Looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift? Let dad dial-into a few mobile applications on your dime. There are apps that will help your dad manage and measure potential home repair projects, watch his favorite team while on the go, and serve as an all-knowing remote control for videos, music and entertainment.
iHandy Carpenter (iPhone, iPod Touch, Android: $1.99)
Every dad can use a digital toolbox, right? Just as the name suggests, iHandy Carpenter is a virtual handyman. And in baseball parlance it’s a five-tool player. The app includes a surface level, a bubble level bar, a protractor and a ruler. All of the features are simple to use, and ensure the big guy won’t put any superfluous nail holes into the walls. Once dad gets past admiring the gee-whiz technology that turns his smartphone into an all-purpose utility, he’ll enjoy the cost-savings and space benefits of not having to purchase each tool separately. Of course, on Father’s Day it is probably better for you to download the app and take care of your dad’s usual chores on his behalf. This will free him up to watch the boob tube all afternoon.
Remote (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad: free)
If your dad is tired of just flipping through the usual television options on his day of leisure, expand his entertainment universe with this free application. Developed by Apple, Remote lets users program what appears on their on their Macs and Apple TVs. The Remote app is a lot more intuitive than the metal controller that comes with the Apple TV set top box. Here, dad can type in the name of the show he wants to call up from Netflix, YouTube, and a variety of other sources rather than selecting letters one-by-one on the screen. Using Remote is also a great way to play music and playlists from iTunes. Just remember that your home’s wireless network must be turned on for Remote to work properly.
What Knot To Do (iPhone, iPod Touch: free)
Trying to impress your handy dad with new-found expertise? Check out the cool and free What Knot To Do app by the Columbia Sportswear Company. With more than 70 knots in six categories, this app illustrates examples of creating the perfect knot. This includes whether you and your dad like to fish, hike, sail, backpack or even for tying up your llama (I’m not kidding). This app is from a series of free Columbia apps they provide to get the most out of your outdoor adventures with pops. Make this clever app part of a Father’s Day camping extravaganza!
WatchESPN (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android: free)
As if ESPN were not already omnipresent! This app lets dad watch the total sports network wherever he may travel via a connected smartphone or tablet computer. Although the app is free, a subscription to a participating cable service which carries ESPN (currently limited to Time Warner, Comcast, Bright House, Verizon FiOS or Verizon High Speed) is required. The app supports four ESPN channels: ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3 and ESPN U, along with “Buzzer Beater” a channel that hosts live look-ins for close contests.
eBay Motors for iPhone (iPhone, iPod Touch: free)
Is your dad a hot-rod fanatic? Well I bet you can find the perfect gift for your car-loving dad with the free eBay Motors for iPhone app. It is the ultimate automotive marketplace on the go, making it easy to locate hard-to-find car parts and accessories while on break at work or while sitting on the pot. To make shopping for your dad’s gift really easy, make sure to get the VIN from his beloved automobile and enter it into the app for an instant shopping list – it’s that easy! It’s up to you whether you share with dad how you found the gem he has been searching for forever, using this handy iPhone app.
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