Best iPhone apps for Father's Day

Looking for a last minute surprise for dad? Giving gifts doesn't have to be about the grand gestures: sometimes it's the little things that can mean the most.

There's something about an open flame that makes dads feel a need to char meat. Make sure you never eat another charcoal burger again with this list of recipes for cooking in the great outdoors, whether it's over a top-of-the-line gas grilling machine or a small campfire in the bush.

Actually, this would be a really good app for anyone to have; you never know when you're going to need first aid, and this app by St John Ambulance covers basic categories as well as including a one-tap button on every screen for calling emergency services.

Now this is cool. It uses the iPhone's tilt sensor to operate a plumb bob, surface level and spirit level, and also includes a protractor and a ruler, all quite beautifully designed. If your dad likes measuring things on the go, he'll love this app.

Knots are handy things to know whatever way you look at it. Knot Guide offers a comprehensive step-by-step guide to a wide selection of knots, listing their possible applications and showing how each one is tied with photographic illustrations.

Keep dad out of the long arms of the law with Trapster, a real-time road map of speed traps on the road. This app tracks the iPhone's position and warns the driver of upcoming speed traps with an audio alert. This includes live police traps, known enforcement points and fixed cameras.

One doesn't necessarily need a map of the night skies, but knowledge and learning is a beautiful thing, no matter what age you are — and it's a rare dad who wouldn't like to sit out under the stars and show off what he knows on a clear summer's evening.

This app comes at a bit of a premium price, but it's worth it: it offers all the services of the TomTom GPS without having to purchase an additional GPS device. If dad has an iPhone and a tendency to lose his way, this app will be a valuable addition to his collection.