These newly updated gems can be easy to miss in the iTunes store, so we've selected what we think are five great examples of Facebook Connect on the iPhone. Whether you're searching for fun or utility, each of the featured apps properly take advantage of your Facebook network to bring you better gameplay or more focused application recommendations and connections.
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1. Movies by Flixster
Movies, the free iPhone app that pairs nicely with the Flixster movie experience, provides an immediate way to see the power that Facebook Connect for iPhone adds to apps. Simply by going to My Movies -> Settings and connecting your Facebook account, you'll immediately tap into your communal Movies and Facebook network. Given the popularity and reach of Flixster, that two-click process instantly added 137 friends, and their respective movie watching behaviors, to my mobile experience.
With the prevalence of friends using the app, the Movies Facebook integration adds a ton of real value to the mobile app. Now in the Box Office, Upcoming, and DVD sections, movies in each of the available categories show the friends who want to see the flick as well as ratings from friends. Friends' ratings and reviews are included in almost every element of the application, so the end result is getting tailored movie recommendations on the go.
2. iBowl
We've been a fan of iBowl, the app that lets you swing your phone and simulate the real-world bowling experience to knock down pins, since they launched their live sports gaming update back in January. Now with the Facebook Connect for iPhone integration, you can stop challenging random iBowlers to live matches and out-bowl your Facebook friends in interactive tournaments instead.
3. Urbanspoon
The incredibly useful app — great for road trips — that uses your location to help you find food choices near you, just became even more relevant with the Facebook Connect for iPhone integration. Now instead of just adding purposeless reviews and viewing general restaurant info, users can immediately add the context of their Facebook network to the Urbanspoon experience.
Once you've connected your Facebook account, you'll immediately see an in-app news feed of Facebook friends, plus for each individual restaurant you view, your Facebook friends' reviews are now called out separately and given higher priority — so you can see ratings, reviews, and photos from the people you trust the most.
4. Live Poker by Zynga
The ultimate time waster is now even more addicting. The updated Live Poker app makes it dead simple to sign in with your Facebook account, view friends who are using the app, and play live poker games with your best buds. Of course extraneous features like in-game chat and buying rounds of beer are still readily available, so it's almost like sitting down to a poker match with your IRL friends. Almost.
5. Tap Tap Revenge 3
The souped up third version of the original Tap Tap Revenge not only offers better gameplay, new special effects, and more free songs, but it also lets you tap in to your Facebook network to challenge your online friends and post stories back to your Facebook news feed every time you achieve a new high score.
These are a few of our favorite iPhone apps with Facebook Connect. Be sure to share your favorites in the comments.
More iPhone resources from Mashable:
- 6 iPhone Apps for the Ultimate March Madness Experience
- Social Media Break: 5 Free iPhone Apps to Fight Midweek Malaise
- Top 30 iPhone Apps for Organization and Productivity