Ryan Cash

http://ryancash.tumblr.com/

Ryan is the Marketing and PR Coordinator for Marketcircle – a software developer that creates award-winning business applications for the Mac and iPhone. Ryan also writes for The Netsetter – a blog about startup businesses and online marketing. When he isn’t working, he can be found taking photos or drifting his 240sx.

I’m quite picky about the colour balance of the apps on my home screen – I’ve spent far too much time arranging the icons so that it’s both logically arranged and aesthetically pleasing.

THE DOCK
I have left the dock alone, as it works logically for me. I have contemplated putting the Messages app on the dock, but I prefer it’s original location for aesthetics (don’t like having the two green icons together).

Phone — After all, the iPhone IS a phone. I find myself often using other forms of communication (SMS, Email, Facebook, etc.), but I still make good old-fashioned phone calls everyday.

Mail — I use this multiple times daily, to check both work and personal email accounts. Definitely one of my most used applications.

Safari — Not something I use super frequently, but I use it often enough to warrant keeping it on the home screen. I leave it on the dock because of the familiar physical location that I’m used to.

iPod — Use the iPod daily, usually at the gym. Sometimes it even reminds me to go to the gym if I’ve been lazy.

DEFAULT APPS
Before I decided which third-party apps made it on my home screen, I had to decide which didn’t. I immediately got rid of the Voice Memos, Stocks, YouTube, App Store, iTunes, and Contacts applications. I’ll rarely use any of these applications, and have never, even once, used the Contacts application.

Messages — Default location, used very often. Didn’t move to the dock as I find the icon too similar to the Phone app icon.

Calendar — I use the iPhone Calendar to keep track of personal appointments and reminders.

Photos — Used quite often as I’m into photography.

Camera — Also use this often (currently over 1,500 photos taken) – I’d probably take even more if the iPhone had a better camera.

Clock — Used primarily as a timer when cooking, and occasionally as an alarm clock when traveling.

Calculator — I’m terrible at math.

Notes — Use this very frequently to jot down creative ideas, keep lists of good restaurants, music and movies to check out, etc.

Maps — Although I have a Sony GPS in my car, I often find it easier to look things up on my iPhone.

Settings — I wouldn’t need this on my home screen if I could adjust brightness and WiFi settings from the status bar.

THIRD-PARTY APPS
I’ve very picky about which third-party apps make it to my homepage. The application has to be useful, used frequently, and have a well designed icon. My home screen is all business. Games have their own page (page 3), and the overflow of my home screen stays on page 2. I’ve moved all of the useless default apps and a few other apps that I’ve downloaded and use once in a blue moon (i.e. Kayak for traveling) to the last page.

WeatherEye — Replaces the default Weather app – more detailed information, and usually more accurate.

CNN — Since the iPhone app isn’t available to us in Canada, I have a bookmark to the Web app, which is designed quite well. I wasn’t really a “news junky” until the iPhone came around – now I seem to check it multiple times daily.

NetNewsWire — I’m not a huge fan of reading on the iPhone, but in my idle time I’ll occasionally catch up with unread blog posts, primarily by Seth Godin. I still prefer the experience of reading blogs on the websites themselves. If the website isn’t well designed, chances are I won’t be reading it.

Daylite Touch — Our company not only makes Daylite – we use it to run our own business. Daylite let’s me see what meetings I’ve been invited to, what my co-workers schedules look like, or see any tasks that have been delegated to me. It does a lot more than this, but these are the things I personally need access to when I’m mobile.

Billings Touch — Another one of Marketcircle’s applications. I need to use this app for testing purposes (as I do with Daylite), and so that I can help provide valuable feedback to our development team. It also improves my ability to market the applications. I happen to do some freelance writing on the side, so I actually use Billings as a customer too.

Facebook — I’m pretty active on Facebook, so I use this app quite often. I do more browsing than posting from the iPhone, but I’m able to see what friends are up to, find out event details when I’m out and about, and update my status to let my friends know where they can find me.

Tweetie — My favourite Twitter app, hands down. I manage several Twitter accounts (my personal account, the Marketcircle account, and an account tied to a small drifting blog that I run). Being able to quickly monitor the search strings I’ve setup is incredibly useful – especially during product launches.