New for Terifik Apps this week is another brilliant iPhone photo app from Takayuki Fulatsu, one of our favorite App Elves.

LiquidPics
available from the iTunes App Store, for $1.99
by: Takayuki Fukatsu


For under 2 bucks, this is one of the most fascinating apps available for the iPhone. Liquid Pics is an incredibly fun photo distorting reality-warping machine. You can pour your photos across the screen like warm syrup, or push ripples into them with true multitouch functionality.


With thousands of apps out there competing for your attention, it can be nearly impossible to decide where to spend your hard earned dollars. Liquid Pics is simple, fun, and totally enthralling. It could easily find its way out of the photo section of the app store and into the entertainment section. For $2, you won't be disappointed.

This week's Terifik Apps highlights two powerfully simple photo apps for you iPhone. QuadCamera and ToyCamera, developed by Takayuki Fukatsu, combine limited options and simplistic controls to create a duo of apps that not only turn your mediochre IPhotos into save-worthy pics, but do it in such a delightfully simple way that you may actually use them.

QuadCamera
available from the iTunes App store, for $1.99
by: Takayuki Fukatsu

QuadCamera simulates a multi-lens camera cum time-lapse video camera. It renders a single image from multiple exposures delayed by a iser-adjustable timer. The final image can be a grid or strip of up to 8 images. You can also choose to tweak the colors from standard to b/w, vivid, or high contrast. It's a blast, and well employed for action sequences and/or moving subjects.


 














ToyCamera
available from the iTunes App store for $1.99
by: Takayuki Fukatsu

Toy Camera is an equally fun image app surpassing QuadCamera in its simplicity. ToyCamera creates ethereal, funky, romantic images from your everyday photos by emulating the look of toy cameras. With point and shoot control, the app transforms your iPhone's digital snap into a light-leaking, bad film, low-grade construction, art school masterpiece. The effects are random, and controls art limited, giving a very realistic rendition of the toy camera experience. Here is a sequence of images taken moments apart:

This week's installment of Terifik Apps shares a few tools that will turn your iPhone's underwhelming digital camera into a creative masterpiece machine.


CameraBag
from NeverCenter
available from the iTunes App Store for 2.99




CameraBag is an amazing application that greatly extends the utility and fun factor of your iPhone's camera. It uses a slick and simple interface to replicate the look of 9 classic camera styles. In seconds you can post-process pics off the camera or from your camera-roll. It's so easy: no computer, no Photoshop, just fast on-phone processing and impressive looking results. When you're done, save or send them to friends. For more pics and examples of a few effects, hit the jump. 

With so many incredible iPhone Apps being developed practically overnight, it's hard to keep up with what's worth downloading. This review is the first in a new regular series of iPhone App picks that we're calling Terifik Apps:

In 2008 Pandora for the iPhone was the #1 Free App download in the iTunes store, and for good reason. For the uninitiated, Pandora is a web-driven customizable music streaming system. In a nutshell, you pick any song, artist, or album title you like and Pandora creates a cohesive "radio" station based on your choice. Using the Music Genome Project, Pandora pools a list of similar artists/songs and serves them to you one by one. You can skip songs you don't like, discover new artists, and rate your favorites, achieving a more personalized station. It's nothing short of brilliant, and it's absolutely free.

Version 2.0, released about a week ago, ups the ante providing even more features, and in turn, greater connection to the music. Here are the additions in brief:

• Improved music engine - This is a HUGE improvement, my tastes are eclectic and my experience the past week with Pandora 2.0 definitely proves an impressive upgrade.  
  
• Cover Flow - lets you browse back through the songs you've heard as easily as browsing your iPod
• Artist/Song info - With a quick tap you can get the essentials on who's playing, and why Pandora chose that song for your station.
• Sharing Features - This is amazingly useful: Bookmark songs for future reference or to download them from iTunes, or Email station recommendations.

Available at the iTunes store for less than a wooden nickel.
[more information and screenshots after the jump]
 

Did Santa give you a iPhone this year? If so, here are our picks for the Top 5 Applications to put on your iPhone right away:

(*All are FREE unless otherwise noted)


Twitteriffic - A slick Twitter interface that lets you tweet, reply, upload photos, check user info, save favorites, and find nearby users on your iPhone's map.  By: Iconfactory



Google Reader - This is an essential App on any screen. The iPhone specific interface doesn't disappoint. Use it to stay up on sites like, mmm, Terifik. 
By: Google



Movies - An incredible resource for movie buffs. You can watch previews, see what's upcoming at the box-office and on DVD, and locate the nearest theater and showtimes using the iPhone's built-in GPS. 
By: Flixster


CraigSearch - A great little App for deal finders. Use it to run quick, intuitive searches on your local Craigslist. Search posts by keyword, narrowing with category/subcategory and a host of other options. When you've struck gold, reply to the original post with a quick tap. 
By: Pheedyou


Nightstand - The fun doesn't have to end when you're sleeping. Nightstand turns your iPhone into a bedroom worthy clock. You can use it in conjunction with your iPhone's alarm settings to replace that old clunker from college.
By: SpoonJuice   [Checkout Lifehacker for a great post on converting your iPhone packaging into a clock stand.]

It's a jungle out there. ~ 4,000 iPhone Apps available for download (and growing). We'll periodically update you with our favorites and new finds.