6 Best iPhone Apps of 2012

1. 1. Pocket

   Use Pocket when you see an interesting article, video or recipe but don't currently have time to read or view it. Simply press Pocket's convenient bookmarklet and, voilà, the content saves on your computer, tablet and smartphone. Easily revisit it anytime. It works with browsers and more than 300 other apps.

   Price: FREE

   

2. 2. 1Password

   Rather than having to remember different passwords for all your accounts or reuse the same easy to remember (and easy to hack) password, 1Password generates secure passwords each time you sign up for an account and stores them behind a master password of your choosing.

   Price: $7.99

   

3. 3. Letterpress

   Letterpress is a cross between Boggle and Othello. It's a strategy-based word game you can play against your friends. Whoever's color covers more of the board once the tiles run out is the winner.

   Price: FREE

   

4. 4. Goodnight Moon

   This app adds interactivity to the classic children's bedtime story, Goodnight Moon. It contains more than 200 interactive objects, narration and soothing music.

   Price: $2.99

   

5. 5. Google Maps

   Like a knight in shinning armor, Google Maps returned several weeks ago to rescue iOS users from Apple's Maps disaster. In addition to voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation, a clean interface and public transportation directions, Google maps will get you where you need to go — which was not always the case with Apple's Maps.

   Price: FREE

   

6. 6. YouTube

   Yes, there was always a YouTube app on iPhones, but it wasn't actually created by YouTube; it was made by Apple. The native app was notoriously shoddy. YouTube released its own app in September, and it's a big upgrade over the old version in terms of video selection, search and general functionality.

   Price: FREE

   

An iPhone without apps would be like a zebra without its stripes — plain and boring. As we all know by now, the ability to download and run third-party apps is the x-factor for mobile devices, particularly smartphones.

Getting great new apps, many of which are free, makes your phone feel new and exciting. Scroll through the gallery above to view our picks for the top six iPhone apps of 2012.

Share your picks for the year's top apps in the comments below.

Image via Flickr, yum9me