iPhone question number 9,876,543
July 13, 2013 11:04 PM Subscribe
My SO just got an iPhone 5! We are possibly the last people in the world to get smartphones (maybe second last) and have no idea what it can do. Also, his birthday is coming up. Can you suggest great apps or hardware that I might be able to get for him? He already has a case and headphones, and I don't think I want a docking station, though am ready to be convinced otherwise.
His interests are hiking, climbing, gardening, cooking and photography.
Thanks all!
Chargers, portable speakers for hiking and an adaptor for your car audio! You can get a charger that works off a camping stove which is pretty cool. We take our phones in the backcountry for logging miles (GPS works even without service with the right apps) and for tunes all the time.
posted by fshgrl at 11:41 PM on July 13, 2013
posted by fshgrl at 11:41 PM on July 13, 2013
The How to Cook Everything app is free this week. As are about 10 other apps, including 6 games. Normally, there is one app per week that the App Store showcases and it is free even though it normally costs money. I recommend you make a habit of checking what that app is one day a week, and if it is remotely relevant to your interests, download it. Once you download it for the first time, it becomes yours and you can install it on your device for free at any time in the future.
My husband swears by the photo management and editing app Snapseed.
posted by Night_owl at 3:29 AM on July 14, 2013
My husband swears by the photo management and editing app Snapseed.
posted by Night_owl at 3:29 AM on July 14, 2013
With some 300,000+ apps available it's really difficult to sort out the wheat from the chaff.
I like AppShopper which shows free apps and is updated all the time.
posted by lungtaworld at 4:22 AM on July 14, 2013
I like AppShopper which shows free apps and is updated all the time.
posted by lungtaworld at 4:22 AM on July 14, 2013
Jambox portable speaker. This thing is seriously awesome.
Powerrocks Magicstick charger
For hiking I figure knowing the weather is important. Forecast is a beautiful web app as supposed to one you download - just add a bookmark to your screen. No ads, accurate and useful.
posted by atlantica at 4:49 AM on July 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
Powerrocks Magicstick charger
For hiking I figure knowing the weather is important. Forecast is a beautiful web app as supposed to one you download - just add a bookmark to your screen. No ads, accurate and useful.
posted by atlantica at 4:49 AM on July 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
Car charger for sure, so that his phone doesn't die on the way back from hiking and climbing.
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:18 AM on July 14, 2013
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:18 AM on July 14, 2013
I really like the AllTrails app for hiking. It's revealed several different public trails a short distance from my house that I previously had no idea about!
For cooking I like Epicurious and Whole Foods recipes. There are a lot of lame recipe apps, so just be aware you might have to look at many before you find a good one.
Outdoorsy people tend to really like the astronomy apps that can reveal and label the night sky. There are many.
If you guys don't have heavy-duty cases, consider getting them as one of your gifts. If you are active people, and it sounds like you are, you'll really be glad you got a tough case that can withstand, say, falling out of your backpack as you unzip it, etc.
posted by Miko at 6:32 AM on July 14, 2013
For cooking I like Epicurious and Whole Foods recipes. There are a lot of lame recipe apps, so just be aware you might have to look at many before you find a good one.
Outdoorsy people tend to really like the astronomy apps that can reveal and label the night sky. There are many.
If you guys don't have heavy-duty cases, consider getting them as one of your gifts. If you are active people, and it sounds like you are, you'll really be glad you got a tough case that can withstand, say, falling out of your backpack as you unzip it, etc.
posted by Miko at 6:32 AM on July 14, 2013
Seconding the Jambox. Small speaker, HUGE sound.
I also have an FM transmitter so I can listen to podcasts / music over my car radio. This one is cheap and works surprisingly well. And I've got a pretty case that protects the back and corners, as well as a soft padded pouch. Because I tend to drop things.
posted by Koko at 6:45 AM on July 14, 2013
I also have an FM transmitter so I can listen to podcasts / music over my car radio. This one is cheap and works surprisingly well. And I've got a pretty case that protects the back and corners, as well as a soft padded pouch. Because I tend to drop things.
posted by Koko at 6:45 AM on July 14, 2013
I've had a Glif tripod mount on my "haven't talked myself into buying one yet but would love to get one as a gift" list for while now.
If he does any video, Filmic Pro is a pretty nice app - it lets you control frames per second (you can shoot 24fps for a more film-like quality), lock exposure, focus and/or white balance, and other stuff I haven't even tinkered with.
posted by usonian at 7:36 AM on July 14, 2013
If he does any video, Filmic Pro is a pretty nice app - it lets you control frames per second (you can shoot 24fps for a more film-like quality), lock exposure, focus and/or white balance, and other stuff I haven't even tinkered with.
posted by usonian at 7:36 AM on July 14, 2013
There are a bunch of geocaching apps available for free or short money; that can be a great way to combine the phone with running around in the woods, looking for buried treasure.
One tip for being outdoorsy with your iphone- you can improvise a water-resistant case by just throwing it in a ziplock bag; the touchscreen still works through the plastic. It probably won't prevent utter failure if you go swimming with it, but should solve for surprise thunderstorms.
posted by jenkinsEar at 11:12 AM on July 14, 2013
One tip for being outdoorsy with your iphone- you can improvise a water-resistant case by just throwing it in a ziplock bag; the touchscreen still works through the plastic. It probably won't prevent utter failure if you go swimming with it, but should solve for surprise thunderstorms.
posted by jenkinsEar at 11:12 AM on July 14, 2013
Get him an Apple TV, $99, which will easily and wirelessly transfer photos from his iPhone to view the TV screen.
posted by conrad53 at 2:29 PM on July 14, 2013
posted by conrad53 at 2:29 PM on July 14, 2013
My indispensable accessory is an external battery charger. I have the mom price one currently. For overnight hikes you could get a big one that will easily refill the phone 3x. Or you can get a tiny one to just make it through a long day.
posted by Salamandrous at 6:31 AM on July 16, 2013
posted by Salamandrous at 6:31 AM on July 16, 2013
Totally late to this question, but the MountainProject app is an excellent climbing app. I've used it at several New England climbing areas, and while it won't replace a good guidebook, it's plenty good enough for a short visit in tons of areas around the country. Some of the newer climbing guidebooks also have app versions if your fella is serious about climbing or taking a trip in the near future.
posted by that's candlepin at 11:49 AM on July 30, 2013
posted by that's candlepin at 11:49 AM on July 30, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
I will, however, link to Vimeo's "Video 101" series, which shows off/reviews a lot of them. A lot of the videos in the series are for people shooting video on DSLRs, camcorders, etc. but there are TONS of tips, guides, hints, and accessories for creating great videos with your iPhone specifically. And most of the accessory reviews and interesting hacks are iPhone related.
posted by Sara C. at 11:16 PM on July 13, 2013