Our list of must-have apps for Verizon iPhone owners

February 9, 2011 - By Justin E. Gehrke

Though the Verizon iPhone wasn’t technically supposed to be available until tomorrow, it seems many of those who pre-ordered began receiving theirs in the past few days. The feeling of simply holding it in your very own hands is great, but what do you do once it’s activated and synced with your email accounts, contacts, and iTunes music and videos? You start searching for apps, of course.

With so many apps to choose from, though, it’s often hard to determine which ones are good for you. Of course, you’ll eventually end up buying games, but you may need something to convince your significant other that this wasn’t just a waste of money. To make sure you’re covered and remain out of the doghouse, you need a few good ones with which to start. We decided to help get you started with what was planned to be a short list of five “must-have” apps. That plan soon went the same direction as the inflation of the dollar, though, as the list quickly grew to twenty.

Again, this is a list of what we consider to be the most useful apps. It isn’t meant to be all-inclusive or feature the most downloaded or popular ones. Also, be sure to verify minimum software and hardware requirements for each, since some require the latest update from Verizon or AT&T to work correctly.

Twitter for iPhone – There are many, many Twitter apps. Formerly known as Tweetie/Tweetie 2, Twitter for iPhone is definitely a win in terms of functionality, support for multiple accounts, and features and perfect for people who just want to tweet and be tweeted. (Price: Free) – [Download]

WhatsApp Messenger – This is a great messaging app that automatically detects and uses the iPhone’s contacts to populate your contact list. It combines SMS/MMS capabilities into one app and allows you to send video, audio notes, photos, and regular messages. It’s very fast and uses data as its communication path, so you’ll be able to save both time and money. A bonus is that the app let’s you easily exchange messages with BlackBerry and Android users who also have the app installed. (Price: $0.99) – [Download]

Words with Friends – It looks and feels like Scrabble because it’s all about forming words out of letters. Yes, it’s a game, but it’s one that could mold you into a wordsmith. The bonus is that it also lets you chat with the person with whom you’re playing, which keeps it friendly…or allows for trash-talk. (Price: Free for Ad-supported version; Ad-free version currently on sale for $2.99) – [Download free version; Download paid version]

Instagram – There are a lot of photo sharing apps. What distinguishes Instagram from the rest is the ease with which one can snap a photo and apply one of the various effects to turn it into a work of art. It saves transformed photos to your iPhones camera roll and has the option to include the location and allows for one-tap sharing to Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, Posterous, Facebook and Foursquare. Within the app, one can also follow other Instagram users and browse their works of art. Of course, their is the option to have a private account, but isn’t art really meant to be shared? (Price: Free) – [Download]

PSExpress – People love to misuse Photoshop. Now, you can misuse it on your iPhone. The mobile version is obviously trimmed down in terms of functionality but lets users take a photograph or open one from their camera roll for editing. Cropping, straightening, exposure, and basic photo effects are available. The cropping feature alone makes this app a must-have, simply because the iPhone doesn’t provide the capability natively. If you’re a blogger, you’ll find it invaluable when doing posts via smartphone. Edited photos can be saved to the camera roll, uploaded to an Adobe account, or shared via TwitPic and Facebook. (Price: Free) – [Download]

Classic FM – Yes, this is a niche app, but if you’re a classical music lover, you’ll definitely count this among your most valuable apps. The app streams classical music from the London-based Classic FM, which is considered to be one of the best classical music stations in the world. (Price: Free) – [Download]

SoundHound – If you’re coming to iPhone from Android, you may already familiar with this app. Think of it as Shazam’s older and wiser brother. It will not only tag songs you hear on the radio, in a store, etc but also show you the lyrics, allow you to purchase it via iTunes, and share it via social media platforms. In addition to showing lyrics, it also provides links to YouTube videos featuring the same song or similar ones. Another great capability is the “Now Playing” feature, which determines the song currently playing on the native iPod app and displays the track, album, and lyrics. (Price: Free ad-supported version; Ad-free version with extras $4.99) – [Download free version; Download paid version]

Lightsaber Unleashed – We’ll say up-front that there is no redeeming value to this app. It’s about Star Wars, though, and it lets you wield your iPhone like a lightsaber. It comes complete with sound effects and dramatic theme music and lets you choose your character and blade color. You know you want it. (Price: Free) – [Download]

Netflix – You probably already knew about this one. In case you forgot in your excitement at owning an iPhone, you can now manage your Netflix queue and stream movies via your iPhone. While watching them on the iPhone in the doctor’s office waiting room or hiding in a closet at work is great, you can also connect it to your television at home via video-out cable and enjoy them there. This is just a handy app to have. (Price: Free) – [Download]

i.TV – This is another one of those apps that may not seem that important, but if you’re a fan of television, this free app is great for seeing what’s on now or later. It can be configured to alert you when one of your favorites is airing next and includes a movie section that provides information on what’s currently showing in theaters. Netflix and TiVo users can connect their account to the app to view and configure schedules, and the latest news videos are available to all users from E!, CNN, Fox, and USA Today. (Price: Free) – [Download]

Angry Birds – Yes, this is another game that you have undoubtedly played on your iPod Touch, Android, or on Mac or PC. It does have redeeming social value, though, since it can be said to remind us of the struggles against the bonds of oppression that mankind has faced for thousands of years. Plus, you get to throw birds at pigs and break stuff. Skip the free version and buy the full one. (Price: $0.99) – [Download]

iMovie – This is a “pricey” app at $4.99, but skipping a Starbucks “Trenta” is worth it to have this app. Anyone (and I mean anyone) can shoot video on their iPhone, edit it, insert photos from the camera roll, apply a theme, insert some transitions and add a musical score from their iTunes music to make a “real movie”. Productions are saved within the app and can be exported to the camera roll. Additionally, movies can thereafter be sent via email (depending upon the size) and uploaded to YouTube. If you get familiar with this app, you’ll be able to turn a regular trip to the playground into a video that makes Grandma tear up. Best of all, you get all of this functionality “on a phone“. (Price: $4.99) – [Download]

