Your official iPhone App Guide

Since Apple released its iPhone and iPod Touch, a combined 37 million units have been sold, amazing people with their abilities: These personal devices have put Apple ahead of its competitors. The most amazing part of the iPhone and iPod Touch are their applications (applications, or “apps,” are software that can be downloaded directly to your device for a small, one–time fee). Given that there are 35 million apps that can be downloaded, it’s hard to know which are worth having on your device.  Here’s a list, in no particular order, of 10 apps that I recommend.

Classics – $2.99

Classics is a collection of 23 of the most popular books in the English language. Great for those who love to read or have time to spare.

Mint.com – FREE

Mint.com is a very useful app to manage your money, and all your bank accounts. It keeps track of your income, expenses and investments; it even notifies you of any changes to your account.

Spell Check – $0.99

Spell Check is a simple dictionary that helps you spell things correctly, for those in need of grammar help, or a definition.

iFitness – $1.99

iFitness is like having a personal trainer in your pocket, offering you hundreds of exercises. You can keep track of how much weight you’ve lost, or how much muscle you’ve gained. The exercises also come with detailed videos explaining how to perform each one.  There’s even a body chart to show you how to exercise a specific muscle. What else do you need?

TextFree Unlimited  – $5.99

With Textfree you can text anyone with a cell phone for free after a single payment of $6. It’s a great app for those not wanting to pay hundreds of dollars for all their texts. If you don’t want to pay the 6 bucks you can get even Textfree Lite which is free, but limits you to 15 texts a day.

Photogene – $2.99

Photogene is a simpler version of Photoshop for your handheld device. It helps fix or distort photos with just a touch, and it does a great job.

Undercover – $4.99

Have you ever wondered what you would do if your iPhone or iPod Touch was lost or stolen? Undercover can save you a panic attack because it locates your device wherever it might be. You create an account in the apps web site and you can log in any time and locate your device, simple as that!

Hysteria Project – $1.99

Hysteria Project is an independent app that has received a lot of praise for its originality. Hysteria is an interactive movie in which you are the main star.  Well, more like the guinea pig: you have been locked up in a shed in the woods by an axe murderer. As you escape and the killer chases you, you look for answers to such questions as “Who am I?  What am I doing here?  What is the killer after?”  Fun.

YP Mobile – FREE

Yellow Pages for your device is great: you can find anything with just a touch. It tells you the best places to eat, see a concert, an art show, or just a great place to hang out. It also helps you keep track of your plans, where you’ve been and where you’re going. If you have no idea where to go, this app will give you thousands of places you can check out.

Rock Band – $6.99

Rock Band is a rhyme tapping game similar to Rock Band for the Playstation system. For casual or more hardcore gamers this app is lots of fun, lets you tap to a collection of great songs. The app has a few cons, including the prize, but overall it’ll provide hours of fun.