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CNET 100: Best. apps. ever.

There are now officially 1 gazillion apps available for today's mobile devices--give or take. But most are too buggy, simple, or just plain boring to hold our interest for more than a few days. These apps, on the other hand, are the ones that matter. Get them on your phone. Now.

Jason Parker
Jason Parker has been at CNET for nearly 15 years. He is the senior editor in charge of iOS software and has become an expert reviewer of the software that runs on each new Apple device. He now spends most of his time covering Apple iOS releases and third-party apps.
Jason Parker
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1 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Facebook

CNET 100: Best. apps. ever.
Most apps get relegated to the smartphone dustbin almost as soon as they're downloaded. These are the apps you'll keep coming back to.

While not perfect, the Facebook app gives us instant access to the social hub that all our friends and coworkers are on. If you want to keep up with Facebook, this is the way to do it.

Read our Facebook for iPhone review | Download Facebook for iPhone from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.
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2 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Angry Birds

You can't make a top-10 app list without Angry Birds. Cute graphics, free seasonal companion apps, and extremely intuitive gameplay make this game a must-have for any smartphone owner.

Download Angry Birds from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.
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3 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

GarageBand

Apple's GarageBand has no equal in the iTunes App Store with its tons of cool features for making and recording your own music. The Smart Instruments that make beginners sound like pros mean everyone can create great-sounding songs--on their iPhones! Unfortunately, Android users are out of luck because there still isn't an Android-based equivalent that's quite this good.

Read our GarageBand review | Download GarageBand from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.
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4 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Hipstamatic

One of the early great apps for taking retro-looking photos is still going strong in the App Store for good reason. Hipstamatic's tons of lenses, filters, and flashes mean you can experiment with making really cool images.

Since there isn't a Hipstamatic for Android, Retro Camera is a popular Android application that lets you take six different styles of nostalgia-inducing photos.

Read our Hipstamatic review | Download Hipstamatic from iTunes | Read our Retro Camera review | Download Retro Camera from Android Market | Return to the CNET 100.
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5 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Instagram

Instagram makes picture-taking social, letting you share with and follow other Instagram members. Who knew that adding a simple retro effect could make just about any photo look cool?

For now, this app is only available for iOS devices, but Instagram says a version for Android is in the works.

Read our Instagram review | Download Instagram from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.
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6 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Netflix

While the smallish screen might not be the optimal way to watch movies, having a Netflix library of Watch Instantly movies and TV shows wherever you are will come in handy at one time or another.

Read our Netflix review | Download Netflix from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.
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7 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Pandora

One of the early greats, Pandora is the perfect music-discovery app. Just pick a song you like and let Pandora put together a playlist of similar-sounding bands to discover something new.

Download Pandora from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.
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8 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Words With Friends

This Scrabble clone with a slightly different playing board and rules was an instant hit among word game fans on the iPhone. Easy connection with friends and push notifications make Words With Friends an easy way for pals to stay in contact and play a fun game.

Read our Words With Friends review | Download Words With Friends from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.
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9 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Yelp

Whether you're comparing restaurants or veterinarians, Yelp gives you access to tons of reviews from other actual users of products and services. It was already a great idea for the Web, but on your smartphone it's a must-have for finding nearby treats.

Download Yelp from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.
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10 of 10 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Cut the Rope

One of the only games to consistently challenge Angry Birds at the top of the most-popular lists, Cut the Rope has become its own puzzle-gaming success story. It probably doesn't hurt that the game's mascot, Om Nom, is such a cute little alien.

Read our Cut the Rope review | Download Cut the Rope from iTunes | Return to the CNET 100.

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