Dr. Mac: Some good tips to find free apps
One of the best things about the iTunes App Store is that you can almost always find some excellent apps for free if you know where to look. I love free apps – especially good ones – so I look almost every day.
The first place I look is on the right side of the iTunes window in the Top Charts Free Apps section, where the top 10 free apps are displayed. Then I click the See All link on the right side of the Free Apps header to reveal a list of the top 200 free apps. I always discover an app or two worth downloading from one or both of these lists, and it’s no sweat to get rid of the occasional clunker by deleting it from my iTunes library.
But that’s only the beginning. After I’ve scanned the top 200 apps, I click the All Categories pop-up menu in the App Store Quick Links section near the upper right corner of the window and pick one of the 21 categories, which include Business, Finance, Games, Music, Photo Video, Productivity, Reference and more.
Now the Top Charts Free Apps list reflects the category I selected, showing me only the top 10 apps in that category. As you’d expect, clicking the See All link now reveals the top 200 free apps in that category. I check out a few of my favorite categories most days and am rarely disappointed.
If you’re a fan of freebies, there’s one more link you should check out in the App Store Quick Links section – Great Free Apps. Click it and you’ll see dozens of New and Noteworthy free apps along with a curated selection of App Store staff favorites.
There is one last thing for freebie fans, and it’s something you wouldn’t expect: Every week, Starbucks offers cards with redemption codes for a free app or song. I like Starbucks and visit regularly, so I’ve discovered many interesting apps, songs and artists this way.
For example, just last week I got Nik Software’s highly acclaimed photo-enhancing app, Snapseed, which is usually $4.99. This awesome app offers a terrific one-click Auto Correct option, selective adjustments, filters, borders and easy photo sharing via email, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. Best of all, it’s a universal app, so I use the same (free) app on my iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
But wait, there’s more: Most, if not all, Starbucks offer free WiFi. And last but not least, Starbucks also offers free cups of its delicious triple-filtered ice water.
Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus is a leading authority on Mac OS X, the author of more than 60 books including “iPhone 4S for Dummies,” “Mac OS X Lion for Dummies,” and “iPad 2 for Dummies,” and a Mac consultant, troubleshooter and trainer. Visit boblevitus.com; e-mail comments to doc@boblevitus.com.
Article source: http://www.chron.com/business/article/Dr-Mac-Some-good-tips-to-find-free-apps-3384028.php
Category : Tips & Tricks
