So Now You Have an iPhone

With App Store closing in on 100,000 apps for your iPhone, how do you know what apps to put on it? Here's a short guide based on my experience.

*requires iPhone 3Gs for certain functions

• FREE APPS:
App Miner - apps go on sale periodically and I've gotten several at reduced prices thanks to this app that tracks the prices of the other apps.
Facebook - excellent app for Facebook users.
Dictionary - from dictionary.com; an excellent resource.
Bible - the best free Bible, by pulling dozens of translations from online. Requires internet access to work, offline translations cost extra.
MyLite - one of several good flashlight apps; don't stumble through the dark without it.
Urbanspoon* - a fun app to show you where to eat out today.
Coupon Sherpa and Yowza!!* - use coupons directly from your phone. I've already saved $30 or $40 by using these apps.
SnapTell* - take a picture of a book, game or DVD and it automatically searches the internet and local stores for the best price.
DirecTV - this is one of my favorite apps, if you have DirecTV. It's super easy to see what's on TV and I have total control of my DVRs from anywhere.
Showtimes and Flixter's Movies - get local show times, upcoming DVDs, watch trailers, and do everything else movie related.
ScoreCenter - ESPN's great, customizable live scores app. Some people like Sportacular.
KC Star and USA Today - two of the best newspaper apps out there and one of them happens to be my local version of Pravda!
Google - Googles search app has voice recognition!
Accuweather, WeatherBug, and the Weather Channel - three great weather apps that I use in concert with each other. Each have their own strengths.

• PAID APPS (watch for these on sale):
Blog Press - ($2.99) This is how I blog on blogger from my phone, including this post. Also, WordPress has a free app for its blogs, but I don't use it.
Grocery Gadget - ($4.99) Especially for families with more than one iPhone. Shannon and I coordinate our shopping with this great app. Whoever is at the store knows exactly what's needed, even as the other one changes or adds to the list from their phone or computer.

• WEB APPS and good mobile websites: ESPN, NFL, Apple, Wikipedia, Fox News, Google Books, and many other mobile compatible websites, each of which I give their own icon.

• GAMES: I rarely pay full price for a game (see App Miner above) but there are a few that show off the power of the 3Gs and basic motion and touch controls of any iPhone or iPod Touch.
Flood-It! - (Free) very addicting, simple and free
Flight Control - (99¢) an iPhone classic
Zen Bound - ($4.99) relaxing and satisfying puzzle game like no other you've ever played.
Sol Free Solitaire - (Free) I like this so much I upgraded to the paid version, Solebon.
Harbor Master - (99¢) Very similar to Flight Control. If you like this you'll like Pirate Bay and any number of other "line drawing" games.
Fieldrunners - ($2.99) Surprisingly addicting
Scrabble - ($4.99) Shannon and play each other over our home Wifi.
Worms - ($4.99) If you already like the classic computer game, this is more of the same.

There are literally thousands of games in the App Store, most of them under $5. I always read reviews first at AppVee.com, Touch Arcade or other websites.