LIST: Replacing Everything with an iPhone (part 2)

Posted on | October 7, 2008 |

In this sequel to Replacing Everything with an iPhone (Part 1), we try to dig even deeper to find what books, devices and other random clutter we can be rid of in the interest of simplifying our lifestyle and reducing the amount of resources we consume every day while still maintaining a more than comfortable lifestyle, all by making use of a handy little device called the iPhone.

Game Consoles
Though it may not be able to compete with processor-intensive games like Crysis or Bioshock, the iPhone does have a faily extensive list of games available, many of which have that ‘Wii-like charm;’ that is, games that operate or are controlled in non-traditional ways. Games like Spore Origins and Zen Pinball: Rollercoaster make use of the iPhone’s accelerometer, while classics like Gameloft’s Chess & Backgammon and fill out the iPhone’s library with oldschool options. Take a look at TiltGamer and Touch Arcade for up-to-the-minute iPhone game reviews and news.

Television
Though the only reliable way to watch streaming content on your iPhone without jailbreaking is to watch YouTube clips, there are a few other options on the horizon, including the upcoming Slingbox Player that is in the works for the iPhone. The other option is to pick up a copy of Jaadu VNC and go through your main computer (desktop or laptop) and watch anything available on the Internet right from your iPhone. That means everything on Hulu and NBC.com are available, the veritable bounty of Sidereel is ready and waiting. Even the humble (but poignant) Rocketboom becomes accessible from anywhere in the world, 24/7. Isn’t it nice living in the future?

Portfolio
This one doesn’t apply to everyone, but as most designers, artists, photographers, art directors, musicians, creative directors, marketers, actors, script writers, producers and spoken-word performance artists can attest, it never hurts to have an example of your work available, on the spot, for that chance meeting with Mr. Guy I’ve Been Waiting To Make A Pitch To Forever at the party Friday night. To that end, the iPhone allows you store gigabytes worth of information, which you can then view on its beautiful screen, or listen to through headphones or its not-terrible external speakers (or plugged in to a nearby TV or computer or stereo system). Having a website is great and truly necessary. Having a portfolio with you at all times goes above-and-beyond. It won’t let you get rid of the business card (which is something the Ecopreneurist makes a solid argument against anyway), but it’s a step in the right direction.

Presentation ‘Clicker’
It can be stressful traveling around the country giving presentations to Mr. So-and-So and Mrs. Client-From-Wherever. The iPhone can help make any presentation just a little bit easier, however, by taking one more piece of hardware out of the process and out of your travel bag. By making use of apps like Stage Hand you will not only be able to control your Keynote slideshow presentation, but also view a miniature version of the current slide on your phone and highlight the projected screen by touching the location on your phone. Or, for the Powerpoint purists out there, simply sync up PP with your iPhone and control it all from the native iPhone office player.

Encyclopedia/Reference
Okay, not that anyone still uses hefty hardbound encyclopedias anymore (except lawyers, apparently), but if you are looking to replace all of those tomes, CD-ROMs and ZooBooks with your iPhone, you are in luck. Utilize broad-subject apps Kiwi, which brings the vast entirety of Wikipedia to the comfort of your iPhone. Need to know how to make a certain drink? iBartender to the rescue! Swap out that outdated crossword puzzle dictionary with Crossword Dictionary Online Edition, the thesaurus with the Thesaurus App and make the world your art history class with Art Envi. You can even swap out your old, rusty Bible or Quran for the Bible and iQuran Pro, respectively.

Pennysaver
No need to worry about carrying around the local Adsheet or Pennysaver in order to get those second-hand deals that have kept your apartment stocked with fine, collectable action figures and bulk energy drinks. Carry every auction and garage sale you’ll ever need in your pocket with eBay Mobile and Craigs Mobile List. Want a deal on gas while you’re at it? Check out My Gas Wars, which is dedicated to finding the lowest possible priced gas in your area.

