Best iphone apps/games?

[somunny]

Got an iphone a couple of days ago and was wondering what apps and games people could recommend.  I'm also planning on "jailbreaking" (I think that's the term) it so I can use third party stuff.

I'm pretty impressed with it so far.

[MustardTent]

Games:

Free:

Trace
Tower Defense
Cannon Challenge

Pay:
Vay (a port of the Sega CD original)
Solebon -- a great collection of solitaire games

Free utilities:

Sportacular -- sweet app that provides real-time updates of sporting events
AroundMe -- app that finds loads of stuff for you based on your location
Wikipanion -- great way to search wikis without using safari
Google Earth -- you know what this is

[somunny]

Thanks, MT.

Downloaded all the free apps and games you mentioned.

[patrickl]

If you want to install software, then why buy an iPhone at all? Why not get a proper smartphone with Windows Mobile or something.

[somunny]

If you want to install software, then why buy an iPhone at all? Why not get a proper smartphone with Windows Mobile or something.

I don't really care much for "proper" but thanks for the suggestion.

[patrickl]

Well proper as in "not shielded from being fully usable". To be honest most people who I know and who had a "proper" smartphone before their iPhone have switched back within a few months. So I guess it's "proper" in another sense too.

[somunny]

It's a fun toy for me, nothing more.  Besides, getting it to do stuff it's not supposed to do is part of the entertainment.

[polaris]

for what it is, i cant imagine better, its a joy to use.
glad you started this thread sommunny, hopefully we can continue to share as we learn stuff

[patrickl]

It's a fun toy for me, nothing more.  Besides, getting it to do stuff it's not supposed to do is part of the entertainment.

Indeed then you should be fine. It's mostly people who think it can replace a smartphone like you need for "professional use" who are disappointed.

[shmokes]

Well proper as in "not shielded from being fully usable". To be honest most people who I know and who had a "proper" smartphone before their iPhone have switched back within a few months. So I guess it's "proper" in another sense too.

Well . . . because Windows Mobile sucks to use as a phone and hardware built around Windows Mobile tends to be horribly flawed as well. 

[patrickl]

Well proper as in "not shielded from being fully usable". To be honest most people who I know and who had a "proper" smartphone before their iPhone have switched back within a few months. So I guess it's "proper" in another sense too.

Well . . . because Windows Mobile sucks to use as a phone and hardware built around Windows Mobile tends to be horribly flawed as well. 

Flawed as in "Doesn't match my purse"? 

Seriously though, I've never heard much complaints about WM smartphones having flawed hardware. Never experienced any myself either. As opposed to the iPhone overwhelming problems with it's poor reception, poor battery life, cracks in the housing and poor water proofing. Not to mention the flawed battery replacement scheme. I'm surprised the iPhone wasn't banned overhere since it's illegal to sell devices where you cannot remove the battery yourself.

Anyway, I'll leave your girls to it ...

[shmokes]

Well . . . the iPhone is very nicely designed, which is nice.  You don't want an ugly car or ugly clothes or an ugly wife or ugly ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- on your walls.  You surround yourself in beauty to the extent possible.  So it's not like the nice design is for nothing.  But there are plenty of pretty phone (LG's Prada phone, for example).  What really sets the iPhone apart is that the good design is far more than skin deep.  What makes the iPhone brilliant is it's user interface.  It just works . . . how it should (aside from ---smurfing--- copy and paste).  Wait till you see somebody zipping through their photo collection to show you a photo.  It's ---smurfing--- amazing.  And visual voicemail.  OMG . . . when you check voicemails on the iPhone it shows you . . . on the screen . . . each message and who it was from, just like email, and you can choose to listen to them (or not) in any order you want, and when you save them they are saved and sorted in the same way.  Just like email.  For anybody who hates voicemail (read: everyone) this is a godsend.

Simply put, there is a reason that the iPhone is a phenomenal success, and it's not just because Apple is fashionable at the moment (see AppleTV, for example).  It is a great device.

And I've got about six years of PocketPC/Windows Mobile phone use under my belt; I know what I'm talking about.  Actually, to be fair, I've never had an iPhone.  But I know lots of people with them and I've played with them a bit.

[patrickl]

Actually, to be fair, I've never had an iPhone.

Indeed.

[polaris]

Actually, to be fair, I've never had an iPhone.

Indeed.

have you ?

[patrickl]

Actually, to be fair, I've never had an iPhone.

Indeed.

have you ?

Well I didn't really want to respond (I think I have been obnoxious enough), but ...

My point was that people only realize after using it for a while that it's lacking (for professional users). I know many people who need a smartphone for their work. Some were crazy about the iPhone and how you can flick through pictures in a cool new way and that you can zoom on a webpage really cool with two fingers. They get one even after waiting in line for the overly hyped introduction at midnight. A week later they're done with the zippy photo browsing and they find that they don't really watch pictures on their iPhone, that needing to zoom in and out on a webpage is incredibly annoying, that the calendar software is lacking, that the e-mail software doesn't do what they expect of it, that there is no proper GPS navigation software for it and, in short, that they simply want a WM phone or Blackberry again. So they give their iPhone to their wife/gf and switch back.

