There's probably an app for that

You've probably heard the slogan "There's an app for that" on Apple's ubiquitous commercials touting the many applications for its iPhone and iPod Touch. The free or low-cost programs, usually devoted to performing a specific function, are one reason why the mobile devices have become so popular.

In fact, it's estimated that 5 million apps are downloaded each day from the iTunes App Store.

But there are so many apps available -- more than 25,000 -- that it's hard to know where to begin. So when I picked up an iPod Touch, I asked app-connected friends and colleagues what they like. With Apple announcing Monday that it's lowering the price of its basic iPhone to $99 and introducing new models Friday, more new users might be doing the same.

Sure, you can go to the App Store and see the top 25 downloads in any category and read user reviews. But nothing beats getting a recommendation from someone you know.

Here are the best suggestions I received. I didn't list games, though; that genre is a whole column on its own. These are the functional apps that could come in handy every day. And each is free or just 99 cents.

(Note that some apps might lose some functionality on the iPod Touch, depending on access to Wi-Fi and limitations of the device.)

Pandora (free) is like a go-anywhere radio station that plays only what you want to hear. Just enter a song or artist you like, and it does the rest. It's as swell as it sounds, just like its parent website.

Public Radio (free) streams public radio stations from around the country, including your Minnesota favorites.

Facebook (free) is the official app that keeps you in constant touch with the popular social-networking site.

Twitterific (free) does the same for Twitter with a simple interface.

Shazam (free) can identify just about any unfamiliar song you hear. A friend once quickly powered it up to ID a song playing during a TV commercial, wowing a roomful of partygoers. (Use on the iPod Touch requires a headset with microphone.)

Now Playing (free) shows you what movies are out and when and where they're playing close to you. You can also see a plot summary for a film, read reviews of it from sites such as Rotten Tomatoes and -- coolest of all -- watch its trailer. Urbanspoon (free) does much the same for restaurants, including the option to randomly pick an eatery by shaking your device. Date nights have never been so carefree.

Emergency Radio (99 cents) lets you eavesdrop on more than 1,000 emergency frequencies from around the country, including 17 Minnesota channels. A co-worker says the best thing she has heard was a report from Hennepin County that four turtles were causing traffic problems in the northbound lane of a busy highway. Emergency Radio Lite is free, but it offers only five frequencies, the closest being Chicago's fire department.

GoogleEarth (free) puts the whole world in your hands. There's something humbling about watching the app zoom from a view of the Earth to your present location.

Stanza (free) is a breezy-to-use reader for e-books. Choose from more than 28,000 free classics at Project Gutenberg, or shop for the latest bestsellers to download from linked retailers. Kindle (free) lets readers download from Amazon's e-book store, with most new releases selling for $10.

Speaking of the popular online store, Amazon (free) puts one-click ordering at the touch of your fingertips -- perfect for last-minute online shopping, or even price comparisons, while out and about.

SportsTap (free) lets you catch up on the latest sports news, scores and stats for your favorite teams. Previews of upcoming games even include simulated results from AccuScore.

Grocery IQ (99 cents) streamlines the weekly food-shopping grind. Create your list with the help of a fully stocked database, even down to the amount you need, and then tap to check off items as you roll down the aisles.

Randy A. Salas • 612-673-4542