Apple this morning said its iTunes store has served up more than 1.5 billion apps, those snack-sized pieces of software for the iPhone or iPod Touches that do all sorts of random things.

Since launching the App Store exactly a year ago, more than 100,000 developers have been busy cranking out a mind-bending 65,000 apps on the site. Some are useful (GPS apps that help the navigationally challenged, for example). Others are amusing (witness the explosion of games, a select list of which appears here from What They Play). Some unleash our inner artist. A handful are offensive, including the controversial Baby Shaker app. And some are just inane. Remember the $1,000 app that did absolutely nothing?

To celebrate this cornucopia of apps, we'd like to invite you to nominate your faves. Cast your votes in the comment box below, and at the end of the week, we'll publish the list of winners. Here are the categories:

• Most useful app
• Most useless app
• Best game
• Wackiest app
• Worst crApp ever
• Best news app
• Best time waster
• Best free app
• Best paid app
• App most likely to impress your friends at a party

-- Alex Pham and Michelle Maltais

Nevertheless, software developers keep trying to coax out the public's inner Prince. The latest example is Romplr, which launches this morning as a $5 iPhone application. Created by Moderati, the company behind the virtual Zippo lighter, Romplr is song-remixing software that enables people to create new versions of tunes by rearranging their components. The initial version comes with three songs by hip-hop hit maker Soulja Boy Tell 'Em: “Crank That," "Hey You There" and "Turn My Swag On." In addition to bass, drums, vocals and other sonic elements from the originals that can be dropped in and out, Romplr provides seven additional samples that can be sprinkled into the mix. Think of them as flair. See a demo here. Naturally, you can share your mix with friends, including the ones you don't really know on Facebook.

(For those of you who aren't so taken with Soulja Boy, there's a second version of Romplr featuring three dance tracks created by the company's in-house stable of composers -- presumably the ones Romplr doesn't have to pay royalties.)

In the continuum of music-related apps that stretches from the purely passive to the labor intensive, Romplr falls right in the middle. It's more elaborate than Bebot's melodic robot cartoon or Pianofly's virtual keyboard, and it's not purely a game, unlike Tap Tap Revolution. But it's less of a gateway music drug than iDrum or Looptastic, which offer greater possibilities for truly original music-making. The main shortcoming is that you can't add anything of your own to Romplr's tracks, unlike BeatMaker's mobile sampler. That, to me, is what makes computer programs such as Acid and GarageBand so rewarding. And make no mistake, the iPhone is a computer capable of more than rudimentary recording: Just witness what locker indie rockers the 88 did with the iPhone Four Track app.

A spokeswoman for Moderati said a future version of Romplr may give users the ability to add their own sounds or tracks. More definitive are the plans to offer more prerecorded song downloads and to produce versions of the app for other smartphones (wait -- there are other smartphones?!?).

The point for Romplr is to sell apps. For the artists who offer their tracks for remixing, though, there's a payoff beyond the song royalties that's less direct and more consequential. Giving people a chance to break songs down enables them to see more of the artistry involved in recorded music (although, in some cases, the artistry is coming from the producer, not the band). It also deepens the relationship between the artist and the fan by encouraging the latter to make an investment of time and effort into the artist's music. This is what remix culture is about -- letting the fans interact, not just listen.

-- Jon Healey

Healey writes editorials for The Times' Opinion Manufacturing Division.

Credit: Chris Rank / Bloomberg News

It seems that when it comes to apps for the Palm Pre, one group of users has one hand clapping while the other is outstretched like Oliver saying, "Please, sir, I want some more."

Strategy Analytics, a Massachusetts-based research and consulting firm, asked a dozen mobile-savvy users in San Diego recently about their experiences with the Palm App Catalog. They were asked to spend at least five minutes browsing and to come up with five apps they were interested in.

Unanimously, these users found the store's interface intuitive and easy to navigate but did have some complaints, according to the report.

"While the App Catalog contains desirable and recognizable content, the volume of content overall is lacking," the report found. 

At the time of the study, there were fewer than 60 apps in the Palm store. This is one of the challenges of entering a game that's been defined and dominated by other players -- especially when they've trained smart-phone users and wannabes to expect more apps than you can easily scroll through in a day. According to Palm, more than 150,000 apps were downloaded on the first day the Pre was available to consumers.

Most of these testers seemed to gravitate to the familiar: Pandora Radio, Good Food -- Restaurants Near You, AccuWeather, AP News and Craigslist, the report said.

And although they found navigation and search through the store straightforward and understandable, the App Catalog's pricing structure left them a bit baffled, according to the report. Currently, each app displays "$Try me" when listed and when it's selected. The users wondered whether that meant it was a trial or for purchase -- or whether a fee might kick in later.

 So far, everything in the App Catalog is a free trial. No prices are currently listed with apps, nor is an expiration date for trial periods.

"Purchase details of content are not clearly defined, leaving users unsure if they are downloading a trial version of the item or the complete version," according to the report.

-- Michelle Maltais

What's your take on the Palm Pre App Catalog and its offerings? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

When Apple announced the addition of a compass to the iPhone 3GS, shortsighted onlookers responded with a yawn. Yay, we can find magnetic north.

But iPhone app developers quickly saw an opportunity, and a new breed of "augmented reality" apps are about to be born.

Holding the phone in front of you, locations are plotted on a live view of the world in relation to where you're standing. The apps combine the phone's key features -- camera, GPS, compass and Internet connectivity -- to create a sort of heads-up display reminiscent of first-person shooter video games.

The first two poised to hit the App Store -- pending Apple's approval, of course -- are Nearest Tube, which plots subway stations in London, and TwittARound, which shows nearby Twitter users.

Nearest Tube overlays information about subway stations, including the stop's name, its distance from your current location and which lines it serves.

The first version of the app, which has already been submitted to Apple, will cost $1.79 per city and will ...

... only support two U.S. cities to start -- New York and San Francisco, said Chetan Damani, director of app developer Acrossair, on the phone from London. You can see a demo of Acrossair's New York  version in the video above. Apps for London, Tokyo and Berlin have also been submitted.

Acrossair's website indicates that they're testing versions in Chicago and Washington as well. Despite Google Maps having finally added support for the Los Angeles transit system last week, Damani is unsure whether they'll release a version for L.A. any time soon.

"We need to see if the subway system is big enough," Damani wrote in an e-mail. We expect Acrossair will be fairly disappointed with our comparatively small public transportation system.

But TwittARound will work right off the bat for L.A. techies. Like the subway app, you hold the phone in front of you and then get a view of tweets based on their location data -- as long as the user has decided to share that information. TwittARound isn't available on the App Store yet either, but there's a demo on YouTube for those who can't wait to get a sense of what it's like to step into augmented reality.

IPhone 3GS users are about to get some new toys that will no doubt make users of iPhone ancestors pretty jealous.

