When it comes to getting the job done, the best tool isn’t always commercial and don’t be afraid to spend a little money on the right software — there are some truly awesome apps on Apple’s iTunes App Store. From iPhone games and entertainment apps to news and reference titles for your iPod touch, here’s our take on the best of the best.

First off, to take advantage of the coolest apps and features, you will need to purchase and install iPhone OS 3.0 Update — it “only” costs ten bucks and opens a lot of the doors presented herein. Otherwise, consider one of the new, just announced (ooh so sweet) iPod touches or mayhaps a clearance or refurbished second gen model.

That said, if you find Apple’s Safari for iPhone lacking, you should know that you do have a choice with the best being iCab Mobile 1.7 ($1.99), which offers fullscreen mode, tabbed browsing, powerful functionality and password management — ’nuff said.

Entertainment

What’s the easiest and best way to get TV on your touch? From original Star Trek episodes to Victoria’s Secret lingerie show, Joost is fast, free and feature rich.

AOL gets a lot of bad press, a fair amount of it deserved. Nevertheless, with its impressive roster of free stations and ease of use, one of the unsung heros of the company’s Mac and Apple handheld software catalog is AOLRadio — an absolute value at zero dollars!

Psst, wanna discover new music? Just point Pandora or Last.fm in the direction you want to go and then sit back and enjoy. Hear something you love? It’s got iTunes integration for you instant purchasing pleasure.

New Yorker (free) or Dilbert (free) animated cartoon apps from Ringtails, because a daily dose of sarcasm isn’t just healthy, it’s your right and they’re both free.

You really owe it to yourself (and your friends) to prove conclusively that you blow, like Zamfir master of the pan flute. Ocarina, which supports the iPod touch, costs just $0.99 and is, according to the New York Times’ David “don’t be a hater” Pogue, “…one of the most magical programs I’ve ever seen.”

Love reading on the go, but not the bulk of dead trees in your backpack or purse? Well, although Apple hasn’t redefined the ebook experience just yet, in the mean time we’ve got best-of-class mobile readers in the form of Stanza (free) and Kindle for iPhone (free).

Games

In the realm of real-time strategy (RTS) games, there are developers and publishers, and then there’s god — Sid Meier. Available in two distinctly rich n’ creamy flavors — Civilization Revolution ($4.99) and Civilization Revolution Lite (free) — you’ll never need to wonder where your free time (and relationships) went ever again.

Then again, why limit yourself to just one time sink, relationship killing RTS when there’s SimCity ($2.99)? Really, conquering the world is child’s play compared to keeping the water flowing and lights on.

The funnest games ever on Apple’s funnest iPod ever? Tap Tap Revenge (four versions starting at $0.99) and Fieldrunners ($2.99) are perhaps tied for the causing the most divorces — they’re that good!

Best. Handheld. Solitaire. Ever. Get 40 variations on France’s greatest contribution to Western civilization — Soleban ($1.99)

News, weather

When it comes to tapping the deluge or finding if you need to carry an umbrella today, one word sums up the most critical aspect of any news or weather app — granularity. That said, APMobile (free, All new! Sucks less!) and Wall Street Journal (free) really define the general and business news genres, and ABC News (free) is the best broadband broadcast news app available.

Depending on where you live, Weather.com (free) or Accuweather (free) will have the granularity you need while both offer current, hourly, daily and long term forecasts with broadcast style local weather video forecast.

Foodie apps

When it comes to eating, you’re either in or out, and we’ve got you covered in the kitchen and on the town.

If planning, shopping for and preparing meals is your thang, then check out Whole Food Recipes (free) and MacGourmet ($4.99). The former is a stand alone app meant to work well with the renowned co-op’s Web site and the latter is the mobile extension of MacGourmet (review), the best culinary application for the Mac.

If you’re planning an evening abroad with your S.O. or plain Jane business lunch, LocalEats and Urbanspoon are transformative apps designed to change the way you eat out.

Social Networking

When it comes to Web 2.0 on the iPod touch, Facebook (free) scratches the itch. Version 3.0 is a 95 percent solution that’s well thought out and a true pleasure to use.

That said, there is social networking utility aplenty available on the App Store, and these are the ones most likely to turn your… um… whatever: MySpace Mobile (free), LinkedIn (free), SideSlip (Stumbleupon, $2.99), iReddit (free) and Twitterific ($3.99) all deliver.

Although Web 2.0 on the iPod touch is best of class, I’m really hoping for a paradigm shift from the push and receive model of today to situationally aware apps that provide a high level of interactivity without direct input from the user.

Planning ahead

Call it the workflow of recreation, but Apple’s funnest iPod ever is also the most powerful iPod ever. So, whether you like the go it alone, one man against the world programming prowess of Now Playing (free), movie + theatre + DVD + NetFlix app, or the ‘all your moving planning base are belong to us’ power of Fandango (free).

Of course, getting your butt to the is one-two-three easy with GoogleEarth (free), which is way better than Google Maps alone, and Taxi Magic (free), which will help
you find a hack after your date ditches you at the theatre.

No money for a cab ’cause you spent it on soda at the theatre? Then, the absolute necessity app right i8s gonna be SitOrSquat (public toilet finder, free).

And, after you’re down with the facilities you will, of course, need to tweet your status, so Wi-Fi Finder (Free) is the perfect app for your situation.

Utilities

Your iPod touch comes with a lot of great software right out of the box — Mail springs to mind — but there’s at least one app in there that rocks that you’ve probably never used — Clock. It’s dull, it’s boring and it’s also got a built-in stop watch, which is great for baking cookies, looking for the next turn or seeing how fast you can run a mile (lap timer included). If you’re hell on a third-party timer app, check out BigStopWatch (free), which includes a countdown timer, too.

AirSharing ($4.99) is a great app whose time and ultimate utility are somewhere out there in the future. Right now, this app is the best way to connect to your host Mac or PC, get files and documents, view them and then share with others.

The last best of class on Mac Blorge’s Top 40 Best iPod touch apps and games ever list is MacTracker (free), which lists every Apple product ever made and every smidgeon of useful information ever known about those products, from pricing, end-of-life and current value. And, that’s not just Mac, but iPods, iPhones, peripherals, printers — all of ‘em!

It’s so much easier being an Apple know it all bigot when you’ve got all the facts right there at the tip of your fingers.

What?

There’s no way we managed to name every best of the best iPod touch app. So, don’t spare out feelings (but save the expletives) and share your opinion and links in the comments below…

Related:

Over 6,000 iPhone games in the App Store

$20 premium games section coming to iPhone App Store?

Computer gaming industry transformed by iPhone

Most popular Touch and iPhone apps are games

Is the Apple App Store adding a premium section?

Entry was posted on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 12:01 am under Commercial Software, Free Apps, Games, Hacks, International, Internet, Opinion, Review, Rumor, iPhone, iPod Touch.  Print This Post

Read more entries by Ronald O Carlson.
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