Your Favorite Mobile Apps of 2009 (Reader Survey)

Written by Richard MacManus / November 27, 2009 5:30 PM / 76 Comments

A year ago we polled you, the ReadWriteWeb community, on your favorite mobile apps. It's become an annual tradition to run this survey, so in this post we're collecting your top 5 lists for 2009. To get you inspired, the ReadWriteWeb team have listed their personal favorites below.

We first ran this poll in November 2007, before Apple's App Store opened on July 10, 2008 and when Android was but a twinkle in Google's eye. At that time, the 5 most mentioned mobile apps were the Gmail Java app, Google Maps, Opera Mini, Fring and Shozu. In November 2008 we began to see popular web services being mentioned as favorite mobile apps too: Facebook, Twitter, last.fm, FriendFeed. Also newer mobile-focused apps like Evernote and Brightkite. Read on for the 2009 edition of this reader survey...

Note: ReadWriteWeb's iPhone app is coming soon! To be notified as soon as it becomes available, email notify@readwriteweb.com.

Richard MacManus, ReadWriteWeb founder and editor (iPhone user):

Diamedic; diabetes data input and monitoring tool that I use multiple times a day.
Encamp; new Basecamp project management app that the RWW team has just begun using.
Shazam; amazing song discovery app that I use regularly, e.g. holding up my iPhone to the car radio to identify cool songs!
Evernote; notes service which I was late adopter of, but it's since become essential.
Tweetie 2; my current Twitter app of choice on the iPhone.

Marshall Kirkpatrick, lead blogger and VP Content Development (iPhone and Android):

Aardvark
Tweetdeck
SuperSearch
Regator
Appsfire

Sarah Perez, feature writer and RWW's resident Mobile Web expert ("Only 5?" she replied to my Basecamp message...Sarah uses iPhone):

Facebook
Tweetie 2
Yelp
NYT Mobile
Bump (app for swapping contact details)

Frederic Lardinois, writer (iPhone):

Tweetie2
Beejive, for IM
Notifications
picposterous
Pandora

Jolie O'Dell, writer and RWW Community Manager (Blackberry):

TwitterBerry
Flickr

Jolie notes (and you can sense the frustration!): "The BlackBerry user of the group has few options and fewer favorites. In fact, I'd almost post a response rant about how the development for BlackBerry devices AND the OS make enjoyable user experiences a near-impossibility."

Dana Oshiro, writer (iPhone):

Foursquare
Tweetie
Breaking News Online
Aardvark
Yelp, or OpenTable

Alex Williams, ReadWriteEnterprise editor (Blackberry, who notes that "the experience is just awful."):

Yelp
Slandr
Facebook
Gmail
Google mobile

Jared Smith, RWW webmaster (Blackberry and iPod touch):

RadarScope; weather radar viewer for iPhone and iPod touch.
TouchTerm; on-the-go SSH for iPhone and iPod touch.
MyKite; BlackBerry Brightkite app.
Yatca; BlackBerry microblogging client that supports Twitter and identi.ca with seamless inbox integration.
Google Sync for BlackBerry; "while not true push, it works so quietly and seamlessly I don't give it a second thought."

Now, RWW readers, it's time for your feedback!

Let us know in the comments below what your favorite mobile apps are and what mobile device(s) you use. Please limit this to 5 apps, so we can identify trends more easily and report back on them in an upcoming post.

UPDATE: Appsfire have given us a special widget featuring quick links to all of the iPhone apps mentioned by our team.

Comments

Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all ReadWriteWeb posts

Google
Facebook
TweetDeck
WordPress
EverNote

Posted by: Bastien | November 25, 2009 1:39 PM

I use and LOVE the Nokia E71. Apps most frequently used are

Gravity ((beta w/Facebook)
WordMobi
Nokia eMail
JoikuSpot
Screenshot
Google Maps

Posted by: Erin | November 25, 2009 1:40 PM

Google Navigation
Twidroid
Gmail a/o Google Voice
Facebook
Pandora

Posted by: Jessica Deva | November 25, 2009 1:43 PM

I use an iphone 3GS and my favorite apps are:

1. Evernote
2. Google
3. Facebook
4. Tweetie
5. Kindle

Posted by: rangerdoig | November 25, 2009 1:45 PM

myLite
PocketPirate
foursquare
Shazam
google mobile

Posted by: heidi groshelle | November 25, 2009 1:45 PM

-- iPhone --

Tweetie 2
Facebook
NetNewsWire
ESPN FFL09 (Fantasy football team manager)
Beejive IM

Posted by: Chris Cameron | November 25, 2009 1:47 PM

I use an iPhone 3G and my 5 favourite apps are:

