iPhone Apps to Kick Off the 2012 Summer Season

Memorial Day is right around the corner, which means that summer is finally here. With the warm breezes and lighter, longer days comes the perfect opportunity to load up your iPhone—and possibly your iPad—with some fresh new apps to embrace the summer weather. From flashlights to organizers, GPS mapping systems and fitness apps, the Apple App Store has everything you need to maximize your summer plans, be they in the office (ugh) or at the beach (yay). Best of all, most of these apps cost less than a dollar, and some are free, so whether you're making last-minute travel plans, checking in on the Olympic Summer Games in London (USA! USA!), or just checking the weather to see whether your mobile office is moving to the balcony tomorrow, this list should get you primed for sunning in shorts and working in shirtsleeves—just the way we know you like it.

• Nike+ GPS ($1.99)

  

  Summer's coming, which means you have to get your beach bod ready to go. Use this running app to track your distance, push yourself farther and melt off those hibernation layers.

• Flashlight ($0.99)

  

  Perfect for camping or finding your way around in the dark after a long night out, this app uses the iPhone 4 flash to guide you around, and will even kill other open apps to save battery juice.

• London 2012

  

  Keep abreast of all the latest news and info from the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in Ye Olde London, with searchable maps, interactive guides and a stadium full of other features.

• Weatherwise (Free)

  

  Forget boring old Doppler scans and uninviting forecasts. This app features animated personas and moving landscapes to give your weather report some personality.

• Kayak Mobile (Free)

  

  Summer means travel, which means everyone and their Mom is going to be looking for the best deals for flights, hotels and rental cars. Stay ahead of the game with Kayak's mobile app and get thee to the beach.

• Weber's on the Grill ($4.99)

  

  Ok, take a break from your summer fitness routine and dive into some BBQ madness with this app, which features 280 classic recipes plus 40 more for rubs, marinades and sauces.

• Postagram Postcards ($0.99)

  

  Make your friends and family jealous by sending a printed photo postcard from your iPhone library, Instagram or Facebook delivered anywhere in the United States for just 99 cents apiece.

• MotionX GPS Drive ($0.99)

  

  If you're headed out for a road trip this summer, don't leave home without this GPS navigation app, which offers predictive live traffic updates, turn-by-turn navigation and local search and Wikipedia integration.

• The Night Sky ($0.99)

  

  Take a break from the sights and sounds around you and gaze up into the sky for a peek at some celestial bodies (always in shape, no matter what time of year), and find out what planets, stars and galaxies you're looking at.

• To-Do Checklist ($1.99)

  

  Hey, it can't all be about rest and relaxation—or can it? Use this app to plan whatever comes into your life, be it office work or vacations.