Running List of iPhone apps/uses

[malex]

Hi all,
I am considering squeezing an iPod Touch into our budget for the express purpose of utilizing it for our theatre. I'd love to see a great list of all the iPhone apps that people have found useful in different realms of entertainment as well as ingenious uses for the toy.
Maybe this can become a sticky for people to find obscure apps, as I know that not all useful entertainment apps appear on the iTunes store.

I think such an item would be great for our theatre to have, if nothing else, for pre/post show music playback in addition to controlling movers, looking at gel swatches, viewing plots, etc.

As far as security on such a valuable, desirable (read: steal-able) device, I saw a production company in Utah using a good solution. They put the iPod in a small Pelican case with a combination lock and a cable to secure it to something. They drilled a small hole big enough to get the USB and 1/8" cable into the case. Cables lived in the case and just got yanked out as needed. Worked great, as they were able to set up a stand-alone playback rack that needed no user intervention.

So, lets hear everyone's ideas/links on this and see if this gizmo is worth the price and the hoopla.

[Footer]

First, if its not in the iTunes store, its not getting onto your touch unless you jailbreak it. There are some useful features out there for it as a remote but you have to be running VNC in another machine. There are some DMX calculators out there. There is also a level app which is kind of cool. I would say that this thing is extremely useful if you have it with you at all times, if you have to go get it every time you use it I think it would be a waste. There is an artnet app for it. I don't know if I would want to view a plot on it, that could be a bit out of the realm of what it can easily handle. Personally, I would buy an eee pc or a cheaper notebook to do the above items. Unless you need the portability, I think you would be much happier with an actual computer.

[derekleffew]

Agreed. If it's one's personal tool and it's useful to the owner that's fine. But if we're talking about locking it up in a case, wouldn't a laptop be infinitely more practical at only slightly more cost?

If you're determined to lock the iPod Touch to something, here's a possible solution, similar to retail display "loss prevention" devices.

Back to your topic: The Wybron color app was discussed on another thread. Personally, I see limited need for that, as I know what eighty Lux and seventy Lee colors look like, and don't intend to learn any more. And one can't shine a light source through an iPhone.

Rumor has it, support for iPhone remote MAY be included in grandMA2, in which case I imagine I'll be buying an iPhone/iPod Touch. One of our members currently uses his PDA-cellphone as a remote for the grandMA, but he hasn't yet shown me the magic.

[Serendipity]

My iPhone has a flashlight app (many in the App Store are free!) that is excellent in case your flashlight is somewhere else (up in the booth, borrowed by someone accross the stage) and you just need a bit of light. As the screen is mainly black, you can't use it as a normal cell-phone flashlight.

I think I have the myLite app (phone is downstairs, but I'm pretty sure that's the name) and it also has a lighter for concerts look, as well as strobe and color control.

I still haven't sprung for the Wybron apps, I like it's been said, I can't shine light through my phone...

There's a free complete work of Shakespeare app. And if you want to place all the rehearsals on iCal it's pretty simple... Not sure if the Touch has a contacts list, but you could put important people's numbers in it.

And of course a homepage bookmark to controlbooth.com!

[DaveySimps]

I too think it would have limited REGULAR usage in the long run. I second the thought of getting a laptop instead, it would be significantly more useful. To me it just sounds like an excuse to buy an iPhone.

~Dave

[Serendipity]

I agree a laptop would have longer usage, but I do think any excuse to buy an iPhone is a good one. Haha.

If you think about it, everything you want to do on the touch could be done on the laptop. Or, you could get a laptop and get a free iPod touch with the current apple deal (through Sept 15th I believe) and have both. :P

Also, do you have wifi where the touch would be used? The touch is only able to use wireless, as opposed to the iPhone which can browse the internet almost anywhere via Edge/3G.

[Hughesie]

if your going to use it for RFU purposes maybe look at a cheaper PDA option. depending on your desk and setup used.

[soundlight]

It would walk. Just from experience, those sorts of things do walk.

[Serendipity]

Originally Posted by Hughesie89

if your going to use it for RFU purposes maybe look at a cheaper PDA option. depending on your desk and setup used.

Does anyone know how to use an iPhone as an RFU yet?
I'd be extremely grateful!

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Serendipity

Does anyone know how to use an iPhone as an RFU yet?
I'd be extremely grateful!

It depends on your console. There has been people using the iPhone as a remote for HogIII for awhile now, using jailbroken phones before VNC got put in the app store. To do this, you have to have a computer running HogPC connected to the console. On that computer, you have to be running VNC. You then connect to the "slave" computer via VNC on the iphone. You have full control after you do that. Its a bit combersome if you ask me.

Many manufactures have been using PocketPC's as RFU's for a long time. I think that if the need is there, some of these companys might start making the software.