Gay iPhone Apps

Apple says there’s an iPhone app for just about everything. When E and I bought our iPhones at the beginning of May, I decided to put that claim to a test. Guess what the first thing I searched for? Yes, gay applications. Not surprisingly there were several dozen apps showing up in a gay search of the iTunes Store. Here is a brief rundown on many of the apps targeted for GLBT users. I have downloaded and tested over a dozen of the free apps.

The best gay iPhone apps that I found are “Edge” and “GayCities”. They are informative, practical and useful for the entire LGBT community.

Gay News.
Edge – Actually it is more than just news. It is like getting GLBT lifestyle magazine (news, entertainment, style, business, tech, travel and nightlife) on a mobile app. It has been one of the few apps I use everyday. I love it. I was already receiving their daily emails and have visited their website at http://www.edgesanfrancisco.com/ many times. There articles have depth. They are much more than a two sentence RSS feed. The breath of coverage is amazing too. This app demonstrates what magazines and newspapers could morph into in the future. I find it easier to use than the similar news application I downloaded, the NYTimes app.
Rachel Maddow – MSNBC commentator and the first openly lesbian anchor to host a prime-time news program in the US. App features news, photos, videos and podcasts of her show.

Travel guide and business locator.
GayCities – It primarily features the listings of gay-friendly restaurants, bars, hotels, and beaches in over 70 cities worldwide. We’ve used it while we were out and about in San Francisco, Palm Springs, and NYC for both reviews and directions. It is a useful and helpful mobile travel guide. It is a gay version of the app Yelp. We have also posted reviews of places we’ve been to at their website, http://www.gaycities.com/
There are several paid gay travel apps such as “Gay New York” ($1.99), “Gay London” ($1.99), “Gay Swiss Travel” ($2.99), “GayBook”(France) ($1.99), "GayGermany" ($1.99), "Sitges" ($0.99), "Gay Globe" ($1.99). "Mobile Gay Guide Cities" available for Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, New York and Fire Island ($1.99).They seem pricy when you consider all the similar free travel apps available. We downloaded the free “Amsterdam Mobile Guide” since we are going there August 2009.

Gay Social Networking.
These apps offer a way to locate, connect, message, share photos and chat with other online guys. They can be a sort of an iPhone version of Craigslist M4M and Manhunt if you are looking for a hookup. It is also fun to just see who is on and gay around you. I’ve installed six of these apps and list them below in order of preference.
Grindr – This one is my favorite despite having the least amount of features. It is a simple who’s here, gay and has an iPhone? It appears to have more local guys on it. I suspect the popularity varies by region and age. Sorts current logged in users from a few feet to hundreds of miles. Although I am not looking for a date or hookup, I have had nice chats with a half-dozen local guys. Drawbacks compared with the other apps are that one can only post 1 picture in your profile and there is not much space to write or describe interests. Grindr X is a paid version ($2.99) with mobil maps and no advertising.
Craigsphone – One of several apps designed to bring Craigslist.org to the iPhone. The “nearby people” feature makes is easy to track who is posting locally without having to input your zip code. Upload a post with photos. Good search function. Easier to use then the website in some ways.
WhosHere – This app works for all sexes and orientations. One can view profiles that meet criteria for friends, dating, networking or location. The app allows posting up to 4 pictures in your profile. Has more room for listing information than Grindr. Can send and receive messages and pictures. Not as many local users as Grindr.
Purpll-gay dating – Combines gay social networking with mobile maps. Also allows listing of gay places (bars, clubs, dances, etc.) and events (parties, gatherings, etc.). One can post public and private photos. The app has many of extra search and news features. I haven’t tested them all yet. Navigating from one screen to another can be slow. There is a separate “hot or not” app to rank site photos.
Boy Ahoy – Mobile app for social dating site skout.com. The app allows for many pictures to be posted in profile. Most users appear to be very young…18 to 20ish. Not many local users. Can send private pictures and messages and has a Twitter-like news feed and multiple search options.
Gay Community App – Similar to the other gay messaging and connecting apps with a large suite of features. It is designed to help you find and connect with members of the GLBT community. One can also post 3 pictures in their profile. Navigating from one screen to another can be slow. This is when I experienced the most crashes with this app. It is my least favorite.
There are several other free dating and meeting apps that I didn’t download: “Gay Chat”, “Gay SpeedDate”, "PinkMap!" and "Web is Pink". There are several pay social network apps listed below too.

