iPhone Firmware » App Store http://www.iphonefirmware.com Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:30:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Official Twitter app updated for iPad http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/official-twitter-app-updated-for-ipad/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/official-twitter-app-updated-for-ipad/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000 TJ Luoma http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/02/official-twitter-app-updated-for-ipad/

A few months ago, Twitter announced that they had acquired Tweetie and the web (I refuse to use the word "blogosphere" because it is a stupid word) exploded with predictions that they had effectively killed off the market for 3rd party Twitter applications.

With the release of Twitter as a universal app that now includes iPad support (read the official announcement here) I feel confident to say that the reports of the death of 3rd party Twitter applications has been greatly exaggerated.

The UI for Twitter for iPad is, without question, unlike any other Twitter application that we've seen. Opinions around the TUAW offices on whether this difference is "awesome" or "an abomination." I definitely range towards the latter end of the scale, and judging by most of the comments of people that I follow on Twitter, the initial reaction is definitely one of "too busy" and "over designed."

This is in sharp contrast to Twitterrific which just released a major update for the iPad and iPhone where they made dramatic simplifications to the app, while retaining the most important features for the most users. (Craig Hockenberry talked about those changes here.)

Continue reading Official Twitter app updated for iPad

Official Twitter app updated for iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Official Twitter app updated for iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/official-twitter-app-updated-for-ipad/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Super Mega Worm http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/tuaws-daily-app-super-mega-worm/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/tuaws-daily-app-super-mega-worm/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/02/tuaws-daily-app-super-mega-worm/ Sometimes you roll along, having a pretty good day... and sometimes, you just want a giant worm to rise up out of the ground and destroy everything. Super Mega Worm is for that second type of day. (You'll have to find something else for the first -- Doodle Jump, perhaps?) It's a game where you control a gigantic worm on a 2D field. You use a slider (or the accelerometer) to direct it through the soil and up onto the surface of the Earth, where puny little humans await their inevitable destruction. The game is funny in a morbid way; you end up cheering for the little worm as it grows (and learns new abilities) over time, and eventually, you'll find yourself reveling in the destruction of the human race.

Quality pixelated graphics and excellent sounds help immersion a lot, and the control scheme is surprisingly fitting for the kind of movement that the worm does. There's even a little mini-game in jumping off of various vehicles into the atmosphere and exploring the game field in both directions. Super Mega Worm isn't really a title for the faint of heart; even though the graphics are pretty retro, things get gory fast. But if you've ever found yourself laughing at or cheering for the monster in a horror movie, Super Mega Worm will probably dig its way into your free time. The game is US$2.99 on the App Store right now.

TUAW's Daily App: Super Mega Worm originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Super Mega Worm originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/tuaws-daily-app-super-mega-worm/feed/ 0 Booyah releases InCrowd for iPhone and iPod touch http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/booyah-releases-incrowd-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/booyah-releases-incrowd-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/01/booyah-releases-incrowd-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/ Booyah has released an iPhone and iPod touch version of its Facebook game, InCrowd, and it's now available on the App Store. The app, like the very popular MyTown, uses location check-ins to create a game around social networking. But unlike MyTown, this app was originally released as a Facebook game. Booyah originally started InCrowd as its first Facebook venture, but it's now bringing the game back to the iPhone, where it's presumably more comfortable at development. But the Facebook and iPhone versions work together (in fact, you need a Facebook account to play it), so check-ins on either platform can be seen in the app.

As for the game itself, it's exactly the kind of thing that's very popular among the huge tween audience for Facebook games -- there's a cartoonish avatar that can interact with friends socially, and checking-in to certain places earns the avatars popularity and status. There's a microtransaction element as well -- interacting uses energy, and if you don't want to wait for a refresh, you can spend 99 cents to get more. Standard social gaming stuff, although Booyah is pretty good at putting it together by now.

Booyah remains a company to watch in the social gaming space -- it doesn't seem to have had quite the success it wanted on Facebook, but the company is flexible enough to switch a game like this over to Apple's platform without skipping a beat. We'll have to wait and see whether or not the free app gains MyTown's level of adoption, however.

