Internet Browsing Apps for Your iDevices

Even though the iPhone and iPad come with Apple's own Safari browser, it is not your only choice for web surfing. If you browse through iTunes, you'll undoubtedly find numerous third-party browsing apps that come at a premium. However, I'm going to show you several browsing apps that are completely free and great to use.

1. Taptu Touch Search

This one definitely my absolute favorite app for browsing the Internet. The app is specifically designed for mobile touchscreen-based devices like your iPhone. 

It has a very nice interface, with a search box at the top, trending searches in the middle and recommended websites along the bottom.

If you go to the 'Featured' section, you'll be presented with Top Sites and New Sites to explore.

You can refine your search according to 'Categories' as well.

Anytime you come across a website you love, you can save it too under 'My Taptu' section for easy and fast reference.

Other options allow you too search by blogs, images, videos, news and Wikipedia.

2. Opera Mobile Browser

Opera mobile browser for the iPhone is simply a delight to use. One the main screen, you can assign up to nine websites that you visit frequently for easy browsing. As you can see here, I have assigned CNN, The New York Times, e-How and IGN, among others, as the main sites here for fast browsing. 

What i like about this browser is how clean and clear the whole interface looks, especially if you choose to hide the tabs and other buttons when looking at a website.

3. Google Mobile App

Google, being the definitive search engine for most web users, also have developed a mobile version of their portal for iPhone and iPad users. 

The mobile Google app retains most of the features of the desktop version, so if you're a heavy Googler (is that the correct phrase?), you should have no problem getting yourselves familiarized with this app. 

If you go to the Apps section, you'll find some of the more popular features of Google such as Books, Docs and Photos.

Another great feature of the app is the ability to do a search using voice command. Simply speak into your phone's mic, and the app will analyse your verbal command and do the search accordingly. As of now, the voice-search function supports English and Mandarin vocals. 

However, I should point out that this voice-search feature is more often than not a "hit-or-miss", so don't expect accurate search using this function every single time.

4. CoolIris Picture/Video Browser

Ok, technically, this is not a full-fledged browser, but it is nevertheless a great app for pictures and videos browsing. Anyone using Firefox browser will be familiar with CoolIris, and I can tell you that both the desktop and mobile versions are very, very similar.

If you like CoolIris on your desktop, you're gonna love this even more. The design is really good, and you have to hold your phone horizontally (this is the default setting) to fully enjoy the features of this app.

You can search for pictures or videos via categories. When you come across a picture you like, you can choose to save it to your ipPhone or inside the app via the Favourites tab.

Where the Flook have you been?

Flook is an app for the iphone that let its users to share the world around them on-the-go. Have you ever been to a restaurant that is so good you want to share it with other people? Or a shop selling great bargain goods that you simply must recommend to other people? Well, with Flook, you now can. It's all about discovering the world around you, and share it with others.
Flook is currently available as free download from iTunes, and let me tell you, it has a gorgeous interface as well easy to use. Once you have it on your iPhone, you can fire up the app and register for a free account.

When you are ready to share something with the world, simply take a picture and choose the 'Make cards' option. 

For an example, I recently visited this new Pizza Hut restaurant in my town, and I want to let other people know about it. So I simply snap a picture of the place and upload it via the app. I can also write a description of the place. Once uploaded, other users of the app will be able to view and leave comments.

As you can see here, I already have a few comments from other users about the place. There are other options such as 'Map', which will show you the exact location of the place. 

Each picture you post is known as a 'card', and if you go back to the main menu, you can choose to find all the new cards other people have posted, cards posted worldwide, or those posted by users nearest to you. 

If you come across any cards you like, you can also choose to 'collect them' for easy reference. You can also choose to follow a specific user if you like.

What I like about this app is how easy it makes the whole process of sharing great and wonderful places with everyone. The app is very well designed, and it's no wonder it has been picked as winner of the Mobile Premier Award for User Experience 2010. So, what are you waiting for? Download this app and get flooking!

SInging with Glee!

Fans of Glee, the hit TV series, will not want to miss this app, designed for both the iPhone and iPad. Gleeks (which refers to fans of the show) all over the country can now unite and sing their hearts out with this app. Think you can sing better than Rachel? Think you can pull off those high notes like Mercedes? Or fancy a duet with Finn? Well, this app will let you do all these, and more....
The Glee app is currently available in iTunes for just USD 0.99.

From the main menu of the app, you can choose 'sing!' to start singing your favourite Glee songs. Now, the app comes with four songs for free, but if you want to sing more songs, you can buy each song individually in-app at the price of USD 0.99 each.

Once you have chosen a song, you'll be recommended to sing into your earphone mic for better clarity. You can choose whether to turn on or off the auto-tune feature while singing. If you are not that confident with your vocal prowess, it's better to turn the feature on so it will automatically correct your pitch as you sing along to the lyrics on-screen. The song list is updated regularly, so you'll always be able find some new songs to download from time to time :)

All your songs will be saved in the 'share' section, where you can listen to, or rename the track if you wanted to. In addition, you can also choose to sing 'Acapella' style or sing along to any of the tracks you have stored in your iPod.  You will be able to broadcast and share your songs via the the app itself, Facebook or Twitter. Once you have posted a song, other app users will be able to listen to your tracks and rate your performance. If they like your tune, they can give your a 'gleek', or even post a comment. If you go to the 'listen' section of the main menu, you can listen to songs other users have uploaded, as well as your own tracks. Be prepared to cringe, or marvel at other people's singing skills.

Another  feature of the app is the ability to perform a duet, trio, or group singing with friends and strangers alike. Go to the 'join' section, and choose who you want to perform with, and you're good to go. Online karaoke, here I come.

In addition, you can also choose to perform a duet with either Rachel or Finn for the song "Somebody To Love'. Bring it on!!!

I simply love this app because it allows me to rediscover my passion for singing. If you like singing, or the show, this app is a must have!