Thinking about ordering Dad the new iPhone 4 just in time for Father’s Day? Or maybe he’s happy with his classic 3G, and you’d just like to get him a few useful apps? Either way, we tracked down 10 awesome, easy-to-use apps any dad would love and get quite a bit of use out of.
Radarscope
Price: $9.99
Oh boy, do dads like to talk about the weather. Whether it’s blastedly hot outside, torrential downpours, or just surprisingly pleasant, they always seem to be on top of whatever the current conditions are. And if there’s a storm a’coming? Dads always seem to plan ahead if anyone in the family may be driving and suddenly find themselves in the midst of a storm. Give Dad the gift of pretend-meteorology with the new RadarScope app, so that he can update you on the latest storm radar, anytime or anywhere.
PhotoBook
Price: $1.99
Every dad has that seemingly endless array of family photos stashed in his wallet, ready to whip them out at a moment’s notice to show off the tooth his little one has coming in. Tell Dad to step things up a notch with a cool photo album that he can easily flip through and even create mini-albums in. PhotoBook is fairly Dad-friendly, and even looks similar to a real photo album with page corners to turn and bright colors to keep others’ interests when they get to photo No. 100.
TomTom U.S.A.
Price: $39.99
No matter what he says, if you’ve been wandering in the middle of nowhere for a half-hour and your dad has a bewildered look on his face, you’re probably lost. We all know dads are the last people to admit defeat and ask for directions, so save Dad (and yourself) the trouble by gifting him the TomTom GPS app, the best-selling navigation app out right now. TomTom pretty much has everything covered, with turn-by-turn navigation, local Google search, and multi-tasking abilities that let Dad play his music while getting directions from the TomTom lady (she fades in while the music plays when necessary).
Grill Guide
Price: $0.99
For your sake, we hope Dad has his grilling skills down by now. But even if he’s a lean-mean-grilling-machine, this Grill Guide app could come in handy should he decide to take on a new recipe or meat group. The app contains features like a “meat ruler,” tips on how to best grill specific eats, and times and temperatures recommended.
Keeper Password & Data Vault
Price: FREE
Though we’re sure you’re dad is already pretty tech-savvy if he’s wielding an iPhone, it can be difficult for even the biggest tech geek to keep track of all of those passwords, passcodes, and PIN numbers used throughout a normal day. Help Dad keep his head (and his personal info) straight with a password-keeping app like Keeper Password. The app will securely store and manage any passwords or passcodes, financial information, or private data.
Remember the Milk
Price: FREE
While everyone could benefit from using a to-do list, dads would especially benefit, what with all of the errands they’re constantly running (and forgetting the milk, apparently). This Remember the Milk app is like the ultimate to-do list that will still be user-friendly for Dad, with notes that can be edited to include links and locations/maps, SMS reminders, and more.
GasBag
Price: FREE
Never hesitant to drive all over town to find the best deal on gas in town, dads would love GasBag, which could probably turn into quite the adventurous “game” for them, if they got really into it. GasBag maps out locations of gas stations in your area with real-time updates of gas prices to help you find the cheapest gas. Just don’t blame us if Dad takes you on a 30-minute crosstown journey just to save a few bucks.
Shop Savvy Barcode Scanner
Price: FREE
Speaking of price-hunting, let Dad take things a step further by gifting him (for free) this barcode scanning app to help him get a good deal at the sporting goods store, Best Buy, or anywhere he’s looking for a good deal. By using your iPhone’s camera, you can easily scan any barcode to find the best price either online or at any store of the product you’re looking to buy.
iExpenseIt
Price: $4.99
For the dads that are more budget-conscious, the iExpenseIt app is really the only way to go on the iPhone to keep your finances in order. Dad will love the app’s simplistic features that let you chart your expenses, store digital receipts, calculate expense summaries, and more.
ESPN Radio
Price: $2.99
Dad can get his sportscast fix any time of the day with this app from ESPN Radio that lets you cut in on several ESPN radio stations. Also a bonus right now? ESPN is doing major World Cup coverage, so Dad can secretly get his updates and play-by-play broadcasts while at work without anyone knowing. Score! Maybe if you’re extra nice he’ll even share it with you?
Written By