10 Must-Have iPhone Apps for the Adman

It's More Than a Toy; It's a Business Tool

Posted by Tom Martin on 03.03.09 @ 05:01 PM

Tom Martin

As I work through the data analysis of my Mardi Gras Twitter experiment, I thought I'd have some fun with this week's post and share my top 10 iPhone apps that every Adman (and Adwoman) should have to be more successful in today's high-intensity, gotta-have-it-yesterday ad world.

A special thanks to Mike Rainey, our Chief Creative Officer, for helping me to compile this list.

10. iBeer. For those days when no one remembers to make the Free Beer Friday beer run. Yes, sadly it does happen.

9. Shazam. For when you find the perfect background music for the campaign that is due tomorrow while sitting at the wine bar eating breakfast.

8. Twittelator Pro. If you're on Twitter, you know why. This one lets you basically do it all from your iPhone. In fact, it powered my entire Mardi Gras Twitter experiment. Troubles here and there, but overall, good stuff.

7. Facebook. Because it is much easier to hide an iPhone screen when your boss comes in your office.

6. Files. A great app that lets you create a file tree on your iPhone. I use it to carry all my important files with me so that no matter where I am, I can reference any client files. Supports all major formats and syncs via WiFi. Very cool little app that I'd highly recommend.

5. WhereTraveler. A great app for any traveler. Find out security wait times at all airports, search for info on your destination like restaurants, shopping and entertainment. And for when things go wrong, phone numbers for every airline and rental car agency. Just tap a screen to call.

4. Google Reader. I follow over 100 blogs so being able to read them as I ride the elevator or when I'm in that really boring meeting you're running is invaluable.

3. OmniFocus. For all you David Allen GTD folks, this is a great stand-alone iPhone app (which is how I use it) or you can use it with the desktop client too. But beware, I've heard the sync is a little hit and miss when you use the desktop app in conjunction with the iPhone app. The "nearby" feature is the absolute bomb when you find yourself with a few spare minutes.

2. XpenseTrkr. Like this one needs an explanation. It even lets you take a picture of the receipt, something I'm thinking our accounting folks will relish me using more in the future.

1. And the number one most important iPhone app for today's crazed Adman/Adwoman is ... drum roll please ... Lightsaber Unleashed. Because sometimes there is just no better way to settle a difference of opinion with cranky art directors.

And there you have it folks. Got a few great iPhone apps that you think I should add to my iPhone? Let all of us know via the comments tool below.

~ ~ ~
Tom Martin is President of Zehnder Communications, with offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. He can be reached at Tom.Martin@z-comm.com. Or follow him at @TomMartin.

21 Comments

By PHILIP | CAMBRIDGE, MA March 3, 2009 06:02:22 pm:

Tom, You're missing Solitaire from the list. How do you expect account people to survive all those conference calls? By the way, I really enjoyed the Mardi Gras experiment.

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By William | East Rockaway, NY March 3, 2009 10:03:44 pm:

For all of this fun and good IT info, don't forget to have a consumer brand message and promise that you can live (or die) by. bcrandallnyc@aol.com

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By Spydey | Pasadena, CA March 3, 2009 11:24:10 pm:

my favorite app of the moment is photo eye-q ...it's that game where you get two photos and you have to find the differences...

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By Tom Martin | NEW ORLEANS, LA March 4, 2009 08:01:43 am:

Phil,

That's when I twitter ;-) and thanks. If you liked the experiment, you'll love the data. Soooo interesting.

@TomMartin

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By tlecompte | Daytona Beach, FL March 4, 2009 09:51:12 am:

Tom, great list I have already added three of these this morning. I might add Evernote to the list. A very interesting app that helps to grab and collate information from any source (blog, website, photo, video, slideshow, etc.). Thanks

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By jagsv | San Salvador March 4, 2009 10:59:28 am:

A ver nice App i like is RTM (Remmember the Milk), its basically a task creator (the best part is that its free hehehe).
I create my daily, weekly or monthly tasks there and im always checking what's in my "To do" list.

Another very nice App is VRingo Facebook and Contact Sync. This app works great, it adds the facebook profile picture to your contacts... just make sure that your contacts on your phone and Facebook match the name.... then when ever you call or receive a call you can see the callers profile picture!!! It gives a bit of fun for you iphone...

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By JayBaer @jaybaer | FLAGSTAFF, AZ March 4, 2009 11:46:20 am:

Nice job Tom!

