With a myriad array of applications spanning to nearly the 100,000 mark, it can get a bit overwhelming to find a legitimate application without procuring a dud. Very surprisingly, there are great apps out there that are perfectly free. This review will cover both the free and paid apps covering the major categories of: Lifestyle, Productivity, Social Networking, Photography, and Games.
Category: Iifestyle
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AroundMe
Version: 3.1.0
1.8 MB
Free
A very useful app that pinpoints your location and displays a category of all types of services: banks, coffee, gas stations, restaurants, and much more. After locating what you need, it will show you how far away you are and displays them on a map. The best part of this app is that its free!
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Tipulator
Version: 2.4
0.4 MB
$1.99
Be in the social limelight when you bust out this app the moment your party needs to figure out how much tip to leave. A simple and easy to use interface makes this a great app.
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Epicurious
Version: 1.0.1
3.2 MB
Free
This is an iPhone app that contains popular recipes with over 25,000 delicious, professionally tested dishes. With step by step, easy to follow recipes, this makes for a great app.
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Urbanspoon
Version: 1.11
0.6 MB
Free
Don’t know where to eat? Urbanspoon uses a slot machine interface to randomize restaurants in your vicinity based on the filters you set: location, type of food, and price. Another must have free app.
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Yelp
Version: 3.0.0
3.0 MB
Free
The restaurant review giant gets an iphone app and it works great on the iPhone. A picture of the restaurant, the location with a map, price range, and review of the place are all included in this app. They even included a feature to search for services nearby.
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Pandora Radio
Version: 2.0.2
0.5 MB
Free
Pandora Radio is a free internet radio service that lets you personalize your playlist with a very acute similar / recommendation list of music. Based on how you review each artist and song, Pandora will continue to suggest artists of the similar genre. Easily one of the must have apps on the iPhone.
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Shazam
Version: 1.7
0.6 MB
Free
Shazam is a free must-have app that will decipher any unknown song for you. Let Shazam listen to the song for about 30 seconds and it will come up with the name of the song, the artist, the option to buy it on the iTunes store, watch it on youtube, tweet about it, tag the location where you heard it, and even email it. There’s no reason not to have this app!
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I am T-Pain
Version: 1.0
6.2 MB
$2.99
Finally, an app that gives me what I’ve been always wanting: An Autotune (sarcasm). “I am t-pain” works surprisingly well filtering your voice through an Autotune feature. Rarely does something come along that creates a social epidemic but I am going to make a hypothesis that this app will certainly create a widespread pandemonium resulting in everyone and their moms having this and playing out the Autotune movement even more. Good thing is, just like T-Pain, this app will grant you a singing voice that innately you don’t possess.
Other Recommended Lifestyle Applications
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Category: Productivity
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Air Sharing
Version: 1.1.4
1.9 MB
$4.99
If you don’t have a USB flash drive on you then Air Sharing is your app. Air Sharing lets you drag-drop files onto your iPhone and computer, acting as a portable USB flash drive. Connecting to your computer is effortlessly via a Wi-Fi connection. Being able to open and view files, Air Sharing is the convenient substitute for transferring files and documents.
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Quickoffice Mobile Office Suite
Version: 1.4.1
12.1 MB
$9.99
For those who need to do work while away, you can open and edit Microsoft word and excel files on your iPhone. You can also transfer desktop files via Wi-Fi in addition to being able to email files directly from your iPhone.
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Wikipanion
Version: 1.5.5
1.1 MB
$4.99
Wikipanion provides the content of Wikipedia with the accessibility of an iPhone. Works and feels exactly like their online counterpart, Wikipanion is a great app for those in need of knowledge. Also comes in a free version that doesn’t include some of the extra features.
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Dictionary.com
Version: 1.0.1
35.6 MB
Free
Taken from their description on the iTunes marketplace: "The Dictionary.com app delivers world-class reference content from Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com including more than 275,000 definitions and 80,000 synonyms. No internet connection is required” You can’t argue with that.
Category: Social Networking
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BeejiveIM 3.0 with Push
Version: 3.0.2
3.1 MB
$9.99
Looking for an app that combines all of the instant messesging application? BeejiveIM is the answer to your worries. Works simultaneously with AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Googletalk, Facebook IM, ICQ, Jabber, and Myspace IM, Beejive pushes your messages in real time through an existing data plan or wifi connection. BeejiveIM doesn’t skimp on the features by allowing you to manage your buddy-list, set your status, emoticons support, plus more. Being connected to your instant messaging friends has never been easier!
