While not big on extra features, Recorder delivers on sound and stability.

Retronyms launched Recorder as the App Store first opened, so it's had a head start in refining the two most most important simple recorder traits: sound quality and stable operation. In both respects, Recorder notches ahead of the competition.

Recorder can't escape the noise inherent in all iPhone recordings, but its audio--available in two settings, with CD-quality AIFF as the highest--sounds just a bit clearer than most competitors. And while we didn't experience flawless operation from Recorder, the app performed solidly--better than most similar apps on average.

When it comes to features, Recorder aims for simplicity. With one-touch record, you can pause and then resume recording smoothly. Saved files are namable, but there are no category folders for organization. For the last, crucial feature--transferring audio to a computer--Recorder lets you email files of up to 10MB to any address or transfer larger items over a Wi-Fi network through a Web browser.