But the dilemma for many app shoppers is especially acute in troubled economic times: Do I really want to spend (US)$10 or $5 or even $1 on this app? When you've got to wade through, it's tough to find good deals when they do come along. And some sales are very much limited-time offers--sometimes a week, sometimes only a few hours.

attempts to resolve these difficulties with AppSniper, an app for the iPhone and iPod touch that lets you track App Store prices as they fall. When you find an app you are interested in purchasing, simply tap the listing and then tap "buy." AppSniper will automatically launch the App Store on your device. It's possible to recoup the $1 cost of the app with just one use.

You "snipe" an app by searching for the application you want, tapping a rifle scope icon, and using the scroll wheel to select the price you are willing to pay. When--if--the app drops to the price you set, AppSniper will alert you the next time you use the application.

Truth is, I haven't found the snipe function all that useful in the few weeks I've used AppSniper. None of the apps I sniped ever hit their targets, but I assume that had more to do with my selections than the app's functionality. That said, it's a shame there is no way for the app to automatically alert you, whether by e-mail or SMS text, when your snipe tags its bogey.

AppSniper is most useful as an App Store sale clearinghouse. When you launch the app, it will sync up with the latest data and display price changes within the past 24 and 48 hours. The menu bar at the bottom of the screen lets you sort by sale apps, new apps and "hot apps" among the various store categories. Because the app selection is so massive, AppSniper will let you filter the results through 20 genre filters, including news, productivity, sports, games, travel, business, finance, and weather.