Ravenous appetites

Smartphones these days are known less for their hardware and more for the software apps inside. New applications let users to do everything from pick a novel place for lunch to getting them there via GPS.

More apps hit the market weekly. We asked some smartphone-carrying Baton Rougeans to share their favorites.

Scratch Pad

Turns your smartphone screen into a paperless notepad.

Requirements: iPhone OS 2.1 or laterCost: $1.99 User: Ann Connelly, owner of Ann Connelly Fine Art

“It’s fun, but it’s also a great way for visual communication like if you need to send a note or draw a note. You can use it different ways, make a happy birthday drawing and e-mail it to someone. If you’re walking, and you don’t want to type in a number, you can scratch the number down.”

Pandora Radio

Learns the songs you like and finds others you’ll probably like as well.

Requirements: Works with nearly every model, as long as it’s not an ancient flip-phone; check pandora.com/mobile for a detailed list. Cost: Free User: Erick Martin, graphic designer with The Day Group

“I always have a favorite at one time, then it changes the next week. I have everything from Motown to bluegrass to ’90s rock ‘n’ roll. Basically, I add playlists as I get into a particular genre of music.”

Shazam

Identifies the song you just heard.

Requirements: Visit shazam.com/music/web/pages/getshazam.htmlCost: Free User: Heather Day, owner of The Red Cake

“If you hear a song at the bar or in the car, you can hit the app and it will tell you the name of the song. It’s pretty much known every song I’ve ever tried.”

AroundMe

Using GPS to locate your position, this app tells you everything that’s (you guessed it) around you.

Requirements: iPhone OS 3.0 or later Cost: Free User: Fabian Blache III, section chief in the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

“This app tells you all the stuff that’s around you, like the kind of things you need to know if you just got off a plane—restaurants, where the nearest gas station is. It’s a very, very useful application.”

Air Video

Lets you watch computer videos on your smartphone via Wi-Fi.

Requirements: iPhone OS 2.2.1 or later; also compatible with iPod Touch Cost: $2.99 User: Matt Lindstrom, LSU student

“I’m a big movie and TV buff and collect a lot of old TV shows that I keep on my home computer. Air Video lets me stream any of these shows or movies to my phone as long as I have a Wi-Fi connection.”