101 Most Essential iPhone Apps of 2008

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101 Most Essential iPhone Apps of 2008

Posted 12/09/2008 at 12:56:46pm | by Mac|Life Staff

55. Galcon
Galcon reduces intergalactic conquest to its arithmetic essence: Breed, Kill, Win. Sounds simple enough, but expanding to the outer reaches of the solar system while eradicating your neighbors can be tricky.

54. Yelp
If you frequently travel to new places and hate asking random locals for restaurant recommendations, Yelp’s iPhone app can save your bacon. Mmmmm bacon.

53. Voice Changer
Voice Changer applies sound effects to audio recordings and might be relegated to the novelty category. Surprisingly, it actually has some practical use.

52. AstroTilt
This colorful version of Breakout lets you control your paddle with finger-swipes or by tilting the phone back and forth. Addictive arcade fun!

51. Camerabag
This $3 app is like having a bag of cameras at your disposal. Add photo effects to new pictures you take with your iPhone, or existing pics in your iPhone or iPod touch's photo library.

50. Soul Trapper: Episode One - Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!
This episodic game is an audio adventure--you get all your information through the headphones, and tap the screen to solve puzzles and advance the story. Props for its uniqueness and excellent voice acting.

49. iNetwork Speed Test
Check your network speed to make sure AT&T is holding up its part of the 3G deal.

48. SPiN - Super Shape Puzzle
SPiN - Super Shape Puzzle is not a game of wits. Its puzzles won’t make you smarter, and gameplay couldn’t possibly be any more repetitive. But crisp multi-touch integration and impressive 3D graphics make it a game that’s hard to put down.

47. Tetris
Tetris for the iPhone and iPod touch carefully stays true to its iron roots, while innovating enough to feel built for Apple's tactile platform. Finger swipes steer those rapidly falling blocks, and you need to assemble complete horizontal lines to make them disappear. The craft and care put into this version makes it easy to recommend to any puzzle player.

tivo
46. TiVo Mobile
TiVo owners can schedule their shows from their iPhone or iPod touch. You could do so before using Safari and TiVo's website, but it would slowly drive you insane. The new way is much better.

45. Fieldrunners
Fieldrunners follows the worn path of other tower-defense-style games, adding little new but matching those puzzles' addictive hook.

tris
44. Tris
Sadly, Tris was pulled from the App Store, probably because its name was too close to Tetris, but this free, light, perfect version is miles better than the official (unfree) Tetris that remains. We'll pour a few blocks on the curb for our homie Tris.

43. De Blob
De Blob is a fast-paced, cheerfully anarchic diversion with some real challenges under its cute hood.

42. Stanza
Who needs a Kindle when you have an iPhone or iPod touch and the app Stanza? With 40,000 free books, and 50,000 books for sale, Stanza will keep you busy until the end of time. Unless you break your glasses.

41. Intua BeatMaker
BeatMaker takes songwriters from start to finish, crafting sample-based music on an iPhone or iPod touch. Record and then edit patterns using drum hits and loops, then arrange, mix, and export songs.

40. NetShare
Pulled from the app store because it allowed tethering of the iPhone with a computer. For those lucky enough to have downloaded the app before it was pulled. it's a great utility. AT&T promises to have a tethering solution eventually. Of course, it's gonna cost you a pretty penny.

COMMENTS: 34

TAGS: App Store

COMMENTS

iQ Mobile Search
Submitted by nanotron on Tue, 2008-12-09 15:25

You might also want to try out iQ Mobile Search.

http://iqmobilesearch.com

Use iQ Mobile Search to search from a variety of today's most popular search providers and services.

Simply type in a search term and quickly choose from any of the services on the list.

iQ includes country support for Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.

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BigOven 160,000+ Recipes
Submitted by stevemur on Tue, 2008-12-09 16:14

Hope you get a chance to consider our app, BigOven 160,000+, for the next roundup.