Booyah releases InCrowd for iPhone and iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Booyah releases InCrowd for iPhone and iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/booyah-releases-incrowd-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/feed/ 0 The App Store: 250,000 apps and growing http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/the-app-store-250000-apps-and-growing/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/the-app-store-250000-apps-and-growing/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:00:00 +0000 Dave Caolo http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/30/the-app-store-250-000-apps-and-growing/ Apple set another milestone over the weekend when it reached 250,000 apps available in the App Store. Last Saturday, 148Apps recorded 252,227 apps currently available for the iPad and iPhone/iPod touch. Expect Steve Jobs to tout these numbers on Wednesday at the beginning of Apple's scheduled press event.

As Electronista reports, Apple still has the numbers when it comes to mobile app stores. Unofficial statistics suggests that there are over 100,000 apps available in the Android Store, and far fewer -- around 9,000 -- in RIM's BlackBerry App World.

148Apps also provided some additional little tidbits about the App Store. For instance, apps typically wait a week before going live. The average price of a paid app is US$2.67. The majority of apps are book apps (not to be confused with iBooks), followed closely by games.

The App Store: 250,000 apps and growing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)The App Store: 250,000 apps and growing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/the-app-store-250000-apps-and-growing/feed/ 0 Remember the Milk for iPhone now free — with a catch http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/remember-the-milk-for-iphone-now-free-with-a-catch/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/remember-the-milk-for-iphone-now-free-with-a-catch/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:30:00 +0000 Dave Caolo http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/27/remember-the-milk-for-iphone-now-free-with-a-catch/ Remember the Milk (RTM) is a popular Web-based to-do list manager with an equally popular iOS app (here's our review). This week, the app's developers have announced that it's now free for the iPhone... with a few caveats.

Until now, the iPhone app was only available to those who paid US$25 a year or $2.99/month for an RTM pro account. The free version includes everything in the full version with the following exceptions: It only syncs manually (and once every 24 hours at most) and it doesn't support push notifications. If you depend on the app to nag you into action, you might want to move on or consider the pro upgrade. However, those comfortable with referring to the app as the day progresses are in for a treat. RTM for iPhone is a solid app that you're sure to enjoy.

Those who've been putting off trying RTM for iPhone now have the perfect opportunity. Download and enjoy!

[Via Lifehacker]

Remember the Milk for iPhone now free -- with a catch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Remember the Milk for iPhone now free -- with a catch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/remember-the-milk-for-iphone-now-free-with-a-catch/feed/ 0 TeleNav releases free OnMyWay notification app for iPhone http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/telenav-releases-free-onmyway-notification-app-for-iphone/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/telenav-releases-free-onmyway-notification-app-for-iphone/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:00:00 +0000 Steven Sande http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/26/telenav-releases-free-onmyway-notification-app-for-iphone/ TeleNav is the developer of a lot of mobile navigation applications, including AT&T Navigator for the iPhone. Now the company has come out with an iPhone version of a popular app that originally launched for the BlackBerry platform -- OnMyWay.

OnMyWay has a simple goal -- it tells another person or group of people that you are currently "on your way" and sends them the estimated time of your arrival. The app sends new alerts to your contacts if your ETA changes (if you're stuck in traffic, for instance), so that you can safely continue driving and not have to call or text someone else if you're running late.

To set up a notification, the iPhone owner inputs a destination, an appointment time, and one or more phone numbers or email addresses to send alerts to, then taps the start button. iPhone contacts are integrated into the app to make setting up the notifications a snap.

OnMyWay takes care of the rest of the trip. It starts by sending an initial notification to the recipients telling them that the driver has started his trip, and then includes an estimated time of arrival. Up to three additional status messages might be sent, depending on how the driver has set up the app; if the sender is going to be late, if the person is within a pre-set number of minutes away from the destination, and when the driver is one minute from arriving.

Where I could see this app being a real boon is in letting my wife know when I'll be getting back from an appointment. If I'm running a little late, she usually pings me via text, and I have to pull over and send her a response. With OnMyWay, she'd be getting updates and would hopefully leave me to my driving... Some screenshots are in the gallery below.

