how do you know what apps is good!

[msarway]

i see that there are so many apps now the reviews are all over the place. how do you know if the app is good is there a website that gives the best and truthful recommendations about apps.

[sinsin07]

My method is to check Macrumors. Then go to the App store, search for the app. Go to Reviews Foi All Versions. Got Sort By - Most Critical. Read the critical reviews. Check the dates of the reviews. Then make your call based on what you read. You can also do a google search like "is so and so app any good" or "ratings for so and so app".

[eawmp1]

how do you know what apps is good!

Try this: http://www.macworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=66862

Sorry to bust your chops. Seriously:

1) Search MacRumors - there are several "post your favorite App" threads
2) Google "best iPhone Apps" and read
3) If there is a free/lite version of an app in which you are interested, download as a trial and play around with it

[braddick]

Ask me.
I'll be more than happy to offer full disclosure and an honest appraisal of any and all apps.

[liptonlover]

I've gotten burned like twice out of all the apps I've bought which is quite a few. I don't do all that much, but here it is.

Lite versions first and foremost; always helpful.

Gameplay videos.

Professional reviews. (pocketgamer.uk and appvee, both have iphone apps that are free. I suggest downloading them. One note though; I find Appvee to be fairly consistently too critical.)

I read negative user reviews in the app store. If they're 1 star and give good reasons, I take those into account. I don't believe the overall score unless there's a lot of reviews because some people give bad ratings and others think 1 star is best, which screws up apps with less reviews.

The publisher/developer matters too. If it's EA I expect a more thorough game, but not necessarily innovative because they're a big game churning giant. NGMoco is pretty creative, Gameloft does some pretty stunning stuff, and I really trust Chillingo as a publisher who supports great games.

Hope it helps!
Nate

[Tunnelrunner]

Lots of good suggestions given by others.

Whatever method you choose, be careful when you read the App Store User Reviews - the majority of which (IMHO) are pretty much, useless garbage.

For every good, thoughtful and helpful review, you'll find twenty 1-star ratings with feedback like:

"THIS IZ A SCAM RIPOFF, $10 a MonTH???? DON't BUy IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1"

I've said many times before in the past: I wish Apple hired professionals to review the apps in the App Store. As it is right now, there's simply no regulation; anyone can write anything they want, but I digress...