While we finally got a glimpse of the iPad this week, all of the excitement did not stop several major brands and developers from releasing fun and creative iPhone apps. From new offerings courtesy of Ellen DeGeneres and an elite golfer not named Tiger to an app that will improve your mental fitness, we bring you our 10 Fresh iPhone Apps of the Week.
1. Ellen
Enough about the Jay and Coco controversy! One of the funniest talk show hosts in any part of the day is Ellen DeGeneres. This new, free iPhone app contains monologues, pics and tweets from the hit Ellen show. Ellen is one of scores television-based iPhone apps that will be tailor-made for the iPad and provide a richer experience on a 9.7-inch screen.
2. Guerrilla Bob
One of the most anticipated games to be released so far in 2010, Guerrilla Bob is a lightening fast shooter-game that combines sparkling visuals, fast action and great humor that will drive you bananas. Guerrilla Bob more than justifies its $2.99 price-tag.
3. Phil Mickelson
While one notable PGA colleague is now best known for playing the field, Phil Mickelson has long been praised for his short game on the golf course. The $4.99 Phil Mickelson: Secrets of Short Game iPhone app is nice to have in your golf bag next to the 7-iron and pitching wedge.
4. TripTracker
Road warriors now have a new best friend in TripTracker. The free iPhone app includes push-alerts for flight itineraries and a suite of related services including weather reports, hotel information and travel maps.
5. Climate Counts
Hoping to put your money on companies that are environmentally-friendly? The free Climate Counts iPhone app helps you identify and directly support companies that are conscious of their climate footprints and invest in innovations that reduce their impact on global warming.
6. Family Tracker
With an interesting mix of Orwellian intrusiveness and practical communication, Family Tracker lets you know where your spouse, children or parents are at any particular time (at least if they are carrying their iPhones.) The $4.99 iPhone app allows you to track family members via a web browser or on the app itself.
7. Project 72
Created in 72 hours earlier this month by four young lads in Venice, California, Project 72 is a 99-cent iPhone app that casts you as a pilot who cruises the galaxy while avoiding asteroids and satellites. Make sure to refuel every chance you get in this surprisingly well-crafted game.
8. iMicroscope
File iMicroscope under the gee-whiz category for cool applications. The $2.99 iPhone app (at least that is its introductory price), enables you to take real photographs through any optical microscope. A five-minute tutorial available on the app explains how it all works. Microscope not included!
9. Inside the Office
Finally, an app for “that’s what she said.” Based on the popular NBC show The Office, this 99-cent game features more than 1,000 trivia questions about the travails of Michael, Pam, Jim and the rest of the Dunder Mifflin. With two modes of gameplay, compare your scores against other fans all over the world (including those elitists who will only watch the BBC version).
10. Lumosity Brain Trainer
Who among us couldn’t use a little more mental fitness? The free Lumosity Brain Trainer iPhone app offers seven different brain games specially developed to test and improve our cognitive abilities. The first five sessions are free. Thereafter, a Lumosity subscription is required.
