This guest post was written by Alex Ahlund, founder of AppVee.
We are just past of a year since the App Store launched and there are more than 60,000 applications released for the iPhone and iPod Touch. When we wrote our 2008 year-end app wrap-up, we had just surpassed the 10,000 app milestone. In early June 2009, the store reached 50,000 apps. At present, we are looking at a staggering 300 new applications being released every single day. How does the average iPhone user find the gems in this deluge?
Unfortunately, the process is entirely overwhelming for the average iPhone user. The bulk of consumers use iTunes’ Top and front page listings. Since placement on the top lists is derived entirely from unit sales, there is a disturbing skew towards the $.99 applications. This not only discourages big developers from putting high budgets and serious resources towards development of really useful applications and games, but also does a disservice to us, as iPhone users. If all we see are ninety-nine cent gimmicks and toys, how will we realize the true potential of our device? Apple attempts to offset this with editor’s picks, but this simply isn’t enough to make sense of the App Store.
There are new third party services and tools coming onto the scene to help show how to best navigate the App Store. AppVee has been doing in-depth reviews of applications since the launch of the App Store and will soon celebrate our one-year anniversary with nearly 1,000 video reviews of the top applications. We’re often asked if we are overwhelmed with the number of applications currently released and the number we are capable of covering. The answer is no. 90% of apps currently out there are of no use to anyone. There are a massive number of clones, one-off gimmicks, volumes of books and reference material, and a never-ending supply of uninteresting games. So, we try to act as a filter for consumers, directing them to what is worth their time and money.
The following is a round-up of our top picks so far this year:
Most practical
A fantastic alternative to Pandora, which carries a larger catalog and offers Premium accounts that offers something we’ve always loathed about Pandora – unlimited song skips. (Similar: Pandora, WunderRadio, Last.fm)
2. Hey Where Are You
A beautifully simple application that takes advantage of Push Notification, by letting users ask and answer the question “Hey, Where Are You?” (Similar: Loopt)
3. Textfree Unlimited
Currently the best alternative to high SMS plan costs, offering free text messaging using Push Notification.
4. Bento
Create simple databases to store information about every aspect of your life.
5. TweetDeck
Our new, favorite Twitter client that takes advantage of the same layout as its desktop counterpart – multiple columns, separation of user groups, and more. (Similar: Tweetie, Twinkle, TwitterFON)
6. Print and Share
Print files, emails, web pages, contacts, images and even snapshots direct from your camera, straight to your home printer. Simple setup and works perfectly.
7. Flight Tracker
Watch flights in real-time and get up-to-the-minute arrival and departure times. This has saved me countless delayed pick-ups from the airport.
8. Read It Later
Store any web page for offline reading or to mark as a reminder to read. A bit tricky to setup at first, but it will quickly replace bookmarking for articles.
9. iEmoji
Activate emoticons in your keyboard to include in emails and text messages. Works only for iPhones, but the end reader does not need the app to see emoticons in your texts.
10. Birthday Reminder
Rarely check Facebook to see upcoming birthdays? This app downloads all of that information so you can access and easily see upcoming bdays offline.
11. Mover
Swap contacts and photos with other iPhones in an easy way. Requires both users to have the application, but it is free and quick to download. (Similar: Bump)
12. Simplify Music 2
Listen to your entire music library from your home computer, streamed quickly and without any lag. (Similar: Simply Music, imeem)
13. Cell Minute Tracker
We prefer Cell Minute Tracker to AT&T’s minute tracker any day. Much simpler, easy to navigate and much faster.
14. QuickOffice
Edit Word and Excel documents on the go.
15. Photogene
There are a multitude of photo editing apps out there, but you really only need one. Crop, rotate, adjust colors, and add filters with Photogene. (Similar: Camera Bag)
16. Skype
Superb quality Skype-to-Skype over WiFi using the Skype application. Finally be free of your computer and microphone to make those long distance calls. (Similar: Truphone)
17. Kindle
Skeptical at first, but found eBook reader surprisingly easy on the eyes and good for taking in a quick chapter. Offers plenty of free content, but won’t be replacing your physical Kindle.
18. Beejive IM 3.0
We mentioned this on last year’s roundup, but it deems reiteration. So far, the best multi-IM service client on the iPhone, now with Push Notification. AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, and more.
19. Redlaser
Extremely reluctant to include this on the list, but it does deserve a bottom slot. Scan UPC codes for price comparisons on the go, but wait for an update for improved scanning and database.
Best Games
20. Real Racing
Standard track based racing game, but has the best graphics on an iPhone game to-date. Worth it alone to see what the iPhone is capable of.
21. Sims 3
Slightly watered down Sims 3, but still an excellent version on the go. Fantastic graphics and runs well.