TeleNav releases free OnMyWay notification app for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TeleNav releases free OnMyWay notification app for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/telenav-releases-free-onmyway-notification-app-for-iphone/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Project Sanctuary http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/25/tuaws-daily-app-project-sanctuary/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/25/tuaws-daily-app-project-sanctuary/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/25/tuaws-daily-app-project-sanctuary/ Project Sanctuary is one of the best dual-stick shooters I've seen on the App Store yet. It's quick and responsive, and it's got a surprisingly solid back-end, which includes four different characters to choose from, multiple game modes and settings, and even an in-game talent tree where you can specialize your characters and weapons as necessary in order to bring the best fight that you can. The game has a serviceable storyline, but the action here is all about shooting, moving, and using power-ups and weapons to take down as many enemies as possible.

If the game has an issue, it's that the view isn't quite as big as it could be. That kind of helps the intensity (as enemies can jump up on you quickly), but it'd be nice to see a little bit more of the field as you run around. It doesn't hurt the core gameplay, though; if you're a dual-stick shooter fan, you'll find some terrific hardcore action here for sure. Achievements and the ability to replay maps will help you keep playing, too. I wasn't able to try co-op, but the game reportedly has four player co-op available, which seems like it would make for a good time. At US$2.99, this is probably one for the genre veterans. If you've never played a dual-stick shooter before, I'd go with something a little more polished (Minigore is a good, traditional place to start). But if you're a dual-stick veteran seeking a little more depth, check out Project Sanctuary on the App Store now.

TUAW's Daily App: Project Sanctuary originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Project Sanctuary originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/25/tuaws-daily-app-project-sanctuary/feed/ 0 Tapulous integrated into Disney Mobile, releases Katy Perry Revenge http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/24/tapulous-integrated-into-disney-mobile-releases-katy-perry-revenge/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/24/tapulous-integrated-into-disney-mobile-releases-katy-perry-revenge/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/24/tapulous-integrated-into-disney-mobile-releases-katy-perry-reve/

Disney buying Tapulous was one of the most high-profile App Store acquisitions so far, and here are the first fruits of that partnership. First up, Disney reports that Tapulous has been integrated into the rest of the company -- the studio is now fully part of the "Disney Mobile" division, so all future releases will come from the Disney Mobile name rather than the Tapulous brand. That contradicts with the actual App Store listing at the moment -- there's no mention of Disney in any of Tapulous' app listings. But that information can take a while to change, so we'll have to see if Disney updates those listings.

Second, the studio's first game under the Disney banner is out now -- Katy Perry Revenge is a Tap Tap Revenge-style title built specifically for Katy Perry songs. There are ten songs from the pop singer in the app, from "I Kissed a Girl" to "Teenage Dream," and there's lots of other fan-specific material, as well as a Facebook connection to share scores and updates. It's available for US $4.99, the same price as Tapulous' other artist-targeted Revenge titles.

So it sounds like things are both different and the same for Tapulous -- they've been brought into the company as a whole, but they're either cleaning out the queue of old projects (this new game easily seems as if it could have been done without Disney's help), or continuing to work on the same type of app as before. We'll have to see what Tapulous releases in the future now that they're brought into the Disney Mobile division.

Tapulous integrated into Disney Mobile, releases Katy Perry Revenge originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Tapulous integrated into Disney Mobile, releases Katy Perry Revenge originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/24/tapulous-integrated-into-disney-mobile-releases-katy-perry-revenge/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Piczle Lines http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/24/tuaws-daily-app-piczle-lines/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/24/tuaws-daily-app-piczle-lines/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/24/tuaws-daily-app-piczle-lines/ Piczle Lines is pretty much the perfect iPhone game. It's a quick, pick-up and play puzzle affair, with a Japanese puzzle style that is easy to learn but gets twistier and tougher as it goes along. It's well-polished, with a cute story mode and extra puzzle packs to play and buy as you go along. And oh yeah, it's free to download and start playing.

You should probably be headed over to the App Store by now, but just in case you want to know more, Piczle Lines has you assembling (very low resolution) "photos" by drawing out various colored lines. The start and end of each line are marked by numbers saying how many line segments the lines take up, so your job is to connect the lines in just the right way, recreating whatever pictures you come up with.

Gameplay is simple and easy -- the app tracks your movements very well, and undoing a line is as simple as tracing it back the way it came. The game starts out very easily, with obvious solutions to the puzzles offered, but it gets tough quickly, as vast line segments must be drawn exactly the right way to match up the numbers on either side. Piczle Lines is a lot of fun, very well made, and the fact that it's a free download (with extra puzzle packs to buy if you happen to complete the main set of 20 puzzles) is just icing on the cake.

