iPhone applications are no longer just toys for techies. There are now thousands of iPhone apps in the App Store designed for mainstream usage. Yesterday we looked at examples of health and fitness iPhone apps, today we check out what's available for a current big sporting event: the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
There were relatively slim pickings, but at least one Winter Olympics app that is a must-have for sports fans!
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The Official Apps
The official 2010 Olympics app goes by the unwieldy title of 2010Guide - Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games: The Official Mobile Spectator Guide. The app is free and is described as "a location-aware schedule" for more than 2,000 sport and cultural events between 12-28 February, 2010.
It lets you create a personalized itinerary, with the help of maps to over 80 venues. It features real-time results for every sport, news headlines, photos and twitter streams.
For users actually attending the Olympics, the apps tells you 'what's on now' close to your current location - which is a nice geo-location touch.
You may also want to check out the iPhone apps of Olympic broadcasters CTV and NBC. One nice feature of the NBC app is the ability to follow athletes on Twitter and Facebook.
However, according to Chad Skelton of The Vancouver Sun, the official guide app is "head and shoulders above the other two."
The Unofficial Apps
There aren't a great deal of unofficial Olympics iPhone apps. However, one that might come in handy for TV watchers is Olympic Games and Sports Rules and Records by SportLogik. It lists the rules, a glossary of terms and the equipment used for over 70 sports. It also boasts "complete Olympic records for every Summer and Winter Olympic game ever held."
It's literally a font of all knowledge for the Winter Olympics, although it's text-heavy and not very exciting.
Of course there are some Olympics-themed gaming apps for iPhone. A good example is Ski Jump Lite (there's also a premium version).
Other Mobile Olympics Apps
Although the iPhone is the leading mobile apps platform for Olympics coverage, you don't necessarily need to have an iPhone to join in on the action. A good example is Foursquare's partnership with the New York Times, to provide reviews of local venues and offer new badges for those in the area. You'll be able to do all of the usual Foursquare things with your iPhone or any other smartphone, but in addition enjoy restaurant reviews and tips from the writers of the New York Times. That app can be found here.
Let us know in the comments if you have a favorite Olympics iPhone (or other phone) app!
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