A new version of AOL’s Fortune is now available, so it seems like a good time to review this app. As you might expect, the concept is simple: it’s a fortune cookie on your iPhone. While Fortune does have some nice features, there’s a big downside that might make you think twice about downloading and using this app.

The new 2.0 version is smaller and more stable than the previous version that was prone to crashes. When you load the app, you can “test your luck” by displaying a nicely drawn fortune cookie. As you move your iPhone about the cookie will slide from edge to edge. Press on the cookie to break it open and reveal your fortune. You can send fortunes to friends via email or press a button for another fortune.

Unfortunately, the fortunes are a little strange and not particularly varied. I did, however, like the fortune about seeing a man playing a guitar and then suggesting I donate. I traveled to a street fair that very day so this was a nice piece of “karma.”

This app comes from AOL and as a free app a little advertising might be okay. However, Fortune takes this one step too far with fortunes that when tapped load your browser and into a part of the AOL website. I don’t mind that AOL has a variety of iPhone services, but this nature of promotion feels quite intrusive and awfully tacky.  

The program isn’t bad, but the advertising aspect sure is a downside.

Useless Productivity Rating:

Cost: free

Learn More:

• Fortune website
• Get Fortune from iPhone App Store

One of these apps might come in handy for tomorrow’s “Let’s Rock” SteveNote, or you can use them at your next concert. Yes, even more “useless” than the myriad flashlight apps come the various apps that turn your iPhone into a lighter.

Crazy Lighter Gold

Besides being a great lighter, this app also comes with a lesson. You see, had we reviewed this a few days ago we would have put “free” in the review. But, in its latest incarnation the app has gone “gold” and now sports a $0.99 price tag. 

Still, EZone’s Crazy Lighter is worth a look. It has the most animated flame of any of the apps we’ve reviewed. In fact, the flame moves around so much you might even call it… (wait for it…) crazy! This thing will definitely catch attention. Even better, how do you turn on the lighter or turn it off? Just shake the iPhone to clear a clickety-clack that any zippo fan is all-too-familiar with. It’s a great touch.

Useless Productivity Rating:

Cost: $0.99

Learn More:

• Get Crazy Lighter Gold from iPhone App Store

MyLite and MyLighter

If you don’t care about flashlight functionality head straight to DoApp’s MyLighter, which shows the animated lighter you see right here. A better “value” (even if both apps are free) is MyLite, an app that contains the aforementioned lighter along with a number of flash and strobelight settings (strobe, trippin, police car, emergency, traffic lights).

The animation on the lighter is somewhat subdued, and the white plastic lighter definitely feels kind of cheap compared to the coolness of Crazy Lighter. But, if you wanted to get one app with a variety of functions for all of your “iPhone lighting needs” then you could do worse than MyLite.

Useless Productivity Rating (MyLite):

Cost: Free

Useless Productivity Rating (MyLighter):

Cost: Free

Learn More:

• DoApp MyLite website
• Get MyLite from iPhone App Store
• DoApp MyLighter website
• Get MyLighter from iPhone App Store

Lights!

Here’s another “all in one” light app, though the execution is definitely lacking. The lighter is the least animated of the ones reviewed here. In fact, it’s not very bright either. The Lights! flashlight function is similarly dim (from an illumination standpoint, mind you), though the candle option might be useful to some.

Still, at $1.99, the features are not compelling and certainly not a good value compared to apps.

Useless Productivity Rating:

Cost: $1.99

Learn More:

• Lights! website
• Get Lights! from iPhone App Store