MapsBuddy for iPhone/Touch

MapsBuddy is a wonderfully simple little 99 cent program that I’ve found to be extremely handy to have on my iPhone. It does just one thing, and one thing well. It allows you to tap on a search term contained within the program, and have the built-in Maps program launched using that search term. It has multiple categories of search terms and allows you to create new ones, and to move search terms into a favorites section that appears at the top of the list. Above you’ll see my favorites – the terms I use most when I’m travelling on business.  This little program saves me lots of typing, especially when driving!

Presto For Quick Work on a PC

I recently installed Presto on my Asus EEE 1000H netbook, and I’m loving it. Presto is a subset of Xandros Linux and installing it on a Windows XP or Vista machine automatically sets up a dual-boot environment. Booting into Presto is super-fast compared to booting into Windows XP on my netbook, taking only about 25 seconds. Shutting down from Presto takes only about 3 seconds on the 1000H!

So, it’s fast, but what good is it? The Presto environment comes with Open Office for working with Microsoft Office documents, the Firefox browser for Web browsing and email (if you use something like GMail, which I do), Skype for audio and video calls, and an IM client that supports most major IM services (I use GoogleTalk with it). In short, everything I need to get 90% of my work done. There is also a Presto App Store with a limited selection of sofware available for download. I got the latest Java Runtime Environment and the AVG Free Anti-Virus program from it.

I use Presto at my hotel, at the airport, at home – in short, anywhere I need to get to some straightforward PC work done quickly. It’s very fast and very solid. Best of all it only costs $20!

Skype for iPhone

Skype is a free application for the iPhone that seems to work extremely well. I placed some test calls using it this morning and it worked flawlessly and with excellent sound quality. I tried it with both Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calls to the public telephone network. The application currently only works through Wi-Fi, but should nevertheless be a wonderful way to save minutes from your AT&T voice plan. It even intefaces with the built-in Contacts application, although you need to make sure that phone numbers stored there include the country code (which is 1 for the US). In summary, a wonderful application, and it’s free, too!