-- Mark Milian

As mentioned on the LA Now blog, the MTA is the latest to add its info to Google's interactive maps. And you can tap into that on your iPhone as well. By tapping the transit icon (the bus in the middle), you can access schedules for the road and rail public transportation options to your destination. It includes the departure times, estimated travel time and price to hitch a ride.

The BlackBerry Google Maps app also offers transit details -- routes, times and distance. The MTA's info wasn't accessible when we tried to call it up with plans for a trip from downtown L.A. to Glendale and one from downtown to Irvine. Foothill Transit directions from L.A. to Claremont came up without issue.

Other transit agencies currently available through Google Maps include Foothill Transit and Metrolink.

-- Michelle Maltais

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A screenshot of an iPhone using the TomTom navigation app, mounted with the TomTom car kit for iPhone. Credit: TomTom Inc.

As a member of the directionally challenged community, I have been much enamored with having a device that knows where I am and where I'm going even when I don't.

Even as other GPS navigation apps have launched -- among them are  AT&T’s Navigator (free download, $9.99 monthly) and Sygic’s Mobile Maps ($79.99 for North America) -- many iPhone owners have been atwitter about the advent of a TomTom navigational iPhone app, announced at WWDC in San Francisco on June 8.

I had a chance recently to chat with Tom Murray, vice president of market development at TomTom Inc., about the anticipated app and the company's iPhone car kit. ...

First things first: No, TomTom hasn't announced pricing or an expected launch date for the app.

Here's what Murray highlighted about what the app will have:

• the TomTom user interface
• the latest version of Tele Atlas maps for North America and Europe, initially
• IQ Routes, which calculates the fastest route based on data collected over the years from other TomTom users.
• turn-by-turn directions
• voice-guided navigation

Murray wasn't able to confirm whether the app would include Map Share, which lets users make and get map corrections from other users of the feature. Users may purchase additional locations, he said, but the logistics of that were still being worked out.

Users also will be able to tap into their iPhone contacts from within the app, allowing them to select a destination or starting point from a contact’s entry. TomTom for iPhone takes advantage of the device's multitouch gestures to navigate within the maps, as well.

The app will be available for purchase "later this summer" on the App Store or via WiFi, he said. But MacWorld recently wrote that due to the size of the app (about 1 gigabyte), it was unclear whether downloads via WiFi would be restricted. 

In our chat, Murray seemed slightly more excited about the car kit -- or rather the combination of the app and the kit -- that was announced at the same time as the app. Many reporters seemed to issue a collective yawn at the thought of what might seem to be yet another iPhone holder. However, the car kit could prove more attractive and useful.

The app can work with or without the kit. Both app and kit accommodate portrait and landscape mode. The kit comes with the standard suction cup and dashboard mounts users would expect from a navigational device.

As Murray described the car kit, "but wait, there's more" seemed to be the unspoken refrain. Some of the other features include:

• built-in speaker
• enhanced audio -- the better to hear the directions with
• microphone and Bluetooth speaker for hands-free calling
• auxilliary output for connecting to and playing music through a car stereo
• cigarette lighter adapter to power both the car kit and the iPhone (and you're wondering why you'd need to power the kit...)
• GPS receiver to enhance reception

Murray said the GPS receiver built into the mount helps boost the iPhone's internal GPS, particularly when you're driving near tall buildings and other obstacles. The TomTom app uses this receiver when your iPhone is in the car kit.

A theoretical possibility -- and one Murray said TomTom is exploring -- with this kit's built-in GPS receiver is that it could potentially turn a 2G iPhone or an iPod Touch into a GPS device. Now that could make the kit more attractive to a larger community.

Although they are currently focusing on the iPhone, Murray said, "It's reasonable to assume that TomTom is open-minded to other platforms in the future."

Asked whether TomTom's push into the iPhone market was likely to distract from or cannibalize what has become its primary market -- standalone portable navigation devices -- Murray reminded that TomTom was originally founded as a software company, developing navigational software for palmtops manufactured by other companies.

It was in 2004 that TomTom saw the potential of in-auto navigation and saw a need to create -- and control -- hardware, launching the TomTom Go that year. 

In 2008, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas, which is one of two major map developers. "We recognized that demand for portable navigation devices will still be strong ... as people demand more navigation in more places," Murray said.

"At our core, however, we are still a software company," he said. "The idea is we want to make our software and mapping solutions available across platforms."

-- Michelle Maltais

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Some hand-held help this holiday can keep the fireworks in the sky and not in your car. Credit: BL1961

If you took a holiday or some time out to celebrate, would you take your smart phone with you? You're darn tootin'. How else would you be able to tweet taunts to your friends stuck at work or post beach pics to Facebook that you might rethink after that recovery hydration period?

Here are a few mobile apps to help make your holiday and vacation travels more enjoyable.

If you are taking a trip that requires more than just a GPS, WorldMate offers apps for a number of smart phone platforms -- yes, that includes iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile phones. (Check here to find out if it's available for your phone.) And there are free and paid versions. The app includes a mobile itinerary, which syncs with the online platform. Basically, if you can think of it, this app has it: travel clocks, maps and directions, hotels, friend finder, weather monitor and currency converter, to name a few features. The paid version of the app, or gold-level subscription, offers real-time flight updates for 350 airlines and airline alerts and lets you look up the status of flights and search airline schedules. The BlackBerry and Windows Mobile Gold version is either $14.95 monthly or $99.95 annually. The iPhone app paid version is going for $9.99 -- that's right, no monthly fees. But hurry if you want it -- the iPhone deal lasts until midnight July 4.

Another app that's available across platforms is Zagat to Go. This app offers Zagat's signature ratings and reviews of more than 40,000 venues, GPS support for directions and reservations. For devices other than iPhones, there's even a 14-day free trial.

The word most used on vacation seems to be "where." The Where application gives you local insight, with info on weather, news, restaurant reviews, cheap gas and movie show times as well as maps and directions. It's available on BlackBerry, G1 Android, iPhone and Pre. There's also Facebook integration with an app called "Buddy Beacon."

A few apps specifically for the iPhone

Postman (99 cents)

What it is: This app helps you create a digital postcard using photos you have on your iPhone, image templates or your location. Just add text. You can deliver it by e-mail, Facebook, Tumblr or Twitter.

Bottom line: They do look pretty good. It's a cheap way to get pictures and sentiments from your travels to the people you love before you return from the trip. And the app costs less than either the postcard you'd buy, along with postage to send it.

Kids Eat Free (99 cents)

What it is: This app does as it advertises and finds the eateries that offer free food for the kiddies. You can search by location, city or ZIP code. Each entry offers the parameters of the deal, address and phone number. (You might consider calling ahead to make sure the offer hasn't changed.) It also will launch Google Maps for directions.

Bottom line: Kids, precious as they are, can be pricey. The money you save with this app on feeding them could go toward that college fund.

