Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they’re fair game.

So who’s on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!

Chad’s Pick: Resident Evil 4

This week it has to be Resident Evil 4 Mobile. The controls are much better than the previous Resident Evil game and the character models are better too. This version plays as little bit-size chunks of storyline. You still get your weapons, attaché case and more. They even included mercinary mode! If you like Resident Evil games, then go out and grab this latest version! [$7.99 - iTunes link]

Chris’ Pick: Harbor Master

This game is similar to the wildly popular Flight Control game, except you are dealing with ships instead of planes. The idea is the same - guide the ships to the port, allow them to unload their cargo, and then guide them away. It gets a little more complicated with larger ships (that move more slowly) as well as the fact you have to unload cargo (and larger ships carry more cargo). With multiple “ports” as well as dangers (whirlpools, pirates, etc) thrown in, the game has been taking up far too much of my time! (PS - look for a review of it coming soon!) [$0.99 - iTunes link]

James’ Pick: TuneWiki

As the owner of 1000 iPods, I clearly like my music. And whether or not other people like it, I love to sing along. Enter TuneWiki. This free application takes advantages of using newly released API in the 3.0 firmware to call an instance if the iPod player. The app then displays the lyrics if the song you are listening to. TuneWiki also allows you to see the real-time top 50 charts of other countries and ‘blip technilogy’ so you van share what you are listening to with your friends in social networks. [Free - iTunes link]

Justin’s Pick: Nike+

I decided that I was going to run the Miami half marathon in January. Since I’m rocking a iPhone 3GS I thought this would be the perfect excuse for me to plunk down some money on Nike+ shoes and the $19 sensor. My first attempt using Nike+ failed due an issue with 3.1 beta 2, but beta 3 fixed the issue and I’ve gone on a couple runs now. I was surprised to see how accurate it was tracking my mileage and pace. The best part of Nike+ is syncing your run to the new Nike+ beta site after a run to track your progress over time. If you are an avid runner or even just starting out like me, it makes running a lot more fun…especially if you love stats! [Built in]

Leanna’s Pick: Cookiecombo

This is based off the card game Set. Each cookie has 4 properties: flavor, decoration, filling, and number of decorations. The objective of Cookiecombo is to find a match of 3 where for each property, every cookie is the same or they’re all different. I’m not exactly good at Cookiecombo, but it’s fun and great for my brain! [$1.99 - iTunes link]

Matt’s Pick: SimplyTweet

SimplyTweet is easily one of the best Twitter applications for the iPhone. Recently I have been crazy busy and not on Twitter as much. Since SimplyTweet utilities push notifications for @replies & DMs, this app has helped me quickly keep in touch with people during my busy schedule. Simply is simply one of the the best Twitter applications. [$4.99 - iTunes link]

Rene’s Pick: GV Mobile for Jailbreak

Fight the power.

Your Pick?

You’re part of team TiPb too, so what’s your pick? What app was your absolute fav last week? Let us — and everyone — know in the comments!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Resident Evil 4, Harbor Master, TuneWiki, Nike+, Cookiecombo, SimplyTweet, GV Mobile - TiPb Picks of the Week

Apple rejects the official Google Voice app from the App Store and removed previously approved Google Voice apps from 3rd parties. Sources tell Daring Fireball and Techcrunch it was at AT&T’s request. AT&T tells people Apple controls the App Store. Apple, when they first introduced the App Store, said that prohibited apps included anything that adversely affected the cell network, VoIP (except over Wi-Fi), and the nebulous “unforeseen”, a catch and cover all. Now the FCC has sent letters to Apple, AT&T, and Google in an attempt to get answers as to who knew what and when — to get a look inside the black box of the App Store approval (and rejection) process.

Reaction has generally fallen into three camps:

1. Those who are happy because either they believe there is a role for government to play in ensuring companies like AT&T who license public airwaves and huge corporations like Apple who come to exclusive deals still provide enough freedom, choice, and competition for consumers — or just because they’re so frustrated with the App Store any type of action is inherently appealing.

2. Those who are unhappy because they dislike government involvement in business and think that if Apple and AT&T (or Google or anyone else) does wrong, the ultimate authority in correcting that behavior lies with consumers who can vote with their feet and their wallets and go somewhere else — another carrier and phone platform.