1. Tweetie 2
2. McSweeney's
3. Tumblr
4. Grocery Gadget
5. TripIt

Posted by: Kim Werker | November 25, 2009 1:49 PM

TweetDeck
Facebook
BeejiveIM
PortfolioLive
Notifications

Posted by: Marcelo Vaz | November 25, 2009 1:49 PM

Tweetie2
Business Card Reader
Convert
Glympse
TripCase

Posted by: Rayyan | November 25, 2009 1:49 PM

Sportacular
Tweetie 2
Foursquare
OmniFocus
Kindle

Posted by: Brian Mead | November 25, 2009 1:52 PM

I use an iPhone 3GS and an HTC Tattoo (Android 1.6)

Spotify (on both)
Echofon (twitter client on Mac)
Swift (twitter client on Android)
Foursquare (on both)
Google Talk (on Android)

Posted by: Mario | November 25, 2009 1:53 PM

Motorola Droid.

GMail
GMaps
Twidroid
Facebook
Pandora

If I could lump ALL the Google tools into one, I would (Mail, Maps, Voice, Docs, Listen, etc). That would free up some room for another vote for Shazam. :)

Posted by: JM | November 25, 2009 1:59 PM

iPhone 3G (UK)

Facebook
Daylite Touch
Apple Native Mail Client
Twittelator Pro
Foursquare

Posted by: steve machin | November 25, 2009 2:00 PM

Using iPod touch:

Fieldrunners (games)
MLB.com at Bat (sports)
Mondo Top5 Solitaire (card games)
Stanza (books)
1Password Pro (utilities)

Posted by: Garance A Drosehn | November 25, 2009 2:07 PM

Google Maps
Urbanspoon
Facebook
EchoFon
YouTube

Posted by: Matthew Sweet | November 25, 2009 2:09 PM

Although maybe I should put the standard Apple "Music" app as #1, since I use that far more than any other app! :)

Posted by: Garance A Drosehn | November 25, 2009 2:13 PM

The practical ones I use most are not always my favorites.

iPhone:

SpeakEasy (voice recording)
MotionX GPS (mapping)
Stanza (free ebooks)
Labyrinth (maze game)
Bloom (music game)

Posted by: onakiser | November 25, 2009 2:18 PM

Simplenote
Facebook
Tweetie2
Google Reader
Bloomberg (awesome)
Public Radio
Foursquare

(iPhone)

Posted by: Andrew Korf | November 25, 2009 2:32 PM

iPhone 3GS, California

It is obviously tough to narrow it down to five, but here you go...

1) Facebook (very well designed and fairly comprehensive)
2) MusicStudio (download this baby and check out the awesome design and amazing possibilities, well worth the price)
3) LookCloser (the best magnifying glass app, and boy do I need it to read serial numbers, fine print, and so forth)
4) Rock Band (well designed and entertaining on the go, better than Tap Tap IMHO)
5) TouchPad (excellent and well designed remote trackpad and keyboard to control my Mac mini-based TV setup)

Posted by: Jean-Michel Decombe | November 25, 2009 3:14 PM

(Android - Rooted G1)

StreamFurious Pro
Advanced Task Manager
Google Voice
Listen
Twidroid Pro
wpToGo

Posted by: Miguel Wickert | November 25, 2009 3:24 PM

Is there any good apps for the iphone or not ?

Posted by: Kevin Sorrell | November 25, 2009 3:27 PM

iPhone 3G (Australia)
Facebook
Echofon free (Twitter app)
RunKeeper Free
Google Maps
ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Can't i have more than 5?!?!?!

Posted by: Kat Clancy | November 25, 2009 4:07 PM

iPhone

Echofon (Twitter Client)
Facebook
Mobile Fotos (Flickr Client)
1Password (Password Management)
Amazon.com App
Best Camera (Photo Sharing)

Posted by: Desmond W. | November 25, 2009 4:08 PM

(Omnia i910)

-Google Map with QuickGPS (5-10 seconds satellite locks from cold start) & GPSToggle (9-7 satellites lock)

-Opera (multi-tab browsing)

-Skyfire (Flash on the browser)

-Microsoft MyPhone (transfer videos, songs, backup OTA)

-Qik (live video streaming)

Posted by: Da | November 25, 2009 4:19 PM

I use Windows Mobile device and my favorite apps are:
1. Windows Live (for push-email and synchronization)
2. Slandr (mobile Twitter client, m.slandr.net)
3. Opera Mini
4. Parlingo (multi-protocol IM client)
5. WMWifiRouter (turns the device into portable wi-fi hotspot)

Posted by: Pavlo Zahozhenko | November 25, 2009 4:27 PM

iPhone 3GS (Australia)

Gorgy Timing Atomic Clock (an accurate bedside clock)
tramTracker (for Melbourne trams)
Twitteriffic
Evernote
SplashID

...five is not enough!!!