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Boxcar - Twitter Push Notifications
Version: 1.1
0.9 MB
$2.99
If you use some form of Twitter on your iPhone then Boxcar is going to be your friend! Boxcar constantly checks and sends you a notification immediately anytime you get mentioned or someone sends you a direct message. Works great with Tweetie, Twitterrific, Twitterfon (lite and pro), Twittelator or Twinkile. Great app that I highly recommend for any iPhone user using Twitter. Update: the newest version of Boxcar will also push facebook, and email notifications.
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Facebook
Version: 3.02
1.3 MB
Free
This app just makes sense for anyone that uses facebook. A great app that looks and feels just like facebook. This free app allows you to get newsfeeds, notifications, status updates, upload images and videos, search your friends list, access your inbox, sign on to facebook chat, and so much more. This app is a perfect expample of how a mobile app should not take away from the aesthetics, functionally, and feel of its online counterpart.
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Ping!
Version: 1.0
1.8 MB
Free
For those that don’t have an unlimited text plan then this application is for you. Ping! is the free Iphone-to-Iphone messaging that has no monthly cost, no roaming charges, faster delivery, and works with the Ipod touch. Create your own unique ID and get ready to start texting for free but hurry because this app won’t be free for long!
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Tweetie
Version: 1.3.2
0.7 MB
$2.99
From the description provided on iTunes, “Tweetie is a fast, full-featured twitter client for iPhone and Ipod touch. It offers everythign you’d expect - from your timeline to trends - all with an incredibly polished user interface, fantastic performance, and nparalledled ease-of-use.” This app is the one that I use for Twitter on my iphone but it is all personal preference. All of the other twitter based apps do a majority of the same things.
Other Recommended Twitter Applications
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Category: Photography
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Camerabag
Version: 1.5.2
0.2 MB
$1.99
A fun application that allows you to filter your pictures through their many lenses. You can take a new photo or choose one from your library. From there you can quickly switch between Camerabag’s filters to view your photo in many styles. Styles include: Helga, Magazine, 1974, 1962, Infrared, Fisheye, plus many more.
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Pano
Version: 3.2
1.6 MB
$2.99
Pano allows you to take panoramic pictures with your iPhone. Combine two or more pictures to create a seemless panoramic with ease. Advanced alignment, blending, and color-correction algorithms makes a perfect panoramic picture that can easily be saved to your image library. A simple and easy-to-use interface makes this application great!
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Photogene
Version: 2.1
1.2 MB
$2.99
Think of this app as a simple version of photoshop for the iPhone. You can crop, sharpen, adjust brightness and saturation, rotate and mirror the image, resize, add text bubbles, and much more. Required for everyone that uses their iPhone camera frequently.
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’stachetastic
Version: 3.0
4.3 MB
$1.99
This app is a fun app that can create a mustache on any unsuspecting person. Makes for a few laughs especially seeing mustaches on kids.
Other Recommended Photography Applications
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Category: Games
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Scrabble
Version: 1.2.34
9.3 MB
$4.99
A classic game that doesn’t need an introduction. The best part of this version of Scrabble is that you can challenge your friends on facebook on your iPhone!
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Paper Toss
Version: 1.1
5.5 MB
Free
Papertoss is a simple yet highly addicting game that takes place in the confinements of your office cubicle. The premesis of the game is to sucessfully sink a balled-up piece of paper into the trash can all while a fan is blowing your paper off course. The best part of this game is that it’s free!
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Wordfu
Version: 1.3
18.6 MB
$0.99
If you like word games, such as scrabble, then Wordfu will capture your interest in the same way. Given 9 letters, you have 45 seconds to create as many words as possible with power-up for adding to the game play. Wordfu is a quick fun game that doesn’t take much time to invest.
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Doodle Jump
Version: 1.6
4.3 MB
$0.99
Prior to purchase this game warns that it is “insanely addictive!” I concur. A highly addictive game that requires very little of your time, Doodle Jump has your little character progress to the top while avoiding doom and receiving power-ups on the way up. Awesome game!
