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My days of avid music collecting ended somewhere around high school. Although I didn’t stop wanting to have something good to listen to my cds started rolling in less and less. And then with the transition to digital tunes I finally made the move, downloaded, and started purchasing via iTunes. Along the way either radio stations got less good, or I just couldn’t find something that worked for me I still felt like I was missing an intro to new tunes.

And with a couple of new services I’m wondering if it’s time to make another move:

• iTunes – I have an iPod and an iPhone and on each of these lives a bounty of playlists, music I’ve downloaded from my very own, music I’ve purchased, I like the ability to purchase individual songs and search related, and I like the fact that I own the music and can take it with me.
• Pandora - Along came this little item that could create a radio station based on the music I was listening to and introducing new tunes; new tunes, why that’s just what I was missing, but like radio although I can skip songs, I don’t always dig what it’s throwing down, I can’t play music from my collection, and even with the no ads upgrade ($3.99/mo or $36/yr) it depends on a connection so no offline.
• Spotify – The latest to my plate, I like the fact that I can listen to both my own personal music as well as a pretty good availability on music I can pull into a playlist for free; it’s a great way to sample new bands I’m not on board with yet, and listen to playlists created by others, $4.99/mo for no ads, and $9.99/mo for all devices and offline (not sure of the limits on this), plus rumor has it they’re increasing the radio type options, so perhaps this is where to go next.

For now I’m staying tuned to the constant evolution and who will be the breakout technology. Did I mention that I find monthly fees infuriating? So what’s a gal to do?

Someone I know has just made the big switch to the iPhone, which of course led to the ‘what apps do you use’ conversation. I’m not a huge app person, but I’ve downloaded a smattering that I don’t use and a few that I do. In addition to standard email, web, phone, camera, clock, and text functions here’s where I spend my time:

System Options:

• Calendar, Notes, Contacts – Sync with my Outlook so all my info is at my fingertips.
• ITunes – I’m dabbling with Pandora and Spotify but on the phone this is still my go to for tunes.
• Maps – Who doesn’t want to know where they are and how to get places?
• Weather – Who doesn’t need a weather report?

Social Networking:

• Twitter and Facebook – These are great time killers when you’re stuck somewhere or desperately need to tell people what you’re up to, right now.

Entertainment:

• Fandango – Movie times with reviews and all that.
• IMDB – Having a conversation that starts with something like ‘you know that guy who was in that movie,’ look it up.
• TV Guide/Comcast – On occasion I haven’t memorized the TV schedule and for some reason need to check it, haven’t developed a preference to one or the other of these.
• Yelp – Love the search where I’m at option on this.

Transportation:*

• Routsey/Transporter – I recently tried using Transporter when Routsey had times wrong for muni but I think it’s just muni, so I’m back to Routsey for quick checks on next bus, train, bart.
• Taxi Magic – Want to call a cab?
• Uber – Want to pay a little bit more for a car that will actually show?

Functional Stuff:

• Dictionary.com – I swear they don’t always have a lot of words but sometimes the easiest lookup.
• Evernote – I’m pondering greater embracing of this system, love the possibilities but still have some stuff on straight up Notes.

Misc:

• All Text Picture/ASCII TextPics – A friend of mine got into texting ascii pics so I had to return.
• Groupon/LivingSocial – I do occasionally purchase these so having this on my phone is user friendly when I want to redeem.
• Lotto – When I remember that I have a lotto ticket in my wallet that I haven’t checked I need to check it immediately.
• Mustache – My first received recommendation, pick a stache and hold up to your face for fun filled talking.
• RL Classic – I occasionally need to view a bar code, but you know, almost never.

There are a myriad of apps that I have downloaded for one reason or another but don’t actually use… What apps am I missing? Tell us in comments what apps you can’t live without.

*My transportation stuff is SF focused but I’m sure there’s local action for each locale.