There are plenty of apps in the App Store that serve no real purpose. They’re not useful or practical; they’re just there for the hell of it, to be a gimmick. Here’s my favorite five:

1) Phototropedelic.

Price: $1.99

Phototropedelic is a picture manipulating app. When I say manipulating, I mean, it turns every picture you have into the LSD-laced decade that was the 1960s. It’s a pretty basic tool, in terms of options. You can either take a photo or choose one from your library, and it makes it beautiful. Splashing everything in sickening oranges and greens, adding floating stars, it brings new life to your once plain pictures. One thing I’d use it for: Use any old boring photographs from your library that you don’t particularly like, and have Phototropedelic make it magnificent.

(link to iTunes here.)

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2) The Day I Was Born

Price: $0.99

I’m a little bit of a nerd when it comes to utterly useless information, and so when it came to finding an app that tells me which famous people share my birthday, or died on it, I was intrigued. This program uses your birthday, (or anyone in your contact list), and gives you all sorts of information, including star sign meanings, important events, and holidays. It only costs $0.99, and it’s pretty cool — that is, until I realized that Shauna Grant (actress) killed herself on the day I was born. Then again, I do share a birthday with Matthew Broderick and JS Bach, so it’s not all bad.

(link to iTunes here.)

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3) iRetro Dialer

Price: $1.99

Sometimes get bored of your standard iPhone keypad dialer? Well, now is your time for a change. For a cent short of two bucks, you can transform your iPhone in to an old-school telephone rotary. Obviously it takes more effort to dial, but it’s so worth it just for the nostalgia and excitement it brings to your soul.

(link to iTunes here.)

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4) Clockscapes

Price: Free – $1.99 (each)

When I first saw this app, I thought it could replace my iPhone home screen, but unfortunately not. However, if you do want to change from seeing your usual clock and background, then open the Clockscapes app, of which there are 11 variations (from art works to cityscapes) all in a pretty decent 3D-style animation. I was kindly given the Chicago Clockscape and was pleasantly surprised at its aesthetics.

(link to iTunes here.)

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5) Mini Piano

Price: Free

Like me you must get bored sometimes, or need something to do whilst in the bathroom. So why not play piano? It’s great having a whole octave of piano to tinker with. I must be honest, the best use I’ve had out of it is distracting my baby daughter when she’s feeling a little grouchy. As soon as she realizes that hitting it makes a noise, she sits almost quietly composing a piece Rachmaninoff would be proud of.

(Link to iTunes here.)