22. My Brute
Create a fighter and compete in daily arena matches. Very simplistic, but highly addicting and will bring you back daily.
23. Mecho Wars
Advanced Wars for your iPhone and iPod Touch, enough said. Interesting art style and background story.
24. Zenonia
The first fully featured traditional 2D action RPG for your iPhone and iPod Touch.
25. Peggle
The time sucking, simple Pachinko style casual PC game from PopCap ported to your device.
26. Marble Blast Mobile
Another PC game port where you roll your marble through various levels, filled with obstacles and hazards.
http://www.appvee.com/t/iphone-app-review-marble-blast-mobile
27. Myst
Do we even need to explain this one?
28. Merlin’s Legacy
An original IP based around two dueling wizards, battling for control across a 2D side-scrolling field. Interesting game mechanic based on spells and timing.
29. Assassin’s Creed
A smaller version of Assassin’s Creed on your iPhone and iPod Touch. Plays rather smoothly and provides solid entertainment.
30. Oregon Trail
The classic Oregon Trail, updated with fantastic graphics and animation. Will keep you entertained just like when you were in school. Try not to die of dysentery.
31. Rolando 2
The sequel to the popular game of rolling little Rolandos around to save the kingdom. Your hands may cramp from hours of play.
Fun Timewasters
32. Doodle Jump
Dominated the Top 25 list for quite a while. Accelerometer based movement—you guide your Doodle to bounce off platforms, jumping to the highest point possible as you avoid getting hit.
33. Mouth Off
Cover your mouth with your device and show off an assortment of crazy mouths that animate to the input sound of your voice. I’ve annoyed dining mates with this one more than once.
34. Pocket God
Well done, episodic content based on a simple toy of dealing with your islanders. Fun to show off to friends and receive new updates.
35. Flight Control
Elegantly simple and highly addictive game. You direct various planes to different landing strips, all the while trying to avoid collisions. Updated with Bluetooth device co-op.
nothing like pandora
I checked out Slacker it is ok – Pandora is MUCH better. Just because everyone likes does not mean you should diss it.
I like Super Reflex Challenge
Pandora is the sh*t. Have downloaded a TON of apps (free and purchased) for my 3gs in the short 2 months that I’ve had it, but Pandora is one of the few that remains.
300 craplets every day. Wow, iPhone is huge.
Uh, yeah.. keep telling yourself that…
Skype, Kindle, Pandora, Myst, QuickOffice, Mint, Yelp, Shzaam, Doom…
I’d love to see what you define real apps as.
OK, 295
I own iPhone 3G. I use this phone occasionally for web browsing (safari rocks). For making calls (both cellular and voip) I have Nokia N79. Nokia Voip client + Google Voice + custom freeSWITCH installation == $10 per month wonder. I spend approx $10 on my cellular (prepaid t-mobile) + WiFi service and have almost unlimited calling in US. What else? I listen to Internet radio on my SonyEricsson W760 not on iPhone. Why? Because SE can stream radio for 5 hours and is very stable and it supports eAAC+ audio natively. The audio quality is perfect even on EDGE network. I have not managed to find similar program for iPhone. What else? I gonna dump my almost $80 per month iPhone soon I think.
so you wrote an essay explaining advance math but can’t resolve a simple equation fast?
Wheres the TC App with Push notification, video, text, pics, comments, etc…
Don’t forget to mention the belts you go through per month to keep all those phones close.
Wow. So you wrote this epic length novel to tell us that you’d rather carry around a million little gadgets whose combined service probably costs more than the $30/month IPhone customers pay to tell us what? Maybe if there was an App to tell you how to improve the quality of your life without writing about the dozen gadgets you keep in your pocket to replace the one iphone that can do it all, you wouldn’t be sitting at your computer all day trying to criticize the people who produce the products that, without them being in existence, you’d be just another 45 year old virgin living in your mama’s basement playing D&D with 12 year olds. Just a thought….
Uh, thanks for stating the obvious, it IS HUGE!!!
Really, its amazing..!! 300 apps every single day. But it is huge and makes most of the apps to be of no use as iPhone users would keep on searching for the best app and mostly choose the top-rated apps without knowing the true potential of new apps. Better to make apps considering the need..
What do you expect? After all, PC guys aren’t going to just walk in here and figure this out.
That is so funny!!!!! It’s totally a PC guy!
I still think Twittelator Pro is the best iPhone app for Twitter. Has a ton of features and is updated quite regularly.
I think the same.
Yeah me too. I flirted with tweetie for a while but twittilator knocks it’s socks off.
Wow, I couldn’t disagree more on most of these picks. Are you sure you use an iPhone?
Pathetic list.
I agree. What a sorry sack of nuts… this list. Marble Blast? Really?