Music.
There are endless music choices and apps for the iPhone. Several that come up on a gay search are the following:
iHeartRadio – A collection of Clear Channel radio stations from around the US. SF Bay Area stations include Star 101.3, KISS 98.1, KMEL 106, Wild 94.9. The app also offers a variety of other internet music channels such as Pride Radio (Pop & Dance with a Gay Sensibility), Smooth Jazz, New Country, Real Oldies, etc.
GIRL radio – Gay Internet Radio Live (GIRL). Non-stop dance mixes from GLBT Radio Network. A non-stop blend of party, dance, club and circuit sounds.
GAY FM Radio - a gay dance music station from Berlin, Germany. Hits and remixes from around the world.
DMA Radio: Dance Mix America - Another dance mix of streaming music from circuit party promoter.
Gay-D-O Dance Internet Radio - Club anthems and dance classics streamed from the UK.
PrideNation Radio - The longest running, highest rated, most listened GLBT dance radio station in the US.
DeeGay - Italian web-radio dedicated to the GLBT world. Offers three channels of music: Current, classics and club hits.

Entertainment.
BoyPic - Photoshop you picture with a male model.
Get Out GBLT - Coming out stories posted by users.

Handsome Devil Press free-cards- 20 gay theme e-cards to choose from for occasions ranging from birthdays, holidays, dating and sex. Designs from Handsome Devil Press.
Hunk du Jour - "Hunk of the Day" from entertainment site Hunk du Jour. Your source for photos and profiles of noteworthy men on a site that is "Mom-friendly."
Hot Weathermen - get a seven day weather report of a city of your choice with a picture of a hot hunky guy.
Oh My Gay Stars: Gay Marriage in the US - listing of states that have legalized same-sex marriage.
The PUMA Index - Global stock ticker--when the market goes down, the models' clothes come off to their PUMA bodywear.

Games.
Games that sound gay but are really a straight fascination of all things phallic. Many of these iPhone games are some of the most downloaded free games.
Balls - Interactive finger entertainment. Play with balls by dragging, tapping or shaking them on the screen.
PapiMissle, PapiPole – Artillery game.
Pee Monkey Toilet Trainer – Test precision skills.
Pocket Tanks – Artillery game.
Shaft - Precision skills game.
Sword Drill - Bible verse game (!)
Swords Fight - Fighting sounds effects for $0.99.
TouchWood - Interactive finger entertainment for the superstitious.
Urinal Test – Determine how well a straight man will pick the “right” urinal in the men's room. Pro version now available for $0.99

Other Paid Gay Games with an emphasis on Hot Guys and Hunks
Absolutely Sexy Beach Men - Slider puzzle. Several puzzles of hot men. 29 squares of abs and biceps for $0.99.
Body Sushi - Sexy take on the classic memory match game. $0.99.
Guy Chaser - Brain teasers, word scrambles and challenging anagrams. $1.99.
iFlipflow Boys - A handsome's guys shirt flows off when you tilt the display. $0.99.
Poker vs Guys: Strip Poker - Texas Hold'em with guys that will take their shirts off. $1.99.
Sexy Slots - A sexy tongue-in-cheek slot machine game. $0.99.
ShowBoy - Discover a hunky man by rubbing the satin sheet off him with your finger. $1.99.
25¢ Peep Show Sexy Guys- A simulated peep show with a shade, coins, slot and shirtless guys. $0.99.

Paid Apps.
I have not downloaded any of the Paid Gay Apps available. Here is a list of some of them I found while searching.
Ask Cotton - An app that mixes a drag queen with an answer seeking oracle. Ask yes or no questions and Cotton Kan-Dee will answer! $0.99

