With over 75,000 titles in the App Store, some help in discovering apps is welcome. iPhone and iPod touch users can get app recommendations based on apps they have downloaded with the newly released iPhone OS 3.1.

Here's how to turn on Genius App Recommendations:

1. Launch the App Store app on your iPhone or iPod touch.
   
2. Tap the Featured button at the bottom of the screen.
   
3. Tap the Genius button at the top of the screen.
   
4. If this is the first time Genius Recommendations for Apps has been accessed on the device, you will be prompted to turn on Genius. The screen tells you, "Turning on Genius Recommendations for Apps will send information about the apps you download to Apple." Click Turn on Genius.
   
5. Input your iTunes account password and tap OK.
   
6. Read the Genius for Apps Terms of Service. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Agree. Then tap Agree in the dialog box at the bottom.
   
7. "You've successfully turned on Genius for Apps." Tap Done.
   
8. Scroll through the recommendations. Tap a recommendation to view the details page for the app where you can buy/download.
   
9. To remove a recommendation from the list, swipe it to reveal a Remove button.
   

Here are some sample recommendations from my iPod touch:

• RemoteTap, based on Snatch (a trackpad and remote for Mac and Windows)
• PozBook Pro, based on Documents 2 (a word processor)
• 6500+ Cool Facts, based on Stick It Action (a animation app)
• Smart Sokoban Free, based on RoboLogic Lite (a programming app)
• Math Ref Free, based on Wikipedia Mobile (a reference app)
• Crazy Pumpkin, based on FlipBook Lite (an animation app)
• Frames, based on FlipBook Lite (an animation app)
• Free French Tutor, based on "FREE" Grammar Up (English quiz)
• Mathemagics Lite, based on "FREE Grammar Up (English quiz)
• Just Find It Lite (Spot the differences), based on Miss Spell's Class (a word game)

Genius for Apps leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps with time the recommendations will improve as Genius learns more about my app use. I would like to be able to select an app to see recommendations rather than scrolling through random items. Additionally, I'd like to see Genius for Apps added to iTunes so I can browse recommendations on my desktop computer instead of on the handheld.

Of course, the best app recommendations for teaching and learning come from other iPod touch and iPhone-using educators. Here are some websites with lists of apps:

• iPhone/iPod touch Apps for K-12
• iPod/iPhone Apps for Education
• Using the iPod touch in the Classroom
• I Education Apps Review

Labels: appstore, iphone, ipodtouch