The iPhone is the Best Gaming Platform. Period. Potentially.

Yes, it's sure to ruffle some feathers, but I'm ready to say it: The iPhone/iPod Touch is the best gaming platform, period. Potentially...

Let's get that potentially out of the way first. Looking at the current offerings in the app store, one could be forgiven for thinking the iPhone / iPod Touch is nothing more than a novelty gaming system. After all, what platform can be taken seriously with such engaging titles as "See How Long You can Keep Your Finger On The Dot."

But don't be fooled. This new platform is the best for three key reasons:

1. Accessibility. A great gaming platform means nothing if no one plays it. With the iPhone, you have a device people will have with them at nearly all times. Whenever there's time to kill, they can whip out the iPhone and start playing. No one's lugging their xBox or PS3 around. And even PSP owners don't have the device with them all the time.

2. Fusion of console and computer. The iPhones brings together the coding simplicity of a console, by having only the iPhone and iPod Touch to code for. A longtime gripe of PC gaming has been the need for different video cards, input devices, etc to completely enjoy the game. Now programmers have the same baseline hardware specs as if they were coding for a console. Of course, the iPhone isn't a console though. Which means its robust OS can be used to open new features, and innovative ways to intergrate, music, contacts, GPS, etc into gaming. It's the best of both worlds.

3. Marketing muscle. Ask any fans of the Atari Jaguar, Sega Dreamcast, or even, ironically, the Apple Pippin, and they'll tell you you've got to have marketing muscle behind a gaming system for it to catch on. Obviously with Apple's interest in music/movie/TV show sales, they'll be promoting the iPhone and iPod touch far more than any other handheld gaming system.

It's ironic, but whether they intend to or not, Apple, once regarded as loathing gaming, may just end up on top the gaming wars.

iPhone 2.1 Software, and a Quick Word of Warning

iPhone 2.1 software is now officially available, but just a quick tip: don't try to install it just before heading to work: although 2.1 promises fasters syncs and backups right around the corner, the initially backup to load the software is proving to be slow. Dog slow. Like into hour two slow.

So don't start it, if you plan on going anywhere with your phone in the next few hour(s).

Koi Pond for iPhone Review

The calming, tranquil water of a koi pond. Could anything be further removed from the beeps, buzzes, and blips of modern life? Well, fortunately for us, we can have the best of both worlds with Koi Pond for the iPhone and iPod Touch. While it's not perfect (although perfection in a digital pond could certainly be subjective) it is a soothing - at least briefly -way to escape your own digital lifestyle. And if nothing else, you can look at the settings screen, and try to decipher the drawings. You'll see what we mean:

AT&T Launches My Communities: Shows Value of iPhone

What if I told you owning an iPhone could save you $60 a year? What's that? All we ever hear is how expensive the iphone is! Well compared to plain vanilla cell phones, you might be saving a bundle depending on what you want a phone to do.

AT&T is launching MyCommunities, a service allowing you to check in on your myspace and facebook accounts from, wait for it, your phone! And the price of this integration is a mere $2.99 a month.

And AT&T also offers phone number backup for $1.99 This service allows you to backup your contacts on AT&T servers. Again, you can already do this on your iPhone, through iTunes/iCal.

So there you go... If you're trying to justify an iPhone purchase, just tell yourself, or whoever controls the finances in your family, that you'll.. SAVE MONEY!

Brain Tuner Lite for iPhone Review

Looking to brush up on basic math skills, and want to do it on the cheap? Brain Tuner gives you basic math training in a simple, (perhaps too simple for repeat play) game.

Check it out: