So the iPhone isn’t a full-blown laptop yet, but it’s getting there. The real genius in Mac’s marketing lately has been their application of a kind of open-license for other companies to build hardware and software for their products. This is best demonstrated by the success of the iPod.
The iPod always looked cool and sounded great. Design and music have always gone well together and the iPod was a real break through in the aesthetics of portable music, but it in the opening of their license to other vendors that Mac showed its true genius. Before you knew it, third parties started building chargers, speakers, headphones, ear buds, protective covers, docking bays and any number of other innovative products to take your iPod to the next level. As a result, they created a whole niche market around their specific Mp3 player. Nowadays, there is the iPod, and then there is everyone else, trying to keep up with hundreds of other companies who are constantly upping the ante on Mac’s behalf.
Mac has also applied this kind of post-web-cooperative-marketing to its iPhone. By allowing third parties to build any number of applications for the phone, they ensure that the iPhone will – almost literally – be capable of nearly anything you can dream up. The iPhone is already sporting a lot of great functions that are particularly good for presenters.
Although there are more to be found every day, here are a number of new apps that you’ll want to add before your next presentation:
Tweetie
This application is about as simple as it sounds. Tweetie allows you to be in touch with all your Tweeting friends on Twitter from the convenience of your iPhone or iPod Touch. As we have mentioned on the site, Twitter is capable of creating a truly interactive experience for you and your audience, and simple apps like these make comments and questions a snap.
Evernote
Like having an endless supply of cocktail napkins within reach no matter where you are, Evernote allows users to make quick notes the moment inspiration strikes, and the cloud-based synchronizing allows for flexible access and organizing on a Mac, a PC or online.
Google Maps
We all use Google Maps on our computers and iPhone users can now carry the world in the palm of their hand. Just like its big brother, the Google Maps app is pretty accurate and it allows you to zoom from satellite images to street views with a touch of the screen. This app is just the thing to get you to your presentation destination when you’re on the road.
Weather
The iPhone Weather application can tell you the current conditions as well as a five day forecast for a given location. Easy to read temperatures and sunny, cloudy, rainy icons give you the big picture at a glance. Change the location you want to look at and find out what kind of conditions you’ll be dealing with for your next out of town presentation.
Mile Bug
Another must-have for the presenter-on-the-road, the Mile Bug is a great little app that will help you keep track of your reimbursable mileage. It can also be a great pairing with any map application, helping you make it to your PowerPoint presentation in one piece.
Send Contact
Go ahead and leave your business cards at home. With Send Contact you have total flexibility between your phone, your computer and your online accounts to save and send all the information for your colleagues, clients and friends.
Pointer Remote
Whether you use PowerPoint or Keynote, Pointer Remote can operate your next presentation from your iPhone. A great back up for the next time your remote runs out of batteries.
Speech Timer
This specialized timer is a great way to keep your presentation from running over, and it even has specific set ups for organizing Toastmasters meetings. This is a great app for long-winded speakers.
Glide Presenter 2.0
This nifty application brings PowerPoint to your iPhone. It even allows you to convert and share presentations for use on PC, Mac or other mobile devices. Another great application that can keep presentation day snafus at bay.
Remote Desktop
The next time you forget an important file, phone number or schedule on another computer you’ll be able to access it using this application with your iPhone. This only works with PC’s, but its a great way to back yourself up in case of a presentation emergency.
