Erwan Macé – Passionate Geek

If you own a smartphone (some even now call them app-phones), chances are that you’re constantly looking for the best and latest apps! Here is my top-20 non game list of applications for the three devices I use on regular basis.

I use a iPhone 3GS, a Google Nexus One and a Blackberry Bold 9700: 6 of my top apps actually run on all three devices and the other 14 are either platform-specific or only run on two of my devices. Make sure to read more to quickly get the best out of that brand new smartphone you just bought

6 must-have applications that run on any smartphone (well iPhone, Android and Blackberry at least):

• Facebook to share pictures on the go and stay connected with my overseas friends.
• Shazam to instantly recognize any tune playing in the air and tag it for future reference.
• Evernote is where I take all my meeting notes and keep all type of information found online. I use it on my Mac and access notes remotely from my phones.
• RememberTheMilk is a great and easy todo list manager (On the Blackberry, look for Milksync).
• WordPress: I don’t actually post new articles from my phone but the mobile application is great to review and approve comments.
• Foursquare: check-in, gain points, unlock badges and become the mayor of that new hot spot in town (by the way I was just ousted as the mayor of the Singapore French School today )

Other must-have applications for the iPhone:

• Sygic Mobile Maps: turn-by-turn navigation. Definitely the best one, at least for South-East Asia (where I’m based).
• Tweetie: great Twitter client.
• Skype: I’m still waiting for the official 3G support but you can already make calls on a Wifi network (and 3G with a jailbroken iPhone).
• 1-password: syncrhonize all my passwords with my Mac.
• Dropbox: access my Dropbox online folders and files.
• Bloomberg: keep an eye on my stocks portfolio (I hope I had to use that app more often should my portfolio be bigger).
• Flight status: lookout for flight delays before you hit the road to the airport.

Android:

• The 6 common apps above: Facebook, Shazam, Evernote, RememberTheMilk, WordPress, Foursquare.
• Sygic Mobile Apps (see iPhone) and Skype (which by way is only a very limited “lite” version on Android)
• Seesmic: the best Twitter client in my humble opinion.
• Google Goggles: initiate a search from a snapshot rather than entering text.
• Google Shopper: scan a barcode or even a product and look for the best prices in town.
• Google Sky: forget the stress of your hard working days and travel to the sky with this fantastic augmented reality app which let you identify stars and planets.
• Google Earth: looks great if you own a hi-resolution Nexus One !!

Blackberry:

• The 6 common apps above: Facebook, Shazam, Evernote, RememberTheMilk, WordPress, Foursquare
• Opera mini: a decent browser, far better than Blackberry’s native one
• Google Maps
• Bloomberg (see above as this app also exists on the iPhone)
• Seesmic (see the Android section above)

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