Posted by: Tony | November 25, 2009 4:29 PM

Everyone is using iPhone?! I should get in on that too.
Ok here it is, I am a proud owner of Nokia E71 but feeling the iPhone craze and thinking of getting one.

Apps I use a lot and LOVE:
Nokia E-mail
Snaptu (although I added it pretty recently)
MumSMS+
eBuddy Messenger (or Nimbuzz if I need to share files)
Facebook

I am always on the lookout for new apps to increase efficiency. If you are a Nokia user and you have some to share, then follow me on Twitter and DM me or mention me @TheManalyst.

PS: Another great app is Handy Blacklist, the only reason I didn't name it is because I don't get annoying calls so it hasn't come of use yet.

Posted by: Manal Assaad | November 25, 2009 4:47 PM

I am an Android user (Moto Droid):

Seesmic
Flixster
Foursquare
Mediafly
Meridian

:) Sean

Posted by: Sean MacDhai | November 25, 2009 4:55 PM

I use Android (HTC Magic on Android 1.6)

Apps:

Google Maps : the updated version with Layers etc
Dolphin Browser : Android browser replacement with gestures and delicious etc integration
Astrid : TODO list with RTM sync
Seesmic : Twitter App
Google Skymap : Fun app from Google

Posted by: Aditya | November 25, 2009 5:33 PM

Wireless Tether
Google Maps Navigation
Qik
Listen
Bar code scanner

Oh and of course Cyanogenmod on the G1

Posted by: altrenda | November 25, 2009 6:33 PM

iPod Touch:

1. Twitterific

2. Dropbox

3. Simplify

4. Stanza

5. USAToday Reader

Posted by: Joe Fahs | November 25, 2009 7:07 PM

iPhone apps:

Tweetie 2
Kindle
Best Camera
Facebook
Instapaper

Posted by: Tom | November 25, 2009 7:58 PM

Favourite iPhone apps for me:

Tweetie 2
Google
Flickr
CameraBag
Convertbot

Honourable mention:
Remote (now that we have the central wireless music hub in the office - he who has Remote rules the airwaves!)

Posted by: John Moore | November 25, 2009 8:50 PM

Too bad you left out Symbian apps in your article.

My Best Symbian apps:

Gravity
Nimbuzz
Google Maps
Gmail Mobile
Opera

Posted by: Nikhil Pai | November 25, 2009 8:50 PM

android.

google maps.
twitterride.
qik.
googletalk.
amazon.

Posted by: Henry Nothhaft, Jr. | November 25, 2009 9:13 PM

iPhone 3gs
1. Google maps
2. Tweetie 2
3. Dropbox
4. Pandora

Posted by: Amir | November 25, 2009 9:43 PM

My favorite iPhone apps

1. Facebook
2. Google maps
3. Tweetie 2
4. Camera Plus

Posted by: Rahul | November 25, 2009 10:26 PM

iPhone Apps:

1. Facebook.
2. Flickr.
3. Camera pus.
4. Remote.

Posted by: Srinivas Prabhu G | November 26, 2009 12:17 AM

iPhone Apps:

1. Spotify
2. TED
3. Ping!
4. Yammer
5. my6sense

Posted by: Jan Svärdhagen | November 26, 2009 1:11 AM

Tweetie 2
Facebook
Peggle
Regator
Ping!

Posted by: Becky | November 26, 2009 1:43 AM

iPhone 3GS, UK

1) Spotify
2) Twitteriffic
3) Now Playing (film times, reviews etc)
4) Facebook (it's too ubiquitous not to mention)
5) Shazam

Posted by: wheatles | November 26, 2009 2:02 AM

fring should definitely be on this list, with the new Android support and now with video voip, they totally rock this year!

Posted by: Sarah | November 26, 2009 2:07 AM

Starbucks
Maps
Shazam
Zillow
Tweetdeck

Posted by: mark robinson | November 26, 2009 7:05 AM

iPod touch

1. Evernote
2. Spotify
3. Facebook
4. Twitscoop
5. Kindle

Posted by: Jose | November 26, 2009 7:10 AM

Am the only person who hates mobile phones and refuses to own one?

I know people who can't live without their phone. I am very happy not being contacted 24 hours a day. :)

Sorry, not exactly a reply to your post, was it. :)

Posted by: Dean Saliba | November 26, 2009 7:16 AM