Let’s ignore the fact that the iPhone is one of the greatest things invented in the history of the world, EVER. Forget about all the cool stuff it can do for now, because today I want to talk about a nice benefit I’ve come to enjoy. The iPhone (or iPod Touch) as a distraction tool.

See, the iPhone 2.0 software added the whole idea of the App Store, where you can download all sorts of great (and not-so-great) applications from productivity programs, to reference tools, to games. Yes, games. There are some great games for the iPhone, some even for free. You can get stuff like Sonic the Hedgehog, The Sims 3, Tetris, and Peggle. Yes, Peggle, deal with it. Some games you can get really into, while some are good quick hits. And some are good for passing time when you’re dropping the kids off at the pool. All in all, the iPhone and iPod Touch is a terrific gaming platform, and in some cases, might be a better alternative than a Nintendo DS (the iPhone is capable of better graphics) or a PSP (the PSP Go price point was a disappointment). In fact, Cyphon recently recommended the iPod Touch to somebody over the other platforms given the nature of the device and the amount of games available at reasonable prices. With the upcoming 3.0 update, we expect gaming on the iPhone/Touch to get even better.

Another great benefit you’ll realize will come to you on those longer road trips when the kids start getting pissy and you’ve run out of things to keep them entertained. Recently, I’ve taken to handing Oldest Son my iPhone (if I can tear myself away from Peggle) and letting him play Othello. He loves it, and he’s gotten really good at it. And it keeps him occupied and quiet, except when he decides to give us a running play-by-play of his game.

If I wasn’t so damn cheap, I’d put even more games on my iPhone, and I still may. Yes, the initial price (and ongoing cost if you’re talking about an iPhone) is a bit much, though the Touch is going for less than the PSP Go right now, but if you’re already in the market for an MP3 player, or want something that can play games, let you listen to music, watch movies, and surf the web via WiFi or 3G, it’s something I’d recommend you take a look at.

Favourite games on my iPhone right now:

• Galcon – fun, quick little real-time strategy game
• MotionX Poker – another fun quick-hitter, basically poker dice
• Any Fart App – sorry moms, if you have sons, fart = funny. It’s my last resort, but it’s gold
• Metal Euchre – for the Euchre fans out there
• Morocco – Othello, basically, I put it here because Oldest Son loves it
• Scrabble – it’s Scrabble, nuff said
• Peggle – one of the most addictive fun casual games out there
• TicATac Poker – I’m playing the free Lite version, I really should spring for the full one, it’s like tic-tac-toe, but you’re trying to make 3-card poker hands