Here are 50 great phone apps for all your entertainment, music, news, and lifestyle needs.
News/Finance
1. Flipboard
Create your own personalized news source with this app. You can create content and even produce magazines to share with others.
2. Sky News for iPad
See the news as it unfolds. Get links to the latest stories, watch live streams, and more.
3. BBC News
Find out what the latest news with this app. It even supports video content on iPads and iPhones.
4. The Guardian Eyewitness
Check out some of the most amazing images from around the world. Images are updated regularly, and there are always at least 100 images to look at.
5. QuantShare Trading Software
This is the most advanced trading solution, and the most complete. If you want to stay on top of the stock market, you need this app, which includes charting, backtesting, and a whole lot more.
Cooking/Shopping
6. Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List
Find a huge selection of recipes, shopping lists, and use customized searches. This is a great app for master and amateur chefs, and everyone in between.
7. Great British Chefs: Recipes HD
Learn how to cook like a Michelin Star chef with this app. You can even book tables at their restaurants.
8. Google Shopper
This awesome shopping app lets you browse, search barcodes, and more. Find everything you need with this app.
9. Snapguide
Find guides on cooking, DIY, and a whole lot more. You can even create your own guides.
Entertainment
10. Star Walk
Check out the constellations, planets, and stars in real time. Track their movements, alignments, and more.
11. Disney Animated
Learn how Disney animation comes to life. Find all kinds of great features, including music and every Disney animated film.
12. iPoe 2
Find all of the tales from Edgar Allan Poe in one interactive collection. Tales are also illustrated.
13. Netflix
Watch all your favorite TV shows and movies, for $7.99 per month. New titles are added regularly.
14. Sky Go
Watch live sports, as well as movies, any place, and at any time. Never miss a game or one of your favorite programs again.
Photo/Video
15. Action Movie FX
Use special effects to make your videos amazing. You can use sea monsters, tornadoes, air strikes, and all kinds of other effects.
16. Mextures
This is an advanced photo editing app with more than 80 textures. You can use blend modes, and create some really cool effects.
17. iMovie
Make your own movies on your iPhone and iPad. This app lets you capture footage, as well as edit and share.
18. Seene
Create awesome 3D images by panning your smartphone camera in any direction. Share your images with everyone.
Games
19. Year Walk
Check out the best Swedish myths and mysteries. There is plenty here to keep you interested, and a few scary facts as well.
20. Cut the Rope 2
This is the sequel to the original game. Meet new characters, visit new locations, and more.
21. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Get over 70 hours of gameplay in this fast and fun game. New to the game are HD graphics designed for mobile users.
22. Boson X
This game combines Temple Run and the Large Hadron Collider. You need to think fast to beat this one.
23. Infinity Blade III
The graphics even look good on the iPad. There are two playable characters, responsive touch controls, and three new playing modes.
Social Media
24. Instagram
Share smart photos to followers or to specific users. Use fun effects and frames to make your photos really stand out.
25. LinkedIn Pulse
You can use this app to customize your feeds based on what you like. Sync with your LinkedIn account to get updates from your network.
26. Snapchat
Send photos to friends quickly and easily with this app. Caption images, put in doodles, and more to personalize all of your photos.
Read Next
27. Pinterest
Collate content, find new interests, and more with Pinterest. You can find just about anything you are interested in, and then some.
28. WhatsApp Messenger
Send messages, photos, videos, and more to all of your contacts. This app is free for the first year, and only $0.99 per year after that.
29. Twitter
Share your thoughts, images, and videos, follow hashtags, and more. Get push notifications when your Favorites tweet.
30. Facebook
Update your status, share photos, chat with friends, play games, and so much more with Facebook. This is the most popular social media app by far.
Music/Podcast
31. Castro: High Fidelity Podcasts
Watch podcasts that actually look and sound good with this app. You can play podcasts without having to subscribe right away, and enjoy offline playback.
32. djay 2
This is an app that is popular with beginner and expert deejays. There are HD waveforms, and advanced tools to help you find your groove.
33. Soundwave Music Discovery
This app tracks what you listen to, so you receive only the music you like. You can also follow friends and celebrities, and see who is listening to what.
34. Spotify
Create playlists, or use playlists that are already there for you. Find out what is popular now, and download tunes so you can hear them when you are offline.
35. Shazam
This app can identify songs after playing for just one second. All you have to do is hold your iPhone up to the music, and the app will search the database.
Travel
36. GuidePal City Guides
Find maps for 50 major cities all over the world. Find the best restaurants, clubs, shopping, sights to see, and a whole lot more.
37. Google Translate
Get translations for 80 languages, both spoken and written. Now you can order food in any language.
38. Airbnb
Find just about type of accommodations in more than 34,000 cities, from rooms to rent to sublets and more. You can also list your own place as somewhere for vacationers to stay.
39. Google Earth
See anything you want in the world, from tropical islands to your own home. You will find maps that show hiking trails, and there is even a tour guide feature that allows you to take virtual tours.
40. TripAdvisor Hotels Flights Restaurants
Search for hotels, flights, restaurants, and attractions. This is a travel companion you should never travel without.
41. AroundMe
Find any local amenities you need with this app. Whether you need to find a banking machine, or a place to eat, this app will help you find it.
Weather
42. The Weather Channel
Find detailed maps, video feeds, and much more. The Travel Watch feature lets you see what the weather will be like along your route, so you can plan for alternate routes if necessary.
43. BBC Weather
This is a great weather app that gives you hourly updates on current weather conditions. You will also find pollen and pollution counts for the UK.
44. Yahoo Weather
This app uses beautiful images from Flickr to show you what the current weather conditions are in your area. Find weather conditions for any location in seconds.
45. WeatherMob
You can add your own text, photos, and location to contribute to this app. You can even make your own weather channels so you will only receive the updates you want.
46. Weatherwise
This app uses fun animations and reactive backgrounds to deliver weather updates throughout the day. Find details about precipitation, humidity, and more.
Education
47. The Elements in Action
This educational app brings the periodic tables to life with 79 video experiments. This app makes learning fun.
48. Duolingo
This is a great app to help students learn different languages. The games make it fun to use, and you can compare scores with friends.
49. TED
Technology, entertainment, science and design. Get free lectures and watch talk-based shows.
50. DK the Human Body
Learn how the body works, with drawings of all of the inner workings. Video content is also available.
Featured photo credit: albyantoniazzi via flickr.com
