Hello, and welcome to the fifth installment of iWant, iNeed, iRecommend. This is a monthly series that will, simply put, talk briefly and present the top ten iPhone and iPod Touch applications from that month. At the end of the year, the 120 mentioned applications will then go head to head to see which apps become the top ten for the year. If you would like to read my previous top ten lists, as well as all my other iPhone and iPod Touch application reviews, you can see them here. While this list is subjective (as are all top ten lists), I did my best to base this on actual use, not my own opinion. Enjoy.


10: Mathew Cruz’s Magic: The Gathering Applications

Just like the Mathammer 40K from last month’s list, the tenth place application from May 2009 is a pet game of mine. Magic: The Gathering is a card game with collectible cards where you are a planeswalker and are trying to defeat your opponent. Different cards do different things, and the end result is simply to get them to zero life. As the game is 16 years old, there are thousands of cards, and hundred of rules that you need to know to play the game. This is where Mathew’s applications come in handy. “The Sylvan Archives” has all of the cards, the rules, and useful information like that. “MTG Library” is full of document pertaining to the rules of the game itself, as well as other useful tidbits. And finally, for those with numerous decks, there is “MTG Deck Manager,” which, well, manages your decks. Though these applications are clearly for a niche market, if you are an MTG player you should not be without them.

9: Tap Tap: Dave Matthews Band
Ahh, Tap Tap, a game which seems to be exceptionally popular and will never die. Just like DDR, Rock Band, and Guitar Hero, Tap Tap is putting out game after game with amazing sales. Additionally, they make my top ten list almost every single month. This month’s edition features songs from the Dave Matthews Band for your fingers to tap to. Though I have never understood this game, somehow just ten songs are selling exceptionally well. At a price of $4.99, even you can get in on the action.

8: DMV Test Prep
There is something about the driving tests that make all teens sweat. While I passed it on my first try, a fair bit of my peers failed to do so. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that they failed the written test. This is where DMV Test Prep comes in, as it is localized for your state – though you can get a 50-state version – and will tell you everything you need to know in order to pass the test. Does your state allow right turns on red? What about the speed limit? Any special rules for passing? These, and any other driving question you have, can be answered simply by taking a gander at this application. With a price of only $2.99, DMV Test Prep goes a long way to making me feel safer on the road.

7: Myst For iPhone
First published 16 years ago, Myst was an amazing game for the time. The graphics were stunning, the sounds eerie, and the gameplay amazing. It was so popular that it was the highest selling game until The Sims passed it (interesting that this very game shows up later in this list) in 2002. Cyan, the company that made the game, has decided that it is time for another generation to experience it, and so they have ported it to the iPhone. Everything is faithful to the original, from the sounds, to the looks, to the controls. Even though the 700+ megabytes of data will eat up your storage space, playing Myst just one more time is worth the $5.99 price.

6: Top Gun
Back in the 1980s Tom Cruise was a big deal. His movies were blockbusters and his acting was great. One of his greatest movies was Top Gun, where Tom served as a wise ass ace pilot for the U.S.A. Paramount, deciding that they wanted to cash in on the movie some more, has created an iPhone game based off of this. You take controls as a pilot, fly some sweet planes, and shoot those godless commies out of the sky. Plus, you get to be as arrogant and confrontational as Tom was in the movie. Everything in this game is great; the controls are flawless, the graphics crisp, and the sound is par. You can push the throttle all the way up for only $3.99 today. Look for a full review of this title within a few weeks.


5: Police Powers
You would be surprised by how many people do not know their fundamental rights when it comes to dealing with the police. You would be even more surprised by how many police do not know the proper laws, constitutional protections, and normal procedures when dealing with citizens. This is where Police Powers comes in. Police Powers is an application for your iPhone that allows you to see the protocol for everything, from interrogations to handling terrorist subjects. Though it is aimed at police officers and lawyers, I feel that every citizen should know their rights. Thus, I believe that the $4.99 out of your pocket is well worth it.

4: US Citizenship Study Guide
Before I start, I would like to point out that I am aware that the target of this application is quite small. That said, however, I truly believe that everybody should know the basic questions that are on the US citizenship test, and so I think that this is a worthwhile investment. US Citizenship Study Guide is a pretty simple application for your iPhone or iPod Touch. The application takes questions from the most recent INS study guide, puts them in a nice format, and gives them to you. While some might think these are easy questions, they are what you need to know to become a citizen of this fine country. If you are planning on taking the citizenship test, then I recommend that you use $.99 to grab this application today.

3: UP by Disney*Pixar
DisneyPixar is one of the most successful animation studios of all time. Churning out hit after hit, the studio uses computer generated imagery to create a wonderful storyline and character set. Their newest movie, Up, continues this great tradition. To celebrate this movie, DisneyPixar has released an iPhone or iPod Touch game that allows you to get in on the action. Play through 24 different adventures on your quest to guide Carl’s house through the bright blue sky. With amusing graphics and addicting game play, the $4.99 out of your pocket is a great investment.

2: The Sims 3 for iPhone
This seems eerily similar to actual game sales, with The Sims beating out Myst. Back in the late ’90s, one game seemed to be on everybody’s mind – The Sims. As the game has changed, the fan base has grown by countless people. On June 2, EA launched the newest iteration of the game, The Sims 3. The game, however, was preceded by a version on the iPhone on May 29. Just like the real game, you get to control your Sim, move him around, and interact with the real world. Frankly, it feels as though you are playing the first iteration of the game in terms of style and game play, but the concepts are brand new and shiny. Though the cost of $9.99 seems steep, for what you are getting, it is worth it.

And the #1 iPhone application from May 2009 is…

1: Bento
At the end of April I was contacted by a company called FileMaker about a new product they were going to release for the iPhone. Though I could not see it in practice until its May 1 launch, the demo that they showed me was absolutely amazing. Ever since that point, I have been enamored by Bento. Bento is a database system that I use almost every single day on my phone. I keep recipes, shopping lists, exercise logs, and even my checkbook on it. I use it so much that my class notes are organized on it and my Blogcritics review list is stored on it. Think of a list, or really anything, that you need organized and Bento can do it for you. Plus, it has a great user interface, a good look, and feels truly natural to the iPhone. At only $4.99, this simple application will make your life easier, and I strongly urge you to buy it. Look for a full review of this title within a few weeks.

Well, folks, there you have it, the top 10 iPhone and iPod Touch applications from May 2009. If you wanted to buy all of these applications, you would be set back only $50.88! If you have any suggestions for next month’s list, or want to tell me what I missed, please let me know in the comment field.

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