your iPhone and click the blue icon with the big white “A” in the middle – that’s your mobile entrance to the App Store.
- Pick an app from the list below, buy it and you’ll be prompted to “install” from you iPhone. If you’re on your computer, buy the app, plug your iphone in and sync the app from your iTunes online.
All the apps listed here for Baby Boomers are available in the App store for instant download to your iPhone. For the most part, the apps I like and recommend range from under $10 to absolutely free.
Alarm Clock Pro – This is not just a slight upgrade from the alarm that comes with the iPhone. It’s a wonderful power tool that allows you to customize your smart phone for various tasks. You can start your day with music from your iTunes play-list instead of waking up to an obnoxious buzzer. This iPhone app also allows you to preset operations on many of your phone functions. $0.99
Google – What can you say about the world’s leading web browser and business juggernaut? Google offers a host of apps for the mobile phone format. They have given you all the standard tools in smart phone format including handy voice-activated search for anything you’d look up on Google from your computer. Free
2Do – is another great tool for task management. There are loads of functions in this app to customize your tasks and track your progress. If you are into productivity tools, this one might permanently replace your pencil and notepad. $6.99 for the full version, the “lite” 2Do is free.
G Park – This is one of my most useful app because there are times when I’m directionally challenged when it comes to finding my car in a huge parking lot or deck. Just set your location before you leave your car and the app will get you back with pinpoint accuracy. $0.99
RunPee Mobile – Don’t laugh! This is great if you have young kids who almost always have to go to the bathroom during the most crucial points in a movie. But if you’re a Baby Boomer man or woman, you may have this problem too (and it’s not uncommon). You’ll appreciate how this app lets you know the best times for taking those quick breaks without missing the best parts of the movie. Free
Trip Cubby – If you need to track mileage for tax purposes or company reimbursement, try this one. It is IRS compliant and exports reports easily to your excel spreadsheets. $6.99
Dragon Dictation – is an easy-to-use voice recognition app powered by Dragon Naturally Speaking. It allows you to easily speak into your iPhone and have the information and ideas transferred into documents or just handy so you don’t forget that thought. Free
Mint.com Personal Finance – Now you can track, budget and manage your money. Just sign up for an account at Mint.com and enter your account information; access your personal finances anywhere. Free
Amazing Life After 50 - If you thought I was kidding about being in love with my iPhone, the fact that I now have an iPhone app of my own lets you know how much I think of this technology. As a Baby Boomer over 50, I know first-hand that midlife change and transition at can leave you frustrated, disappointed and just plain stuck. All that said, I believe this is also the gateway to the best half of your life. So whether this is “midlife crisis” for you or not, it helps to have a little inspiration and practical information along the way. Free
This is the first of my posts about iPhone apps a Baby Boomer could love. Watch for more on:
- Apps that are good for you
- Apps for direction
- Apps for social networking, like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
- Apps for fun and games
- Apps for safety
- Apps for inspiration
- Must-have iPhone gadgets and
- Websites where you can learn about the latest, greatest iPhone apps and ones that sync with your interests and needs.