Dating DNA Plus – dating app for $4.99
ePrideGuide – gay business listings app for $1.99
Gay Daily News - news updates from an unnamed source for $4.99
GaydarApp – interactive social networking app for $1.99. Free Gaydar Light version is available too.
Gay History Project - 150 LGBT historical events, places and people for $2.99
GayNews – Offers a collection of gay news feeds for $0.99. I love the free Edge news app.
Gay Pride – pride wallpaper images for iPhone $0.99
Gay Pride Calendar - 16 month (July 09-Dec 10) gay pride calendar. $0.99
Gay Quotes – quotes, pictures, history and trivia app for $1.99. UPDATE: I downloaded this app. It is fun for the times when you have nothing to do and you just want to idly play with your iPhone. It is an interesting collection of photos and quotes. Not everyone quoted is gay or speaks of gay rights. There are a lot of general quotes about life, love, equality and justice.
Gay Symbols and Slogans - collection of symbols that represent the GLBT community for $0.99.
iDateGay – gay dating app for $4.99
iGay - gay dating app for $9.99
iPropose – hack boyfriend’s phone and see if he still wants to marry you. $0.99
iPump Power - fitness app with 6 workouts with 70 images of strong men with lean muscle. $1.99
JustCircuit - news and lifestyle information from a circuit party promoter for $0.99
ManLight - combination app of flashlight and photos of male models for $0.99. Free "light" app available.
My Boys - undress 4 different male cartoon illustrations for $1.99
My Gay Agenda - a calendar app with occasional gay commentary for $2.99
My Gay Go – List of gay businesses. I’ve seen ads in the GLBT press for this $2.99 app. Seems very similar to GayCities which is free.
MyHunk - Emergency notification app with hunky pictures in the background. "I've fallen down and I can't get it up." $0.99.
My Ty – Stereotypical lisping, limp wristed, pink shirt, effeminate character app. Fabulously offensive for $0.99.
Pride – a comment sharing app for $1.99; free “light” version only displays comments.

Paid Male Photo Apps
AMG Brasil Boys, AMG Beefcake! - photos of shirtless Brazilian male models or 1950's vintage beefcake for $0.99. A fun but tame app from a gay porn studio AMG.
Asian Guys - male models for $0.99
Bikini.com Hunkalicious - surfer guys in board shorts, not bikinis for $0.99
Boy Toys, Calendar Studs - male models (McApps) for $0.99
Exotic Rainbow Guys, Guy Wall, Hollywood Guys, Surf Boys, Southern California Babes - male models (Pink Clouds) for $2.99.
Guys of the CLUB – rate photos of male models for $2.99
Hot Studs - photos of male models for $0.99
Hottest Guys Sexy Men - rate photos of male models for $1.99
iHunks, iStuds - photos of male models (Aeolian Trading) for $0.99
iModeling Male Edition - photos of male models for $1.99
LadyBoys - first transgender app? Thai models, male to female, for $0.99
Sexiest Men - photos of male models for $0.99
Sexy Men Slideshows - photos of male models for $0.99
STUDZ Ripped - photos of male models for $1.99
Wild College Boys - photos of male models for $0.99

Lifestyle.
Other interesting free apps for a better gay lifestyle:
5800+ Drink & Cocktail Recipes – Exactly what it says. Drink recipes at your fingertips. Create a favorites list, browse drink categories, and search for specific recipe.
Daily Dish - Practice to be your own celebrity gossip columnist. Will you be the new Perez Hilton or Pink is the New Blog?
Yelp - A local search and reviews online mobile service based on their website. Great for when you are on the go. GayCities is a similar app for gay and gay friendly businesses. We like and use both apps.
AroundMe - It allows you to quickly find out information about your surroundings. Great at locating banks, bars, gas stations, hotels, theatres, parking lots, restaurants, taxis, etc.
Shazam – An app that lets you identify music tracks and tag and buy them.
Facebook for iPhone – Now you can always stay connected. If you are still on MySpace, an app is available for that too.
Pandora Radio – Create your own personalized radio stream on your iPhone.
OpenTable – We use this all the time to make dinner reservations and to find and try new restaurants. You also earn points towards free meals. We have saved several hundred dollars this way.
Cool Guy – A clothes style planner and shopping assistant. You take pictures of each item in your wardrobe with your iPhone and categorize it with this app. I didn’t download this app. I have no gay fashion sense. But I could see my husband using it.

Porn.
Apple tries hard to keep up a squeaky clean image by insisting that its iTunes Apps store does not offer anything with porn. But seriously, this may be the one App you don’t need for an iPhone. After all, you are holding in your hands a lean, sexy camera phone with an internet hookup. What other tools would you need or desire? Still not sure? Check out this website, Guys with iPhones. [Note: Totally Not Safe For Work – Wanton Male Nudity]

NOTE: I have updated and edited this list multiple times as I find and try out more apps. One to two new gay apps are being released every week at the Apple iTunes store.