Hi Frequent_flyer,
There's a consensus here? ;-)
First off, Glaurung is both excellent and free, so it's a no-brainer to check that app out.
Deep Green has a very compelling interface that makes it a lot of fun to use. It's not free, but there is a free "Lite" version you can use for a test drive. (The only difference is that the Lite version does not restore previous games when you re-launch the app. If you play quick games in one 'sitting,' this might be all you need - esp. on a Touch, where you can't be interrupted by a call.) DG is a bit more 'casual' than some of the other apps. The current version does not announce opening names, show engine analysis, or allow you to email games in PGN format. Some or all of those features will, however, be coming in version 2.0.
Fritz didn't impress me much when I first downloaded it, but it's in VERY active development, and a couple of updates have made it a real contender in the genre. I know you said you weren't too concerned about engine strength, but for what it's worth, Fritz might well be the strongest of the lot. The UI doesn't have the 'character' of, say, Deep Green, but it's extremely slick. It's on sale now "until the next major upgrade." :-)
My current favourite, Shredder, offers excellent game-play, a nice UI, chess puzzles, and a feature that automatically adjusts the engine's strength to your level of play.
Hope that helps a little.
Hello everyone. I just bought my first ipod (the touch) and I love it. I'm a newbie here, so I look forward to interacting with you all.
I'm looking for a good chess application for the touch. There are many at the itunes store, but I thought you guys could advise me. I've seen a lot of discussion in the forum on applications (plus several that seem to be under development), but I'm not sure what the consensus is. I don't mind spending a couple of bucks (although free is always better).
I'm just looking for an app where I can play a good game (offline) against the computer. I'm an average player, so it doesn't have to be at the GM level!