Hands-on my six favorite iPhone applications

I'm sure many of you are still browsing through the Apple Apps Store, looking for download-worthy applications to install on your phone. It's hard not to download all the freebies, but before you clutter your iPhone's screen, you should keep in mind that some of these applications are nothing but ways to get you sign up for extra services you probably don't need.

Below is a list of some of the more popular applications being downloaded right now. Some are great, some are not, but all of them deserve some screen space on your iPhone. Here's a quick review of my favorite apps:

AIM: Don't want to pay the additional $5.00/month for texting? AIM gives you an option. This handy application lets you connect with your AIM, AOL, or ICQ buddies over Wi-Fi, Edge or 3G. I didn't have any problems using it, but my only gripe is you can only receive IMs when the application is launched. Instant messages sent to my account while the application was closed showed up blank, and you don't get any alerts like you do with text messages. It needs some improvement, but it's better than nothing.

Facebook: Facebook for iPhone is easy to use, and has the interface you would expect from a Facebook application. Five icons located at the bottom of the screen serve as a navigation menu, so you can browse through everyone's status updates, your profile, your friends' profile, chat with friends, and check your inbox. Unfortunately, you need to have the program running in order to receive instant messages from friends, and you won't be alerted to incoming email. Also, you can't post photos to your album, see your wall, or read your news feed like you can on iphone.facebook.com. It's a free application, so you'll have to try it to out and decide which version suits you better. Personally, I like this version for quick updates because it's visually more appealing, but opinions will vary.

Mobile Flickr: Flickr enthusiasts now have a way to show their photo collection to friends and upload new ones with this application. Not loving the interface, but it's great to be able to see all your Flickr sets on your iPhone. The main menu gives you nine options to keep you busy sorting through all the available photos in the Flickrverse. Setting up takes a few minutes since you have to authorize the application on Flickr, but once up, you're ready to start photocasting to your heart's content. Price: $2.99

AOL Radio: Awesome application if you like to listen to Internet radio. You don't need to set up an account with AOL to use it, so it's ready to use the minute you install it. You can search music by genre or check out AOL recommends or tunes picked out by Spinner.com. Sound quality is just ok, but still a great way to discover new music.You can also listen to local stations in your area, which should make some people very happy. My only problem with AOL Radio is it won't run in the background, so if you want to listen to it, you have to keep it open. This application lets you buy songs through iTunes, AOL music, and you can even save music to a songs list to purchase later.

Yelp: Yelp lets you search for nearby restaurants, bars, coffee shops, banks, gas stations, and drugstores all from your iPhone. All you do is allow it pinpoint your location, and you're on your way to finding user reviews, ratings, and addresses to some of the popular businesses in your area. A handy map view gives you a better idea of what's nearby, and when you need more details about a specific place, just tap a small red flag and instantly see how it's been rated. This is a must-have for anyone who wants the inside scoop on the local hot spots.

eReader: Fictionwise's eReader software puts the iPhone's 3.5-inch widescreen display to good use. Now you can read entire books that have been purchased through eReader.com, or find freebies compatible with the application. The bottom of the screen has small icons which take you to the table of contents, a text search page, and a font setting screen that allows you to pick a size and font style. To flip through pages, you simply swipe the screen right to left, and tap the screen to bring up the main menu. Two sample books are included, but you'll need to create an account to access other premium books. I thought the books took a bit long to download, and I don't like the lack of zoom, which would've been useful on such a tiny screen.

What's your favorite application?

Related:

The slacker's guide to iPhone apps
Killer applications coming to the iPhone
Five must-have iPhone apps coming soon