Make Your iPhone Happy with These Top Ten Apps

 I don't think anyone would dispute the fact that when Apple introduced in the iPhone in 2007 they also invented the concept of 'apps' that now no one can do without, no matter what phone they have. It's a pretty tough task then, to narrow down these apps from the 350,000 apps currently on offer in the App Store to the top 10 iPhone apps. Tough, but not impossible.

There is also such a great range of 'types' of app too, although this is where I did have to do some narrowing down. I based this top ten list on which apps are the best of the best in their app genre. I'm talking the kind of apps that would suit most people, rather than selecting from a narrow field. So, which ones made the cut?

 Pandora Radio offers some of the best music streaming channels around, and is so much more than just a radio app -- it's basically a personalized radio where you can create your own radio station.

The program literally lets you select your favorite band and then it streams their music, along with other bands considered to be close “companions” to the band you have selected. For instance, Jason Mraz would also play Jack Johnson, while a Led Zeppelin channel may also play the Who. Best of all, the program works well on Edge Network speeds which means users of the original iPhone will still receive excellent playback. The best part of the program? If you hate a song you can ask it to never be played again, while your favorites can be bookmarked and remembered by the program for later playback.

There is one slight drawback with this app, in that it’s a stand alone application, meaning while it can be played on your iPhone, you can’t be doing anything else in the background. But, it's great if all you are doing is listening to music.

 No great surprise here, in that I'm going to say Angry Birds RIO is an iPhone game you shouldn't be without. There are so many choices out there, but the popularity of this game speaks for itself. I've picked the RIO edition, rather than the original, because it has a much better feel to it -- you also don't have to deal with the annoying laughs of those pigs. The color of the RIO game is superb, and although you certainly don't get a 3D effect from it, the atmosphere of the game is much more satisfying in its multi-layered backgrounds.

Ridiculously simple to play, this game is addictive no matter what your age and is an easy pick up and play option, which is what makes it so great for the iPhone. You can just play a few minutes here and there and feel you've had a bit of a gaming fix for the day. My other top faves in this category are Cut The Rope, and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit.

 One of the (many) great things about the iPhone is the superb camera, and using the Hipstamatic app lets you take your picture snapping to new levels. Even the greatest iPhone camera has its drawbacks, but now there's a way to make your camera seem more real and add a multitude of effects.

If you want your snaps to feel more old-school then this is a perfect app. Recreate the feel of throw-away or toy cameras of the past and select from a range of lenses to give your pictures a different look. You can make your iPhone camera feel more real by purchasing "lenses" just as you would do with a regular camera. If retro chic or photo-editing is your thing, then this is the perfect photo app for you.

When you're done you can easily upload your unique pics to Facebook and Flickr to share with others.

 The idea behind Shazam is a simple one, but boy is it effective. This is an app that actually solves a problem that we all have at some point -- you hear a tune and yet you just can't place what it's called. Hold your iPhone to any music source, whether it's coming out of a stereo, a TV, or wherever; it doesn’t matter. Then, within seconds, Shazam will tell you what song you're listening to, what artist sings it, and where to buy it.

The program works by users placing tags on their favorite music, which then helps identify the music. But wait, there’s more. Users can also view related YouTube videos by clicking on a defined icon, and they can even email their contacts the music info for download and listening purposes. One of the best features is that it can link straight through to the relevant iTunes track. So within seconds you can identify the tune and have it on your iPhone with little fuss or switching between several different applications.

If you tend to forget songs, or you really want to know what you're listening to, this is the perfect solution.

 There is no question in my mind that the OmniFocus app is the best location based software available for the iPhone. The program developed by The Omni Group is a perfect “Location Based Organizer”. For instance, let's say you have an appointment at the corner of Main and Front Street, and you need to pick up groceries and get a hair cut that same day. If your appointment is close to a hair salon and a grocery store, the application will actually remind you of each task while providing directions and location based reminders for the stores to complete each task within your area.

Taking this app one step further, if you have created a list of food that you need, for instance, the program will store your shopping list alongside the closest grocery store.

Essentially OmniFocus, in the words of the OmniGroup, allows users to “Keep track of actions by project, place, person, or date. Bring up a shopping list, agenda items to discuss at work, tasks for home, and any other lists you need.”

At $19.99 this application is probably going to the most expensive app purchase you'll make, but the price is totally justified in how useful it is.

Please continue to page 2 where our selection of top ten iPhone apps continues.