Apple names 2008's most popular iPhone apps

With 2008 drawing to a close, Apple is counting down the most downloaded iPhone and iPod touch applications released via the App Store since the virtual storefront opened on July 11. According to Apple, games dominate the top 10 premium iPhone apps--the list includes Apple's own Texas Hold ‘Em, Freeverse's Moto Chaser, Vivendi Games Mobile's Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D, Sega's Super Monkey Ball, and Pangea Software's Cro-Mag Rally and Enigmo. The Blimp Pilots' Koi Pond, Shinya Kasatani's PocketGuitar, Retronyms' Recorder and Hottrix's iBeer round out the premium apps list.

As for the free iPhone applications, the list includes two social networking apps--Facebook and AOL's AIM--as well as two travel apps, Google Earth and Urbanspoon. The list also features a pair of entertainment apps, Apple's Remote and The MacBox's Lightsaber Unlimited, along with two music apps, Pandora Radio and Shazam. And of course there are games: Tapulous' Tap Tap Revenge and Codify AB's Labyrinth Lite Edition.

Check out the top iPhone apps here.