The Top 10 iPhone Applications from February 2009

Hello, and welcome to the second installment of iWant, iNeed, iRecommend. This is a monthly series that will, simply put, talk briefly and present the top ten iPhone and iPod Touch applications from that month. At the end of the year, the 120 mentioned applications will then go head to head to see which apps become the top ten for the year. If you want to read my post about the top ten iPhone apps from 2008, please visit it here. Or, if you would like to read my previous top-10 lists, please visit them here. While this list is subjective (as are all top ten lists), I did my best to base this on actual use, not my own opinion.
Enjoy.




10: Most Wanted
Most Wanted is an interesting application. Unlike most applications, which require user input, this one is simply a database of information for you. As its name implies, it is a list of the FBI’s most wanted criminals and the most wanted terrorists. It also has a list of missing children, along with their respective photographs. You can submit a tip or just browse the lists. This is an important application for the iPhone, as it could help to solve cases that might otherwise be left cold. You can get Most Wanted for free.

9: iHistory
Imagine having history in the palm of your hand! Well, more specifically, on the screen of your iPhone. That is what iHistory is trying to do, and they are currently doing a good job of it. Though there is not nearly as much information as I would like to see, they have plans to add much, much more history to this application. Imagine being able to see the history of your city, while you were walking around it. iHistory can be yours for $1.99.

8: Jules Verne Masterpieces Collection
When I was much younger, I loved to travel the world, and the solar system, through the pages of Jules Verne. He would take me under the ocean, to the moon, and even to the center of the Earth itself. His novels moved me and inspired me greatly. The Masterpieces Collection is a grouping of his greatest novels, in e-book format, and is readable on your iPhone and iPod Touch. These are all great reads, and classic texts. You can get Jules Verne Masterpieces Collection for $1.99 from the apple store.

7: March Madness
It is time for the big dance, so let’s start the gambling. Actually, don’t start betting, as it is illegal to bet on college sports. Let’s just do the brackets for the bragging rights. March Madness is a piece of software for you iPhone or iPod Touch that allows you to access and create a bracket for the upcoming tournament. Featuring auto complete, enhanced zooming, and automatic score keeping, this application is perfect for your office poll. You can get March Madness for free.

6: Pocket Bracket
March Madness is almost here, and it is time to start making your brackets. I found that there were two great applications for the dance in the APP store, and found that they were both roughly equal. Like March Madness, Pocket Bracket allows you to auto-complete, auto-update, and generally form a good bracket. The advantage that Pocket Bracket has is the fact that it can support multiple brackets as though it was a poll, and keeps stuff online as well. You can get Pocket Bracket for $.99.

5: Nano
I will be reviewing Nano in the near future. Please check back on my writer’s page to see the review.

Nano is a very interesting application. I am not sure if it is a game or a meditation device, but I liked it either way. Basically, you direct streams of ions to receivers, trying to get only the good ones (cool colors) in, while keeping the bad ones (hot colors) out. In the background, a random music plays; it is created by how you play and what is streaming into the receivers at any given moment. To me, this was a really relaxing game, and I think that you will all enjoy it. You can get Nano for $.99 in the app store.

4: 3 and 4 card PRO
I have reviewed both 3 Card PRO and 4 Card PRO, check them both out.

Poker, that is what Avalinx has been doing in their PRO series, and that is what they will keep on doing. And why should they change? After all, they keep putting out amazing games that are perfect. This is my third top-10 list, and on everyone so far one of the PRO games has been included. These games are well designed, well implemented, and quite stunning. Basically, if you want to see what a perfect template for a game is, look no further than the PRO series from Avalinx. Both games will set you back $4.99.

3: All of the GO/Find/Locator Applications
You are in a strange city and have no idea where anything is. What if you need a doctor? What about the nearest police station? Hell, what if you need your 7/11 fix right this minute. No matter what you are looking for, Active Guru has an application that can find you the closest one by using your iPhone GPS. From your nearest pub to the nearest Burger Kind, the nearest hospital to the nearest vet, there is an application that will find you exactly where you need to go. The GO/Find/Locator applications will set you back either $.99 or $1.99, depending on which one you get.

2: Travel Help!
Following the lost theme from number three, what should you do if you are lost in another country? Do you know the proper emergency number (911 in the US, 999 in the UK) to call? What if you lost your passport, do you know how to contact the embassy? Rest assured, if you have your iPhone and the Travel Help! Application you are covered. Storing important phone numbers, websites, and other information you can easily access over 260 countries worth of emergency contacts. Likewise, you can also store additional information (coast guard data, auto services, etc.) that you add on. This application is essential for any world traveler. Travel Help! Will cost you $1.99 but is easily worth it.

And the #1 application of February 2009 is…
1: Smack Me
I will be reviewing Smack Me in the near future, please check back on my writer’s page to see the review.

I can not say enough about Smack Me. This is one of the best games I have ever played on my iPhone and is quickly becoming my favorite application of the year (sorry PRO series). The game is just like bob-it, but on the phone. Utilizing multi-touch, the accelerator, and just simple touch (one finger) the game uses anything you can do to your phone. Pinch it, smack it, freeze it, lift it; the game has everything possible. This is easily one of the most addictive games out there, on any platform, and one that you will love immensely. When I first got it, I didn’t put it down for an hour or two. The $1.99 that you will be spending on Smack Me is well worth it, and I recommend that you get it today.