Family Man Librarian

WordPress app for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Posted by FamManLib
July 22, 2008

I’m lucky to own an iPod Touch but I can’t help longing for an iPhone 3G too The main difference between them, for me, is that the iPhone 3G can truly be an “always on” device in terms of Internet access because of its dual wifi/cell capabilities. The iPod Touch can only connect via wifi, and I find that aspect of its functionality too limiting. On the other hand, I don’t want the additional service costs that an iPhone would require.

Just about every iPhone application also works on an iPod Touch, but with sometimes significant limitations. For instance, all of that cool location-based functionality that iPhone users get to have isn’t available for the iPod Touch since it is wifi only. When I’m at work, for example, there is no wifi access that I can use. Well, there is wifi access but I’m prohibited from using it. (Oh how I wish for ubiquitous, free wifi wherever I go!)

I’ve tried quite a few of the free apps in the Apple App store and like most of them, but I was particularly excited to read this a.m. of the availability of a WordPress app. This app is free and it works quite well from what I can tell so far. If you are an iPhone or iPod Touch owner and also manage a WordPress blog then this software is a must-have.

Other apps that I particularly like so far include the Facebook app, Twitterific, WeatherBug, and Stanza (a free ebook reader that I think is quite functional). Another free app that I think is really cool but is more of a geeky showpiece than something practical and useful at this point, is PangeaVR.

Some other library bloggers have pointed out the lack of library-oriented applications for the iPhone/iPod Touch platform. I agree that this is unfortunate and I look forward to reading about new developments in this space soon. I wish I was smart enough to develop something myself, but I’m not.

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Information: July 22nd, 2008; Comments

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Categories and Tags: apple; family man librarian; iphone; ipod touch; wifi; wordpress

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Viewing 5 Comments

Arnie 4 months ago 1 point
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I like your attitude about the work wifi being restricted. I need to relax about my own situation and go with the flow more instead of cursing the IT people under my breath. Thanks.

I am also not interested in the major fiscal impact of the Iphone, but I am holding out for the next gen ipod touch. September? October? I hope soon.

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free ipod touch 4 months ago 1 point
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I love the apps available at the App store as well, it's great that Apple decided to let users have 3rd party apps on their devices. I'm with you on the iPhone 3G part as well, I'd love to have one, but it's monthly cost is a bit expensive, since I probably wouldn't take full advantage of the 3G network as well as the other features. Maybe in the future.

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http://www.free-ipod-touch.blogspot.com

Brian Schoppe 4 months ago 1 point
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Along the lines of the apps you listed, I noticed that Zinio.com has made some of their offering available for free on the web. I though you would appreciate this because of your librarian background and because of the real look and feel of the magazines they put out there. There is a hack to get it using the Safari browser and note 2 of the 16 selections are for more of a mature audience. However, try the link www.zinio.com/iphone on your Touch. You will get a different interface than if you try the link through Mozilla IE/Mozilla. You can access it in Safari by adding the develop option to the menu bar and then selecting the Iphone interface. I really enjoyed reading US News and Men's Health on this site. Would like to see more offerings in the future.

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FamManLib 4 months ago 1 point
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Thanks, Brian. Will take a look! I've used the desktop Zinio app in the
past.

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3 /people/FamManLib/ /people/FamManLib/following/ http://www.familymanlibrarian.com 552938337 in/steveoberg FamManLib FamManLib steve_oberg

Danny 1 month ago 1 point
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Wow. This is the first that I have heard of this and I just recently got a new iPhone. Definitely something I am going to look into.

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http://dannydoring.net

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