Flickr iPhone users can relax - finally they don't have to access the site through Safari any more, and can stay photo-connected with this official Flickr application.

When signing into the Flickr app, it will open Safari just to validate your account, but unless you sign out you don't have to do it again. Still, it's a shame sign in is not integrated with the app itself.

Once you're in, Flickr is a very neat app. You can view your photostream, add comments, search for users and view your contacts. There's a tab that gives you your recent activity and uploads on Flickr too. The interface is smooth, fast and intuitive.

Of course, the obvious thing is allowing you to upload pictures from your iPhone, and this couldn't be easier. You can choose an image from your library, or take a new one then just hit upload and it will be added to your photostream in moments. Unfortunately, the iPhone app seems to take some time to learn that your photostream has been updated, which is strange.

Other than refreshing itself, the Flickr app is a slickly-integrated program that makes uploading to Flickr a breeze. To top it all off, you can use GPS to add location data to your pictures, and if you have a 3GS you can upload your videos too.

The Flickr app is a great example of how to integrate with a web service, offering an experience which is both mobile, finger friendly and yet just as rich as the original browser service.