It seemed only natural that Apple would eventually get into the book business since it already sells most other forms of media (music, movies, video games, etc.).  Apple's iBook reminds me of most other book reading software out there (most notably Stanza), but of course Apple has a distinct advantage over them because Apple's book reader comes with its own bookstore.
The only limitation for using Apple's bookstore is that the books can only be read on Apple's devices, as opposed to Amazon where the books can be read on any device running Kindle.  Sadly, you can only shop the Amazon site with a browser, and unlike Kindle, Apple got this part right.  Shopping from within the app is extremely convenient and makes the whole experience more "whole".
The iBooks app has a very nice looking shelf interface for storage.  As with most other app readers, you can change text size, see the chapter list for the book, zoom into a page or set bookmarks throughout.  There are settings in the iPhone settings app for such activities as syncing bookmarks.
I've been using Stanza up to now, which has certain advantages such as being able to share books over a network (much like the Nook).  Apple's app looks nicer, but Stanza offers a larger free catalog.  I'm sure Apple will catch up over time.
The app is certain good enough to be used for reading books.  Since its Apple's brand reader, you can also expect that it wont be long before they ad some of the latest features other readers have.  They have already added bookmarking, note taking, and highlighting in the last update, and I expect that with Kindles new media additions to their reader (books in Kindle can now have sound and animation), Apple won't be far behind.
Since there are different publishers for the various book readers right now, I tend to keep all of them installed on my device ensuring that if the book is available electronically, I'll be able to find it on at least one of them.  I would recommend the same for you.
 
 

The four words that would best describe the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad DC Comics reader would be "better late than never".  Marvel Comics, DC's most direct competitor, has had its own reader for what seems like generations in the technology world.  Even so, both apps are a copy of the Comixology app, which is probably for the best since it lends a degree of industry standardization.

All that being said, the DC Comics app is okay but not great.  Several free stories are offered, mostly from the Batman: Black and White comic from the 90's (including a story by uberauthor Neil Gaiman).  Obviously, not all comics are free.  They are offered at a slight discount from shop prices ($1.99 as opposed to $2.99 or more), but I've always found $.99 to be the sweet spot in terms of pricing.  Perhaps DC could have the occasional sale.

Of course, the app covers the entire DC range, including the Vertigo titles, Zuda Comics and Wildstorm.  The app itself has some cool features, and it provides fairly clear instructions on use (in comic form, of course).  You can use it to find a local comic shop, to send feedback, and to limit the app's disk space usage.  Comics can be browsed and purchased by a variety of criteria including series, creator, imprint, genre, rating, storyline and release date.

The DC Comics app is decent but unimpressive.  I was hoping for something different, perhaps more of a comic book feel to the app itself.  I'm hoping DC Comics will make up for their lack of imagination by offering more cheap or free content.

For those familiar with Mario Kart, Shrek Kart is a very similar game, except it substitutes characters from the Shrek franchise for the Mario franchise.  You can be Shrek, Donkey, Puss-In-Boots, Fiona or a bunch of other characters including the ghost of Lord Farquaad (some characters are only unlocked when certain levels are reached).

You can choose easy, medium or hard in terms of difficulty and can also choose between various tracks in various places in the Shrek continuity.  There are also different types of play (single race, tournament, challenge) and it's possible to play single or multi-player.  You can even choose to use the gyroscope (thus turning the device like a steering wheel) or touch screen controls to play.

This is a fun game and easy to learn.  Granted, it is geared towards kids but the kid in me got a thrill racing as Puss-In-Boots.  Controls are easy to use for the most part, although I think the screen controls might be easier to use for controlling the cart for turning rather than rotating the screen to turn.  I would have preferred to tilt the screen for acceleration and breaking rather than a constant speed for the cart (which cant be controlled) and only having a break button on screen (even in accelerometer mode), but that's a minor issue.  The game does have an excellent tutorial system in case something confuses the user.  It's also possible to share results on Facebook and Twitter.

Is the game worth five bucks?  I'm not sure.  But it's certainly worth $.99 should it ever go on sale again.

Electronic Arts has cornered the App Store market regarding a certain type of app.  They seem to specialize in sports-related apps with amazing graphics.  Tiger Woods PGA Tour is no different.  And now, it's available at an incredible 90% off along with many other EA games to celebrate the release of iPhone 4.

The app begins by having the user pick out his or her avatar.  They choose a name, character body, and clothes.  From there, they are taken to an app tutorial on how to play.

As mentioned, the graphics are astounding.  As good as anything EA has made for the iPhone.  There is a wonderful pan feature that allows the user to see the entire green between the current position and the hole.  The settings allow the user to switch behind right and left handed and control caddy tips and tap-ins.  As with many of my favorite apps, you can play your audio library in the background.

The game can be somewhat complicated to learn as there are a myriad of buttons to tap and icons to drag to hit the ball in the right direction.  The tutorials are extremely helpful in this regard but there is still a bit of a learning curve.  If you have played other golf games before, you'll quickly come up to speed in this latest incarnation.

The controls are sensitive and exact, and all of the animation is smooth and realistic.  Multiplayer is supported so you can have a few rounds of golf with your friends.  This is the sort of game that shows why iOS is a serious contender against Nintendo and PSP in the portable gaming marketplace.

When purchasing this game, I was reminded of the South Park episode in which the boys are playing a similar Tiger Woods golf game except his noted infidelity became a part of it.  Just to assure you, this game is simply golf.  And a good one at that.

Speak the word 8-Bit and you have me. There is just something about that pixelated graphics and those chip tune soundtracks that endears me. Perhaps it is the nostalgic look and feel of the games I grew up with, but I can never get enough. Bit Pilot definitely has the makings of a great retro style arcade game. The gameplay is simple and the look is classic.

In Bit Pilot you command a space ship that is in an arena dodging asteroids. Controlling the ship is done with swipes. One finger swipes for small movements and two fingers for faster and more controlled movements. This control scheme allows for very precise movements which are required as the levels progress. As you fail to be destroyed, the game throws larges and more numerous asteroids as well as lasers that fire horizontally across the screen. The only thing keeping your ship intact is your shield which can be regenerated by capturing pills that fly across the screen. As you continue to play your cumulative score unlocks new music tracks. The game also packs a fair number of achievements without the open feint network for those social gamers.

This game reminds me of why games like Canabalt are so popular. The simple game play mechanics, and high quality graphics make for a game you don't want to put down. Bit Pilot doesn't crowd itself with too many fancy features, but above all else, fun.

Bit Pilot was free for its first day but as since gone up to $.99, which isn't too much to ask for a delightful game.