Three iPhone apps (that exist today) that I would pay for.

Despite being built with an unofficial set of tools, the sheer quality of some of the apps available through Nullriver’s installer is amazing (also probably a testament to the iPhone API’s Apple has created).

These apps look and feel just as good as some of the included iPhone applications. If you want to see how the iPhone SDK is going to change the way we think of mobile phones as a computing platform, check out these 3:

1. MobileChat

Okay, so MobileChat is basically an iChat clone that mimics the iPhone’s SMS app. But it works exactly as you’d expect it to: Your buddy list is retrieved automatically when you sign in, tapping a contact’s name starts a new chat and you can even receive messages when mobileChat isn’t the frontmost application (something that Apple says applications developed with the official SDK will not be able to do).

It’ll be interesting to see if this one is ever released “officially”, especially given the aforementioned limitation and the fact that AOL have already announced their intention to release an official iPhone client.

mobileChat Homepage

2. mobileTwitter

Okay, so you’re either addicted to Twitter, or you don’t get it. But most people who try it are hooked and feel the need to Twitter constantly. There are now a plethora of web-based and native clients for Twitter on nearly all platforms. Not only does mobileTwitter look better than most desktop twitter apps I’ve tried, but it puts a twitter client where you need it most: on your phone.

Twittering via SMS always seemed like a 20th century way of doing things and mobileTwitter lets you get your Twitter fix on your iPhone in style.

Nice touch: Once you’ve updated your status, mobileTwitter transitions the view back to your updated list of tweets. Now that’s good UI design.

mobileTwitter blog

3. Tris

Okay, so it’s Tetris.

But it’s touch-enabled, drop-dead gourgeous, touch-interface Tetris! Tris has a sleek look that’s mildly reminiscent of Simon Härtel’s excellent Quinn:

Tap the screen to change block-shape, move them across the screen with the touch of a finger and swipe down to drop them into position. (Bonus tip: swipe up to cheat and move the piece back up a bit). Simple, stylish and a perfect iPhone timekiller.

Tris Project website