I'm convinced that people who just want the iPhone as a gadget will be more than happy with it. Or that people who buy the iPhone as their first "smartphone" will be completely happy with it also. Apart from the aforementioned hardware defects of course.

[polaris]

yeah its horses for courses really isnt it, its not a mobile pc in many ways but its much more than one in other ways.
the GPS seems ok to me, it doesnt talk, but i prefer that

[MustardTent]

So, to get back on track - I'm very happy with the apps available -- the good ones are just a little hard to find.  The apple store isn't very helpful.  I've actually been visiting IGN for reviews of iPhone games.

[pointdablame]

Well I didn't really want to respond (I think I have been obnoxious enough), but ...

Yup, you certainly have been obnoxious enough....  I could try to refute some of the terrible information you have as someone who clearly hasn't owned an iPhone and seen it go through all the software updates its seen, but why bother.  You're a typical WinMo zealot who doesn't like to admit that their slow mobile OS is flawed as well, not to mention its lovely propensity to crash when you look at it wrong.

Enjoy your phone MustardTent.  It goes just lovely with my pink pumps and it just oh so pretty.  That's the only reason people buy it after all..

Some apps you have to try
- Pandora
- Fring
- Aurora Feint (great free puzzle game)
- Hanoi or Hanoi Plus (another great game -- one free, one pay)
- Tap Tap Revenge is sort of cool, there another one out now too (Tap Tap Dance?)
- eBay app
- Twinkle (if you use twitter)
- Facebook (if you use it)

I'll second the recommendations for Sportacular and Wikipanion as well.  Nice apps.

[shmokes]

have you ?

CNET = 4/5 stars
Engadget = "For our money, you're going to have a hard time finding a better device for two hundred bucks -- or maybe even for any price."
Gizmodo = "If you're not making your calls on an iPhone yet, well, what are you waiting for?"
USA Today = "Still not perfect, but really close"
PCMag = 4/5 stars

No . . . I don't own one.  But as I say, I know lots of people who do and I've played with them a bit.  Also . . . I read a lot.  

[Blanka]

The best iPhone is a good secretary 

[patrickl]

yeah its horses for courses really isnt it, its not a mobile pc in many ways but its much more than one in other ways.

Indeed. I've never said it's a bad phone. Just that there are different user groups and I was surprised to see that someone who loves installing software on his device opts for an iPhone. It didn't strike me as a logical choice since people who want to tinker with settings and software have a gazillion more options on a WM phone. But then indeed games or twitter apps are software too.

People talking about zealots should look in the mirror. I have no trouble switching OS when something better comes along. I switched from PalmOS to WM. Reluctantly at the time, but in hindsight I'm glad I did. The iPhone is competition for the Symbian based smartphones and indeed in that sector it's very popular. It's not really competing with WM or Blackberry phones. Each are catering to different markets by the very nature of the devices.

the GPS seems ok to me, it doesnt talk, but i prefer that

How would you use that while driving then though? Anyway, I'll bet it's matter of time before software like that is available. TomTom said they would put their software on an iPhone even before the 3G was introduced. Maybe they have something finished already.

[polaris]

have you ?

No . . . I don't own one.  But as I say, I know lots of people who do and I've played with them a bit.  Also . . . I read a lot. 

sorry fella that was aimed at patrick, he asked if you had one as you praise it, i asked if he had one, to be able to be so critical

patrick
i use gps more like reading a map, i pull over if i need to, not as easy as if it talked to me but im impressed nonetheless. but as you say im sure a limited voice one will become available, but i havent got a tom tom cos they really annoy me so i still probably wouldnt sacrifice memory space for it

[jfunk]

Replacement apps:
- SteadyCam (free version) - replaces the standard camera providing clearer pictures
- The Weather Channel - replaces weather

Other apps:
- Remote - free from Apple..  Let's you control iTunes via wifi on your pc..  GREAT if you have outdoor speakers hooked up to an inside system and want a good remote 
- Shazam
- iWant

Games:
- More Cowbell (still cracks me up)
- Labyrinth (just REALLY realistic - and you can create your own levels online, even in the free version)
- Space Deadbeef (not a lot there, yet, but lots of promise)
- Dice by MotionX (simple and useful)

Plus I second most of what's above.  Pandora is a MUST.  My wife and I stream Pandora over 3G while driving around town.  Internet radio in the car!!

[wp34]

WeatherBug
Facebook (must have if you use it)
Mobile News
iTV (TV Guide)
Pac Man Lite (was free at one time)
Now Playing (awesome movie app with links to showtimes and reviews.  Even ties to your GPS)
PuzzLoopFree (like Zuma)
reMovem Free (like Bubblet)

I'll weigh in on the religious debate:
I've used an iTouch for 6 months and Palm or WM for 10 years.  Like Patrickl I reluctantly moved from Palm to WM a few years ago and have been pleasantly surprised.  Recently I was ready to combine my PDA with my phone and really struggled with the decision after using the iTouch.  I think the iPhone/iTouch cannot be beat for web browsing.  In some ways the syncing with Exchange is better than WM.  But in the end I could not live without being able to create/edit Excel spreadsheeds, Outlook Tasks and specific 3rd party apps on WM.  The iPhone will not let you access the file structure which limits what you can do with it.

