With the App Store, the iPhone has taken a big step toward being a Mac "in your pocket," rather than just a smart phone. While the emphasis is on the benefits of being a Mac, there are a few downsides to consider. In particular, third-party apps can freeze, crash, and otherwise muck with your iPhone.

Luckily, the remedies for these common problems are fairly straightforward. Here is the best of our app advice.

Delete Unwanted Apps

If an application is giving you problems or has just lost its novelty, you may choose to delete it. To do so, you need to remove it both from your iPhone and iTunes before your next sync. Although Apple states that it is only necessary to remove an app from iTunes (which in turn should result in it being deleted from your iPhone during the next sync), many users have found that such "deleted" apps are transferred back from the iPhone to iTunes after a sync without the warning message that is supposed to appear.

To remove an application from your iPhone, tap and hold on any application icon in the Home screen until the icons begin to shake.

Tap the X symbol in the upper left corner of the application icon you wish to delete. You'll get a warning that deleting the app will also delete all of its data. After you tap the X, you'll be asked to rate the app before deleting it. You can choose a star rating or tap No Thanks. Once you're done, press the Home button.

To remove an application from iTunes, go to the Application window, right-click (or control click) on the desired application, and select Delete.

Alternatively, with your iP- hone connected, go to the iPhone's Applications tab. Assuming you are using the Selected Applications option, deselect the application you no longer want on your iPhone; this should prevent it from being put back on your iPhone without you deleting it from iTunes.

Should you completely delete an app and later decide you want it back again, no problem. Just go to the iTunes Store and download it again. If it is an app you purchased, the Store will remember that you previously paid for it and offer to download it for free.