101 Most Essential iPhone Apps of 2008
Posted 12/09/2008 at 11:56am
| 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.

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.

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.