This is Tech

Apple’s iPhone App Store rolls out today, which means we will finally get a look at the breadth and quality of applications that have been developed.

The launch applications for the App Store are less ambitious than I had hoped. There are around 500 applications available, many of which are eBooks of classic literature. Hopefully the interface on these eBooks is something special, because the same books can be read on the iPhone for free by browsing to project Gutenberg using Safari.

Among the most interesting apps are those that tap into the iPhone’s geolocative captivities.

The Most Interesting:

• Loopt. Loopt is one of the more ambitious iPhone applications, allowing you to track the location of friends, among other things.

• Pandora Radio and AOL Radio. AOL Radio and Pandora are both excellent services. Having access to them on the iPhone will be great.

• Remote. This application allows you to control your desktop iTunes playback using your iPhone. This might be a nice alternative to an expensive system like Sonos.

Worst iPhone Apps:

• Phone Saber. This application appears to make light saber noises when you move your iPhone around.

[Update: I just saw that Mike Arrington at TechCrunch thinkgs this is going to be a sleeper hit. I hope he is joking. I love Star Wars too, but come on. Using the iPhone SDK to create a crazy expensive version of a toy, is a waste of the opportunity that Apple gave developers. They have greeting cards with enough processing power to make these noises. The iPhone can handle 3d graphics, has network functionality and GPS, and you use the SDK to create a program that makes noises when you shake the phone. Am I alone in thinking this is lame?]

• Quick Light / Flashlight. These two applications make your screen light up so you can use your iPhone as a flashlight. I know this might be usefull for some people, but seriously, this is embarrassing.

• Cow Toss. This application is a picture of a cow that you can drag with your finger to throw the cow. WTF.