Epi App for iPhone

Throwing a party this season? Want to impress your guests? Let the App Store  plan your next soiree.  Buried beneath all those 100,000 apps are several clever apps that will guide you through the tedious party planning.  Fromage will help improve your cheese plate.  This handy pocket guide disguised as app gives you tons of helpful information. It has 380 cheeses from around the world. You can search by name, region, texture and even milk type.  The app also gives you cheese and wine pairings, in case your unsure.

Speaking of vino, Wine PhD is all about the grapes.  It will impress the amateurs and sommeliers (fancy word for wine-os) alike.  It has wine ratings, recommendations and wine pairings.  It also provides news articles with the latest trends from winemakers, vineyards and tips on popular wine regions and best values.

As you start thinking about your menu, you at might consult the Epi app.  The Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List, its full name, will present you with 25,000 recipes to browse.  These recipes are all from professionally tested kitchens, top gourmet magazines and top recipe sources.  So, go ahead amaze your dinner guests and take all the credit.  Whole Foods Market Recipes is another dinner app that provides meal options with all natural and organic ingredients.  For a casino approach to dinner planning, All Recipes Dinner Spinner and Big Oven Shake both equip you with meal ideas and recipes for any occasion. All Recipes is set up like a slot machine with categories like dish type, ingredients and even prep time. Big Oven Shake has over 170,000 recipes donated and shared from over 100,000 contributors and fans.  If your unsure about what to make, give your phone a shake and it will randomly pick something for you.  Grocery IQ app will help you with your grocery list and even has predictive text and a favorite’s list history.  You can even email your list to someone and  have them do your dirty work, I mean grocery shopping.

So,  save your energy for your guests,  let your iPhone do the work for you.  These are only a few of the apps you can use to your party planning advantage.  You’ll have more wine time and less whine time. These apps are all available through iTunes.  All are free except Wine PhD, which is $4.99,  Fromage is $1.99 and Grocery IQ is $.99.

Don’t know what to get the iPhone addict in your life this holiday season?  We have some gift ideas that will impress and delight even the most finicky loved ones (or challenging ones) on your list.  They are listed below in no logical or particular order:

1. Apple World Traveler Kit ($39) – The kit is made for the astute traveler in  your life.  It is designed to work with the iPod,  iPhone, Apple Mag Safe, Power Adapters, Portable Power Adapters and Airport Express.  This clever little kit also includes a USB power adapter,  a USB cable and a set of 6 universal AC plugs that work worldwide.  Available at the Apple Store.

2. Xstand for iPhone (approx. $31-40) – This rates high on the asthetic scale and not so much on the functionality scale.  Something of a display case, the Xstand holds the 3G/3GS iPhone vertically or horizontally and rotates 360 degrees.  It includes  cable management and non slip feet.  To get everyone’s tongue wagging around the office, this is a sure bet.  Available at Xstand.net

3. Dots glove (approx $15-25)- Do you want to use your iPhone without having to take your gloves off?  Not a problem with the Dots glove.  It lets you activate your touch screen with your gloved finger.  Amazing!  The Dots glove is available in 3 varieties.  This gift is ideal for your cold climate friends or your wimpy Houstonian friends Available at dotsglove.com

4. Bose Mobile in-ear Headset ($129.95)- If you have the extra money to spend this year (listen up all 3 of you!) these are well worth the price tag.  Nothing but the best from Bose, the quality from this headset is top notch.  Your music lover will enjoy the rich sound and the ability to switch from music and other media to incoming calls.  Available at bose.com

5. Mophie Juice Pack ($99.95)- Like RedBull for your iPhone, this juice pack delivers.  It is designed to more than double the charge of your 3G/3GS.  Although it is bit thicker to hold, your iPhone addict will love the double charge it dispenses.  It can be used as a case all the time or just when the phone needs a boost.  It also has an integrated LED indicator that tells you exactly how much juice is left in your pack.  Available at mophie.com