AAA Discounts (Free)

What it is: Except when I'm booking a hotel or stuck on the side of the road, I usually forget to use the benefits of AAA membership. This app helps you to find the spots along your path that offer AAA discounts. Using native location services on the phone, this app has "find me" and "follow me" functions to better identify where you can save along the way. It also gives point-to-point directions. It searches for shopping, dining, lodging, entertainment, health, auto, travel and services, or all of the above. Plus, if you do get stuck on the road and need assistance, instead of having to look up the number you can just tap the app to call for help. 

Bottom line: Who can afford to pass up discounts these days -- plus you're really already paying for the privilege with your annual dues, right?

If you have any favorite apps that make your travels more fun, streamlined or affordable, share them with by tweetin us on @Appiphilia, dropping a line at Facebook or writing a comment below.

Happy Fourth of July weekend!

-- Michelle Maltais

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AT&T sent out a message yesterday to its subscribers touting its new voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation service, operated by TeleNav.

For "just $9.99 a month," the message said, subscribers can "get there faster, safer and without any hassles."

Turns out the monthly fee is a hassle to some. True, AT&T is simply the conduit for the underlying service from TeleNav in Sunnyvale, Calif. But the carrier still is getting some grief from consumers. One reviewer at ComputerWorld argued that the "free" iPhone app was a "Trojan horse into your wallet." (It's free to install but costs $9.99 a month to use.)

The broader question is whether consumers, who have grown used to free or very inexpensive apps that do a dizzying array of high-tech tasks, will still go for a subscription model. For AT&T and TeleNav, their competitors are TomTom, which showed off its turn-by-turn app last month at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference but has yet to announce a pricing structure, and Google Maps, which provides directions for free but doesn't have some of the bells and whistles of TeleNav. There are also the traditional GPS devices, which cost as little as $99.99, no monthly fee required.

Tell us where you would turn for directions. Would you pay 10 bucks a month for a service on your iPhone? Or would a frills-free Google Maps app work just as well?

-- Alex Pham

Today's smart phones can make searching and applying for a job a mobile adventure. Credit: Rick Bowmer / Associated Press

I don't know about you, but I'm a multitasking madwoman. I work hard and require anything I have around me to work at least as hard. I carry both a BlackBerry and an iPhone, and both have to be able to keep up. (Sleep mode is for the weak.)

One of the key things you should be able to do with your smart phone is network. With social networks rising to prominence among the working generations, there are some apps that take advantage of that mode of connection.

Both BlackBerry and iPhone have apps for the requisites of social networking: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter clients.

The iPhone takes the mobile work life a little further. You might just be able to connect with that new gig without even having to look up from your screen -- although most employers rank potential employees a little higher for actual eye contact.

beamME CV ($5.99)

What it is: This app lets you send a resume using e-mail, text message or Twitter. Ultimately, though, the document is delivered by e-mail. The iPhone won’t upload documents directly to Safari, so you have to use a computer for that part. But you can use the iPhone to set up a contact card and customize your "cover letter." The app keeps track of your sending history -- and location, if you turn on that option.

Bottom line: A convenient enough, paperless and relatively low-effort way of responding to the serendipity of job opportunities and following up with your curriculum vitae in real time. The company says the app might be a tax-deductible tool in your job search. (Might want to e-mail, text or tweet your tax advisor on that one, though.)

Resume Pro ($1.99)

What it is: If you haven't had the chance to revamp your resume but need a quick outline of your experience to offer a potential employer, this app helps you create an insta-resume. In other words, you provide the details, add water and send. You could technically excuse yourself from a meeting and, in about five minutes, compile a visually inoffensive presentation.You can even add a photo and references if you wish.

Bottom line: It’s a tad more limited than the other app. The cover letter really is a form letter that you cannot edit -- not ideal when applying for a position. The PDF itself is bare bones but definitely serviceable.

Need others? It seems like there are more iPhone app options than jobs available these days. Here are a few to help with the job search:

• CareerBuilder.com Jobs* (Free)
• iJobs (99 cents)
• JobCompass (Free)
• NowHiring (99 cents)

What apps do you use to make your job easier? Tweet us on @Appiphilia or drop a line at Facebook.

-- Michelle Maltais

*CareerBuilder.com is a joint venture owned by Tribune Co., which publishes the Los Angeles Times; McClatchy Co.; Gannett Inc.; and Microsoft Corp.

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Free app puts a dictionary, thesaurus and pronunciations at your fingertips. Credit: Los Angeles Times

The other day, an acquaintance of mine just throws “fin de siecle” into a regular conversation, like we’re at some Camembert protest in Normandy or something. Seriously, dude, you just got a word-of-the-day calendar?

Then a week later I’m reading a blog – not one of the fun ones, that’s for sure -- and there it is again: fin de siecle.

God, this is all so 2000. But at least I have an iPhone, and on my iPhone is the Dictionary.com app.

Dictionary.com (Free)

What it is: Um, a dictionary? Yeah, but this one pronounces stuff for you, just like the dictionary.com website.

To look up a word or phrase, type as much of it as you know, and it gives you some possibilities. There’s also a thesaurus and – ick – word of the day. And it saves your recent look-ups, in case you need to whip out the iPhone for an “I told you so” moment.

Oh, and despite the fin stuff, it is an English dictionary, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary.

What sizzles: Sizzle might be a little strong. It is a dictionary after all. But I love that it talks. Definitions are easy, but hearing the word is cool.

What fizzles: People who use fin de siecle when talking to me.

Bottom line: Was able to prove to fin-de-siecle dude that he was mispronouncing the Aix in Aix-en-Provence. Win.

What's your favorite dictionary app? Share it in the comments below.

-- Robert Burns

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A view from the door of the line at the AT&T Store on Brand Boulevard at its height. Credit: Michelle Maltais / Los Angeles Times

One was outside the Apple Store that stretched along the edge of the second level of the Glendale Galleria parking structure with tape-marked rows. The other, not even a mile away, had only two guys in green portable chairs and a laptop outside an AT&T store.

About 5:45 a.m., having scoped out both lines, I became the fourth person in the line at the AT&T Store on Brand Boulevard. 

Two hours and 45 minutes earlier, Milton Davila, 19, took his post as the first in line with only a cup of coffee and couple of doughnuts to keep him company. About a half hour later, he was joined by Vartan Nadjaryan, 20, who brought his laptop -- to surf the free Wi-Fi outside the store -- and a fold-up chair. "I basically get a rush out of signing a new contract," Nadjaryan said. "It feels good to get [the new iPhone] on the first day."

Both Davila and the third person in line, Dennis Martin of North Hills, just bought the iPhone 3G for less than a month ago and hurried earlier this week to return them before 30 days passed so they could get its faster successor, with double the memory for the same price.

The customers who pre-ordered get their new phones. Credit: Michelle Maltais / Los Angeles Times

"It was awesome, very addictive! I almost can't live without it," Martin said, who had traded in a Motorola Razr. In the month that he had the iPhone, he has integrated the social networking applications into his daily routine. And texting is something he does regularly. From his Razr, he sent about five text messages a month. But from the iPhone, that number jumped to 1,300."Having the phone allows me to leave my laptop. It's so nice to walk out of the house with nothing else."

