You recently received a new iPhone 15, or 15 Pro Max. Or maybe you've opted for a new iPad this time, or an iPhone SE 2, XR, XS or even 12, 13 or 14? There may even be some of you who come from the Android world.
However, the acquisition of a new iOS device is a (re)discovery of the vast world that is the App Store, but also the opportunity to clean up your applications and thus get rid of those too old or never used. In fact, Apple's iOS app store is full oflittle wondersthat we don't necessarily know or that we discover during a first purchase!
So to help you find your way on your new iPhone or iPad, the iPhon.fr editorial team offers you afolder listing iOS applications deemed essential, forming the basis for any new iOS user. Here they are described and linked to their respective App Store page. Enough to surpass the native applications provided by Apple, which are not always very successful, it must be said!
The unmissable
i-nfo.fr
Our iPhon.fr blog application, to follow all the Apple news on your favorite iOS device. The app allows you to see the general news feed, but also to access the most shared articles, good deals or even all our guides. In its brand new version released recently, a dark world is also included as well as a brand new interface and various new features, including favorite topics and articles. Do not hesitate to consult our complete guide to the i-nfo.fr app. And thank you again for your feedback and your superb App Store ratings. We try to fix bugs as quickly as possible.
© iPhon.fr
YouTube
If we had to describe YouTube to a total tech novice who has never heard of it, if there are such profiles, let's say to put it simply that it's the new TV. Google's video service must therefore be present on iOS, which is the case, fortunately. The application in question is practical, rather well made and even allows you to watch a video while searching for the next one.
Molotov
Molotov is the essential app for watching a number of live TV channels, but also seeing or rewatching shows in replay. It also allows you to find new shows to watch based on your tastes. And the app allows users to schedule the recording of their favorite content on a virtual VCR, so they can watch it later when they have time. The promise was to reinvent TV: it has been kept!
© iPhon.fr / Molotov
Waze
In the free GPS category, an application holds a special place, Waze, owned by Google. Entirely based on its community, Waze offers both to take you to your destination and to warn of road events such as traffic jams, checks and accidents which could slow you down on your vacation route.
Dropbox
Dropbox allows you to synchronize your files between several Mac computers, PCs, smartphones and iPad-type tablets by simply dropping them in a folder, on the sole condition of installing an application on the computer. Once the operation is done, the files are automatically synchronized and accessible on iPhone or iPad. They can be marked as favorites so as not to depend on a connection. The office becomes mobile: super practical! This is especially true since Dropbox, like some other “Cloud” file services, is increasingly supported by many third-party applications.
Shazam
Less essential now than iOSintegrates similar functions into Siri, some may find it interesting to keep track of recognized songs and broader options than those offered by Apple's voice assistant. Shazam is almost magical: launch the application when you listen to any piece of music and in a few seconds, Shazam indicates the title of the album and the artist. Now you will always have the answer to the question: “who is singing?” ". There is no limit, you can “Shazamer” as much as you want and for free, the app is regularly updated. Note, avery good free alternative too, SoundHound.
Citymapper
An essential for all people using public transport in Paris, Lyon, and other cities. It allows you to know the shortest route and the time needed to go from point A to point B using public transport (metro, RER, bus, tram, etc.). You indicate the address, or the name of a place (bar, restaurant, etc.) if you do not know the exact address and the app takes care of everything. It even understands the metro exits and indicates which car to board to exit in front of the exit.
1Password
Probably the best password manager in the App Store, 1Password is a true digital personal safe that can be found synchronized across all platforms from iPhone to iPad to computer and its browsers. With it, identifying yourself becomes child's play.
© 1Password
Shortcuts
The “Shortcuts” function is for iOS what Automator is for macOS, but much more powerful, and above all, taking advantage of Siri. The application was born following the acquisition of Workflow by Apple. Thanks to it, it is possible to program any keyword to say to launch one or more actions on your iPhone or iPad. Its operation can be scary, however, given the potential power of the app and its depth.
However, we have published several help articles,to be found there, dont :
- Thefirst partfrom our app discovery folder:get started with the Shortcuts app
- Thesecond part:develop your first shortcut with demonstration video and example to download
- Thethird part:create a shortcut for your morning/evening routine (condition, settings, alarm clock)
- Thepart four:create a shortcut taking advantage of IFTTT
- Practical: nearly 30 apps that integrate Shortcuts
- How to change an app icon on iPhone and iPad?
