The best iPhone apps for home improvement

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Unlike many corporate come-ons, the current slogan for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch—"There's an app for just about anything"—is supported by some pretty good numbers. About 35,000 apps are available for those high-tech handheld digital devices, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous: Rest Area provides road-tripping families with the location of the nearest pit stop; Hold On records how long you can press a button on your iPhone or Touch. All you iPhone- and Touch-toting home remodelers and home-improvement DIYers haven't been neglected. ColorSnap, from Sherwin-Williams, lets you easily match paint colors without having to head to a paint store or home center: You take a picture of an object whose color you like and, using the app, match it to the closest Sherwin-Williams paint color. (Benjamin Moore is coming out with its own color-matching app next month June). Landscapedia, Plant Doctor, and several other apps serve up helpful information for yard-and-garden projects. The HandyMan Sidekick is a multipurpose calculator, helping you determine how much paint you need for a room or how much mulch you should buy for your flower beds, for example. The iHandy Carpenter features a level (shown), plumb bob, ruler, and protractor. Those are just a few of the home-related apps out there. Tell us about your favorites by leaving a comment below. And check out the free Consumer Reports Mobile News & Video app, which provides access to our buying advice, videos, and more.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums Essential information: Our Home Improvement Guide interactive contains room-by-room advice on appliances and materials.

Submitted @ 2009-05-28