By 6:45 a.m., a small line had collected outside the store, but the majority of them had pre-ordered the phone and were there just to pick them up. They were in and out in a flash starting just a few minutes before 7. For the most part, the process moved smoothly -- no real need for the muscled man who stood eyeing the mellow crowd. Despite the relatively anemic turnout at this store, excitement was still coursing, mostly about the new device's speed, video camera and voice control. 

An AT&T employee sifts through the large stack of claim checks for 32 GB iPhone 3G S devices. Credit: Michelle Maltais / Los Angeles Times 

By the time Nadjaryan, Martin and I shot our first videos and determined whether we were facing north or northwest, the entire line fit inside the doors of the dimly lit store. We were all done before the sun had broken through the marine layer.

Meanwhile, back at the mall, groups of about 30 at a time were moved forward to the next of the three waiting locations. Inside the store, amid the bright fluorescent lighting and music, was a flurry of activity -- employees activated phones, pointed out accessories and some customers gave fist bumps, took pictures of each other holding their new phones and tested out the voice controls.  

By about 9 a.m., customers were still gathered outside the Galleria in the parking structure, but nowhere near the lines of tape that extended about 100 yards into the lonely reaches of the garage. Apple employees had wheeled out a cart with bottles of water for those waiting. I chatted with a few folks who were looking forward to trading in their manhandled Razrs for the new hotness. Even Mais Matevaosyan, who spent the majority of his time in line complaining about AT&T service and reception, was excited. Matevaosyan said he contends with about 20 dropped calls a day.

Meanwhile, back at the AT&T Store, it was business as usual -- no lines, no crowds, no hoopla.

-- Michelle Maltais

The time every iPhone owner has been waiting for is here. No, not the launch of the iPhone 3G S -- that's Friday.

The third major software update, iPhone 3.0, is available for download through iTunes -- free for iPhone owners and $9.95 for iPod Touch users.

Of course, we've been testing betas of the new version for more than a month. Not to rub it in or anything. But that means we've had plenty of time to try it out in real-life scenarios. We'll tell you what shines and what gets forgotten.

Cut, copy and paste: It's pretty sad when a feature that's been in most smart phones for years (and just about every computer for decades) is the biggest news. But lo and behold, we're actually getting excited for copying text or photos and pasting them into other programs.

All jokes aside, the feature is well executed. Double click or hold your finger down on a word, and up pops a small window asking whether you want to cut or copy the text. You can drag ...

... the blue dots at either corner of the highlight box to grab a larger block of text. Navigate to where you want it pasted, and do the same finger trick to paste.

Finally! We found this to be the most useful addition overall.

Spotlight search: Located at the top of most apps, including Mail, iPod and Notes, is a search bar. There's also a universal search that scours most of the files on your phone. Like on the Mac, results are displayed in seconds.

Still, we found ourselves using this considerably less than expected. Maybe we're just used to going to the Phone application to dial a contact or flip through the home menus to find an app. Maybe we're just not fast enough with the iPhone's virtual keyboard to want to use it for every function.

But for the times when you're really not sure where something is on your phone -- say, that e-mail from your boss that you got a couple of weeks ago -- it's handy. And the ability to search e-mail that's stored on the server (rather than on your phone) is great -- just too bad Microsoft Exchange doesn't support it.

The iPhone's landscape keyboard. Credit: Apple

Landscape keyboard: The wider keyboard that gets activated in the Safari Web browser when you turn the phone on its side has been rolled out to a lot more apps. This is a crucial addition in text-input-heavy apps, like Mail and Notes.

Voice Memos: What's this? A new app! Sure, Apple could've just left it up to some enterprising third-party developer to slap together a voice recorder. But why let them have all the fun?

The new app displays a microphone graphic that shows a sound levels readout, which changes depending on how loud it is at your location.

You've got a record button and another button that lists previous recordings that can be edited within the app. Completed sound snippets get synchronized with iTunes and show up in a playlist called Voice Memos.

The fidelity of the audio recordings is surprisingly good. Very handy for reporting. Seriously, we've considered replacing our field recorder with this.

Sure, it's another feature that phones have had for many years. So if Apple is going to take this long to get it in there, we're glad they did it right.

Other additions: Apple has tweaked some things here and there that you're bound to notice. But they won't drastically change the way you use the phone.

For example, the iPod app has Shake to Shuffle -- a feature recently added to the iPod Nano. This is particularly useful when you're working in another app and want to switch your music to the next song. You can double tap the home button, shake the device, then return to what you were doing. Cha, cha, cha!

The Stocks app now has business news and a more detailed stock ticker. Automatic log-in for Wi-Fi is handy, and auto-fill for Safari, which remembers user names and passwords, is even nicer.

Some of the biggest changes, however, won't come into play for presumably a more few days, as developers release updates to their apps. IPhone 3.0 opens a bunch of new features for third parties to take advantage of.

Soon, ESPN will be able to use push notifications to display score updates or audio alerts even when the app is closed. Twitter apps could pop up a text overlay when you receive a new direct message on the service.

You'll also be able to purchase small additions, like new vehicles or levels in games, through the App Store. Developers can also tap into the Google Maps library of information to offer geographical information.

Those features AT&T won't let us have: Finally, we have multimedia messaging (MMS) and Internet tethering. Or rather, we don't have them.

These two features won't be available for American consumers for some time, but many of our international brethren can already take advantage of them. Don't call us bitter.

OK, yeah, we're bitter.

AT&T says MMS for iPhone is coming before the end of the summer. Before long, you'll be able to send and receive goofy snapshots, videos, audio snippets and location data to and from your friends.

As for tethering, which lets you hook up your phone's 3G Internet connection to your computer to browse the Web, AT&T is mulling over its options -- which will probably include charging a premium for it.

But we hear whispers that some folks have discovered that you can hook it up for free right now by downloading a small patch on your phone. Of course, that's not supported by either AT&T or Apple, so you'll have to decide whether it's worth the risk. And if you think it is, the hack probably won't last very long.

-- Mark Milian

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Credit: Kevin Thrash / Bloomberg News

Being the new kid in school can be challenging -- especially if the other kids are way ahead of you in their lessons and achievements.

So is the case with Palm's new Pre smartphone. Particularly in terms of apps, it's hard to compete with the memory of Palm predecessors, who practically invented the notion of apps, let alone the valedictorian -- the iPhone, with more than 50,000 apps available to its users.

The Pre catalog is still in beta, with lots of room to grow -- especially in the gaming category. Right now, a number of categories are already listed, even if there isn't yet a critical mass of apps to fill them without multiple redundancies. And many of the offerings, like the ones reviewed below, have already debuted on other devices such as iPhone and Blackberry.

Downloading is fast and easy. You get the option of immediately launching them after download or of continuing to browse without exiting the catalog.

This to me was most notable: Being able to open and operate multiple apps at the same time is very user-friendly. Most people living a digital life have one thing in mind: multi-tasking.

All of that understood, we scanned its nascent catalog and picked out a few to try out.