TUAW's Daily App: Piczle Lines originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Piczle Lines originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/24/tuaws-daily-app-piczle-lines/feed/ 0 Google app gets updated with push notification for Gmail http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/23/google-app-gets-updated-with-push-notification-for-gmail/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/23/google-app-gets-updated-with-push-notification-for-gmail/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0000 Keith M http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/23/google-app-gets-updated-with-push-notification-for-gmail/ After many months of users having to resort to third-party or jailbroken apps to get push notifications from Gmail, Google has finally released an updated version of its iPhone app that now handily does that all for you.

The update -- which is now freely available in the App Store -- allows you to sign into one or several Google accounts and set up Gmail and Google Calendar push events, which work just as you'd expect. It's not yet clear how consistently quick the app is at alerting you of new mail, though it seems to have a significant delay upon initial testing. So far connectivity to my Gmail account using the Mail app responds much quicker.

As you can see from the screengrab of the update, you can specify quiet times for notifications, which could be handy if you tend to get a deluge of mail in the wee hours of the night. Google customers rejoice: push notifications are finally here!

Google app gets updated with push notification for Gmail originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Google app gets updated with push notification for Gmail originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/23/google-app-gets-updated-with-push-notification-for-gmail/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Plates! http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/23/tuaws-daily-app-plates/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/23/tuaws-daily-app-plates/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/23/tuaws-daily-app-plates/
A while back, we featured a game in this space called White Lines, a sort of Simon Says-style gesture drawing game. The game's creator, Kyle Webster, recently released his second app on the App Store, and this one is a little different -- much more frantic, and much more colorful. It's called Plates!, and you can pick it up right now for an "introductory price" of US$0.99.

The idea is simple -- you have three conveyor belts on screen, and each one funnels plates of food past you. There are four different sauces on the four different corners of the iPhone, and your goal is to tap a certain sauce, then tap the appropriate plate, squirting the correct sauce on each dish as it goes past. Hitting combos will get you a bonus score, and eventually there are even non-food items sprinkled in among the mix that you have to avoid to keep going.

The game gets pretty fast quickly, and when combo plates show up, you'll have to squirt fast to keep the food moving ("squirt" is an appropriate word -- the game isn't all that appetizing, despite the colorful graphics). Add in OpenFeint functionality, and you've got a pretty addictive little reflex tester. Plates! is good, simple fun for just a buck.

TUAW's Daily App: Plates! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Plates! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/23/tuaws-daily-app-plates/feed/ 0 iPhone app enables augmented driving, at your own risk http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/iphone-app-enables-augmented-driving-at-your-own-risk/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/iphone-app-enables-augmented-driving-at-your-own-risk/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:00:00 +0000 Dave Caolo http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/20/iphone-app-enables-augmented-driving/ Let me preface this post by saying that I'm an old fuddy duddy.

imaGinyze (US$2.99) is an iPhone app that provides an augmented reality Heads Up Display (HUD) for drivers on the road. When mounted to a windshield, it monitors incoming video information and produces overlays for roads, traffic, signs and more. An electronic voice announces lane changes, your proximity to other vehicles and other such distracting information.

I've been using alternative car- and lane-detection hardware units for decades, but they're called my eyes. Perhaps there's an obvious application for this app that I'm missing (smarter cars, enhanced night driving or what have you), and if so, please fill me in. But for now, I can't help but think it'd be a distraction while driving, and a dangerous one at that.

Even Luke understands -- sometimes you just have to put the hardware away and use the Force.

[Via Gizmag]

iPhone app enables augmented driving, at your own risk originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPhone app enables augmented driving, at your own risk originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/iphone-app-enables-augmented-driving-at-your-own-risk/feed/ 0 The app market, by the numbers http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/the-app-market-by-the-numbers/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/the-app-market-by-the-numbers/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/20/the-app-market-by-the-numbers/ The very insightful Stuart Dredge over at Mobile Entertainment has compiled an amazing primer on all of the numbers behind the app market (which you can also see by clicking the "Read More" link, although it's not viewable on an iPad or iPhone). If you want to know anything about how many apps are rolling out of the store, how many apps are installed on the average device, or what kinds of apps those are, Dredge's presentation will tell you. It's a really excellent compilation of everything we know about the App Store and the app market at large thus far.

