Notes Design

An off-the-cuff review of apps I downloaded in iTunes yesterday. Ratings are based on usability and utility (or enjoyment).

• Remote – Allows you to control your desktop computer's iTunes via Bluetooth wi-fi. Can't get the thing to work, and apparently I'm not the only one from all the discussion I've seen. Update: Finally got Remote working. This is awesome. Rating: 5 out of 5!
• Band - Play and record instruments such as piano, drums, and guitar with multi-touch. Rating: 3.5 out of 5
• PayPal – Nearly worthless. The only two things you can do are send payments and check your balance. How about being able to view and search history of payments? And why isn't a mobile web app good enough to do all this? Rating: 1 out of 5
• Twitterrific – So, this is the bomb on the desktop from what I've heard. I don't know if the UI for the iPhone version is the same as that of the desktop, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to use it; doesn't seem very intuitive. I remain a fan of the simplicity in m.twitter.com but welcome being convinced otherwise. Rating: 3 out of 5
• Starmap – Disclaimer: I'm a huge fan of constellations. I can point out about a dozen in the summer sky. Naturally, this app appeals to me. What's interesting is everything looked dim when I first opened the app, until I realized it's meant to be viewed in low-level light (duh, at night). View by constellation name, star name, and more. Rating: 4 out 5
• Checkout SmartShop – This is an interesting one. Get pricing online and offline, reviews, and more by simply entering the barcode of nearly any product. This will no doubt come in handy when shopping around town, as I've already done this many times using amazon.mobi and the like. Only complaint is that it'd be much easier if I could snap a picture of the barcode and have the info pull up. Rating: 3.5 out of 5
• Labyrinth – Old news for any of you with a jailbroken iPhone. My boys enjoy playing this one. I was surprised to see how responsive and sensitive the accelerometer is. Rating: 3.5 out of 5
• BoxOffice – Showtimes for local movie theaters, rating scores from Rotten Tomatoes, and a few other things. Rotten Tomatoes desperately needs a mobile version of their site, and I was hoping this app would be a suitable substitute. Not the case, as it shows only number ratings and not critic reviews. Not bad, however, for an app that doesn't cost anything. Rating: 3 out of 5

What's on your iPhone?