Really, this space could go to . Or . Or . Or any one of the dozens upon dozens of off-color noise-making apps that turn up when you type a certain slang term for passing gas into the App Store's search engine. It's not something that Apple is likely to tout at its next iPhone press event and we're not sure we entirely understand the phenomenon ourselves, but the fact remains: There are a of offerings in the App Store whose sole function is to simulate the sound of breaking wind. We like to think novelty apps like maybe inspired their developers to move on to creating bigger and better things once the novelty died down or that App Store shoppers looking for flatulence apps might have been tempted to try out some of the more useful apps available for download in the store. Nevertheless, there's no denying these kind of programs had their finger on the pulse of the App Store in its first year, and that a lot of customers were eager to pull that finger ($1; ).

The first time you hear a description of --animated Japanese carp swimming aimlessly about your iPhone screen--it sounds like, at best, a novelty app and, at worst, a waste of a perfectly good dollar. So how did this app swim its way to the top of Apple's list of best-selling paid apps for 2008? Because the development team at The Blimp Pilots mastered the little details of an iPhone app, from the realistic movement of the fish to the ambient noise to the interactivity. (Touch the screen in Koi Pond, and you'll see ripples form and fish scatter, accompanied by the sounds of splashing water.) Koi Pond is a relaxing and entertaining addition to any iPhone or iPod touch, but more important, it shows that even apps with simple conceits can contain a great deal of depth just below the surface ($1; ).

If you're looking for an example of how much an app can evolve in the short span of a year, consider the changes that has undergone. The app was there from Day One of the App Store, offering live scores, game status data, and in-game video highlights from Major League Baseball games. By the fall, MLB.com released an update that made in-game data even more accessible with play-by-play and pitch information that mirrored what you'd find on Major League Baseball's Web site.