In the end I think it depends on what you want to use it for.  I carry a WM phone with me now and love it.  But I still use my iTouch around the house (via WiFi) to browse the web.  If it were not for a few specific "deal breakers" I would have been very happy with the iPhone.

[somunny]

Great suggestions so far.  I've also been downloading all mobile apps for my favorite sites.  ebay, digg, paypal, amazon, craigslist all have mobile versions which is nice.

[shmokes]

sorry fella that was aimed at patrick,

Ha.  LOL.  I knew it was aimed at patrick.  I actually meant to quote his post, not yours.   

[wp34]

Great suggestions so far.  I've also been downloading all mobile apps for my favorite sites.  ebay, digg, paypal, amazon, craigslist all have mobile versions which is nice.

Thanks for the tip on the craigslist app.  Did not know about that one. 

[pointdablame]

cnet has a very nice mobile site for iphone as well.

Labyrinth is a great suggestion!  I even have the full version and forgot about it.  Very fun game.

[pointdablame]

People talking about zealots should look in the mirror. I have no trouble switching OS when something better comes along.

I have no problems switching either.  I'm guessing this is your veiled attempt to cast me as a Apple fan that believes Mr. Jobs can do no wrong.  You're wrong.  I had a Blackjack before my iPhone and liked it well enough.  It was not perfect.  I much prefer my iPhone to it.

Unlike some folks however, I choose to make comparisons on things only after I've had actual experiences with them.

Also -- the iPhone is an excellent choice for those that like to tinker with their devices.  The App Store is great, but admittedly limiting in that regard.  Anyone that likes to tinker however, will have no problems jailbreaking their phone in 2 minutes and opening up a lot of options.

[somunny]

Also -- the iPhone is an excellent choice for those that like to tinker with their devices.  The App Store is great, but admittedly limiting in that regard.  Anyone that likes to tinker however, will have no problems jailbreaking their phone in 2 minutes and opening up a lot of options.

Something you've done? 

As for the tinkering...  I think it's in my blood. 

[pointdablame]

yes -- my iPhone is currently jailbroken.  It's a very, VERY easy process.

[somunny]

yes -- my iPhone is currently jailbroken.  It's a very, VERY easy process.

Seems easy enough from what I've read.  I like the look of the NES emulator.  That's what lead me to jailbreaking to begin with.

[pointdablame]

the NES emulator is pretty neat.  It works well enough and plays better than i thought it WOULD, but it's not perfect.  I keep it an a few games on my phone tho just in case the urge strikes me.  You definitely don't want to play NES games on it if you have other options though.

[somunny]

the NES emulator is pretty neat.  It works well enough and plays better than i thought it WOULD, but it's not perfect.  I keep it an a few games on my phone tho just in case the urge strikes me.  You definitely don't want to play NES games on it if you have other options though.

If I'm traveling I'd use my PSP for emulation and such.  Really it goes back to the tinkering and just getting it to work because it's out there. 

[somunny]

Not an app or a game but I thought I'd post this here.  I bought two of these cases and they're pretty damn nice for $2 each.  Two shipped for $10.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CJTE0K

edit*  Here's the manufacturer's page.  There seemed to be some disagreement among the buyers on Amazon as to whether this was leather or not.  According to this sit, it is.

http://luxmo.com/product.asp?id=4062&t=0

[Zero_Hour]

Jailbreaking is a whole mess of fun (first thing I did as soon as I got it home from AT&T), but mainly for themes, and 'hacks', such as some very useful UI tweaks that seem silly until you have a few dozen apps installed on the device. Not too many games on the jailbroken side of things beyond emulation, which I don't use personally. QuickPwn is your friend. 

My favorite free game currently is Topple (which was a paid app when it was first released)
Fav paid game is Trism, which is a cool bejewled-esque game, that takes advantage of the rotational function of the iPhone.

UrbanSpoon and AroundMe are good apps for finding food and other stuff.

Silly Apps that I'm very fond of:
Peanut Butter Jelly Time - particularly good for lightening the mood in meetings.
Zippo Lighter - Great for concerts, now that I've quite smoking
I can has Cheezburger - I admit it, lolcats amuse me.

I have a lot of fun with it.

Oh yeah, it's also indispensable for me at work. I have all of my email accounts (2 personal & 2 work-related) set up on it, and navigating between them is a cinch. It plays very nice with exchange servers, so my calendar is always synced. Safari allows me to navigate all my work related websites, including our IT departments trouble ticket interface. I can literally do 95% of my job now without ever having to set foot in my office.

I've used Palm Pilots, & Windows mobile devices in the past, but this is my first proper smartphone, and it will not be replaced anytime soon. It isn't perfect, but it's as close to it as any handheld device I've come across, for my purposes. The only real downside to it, and it does bear mentioning is battery life, running it wide open with wifi 3G/edge, and regularly using the device will suck the power dry rapidly. If you are unable to be near sources of power for long stretches, this phone will probably disappoint you in that regard.