Best Apps

The best apps for movie lovers

I like to think of myself as a movie lover. I worked at an independent theater in my town during my entire college years. I used to go to the movies a lot more often than I do now, but I still make time to go whenever I can. These days, it's so easy to watch blockbuster hits at home that I almost prefer the comforts of my living room more than a dark theater.

Whether you prefer to make a bowl of popcorn at home, or like to sneak a bag of candies into your favorite theater, we have a list of what we think are the best apps for movie lovers…

The best apps for learning how to code

These days, kids in elementary school are already learning how to code. It can be really intimidating for someone who doesn’t even know what HTML is. Even though computer knowledge is much better for the average person than it was 20 years ago, there are still a lot of secrets hidden behind those cool programs we use.

If you are too old to have learned code in school, too young to have started yet, or just want to practice the basics you learned so long ago you’ve forgotten, we’ve got a list of some of the best apps to learn how to code…

The best expense tracking apps for iPhone

When you are self-employed, run your own business, or get sent out of town for work, keeping track of what you spend is very important. If you don’t report how much money you spent on a cup of coffee to keep you awake during that presentation, you won’t be reimbursed for it later.

Whether you file a 1099 each year, are a member of the Frequent Flier Club, or only travel once or twice per year, we’ve got a list of the best expense tracking apps for iPhone that are perfect for work-related travel and business-related finance...

The best email apps for iPhone

It wasn’t that long ago that email was an untapped resource. Within the past decade or so, technology and the Internet have advanced so far that it is incredibly easy to stay in touch with people all over the world at any hour of the day. Emailing has become a behemoth that has gotten out of control.

If you are unsatisfied with the native Mail app and are looking for something to help you get to Inbox Zero, we’ve got a list of what we believe are some of the best email apps for iPhone, and our favorite apps for organizing and reducing the daily routine of checking email.

The best apps for learning music

I’ve been actively playing music in a variety of bands for the past 17 years. I taught myself everything I know. I’m far from being an expert or professional, but I can hold my own against other musicians.

I would have loved an iPhone or iPad when I was learning how to play music. I probably would have progressed a lot faster, and might even be more competent than I am now.

For those potential musicians or secret rock stars out there, we’ve got a list of apps that are geared toward learning your instrument. We believe these are some of the best apps for learning music. Have a look at our selection and add to it if you think we've missed something...

The best calendar apps for iPhone

Calendar apps are like blue jeans. Everyone has a different idea of what makes them good, and oftentimes, they get more comfortable the more you use them. Especially when you haven’t washed them for a week. Different types of people have different needs from their calendar. Some want a simple design with very little clutter. Others want a productivity workhorse that will offer a wide variety of features.

Whether you know what kind of calendar app you prefer or not, we've done some research to track down the best in this category. We came up with a list of what we believe are the best calendar apps for iPhone. No matter what you're looking for in a calendar app, we think these are just the right fit for the wide variety of readers we have at iDB…

The best note-taking apps for iPad

The iPad can be a workhorse for your productivity needs if you know how to use it. Whether you are building a business network, making your way through college, or just trying to run a brick-and-mortar record shop, the iPad can be one of your greatest allies.

The iPad is the perfect sized tablet for taking notes. If you are in a meeting, listening to a lecture, or coming up with ideas for your next masterpiece, you can find an app that will accommodate your needs. We’ve got a list of the best note-taking apps for iPad that we think rise to the top. Feel free to add your own favorites in the comments section.

Top 5 Gay iPhone Apps

This is a guest post by Tyrone Ford. If you want to guest post on this blog, please check out the guidelines here.

The Apple App Store just hit 100,000 apps which is an amazing statistic within itself. If you take a look at the App Store Metrics on 148Apps.Biz you will find that Games make up 16.9%, Entertainment makes up 13.86% and Books come in at 13.69%. These three are responsible for the top selling categories in the App Store. Buried within apps where you can accomplish nearly anything from running your own virtual Spa in Sally's Spa or for those in the medical field there is STAT ICD-9 LITE which provides all 13,677 ICD-9-CD diagnosis codes to the user’s iPhone.

With so many different options it's no surprise whatsoever that various Gay related apps would not only be created but thrive within the community. There are some good and some bad ones but a few stand out from the crowd so here are the top 5 Gay related iPhone apps you may want to take a look at.

