One iPhone and two $15 iTunes gift cards was all it took to get me hooked onto the App Store and, subsequently,  the applications that keep me entertained on a day-to-day to basis. Before taking the much-anticipated Apple plunge, I was forced to settle for the most mediocre of Blackberry’s – a puny Pearl. And while I knew I was missing out on some highly entertaining technology, nothing could prepare me for the joys of pig bashing in Angry Birds, immediate photographic ability (via Instagram) and the ease of use behind my beloved social media apps. Dearest iPhone, where have you been all my life? Below is a list of my personal top 5 iPhone apps. While some are more useful than others, they all seem to serve a purpose at some point or another - even if only to keep me entertained in the subway.   5. Stumble Upon – One of my favorite websites of all time also happens to be one of the greatest Apps in the market. When Angry Birds is not enough to keep me on my toes, Stumble Upon always leads me to a site/blog I’ve never been to before. And to keep that Coliseum-style decision  making process, a thumbs up (or down) is all you need to start educating the App into your likes and dislikes. 4. Instagram – While the built-in iPhone camera is good, Instagram makes it infinitely better. The premise is simple (as in most quality apps): take any standard picture and apply a professional-looking effect to it - all with the touch of a button. Another bonus: browsing through community photos is an excellent way to spend a few minutes and get inspired. 3. Super 8 – Despite never really being into filmmaking, I now find myself taking Super 8 videos of friends and innocent passerby’s on the street. Featuring the same grainy, low-res styles of the past, your everyday videos can now look like something shot in the 60’s. Because HD is for suckers.   2. Word Lens – This nifty little app may still be a bit shaky, but helps in giving us a visual into the technologies of tomorrow. Simply take a picture of your foreign text of choice, and it automatically translates it for you. If that’s not brilliant I don’t know what is. 1. Angry Birds – Boasting 10 million downloads to date, there’s something to be said about this simple, yet rather delightfully addictive game. The objective is simple, to destroy an army of green swine with a penchant for bird eggs. While I highly doubt ever seeing my name prominently displayed in the coveted high score list, Angry Birds will always assist in helping me kill time in the most unproductive of ways. - Julia
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One iPhone and two $15 iTunes gift cards was all it took to get me hooked onto the App Store and, subsequently,  the applications that keep me entertained on a day-to-day to basis. Before taking the much-anticipated Apple plunge, I was forced to settle for the most mediocre of Blackberry’s – a puny Pearl. And while I knew I was missing out on some highly entertaining technology, nothing could prepare me for the joys of pig bashing in Angry Birds, immediate photographic ability (via Instagram) and the ease of use behind my beloved social media apps.

Dearest iPhone, where have you been all my life?

Below is a list of my personal top 5 iPhone apps. While some are more useful than others, they all seem to serve a purpose at some point or another - even if only to keep me entertained in the subway.  

5. Stumble Upon – One of my favorite websites of all time also happens to be one of the greatest Apps in the market. When Angry Birds is not enough to keep me on my toes, Stumble Upon always leads me to a site/blog I’ve never been to before. And to keep that Coliseum-style decision  making process, a thumbs up (or down) is all you need to start educating the App into your likes and dislikes.

4. Instagram – While the built-in iPhone camera is good, Instagram makes it infinitely better. The premise is simple (as in most quality apps): take any standard picture and apply a professional-looking effect to it - all with the touch of a button. Another bonus: browsing through community photos is an excellent way to spend a few minutes and get inspired.

3. Super 8 – Despite never really being into filmmaking, I now find myself taking Super 8 videos of friends and innocent passerby’s on the street. Featuring the same grainy, low-res styles of the past, your everyday videos can now look like something shot in the 60’s. Because HD is for suckers.  

2. Word Lens – This nifty little app may still be a bit shaky, but helps in giving us a visual into the technologies of tomorrow. Simply take a picture of your foreign text of choice, and it automatically translates it for you. If that’s not brilliant I don’t know what is.

1. Angry Birds – Boasting 10 million downloads to date, there’s something to be said about this simple, yet rather delightfully addictive game. The objective is simple, to destroy an army of green swine with a penchant for bird eggs. While I highly doubt ever seeing my name prominently displayed in the coveted high score list, Angry Birds will always assist in helping me kill time in the most unproductive of ways.

- Julia