If you are a web designer then Apple’s mobile devices can help you work better, smarter — and out of the office. Here’s six apps you really should take time to get to know.
1. Ego
$1.99
This is a splendid app (image above) not just for a developer but for anyone who has ever run a Google search on their name, which is everybody (but me) obviously.
Ego watches the social web: Ember, Feedburner, Google Analytics, Mint, Squarespace, Tumblr, Twitter and Vimeo. It lets you track the number of visits to your website (including daily, hourly and monthly numbers), feed subscription totals and changes, and watch how many people are following you on Twitter and more. It is also beautifully designed and should be an asset to your life.
Download from iTunes.
2. What The Font
Free
This is a fantastic app for anyone involved in typography online. It helps you easily identify the fonts used in a photo or Web graphic. It works via WIFi or 3G and hooks you up to the MyFonts’ WhatTheFont™ font identification service to get what you need.
How it works: Take an image from within the app, Choose saved photos from the Photo Library, In-phone image processing optimizes upload for speed and accuracy, View font details within the app, Send e-mail summaries of search results, complete with font previews.
Download from iTunes.
3. Color Expert
$9.99
This is the application for artists, designers, decorators — anyone who needs to use color. You get all the PANTONE color definitions within the app, which is also a Swatch Book that contains all of your favorite libraries, many with CMYK data. So give it a spin with your iPhone or iPod touch. It is a very clever implementation that even includes a camera so you can snap that color you find so inspiring.
Download from iTunes.
4. FTP On The Go
$6.99
It is possible you’ve already come across FTP On The Go as it has taken a lot of critical praise in its short life. It is a great little iPhone app perfect for anyone who woks with files on a server or needs to transfer files between two computers.
Use it to view document files on the FTP server, store files and upload images from your library. Essentially it magnifies the value of your iPhone or iPod touch as a user with a server, and helps manage your work if you are an admin out in the field.
Download from iTunes.
5. Web Developer Bible
Free
This is exactly what it says it is, a huge collection of invaluable reference guides for any serious designer, it also includes an RGB to HEX color converter. I think it will be a useful addition to the tool kit.
Download from iTunes.
6. CSS Cheat Sheet
$0.99
The developers explain: “Even seasoned CSS (cascading style sheet) developers need a quick refresher course in CSS properties and values from time to time. The CSS Cheat Sheet for iPhone and iPod Touch is designed to address that need. Use it as a quick reference for topics you’ve already learned but need a few reminders on, or if you’re still a beginner to CSS, use it to better understand what CSS has to offer.”
The app is searchable and has an easy to use interface that helps you quickly find what you’re looking for. There’s descriptions, values and examples for backgrounds, borders, classifications, dimensions, fonts, lists, margins, media types and a lot more. This is 99-cents well spent.
Download from iTunes.
Armed with this small collection of Apps we think you’ll be taking a good start as an iPhone or iPad-using Web developer.
Have we missed any apps? If you think we have, please let us know in comments.
As a web developer/designer who prefers her Android smartphone, I would love to know which of these are also on Android (or have similar Android equivalents). 🙂
What The Font is a really good app for web design.