Find your next favorite app (and maybe a new BFF, too)

Hey! My name is Tim, and I am a proud member of the webOS community. You may know me as one of the contributors at two very popular fan news sites, or maybe you know me as AnotherGuy on Twitter. Or perhaps you don’t know me at all...in which case, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. :)

Whatever the case may be, you should probably know one very important thing about me: I have a TON of apps on my phone. In the year that I’ve had my Palm Pre, there have probably been more than 400 apps downloaded and installed on my device (and that’s guessing on the low end).

I didn’t find these apps using only the official App Catalog. I’ve also used several community-run services to make my hunt more successful (and more fun). These tools don’t just pull in the official apps from the Catalog, they also pull in apps from "hidden" channels, like web distribution, public beta and even homebrew.

Want to know which tools are available to use? Well, today’s your lucky day -- ’cause here are a few of my favorites (besides Palm’s official catalog and Featured Apps app, of course):

AppScoop by jiyer
While there are close to 4,000 apps available in the official App Catalog, there are also a ton of great apps that are only made available in Palm's web distribution and public beta feeds. With AppScoop, you can browse through all of these “hidden” apps right on your device. If you're one for trying out the latest and greatest apps that aren't yet ready for public use (or haven't been released in the official Catalog), then trust me, you want to get this app.

appSpotlight from webOSroundup
The latest contender in this game comes from the same guys who brought us the PalmSpot video competition earlier this year: webOSroundup.com. Not only does it have a cool interface that you can use to find apps (from your desktop computer or webOS device), but they've also asked some of the most active members of the community to step up and be App Gurus. People like Geoffrey Gauchet (developer of the Foursquare app), Mark Coppock (from AboutwebOS.com), Lisa Brewster (our favorite bobblehead from Palm) and several others have come together to recommend their favorite apps so that you know exactly which ones to check out next.

App Gallery from Precentral
If you've been in the webOS community for any length of time, you've probably already heard about the very active (and very large) group over at PreCentral.net. What you may not know, though, is that beyond their huge forums, daily tips and news articles, and extensive accessory store, they also have one of the first community-driven app catalogs that was made available on the web (or through homebrew apps like Preware). The App Gallery from PreCentral makes it easy to browse through each channel individually, or all of them at once, including official apps, web distribution, betas and the unofficial homebrew channel.

While the App Gallery doesn't have as many features as other directories, they do make it really straightforward to find the apps you want and keep moving with your life.

Twitter (and other Social Networks)
Over on Twitter, the webOS community has made a strong effort to talk about the latest apps (and news stories) that they find. If you’re looking for new ways to find apps, you simply cannot pass up social networks. And since you’ve probably already signed up for one (or all) of the networks that the community is active in, then it will be even easier for you to get involved and start getting tips on what apps to check out next.

It’s more than just reading what other people are using, though. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn have created some awesome ways to connect with the very people who are building your applications. Rather than just leaving a review in the Catalog for developers to read (but have no way of responding to), you can contact them directly and give them the feedback or praise that they need to make their apps even better in the next release. No doubt, you should still leave the review, but it’s a lot better for everyone if the developer is able to talk to you directly about what you like/don’t like in their app.

What are your favorite apps?
Now that you’ve been given a few different ways to track down new apps, there’s only one thing you have to do in return: share your favorites with the rest of us! No matter which of these services/directories you use to find new apps, why not give back to the community that brought you those tools, and share your thoughts about the app that excite you the most?

Tim Stiffler-Dean

Comments

[Julian]

A great way for german apps is www.appcatalog.de and the daily posts about new apps on http://www.webos-blog.de/category/apps/

[Chris]

So far my most used app is Evernote. I wish it had a bit more functionality, but I still love it!

2nd fav would probably be photo dial.

Also, whoever made the "etch a sketech" type app (Don't have my PRE on me to tell you actual app name) is a lifesaver! My kids LOVE that app!

Wish List: Google voice app!!!

[chris cahill]

looking for on-line banking apps. Help!

[myAppBox]

Tim, you forgot about us over at myAppBox.com! If you haven't yet, go take a look. Super fast and really pretty! Not to mention you can see app comments too. :)

[ErlyD]

Congrats Tim on your Post!

