The 10 best iPhone apps

In no particular order, here's our favourite ten apple flavoured 3G applications.

On March 6th 2008, the famously thrifty Apple released its iPhone Software Development Kit (or SDK if you're a busy person with a busy, abbreviated life) to the world - with a complete disregard for what would inevitably be created. Thankfully, among the rubbish, there are some iPhone apps that are actually quite useful, oddly intriguing or just plain funny. As its 3G iPhone week, here are our favourites:

1/The App: Airremote

Why we wanna touch it: Because we're all incredibly lazy.

This duly turns your iPhone into a universal remote control, so you can universally control any other electrical equipment you might happen to own, remotely. Hang on... other electrical equipment? Why would you need any?

2/The App: iBeer

Why we wanna touch it: Because cheap parlour tricks are still cool.

This is very useless - and friends will only want to see it once - but it has a real boozy charm. Essentially, a fresh pint of beer is lovingly poured into your precious Apple's screen, and then seems to disappear down your throat as you tilt it up to drink it.Good for those damn cravings.

3/The App: Sudoku

Why we wanna touch it: Because we like feigning intelligence.

Carol Vorderman and her tricky box 'o' boxes 'o' numbers have changed the way we commute forever. Save trees by playing the fiend on your phone. It has a random generator so you're guaranteed a new game every time. Our tip? Just put 9s in every box and dust your hands off triumphantly. No one will know.

4/The App: Sketches

Why we wanna touch it: Because a picture tells a thousand words, but the iPhone's camera is crap.

Sketches lets your creative side run wild, and depict masterpieces the likes of which Steve Jobs never dreamed possible. Failing that, you could just etch crude smiley faces and reproductive organs. The choice, as they say, is yours.

5/The App: BeeJive

Why we wanna touch it: Because it's IM on the go.

One of the more useful apps, this - it syncs all your contacts from AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, GoogleTalk, ICQ, Jabber, and MySpace into one all-knowing natterbox. Typing is obviously easy as Apple pie, and means that actual vocal communication (annoying) need never take place again. Huzzah!

6/The App: iPhysics

Why we wanna touch it: Because the things in your Phone should obey gravity too.

This is a clone of the Crayon Physics program, and is an excruciatingly simple way to lose many hours of your life. Draw odd shapes onscreen, and then watch them bounce around to gravity's whim as you spin the thing about and draw bridges to collect stars. Hypnotising like Derren Brown in a Lava Lamp.

7/The App: PLIBA

Why we wanna touch it: Because Acronyms are fun.

Please Let It Be Available is the definitive search engine for anything to do with travel and leisure, now shrunk down like children in a Rick Moranis film. Stranded in Venezuela without a hotel/car/nail salon? Whip out you iPhone and get yourself sorted.

8/The App: iDial

Why we wanna touch it: Because retro has appeal.

This has use in two scenarios:

1) Trying for individuality in the face of totalitarian touch tone dialling, or

2) you want to give granny an iPhone (foolhardy).

Either way, it basically eschews normal button pushing for an old-timey rotary dial interface. It may get old fast, but you'll look so chic whilst it's still en vogue.

9/The App: Raging Thunder

Why we wanna touch it: Because we've got the need, the need for computerised speed.

The Jesus Phone's first decent 3D game looks to be a rather tidy arcade racer that works by tilting the beauty left and right. It's not dripping with depth, but for short spells it'll be good enough to distract yourself from the fools playing their "bare tunes" on the bus.

10/The App: Megadrive Emulator

Why we wanna touch it: Because we used to dream of it being in the palm of our hands.

There's a bit of rigmarole involved before any blue hedgehogs will start diving across your touchy glass, but it's worth it. A miniature controller appears at the nethers of the screen, gifting total Megadrivial control. Oh, and they call it the Genesis in America - just so you don't get confused.