It just passed 1 million downloads in the first 90 days since release, and is by far the most popular cooking-related app for the iPhone. It lets you look up recipes from the grocery store, your kitchen... anywhere. Search by ingredient, title, or keyword. Also includes a 1,000+ entry food dictionary. All free. Happy cooking!

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Tetris...
Submitted by Ray Aguilera on Tue, 2008-12-09 20:10

If only EA would have not had 132 different splash screens before the game starts. It usually takes longer to load than than the few-minutes long window I would have liked to have spent actually playing Tetris.
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Tris
Submitted by jiubreyn on Thu, 2008-12-25 03:53

I wonder if they'll bring Tris back under a different name....I know it's been ages already, perhaps it's just wishful thinking.

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Who Edits This Stuff?
Submitted by jbtipton on Wed, 2008-12-10 09:16

"How did your favorite app fair, f-a-i-r????"Was this written by a twelve year old?Who's editing this stuff?Is there anyone on the staff who has completed a basic English course at an accredited institution?There's more to life than spell check, kids!For the record, in this context, it should be spelled fare.

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Tell Them How You REALLY Feel...
Submitted by jiubreyn on Thu, 2008-12-25 03:51

101 fantastic applications and you are worried about one typographical error?

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y'all rock! (but don't speel very weel)
Submitted by spike on Wed, 2008-12-10 12:06

i have not even made it through the list yet, and i love it already. the life-sized images of the apps make taking i the information a breeze, and i the last tenth of the list i already see several apps i want to check out. great job! (but, it is 'fare' not 'fair'. thanks.)
(also, in app #101, ned apparently "needs" a spell check.)

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sometimes you ned some nostalgia
Submitted by Roberto Baldwin on Thu, 2008-12-11 16:50

Maybe I was talking about Flanders? Okay, I wasn't...

-Robbie
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Beam, or Fliq, Notes, Photos and Contacts for Free
Submitted by fliqmania on Wed, 2008-12-10 13:43

Mark/Space, creator of The Missing Sync, has two free applications for the iPhone and iPod touch that let users send and receive - or beam, or 'fliq' - notes, photos and contacts on a shared network. Search for Fliq on the App Store or goto Mark/Space website

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i.tv missing movies and accuracy.
Submitted by Old John on Fri, 2008-12-12 10:44

i.tv looked great. But it failed to post accurate movie data for the Chicago area. It was notified, and nothing happened.

It never did post the movie Australia at least during the time I had it on my ipod. And, it did not post accurate times for other movies I was interested in.

I lost trust and patience with this app and took it off my ipod.

thank you,

Old John

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My Favs
Submitted by brenthotchkiss on Thu, 2009-01-01 12:43

I can't live without More Cowbell! LOL Also, love Shazam! Priceless! WikiMe is great! Amazon Mobile very cool. I've also made some other good finds on http://www.igoapps.com/search/do_search/popular_all/13/2/1/none

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great preschool app
Submitted by happymom on Thu, 2009-01-01 22:28

I guess essential depends on the age of the user. My son would consider preschool iphone apps as essential, especially while waiting at a busy restaurant. His favorite kid app is Preschool Pals- Henry & Hailey. It is really cute. Fun characters that are very well drawn.

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Another app
Submitted by Zharko on Thu, 2009-01-29 09:46

I also find the Storyz app (www.storyz.com) quite usefull.

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101 Most Essential iPhone Apps of 2008
Submitted by TotalControl on Sun, 2009-03-15 17:49

Great article; wished that the App prices were included in the list so that we don't have to click on the ones we're interested in to obtain more information.

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Ringtone Recorder App
Submitted by mkmooresr on Tue, 2009-03-17 17:32

I thought this was so cool. You can record a voice, or song, or anything you want, then the phone will send the recording as an M4A file so you can just click, drag, and drop it in iTunes to use as a ringer. SWEET!!!

