Posted by: Christopher Meinck
on Sep 29, 2008
Everyone's favorite social networking app Facebook received an update today to version to 2.0. Already well reviewed, version 2.0 offers host of new features in this version and it's still available for free via iTunes.
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Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Sep 26, 2008
If you read the reviews for an app on the App Store before you buy it, you’ve probably been frustrated by the reviews posted by people who don’t even own the app. iPhone developers have also expressed frustration with this process, since poor reviews can lead to lower sales for their app. Well, no more! Apple has finally set up requirements to review apps - if you try to review an app that you have not purchased, you’ll see this message pop up in iTunes:
It’s unknown whether Apple will go back and remove the existing reviews from those who did not purchase or download the app in question (which could be quite a daunting task), but at least we now know that reviews from this point on will most likely be based on actual experience with the app.
Via Macrumors forums...
Posted by: Lincoln
on Sep 24, 2008
For the next few days, Pangea Software, MooCowMusic, and Demiforce will be having a sale on their applications available in the AppStore. All of the apps are listed below, and each has a link leading to the AppStore.
• MooCowMusic's Band for $1.99
•
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Sep 23, 2008
With much fanfare, though not nearly the level of showmanship we see from a Steve Jobs keynote, T-Mobile, HTC, and Google execs formally announced the first Android-driven device yesterday. What did we learn about the T-Mobile G1? Let’s recap:
- Touchscreen (NOT multi-touch) device with slide-out keyboard (exactly as pictured in previous spy shots)
- Quad-band GSM and 3G capable on T-Mobile’s network, currently live in 16 markets in the U.S.
- Includes WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3-megapixel camera
- 1GB microSD card included, unknown internal memory
- SIM-locked to T-Mobile, can be unlocked for users in good standing after 90 days
- No headphone jack (requires a proprietary adapter to use headphones)
- Can download apps from the Android Marketplace (developers can produce and distribute any type of software with no restrictions)
- Pre-loaded music player, web browser, and other software. No built-in video player.
- Amazon music store software pre-loaded
- Copy & paste (though limited to editable text boxes)
- Integrates seamlessly with Google apps and syncs with online counterparts
- Google Maps has compass function to automatically adjust street view
- No desktop synchronization software
- No Exchange server synchronization capability
- Push email only with GMail accounts (all others are pull)
- Camera records still photos only, no video
- $179 with a 2-year contract, two data plans at $25 and $35, available starting October 22
W
Posted by: Christopher Meinck
on Sep 22, 2008
Over the past few weeks, there have been a fair share of negative press coverage of apps that have not been approved for the App Store. As Lincoln noted yesterday, both Podcaster and Mailwrangler were rejected for "duplicating functionality" found in Apple developed applications. According to a report on MacRumors, the non-disclosure has been extended to include rejection letters and rejection letters now include the following verbage, "THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS UNDER NON-DISCLOSURE".
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Sep 21, 2008
From the start, the iPhone grabbed headlines and mindshare of cell phone junkies, Apple fans, and even many non-tech-heads, and it continues to do so with the explosion of the App Store. With literally thousands of apps available that can help iPhone owners do everything from learn a foreign language to nap on the train without missing their stop, the pressure is on other smartphone makers to keep up. Last winter, Google stepped up to join the fray and announced its own open-source mobile platform and gained the participation of a number of smartphone hardware manufacturers and mobile service providers. Google’s bold plan is coming to fruition tomorrow with the announcement of the first Android handset that will be available through T-Mobile.
How will this impact Apple and the iPhone platform? It’s far too early to tell yet, but it will definitely offer some competition, and free market theory indicates that this should push improvements in quality and price among competitors over time. The important thing to note is that Android is open source and there’s no NDA governing its use, nor will there be an approval process governing the release of apps. This is in stark contrast to Apple, who has come under fire lately because of their decisions to reject some apps recently (PodCaster and MailWrangler), while other, arguably less useful, apps were approved and available from day one. Also, Android’s app distribution will not be limited to their app store, the Android Marketplace - developers will also be able to distribute their Android apps directly to users, compared to the iPhone’s App Store that acts as the only distribution point for 3rd party apps to users, period.
We don’
Posted by: Lincoln
on Sep 21, 2008
Two weeks ago, Apple rejected an app's submission to the AppStore because it "duplicated iTunes functionality." That app was Podcaster, an application that allows you to subscribe, manage, stream, and download podcasts directly to your iPhone or iPod touch. Today, another app has been rejected for a similar reason: it "duplicates the functionality of the built in Mail application."
