1-Shop til you drop
If you are waiting on someone, commuting on the train, or otherwise away from your computer with time to kill, then you might as well get some holiday shopping done. Thanks to the iPhone’s excellent Safari browser, you can simply shop your favorite sites. However, if you are looking for a more “specialized” experience, there is no shortage of shopping apps available.
App Suggestions:
Ebay Mobile (free): Shop, bid, and get alerts on items. Also try the recently released eBay Deals (free) for a new way to discover daily deals.
Amazon Mobile (free): This app delivers Amazon’s huge inventory in a simplified interface, while still offering access to your account’s wish lists payment details, etc. Also try simply visiting Amazon.com on Safari. Usually I am not a fan of watered down mobile websites, but Amazon’s version is excellent.
2-Price check on register 3
You found the perfect gift, but is it the best price? You could use your iPhone to Google the item. Or, you could use a really cool app to scan the item for a price check.
App Suggestion:
RedLaser ($1.99): This app “scans” barcodes and searches for online and nearby prices. Well worth the $1.99 price.
4-Who’s been naughty and who’s been nice?
Not sure what to get someone? Try poking around on Facebook or Twitter for hits about what your family and friends want under the tree.
App Suggestions:
Facebook (free): Enough said.
Tweetie 2 ($2.99): There are a number of good Twitter apps, and asking which is best often ends in a PC vs. Mac style debate. Tweetie is one of the better ones.
3-Make a list, check it twice
A list is essential for smart holiday shoppers. A lot “holiday list” apps have popped up lately, but you might be better off getting a task list app that you can use all year around.
App Suggestions:
To Do’s (free): A simple and to the point basic list manager.
Remember the Milk (requires a $25 a year pro account): One of the better cloud syncing, flexible, advanced list managers out there. You can even share lists with other users, or use RTM’s “location awareness” feature to alert you when passing by that shop on your list
4-I’m dreaming of a…er…Black Christmas
It is never fun to find out that your holiday shopping spree put you in the red. Use your iPhone to keep track of your bank balance, or get fancy and track/budget your finances.
App Suggestions:
Your Bank’s App (typically free): Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and many other banks have apps that will allow you to find the nearest ATM, check your balance, and more.
Mint Personal Finance (free): Mint is like a better version of Quicken (the makers of Quicken, Intuit, recently realized this and purchased Mint). It is an excellent online personal finance manager with an accompanying iPhone app.
6-Get in the holiday spirit
Finally, download some holiday songs from iTunes, plug in the white earbuds, and get in the spirit!