I would start with my launcher:

PhotoDialer
Agenda (Homebrew)
BadKitty (Fast/Slick Looking Twitter client)
Chat/SMS
YPmobile w/SprintNav (YP using Bing is faster loading than GoogleMaps)
Scoop (Needs some Polishing)
and finally
drPodder NICE APP!

There are lots more, Don't want to overwhelm the comments.

[Andria Yandura]

Hi, Tim:

Wondering if you or Palm could promote our free, popular and highly rated Real Estate by Smarter Agent. With our app, consumers can see any home for sale with photos, beds/baths, square feet and more - while walking or driving.

Thanks for the info on the different stores. We'll be sure to post ourselves to those if we aren't there already.

[Brandon Morales]

My fav apps are:
Angry Birds
Newsroom
Clear Card
Jewel Quest III
And of coerce Preware

[debo]

I loved my old palm treo. My husband and I are struggling with our new Palm Pixi. We are desperate to find an app to sync with Outlook 2007 that USES THE USB CABLE direct connect. We do not have the Plus phones. Just the plain old Pixi. Will have tried the Chapura Pocket Mirror that sync by bluetooth. Is there one better?

[rgloor]

Hi Tim

I am situated in Switzerland.
And I would already be pretty happy, when I could finally have access to the paid apps App Catalog!!!
As a loyal Palm user since the early Palm III and ever since, it is pretty frustrating not having access to some desperately needed apps. :(

I have been in contact with several developers.
However:
Having an app in the official App Catalog, according to the terms the developers are NOT ALLOWED to sell it otherwise to customers.
Also not to people, who have NO ACCESS to the App Catalog.
Such a thing is really frustrating a big part of a loyal user group.
There should be no harm in opening the App Catalog to the whole world.

Please get this nightmare for many people fixed A.S.A.P.

Thanks in advance,
Rolf from Switzerland

[Susan]

When will we be able to function in Farmville with the palm pre plus? Not just receive notifications. Thanks!

[andrew chan]

hey palm you must be joking right ? Because there are so many flaws to this product, oh I'm actually talking about my so called Palm Pixi Plus the last phone design you guys tried to make Right. It doesnot have the apps capabilties that others say it does. The tech support not there because it's based overseas, with non-english personnel. I mean come on guys, how do you put a product out without updates. And then turn around and not inform general public. Just bad bad business guys, oh by the way H/P do you want this problem. Because it does exist already,and have lost another person perhaps to the Apple Iphone. Indeed a waste of money here for a unjustified product. Buyer Beware !!! A.G.Chan

[John Glover]

Ok webOS is awesome it is by far the best operating system...it's catching on and people love it.

Lets look at the other phones. Iphone 4 excellent build quality, high screen resolution, excellent HD video capable camera.

I like the size of the pre personally and the tactile keyboard, I even like the shape of the pre. Build Quality is what sank the pre ship.. its going to be hard to come back from that...you see posts my pre is fine I've had it for a year but in actual fact if look at the returns and at the posts on the web build quality killed it. You can't come out with this kind of resolution a camera with the words 5 mp written on it and a glass screen. This phone needs a kick ass camera, it needs exceptional build quality ~ to the iphone 4, and it needs screen resolution. It's such a great operating system and the design of the pre I think is great I'm not a big screen guy...but i'm not going to buy it...the abilities of this phone are last year pull it back while theres still time...put in a camera equivalent to the iphone in image quality and update the rest. eveyone is going to watch the review on you tube before they buy it...and it's gonna flop compared to the others already out there...so frustrating. I want a phone with webos I want to buy your product but you don't have one worth buying. I'm going to buy an Iphone 4.

[Isaac Annan]

The pre 2 should have: 1. a horizontal [landscape] slider, 2. onscreen keyboard for use in the vertical phone mode and, 3. both video camera and webcam for video conferencing, plus 4. skype installed.

[Erika]

I absolutely LOVE my Palm Pre. It is the best - my husband has an iphone, and I HATE using his. Web OS is the best operating system and I will never buy anything else. So the only thing I disliked about my Pre was the short battery - it was ridiculous. But I purchased a longer lasting battery about 6 months ago and I seriously NEVER have my battery go dead, it is wonderful. Keep it up guys! Don't listen to the naysayers, this is a great product.

My favorite apps are:
In Contact
Nozbe Mobile
weatherIcon
word clock
Easy Dreams: Nature sounds
and mazer!