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Quick Help Guide: How To Use Your New iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

Posted by Rob LeFebvre on December 24th, 2011

Happy Holidays! If you're like many folks, you'll have gotten a new iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch this holiday season. And if you're looking for a place to learn all about this new magical device in your life, you've come to the right place. 148Apps has tons of resources on using your new device and filling it with the best thing about it: apps.


Learning The Basics


The operating system of these devices is one of the most intuitive around. However, there's always more waiting under the hood to make things just that much easier or better on us. While your new iPhone or iPad may not come with a manual, you can download one fairly simply from the iBooks Store. First, grab [appinline:364709193,"iBooks"], then grab the manual for your new iPad, iPhone, or
iPod touch.

Speaking of the operating system, we've written a few articles about the latest and greatest from Cupertino right here on 148Apps. Check out our Full Feature Roundup on iOS 5.

We even published some downloadable magazine-style User Guides last year, on each of the devices. Feel free to grab them and read through them - many of the tips and tricks included there are just as relevant today as they were then. iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.


To the iCloud!!!


You may have seen some of the information about iCloud in the Apple TV commercials. It's a great system that gives you unprecedented storage and sharing options. Here's a short intro to iCloud from Apple.

We've got you covered with iCloud as well. Here's information on both moving your data to the iCloud to help keep things synced and backed up. You may also need more information on how you set up iCloud in a multiple user family. This details all the ins and outs of multiple user groups who may otherwise share iTunes accounts.


There Really is an App for That


Once you've got a good handle on using that sleek new iOS device, you'll of course want to dive in and start downloading apps. Whether you're an avid gamer, a music lover, a book reader or even (gasp) all three, you'll find everything you need in the iTunes Store.

When it comes to Apps, iOS has no peer. There are over 500,000 apps in the App Store, so you'll doubtlessly find something you like. The trick, however, is filtering through all of those apps to find the specific things you want. That can be tricky, but luckily there are many ways to help.

First off are our very own reviews. We review a ton of apps weekly to give you the best recommendations about the best apps we find. Be sure to look through our Reviews lists, which can be filtered by type of app as well as sorted by date, app name, or app rating. If you just want to read reviews of our highest rated iPad games, for example, it's an easy click. And for on the go browsing of 148Apps reviews, grab the [appinline: 444792529,"148Apps App"].

In addition, we have our famous Price Drops lists, which can be sorted to just show the latest drops in prices, or even just the latest FREE apps. Very handy, if we say so ourselves. If you're looking for the very latest additions to the App Store, we have a list for that, as well as one for the Top Apps across all the App Store categories for each device. Then of course there's always the very best of the best in free apps available in the free games and free apps lists.

If you want even more app discovering goodness, you might want to check out a few apps made to help you wade through the App Store. Some of our favorites are [appinline:387037496,"AppShopper"], [appinline:348286549,"Chomp"], and [appinline: 383151779,"AppZapp"]. There are even specific apps to help you find the latest free apps. Some of the best include [appinline:348650932,"Free App A Day"], [appinline: 470693788,"Apps Gone Free"], and [appinline:484505841, "Free App Alliance"]. These will all help you sort and find and browse apps and games to your heart's content; we use them all the time to find new great apps to use and write about on the site.


Where Else To Find 148Apps?


We're everywhere, really. However, the best places to find us are on Twitter, Facebook, and now even Google+. Be sure to come visit and chat with us there. We're ever so responsive.


Free Apps You Shouldn't Do Without


Now, we wouldn't be the premier Apps review site without some sort of parting gift, now would we? How about some apps you really should try out? To make the deal even sweeter, let's make them free apps.

iBooks, Nook, & Kindle - Reading ebooks is all the rage these days, especially on these fancy new iOS devices. We love reading on our iPad, and have even been known to crack a virtual spine or two on our iPhone while waiting at the doctor's office. For those of you with shorter attention spans, there's always Newsstand, iOS's magazine subscription service. Some of the best ereader apps include [appinline:364709193,"iBooks"], [appinline:384910586,"Nook for iPhone"], [appinline:373582546,"Nook for iPad"], and [appinline:302584613,"Kindle"]. Happy reading!