© iPhon.fr
Choose your favorite news topics and let Flipboard do the sorting and selection work. In addition to this user-tailored news aggregation, Flipboard also allows you to follow news feeds created by others. For example, you can follow the iPhon.fr news feedvia this link. A greatly appreciated app, synchronized with the web service of the same name, all so you don't miss any news worthy of interest.
Lydia
Reimburse a loved one who paid for the round at the bar, collect money between brothers and sisters for the parents' gift, or even pay directly for your order at many merchants, this is what Lydia allows you to do very simply. In just a few years, the app has become one of the new benchmarks for sending money via mobile. And even if PayPal,available here on the App Store, also holds an important place in the same field, Lydia, due to its growing popularity, particularly among young people, has the potential to gain the upper hand over the competition.
Social networks
Twitter / X
X, formerly Twitter, is still essential on iOS and more generally on the web to keep up to date with what is happening in real time in the world. We also regularly share information on our X account@iPhonfr, there are more than 74,000 of us and we look forward to hearing your comments!
We no longer present this social network. The Facebook app is so downloaded (it is one of the most downloaded from the App Store according to official Apple information) that Apple could even automatically integrate it into the iPhone. No more kidding, the Facebook app allows anyone who wants to stay in touch with their friends. Very regularly updated, it is much more effective than a web connection for keeping in touch. Join us on Facebook, by clicking “Like” onour page.
Like its predecessors, the most recent iPhones feature an improved photo and video sensor. And the App Store is full of photo apps. But if I had to choose just one, I think this is the one we should take. In just a few years, Instagram has become as essential as Facebook (which bought it) or Twitter. In addition to photo sharing, Instagram offers “stories” and live video. Lovers of beautiful images can't do without it!
Reels © Instagram
Snapchat
Snapchat is originally the simplest way to share photos that are not intended to be kept. It is therefore practical and fun for unusual photographs which are made to simply share a short moment of life, without spending time taking it, knowing that the photo will be deleted after a few seconds after being opened by the recipient. . The application also allows live chat by text or video, offers increasingly sophisticated animated and dynamic filters (with the addition of augmented reality!) and has since popularized a very popular “stories” format.
TikTok
A real tidal wave coming from China, this application has established itself in less than 2-3 years as one of the most used social networks, particularly among young people, but also stars. The app allows you to film, edit and share video sequences recorded to a song. TikTok seen has also made it possible to make many musical artists known thanks to the buzz of different TikTok videos.
iPhone and iPad applications for communicating
This is one of the most used instant messaging applications in the world. It allows you to chat with many of your contacts, share photos, share your geographic location, send audio messages, and even call your WhatsApp contacts. A great alternative to iMessage for anyone whose tribe isn't 100% iPhone!
Facebook Messenger
As with WhatsApp, Facebook is still in charge for Messenger. This is the port of Facebook's Messenger service allowing you to communicate with your contacts on the social platform. Facebook being still one of the most popular social networks in 2020, Messenger must have a place on your iPhone or iPad to chat with Facebook contacts who are still missing alternatives that are perhaps more attentive to private data like Signal, presented below.
Signal
Signal is announced as a messaging application at the top of technologies and services in terms of respecting the privacy of its users. In particular, it offers end-to-end encryption of conversations based on an open-source protocol. In addition, it guarantees independent operation, using neither advertising nor trackers to persist. All support in the development of the app comes from its user community. Signal is the top messaging app for those who are serious about keeping their interactions private.
Apple apps not to be missed
iMovie
For those who like to make video, iMovie featured inthe essential video apps folder, should appeal to you. Edit your videos, add transitions and sound all from your iPhone for stunning results. Enough to get the most out of the brand new photo/video sensor of your new iPhone.
La suite iWork
Arrived on iPhone a long time ago, the iWork suite (Pages, Keynote and Numbers) is also perfectlyintegrated with iCloud. Start on iPad or Mac and take your documents to your iPhone/iPad via the cloud to view and even edit them. The most mobile among us will appreciate it.
GarageBand
GarageBand is to music creation what iMovie is to video editing: a simple, clear, basic software in appearance, but still complete, to a certain extent. GarageBand is therefore a musical sequencer, allowing you to create and/or record mock-ups of songs, but also to edit audio projects, such as a podcast or the sound of a video, among others. In addition, it is very easy to open a project started on GarageBand on iPhone or iPad in GarageBand or even Logic on Mac.
