For my birthday last year, my wife (a sweetheart) bought me an iPhone.  While I thought that the iPhone would have third-party applications last year, around October, but instead there was just an announcement stating that Apple would allow applications sometime in the future.  Then again a few months later with my hopes high, it did not happen in March like I hoped.  But finally a little over twenty-four hours ago the Apple opened the App Store.  Now finally, I can load third-party apps on my phone without hacking by using some warranty voiding method, not that I was not tempted a few times.  

There is quite a variety (over 500) of applications at Apple’s iTunes store and I have downloaded a several already.  Some are good some have questionable value.  One in the later category is Saber Phone which simulates a Star Wars light saber.  It did bring big smiles to the kids face and we had a few laughs but I do not see this one lasting on my phone very long.  On the other end of the scale I have been playing a game and I am not by nature a gamer.  What is this wast of time that has caught my interest, Super Monkey Ball.  The game is played by rolling a ball that contains a monkey through mazes that become quite challenging fast.  And currently I am stuck at level seven.

Besides being a fun game to play, the quality is amazing.  The graphics are stunning and I find the physics of using the phones motion sensors to control by tilting and shifting the game very entertaining.  The one need that the game does not fill that I wanted is a game that I could play when I am waiting (e.g. doctor, dmv).  But a grown man swerving around with a candy colored screen is a bit more than I think most of the public could handle.  But there is always solitaire or Bejeweled to fill that void.