6. iTunes Gift Cards (from $15)-  Although not the most glitzy gift on the list,  it is a great, safe bet for your iPhone owner.  The options are endless with this baby…games, apps, music, TV shows and movies are all possibilities with an iTunes gift card.  Available at apple.com/itunes

7. Mogo Talk- Bluetooth head set ($129.95)- Mogo has introduced the first integrated wireless headset for iPhone 3G/3GS.  The headset folds flat and snaps efficiently into a protective case.  It also fits perfectly on the back of the iPhone.  This feature comes in handy for those prone to losing small items easily.   Using the Sound Shape comfort, it also blocks out surronding noises.  Available exclusively through  Apple Stores or online.

8. PowerJolt Car Charger ($19.95 )- Touted as the number one selling car charger for iPhone and iPod, this is THE charger for your iPhone user.  It features a detachable USB to 30 pin cable for iPods as well as iPhones.  For those with 1st generations of both iPod and iPhone, it can be used with those as well.  There is an amber to green charging light to let you know when it’s charged successfully.  For the price, the Powerjolt is really a great buy.  Available at griffintechnology.com/product/powerjoltiphone

9. Appstand Picture Frame ($17- 20)- This picture frame turns your iPhone into a virtual piece of art.  (As if the iPhone needed to do more…) Once you pop it into the alloted place, your phone starts a series of 2 options,  Art or Ambient Channel.  As if that wasn’t enough, it comes with a dock connector cord to charge your iPhone as its calming your nerves.  Genius.  Did I mention it can be used a desk clock? This product, manufactured by 2 companies, Thunk and Kyono is available online.

10. 3GS Supreme (just under $3million)- The world’s most expensive iPhone has been finally completed and ready to be nabbed.  Goldstriker International founder Stuart Hughes spent 10 months designing and creating this gem.  Speaking of gems, it’s chocked full of them.  136 flawless diamonds on the front bezel, amounting to 68 carats and 53 flawless diamonds on the back. The home button is a single rare cut diamond weighing in at 7.1 carats.  It’s outer shell is 22ct solid gold and the insides include solid granite, Kashmir gold and Nubuck top grain leather. Don’t be too disappointed though, an anonymous buyer in Australia has already purchased it.  Shucks, maybe next year.

Much speculation and buzz has been made on which carrier iPhone will be partnering up with next.

Verizon has been the front runner for some time, but with the release of the Droid, those rumors have ceased, at least for now. Verizon is teaming up with Google and marketing its new Android powered phones. The Droid by Motorola, which is on the Android system, is selling itself as a more powerful alternative to Apple’s iPhone. Needless to say, because of this iPhone bashing campaign, Verizon is not on the same page with Apples’ interests. Now it seems T-Mobile is looking like a better match.

Another major strike for Verizon is that its network, CDMA, is not compatible with AT&T’s GSM based network. That, in result, would necessitate Apple to make a customized iPhone exclusively for Verizon customers. T-Mobile has a compatible network with AT&T (less the screwy 1700Mhz, 3G network.)

Analysts are looking to T-Mobile in 2010, who’s been quietly waiting in the wings, when AT&T is expected to release its exclusive rights to Apple. Thomas Weisel analyst Doug Reid believes T-Mobile is ready to step up to the iPhone plate, leaving Verizon in the dust.

On the downside of this T-Mobile/iPhone marriage, T-Mobile’s subscriber base is only half that of Verizon, making this matrimony less lucrative. Reid expects Apple to cash in on a larger Verizon wireless network with a non iPhone device. The device, not specified, would be used on the 4G LTE network, launching in the not so near future. 2011, possibly?

With Apple’s next announcement, predicted for 2010 mid-year, customers may or may not see the iPhone in the Verizon store but may see an Apple device used with Verizon as a definite possiblity. T-mobile customers, keep your fingers crossed!