The iPhone has become a life-changer for me. This little device has become such an extension of everything about me -- work, home, whatever -- that I would be absolutely lost with it.

That's why I've been anxious to try several recording applications to see how they fare at helping me create podcasts. As a test, I used an app called FourTrack to do an entire podcast recently.

I then decided to evaluate several other recording applications by placing test recordings online. The result is this latest podcast.

There's actually very little difference among them. The apps tested were:

iTalk from Griffin.

FourTrack from Sonoma Wire Works.

Recorder from Retronyms.

SpeakEasy from Zarboo Software.

ChicagoScope feedback line: 312-683-5272. Send e-mail to ChicagoScope@gmail.com.