Thanks to my new mobile phone, I’m really keen to find apps that I can use on it that enable me to become more productive. Here are some of my favourites that I found recently…
- Opera Mini - A fully operational web browser right in your phone. Really love it. Much better than the default browser of my phone. Unfortunately, however, some websites are not supported by Opera. But, it works for the most part. Definitely made mobile phone web browsing a lot more pleasant.
- Fring - How much do I love Fring? Let me count the ways… Seriously rockin’ app. It brings VOIP Technology and Instant Messaging right into your phone. You can do Skype-to-Skype calls, Skype chats, and even SkypeOut calls. It also works with GTalk, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ… and even Twitter - among a few others. Group chats appear quite strange here, though. And, if you’ve got active Skype swarms, you can’t really keep the app open all the time - unless you want to hear dings all the time. Very distracting. But, definitely a great mobile app to have!
- Shozu - Another mobile app that I just love, love, love… Shozu is a great app to have if you like the ability to share photos, videos, and audio from your mobile to various places online - YouTube, Flickr, Vox, Facebook, Picasa, LiveJournal, Blogger.com blogs, WordPress.com blogs, Blip.TV, Windows Live Spaces, Typepad, and a few others. You can even upload to sites that aren’t supported. If the site accepts uploads via email (e.g., Multiply, Evernote, etc) - you can use Shozu to send files. Or - even send directly to your friends, family, etc. Or to your FTP site. And, you can even use it to subscribe to certain sites like YouTube (get most viewed videos, etc).
- Google Mobile - Google has a few mobile apps that are very interesting. My favourite is the Gmail Mobile app, as I pretty much live inside Gmail. :-p I’m also planning on testing Google Maps Mobile soon. There’s also Google search and YouTube mobile.
- Mofuse - This isn’t strictly a mobile app. But, the good thing with it is that it enables your site/blog to be mobile-ready. For example, I set up ShaiCoggins.com Mobile version. Makes the site easier to read/visit via mobile. It’s not all that fab yet - but will see how it can be improved
- GooSync - An app that enables you to sync your mobile device with your Google calendar. The free version only syncs up to 30 days in the future and only with 1 (default) calendar. The upgraded version (19.95 pounds) offers more features - multiple calendar syncs, up to 365 days sync, contacts + tasks sync, etc. I’m currently test driving the free version. Not sure if I’ll upgrade yet - but ‘am a bit tempted. I especially like the idea that I can sync my Google calendars with my iCal and my mobile.
Anyone else have any tips/suggestions for great mobile apps?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Kari 04.24.08 at 12:36 am
Currently I am going without an internet plan on my cell because I’m trying to cut costs. Did I mention I don’t have cable right now either? It’s been challenging, but thankfully I can take my MacBook with me to work so I don’t feel completely disconnected
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Shai Coggins reply on April 29th, 2008:
Kari: I know what you mean. I actually don’t have an internet plan either. I only use my home WiFi connection on my mobile. And - wherever there’s free WiFi available. That’s what I love about my new phone.
And yeah… I can empathise about not having cable. Good news about being able to take your Macbook to work though. 
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Mark Jambas 04.24.08 at 3:00 am
Hey there
Thanks for the awesome writeup on ShoZu! Remember that you can also interact with your communities on a lot of sites using the latest version of ShoZu too, like subscribe to their photo streams, see their status updates, comment back and forth on each others’ media, automatically geotag your pics, etc.
Glad you like it! We appreciate your feedback.
Best,
Jambo
mark.jambas@shozu.com
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Shai Coggins reply on April 29th, 2008:
Mark: Thank you for commenting here. Glad you’re happy with the write-up. Yes, I am definitely loving the service. Looking forward to making more use of it for sure. Might write a full review when I get the chance.
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Leigh 04.24.08 at 8:51 am
Thanks for the suggestions Shai, some handy ones there.
I am waiting on the delivery of our 2 new phones, so have been on the look out for what to load onto them.
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Shai Coggins reply on April 29th, 2008:
Leigh: Yay for new toys. You finally got em! Happy to know you found some useful stuff. Good luck with the new phones. Looking forward to hear how you like ‘em.
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Jami 04.26.08 at 3:07 am
I love the Google Mobile apps. If you download the calendar sync it will sync your phone calendar & your Google calendar for free… but I think the list of supported phones are pretty short right now.
Opera Mini does rock, doesn’t it?!?
Here’s a suggestion if you want some fun ringtones. It’s geared towards blackberries, but since the files are in mp3 format for the most part, you should be able to download them as well. tuneusin.com
Enjoy your new phone! (I just finished blinging mine with a hibiscus flower to match the Bionic Beauty homepage.)
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Shai Coggins reply on April 29th, 2008:
Jami: Wow. Hibiscus flower, huh? Haven’t had the chance to add that sort of ‘bling’ on my phone.
But, yeah, the apps rock! Thanks for the tip. Will go have a look. 
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