One of the most touted features of the new iPhone software (Version 2.0, now updated to 2.0.1, as of August 12) is the ability to download iPhone applications from the iTunes "App Store." These are third party applications, that is, they were not written by Apple, but Apple does some kind of vetting process on them before allowing them to be available in the store.

Right now, there are about 2,000 applications available for downloading at the App Store. To check them out on your computer, go to iTunes, click on "iTunes store" and then on the left side of the page in the iTunes Store box, click on "App Store".

On the App Store home page, you'll be shown lots of applications. There are new picks, top picks, and staff picks. There is also an opportunity to sort the applications so that you'll only see the free ones. (Yes, there are free ones!).

Sort through, until you find an application that interest you. Then click on the "Get Application" button. The rest is just like downloading music from iTunes - your iTunes account will be charged and then the application will be downloaded into iTunes and will appear under Library as an "Applications" button.

To get the application downloaded on to your iPhone (or iTouch), plug in your iPhone as if you were going to synch it. When it is connected, click on your iPhone, and click the tab marked Applications, and then check the applications you want synched/downloaded to your iPhone. Click the "Synch" button in the bottom right hand corner and the application will then be downloaded and synched to your phone.

Applications can also be purchased and downloaded to your iPhone directly, without using your computer. We'll cover that in another Tip.

For more on how to use the App Store, see Part II of this this Short Course and this tutorial.