Pandora (Free) 

What it is: A personalized radio station streamed to your device

Bottom line: The Pre's interface allows the app to continue playing your tunes even as your attention shifts to another app or function. The tiny "P" icon sits in the bottom right corner and lets it launch an unobtrusive strip from which you can pause and play and vote up or down the songs it selects for you, without having to open the app.

Fandango (Free)

What it is: Movie listings

Bottom line: The app offers movie listings, trailers and photos, and uses the internal GPS to locate nearby theaters. The interface is nice and clean for the most part. On the same screen, you can twirl down movies opening this week and what's been popular. Buying a ticket is fairly straight forward, although I did want to be able to tap a time directly from the list of offerings under the movie and just buy the ticket. Unfortunately there weren't many theaters in my area that would let me buy tickets through Fandango.

Flixster (Free)

What it is: Movie listings

Bottom line: Like the Fandango app, Flixster includes movie listings and trailers. The app lets users list the movies by title, box-office popularity or viewer ratings -- Pre users can set in preferences to get ratings by Flixster reviewers or Rotten Tomatoes. In addition, this app offers a movie synopsis, links to related movie sites and lists DVDs that are available, with user ratings. I immediately loved the fact that you can, with a tap, set up a movie date in your calendar. It gives directions to the theater using Google Maps. A plus here is that this app doesn't open additional cards. It does the work within the app. As with Fandango, finding theaters that would be nearby to buy tickets was a challenge.

Tweed (Free)

What it is: Twitter client

Bottom line: Like many useful mobile Twitter clients, Tweed lets users log in to multiple Twitter accounts. Search is fairly simple, as is keeping up on trending topics, re-tweets, replies and direct messages. You can also change the font size, which is nice for those of us going blind from looking at these small screens all day. Users get a notification at the bottom of the screen about replies, for example, when another app is prominent. All that's great, but I'm not wild about having separate pages, or "cards" as the Palm folks call them, for the separate accounts. I want the app to multi-task for me, not me for it.

Sporting News Baseball (Free)

What it is: Sports fix in your hand.

Bottom line: As with Sporting News' apps for other devices, this one includes just about all the sporting news a baseball fan could handle. You can select your favorite teams and key players for quick access to their news and stats. The app also offers in-game updates. Tapping into the Pre's WebOS, the app lets you add your favorite team's calendar to the device's calendar app -- probably my favorite feature, since I can look one place to find out whether my movie date is going to conflict with a Dodger game.

-- Michelle Maltais

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If you're still lamenting the face-off that wasn't -- LeBron versus Kobe -- or can't hang with stress of the down-to-the-minute games, you could whip out your iPhone or iPod Touch and challenge your friends to a game of horse or schoolyard shootout.

We checked out three gaming options:

Flick NBA Basketball ($1.99)

What it is: You have a choice of five different games. There's 3-point shootout, horse, hotshot, long shot and ball spin. Played in portrait mode, you sink a shot with a finger flick, or stroke, on the screen.

What sizzles: I love that, in "versus" mode, I can be Kobe and take on LeBron, Shaq, Yao Ming, Kevin Garnett and other league stars, like in the screengrab at the right. 

And, Superman, you can let your own theme music play in the background if you're feeling like "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka."

Ball spin for me was the most challenging. You have to steady yourself and orient your phone. The accelerometer picks up even the slightest shift one way or another. Eventually, I reached a junior Globetrotter proficiency.

What fizzles: Shooting in the shootout and horse when you're about to switch locations seems a bit twitchy -- that's my story for missing the shot every time, anyway. The perspective shifts just as the ball leaves your hands, so it's hard to compensate.

Bottom line: In five games for the price of one, you can do your best Kobe and sink every three-pointer  -- or your best Shaq and choke on the free throws.

More games after the time-out...

Hoopster Basketball ($1.99)

What it is: Players can either take quick shots in a minute and a half from nine random locations around the court or do an untimed practice shoot-around. Played in landscape mode, the game lets you know when you're on a hot streak, sinking shot after shot -- and on a cold streak, hurling brick after brick.

What sizzles: This game uses the accelerometer to align the shot and lets you vary the power level of your throw. It has three levels -- rookie, intermediate and pro. You can also adjust the player speed. There's picture-in-picture, with a view of where you're shooting from and from right over the basket, when you're taking a longer shot. There's also a free "lite" version, which is just the shoot around. 

Using the arrows to "dribble," you can move into or away from the basket to better position your shot.

And for those of you competitive creatures, the scoreboard tracks your score and whether you qualify for the Hoopster World Top 10.

What fizzles: I found this game a little twitchy, too, about that last shot before you move to a different location. (Of course, it could be my rookie technique.)

You can listen to your own tunes as well, but you might just find out that digital music can actually skip.

Bottom line: It's a decent game that requires you to gauge power and compensate for distance, but not as much of a value as the five-for-one game. It's nice that there's free version, though.

iBasketball (Free)

What it is: Played in portrait mode, iBasketball offers you the option of playing or practicing. Unlike the other two games, you're playing on an outside court in the neighborhood, complete with colorful graffiti, chain-link net and paint-faded backboard. You shoot by flicking the iPhone or iPod Touch itself. You get five shots from each position. There are two online games -- Horse and Around the Arc.

What sizzles: The street-ball feel of the game was a nice touch. The online mano-a-mano option gets those competitive juices flowing. An online opponent showed up fairly swiftly and the timed Around the Arc went fast, too -- a minute and a half for both players.

What fizzles: Since the game is free, it includes ads stripped across the bottom -- not horribly intrusive. The game gets a tad tedious -- especially in a round of Horse against an online player. There are only so many positions you can choose to shoot from.

Bottom line: The price is right for this one. A good time-out distraction, but nothing to work up a sweat over. It might get old after a while.

-- Michelle Maltais

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Behind the scenes of "American Idol" during Season 2 in 2003. Credit: David Strick / For The Times

Soon, the seats in Idoldome will empty. The elaborate set will be dismantled. And the haunting strains of the singers and synthesizer that begin "American Idol" will become a mere echo. 

What's a couch-bound Idol addict to do until January? Apparently, Electronic Arts and the producers of the popular variety show competition think you should try your hand at sliding your way into the "American Idol" top spot with a new iPhone app: American Idol: The Game. This is the show's second foray into the app world.

Initially, when I saw the game, I cleared my throat and sat up straight. My hope was that you'd somehow have to sing into your phone, like a karaoke version of the Ocarina app, and do battle with friends and judges.

Unfortunately, I have to wait a bit longer for that dream to come true. This game is more about timing, agility and the accelerometer than tone, interpretation and meter. 

But when the app launched and I saw that Idol opening sequence, with the faces of Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and my all-time favorite, David Cook, flashing by, it gave me hope that this game might fill the emptiness left by the season's close.

Here's how we voted for the American Idol game. After the break (I mean the jump) ...

