Best apps

Mobile phones are more powerful and versatile than ever before, and developers -- from massive software houses to bedroom coders -- are stretching their limits with innovative applications. In this irregular series, we test the latest apps for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian to find out if they're worth your time and money.

The best Android apps

We all know that iPhone users can get an app for virtually everything, but less is written about Google Android. Join us, dear reader, as we investigate the best apps for the open platform

NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank for iPhone: Cash machinery

Natwest, RBS and Ulster Bank have launched the first mobile app that lets you log into your bank account. What a great idea! Shame it's a bit rubbish
Best iPhone games: Sony PSP rivals

We look at five of the best iPhone games to see if they measure up to the Sony PSP's strongest suits -- rich graphics and long-lasting gameplay
Best iPhone games: Nintendo DS rivals

Apple has ramped up its gaming offensive this year, arguing the merits of the iPhone and iPod touch over the traditional handhelds. Here are five games giving the Nintendo DS a run for its money
Alternative mobile browsers tested: Skyfire vs Opera Mobile vs Fennec vs Safari vs Internet Explorer vs BlackBerry

Mobile browsing is better than ever, but you're not necessarily limited to the Web browser that came on your phone. We compare the alternatives to the best of the built-ins
Firefighter 360: AR iPhone game sets our office on fire

Firefighter 360 is an augmented-reality game that lights fires all around you and shows the potential -- and the pitfalls -- of AR
Windows Marketplace: get your hot, fresh WinMo apps here!

Windows Marketplace has ramped up its Web site, offering the ability to browse and buy apps online instead of just on your WinMo phone
TomTom iPhone app gets hefty free update

TomTom has submitted a cornucopia of new features to its iPhone sat-nav app, and as soon as they're approved they'll be winging their way to your pocket -- for free
Windows Mobile: Greatest app story ever told

You may think Apple invented the app, but Windows Mobile is the greatest mobile app platform there ever was -- and we have the apps to prove it
Apple tells you what's happening with your iPhone app

Apple has added a feature to its developer centre that tells you where your app is in the development process
How to make an iPhone app or die trying

This is a story about two people who joined the iPhone app goldrush to make a million dollars from a game idea. Its developers give their advice on App Store success
Adobe launches Photoshop Mobile for Android handsets

If you take loads of photos on your phone, you're probably in need of a little extra re-touching help. If you have an Android phone, Adobe is on hand with its new Photoshop mobile app
Best iPhone Apps of 2009: CNET UK's Home Screen Awards

Here are the 16 applications that should make up the discerning iPhone owner's home screen. Lovingly cradling your iPhone for the first time? These are the apps you need
Orange Wednesdays for iPhone: Two-for-fun

Two-for-one cinema tickets on Wednesdays from Orange? Sweet. Future Orange iPhone owners can find and exploit this little treat with the Orange Wednesdays app
Locatorz app finds you on an OS map

Locatorz installs on Nokias and BlackBerries and pin-points your location on an Ordinance Survey map, allowing companies to keep track of their employees and grandmas
Movies by Flixster for iPhone and Android

Movies, an iPhone and Android app from the people at Flixster, takes the hassle out of going to the pictures. All you have to do is decide whether you want salted or sweet popcorn
Noel Edmonds Cosmic Ordering iPhone app: Let the cosmos do the hard work

Want a top new job? Make new friends? Maybe even meet that special someone? Then bust out your iPhone and let Noel Edmonds help -- with a little assistance from the cosmos
App Attack! My O2 for iPhone

O2 has launched My O2, an official iPhone app to monitor your usage, and see just how much money you threw away when you signed that 18-month contract
App attack! Spotify for iPhone and Android

Spotify's mobile application has arrived in both the iTunes Store and Android market, and it's packing a level of win that could fell a moose -- although there are some problems...
App attack! Layar Reality Browser 2

Layar, the much-hyped augmented-reality app, has hit Android. We took to the streets of London to see if it will blow our minds, or at least find us a decent pub
TomTom sat-nav iPhone app hits the road

TomTom made a splash when it announced a sat-nav app at the launch of the iPhone 3GS, but we've been waiting to see it in the App Store. Finally, it's here
App attack! Sky Sports Football Score Centre

In the first of a regular series focusing on mobile apps of every stripe and OS, we look forward to the football season with Sky Sports Football Score Centre for iPhone
UK iPhone user? You need the Mobile Allowance app

Every single member of the CNET UK team felt their eyebrows raise this morning, thanks to the upwards-pull of intrigue over an iPhone app: Prenvo's Mobile Allowance
Photos: Nearest Tube app makes iPhone reality better than real reality

Augmented reality promises to slap the knowledge of the Interwebs on to everything we see, and Nearest Tube is a new example. But is Apple going to hand AR to Android on a platter?
iPhone porn: Apple approves saucy app

On Wednesday, Apple allowed a developer to add images of topless women to the Hottest Girls app, potentially ushering in a new era of nudity on the App Store
Sky+ gets iPhone app: Hollyoaks fans get to stay out later

Sky+ has created an iPhone app to access program guides and record your stories from wherever you are
Photos: Hands-on with BlackBerry App World

BlackBerry addicts can now fill up their handsets with fake pints and farting apps with the launch of App World. Prices are in dollars though, so UK users may get a surprise at the checkout
Photos: Nokia's Ovi Store app store in detail

With background processes, free application downloads and a location-aware recommendation service, Nokia's brand new app store -- the Ovi Store -- is a compelling offering
Screenshots: Windows Phone, Windows Mobile 6.5, Windows Marketplace app store

Microsoft has completely rebranded its entire mobile software platform -- Windows Mobile incorporates the new Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, IE Mobile 6, an app store and a free backup service
Seismometer and Movies: Our favourite new iPhone apps

We take a look at our three favourite apps for the iPhone and iPod touch for this week, including a seismometer, the best movie application in the world, and a totally pointless GPS-enabled app that measures your current speed.