The iPhone Apps store lets you carry the game in your pocket

You know it was one of those one-song-wonders. That it was from one of those boy bands with permed hair in the mid 80s. And that it was one of your favourite school social numbers.

Twenty years later the band’s disappeared into oblivion, just as the name of the band and the lyrics have receded into some distant niche of your head that you just cannot reach. However, you still occasionally hum the tune. Well, the next time, just pick up your iPhone 3G, turn on the Midomi from the App Store and hum into the receiver. You’ll find what you’ve been looking for.

This is just one of those wacky applications you’ll find at the App store. For all those iPhone sceptics and strict utilitarian types, there over a thousand applications that will amaze you, amuse you and be of great help professionally. I have downloaded over 36 applications over the past two weeks. Some I have had to pay for while most are free. The costs vary from 0.99 cents to $449.

The most expensive one is MyAccountsToGo SAP and MyAccountsToGo Dynamics GP. MyAccountsToGo (MATG) is an innovative Apple iPhone application which allows its user remote access to their corporate account information from corporate financial management systems such as Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) and SAP BusinessOne.

This includes account master, address, credit, statement, and sales order processing transactions such as quotes, orders, back orders, invoices, and returns. In addition, My Accounts To Go can access item master records and item location information stored on corporate systems and locate information such as quantity available for sale.

This is just to show you that the App store is not full of only fun stuff. However, here is my list of favourites:

Texas Hold’em

Its stunning graphics got me hooked to this poker game. The characters are more lifelike than mere animated figures. They emote and gesture. You can choose exotic locations to play, from Las Vegas to Aruba. Watch your opponents’ behaviour and call their bluffs even if they are poker faced. Tap on players and instantly see their betting history, best hand, current chip total, and more. There is even a multi-player game mode. You can play with up to eight players if they have their WiFi on. The game costs $4.99.

Band

Those into music will really love Band. It is a collection of virtual instruments that allows anyone to actually create music from scratch. Band provides drums, piano, bass guitar, blues guitar, and, even an audience that claps and shouts! The multi-touch abilities allow you to play complex chords real time. While hearing the note, you can see the screen react instantly to your touch: piano keys really depress and bass guitar strings really strum. It costs $9.99 and is absolutely worth it. You can even connect it to you amplifier and listen to the music you make through your home music system.

Asphalt 4

Everybody loves to race. Become a pro at racing through your city by using your iPhone as a steering wheel, thanks to the accelerometer controls. Choose from 28 licensed dream cars and bikes. The police await you with roadblocks and helicopters to try and seize your expensive toy. Fantastic graphics here too.

IM All-in-One Messenger

Lots of us are into chatting. With this messenger application you can keep in touch with those on Yahoo!, Google Talk, MSN WindowsLive, ICQ, Jabber, My Space and AIM/iChat.

For those into Social Networking I would recommend you get Facebook and Twitter. They are all free, with excellent interfaces.

Two must-have free apps are Remote and Speed Test. With Remote you can control the music on your computer from your iPhone from anywhere in your house. Play, pause, skip and shuffle as if you were right in front of your computer. Remote works with your WiFi network.

Speed Test

With Speed Test check what download speed you are getting from Airtel or Vodafone. I have checked both. Airtel consistently gives you download speeds of over 110Kbps whereas Vodafone is a paltry 36 Kbps. Do let me know what download speed you are getting in your area from your operator.

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