Navigating the wide, weird world of mobile apps

On Christmas Day, consumers downloaded more than 328 million mobile apps, according to industry experts.

Without a doubt, mobile devices -- tablets and smartphones -- were the hot holiday gift. After the wrapping paper was ripped away, people went into a downloading frenzy. In fact, 2012 was a monster year for Apple's app store, with nearly 20 billion downloads, the tech giant said recently.

Exploring this wide world of mobile apps can be a strange experience. There are plenty of practical and popular apps (everyone needs a flashlight app, right?).

But do you really need iVoodoo? That app allows users to create a virtual voodoo doll of your ex-best friend, lover or boss.

And does your baby need an app? Or your cat? Mobile developers seem to think so.

As it turns out, some of these strange apps (available for Apple's iOS and Android operating systems) have real-world benefits. Many even eliminate their analog counterparts.

Here are 10 odd apps -- but unlike the virtual voodoo doll, they might actually come in handy.

Cost: Free. (Available for iOS and Android)

What it eliminates: Hopefully, potty accidents.

Friskies JitterBugFirst they took over the Internet, now they want our mobile devices, too. This app gives cats plenty of games to keep busy (bugs crawl around the screen, and your kitty is supposed to tap on them with its paw). Other apps aimed at the feline demographic feature virtual lasers.

Cost: Free. (iOS)

What it eliminates: Scruffy cat toys lying around the living-room floor.

Cost: Free. (iOS/Android)

What it eliminates: A whistle that is nowhere to be found when Fluffy is peeing on the carpet.

Melon MeterWhen at the grocery store, place your phone against a melon, knock on the surface with consistent pressure and rhythm, and this app will tell you if it's ripe. According to its creators, the app uses a special algorithm to analyze the sound the melon emits. Sounds sweet.

Cost: $1.99. (iOS)

What it eliminates: Bringing home a bad melon.

Cost: Free, $2.99 for the pro version, which eliminates ads. (iOS)

What it eliminates: A gross-out, detailed notebook. Keep all this intimate info compact and hidden on your phone.

AvocadoThis exclusive messaging service for couples will help you avoid sending embarrassing text messages to your mom instead of your significant other. Couples download the app and create a shared password. Once logged in, you can send private text and photo messages to each other, create lists and calendar events that both of you can view and edit.

Cost: Free or $19.99 a year for unlimited photo and list sharing services, among other features. (iOS/Android)

What it eliminates: Excuses for forgetting to bring bread home from the grocery store.

Cost: $4.99. (iOS)

What it eliminates: A disorganized pile of notebooks and calendars. Go digital.

SnapguideSnapguide is the ideal app for those who consider themselves visual people. Instead of Grandma writing a step-by-step instruction on how to make her signature enchiladas, you can snap photos and assemble a recipe with words, photos and videos. You can then share the recipe with others on Snapguide and your other social networks.

Cost: Free. (iOS)

What it eliminates: Having to call Grandma 10 times while attempting to make dinner.

Cost: Free. (iOS)

What it eliminates: Private investigators and tracking devices.

Gangnam DanceboothPsy's "Gangnam Style" music video has more than 1.1 billion hits on YouTube, making it the most viewed clip of all time. There are also mounds of parody videos, but maybe you want to see what you look like dancing Gangnam Style. This app allows you to attach a head shot onto a dancing Psy and then records a video that you can share with your friends.

Cost: Free. (iOS/Android)

What it eliminates: Nothing, really. It's just funny.