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Crayon Physics Deluxe
Version: 1.0.2
9.8 MB
$4.99
Crayon Physics is a creative game that allows you to draw any object to achieve your goal of getting the ball to touch the star. With the completion of each stage causes the task to get harder with the addition of more contraptions and more stars. A recommended game that makes you think outside the box.
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Fieldsrunners
Version: 1.2.3
9.6 MB
$2.99
Winner of “Best Mobile Game” and “Excellence in Art” awards, Fieldrunners is an addicting Tower Defense game. The point of this game is to deploy an array of tower armed with various defenses to repel an army of marching units. The strategies that you must empoy is what makes this game very enjoyable. There is also a very high replay value for every victory will unlock a new mode of play.
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Vanguard Storms
Version: 1.0.1
45.4 MB
$4.99
From the creators of Final Fantasy comes another great RPG just for the iPhone. An epic “defensive simulation”, Vanguard Storms requires you to protect your grounds with unique characters while the enemies ranks march on your position. Character comes from the Final Fantasy series, each with their individual traits. A fun RPG worth checking out.
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I love Katamari
Version: 1.0.3
84.2 MB
$7.99
One of the most creative games to come out of this decade, roll the Katamari ball to pick up objects from pencils to plates, to eventually animals, to people and buildings! With every level requires you to pick up bigger and greater items until your king is satisfied. The iPhone is the perfect platform for a game that requires you to tilt the device to roll the Katamari Ball. Very addicting!
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Metal Gear Solid Touch (US)
Version: 2.1.0
138 MB
$7.99
The Apple market place has many third-party games but when an official gaming developers such as Konami creates a game from one of their franchises, then the results are top notch. This is a great example of a game utilizing the full potentional of the iPhone. Intuitive touch-shooting controls allows just about anyone to jump in an enjoy the game. Even though this game is made for the iPhone, it feels exactly like how a Metal Gear Solid game should feel.
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Time Crisis Strike
Version: 1.0.1
23.4 MB
$5.99
By far one of the best games on the iphone. Those familiar with the Time Crisis franchise knows that there is a pedal that allows the player to take cover and reload their weapon. The iPhone version achieves the same feel by allowing the player to take cover and reload every time the user tilts the iPhone! This is one game that translates over perfectly to a mobile version.
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Resident Evil 4
Version: 1.0
37.3 MB
$2.99
If you are a fan of Resident Evil 4 then you will like this. Capcom keeps true to their roots by making this game feel exactly like the original game without the story. Purely a FPS, this game puts you in the center of all of action scenes with all of the familiar monsters and weapons. Upgrades for your weapons are also included in this game. Easily one of the best games for the iPhone.
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Madden NFL 10
Version: 1.0.0
102 MB
$9.99
For all of you sports fans out there this is the game for you. With great graphics, Madden utilizes the intuitive touch screen to control your players as well as draw your very own pass routes. This game features multiplayer mode and the ability to Roster updates and authentic throwback jerseys.
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Blades of Fury
Version: 1.0.6
126 MB
$6.99
Blades of Fury is a “Soul Calibur” clone but that doesn’t necessary mean its a bad thing. Gameloft S.A. is known for their clone games and they have gotten very good at it. Blades of Fury contains 10 characters all with their own unique weapon and stages. Great 3D graphics and easy controls combine with the possible Wi-Fi battles renders this game to be a very fun and worthwhile purchase.
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Modern Combat: Sandstorm
Version: 1.0.7
185 MB
$6.99
A first person shooter that resembles the very popular Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Featuring 10 missions, Modern Combat: Sandstorm is a very rich game with a wide range of weapons, levels, and enemies. If you like playing FPS on the iPhone, then this game is for you.
Other Recommended Games
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As new apps are being added to the app store on a daily basis, I will attempt to review them and post them in the Daily section. Also, I am always interested in hearing about great apps that I missed in this review. Enjoy!
- Abe
This post is tagged 3.0, 3gs, Apple, Applications, Apps, Games, iphone, iTunes
4 Comments
Check out the Dropbox app. It’s a good replacement for Air Sharing with the added advantage of 2-way sync with folders on your computer.
Nice! Now i don’t have to message you with what apps I should get. =D thanks abe!
Thanks Derek, I’ll be sure to look into it.
Epic post. Good job Abe, this musta took a long time!
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