How2Day: Recommended iPod Applications

Get the most out of your iPod touch with the latest apps. Ron Levine/Lifesize/Getty Images
Apple's line of iPods has evolved from simple, sleek MP3 players to interactive multimedia devices. With the advent of the iPhone came a torrent of applications, or apps. The iPod's most advanced model, the iPod touch, is the only line of iPod that can utilize the apps. The iPod touch contains a WiFi platform, so apps can be downloaded from the AppStore directly to the device. Sifting through the over 10,000 apps can be daunting at times.

While out and about it may be necessary to actually accomplish things. We cannot spend all day using our iPod touch to only listen to music and play games. While some apps will require a wireless connection to accomplish, many of the free apps can operate offline or save items for offline use. Google Earth is a great mapping tool; create personalized maps online and upload them to your iPod touch. Reqall is the perfect free way to make to do and shopping lists. Converter Plus Free is a must-have to convert currencies and units. Some apps are not free, but are invaluable nonetheless. JotNot Scanner uses the camera function of the iPod touch to create sharp documents for use later. Week Calender is another highly rated pay app that keeps all of your weekly appointments in one handy virtual datebook.

Social networking apps will require a wireless signal to use, but many places have free or cheap wireless connectivity. With the free apps, you can keep up-to-date with friends and family on Facebook, edit or add to your blog on Wordpress, follow your favorite conversations on Twitter, video- or voice-chat with old and new friends on Skype and take and upload pictures with Flickr. For a one-time fee, you can buy Shozu and stay current on all of your social networking sites through one app.

You will require a wireless connection to use many of the lifestyle apps. Use NPR News or ABC News to get the latest information on current events. You can listen to playlists tailored to your musical tastes with Scion AV Radio and Pandora Radio. In your free time you might want to read your favorite ebooks with eReader or Stanza. You may also want to catch up on an episode of your favorite TV show on Hulu. You can check the time and purchase tickets for the newest movies with Fandango or check reviews of a restaurant on Yelp. At home, you can make playlists and operate iTunes with the Remote app over your home wireless network.

Let's be honest, most of us didn't buy an iPod touch to get things done. For those of us who want to have fun, the iPod comes through and then some. A top-rated free game is Tap Tap Revenge. Set up like Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution, it tests your rhythmic skill and is addictive at the same time. There are a variety of free classic games available in the AppStore, such as Chess and UNO. If you don't mind spending a few of your hard-earned iTunes credits, a consistently top-rated game is Angry Birds, a game which uses a slingshot system to destroy pigs and buildings. You can protect your home from the zombie hordes in Plants Vs. Zombies or take aim in Archetype, an arena-based first-person shooter.

How2Day