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We live in an era of multi-functional devices. Our phones aren’t just phones—they’re internet-connected computers, GPS devices, cameras, and more. So before you go buying new gear to fill a need, take blogger Fred Wilson’s advice: Look for an app.

Wilson explains how he attempted to find a better solution for entering text into and controlling his home theater PCs, having been dissatisfied with his current setup. His first instinct was to buy some new gear—specifically an Apple Wireless Keyboard and a Gyration Air Mouse, both of which set him back around $160 total. What he got was more frustration. Then he went with a friend Andy’s advice, who suggested a $2 iPhone/iPod touch app:

So in frustration, I pulled out the iPod touch we use as a Sonos and Boxee remote in our family room and downloaded the Mobile Air Mouse app from the iTunes store for $1.99. You have to download free “server software” for the device from the Mobile Air Mouse website as well.

Guess what? Andrew was right. It works very well. And you get a trackpad and a keyboard (iPhone style keyboard) all for $1.99.

The Apple keyboard was roughly $80 and the Gyration Air Mouse was about the same. $160 down the drain. The $2 solution was better.

As Wilson is quick to point out, you would need an iPhone or iPod touch on hand—and those do cost good money—but assuming you already have a multifunctional device, Wilson had one takeaway: “Bottom line for me: apps beat devices. Lesson learned. Relatively cheaply.”

Have you had similar experiences? What apps have you used that’ve taken the place of buying new gear? Let’s hear about it in the comments.

Grabbing Dropbox files from a web browser got a bit easier overnight, as the file synchronizing service added search, bulk operations for separate items, Gmail-style keyboard shortcuts, and a mobile interface for non-iPhone browsers to its web site.

The site as a whole got a visual overhaul, actually, but what established Dropbox users are going to most appreciate is the ability to create new ZIP-ed packages of different files—a few files, one or two folders, and maybe that picture, all at once—and grab them. The Dropbox team also added a search bar and “Gmail-style keyboard shortcuts,” although we haven’t seen a guide to those shortcuts as of yet.

Update: Reader Samuel points out that keyboard shortcuts are something you have to enable from the “Other Preferences” section of your Account settings on Dropbox’s web site. Once you do, hitting “?” brings up the shortcut list you see here. Very Gmail-like indeed.

The non-iPhone mobile version, assuming I’m seeing it on my Android model, works fairly well, providing quick access to files and recent changes. We’re still waiting on a dedicated iPhone app—submitted for Apple’s approval about four weeks ago—but these changes, mobile and otherwise, are a nice step forward for grabbing files when you’re at a non-synced computer or on your mobile device.