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Free Downloads!
Submitted by Combi on Sat, 2009-04-25 12:51

Hey, great list! I recommend SimCity ;) you can download them at http://VonHelp.com for free...

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i like these
Submitted by alex.bnr on Wed, 2009-05-13 12:59

Great list of great apps.
It's really interesting review and it can help choose one of billion apps for iPhone or iPod.
BTW, iPhone is a good stuff for developers either =)
I hope, we'll see more reviews like that one. ;)

Thanks to author

notepc lcdtv smartphones and cell outdoor sign

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Just more proof...
Submitted by Adult-Toys on Mon, 2009-09-14 22:11

That I need to learn how to program iphone apps.

Adult Toys

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These nagivations from the
Submitted by maiems on Tue, 2009-09-22 21:57

These nagivations from the students are very helpful and really an interesting share too. Thesis
Regards,

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That golfing app looks
Submitted by BabyCots on Thu, 2009-09-24 09:46

That golfing app looks sick!

Baby Cot Mattress

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OMG I can't wait that long!
Submitted by hurem on Wed, 2009-10-14 00:05

OMG I can't wait that long! I will but I've already been waiting 2 years for this version. I have a RAZR for Pete's sake. I hope this isn't true. Don't let me down Apple...
we provide more beauty tips through Korsetter to provide an application in these latest I-phones.
---- Mark Braing

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Nice apps...
Submitted by lora.a on Fri, 2009-10-09 17:21

Wish there was an app for hobbyist like me who go fly fishing... i could practice it on my phone before doing it in real...
dry skin | adult acne

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niiice
Submitted by milkyglass on Thu, 2009-10-15 20:14

Those are some pretty cool apps. Gotta get the new iphone!
Fetal Dopplers
digital fetal doppler

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Wow, it just hard to believe
Submitted by KirkT on Mon, 2009-10-19 01:43

.

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Wow, it is just hard to
Submitted by KirkT on Mon, 2009-10-19 01:46

Wow, it is just hard to believe how many applications are now available at the iPhone app store. I think that Apple made one of the most controversial technical gadgets in the world. Iphone is a real breakthrough in the modern technology. Few years ago I hadn't believe that one day we will have such a powerful phone and will be able to use it. Thanks for you post and for some applications that you have highlighted, because I didn't have them. But I will definitely download and try them. Thanks for the great article one more time and I will be looking for other great ones from you!

Sincerely,

iphone application development

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Favorite toys
Submitted by fjmintes on Fri, 2009-10-23 10:44

AAA! Favorite toys I see in the list! I love iPhone!
family essays

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Good ones
Submitted by alphat on Wed, 2009-10-28 07:59

Just downloaded some to try.They are great!
Can try these cheap electric wheelchairs and used stair lifts

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i was there was an app that
Submitted by lora.a on Wed, 2009-11-04 21:29

i was there was an app that could track my pregnancy as i just had a ligation reversal done...

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omega watches
Submitted by benet (not verified) on Tue, 2009-11-10 18:32

Every little chat Salon 1000 ah!replica watchYou are my best's buddy
25tfd

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omega watches
Submitted by benet (not verified) on Tue, 2009-11-10 18:38

Every little chat Salon 1000 ah!replica watchYou are my best's buddy
3wr

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omega watches
Submitted by benet (not verified) on Tue, 2009-11-10 18:47

Every little chat Salon 1000 ah!replica watchYou are my best's buddy
hsfwe

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thank you ar..isd
Submitted by ammarvvip (not verified) on Wed, 2009-11-11 08:36

thank you ar..isd nice
شات صوتي, دردشه صوتيه, شات مصريه, شات دردشة دردشه دردشة موبايل شات دردشه

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nice!
Submitted by lovestar on Sat, 2009-11-28 04:45

شات دردشه شات كويتي دردشه كويتيه ، شات كويت60 شات كازنوفا شات سعودي شاات مصريه شات كويت25

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