I recently upgraded from the original iPhone to the new 3GS, and I love it! It doesn't crash, it has 3G and GPS, and it allows me to finally take advantage of all the apps out there. Since upgrading, I've turned app downloading into sport.
It's tough to sort through all the junk out there, so I offer some guidance with my 30 favorite apps, broken into two categories: games and non-games.
Top 15 Non-Game Apps
1.
Golfshot GPS - I can measure the distance of my drives, see how far I am from the green or hazard, get fairway targets set for me automatically based on my best carries into the green, and keep scores and stats (driving accuracy, GIR, putts/round, etc). Every golf course I've ever played is mapped, including Stanford, Palo Alto Muni, and Shoreline. It's
$30, which sounds steep for an app, but comparable devices run $300 to $400, far more than the iPhone + app combined. I used it for the first time this afternoon, and it worked perfectly. My swing did not.
2.
IM+ Push - Turns Google Talk (or any popular chat program) into SMS. Cost me
$4.99, which I'm sure amuses Blackberry and Android owners. Whatever. If it's free, you don't appreciate it as much.
3.
Shazam - It identified the Taylor Swift song playing on my car stereo and the Wheezer song used in the
Whip It! trailer. It failed to identify my version of
A Little Respect, something Midomi can reportedly do, but Midomi costs $4.99, and Shazam is
free, so it's a no-brainer. Yeah, yeah, shut up.
4.
ESPN ScoreCenter - Displays scores for each sport (or conference) you choose, with your favorite team at the top of each page. Scores update live and link to ESPN Gamecast.
Free.
5.
MotionX GPS - On a recent jog, MotionX mapped my route and measured my time, distance, average speed, and max speed. I can't wait to try it out on the slopes of Tahoe, or clock my top speed on blades or a bike. Hmm, would it be safe to take wakeboarding? The
free lite version has all of the same basic functionality as the full $2.99 version except it can only save one route as opposed to an unlimited number.
6.
Pocket Universe - Hold the phone up to the sky to identify what you are seeing, and the star map updates live as you move the phone. Or ask the program to locate something and direct you to it. Click to get more information, zoom into distant planets and stars, and see the outlines of constellations. A good value at
$2.99, though that's still $2.99 more than Google Sky on the Android. Boo.
7.
AllRecipes - Suggests recipes based on desired course, primary ingredient, and time to prepare. If I put in main course using chicken in under 45 minutes, it gives me... 70 recipes with description, ingredients, directions, nutritional information, and user reviews.
Free.
8.
TuneWiki - Displays the lyrics to any song playing on the iPod. Wait, it's not "Don't chew on me, baby?"
Free.
9.
SnapTell - Allows you to take a picture of any book, DVD, CD, or video game cover, and immediately compare prices online and in nearby stores. Especially useful when I'm browsing books and DVDs in B&N or Borders.
Free.
10.
Flixster - Shows me Rotten Tomato ratings, showtimes, and box office rankings of any movie, and also allows me to rate movies and see my friends' ratings.
Free.
11.
Howcast - A collection of how-to videos, like how to choose fruit in a supermarket, sync your iPhone calendar with your Google calendar, pick a lock, survive a bear attack, whatever!
Free.
12.
Hello Vino - Recommends wines (varietals and labels) to pair with your meal.
Free.
13.
Drinks - A directory of pretty much every mixed drink, cocktail, or shot known to man, sorted by name, ingredient, or drink type.
Free.
14.
Poker Timer - Alerts you when it's time to raise the blinds in a tournament. I suppose the iPhone timer could do essentially the same thing, but this automates things, and it's
free.
15.
Kindle - It's the Kindle on the iPhone, for
free. Now I just need digital books.
Top 15 Game Apps
1.
Baseball Slugger - An addictive homerun hitting contest with a nice variety of game modes, including excellent online play. The accelerometer controls the bat's placement, and a tap on the screen swings it. Simple yet brilliant. I have the second-best single game homerun total in the world!
$0.99.
2.
SkyDive - Try to land on a target as quickly as possible, but the longer you wait to pull your chute, the tougher it is to control the landing with the accelerometer. You also have to adjust for wind and the movement of the target.
$0.99.
3.
iShoot - A turn-based game in which you try to destroy the other tanks before they destroy you. Select trajectory, power, and artillery, then let it fly and pray for destruction. Multiplayer mode is available online, via wifi, or on a single phone. There is a free lite version, but I paid the
$1.99 for the full version, which includes more levels and weapons.
4.
GTS World Racing - An arcade style racer with time trial, tour, and grand prix modes. Accelerometer controls both steering (left-right) and speed (front-back). A little steep at
$4.99, more than some other well-reviewed racing games, but I thought it had the best feature set and controls. Main downside is the boring, repetitive scenery. Ferarri GT is much more visually appealing (famous landmarks and beautiful cars) and costs only $0.99, but the controls are terrible. Fastlane looks good for $3.99. The controls are solid in the Lite version, and the game modes in the full version look fun. I may have to check it out.
5.
Arcade Bowling - Pay the
$0.99 for the full version of this skeeball game to access the progressive mode, which sets ever-increasing point targets to advance to the next round and add to your point total. Sliding your finger controls the ball's launch and speed, and the accelerometer controls its movement in the air.
6.
FS5 Hockey - An air hockey game that allows for two-player mode on a single phone or via wifi on two phones. Your finger controls the paddle, and you can lift your finger to lift the paddle and trap the puck. The free version is the same as the full version but with annoying ads, so I paid the
$1.99 to get rid of 'em.
7.
KitchenSink - A simple game of reflexes. Tap on the coins and rings before they go down the drain, but let the rotten fruit go. Hit the fruit and you lose points, but let three coins or rings go down the drain, and the game is over.
Free.
8.
Paper Toss - Toss wads of paper into a garbage bin with finger controls, adjusting for the varying wind from an electric fan. Try to get the longest streak.
Free.
9.
SuperBall 3 - A solid Arkenoid imitation with finger control of the paddle. Accelerometer control is also available but impossible to use effectively. The full version offers way more levels, but I don't play it much, so I am sticking with the
free lite version for now.
10.
Sudoku - A clean interface, varying levels of difficulty, and speed records. It's
free, but you can get more puzzles for $2.99.
11.
Rope'n'Fly - Swing from skyscraper to skyscraper like Spider-Man, and try to get as far as you can. Touch once to employ your rope, touch again to release, and repeat the process until you come crashing down. Gameplay is a bit clunky, but it's a fun quick hitter. Stick to the
free version.
12.
Labrynth 3D - A 3D wooden labrynth game with multiple levels and speed records. Nice use of the accelerometer.
Free.
13.
MazeFinger - A speed maze game with finger controls. Not bad, but so much room for improvement.
Free.
14.
Topple - Try to pile the blocks up to the goalline, but the pieces are unstable and topple easily, especially when the platform is slanted.
Free.
15.
Lightsaber - Not actually a game, this app turns the phone into a virtual lightsaber. Pick your handle and color, then fire it up and play Jedi. Includes all the right sound effects when you start it up, swing it around, hit something, and shut it down. Fun for about 30 seconds at a time, but what the hell, it's
free.
Those are my picks. Got any suggestions for me?
