Apple is nearing one billion application downloads in its app store, a remarkable achievement given that it was established just nine months ago. To mark the occasion, Apple has set up a counter where you can watch the uptake of new apps. (It currently stands at 946 million.) It also has introduced a list of the top free and paid apps of all time, with two Seattle companies making the list.

The restaurant locator Urbanspoon -- featured in past Apple ad campaigns -- makes the list in the free category. Meanwhile, PopCap Games' Bejeweled (retails for $2.99) is one of the most downloaded in the paid category.

Other top apps include Pandora, Koi, Pond, iBeer, Flashlight, Facebook, Virtual Zippo Lighter and -- of course -- the super useful iFart Mobile.

The New York Times notes that it took over two years for Apple to announce the sale of more than one billion songs through iTunes.

The rapid adoption by consumers and developers for Apple's app store spells trouble for Microsoft, which is trying to gain support for its new Windows Marketplace for Mobile.