As the release of iPhone 2.0 and the iTunes AppStore approaches, one of the big questions with regard to the iPhone is the impact Apple-approved 3rd party applications will have on both jail-broken applications and so-called “web apps”.

The past year has been good to both, as both have had a fertile environment in which to take root and grow. The locked nature of the iPhone meant that they were the only way to access applications and services that did not come installed on the iPhone. Both approaches have met the challenge beautifully and in so doing they have made the iPhone more powerful than ever.

Web-apps were envisioned by Apple from the very beginning. Apple provided access to all the tools needed to create a vast array of programs and games that could be accessed via WiFi or Edge. Despite some initial skepticism by many of us some amazing offerings have emerged over the past twelve months. And as the year progressed the degree of sophistication, ease of use and speed (through optimizing the interface) have been growing. Many of us quickly discovered that so long as we have an available wifi or edge connection, web applications work remarkably well and allow access everything from e-mail to news to games. Even the files stored on your home desktop became accessible through programs such as iGet Mobile and SugarSync.

One of the iPhone games I am most looking forward to is Spore from Electronic Arts. Spore was first demoed at the SDK "release party" back in March. In just a two-week build period the game already looked amazing so you can just imagine what the final release will be like.

According to the Web site…

With Spore you can nurture your creature through five stages of evolution: Cell, Creature, Tribe, Civilization, and Space. Or if you prefer, spend as much time as you like making creatures, vehicles, buildings and spaceships with Spore’s unique Creator tools.

The first step in creating your Spore Universe is to create your creature. From there its up to you and your imagination.

While Spore is currently in pre-release and the mobile version is not expected until the fall of 2008, the Spore Creature Creator Trial was released today. I downloaded it and within minutes I was creating my very first creature.