Number 1: Edge Gay News Reader

I would have to say the top GLBT iPhone app would have to be The EDGE Gay News Reader. The iPhone version of the hugely successful EDGE.com which is "largest network of local Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) news and entertainment portals in the world, serving 500,000 dedicated readers from a variety of metropolitan areas around the United States and beyond."

Per EDGE.com and iTunes here is what comes along with this free app:

The world's largest network of gay and lesbian news and entertainment portals is now available on your iPhone and iPod Touch!

Headlines EDGE publishes news, entertainment, business, technology, style, health, fitness, travel and nightlife information to readers around the world. For the LGBT community, staying connected on the go has never been so easy.

Columnists Read fabulous commentary from individuals from within and without the LGBT community about life, relationships, and the issues facing gays and lesbians the world over.

Photos Flip through photos taken by EDGE's team in cities around the nation. Did we catch you or your friends at a nightlife or community event? Find out - even when you're not at your computer.

Business Directory Find out where to eat, drink, stay and party with EDGE's list of community-maintained, LGBT-friendly businesses in each of our target markets - including Boston, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Providence, Orlando, Provincetown and Fire Island.

Number 2: Grindr

"Whether he’s Mr. Right or Mr. Tonight, your man is hanging out on Grindr, a killer location-based social networking tool for the iPhone or iPod Touch." I would have to agree with the people over at Grindr's site, this handy little app is definitely a well put together social networking tool for gay men.

Grindr, unlike many other social network sites was made for the mobile world we live in. Grindr uses your iPhone or iPod Touch’s built-in technology to map out which guys are closest to you—but how much info you share with them is entirely up to you. This will help find who's around or if you're traveling to maybe help find a local to show you around.

Grindr has no complicated registration process, nor do you need to enter an email address, or validate your account. Grindr is quick, convenient, and discreet. Trade your stats, show off a photo, instant message any guy you like. Share your location on a map and make plans to meet up right away. Or just browse the local scene.

Grindr is a free app.

Number 3: Gay Internet Radio Live (G.I.R.L)

Playing today's hottest dance, club and remixes 24 hours a day, GayInternetRadioLive.com is a blend of party, dance, club, and circuit sounds that will keep you dancing. Unlike terrestrial radio, you'll hear remixes of popular mainstream hits that have been remixed by internationally known Dance Mix DJ's and producers.

This free app is pretty straight forward with no directories to search, providing immediate access. Artist and song title information is displayed for each track. Instant feedback link to email station DJ's, "one click" button to the request lines and two stream choices 128k and 64k. For best sound quality listen to Gay Internet Radio Live using a WiFi connection. Visit GayInternetRadioLive.com for more information or get G.I.R.L from the App Store for free.

Number 4: Gay Cities

Gay Cities is a free app that comes in very useful when either traveling or if you're new to your city. Instantly access gay-friendly restaurants, gay bars, hotels and beaches over 95 cities worldwide. Gay Cities provides up-to-date info. One click for phone number, web site & directions. Instant access to reviews by like minded travelers. Quickly find nearby bars, restaurants & hotels. Search for features that suit your taste. Find the setting that's right for you. Easily access favorites and recent searches. Get Gay Cities on your iPhone for free.

Number 5: My Gay Agenda

I couldn't help but include this functional yet very tongue-in-cheek humorous app. My Gay Agenda is tagged as a "fabulous calendar application" and that's exactly what it is. With a few extras that will definitely make your day. The good people over at Cerebral Itch greet you by saying:

We've always suspected what your plans were: destroy marriage, recruit children and do lots of cardio. Well, here’s the proof: My Gay Agenda is a first-class personal calendar application and hilarious take on what the well-organized "Velvet Mafia" operative would carry.

My Gay Agenda is a powerful personal calendar app complete with ubiquitous event features for all-day events and events that span multiple days. MGA also has a stylish and robust Notes feature and "Today In Gay" - a daily historical synopsis of key "historical events".

You also may occasionally come across handwritten notes unveiling nefarious plans to take over the world (or make it a bit more fabulous).

My Gay Agenda comes in both a free version, which only allows you to schedule events within the month you are in. There is also a $2.99 paid version, which opens up the full scheduling capabilities.

Tyrone Ford is a blogger based out of Washington D.C. who focuses on LGBT issues, pop culture, technology and social media. Find Ty's personal blog at http://BetterCallTyrone.com/.