Journal/Diary
No need to keep that leatherbound, elastic-strap-protected notebook of shame in your messenger bag. Instead, carry your deepest darkest secrets on your iPhone using myDiary. With password protection and the ability to mail a single entry or a whole month’s worth of blackmail material to yourself, this app will allow you to more easily find yourself, revisit past experiences and establish an alibi.

Dice
Need to get your dice-on? Whether you need to decide which one of your hapless employees to fire or figure out whether or not your Magic Missile misses the Flumph during your lunch break game of Dungeons and Dragons, Dice Bag gives you the option of rolling 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20-sided dice, including multiples of them, so that your decision is made sooner rather than later. Only have to choose between two options? Flip a coin instead with iHandy Coin Flip.

Word-A-Day Calendar
Seriously, how many times can you be exposed to the word zeitgeist before realizing that these calendars are the same every year? Instead, snag VocabLab, which will expose you to the 5,000 most commonly tested words in the English language. Or expose yourself to something new by grabbing the Japanese Word of the Day, German Word of the Day or Arabic Word of the Day apps.

Translator
Tried you luck with the Word of the Day apps but still aren’t completely fluent in your language of choice? Don’t bother buying an English/Spanish dictionary, paper or electronic. Instead head to the app store and download the iTranslate-Spanish application. Not only will it allow your iPhone to translate sentences from English to Spanish, it will actually read them back to you. You can get it in German, French, Italian and Ultimate (which includes all of the aforementioned languages, as well as any future languages added in the future) flavors.

Crossword/Deck of Cards/Sudoku
No need to pack that extra crossword puzzle or Sudoku book, nor the deck of cards. The iPhone has you covered with apps like Sudoku, Crossword Master and Sol Free Solitaire (not to mention 21 Pro Blackjack, Fat-Free Video Poker and Texas Hold‘em).

Phonebook
Those of you who haven’t yet ditched the phonebook (both white and yellow): now is your time. No longer are you dependent on that terrible waste of paper that arrives on your doorstep every year in order to find the best sushi restaurant in your area, or to find the phone number for the barber across town. Instead you have access to the Yellow Pages app, the White Pages Mobile app, and business rating apps like Yelp and UrbanSpoon.

TV Guide
Cancel your subscription to TV Guide, because now all you need is your iPhone and the tvGuide app. ‘Nuff said.

Flashlight
Keeping a Mini Maglite in your nightstand in case of a power-outage/earthquake/tornado/end of the world? Pawn it on eBay and charge your phone on your nightstand instead, armed with the knowledge that it’s imbued with the power of Quicklight. Alternatively, you can get Llamalight, especially if you’re feeling like the only thing that will get your family through the disaster is an impromptu club-style light show.

Piano/guitar/tuner/singing bowls/harp/metronome
All of these can be replaced. You can ever start a band using only your iPhone (plus a Nintendo DS if you’re feeling brave).

Flash cards
Waste not another cardboard rectangle by making use of the Mental Case app or iFlipr Flashcards, both with similar features (though iFlipr costs twice as much with a bit more functionality).

Travel printouts
Itinerary. Check. Boarding pass. Check. Maps. Check. List of contact numbers and address to car rental sites and airports, check. Never printing these things out in the first place and using a handful of iPhone apps (like FlightTracker, AirTravel, FlightStatus and Hey Taxi). Check check.

Compass
Do you seriously carry a compass? Okay. Wow. Use Compass Free instead. Wow.

Distress Beacon
Do you hike? Ever plan on hiking? Plan on getting lost while hiking? The Emergency Distress Beacon may be for you! This app sends your latitude and longitude (utilizing your iPhone’s built in GPS or, with first generation models, signal triangulation) to emergency rescue workers or a close friend who knows the Alps a bit better than you do.

Checks/Cash/Credit Cards
Ditch your old-fashioned money and plastic cards and pay using your iPhone, taking advantage of PayPal’s slick (and free) app, you can breeze from transaction to transaction without pulling out your wallet. You’re on your own with the parking meter, though.

What else can you replace with the iPhone? Post your thoughts, comments and ideas below.

Comments