I don't think anything here is new or really that surprising. We already know that Apple is, by far, leading the race on number of apps (both created and sold), and we've heard before that games tend to do very well on the marketplace in a number of demographics. The end of the report has some great numbers, too, on standout applications like Angry Birds and the eBay app.

Otherwise, it's basically a big round-up of a lot of the stats that we've heard so far. But having them all in one place gives a nice overview of just how big this little software ecosystem has become.

Continue reading The app market, by the numbers

The app market, by the numbers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)The app market, by the numbers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/the-app-market-by-the-numbers/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Monster Dash http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/tuaws-daily-app-monster-dash/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/tuaws-daily-app-monster-dash/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:30:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/20/tuaws-daily-app-monster-dash/ Halfbrick Studios really made a splash with their iPhone debut, Fruit Ninja, and now they've followed it up with a little game called Monster Dash. It's a running game in the vein of Canabalt, but rather than dodging skyscraper jumps and bombs, you're fighting through pixelated monsters while sprinting along. The main addition to the game is a "shoot" button, so in addition to jumping obstacles and gaps as they come up, you can mow down enemies with various weapons, such as the (default) flameburster, uzis, and even a machine gun jetpack (that comes in handy when jumping).

It's a lot of fun (as you'd probably expect if you've played either Canabalt or Fruit Ninja), and the game comes with Halfbrick's requisite polish, including excellent lush graphics and full OpenFeint compatibility. If there's a downside, it's too bad that Halfbrick decided to just stick with the usual arcade formula. It'd be cool if they tried for something a little less shallow and a little more engrossing. This is just a bunch of levels and a chance to rush for the high score; nothing else carries over from one game to the next.

That's just nitpicking, though. Halfbrick has done another great job on this one and pushed the newborn genre forward with their own twist. It's well worth the 99 cents. And if you do buy it, try tapping on the title screen monsters just for fun.

TUAW's Daily App: Monster Dash originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Monster Dash originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/20/tuaws-daily-app-monster-dash/feed/ 0 Has the iPhone App Market already crashed? http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/18/has-the-iphone-app-market-already-crashed/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/18/has-the-iphone-app-market-already-crashed/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/18/has-the-iphone-app-market-already-crashed/ At GDC Europe earlier this week, Bigpoint CEO Heiko Hubertz claimed that the iPhone app market "has already crashed. You cannot sell your game for 99 cents and expect a return." Apple has said that developers are collectively making more than a billion dollars on the App Store, but Hubertz knocks that figure down a few notches, suggesting that because there are over 250,000 actual apps on the store, no one developer is making enough to cover the development costs of any game worth making.

Is he right? In a sense, he is -- it's already pretty clear that for a number of reasons, prices have raced to the bottom on the App Store. And while the audience is still growing (people are buying more and more iPhones every day), so is the pool of developers and apps. While there are definitely some runaway hits, the average developer isn't going to see profits that will keep an EA-level game afloat.

That said, the market certainly hasn't "crashed." Apple wanted an app ecosystem that anyone with a Mac and some knowledge and time could join, and that's what they've got -- a developer who puts a worthy amount of time and talent into an app, with some help and promotion from sites like ours, can likely turn over a profit, if not make a good amount of money. Sure, the App Store's not very friendly to big budget producers, but that's probably not what Apple wanted in the first place anyway.

Has the iPhone App Market already crashed? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Has the iPhone App Market already crashed? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/18/has-the-iphone-app-market-already-crashed/feed/ 0 Found Footage: Sony attacks iPhone gaming in new PSP ad http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/found-footage-sony-attacks-iphone-gaming-in-new-psp-ad/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/found-footage-sony-attacks-iphone-gaming-in-new-psp-ad/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/found-footage-sony-attacks-iphone-gaming-in-new-psp-ad/

Well, when you get big enough, there's a target painted on your back. Sony has gone after the iPhone and the App Store in a new ad for their PSP gaming system. As you can see above, the ad comes from the "Marcus PSP" series (starring 30 Rock's hilarious Bobb'e J. Thompson as an advice-giving kid), and calls out iPhone gamers for not playing "big boy games." The ad then shows games like Twisted Metal: Head-On and Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee, bragging that they are all available for $9.99 (though the small text confirms that they are $9.99 each, not together).