GoodReader – This is an app that adds missing functionality. If you receive an email on the iPhone with a MS Office document, PDF, or similar file, viewing it may not be as easy as you would like. With GoodReader installed, the iPhone prompts to open the attachment with the app. In addition to viewing MS Office and PDF documents, it also supports iWork, HTML/Safari web archives, and….surprise…audio and video. To this end, the app allows you to open a URL that contains any of the file types above and view/save them to your iPhone. This app also integrates very well with your DropBox and iDisk files. (Price: $2.99) – [Download]

Office2 – Another app that could be considered “pricey” by some at $5.99. Like GoodReader, email attachments in MS office Word and Excel will prompt for opening in Office2. The app allows users to create and edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets. The integration options are plentiful, as the app can be configured to integrate with, access, and save to services like MobileMe, Google Docs, Dropbox, iCloud, MyDisk, Box, or other WebDAVs. File sharing with others can also be configured within the app, and emailing of files can be initiated, as well. Overall, it’s a great app for people who actually need to get some work done while out and about with their iPhone. (Price: $5.99) – [Download]

Downloads – This is one of those apps that adds functionality that many iPhone users will truly appreciate. When opened, the app acts like a web browser. Unlike Safari which will simply do nothing when you click on a link to a downloadable file (e.g. .zip, .doc, .mov, etc.), the Downloads app will ask you if you want to open the file or save it to your phone. Saved files, to include audio and video types, can then be opened on the iPhone. Once connected to iTunes, the app appears in the area below your apps list and allows for easy exporting of the files to your Mac/PC. This is a great app when you need to download something on the go or view a multimedia file that the iPhone’s native browser doesn’t support by default, so skip the free version and go right for the paid one. (Price: $1.99) – [Download]

Skyfire Web Browser – We’ve all heard the debate about the value (or lack thereof) of Adobe Flash on the iPhone. The Skyfire Web Browser makes this a non-issue by supporting many Flash-based websites. While it won’t work with Flash-based games/apps, it will automatically detect and let you view many Flash-based videos. It works by allowing you to choose between traditional iPhone browser mode or desktop mode. It functionality doesn’t extend to Hulu, but it does work with many, many other websites. The app also includes a private browsing option and allows you to configure sharing options via Twitter and Facebook. (Price: $2.99) – [Download]

Skype – Of course you already know what Skype is. You probably use it at least occasionally on your home computer. With the latest version of the iPhone app, users can now chat via text, call, or video call. The quality of the video may not be as good as the iPhone’s built-in FaceTime app, but it works very well, even over 3G (or equivalent). Who can really complain about this, though, when Skype lets you call people from your iPhone to their home computer (or vice versa). On a personal note, I used this to video call several people in time zones around the world on this past New Years Eve and can say it allowed for the creation of memories that will last a lifetime. (Price: Free) – [Download]

Tango Video Calls – This is another communication app that you’ll want to have in your arsenal. It automatically recognizes other Tango users in your Contacts, via their telephone number and allows for expected norm of video calls to other iPhone users over 3G (or equivalent), which is a bonus over FaceTime (at least on a non-jailbroken iPhone). The best part is that it bridges another video calling gap that FaceTime and Skype do not. iPhone users can video call Android users who have the app installed and whose number is in their Contacts. Eventually, the Android phones will all catch up with front-facing cams, and rainbows will spring up around the world, as we video call across platforms, with ease. (Price: Free) – [Download]

Ringtone Maker Pro – There are a number of Mac and PC apps that will let you make ringtones and sync them to your iPhone. Ringtone Maker Pro reverses the scenario and allows you to make ringtones using songs from your iPhones iTunes library. The process is quick and easy. The ringtone is saved to your iPhone (not automatically in the ringtones). The next time you connect to your computer’s iTunes, the created ringtones appear in the area below your app listing and can be dragged/dropped into your iTunes ringtones. Resync and you’re done. It’s a great alternative to doing it on the Mac/PC and saves you from needing to buy the ringtone separately, from a song you already bought. (Price: Normally $1.99; Currently on sale for $0.99) – [Download]

LogMeIn Ignition – This is by far the priciest of the apps we’ve listed. It is for good reason. You’re actually paying for the functionality you’d get from an off-the-shelf software, on your phone. Similar to many other remote control applications LogMeIn Ignition allows you to access and control your home computer (PC and Mac). It has a complete suite of gestures to allow for the exact functionality you’d have if you were sitting in front of it. It provides support for multiple monitors and even streams the sound, if you’re watching a video or listening to audio on the remote computer. Whether you just need to connect to home to help your child do homework or start a download so it will be ready when you arrive home, this app is worth its weight in gold. (Price: $29.99) – [Download]

There you have it. Twenty apps that we consider must-have. Are there more? Of course, there are. It all depends on what you want to do with your iPhone. At a very minimum, this list reminds us of just how much an iPhone will actually do if you know how to leverage it to your benefit. Of course, this list is also handy for existing and new AT&T iPhone owners. Let’s face it. There are simply too many apps for us stay up-to-date on what’s new, improved, and great.

We’ll leave the rest up to you to find. A look at the App Store’s Top 25 paid and free apps will give you an idea of what’s good in each of the app categories. If you have recommendations of your own, feel free to share them with others by posting a comment. After all, what good is a smartphone if you don’t have something to do on it?