Mocha VNC Lite (free) and Mocha VNC ($5.99) permit you to connect to a Windows or Mac OS X computer and see resources as if you were sitting at your desktop. But the current version lacks some functions notably, it doesn't recognize Ctrl-Alt-Del keystrokes. You may save connection information for each server, which simplifies login. You scroll around the Windows desktop by dragging on the screen, and zoom in and out using pinching and stretching gestures. WinAdmin ($11.99) lets you remotely access and manage Windows computers from your iPhone.
This is essentially the same software that BlackBerry licenses and provides for free to its users, but few data sync packages work as seamlessly for iPhone fans. Plus, PocketMac's software backs up text messages and phone call records, then saves them to your Mac. This $29.95 stand-alone application lets you sync contacts and calendars from Microsoft Entourage, Lotus Notes, and Meeting Maker with your iPhone. You can customize the expense type, generate all sorts of reports, search for expenses by various criteria, enter expenses in various currencies, and even export individual records with a photo receipt attachment. But for business people, especially travelers, these programs can be a real godsend. The iXpenseIt Lite (free, limited to 10 expense categories) and iXpenseIt ($4.99) applications are great for tracking personal expenses against a budget. In practice, this application is more efficient than handwriting recognition. Instead of typing, you trace word shapes with your finger. But ShapeWriter's free WritingPad text input technology offers a different take on a soft keyboard. Sure, the iPhone's on-screen keyboard can be mastered. Further, all your lists are saved to, where you can access and manage them from your computer. After you complete a task, just swipe your finger to cross it off your to-do list. Record for up to 15 seconds the software then transcribes this speech into text and places the results on your list. This free application from Jott Networks turns your voice into notes. With the free, companion iTalk Sync program, you can drag recordings as high-quality AIFF files to your computer over a Wi-Fi connection. iTalk Recorder lets you choose quality levels, provides a one-button recording interface, and makes it easy to add on to existing recordings. Griffin Technology's no-cost iTalk Recorder and the ad-free premium application ($4.99) are serious sound recording software. Also, you can filter files by tags, date, location, and other criteria. Take a snapshot of, say, a whiteboard or business card, and Evernote renders text searchable within the photos. Additionally, Evernote has fantastic image recognition.
The free Evernote application lets you capture text notes, snap photos, and record voice memos on your iPhone or iPod Touch - then automatically synchronize them to your desktop (the free Web account gives you 40MB of storage a month). Another well-executed feature of this free speech-to-text application is that you can send status updates for Facebook and Twitter. Significantly, you don't have to memorize commands the software translates your voice, word for word. Vlingo lets you dial contacts, search the Web (through Yahoo or Google), and look up phone numbers and maps.