The move from iPhone OS Version 1 to iPhone OS Version 2 last summer was a tremendous leap forward for the iPhone and for mobile computing as a whole. In a single day, the iPhone went from being a locked down device that relied on web apps in order to do anything beyond what the “stock” applications did, to one that can and does support a host of 3rd Party Applications. Yup, those blank spaces on the iPhone’s home screen were suddenly filled with app-goodness galore!

Now the iPhone could do everything from let you shop at Amazon as if you were at your desktop, to play games, to edit and upload pictures on the go. It isn’t overstating it say that to iPhone OS 2.0 transformed the iPhone into an entirely new device.

A year later change is afoot once more… but this time, it’s different.

While the move to iPhone OS 3.0 later this week will not be as earth-shaking or as transformative, it will change the iPhone into a new device once more. Vast new opportunities for developers and users will usher in the next era in mobile computing and, just as no one imaged how truly amazing the App Store would be (yes even with all its significant flaws and limitations it IS amazing), I suspect we don’t yet fully appreciate what OS3.0 will do to the device. One thing is certain, however. Amazing new apps will begin to appear and the apps we swear by now may well be replaced both other, more powerful ones.

And just as few of us can remember what the iPhone was like without apps, I suspect we will have a hard time remembering which pre-3.0 apps we swore by once they are replace. In order to get an “historic record” I reached out to my fellow iPhone-toting Gear Diary writers and asked-

“What are the top 10 3rd party applications on your iPhone at this time?”

In a few months I’ll ask the question again so we can compare but for now… here are their answers.

Wayne
Facebook
Foxnews iPhone optimized (web icon)
Twitterific
Evernote
Todo
Sugarsync
Times Square web cam
TripIt
Slacker
Station Stops (Metro North – Grand Central NY schedule)

Chris Gavula
Facebook
Beejive IM
NetNewsWire
Kindle
Stanza
FlightControl
Sims 3
QuickOffice
TransMate
NYT Crosswords

Kerry
Twitter
Facebook
YPMobile

Followed by:
Kindle
GMail
ToDo
Shazam
SmackTalk
iPod
Contacts

Doug (iPod touch owner, Windows Mobile user)
Facebook
ToDo
iScore
Kindle
Evernote
Flight Control
INews
Fizz Traveler
Most Wanted
Sports Tap

Judie
Facebook
Evernote
Around Me
Amazon Mobile
eBay Mobile
Twittelator Pro
Remember the Milk
Google Earth
Blackjack Free
Kindle

Larry
IM+
Twittelator Pro
Slingbox
Pro Camera
Evernote
Flight Control
Easy Wifi
Simplify Media
Pocket Tunes
Feeds

J. B. Frantz
HanDBase
SplashID
Day Bank
Evernote
Fizz Weather
Twittelator Pro
Byline (may soon be replaced by iNews)
SplashShopper
RTM
At Bat Lite

Me
IM+
Evernote
Google App
Twittelator Pro
Slingbox
Kindle/Stanza
Pocket Informant
iNews
LogMeIn
NYTimes

Related posts:

1. Gear Diary’s Top iPhone/Touch Apps – 2008
2. The real iPhone news is the App Store and not 3G
3. Evernote Podcast Offers Some Insight Into What iPhone 3.0 REALLY Means
4. iPhone Tidbits.. October 28, 2009
5. Yup, There’s An App For Crap, On The iPhone