A plethora of fun, useful applications for loyal Apple iPhone users

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Elizabeth Thompson said she has an application for her iPhone that most people might not know exists.

“I have (a sex) offender locator,” the Flint sophomore said.

She said she is not sure why she has it, but keeps it on her phone nonetheless. Users never know when certain applications might come in handy.

Either way, the notion of cell phones as mere telephones that fit in a pocket is a thing of the past.

Apple’s iPhone is leading a wave of mobile phones with expanding capabilities since its 2007 release. These new realms of utility are implemented through downloadable applications, or “apps,” which were made popular through Apple’s marketing slogan, “There’s an app for that.”

Many students across campus have embraced the wide variety of independently produced products available on Apple’s App Store, accessible from the iPhone itself. They are finding new ways to play favorites games and update social applications while on the go.

Handy when stolen

On some campuses, apps can aid in the searching of criminals. A student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh was robbed and had his wallet and iPhone stolen Saturday. Using his phone’s GPS app, the student was able to track where his phone was and alerted police.

Many of the popular apps include Facebook and Global Positioning Systems.

Apps are not just made because they are useful in the real world, however. Like anything, there are some apps just made for some fun.

“There’s one called paper toss, where you toss paper into a trash can,” Thompson said.

Rockford freshman Andrew Smith said he admitted spending too much time absorbed in one app called “Zombieville (USA).”

Some apps beg for stronger terminology than “wacky.”

Smith said both “Dog Whistle,” which sends out frequencies like a dog whistle, and “Tap Tap Revenge 2,” a game similar to Guitar Hero, are downright embarrassing.

The worst thing an iPhone application can do is fail to function.

“The first time I downloaded ‘MapQuest,’ it didn’t work. I had to delete and re-download it,” Smith said.

But many applications for iPhones are not just questionable time-wasters for lengthy bus rides or between classes. Many are genuinely useful.

“’MapQuest,’ for sure. I can flip to my directions page and know where I’m going.” Smith said.

Thompson is a fan of keeping up to date with the weather and entertainment on her iPhone, no matter where she is.

“’The Weather Channel’ comes in handy a lot. (I like) the movies app so I can look at movie times,” Thompson said.