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I’ve been playing with testing out the Palm Pre Plus for 2 weeks now and I’m highly impressed.  What’s ironic about this 4 week test period is that I think I’ve only made one or two phone calls.  The Palm Pre Plus is more like a computer than a phone.  And the free and downloadable applications that are available help you customize and personalize the phone for your needs.

This week, I’m going to share with you my favorite apps (so far).  The phone has an App Catalog which allows you to search dozens of applications “to make your phone more powerful, more useful, and more fun.”  If you aren’t using the applications, you haven’t realized your phone’s full potential.  Fortunately, the phone has 16 GB of memory because I’ve downloaded at least a dozen apps and plan on downloading a dozen more!

Staying connected, up-to-date, and informed are important to me as a mom.  The Palm Pre Plus offers free social networking applications including Facebook, Pixelpipe, LinkedIn, and weTwit Lite.  Downloading them from the App Catalog is quick and easy (once you can find them).  The best way (in my opinion) to find the apps you’re looking for is to use the “Explore” function and search by category.  It worked much better than using the search function. As an FYI, all the apps in this post are available as free downloads.

I downloaded all four of the social networking applications above, but have really only used Facebook and weTwit Lite.  I can update my status and check on my friends’ statuses easily.  I even managed to upload a picture and send it via Picture Tweet last week.  Here are some screen shots from the phone (a task easily accomplished by pressing the grey button, the Sym button, and “p” at the same time):

More and more I find myself heavily reliant upon technology.  I can’t go anywhere without a GPS and a web-enabled phone because I tend to get lost. often.  The Palm Pre Plus offers tons of apps that will help you get where you need to go.  Google Maps, for example, offers you the ability to get directions to a location and follow traffic on the route to that location.

Looking for a place to eat, shop, drink, or relax?  Complete with reviews from those who’ve been there?  Check out Yelp.  You knew I’d be looking for a coffee shop right?

And while you’re there, download Tip ‘em for a no-brainer way to calculate the tip on your bill.

Hubby took me out over the weekend to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Fandango is a great way to check out the latest films, complete with movie times at your local theater.

I could write a book about all of the applications available for the Palm Pre Plus.  Are you bored on a plane?  Do you need to make a grocery list?  Do you want to know what the weather is going to be like in your area?  Or breaking news?  I guarantee there is an app available for each of the above.

One last thing is worth mentioning.  Very often, when we’re at a restaurant or grocery shopping, or otherwise engaged in an activity that my son isn’t particularly fond of, I’ll pull out my phone to entertain him. Now he can watch full-length YouTube videos while I finish my lunch.

Stay tuned for my next post which will highlight multi-tasking features moms will love.

And for another perspective on the Palm Pre Plus, check out these fabulous gals’ reviews:

Busy Mom

Manic Mommies

Musings of a Housewife

Mom Generations

Mom Trends

Quirky Fusion

Tech for Mommies

The Full Mommy

This Full House