The last slideshow of CNET's 10-day iPhone app extravaganza, Brian Tong's list of favorite apps gives you a glimpse into the mind of a CNET TV host.
Brian Tong
Brian brings his high energy and edgy style to the CNET family, showcasing the latest and greatest in the tech world with substance to back up his style. Brian regularly appears on CBS, CNN, Headline News and local TV stations and radio networks while hosting several of CNET's popular franchises.
I'll warm things up with a few games. People rave about Doodle Jump, but forget about it. It's all about Mega Jump. This game has a lot more charm, energy, and graphics to boast. They say imitation is the best form of flattery and they are right, except Mega Jump makes that other game look like Doo Doo Jump.
There's a redneck inside all of us and Big Buck Hunter Pro is my release.
It's a port from the popular arcade shooting game, but where else are you going to be able to shoot down Whitetail Deer, Big Horn Sheep, and Elk in Saskatchewan? It's my happy place.
The developers at Smule are known for their musical instrument iPhone apps, but I Am T-Pain has provided more laughs than all of my other recommended apps combined.
If you're not sure what the auto-tune phenomena is, you will be after you sing through the mic and create music that Optimus Prime can harmonize with.
One thing I still wish the iPhone had was a radio, but I discovered OoTunes and I'll never go back. If you want every FM/AM broadcast you can think of locally and nationally its pretty much here. Get your fix of talk radio and 150 genres of music, plus you can record broadcasts and it supports multitasking in iOS 4. It's a little pricey, but worth every penny.
This has to be on everyone's list if you're talking about Internet radio; it's one of the best music discovery tools out there. The Cover Flow integration is actually the only time I use Cover Flow on my iPhone. Plus, if you want to buy the music track directly through iTunes its all there. Sometimes the best things in life really are free.
Photo freaks should pay attention. Pano is my favorite app for taking the best panoramic photos with your iPhone. You can take up to sixteen photos and the stitching is all done for you. People ask me, "How did you do that?" Usually, I don't tell them, so you're lucky if you're reading this. There are other apps like this out there, but this is the cream of the crop.
I'm not trying to use my phone as a full-on photo editor, but I do want to at least tweak my pictures if the lighting is low. iFlashReady is the quick and simple fix for that. It lights up each pixel individually at different levels. Even if you have a flash on your new shiny iPhone 4, this app will still make pictures look even greater.
There are plenty of these apps, which unlock the hidden treasure of Emoji icons on your iPhone. Just make sure you get a free one. Run the app, and go to your keyboard settings to add the Emoji keyboard and you'll unleash text icons that will make fellow iPhone users jealous...unless they already have them.
If you want to be a smart shopper and control some of those impulses, you should have Red Laser. Scan a barcode of a product and instantly get pricing from around the Web and locally. It's the most accurate barcode scanner I've used and it will always help you find a cheaper price.
You've probably seen this on a lot of people's lists, but I have my own reasons for it. If there is any game or app that will draw in someone of the opposite sex, Angry Birds is it.
It strikes the perfect combination of cute and violent--plus, it's easy to play and additional level add-ons are released for free. This is one bird you'll want to flip.
