Apple says that the 2 billionth app was downloaded from the App Store on September 28, 2009. To that, we of the Mac|Life staff rejoin that we’re responsible for sucking down at least a couple hundred of that oh-so-impressive number. Without further ado, we name our very favorite regular apps and game apps of 2009.
Editorial Director
Epicurious: Food and Drink: This free app iPhonizes all the fancy, world-class recipes found in the Epicurious.com database, which in turn pulls all its content from Condé Naste’s excellent food magazines. Search for recipes by ingredient, cuisine, meal type, and more. With pictures and user reviews of recipes, it’s become my essential kitchen companion.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour: As my coworkers can attest, I had been waiting not-so-patiently for EA to release an iPhone/touch version of Tiger Woods. The game finally arrived in May and immediately proved my assertion that a really good golf game would have the potential to be the best iPhone game ever. Great graphics, features galore, effective touch controls. Sublime.
Art Director
MyPantone: Considering the price of Pantone swatch books, this app is a steal at $9.99. Cool features include virtual swatch books of every Pantone color library, the ability to share custom palettes with friends, and a tool that extracts color palettes from camera images. It’s a wonderful mobile reference tool for designers. After all, inspiration is a 24-7 affair.
Scrabble: I’m not a gamer, but apparently I’ve become famous around the Mac|Life office for making up my own words (I am still trying to convince Jon that “horsey” is a generally accepted design term). Scrabble is the ultimate word game, and it transfers very well to the small screen. The only drawback? It doesn’t always accept “Robin speak.”
Reviews Editor
iRentMovie: For anyone who uses a TiVo or a game console to stream Netflix content to his or her TV, a good iPhone app is mandatory. Streaming devices can’t browse Netflix or add titles to your Queue, but iRentMovie can manage both your Disc and Instant Queues, turning your Apple handheld into a perfect Netflix companion.
Peggle: Part pinball, part psychedelic pachinko machine, and perfect for touchscreen devices. The goal is to clear all the orange pegs before you run out of shots. It’s the simplest game imaginable, but creative bonuses, great graphics, and a challenging physics engine make it a game that I play compulsively.
Senior Editor
ToDo: A great task-list app is what makes my iPhone more tool than toy, and ToDo keeps me more or less on point, without taking up a lot of my time to actually manage the lists. Wireless syncing with online taskmasters Toodledo and Remember The Milk earn ToDo a coveted spot on my Home screen.
Strategery: Risk is a fun game, but usually takes hours and involves a lot of bad fake accents. Strategery is mini-Risk on the iPhone or touch, can be played against friends passing one device around, and is short enough for a commercial (or bathroom) break.
Online Editor
Analytics App: If you’re the owner of any website that actually has a following, Google Analytics is a great free tool with which to track user traffic. Accordingly, the Analytics App is a fantastic tool for viewing Google Analytics reports while on the road or for when you don’t feel like signing into Google’s own interface.
TowerMadness: 3D Tower Defense: If you’re a fan of Tower Defense games, do yourself a huge favor and check out TowerMadness. Defend your sheep against marauding aliens with an impressive battery of cannons and defensive weapons. Add some slick 3D graphics, and you have an addicting game that’s always on my screen while my wife shops.
Managing Editor
Stanza: A free e-reader that offers 50,000 free books to choose from, as well as an impressive selection of best-sellers to purchase. Stanza’s online retailers can’t compete with the prices Amazon offers for the Kindle, but if you don’t already own a Kindle, this app is the e-reader to have.
Chicktionary: This game invites you to unscramble letters to make as many words of varying lengths as you can, all while battling the clock. I love word games and this one’s a challenge that I can’t seem to stay away from. Plus, it has cute chickens.