American Idol: The Game ($2.99)

What it is: A tilt-and-tap game wrapped up in a super-sized serving of "American Idol" nostalgia. You can play full seasons from audition to finals, or quick rounds -- lil' rounds, if you will. In addition to hitting the notes, you can get points by accomplishing tasks that boost your style, fame or talent.

What sizzles: First off, Ryan Seacrest is in your iPhone. (That might be a fizzle for some, but for Idol fans it's like a big helping of ice cream or mashed potatoes -- comfort food.) His halting "This. ... Is American Idol" greets gamers. Clips from the show are interspersed at the appropriate levels with comments from Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. You even get your very own "Welcome to Hollywood, baby!"

The game plays a bit like the union of Tap Tap Revenge and Super Monkey Ball. At first glance, it looks a lot easier than it was for me. Your star literally has to rise and fall to hit the notes, again literally. Since the targets don't correlate with where the notes truly appear on the screen (a lower note could be higher on the screen than a higher one before it, for instance), anyone with musical training will have to suppress their natural inclinations to do well at the game.

In the tutorial -- the audition phase -- you get to experience the pain of the judges. The singing there is slightly tormented, and you are introduced to some odd characters that you encounter throughout the game.

You get points for how you reply to the judges, fellow contestants, fans and reporters.

The judges offer you comments on your performance. And not everything is rosy. I got dissed a couple of times. Randy wasn't "feelin' it, dawg." And ever-supportive Simon said, "It just wasn't anywhere near as good as the last two weeks."

The arrangement of the notes does provide you a bit of a challenge. If you don't hit them, there is no voice. And how sad is a song without a voice?

Despite encountering the same 10 songs a few times, I never quite mastered the "Material Girl" track.

What fizzles: First off, the game is fat. It's a whopping 412 MB, and the download takes quite a while. It integrates tons of video clips from the show and has its own video menus to work your way through the game. So that excuses its girth. 

Despite all the familiar features and the fact that the opening looks exactly the same, the music you hear when the app launches sounds completely unfamiliar. It's a bit of a letdown. But what the game lacks there it makes up for in cheese. Cheesy characters, lines and music are served up in decent helpings here. All mostly tongue in cheek.

A fizzle for my editor, who has a tiny Idol crush, is that there's no Kara DioGuardi in this game -- just Randy, Paula and Simon. (One might wonder whether that bodes anything for her future, but clearly the elves have been working on this for a while, piecing appropriate video clips together. And she got to the show only this year. All of the clips were from previous seasons.)

Ultimately, the game gets tedious. The season version of the game, I suppose, must be meant to be played a week at a time -- that way you probably wouldn't get tired of the 10 tracks you hear over and over again. At about the top-six mark, in fact, I had hoped to get voted off myself -- I mean, I'd made it into the top 10, so we're already going to go on tour, right? Plus, I really wanted to take characters Michael and Blessing with me too. The others aren't nearly as annoying.

It took so long to get through the game that I figured the show's Season 8 winner might actually have a platinum album before I finished it. Finally, after I put in all the effort and time to tilt my way into the top two, I was a tad put out that I was voted off and didn't make it into the final. To have to go through all of that again hardly seems worth it. I think I'll stick to quick play.

One blessing is that you can turn off the background music and still enjoy most of the game. And at least you can tap through the cut scenes and tasks.

Note to the developers: What might be fun is to get to play other people either via Wi-Fi or over the Internet in mini-rounds and let others vote. Have Simon hurl random insults, Paula bestow affirmations and Randy toss a dawg a bone or two.

Bottom line: I still am pulling for an interactive karaoke version of an "American Idol" game. But at least this one, with hearty helpings of Ryan and the judges, takes long enough that it can get fans through the long dry season until Idol returns. Then again, you could just hit the Top 10 tour or replay the shows stored on your DVR instead.

-- Michelle Maltais

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Of course, in preparation for a more serious temblor or disaster, you can check out apps that are made for emergencies, including a GPS locator.

Epicentral (Free)

What it is: The app pulls data from the U.S. Geological Survey page, lists it and plots it on a map. There are links to the USGS page, related Google News (say "California" and "earthquake") and Google Maps to plot the longitude and latitude of the quake and maybe even get directions to the epicenter. When you relaunch, it alerts you to the last update and prompts you to update from the latest USGS feed.

Bottom line: It takes a little time -- like 10 to 30 seconds -- to unpack and sort all the data it collects. But, hey, it's free.

Earthquakes (99 cents)
What it is: List of latest quakes with details and link to the USGS. The magnitudes are color coded.

Bottom line: Good for quick, basic info. Data updates with latest information from the USGS. A little confusing because it doesn't seem to use a local time zone for the phone.

Seismometer (99 cents)
What it is: Truth in advertising here: It's a seismometer. You can add a high-pass filter and adjust the sampling frequency, scale and measuring axis.

Bottom line: Not sure about you, but when I'm dashing for a doorway or desk, I'm not particularly inclined to tap an app on my iPhone to watch some lines move -- I'm too busy noticing the windows rattling. But maybe you're just a quake junkie who has to see the visuals on how a quake registers. It also works for heartbeats, by the way.

iFeltThat ($2.99)
What it is: Tracks shakers from the northern to the southern hemisphere and breaks them down by regions of interest.

Bottom line: I love that it figures out how far you are from the registered epicenter. It also updates in the event the quake is downgraded or location is updated. You can click to check the USGS site, plot the epicenter in the native Google Maps app or e-mail the info and a map link to a friend. It would be nice, though, to see where other people using the app felt the shaking.

Mappity Quakes ($4.99)
What it is: Maps quakes by time and magnitude.

Bottom line: Yeah, it costs a bit more, but it's also got a little bit more. The app lets you be the epicenter of interest using the internal GPS to list and plot on the map the closest, but it also links to USGS site's "Did you feel it?" area to log your report and to Twitter (the iPhone-optimized Twitter search page) and Google News for more info about your chosen shaker. Although, for $5, it might be nice to have a Twitter client included.

Have you tried any of these? Share your preferred apps for natural disasters in the comments area below.

-- Michelle Maltais

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For about $30, you can sling your TV shows, DVR recordings or other at-home media to your iPhone and iPod Touch anywhere you want. But you can do it only if you're using a Wi-Fi connection -- not AT&T's 3G mobile network.

That's a bit of a letdown for Slingbox users who have been waiting for the functionality ever since the iPhone was introduced -- and for at least six weeks since the app was submitted for approval.

However, a clause in AT&T's terms of service, under the section detailing permissible and prohibited uses, outlines that activities such as redirection of television signals "cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited."

Mark Siegel, a spokesman in Atlanta for AT&T's mobility business, said that redirecting a TV signal would consume very large amounts of bandwidth and could potentially impede other wireless phone users from accessing the network. "It is one thing to redirect an actual TV signal to a PC or a smartphone ... and another going to Hulu" to watch TV, he said. (Of course, Hulu uses a Flash player that is currently unavailable to iPhone/iPod users anyway.)

