On This Day iPhone app a must for history buffs

If you’re a history buff studying to be on Jeopardy, or just a person who likes to barrage friends’ inboxes with fact-of-the-day emails, check out the free “On This Day…” iPhone app. The app provides events, births and deaths on this day — in the past of course.

According to the iPhone app, on April 9, 1860, the oldest audible sound recording of a human voice is made. Interested? The app allows you to click through for more information about the event listed. Also on April 9 (but in 1926, much later than the audible sound recording), Playboy founder Hugh Hefner was born, and way back in 715, Pope Constantine died. You can also click through for more information about the people behind the births and deaths.

It’s also handy for looking up events on special dates or holidays. For instance, I had no idea that on my 22nd birthday, Bill Clinton was the first U.S. President to visit Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War. Here’s to hoping that comes in handy during a future game of Trivial Pursuit!

I can also see this iPhone app coming in handy for parents who are unsure of what to name their newborn. Simply pop open this app and name your child after a famous person also born on that miraculous day. I would stay away from the death dates for baby names though.

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