iPhone Applications

iPhone applications also known as iPhone Apps are small programs that you install by going to the App Store in iTunes running on either a Mac or a PC or running the App Store application on the iPhone itself.

The iPhone comes with default pre installed applications such as iPhone Safari, iPhone Mail, iPhone Notes, Contacts, Maps, Photos, YouTube, iPod and the iPhone Camera Application.

Before the App Store, the only way to run third party applications on the iPhone was by running them from the iPhone Safari Browser in what is called iPhone Web apps. However, now you can install applications on the iPhone using the official App Store, and many other non- official app stores like Cydia and Rock.

Using iTunes to install an iPhone app

iTunes is the center application used to synchronize, update and backup your iPhone. There are two official ways of installing apps on the iPhone and several unofficial ways using third party app stores such as Cydia and Rock.

One official way is by using your iPhone to connect to the app store using the internet either over wifi or over 3G or Edge cell networks. This is by running an app called App Store that is pre-installed on the iPhone.

This method is the simplest way to install apps on a mobile device, and it is why the App Store revolutionized the mobile software industry. No connections or wires are required to connect your iPhone to your computer.

The other official way to install applications on the iPhone is by running iTunes on your desktop computer and going to the App Store in iTunes, and then installing the apps you want from within iTunes on your desktop computer. Once you sync your iPhone, the apps will be transferred from the desktop computer and installed on your iPhone.

There are tens of thousands of applications for the iPhone available in the App Store, and the number is increasing very quickly. For example, after one year of grand opening of the App Store, the number of apps for iPhone reached 100 thousands, and after 2 years it climbed quickly to 200 thousands and 2 billion downloads. Thousands of free iPhone apps are available besides the paid ones.

Because the number of iPhone applications is increasing very quickly, it is very difficult to know and search for unique and good apps for iPhone. See my best iPhone applications to get an idea of what you can do.

There is an app for almost anything you are looking for in the App Store. iPhone GPS applications turn your iPhone into a fully functional navigation system. Some iPhone applications allow you to watch TV on the iPhone or listen to internet radio.

With iPhone Voice Over IP or VoIP applications, you can make cheap international phone calls using applications like Skype or Fring for iPhone.

With the iTunes method, the iPhone app is downloaded to your computer. When you connect your iPhone next time to sync with your computer, all downloaded iPhone apps will be installed on your iPhone. They will also be backed up on your computer. If you delete any iPhone app from your iPhone, you can always return it back from the backup in iTunes.

Unofficial way of installing iPhone apps

There are thousands of other iPhone apps available through other unofficial stores like the Cydia store, and Rock.

Cydia Store is also growing very quickly and it has many iPhone hacks and tweaks that you can't see in the app store. Many free iPhone apps are available while others cost $0.99 and up.

Installing iPhone applications though Cydia is as simple as installing apps from the App Store. The difference is that you have to jailbreak your iPhone, which allows you to have full access to the file system.

After you jailbreak iPhone, you can connect your PC to iPhone and transfer files as you wish between the two devices without any restrictions. Visit the PC to iPhone page to learn more.

Why use unofficial App Stores?

Why are those unofficial stores available anyway's? and why aren't those applications available in the App Store like the other iPhone apps?! Simply, because they don't meet the SDK (Software Development Kit) requirements by Apple.

Any iPhone app that duplicates or adds to an existing Apple application for the iPhone such as Mobile Mail or Mobile Safari, or modifies the iPhone file system, will be rejected by Apple and can't be published in the App Store. This is an attempt by Apple to protect the iPhone from unauthorized buggy applications that could damage its reputation.

However, the best world of the iPhone is a mix of the App Store iPhone applications and some iPhone hacks available in the Cydia store.

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