But he did point out that iPhone 3G customers have free access to AT&T's 20,000 U.S. hot spots and 80,000 outside the country. 

Sling said it hoped to continue to work with Apple and AT&T on making 3G transmission a possibility.

Anyway, the app has finally arrived, and I gave it a spin using a Slingbox Pro-HD set up on a Scientific Atlanta digital cable box. After the jump, Appiphilia's take. ...

SlingPlayer Mobile ($29.99)

What sizzles: Here's an app you couldn't possibly expect to cost in the single-digit dollars range that most Appiphiliacs have come to see almost as a right. It's a robust utility that is worth a bit more for its convenience and sophistication.

You can log in to your Sling Account and access your Sling directory listing the boxes you have linked to your account. If you have a box linked to another e-mail address, you can also access it with little effort.

When changing channels, you can tap the remote, set up recordings and access, and control content on your DVR (if you have that set up in the Slingbox directory on your computer).

• Video: The video quality was pretty darn crisp and the audio pristine. You can actually see the difference between high-def and standard-def on the iPhone as well. Just like on the desktop version, you can adjust the input, such as cable, antenna or DVR. The app allows you to shift between standard and high quality and adjust between letterbox and standard. 

• Customization: A nice addition is that you can set a "home channel." That means it will always launch that channel when you start up the iPhone app. Sports fans, that might be ESPN or your team's home channel. There's also a favorites setting. Just as with favorites on your TV remote, you can set them up on the app and put them in a chosen order. It will pick up on favorites set on the PC player. (Although that functionality isn't yet available for Mac, Sling said it's in the works.)

• Legacy boxes: Earlier in the app's journey from submission to availability, Sling announced that owners of older SlingBoxes (e.g. the Classic, AV and Tuner) would have to upgrade to Solo or Pro-HD boxes to use the iPhone app -- it even offered a $50 discount. (An outlay of another few hundred dollars was not a popular idea with that crowd.) But don't fret: The company says the app will work with what you've got, though it may not be "officially supported." So don't expect technical service if you have problems using these boxes, say, with software and firmware upgrades.

What fizzles: While it's great having the app at all, the Wi-Fi restriction does limit its use. (Clearly, Sling was hoping and expecting to be able to offer 3G access until the very last. The help menu suggests connecting to a 3G network whenever possible to optimize streaming.) If you're dependent on Wi-Fi, why would you need your iPhone or iPod to view it? Why not just whip out your laptop?

Anyway, so parents hoping to sneak in a glimpse at the Anthony Bourdain or "America's Next Top Model" marathon while spending all day at the soccer field, sorry. 

• Screen control: While the remote overall is easy enough to use, touching the screen, even to sweep away some schmutz, can unintentionally change the channel. If you remember that the touchscreen shortcuts are active, they're actually pretty helpful. Sweep up to go to the next higher channel, sweep down to go the one before it. Sweep right to left for your favorites to launch in the order you have set up. A little dust on the screen helped me to accidentally shift from "Monk" (USA) to "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" (MSNBC). Swift, huh?

• Screen size: I don't know about you, but I say bigger is always better when it comes to TV images. The viewing area is currently 4:3, which is a bit small. Sling says one of its first updates, possibly this summer, will be to get near-widescreen display. There will be very small bars on the top and bottom since the iPhone/iPod screen itself is actually 3:2.

Bottom line: Even with Wi-Fi only, the app will probably have pretty decent reception. But many users will still want the option of another channel -- 3G.

Have you used the app? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

-- Michelle Maltais

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Here is what I'm calling the "mother" of ideas of what you can do with iPhones and iPod Touches for your maternal girl.

Manual dexterity: First, Mom, look away. My technophile mother is absolutely in love with her iPhone,although she is still wondering what an iPod is since she uses her iPhone for everything except music. But with any great romance, there is often some conflict keeping them apart. For her, it is the inability to tap easily. You see, my mom is an ultra-glam gram with her acrylic nails and misses her Palm -- or even her Nokia -- for the ease of typing. So this year, she will be jazzed to get a Pogo stylus -- and matching case, of course -- for a mum's day gift to help with the iPhone fingernail problem.

The stylus comes with a travel clip to help keep from losing the slim accessory. The challenge there is that to use the clip, you really have to forgo a case. But in my family, we don't do naked iPhones or iPods. (It's unseemly and just asking for trouble.)

So, to accommodate the dueling desires for protection and practicality, I got an inexpensive neoprene case and carefully cut openings for both ends of the clip. (Although, it would be nice to have a clip option that could fit over a slim case without breaking.)

Come snow or fashion show, Mom’s ready to carefully – and more accurately – tap to her heart’s content.

On becoming a mother: Moms-to-be have many app options in celebrating the many miraculous months ahead. One app that can expand on the joy the new parents are experiencing is iPregnancy ($2.99). This app will help you calculate your due date, track body changes from ...

... trimester to trimester, keep on top of medical appointments, pick out a name for the little darling. All the info you need to have handy -- hospital, doctor's name and numbers -- can be entered in the settings area.

The one thing I think is missing is the ability to add your own pregnancy photos -- of baby (ultrasound) and the growing mommy.  Maybe that will be in version 2.0, which the stork will be delivering soon, according to the site.

Taking care of business: Many moms have always been another three-letter word for their families -- CEO. Sometimes their mates are forgetful or distracted, and children command attention. Dinner isn't going to be made -- but reservations can by using OpenTable (free). This way the mom whose day you're celebrating doesn't have to know you totally spaced or ran out of time to plan better.

The app can help you find the 100 closest eateries and check availability. You can drill down by cuisine and price as well. It will give you driving directions -- and you can send out e-mail with the reservation details to your friends and family, as if you had planned it that way from the start. (Just make sure to set up an account before you try to use it last minute.)

How does your garden grow: Who doesn't like getting flowers? Well, those of us with allergies. But the Flower Garden app ($1.99) lets you grow a virtual garden. You could load this app on Mom's 'pod or phone -- give her the experience of a garden though she has a concrete yard -- or send her "a bouquet of cuttings" via e-mail from your virtual garden of more than 20 seed types. The 3D flowers grow before your very eyes at different rates and respond to touch. This is my kind of garden -- one that I can't kill.

Of course, the iPhone hasn't yet begun to offer scratch and sniff technology. If the virtual bouquet doesn't go over as well as you hoped -- but Mom, it's environmentally friendly! -- you can't beat the real deal. For that, you can tap out an order for fast-delivered flowers and gifts with the 1800flowers app (free). 

Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Edible offerings: Breakfast in bed is a staple of Mother's Day -- not merely a perk, but a requirement. You could always go with the Epicurious app (free) or Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner (free), which are both amazing cooking resources. The Epi app boasts a database of more than 25,000 tested recipes, lets you create a shopping list and share recipes. The Dinner Spinner represents more of a kitchen democracy: recipes and responses from home cooks. This app employs the shake-and-bake approach. That is to say, you shake the phone to find what you'll be baking. Adds that sense of adventure for the casual chef.

