I spent most of 2010 working as a specialist at Apple's famous Fifth Avenue store here in New York City.
On the easy days, I was playing games on my iPod. On the tough days, I was using apps to translate a conversation into English and help people make Genius Bar appointments.
My iPod was as useful a tool at work as it was in my personal life. Here are the apps that I (and nearly every other Apple employee) used on a daily basis.
iTranslate is helpful with international customers
Apple Stores tend to attract a lot of international visitors, and a store as big as Fifth Avenue is no exception. I used this all the time to decode conversations in any number of languages.
App Store link: iTranslate
Yelp helps you find local attractions
When people stop by the store they obviously want help with a computer, but they just as frequently want a suggestion on where to find a good lunch or dinner. Yelp helps you find something worthwhile based on price, location, or cuisine.
App Store link: Yelp
Mactracker contains all sorts of helpful info
Mactracker contains all the tech specifications for every Mac ever made. When a customer comes in and the most information he has is, "I bought my laptop two years ago and now it's broken," this can help you identify the computer and diagnose basic problems.
App Store link: Mactracker
Carcassonne was a popular game in the break room
It wasn't all work. This beautiful iOS adaptation of the famous board game is a lot of fun. Single player mode against the computer is great, and the asynchronous multiplayer meant you could play epic games that lasted all day. Watch for the expansions coming to this game shortly -- they're in the works as we speak.
App Store link: Carcossonne
iTeleport helps manage your computer at home
I frequently used iTeleport to control my home computer while at the store, starting and stopping large downloads and managing video conversion. It can be used just as effectively as a remote control when you're at home.
App Store link: iTeleport
Twitter kept everyone in touch
Customers say weird things, ask silly questions, and make outrageous requests. These things must be tweeted to your fellow coworkers.
App Store link: iTunes
The Apple Store App handles any number of tasks
The app is freely available to the public, but it's indispensable to retail employees. You can create Genius Bar appointments, find local Apple Stores, see what events are coming up at the store, configure a new Mac before you arrive to pay for it, and more.
App Store link: Apple Store
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