iHandy Carpenter

Of course, we wouldn’t recommend using iHandy Carpenter for any major construction projects--and we’d toss out any contractor who tried to convince us of its benefits over an actual set of tools--but that doesn’t mean it won’t come through in a pinch. Accurate to one-tenth of a percent, iHandy utilizes the precision of the accelerometer to transform your handset into a makeshift level, plumb bob, protractor and steel ruler. iPhone’s curved edges and aerodynamics make for a tricky implementation of said tools, but it’ll do a bang-up job if you need something on your wall straightened.

Pocket God

As ruler of a small island nation of a seemingly unlimited amount of resilient, relentlessly good-natured pygmies, Pocket God takes advantage of every iPhone technology to put an arsenal of horrific situations at your fingertips. But it's the simplest ideas that work best, like tilting your phone to send your pygmy sliding into the water or shaking it to create an earthquake. And after your done torturing him, turn your iPhone upside down to put him out of his misery. Now if only there was a beehive in the coconut tree...

Dr. Awesome

It takes a steady hand and a keen eye to become the world’s most popular microsurgeon, and Dr. Awesome puts all of your skills to the test. A nice departure from the accelerator-based maze, puzzle and racing games that populate the App Store, your task as Dr. Awesome is to cut viruses and bacteria out of infected body tissue using iPhone’s accelerometer to deftly guide your scalpel. Who knew your iPhone could save lives, too?

Need for Speed Undercover

The absolute cream of the racing game crop, Need for Speed puts you in the driver’s seat of some of the world’s fastest cars, replete with all the drifting, nitrous boosts, speed breakers and customization from the best-selling console version. Immersive graphics, realistic rack-and-pinion steering and precise, high-performance handling make for a smooth ride in your whip--at least until the phone rings, anyway.

Dynolicious

We don’t exactly have access to a quarter-mile stretch of track to play with, but judging by our pitiful test results, we’re pretty sure our 175hp Nissan Altima isn’t the type of whip Dynolicious was designed for--but that doesn’t make us feel any less fast or furious while using it. By using iPhone’s accelerometer, Dynolicious is somehow able to measure your car’s G-forces to determine acceleration and vehicle performance. It might not stand up to the Racelogic’s Velocity Box, but at a $487 discount, we’re not complaining.

Rollercoaster Rush

The iPhone version of one of Digital Chocolate’s most famous games is pretty much what you’d expect: fun, challenging and addictive, but with one notable improvement: Instead of wildly tapping the screen to speed up or slow down your cart, DC has tapped into the power of the accelerometer to reduce the strain on your index finger and increase the control over each track. Simply tilt the phone forward to dart ahead and tilt back to hit the brakes. Believe us, it’s way more fun than it looks--and not nearly as easy as it sounds.