Relaxation: Moms are always so thrilled when a new animal is added to the family. (The more the merrier, right?) But these additions won't require cleaning the tank or feeding. Koi Pond (99 cents), one of the top 50 paid apps right now, brings the beauty and serenity of nature to your hand. You can add different layers of sound such as rainstorms, frogs and birds. Just listening to it is relaxing. Tap the water, and it responds -- you hear a splash, see a ripple and the fish swims away. Mom can give herself a timeout to recenter herself.

To quote the old Eddy Arnold ode: Put them all together they spell "mother," a word that means the world to us.

-- Michelle Maltais

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For those of us who hear the echo of electric guitar licks and can see smoke wafting upward from an aircraft carrier upon hearing the words “top gun,” the newly released game from Paramount Digital Entertainment allows us to live out an adolescent fantasy -- taking out bogeys with Iceman and Maverick.

This is the sixth title the group has released in the year it’s been turning some of its earlier movie franchises into games for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Among its other titles are Iron Man: Aerial Assault (99 cents), Days of Thunder (99 cents) and School of Rock (99 cents).

According to Matt Candler, vice president of interactive development at Paramount, there’s been a huge learning curve from the group’s first game, Saturday Night Fever (99 cents) and its best-selling Shooter (99 cents).

“We thought Saturday Night Fever fit better with casual gamers,” he said. As it turned out, the musical game space was already being dominated by games such as Tap Tap Revenge (free).

In terms of looking forward, Candler spoke eagerly about the release of iPhone OS 3.0 and ...

... the possibility of offering new levels without having to remake the entire game -- and the ever-important ability to monetize it. “It’s mostly the ability to extend [the games] -- and quickly be able to do that.”

After 3.0 comes out, gamers should expect about four or five more titles this year from Paramount. Among the titles will be a puzzle game building on its Mean Girls franchise, Candler said. Also, for fans of Marvel Comics, look in the near future for the Hulk and several others born out of the Justice League -- possibly Thor.

Candler, who previously spent several years at Activision, said the big draw to the iPhone as a gaming platform was the lack of real file-size restrictions and the accessibility of 3-D. They are considering Android and RIM platforms down the road, but the file-size restrictions and graphic limitations are a deterrent.

Of course, the lithe group isn’t just focused on games for smartphones and mobile devices. Candler says they’ve been moving on to the console, with games set to launch for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this year and for the PC, Wii and Nintendo DS next year. Paramount Digital already announced Star Trek DAC for Xbox and PS 3 will be coming soon to a console near you.

And now for the review...

Top Gun ($1.99)

What it is: You're the new maverick at the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, a.k.a. Top Gun Academy. Iceman and Maverick are your instructors. On your 10 missions, you're flying craft such as the F-22 Raptor and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, but still weaving out of the way of incoming missiles and knocking out enemy MiGs. 

What sizzles: The game works in nods to those of us who have seen the movie way too many times to admit in public. Familiar characters pop in to ride you and pat you on the back for your reckless flying. The music is reminiscent of the '80s movie's theme song and anthem. (If you listen very carefully, you can hear that it's not an exact replica of the movie's music.)

The missions are carried out in different environments with obstacles and targets in the air and on the ground: oceans, deserts, canyons and city centers, both during the day and at night. The graphics really are engaging, with the light effects mirroring the time of day and the angle of the plane.

In my playing as "Chelle Shock," flying became progressively more manageable. Being able to calibrate the device within each level is a nice perk, meaning you can shift your body orientation while playing without a true interruption. You could even play lying on your back if you wanted to.

I like being able to tackle the missions in either Story Mode (to follow the story arc and mission progression) and Instant Action (to replay completed missions).

Each completed mission unlocks the next. You earn medals, too, as you complete feats and missions. Missions and medals are marked "classified" until you've earned access.

The cut scenes are a nice inclusion. You'll notice that you can still control your plane while in the intra-level cut scenes during the action. Targeted bogeys will still blow up as well in these different camera angles.

The game has a decent rock soundtrack that goes beyond the remade movie songs. But you can listen to the soundtrack of your choice. The music on your iPod will play through while you're playing the game if you're listening to it when you launch the app. I had a truly surreal '80s experience listening to Madonna's "Everybody" while chilling with Mav and Iceman.

Although I'm still stuck on Mission 3 -- Rules of Engagement -- navigation comes fairly naturally. The flying is on rails, so bad drivers like me won't crash into the hillside or the ocean. You'll be shot out of the sky, but you won't crash. Of course, you can eject, but you won't earn your Purple Heart.

What fizzles: A little nostalgia goes a long way when it comes to the danger zone stuff. The areas to avoid are "danger zones," so they flash on the screen all the time. Plus, the "Danger Zone"-styled music is nice, but not something I wanted to spend as much time with.  

Bottom line: You get to buzz the tower -- who doesn't want to do that? But being a Maverick in training, fliers might want the ability to go off the rails a little more every once in a while.

Corrected, 11:13 a.m. Thursday: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this post misidentified Tap Tap Revenge as Tap Tap Revenue.

-- Michelle Maltais

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We gave Bento a taste test today.

Bento ($4.99)

What it is: A multitasking database, a portable version of its Mac-based software.

What sizzles: First off, the interface is very familiar -- it feels very much like iTunes. Bento offers you ready-to-use tools at your fingertips. The templates include options for business owners and casual users. So you can tap out invoices or keep track of vehicle maintenance.

I liked the idea of starting with a clean slate. So with a series of taps and using a "blank" template, I set up a database for my "day job" -- managing editorial broadcast relationships for this news outlet. Using a blank template, I created fields for names, news stations, dates and times as well as a rating system for the appearance. This will help me keep track of who's been where -- and maybe to prove to the bosses that I actually do more than just play with iPhone apps all day.

Because I'm all about customizing, I also was able to tweak one of the app's existing 25 templates -- Diet Log. Following the idea that you are what you eat, I decided to add the ability to add photos of my meals. I can now take a picture while in the app and add it to the list of meals consumed.

And, for those of us with the Bento software on our Macs, it can sync with minimal initial setup via Wi-Fi. So at home, riding on the same network as my laptop, I synced the Bento applications on both devices. And voila! The pics of my meals were there in the diet log on my laptop in living color to taunt me later. (I did have some trouble at work with setting up a network to sync between laptop and device, but that's probably a workplace issue.)

One nice thing is that the app can, indeed, happily exist on its own without ever syncing to a desktop version.

What fizzles: I'm a Mac user in my personal life, so for me this one is more of a mini-fizzle, in spirit: For PC users, there is no desktop counterpart with which to sync. PC users who use Bento on their iPods and iPhones may feel a bit left out; of course, FileMaker now offers an iPhone template that lets you publish its databases to the Web in the iPhone format. 

At some point, maybe it will integrate the ability to record audio and attach it to relevant databases.

Bottom line: This app appears to be a robust portable version of its Mac software, with a lot of variety for the ultra-organized or for those of us just struggling to get it together.

-- Michelle Maltais

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