I have had my 3G iPhone for about two weeks. In that time I have fallen truly, madly, deeply in love. My whole life I have bought the cheapest phone on the cheapest plan. No longer. I am in iPhone heaven.

Why I Love My iPhone Applications

What’s not to love? This small black beauty holds my life: contacts (e-mail/phone/address), calendar, web bookmarks, iTunes, photos and the list goes on. The only thing that would make it even more exciting for me? If it could hold my to-do lists, make lists on the fly, allow me to Twitter, and keep me occupied while waiting for my kids at the bus stop.

Oh wait.

It does that too, via downloadable applications.

Once you buy the iPhone you quickly discover the new addiction that is Applications. This week I want to share the free applications I’ve tried; next week I’ll share the paid applications (and whether they’re worth the money).

• Twitterific was by far the winner as the number one app I’d need to download according to my Tweeple. This application is the iPhone way to Twitter. (Be aware, though, that Twittering sucks the life of your iPhone and your battery will die quickly.)
• Jott is an application that turns your voice-recorded list items into a to-do list on your phone. Voice recognition? Cool. Count me in. It takes just a few minutes for the application to make the switch from voice to text.
• Showtimes allows you to check what movies are playing in your area and when and where. Out to dinner and wondering whether to catch a flick? Check Showtimes. It takes your GPS location and shows you the closest theaters and what’s playing. You can also view movies based on popularity or rating. Not sure what a movie is about? Just tap it and you’ll have a full synopsis.
• FuzzyShot is a camera application that sets up a photo blog for you. Each time you take a photo you can automatically update it to your blog.
• Midomi lets me hum or sing a song and it tries to match the song. I hummed Mah-Na-Ma-Nah (by the Muppets, of course) and the software matched it! You can also use the “say” or “grab” features. With the “say” feature you say the name of an artist or song and Midomi lists the options. The “grab” feature allows you to hold your iPhone near the speaker while a song is playing. Then it lists the name and artist of the song it hears. My kids are completely wigged out by this.
• WordPress and TypePad both offer free blogging applications so you can blog on the go.
• Stanza is an e-book application. Blogcritics.com says: Stanza lets the user download hundreds of classic and modern literature, all for nothing! I can guarantee that a lot of browsing the catalogue will turn up some surprises, as well as the complete works of Dickens and Austen to name but two.

  No more being trapped in the car of plane without something to read. Granted, it’s not a book or as big as a book, but this may give me something to do besides perfect my blank stare while I wait for the kids at the bus stop.

• Lightsaber Unleashed. Really? I can now swing my iPhone around like a Lightsaber? I’m in. My cool status just jumped 70% with my kids. I hear the previous version, Phonesaber, was better, but this will do.
• More Cowbell lets me play the cowbell while I listen to my favorite songs. Silly, yes. Needed, absolutely. It’s not a party until someone adds cowbell.

Don’t Take My Word for It

For more posts on iPhone heaven and the apps you need:

• iPhone 3G: A Review at The Road to Home
• Apple Simplifies iPhone 3G Buying Process
• But I Still Want to Check Out the New iPhone Apps! at iPhone Download Blog

Recall Information

One important bit of information for 3G iPhone users: the power adapter that came with the phone is being recalled. You can exchange it at your local Apple store. More information in the article Apple Ultracompact USB Power Adapter Exchange Program.

Next week I’ll share my favorite paid applications for iPhone (and whether they’re worth the money).

Melanie Nelson writes tips and instructions for beginning bloggers at Blogging Basics 101.