As part of the launch of iPhone 3G, Apple has released the latest iteration of the iPhone firmware (2.0), shipped with the new phone and available as a download for the first generation. Although the update ads some functionality and tweaks here and there, it's most notable for its inclusion of app support. Initially, Apple indicated that the iPhone would be a closed environment with no support for 3rd party applications. Not long after the phone's debut, however, Apple changed its mind, likely due to the community criticism of the original decision and the number of phones being jailbroken to allow custom apps to run on them.

I have updated my first gen iPhone to the new firmware and waded into the world of Apps. Honestly, I can't believe that Apple wasn't going to go this route all along: the iPhone is a great mobile platform with a sexy display and organic method of input. Over all I think the new app experience is great. There are already many apps out there that extend the devices capabilities or offer new ones. The "App Store" is not only available through iTunes but also directly on the phone and, unlike the iTunes Music Store, allows you to use it on an Edge connection. It's easy to install apps and the on-phone store tells you when there is an update available.

But nothing is perfect. Here are the 10+ things that annoy me about the iPhone app experience:

1. The App Store Closes When An App is Installing
I understand the need to show the user that the app is installing on the "desktop", but this can be rather annoying when trying to install multiple apps in a row. The apps can clearly install in the background, so why not just keep the store open with an indicator that program x is installing, or queue them all up until you are done browsing? At least it could reopen the store when you're done.

2. Some Apps Don't Install Over Edge
In a previous firmware update the iTunes Music Store was added to the phone so that you could preview and download music without having to be at your computer. The big drawback, however, is that you have to be on a Wi-Fi network to do it. And I don't mean it's slow over Edge, I mean that the application prevents you from running it unless you are on Wi-Fi. Annoying. Fortunately, the App Store doesn't have this limitation (which they claim is in place for performance reasons). But, even though you can browse the App Store over Edge, there are some apps that won't actually install from it if they are over a certain size limit. "" I'm looking at you.

3. If You Delete An App On The Phone, iTunes Will Put It Back On When Syncing
But I decided that app was lame! Stop putting it back! Maybe the delete popup could ask if you want to delete it and not put it back during sync.

4. Some Apps Are Crash-Prone
I thought Apple products didn't crash? As an Application Developer I'm not surprised--bugs happen. As a user, though, I'm annoyed when my entire phone reboots after starting a program and disappointed in the lack of testing. Shozu, I'm looking at you.

5. Not All Apps Respect the Mute Switch
I suppose the hardware mute switch on the side of the phone was intended mostly as a ringer mute switch, but really I think it should mute all sounds. For the most part it does that--with the mute switch enabled, you don't hear notification sounds or keyboard taps or ringtones. Videos and music still play, though, which can be jolting if you accidentally pocket-surf to "Back in Black" during your morning meeting or something. The behavior is inconsistent between Apple applications and that trend follows to 3rd Party Apps. Some respect it, while others blatantly disregard it. I'll wager that half the people who bought games for the iPhone did so in order to have something fun to do while taking their post-lunch constitutional. But personally, I'm too afraid to start up my games for fear of letting everyone in the bathroom know that the guy in stall #2 is playing Tetris. EA I'm looking at you.

6. Every App Seems to Want Location Access. Every Time. Repeatedly.
Any app that is even remotely "location aware" (and even some that aren't--why does my Sudoku game need to know my location?) seems to want to repeatedly ask if it is okay to use your GPS (or faux-GPS) coordinates. A cool feature, and I guess I understand the privacy concerns, but do they have to ask each time I start them up? And why can't they remember that I told them yes or no last time? Seriously, even Google Maps does this, and it has a button that you have to push to activate the location search.

7. Adding a New App Fills the First Empty Hole on the Desktop
Is it too much to ask that we can decide what page we won't are new app on? It's not hard to move the icon around once the install is done but it is annoying.

8. Updating an App Causes It To Delete the Old Icon and Place the New One God Knows Where
If it knows to delete the old icon, shouldn't it just put the new one in its place?

9. No Application Developers Kit For Windows
I know it would involve emulation the iPhone Mac OS X environment on a Windows box, but what can I say, I don't currently have an Apple machine, yet I want to develop for the iPhone. At some point Apple is going to have to realize that this closed-platform mindset limits growth (and annoys developers/users).

10. App Store Name Gaming
If you put a space (or some other symbol I suppose) in front of your application's name in the App Store it will show up at the top of the list instead of where it should alphabetically. Lame.

11. Most Non-Free Apps Don't Come With A Free Demo
Perhaps software and video games have "spoiled" me, but if I'm going to shell out some cash for your application I'd at least like to try it first. Some people say "Super Monkey Ball" rocks, others say the controls suck. How will I know if I can't demo it? Plus, what if I'm not really sure I'll like/need an application and then I try it and find out it's just what I've been looking for?

12. Repeated Password Entry is Annoying
App downloads on the iPhone require you to enter your password. This is nice if your buddy decides it would be funny to buy "Hannah Montana Hillbilly Golf" for you, but if the application is free do I really need this added step? A confirmation dialog would suffice in that case, methinks.

Do you have an iPhone? What do you like/dislike about the App Store and apps in general?

(I don't ever want to type the word "app" again...)