Facebook, Twitter, & Instant Messaging - Keep in touch with family, friends, and us - your favorite Apps website - with these free social networking apps. Tell 'em 148Apps sent you!
There's [appinline:284882215], [appinline:333903271] though [appinline: 428851691,"Tweetbot"] is much better, though not free like the official Twitter app.

For instant messaging, check out [appinline:336435697,"imo"] and [appinline:405179691,"imo for iPad"]. And don't forget [appinline: 304878510,"Skype"] and [appinline: 442012681,"Skype for iPad"]. We've become big fans of [appinline: 392796698 ,"GroupMe"] lately too for group communication.

Gaming on the Cheap - Now, we put out a sweet weekly article that tells you about the latest FREE gaming apps, but here are a few we think you won't want to miss. We could go on for hours about it, really, but these should get you off to a good start.

For a great free endless runner, check out [appinline:420009108,"Temple Run"]. A wonderful game. For some great physics puzzle fun, the new king is [appinline:467810884,"Where's My Water? Free"] and you can never go wrong with the classic [appinline:409807569,"Angry Birds Free"]. A couple other free games we really like include [appinline:466965151,"The Sims Freeplay"] and [appinline:422667065,"TinyTower"].

You should also check out our massive iOS game and app sale post. There are tons of great deals and quite a few temporarily free apps there. Be sure to grab the great [appinline: 457446957,"Jetpack Joyride"] while it's free. It's one of our favorite games of the year.

We hope you've enjoyed learning about your new magical iOS devices. The iPad, iPhone and iPod touch are some of the best new gadgets to give or receive. Be sure to come back often to see what we have for you; we're always looking to find the news or apps you want to know about first. From all of us here to all of you out there, Happy Holidays!!!

Favorite Four - Apps to Track Daily Free App Promos

Posted by Chantelle Joy Duxbury on April 6th, 2011

If you're a fan of our weekly FREEday posts, or a subscriber to the Price Drops list here on 148apps then you'll definitely want to read ahead as I rundown the best apps that will help you stay on top of current and limited time free promotions on the App Store.

AppAllStar

The newest app on the Daily Free app scene, AppAllStar focuses mainly on game apps and promises to give a daily list of non-lite, full versions of apps away on promotion for a limited time. I really enjoy the user interface within this app, offering a calendar so you can see upcoming releases as well. It's a free app, so you've got nothing to loose by downloading and trying it out - except maybe some personal information. The iTunes rankings show a bit of discontent about the disclaimer that comes along with this app. Lets just hope they're using the info about what games get downloaded most often to bring us better options in the future.

Free App A Day

This is the big-daddy, the most popular Daily Free app site and app. While ad supported, you'll get a daily recommendation for free apps. I personally find the layout a bit more trying, but the paid version is slightly better. Also in the paid version you'll find an entire section devoted to non-game apps (for those of us that don't exclusively use our iOS device for games). Whichever version you get, some of the top-name apps have used FreeAppADay.com to promote their games, so it's pretty well known you're going to get quality recommendations and downloads with FAAD.



Game Channel by OpenFeint

Before Apple decided to built their own in-house Game Center, OpenFeint reined supreme as the best leaderboard/multiplayer in-app addition to make makes more interactive and personal. While it's still very popular it also launched it's own Free Daily App service early in the year, and has become one of the most popular in the App Store. What's more is they also promotes 'Fire Sale's so that you'll find that games that are on sale as well. The app is one of the best designed in this category, easy and fun to use. You've got to try this one out.

App Shopper

For those who might not be as interested in simply downloading whatever is free each day, but want to spend some time comparing their options, I highly suggest App Shopper. Offering a list of what's on sale, the ability search by category (brilliant - simply my favorite part), compiling a wish list, and many more useful features, this is by far more useful and functional that the others. While it is free, it's also ad supported with the option to upgrade to the non-ad version for only $0.99 as an in-app purchase. For the slightly more discriminating app-aholics this is a great tool to have in your pocket.

Don't forget to check with our RSS Feeds for fantastic info about Free Games and Price Drops or if you're serious, and want to get info as quick as possible, definitely follow @148apps_pdrops on Twitter! Have a fantastic and fun week with all your new free apps!