Defining your Apps

This past Wednesday Apple had another special event. They unveiled the new iPod lineup, Apple TV, and iTunes 10. Inspired by the new updates I spent some time in the store and ended up downloading some new apps.

With all these newly acquired apps, I had to figure out how I was going to organize them on my phone and as I began designating apps to folders I started to think about how I defined their specific uses. I began to see themes to the app madness, and it seems like I break them down into the following:

Free: These are the apps that seem interesting at first glance and trigger the ”Why not download? It costs me nothing” reaction. You use it for maybe a day then never open it again. Example: Crazy Lighter, the whole purpose of the app is to make your iPhone appear to be a lighter. It can be useful to pretend your rocking out to some classic rock at a concert but ultimately provides only a cheesy, sorta-funny moment.

Social Life: For all the millions of social networking apps out there that you check multiple times a day. It’s how you stay conceted to your friends. The phone is no longer to call Bob to see how his day went but more to just check his Facebook status or twitter feed. Examples: Facebook, Twitter, AIM – we know the drill here.

iLife Apps: These are the apps that, in common with the iLife suite, run your picture taking, music listening, and video recording life. All very useful, but nothing life or death. The biggest problem with this category is figuring out which is the best Photo app out of the million available – especially when forced with that big decision of should I actually pay for the app or just download the simpler, free version. Examples: Hipstamatic, Pandora, Remote, ShakeitPhoto

Last Screen of Apps I just can’t delete: This is the shoebox in the back storage closet of apps that you still think can one day be useful and dont have the heart to delete. You can always justify why you might need that unit converter someday or the CPK app to order your food on the go but really never use it.

Actually useful Apps: These can really depend on the user, but I personally can’t live without Highrise, Shazam, Mint.com, Pandora, Google, and PayPal.

Is your phone dominated with impulse buy apps or only the select few you really cherish? Any favorites the world should know about? Do you organize by folders, screens, or is it a free for all?

How do you Define your apps?

P.S. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for some great apps R29 has in development.