A few App Store caveats

As wonderful as these apps may sound, there are still a few niggling questions about what can't -- or won't -- be allowed at the App Store. For instance, even though the ability to record video was available via third-party applications on a Jailbroken previous-gen iPhone, no such utilities exist in the current App Store. Given that the iPhone's camera is capable of recording video, the lack of such an application is glaring. There's also a suspicious lack of navigation utilities featuring spoken directions, and a surprising lack of MMS applications. I can't imagine Apple didn't see a need for this, and like video recording, MMS capabilities were available on an application repository for Jailbroken iPhones.

It's too soon to tell whether such applications will eventually make their way to the App Store, but their absence shouldn't detract from the fact that the App Store opens the iPhone up to so many new, innovative and entertaining third-party possibilities. Maybe Apple froze them out because it's working on similar apps itself.

Easy to navigate through iTunes and on the iPhone/iPod touch, the App Store is skillfully designed to the point of being nearly effortless to use. Apple has even made it easy for people who may have accidently deleted application. Just re-download the app! The App Store will check your purchase history, see that you've already bought the item and allow you to transfer the file again at no cost. It's all automatic and all behind the scenes.

My only problem with the App store is also it's greatest strength: It's incredibly simple to browse through and purchase apps without thinking twice. As my iPhone's abilities expand, my bank account decreases. It's a testament to the development efforts by the third-party developers and a warning to you: Keep an eye on your spending.

My last piece of advice? You're going to want a mobile charger. With everything that can be done with the iPhone and iPod Touch now, you might find yourself reaching for it often. Trust me: you're going to want that extra juice.

Michael DeAgonia is a Neal Award-winning writer, computer consultant and technologist who has been using Macintoshes and working on them professionally since 1993. His tech-support background includes tenures at Computerworld , colleges, the biopharmaceutical industry, the graphics industry and Apple. Currently, he is working as a Macintosh administrator at a large media company.