I also agree. My only regret is that I clicked on this post. I’ve got love for TechCruch but I’ll stick with the app reviewing pros for lists like this. http://www.ismashpone.com is one of the good ones.
Type slower – the correct URL is http://www.ismashphone.com/
Thanks for the correction
I totally agree! If this is the best of 2009 apps for the iPhone we’re in trouble. What a lame selection!!
i agree. because everyone else did. i like wiener.
The best 35 iPhone apps this year are the ones that guy rejected or yanked.
thanx
I haven’t heard before this app Textfree Unlimited, although I will not buy it… it nice for those “writing fans”
I am amazed that it is almost statistically impossible to disagree on so many apps all in one place. Fantastic!
Um – I just watched the video review above for ‘Mouth Off’ and your own reviewer says it sucks. And this one made it to your own top 35 list?
Maybe you should publish the list of apps that you don’t like – maybe we will like them?
The only one I agree with is Real Racing – well worth the $13 AUD I paid for it.
Ooo living in Canada really burns sometime. We have most of those apps but not all of them.
Not a great list, but there are some nice apps in there. It is definitely hard to find the apps that are actually useful.
I like TweetDeck, and use it all the time. The “Print and Share” looks handy, I had not heard about that one. I’ll take a look at some others, too.
I will add one, though. If you ever use the Redbox DVD rental service, you need the Inside Redbox app. It’s just 99 cents, and really makes using the service a lot easier.
http://ping.fm/aSMN2
wow, great list.
I’m definitely in the ‘let me know which ones you don’t like’ camp – maybe I’ll find some I like there.
Some of my faves conspicuously missing include iphone versions of:
http://www.zillow.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/
http://repairpal.com/
http://www.goodguide.com/
http://www.shazam.com/
http://pandora.com/
Could we be any further apart?
This list is for apps released this year only, not of all time.
By your own statement 10,000 apps to end of 2008 so you had 40,000 to choose from?
Sorry but that list sucks!
Add to that:
Super Monkey Ball
Bloomberg
Nimbuzz
Mobyko
Slugger is easily better than any of the games you listed
Some good apps there.
A very good list but I think that Twitterfon and Twitterrific are better than TweetDeck which is not working well for me.
I tried TweetDeck when it was first released; I wasn’t impressed. Perhaps it’s better now, right now, I’m using TwitterFon and Twitterrific.
Facebook didn’t make the list???
Facebook was released last year and made our end of 2008 round-up list. This list is for apps released this year.
What about the Civilization revolution iphone port ?
Some of you people are so opinionated, if you don’t agree with the list, just move on, no need to be rude.
Interesting take on Marble Blast, I’ve had it on my Mac for a while and enjoyed it. but I heard it wasn’t much good on the iPhone, I think I’ll check it out now.
Thanks for the list Alex
Any recommendation for a PDF reader?
think Documents To Go® (Microsoft Word editing & Desktop sync) is able to open pdf’s
GoodReader is excellent for opening large PDFs.
GoodReader is the one that’ll handle BIG PDFs most easily. Documents to Go is good but the PDF reader doesn’t use bookmarks or open >4-5MB files. GoodReader is just super for that purpose.
Thanks for the comments everyone. We look at thousands of applications every month and these were the top picks that have consistently stayed on my own device. We want to shed some light on gems that may not have hit the top 10, but still offer great value. When we review applications, we follow a standard evaluation process. Like any review resource, though, some readers will have differing opinions.
We’d love to hear what your favorite applications are as we start to build our All Time list.
Not to be rude, but… AppVee is the most horribly designed site I have seen in a long time.
But you are being flat out rude. There was no other motivation for that comment other than to sound like a total dick.
@Jo Jo. But you are being flat out rude. There was no other motivation for that comment other than to sound like a total dick.
QuickOffice and Skype are the only good one I see.
May be I am the only one who needs a phone to work down here.
Apple is great for the grown up kids.
I like reading TechCrunch a lot but this article by AppVee reads like an advertorial (Alex, you are more than entitled to write those if you get the opportunity of course) not like a TechCrunch news article.
But, defending Alex, making top 10, 35, 50 lists will stay personal unless you benchmark in a more scientific way. Question is, do you want to? Because in the end a person downloads an app because:
a) a friend recommended the app
b) a person likes the description and thinks, what the heck, it’s just 99 cents, I’ll give it a try
A site with more scientific researched ‘best app lists’ will be:
a) publishing too late for most iPhone fans
b) boring (they hide behind their approved research method when people start to comment)
c) expensive so partly paid for by some commercial players (objective??)
d) wrong too if they don’t listen to the crowd
What I like to see though is a company using the power of the crowd and spending all their time and manpower to come up with a great accurate (> 80%, hackers will always be part of our society) benchmark tool.
the only app am gonna try out of ur list here is the textfree app… i think i have some much better apps than what u have listed..
u forgot hero of sparta, topple2, twittelator… and who doesnt want sonic with them!??