3. Those who don’t care, either because they’ve never even heard of Google Voice and this whole brouhaha and just like the iPhone, apps or no apps.

Where do you fall? Let us know in the pole, and monologue away in the comments.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Poll: Should the FCC be Investigating Apple and AT&T over Google Voice?

PixPo Dogs App Forum Review by llofte. For more Forum Reviews, see the TiPb iPhone App Store Forum Review Index!

Do you like matching games and adorable dogs? If so, then PixPop Dogs [$0.99 - iTunes link] may be the game for you. This is jigsaw puzzle type game that is fun, addicting, competitive, and just plain cute!

Game Play

The objective of PixPop is simple - pop the tokens on the right by matching them with the big picture. Tapping on the big picture will place a green square around your contact point. If it matches a token, just tap the token and it pops away. Once all the tokens are popped, you are given a new picture. Pop as many tokens as possible before time runs out. What makes PixPop challenging is when there are patterned objects or backgrounds such as blankets, fences, and grass. When playing in competition mode, you can submit your name and score to the Worldwide Scoreboard, otherwise, your score is only submitted locally.

During game play, the tokens may temporarily change colors, representing different point values. A blue token is worth 25 points, orange is 100 points, and a glowing token adds an extra 300 points.

Tapping hints on the lower left corner will move the green token to the spot that matches the bottom token. Use hints wisely, as you are only given 5 per game.

On the upper right of the screen next to your score, there is a brightness button. Tapping this will brighten the photo which helps with the darker areas of the picture where it’s hard to see details.

Menu/Options

Setup - There are two modes of play, Competition and Zen. In Competition Mode, everything is fixed and you can submit your score to the Worldwide Scoreboard. In Zen Mode, you can adjust the time (10s-eternity), matches per picture (3-20), hints per game (1-20), and square size (50-80).

Tips - This is where you learn how to play and are provided with contact information.

Credits - Here is where Spinapse gives credit to those who provided the images for PixPop Dogs.

Scores - There are 3 scoreboards, Latest Wordwide (today’s scores), All Time Wordwide (I’m #21 =D), and Local.

More - This is where you can find more apps from Spinapse with links to the App Store.

Conclusion

PixPop Dogs is a great game for kids and adults alike. If cute and adorable doggies isn’t your cup of tea, Spinapse also offers PixPop Extreme Sports, PixPop Around the World, PixPop Art, and PixPop Cats. So pick your favorite category, get to poppin’, and let us know what you think!

Pros

• Fun and addicting
• Great photos
• Good for both kids and adults
• Developers periodically update the app with more photos

Cons

• Can’t think of any!

TiPb Review Ranking

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

App Review: PixPop Dogs

Techcrunch got a hold of a letter sent by the FCC to Apple seeking more information on the rejection of Google’s Google Voice app, and removal of third party Google Voice apps already in the iTunes App Store.

Specifically, the Federal Communications Commission wants to know why Apple rejected the apps, and which apps exactly were rejected, whether Apple alone made the decision or whether AT&T played any part, what role — if any — AT&T plays in the App Store approval process, what makes Google Voice any different than VoIP apps Apple has already approved, what other apps have been rejected and why, whether or not there’s a list of verboten apps and how that list is made available to developers and consumers, and other timing and statistical information concerning the approval process and rejections.

Basically, it reads as a wish list of every question every frustrated developer, consumer, and — yes — even blogger has ever wanted Apple to simply, plainly, and consistently answer. There is, however, a proviso for Apple to request confidentiality, which given Apple’s penchant for secrecy, likely means we may never see those answers.

Similar letters were sent to Google and AT&T.

Opinions always vary about when and how much government should intrude into business. Some will think never, some will hope always, and we like to think there’s a balance in between. App Store rejections currently annoy developers and the more tech-savvy consumers who read blogs and technology columns. Unfortunately, until it breaks the confidence of the average consumer and suffers immediate, painful consequence, Apple likely thinks most users aren’t even aware of the issue and it can take its time and follow it’s own agenda.

If nothing else, the FCC has just thrown a monkey wrench into that strategy.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

FCC Investigating Google Voice Rejection from Apple’s iTunes App Store, AT&T’s Involvement