The essentials from Google
If Google has its own operating system with Android, it is nonetheless very present on the Apple App Store with well-finished and regularly improved applications. Among the many applications of the search engine, some seem essential to us. Here they are:
Google Maps
Who says GPS on mobile, often says Google Maps. The app from the Mountain View giant has, over time, gained the status of reference in the genre. It is practical, efficient and of high quality, very well stocked. We have put together a file for you presentingmore than twenty usage tips!
© iPhon.fr x Google Maps
Google Photos
This is the application of Google's photo and video storage and sharing service. The latter offers unlimited and free storage provided that the photos do not exceed 16 megapixels and the videos in 1080P. In the case of content with a resolution higher than these, a reduction in quality conversion is carried out before storage in the cloud.
The app includes a very powerful search engine that will recognize what is in the images. For example, if you type “sunset”, the app will display all the photos where it has detected a sunset. The app supports Apple Live Photos and can automatically create albums from your photos. Extremely practical!
Snapseed
This free app is one of the best photo editing apps in the App Store. It is used by many amateur and professional photographers, and allows you to precisely modify many parameters of a photo to make it even more beautiful. It is also capable of editing photos in RAW format.
Street View et Google Maps
For the Street View function, Google offers a dedicated application. The latter therefore allows you to walk around the planet thanks to all the 360° photographs taken by Google in addition to the contributions made by users. We therefore have direct access to certain unusual places, but also to the interiors of certain buildings such as restaurants, museums, stadiums, etc. It's huge and you can quickly get lost!
The same goes for Google Earth, the service for which the Mountain View giant has also decided to offer a dedicated mobile application. Explore the planet, from the most unusual places to the most famous monuments and places and enjoy superb guided tours from NASA, BBC Earth and National Geographic.
Google News
Google News on iPhone and iPad allows you to find the web service of the same name. In short, it is a news aggregator, allowing you to see news from different media in a single app. The user can choose preferential themes to sort the news, but also easily see local, national or even international headlines. Plus the Google News iOS widget is great! Failing to be able to benefit from the full Apple News service in France, this is probably the best alternative, offered by Google, once again.
Chrome
Like the previous two, Chrome is a high quality application. It is a good alternative browser to Safari. Regularly updated, Chrome can interact with other Google apps on the iPhone. It offers tabbed browsing, Google voice search (awesome), and page syncing with Mac, PC, or iPad.
For Firefox users, it also has its browser on iPhone. Very well supported by Mozilla, the app is ergonomic, but also very efficient. Finally, private browsing, tab and surf synchronization are also included, among many other practical features.
iPhone and iPad pearls
Here are lesser-known applications, but which we think are worth a look.
Night Sky
Space holds many mysteries, still inaccessible to man. Its beauty is matched only by the magnitude of its distances. And when the clouds are rare, space offers a lovely spectacle to observe from home, or better, in the mountains, far from the lights of the day before. And to learn everything about space, our favorite application is Night Sky. The app, with its exemplary design, includes a staggering database of stars in the sky. It will allow all those who are even a little interested in discovering the roof of the world to find out more about the roof of the world, thanks in particular to guided tours, but also to augmented reality, iPhone pointed towards the sky .
Pixelmator
No need for Photoshop for iPhone and iPad, and even Mac, when you have Pixelmator. This well-designed and, above all, affordable application (€5.99 on iOS) allows novices and experts alike to create pretty photo effects and image montages. The app is also regularly updated. It is aimed at a specific target, of course, but it has all the assets to easily introduce image processing to the general public.
Prisma
Simply the best photo effects app.Presented here, it allows you to apply many styles to a photo. And all of these filters are honestly striking. There are several dozen of them. To transform a moderately successful photo into a true work of art, frankly, there is nothing better.
© iPhon.fr x Prisma
ProCamera
The Camera app on iOS is very basic. Certainly, it will be sufficient for many users and for taking simple photos and videos. But to go a little further, it is better to equip yourself with a third-party app. And in this matter, ProCamera is in our opinion the best alternative. It combines ease of use with processing power. It notably has an excellent night mode, not to mention the numerous effects and other settings available to enhance your photos. It costs €17.99, but honestly, it's well worth it.
Here are our top apps to install on your iPhone or iPad after purchasing a new model, or simply resetting your iOS terminal for a good spring cleaning.
Do you have any apps to add to this list? If yes, which ones? Do not hesitate to put them in comments.
i-nfo.fr - Official iPhon.fr app
By : Keleops AG
