iPhone browser is a lightweight application that has an easy drag-and-drop interface that lets you browse the contents on your iPhone. You can manually transfer your photos, music or movies from your device back to your computer, or just add files to the iPhone and fill up the unused space as extra storage. There’s even an image preview for transferring photos. The best part about the whole thing, though, is that you don’t need to jailbreak to use it. If you do have a jailbroken device, though, iPhone Explorer becomes even more useful—It can access the root of jailbroken phones and browse the files inside, with no need for complicated SSH setups.

The only issue I had was that multiple selection didn’t work so well—whether I was trying to transfer files to or from my iPod touch, doing it one file at a time worked much better than trying to do more. So if you need to transfer large batches of files, you may be better off putting them in a folder beforehand to avoid crashes.

iPhone Explorer is a free download for Windows and Mac OS X 1.5+, requires iTunes 8 or 9 to use.

Finally jumped in and around the world I brought my girls (almost 4 years and 2 years) with me. We have a blast with free iPhone / iPod Touch Apps for small children playing in particular. It is a good way to test the waters and immediately thereafter. Many of them are short versions of applications, the full cost of a buck or two updates, since if you want to know if your children like them or not. But some are freebies whole package!

Apps for tots are a good way to entertain them at restaurants or just to pass time together in the winter months when it’s too cold to play for too long outdoors. My girls and I like to sit down together on the couch and take turns with them.

Here’s the 10 best free ones we’ve tested out… all are fun and most also have a learning element too! (Note: We have… and use these with… the basic iPod Touch G1 with the latest v3 software.)

iwritewords (lite) – This is the favorite so far for my 4 year old. She loves writing letters, numbers and tracing and this free app lets her do all of that – with a few letters and numbers and first words too. Great handwriting tool that let’s her practice over and over and feel a sense of pride for a job well done without letting her cheat letters by writing backwards, like she does on paper sometimes.

ABC Maze lite - Also made by the same people as iwritewords (ptgdi), this one has easy mazes that your tot has to navigate a ball through to spell out easy words.

Tap Dots – This is a fun way to teach numbers visually with simple tracing of images that little ones love – 18 in all- including a bear, train, duck and more. This is the full version of this app and it’s completely free! (See screenshot left from Tap Dots)

Baby Flash Cards – This is another full version app that’s 100% free! It has 200 different cards that you can sort in several different ways. These are the digital version of flash cards you probably have at home and your kids have nibbled on or lost some of. Really can’t beat this for what it is! So simple and you can use for small babies up thru toddlers.

Doodle Buddy – Doodle Buddy is the best of all the free drawing apps we tried. You can free draw, use stamps, even trace or draw over your own photos. Just shake lightly and clear the screen to start over. You can also save your works of art. Both my girls enjoy this and want to play over and over again! For older kids or kids at heart you can invite other users to draw with you – and play hang man or other drawing games!

First Words Sampler – A short version of several different full apps, this is still fun for little ones. First Words shows an image of a familiar thing plus a letter scramble. Kids have to put the right letters in order to spell out the word. If your tots like this sampler, you can upgrade to a holiday, animals, home, vehicles and deluxe versions.

Letter Quiz lite – A free, shorter version of a full app, this one has tots pick out the letter being asked for from a group of 4 letters. A very basic app but you may learn just how much your tot knows! I couldn’t believe how good my 2 year old is at this one and she’s so proud of herself.

The above games can all be played with the sound off. But the below ones require sound on/speakers/headphones to enjoy:

Bubblesnap - So simple yet somehow fascinating for tots. My girls just tap tap tap the screen popping the virtual bubble wrap. They’re not learning much but can play nicely together with this one. By far the best app involving bubbles of any kind! (Screenshot of Bubblesnap, right)

Voice Zoo – It’s like a piano sounds of animals – the key to all images of animals and animal sounds in the picture.
The photos are just too cute! It is easy to find for the youngest by many users, in order, and have fun with.

Mini Piano – It’s just that … a piano for the iPhone / iPod Touch. Small children pounded their songs!

If you have other popular applications without leaving a comment below with the name.