As a very heavy Twitter user, I've tried every iPhone app. I was a Twittelator Pro die-hard for many months. Recently, I've moved to Tweetie, which I now prefer. Better use of swipe, better UI, runs a little faster, etc.

Check it out.

j

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By todbld | Norwalk, CT March 4, 2009 12:20:19 pm:

I think you missed a Great App. for the traveler. Kayak.com launched a App. to get Hotel and Flight rate info on the fly. Searches you location for the nearest Hotel or Airport then searches over 100 sites to get you rates.

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By Erwin | New York, NY March 4, 2009 01:32:41 pm:

Is there going to be a 10 "Must have apps" for the "Blackberry"?

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By Tom Martin | NEW ORLEANS, LA March 4, 2009 01:57:21 pm:

Erwin,

Dropped my BB a while ago... any other SAD bloggers use BB? If so, maybe you can do the Top 10 BB App post?

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By tonyd16 | Inverness, IL March 4, 2009 02:25:32 pm:

Love your top ten apps but could not download wheretraveler...Did you spell it wrong or are they ahving problems?
TonyD

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By Allison | St. Louis Park, MN March 4, 2009 03:46:35 pm:

I was so excited when I read about WhereTraveler, but it does not seem to exist when I searched for it. Help!!

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By J | Dana Point, CA March 4, 2009 05:21:13 pm:

Don't forget TMZ. This is a very important App, especially when a client mentions some little or unknown celebrity and the stupid thing they did, and you don't want to look at them with a blank and unknowing stare.

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By Melissa | Santa Monica, CA March 4, 2009 06:13:38 pm:

RE: #1 on your list: PERFECT! Now where's the app we Creative Directors can use to deal with you Stubborn Ad Execs?

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By Tom Martin | NEW ORLEANS, LA March 4, 2009 07:30:55 pm:

Melissa -- same app.. battle to the death or at least until I tell them "Art Director -- I am your father" ;-)

All you folks looking for WhereTraveler -- sorry folks.. it isn't actually an "app" but a mobile website. I have it saved on a home screen so I was confused.. go to http://www.wheretraveler.com/classic/ and in upper right hand corner is iPhone friendly version.

Enjoy.
@TomMartin

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By wrtgirl | FT. MITCHELL, KY March 5, 2009 09:58:53 am:

Would also recommend Tweetie. I recently switched from Twittelator to Tweetie and it was worth every penny of that $1.99. It's fantastic for managing multiple accounts (such as my personal, my business, and a brand account) and has a great UI.
When traveling, I often amuse myself with the Jetset game, that actually senses if you're in an airport and offers hidden treasures based on your location.

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By jamespharaon | Brenham, TX March 5, 2009 11:36:52 am:

There's a great app for creatives called "What the Font?" You take a photo of a typeface you want more information on and it tells you what typeface it is.

Also, check out iPity. Classic.

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By lisaajc | Marietta, GA March 5, 2009 11:37:58 am:

Great list...thanks Tom. Evernote is also a must have.

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By dswartz | HUNTINGTON BEAC, CA March 5, 2009 11:43:18 am:

Please add Doodle Chat to the list. I'm a former agency creative director turned iPhone app builder. I created Doodle Chat to help people share ideas back and forth in doodle form because I was always looking for something like that to communicate with my partners. You can even insert a photo, draw on it, and send it to someone. And the cool thing is, they can draw on the same "page" and send it back to you.

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By Bob_Knorpp_@thebeancast | Greensboro, NC March 5, 2009 12:02:41 pm:

I'll join the chorus of, "Oooooo! You forgot my app." ;-)

I would replace Files with "Mobile Files." Free app that provides on the road access to your iDisk through MobileMe. I also throw my important docs onto the iDisk before I leave the office, then I instantly have access to them when I need them in meetings. Plus it doesn't hog up iPhone disk space, since the files are in the proverbial cloud.

I also have to give a shout out for Remote and the Keynote app. Both offer remote control of your mac, which makes you look really cool in presentations.

And BTW, thanks for the Twittelator Pro love. Too many people moving to Tweetie and not enough love for the granddaddy app.

http://beancast.us

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By frankiejohnson | Phoenix, AZ March 5, 2009 02:37:17 pm:

I love the NightStand app. It may seem like a small thing, but there is something very soothing about waking up to the same clock face wherever you might travel. I've set mine to the "flip clock" option which has a very retro "Groundhog Day" look to it. So much better than those complicated, hard-to-read, often wrong, hotel clock radios.

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