How about productivity apps – Jaadu VNC?
Most practical: CardStar
Bets games: F.A.S.T.
Fun timewasters: Paper Toss
Libby, I LOVE Paper Toss like a fat kid loves cake :O
Rather expensive for an iPhone app, but I think I’m gonna get LogMeIn Ignition for $29.99. I welcome comments and suggestions for alternatives before I commit.
If you use LogMeIn, then by all means get it. I use it on my 3GS all the time to support my 10 satellite locations and it works great!
If you have the 3G though, be aware that there will be slowdowns and out of memory warnings.
I wouldn’t pick quickoffice over Docs To Go. DTG is the only app that I know of that lets you open and edit Microsoft Exchange email attachements on the iphone and it’s cheaper thank QO:
http://www.data...hone/index.html
Tap & Track rates among my top 5 apps. Right up there with Skype.
This post is a total joke. I like how you call it a “guest post”. I call this a “sponsor post”. It’s clear that this post was paid for by AppVee.
Useless info that doesn’t bring anything to the table, except a stack of cash to the TC’s table of course.
Proloquo2go turns the iPhone or iPod Touch into a portable and affordable communication device for folks with a speech disability. Raises the bar from cool to life-changing app.
Hey itouch, iphone geeks. Found this on twitter.
Still saving for mine.
JoinMe is according to me a much better application that “Hey Where are you” !
Test it, it is free and easy to use !
Thibaud
Have you tried out the dictionary.com iPhone app? Try it out. It has been highly recognized by US News and World Report, CIO.com and Apple themselves. Love to hear your input.
For fitness-minded folks, Lose It! and Weightbot are very good.
To save articles for reading later, Instapaper is hard to beat. Byline is my favorite RSS reader.
I also like Evernote for collecting/retrieving notes of all kinds, though its performance can be improved.
Among the bigger names, Fandango is great for movie ticket purchases; Weatherbug for weather, but I’m waiting for push notification for alerts; Yelp and Facebook, of course (Looking forward to Facebook 3.0.)
Those are some of my top choices.
You can game the social networks all you like to get your link viewed but if your blog post content is bad, there’s nothing that can save you.
Whoever wrote this article has probably never used an iPhone and probably checks Adsense all day long.
@Joe This is the only comment worth reading. The rest are a bunch of head strong, heavy opinionated and obviously dedicated Iphone users who should think of expanding their mind and stop spending hours looking into a mere phone for all there needs.
YOU MISSED GOOGLE VOICE…
sponsor post,… this article is BULL SHIT
Bunch of good apps. good article dudes.
lol I WANT google voice..I love the laser app as well as the simply music app, they are awesome. I wish Pandora allowed more streaming of music and skips because they could mine that data a great deal to come up with what is needed for the best music results
So what about a wiki like WikiServer from http://www.mobi...ewikiserver.com
I’m going to plump no 1 for BIRDSIGHT. If you are a birder this thing is awesome compared to a pencil and notebook. The only downside is you have to buy regional version (America, Australia, etc) to get the bird lists.
I agree with a bunch of them actually DoodleJump is really great and so is Rolando 2 but Photogene kind of stinks a couple of better photo ones are Shake It Photo that simulates a Polaroid with developing in front of you kodachrome colors et. And Mill Colour that has very pro filters.
Anyway you are off base on the Kindle App it isn’t free reading it is for Kindle owners to put your books on iPhone and then you can read them under the covers or in low light since the Kindle isn’t back lit then it synchs with your Kindle to read on the bus since the kindle has a better battery etc
I think Numbrix is a lot of fun…play it all the time!
I was thinking of looking at some of the Apps that you listed, then you put RedLaser in your list. Are you stupid? That App is a hulking piece of junk, it does NOT work, tried on several iPhones using over 100 barcode examples in a perfect environment for the photo taking. RedLaser had no comment and ignored refund requests. But that is okay, Apple had my back and refunded all of my monies. This junk app shouldn’t even be in the App store as it does nothing but waste your time. You include it then say wait on the updates, that is just plain dumb, that is like saying buy a white car and wait until it turns blue because blue is what you wanted. NOT!!! Your whole story lost credibility when you chose to include a worthless application that does nothing and promises to do something once it has yet another update. Puh-Lease!!!
Great post! In fact I thought you had me in mind before you wrote this. However, what about Nimbuzz and Google Voice?
This list would be much more useful with some current pricing info without having to click through the Appvee for details.
I also like Twitterific, but to me the biggest omissions are Civilization Revolution and Documents To Go.