Very interesting. Truth be told, the ad is kind of weak -- it doesn't tell you to not own an iPhone, just that phones are better meant for texting and calling. But the biggest attack point here is that iPhone game developers are amateurs compared to Sony's stable, with a Doodle-esque "Game Castle" going up against high profile franchises. Nintendo has pretty much ignored iPhone gaming in the past, admitting that Apple is an eventual enemy, but generally staying unconcerned about the App Store, even as its share of handheld gaming grows. But this is the first time a competitor has publicly acknowledged the competition to consumers, and given Sony's rough history with the PSP lately, it looks a lot like a guppy trying to bite a shark.

Found Footage: Sony attacks iPhone gaming in new PSP ad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Found Footage: Sony attacks iPhone gaming in new PSP ad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/found-footage-sony-attacks-iphone-gaming-in-new-psp-ad/feed/ 0 Rovio sells 6.5M copies of Angry Birds without advertising once http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/rovio-sells-6-5m-copies-of-angry-birds-without-advertising-once/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/rovio-sells-6-5m-copies-of-angry-birds-without-advertising-once/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/rovio-sells-6-5m-copies-of-angry-birds-without-advertising-once/ I got to meet the creators of Angry Birds back at E3 earlier this year, but because of our busy schedules, didn't get too much of a chance to really talk with them in-depth about their experience on the App Store so far. Fortunately, GamesBeat has done just that, providing a nice profile of Rovio's Peter Vesterbacka and Mikael Hed, the two Finnish creators of one of the App Store's most popular titles. They're actually mobile app veterans -- while Angry Birds is their biggest hit as a company, they've also developed for lots of other groups, including Real Networks and Electronic Arts.

The game was created to be casual, open to anyone to play, and use some really memorable characters that would resonate with anyone who picked it up. They accomplished those goals -- the game has found a surprising following around the world, and almost everyone who owns an iPhone recognizes the birds and pigs characters. A US$4.99 iPad version has also taken off, and Rovio plans to bring the app to lots of other mobile devices as well. The growth has been entirely organic, too -- they haven't spent a single cent on advertising the game, instead relying completely on word-of-mouth and Apple's own promotional tools.

And while their success is already quite widespread, the two say their goals are even bigger than what they've accomplished so far: they hope to eventually see 100 million paid downloads. Definitely possible -- it's interesting to see how iPhone-created brands are growing so quickly.

Rovio sells 6.5M copies of Angry Birds without advertising once originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rovio sells 6.5M copies of Angry Birds without advertising once originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/rovio-sells-6-5m-copies-of-angry-birds-without-advertising-once/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Soundrop http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/tuaws-daily-app-soundrop/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/tuaws-daily-app-soundrop/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/tuaws-daily-app-soundrop/ Soundrop isn't really a game -- it's more of a musical instrument, although you can play with it for quite a while. The app presents a small hole that constantly drops balls out at a certain rate, while you draw lines on the screen with your finger. Where the balls hit the lines, a tone is sounded, and by positioning the lines in the right places, you can make an interesting sort of music. The app itself calls it "musical geometry," and it is surprisingly fun, even if you aren't a musician. With headphones, you can actually hear the whole thing in stereo, which makes for another fun factor of the experience.

The app is a free download, although you only get a demo for free, with the ability to just draw white lines anywhere. Paying US $1.99 opens up the full functionality, and you can change physics, add more spouts, or change the colors of the lines that are drawn, creating different musical noises with each color.

It's a good time -- play with the free version to see if it hits you right, and then if you're interested, you can buy in for the two bucks and have the whole app.

TUAW's Daily App: Soundrop originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Soundrop originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/17/tuaws-daily-app-soundrop/feed/ 0 TUAW Review: PinPoint Lightning wants to keep you alive http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/16/tuaw-review-pinpoint-lightning-wants-to-keep-you-alive/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/16/tuaw-review-pinpoint-lightning-wants-to-keep-you-alive/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:00:00 +0000 Steven Sande http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/16/tuaw-review-pinpoint-lightning-wants-to-keep-you-alive/ Wherever you live, lightning can be dangerous if you spend a lot of time outdoors. In the USA alone, an average of 58 people per year are killed by proximity to lightning strikes. PinPoint Lightning (US$5.99), a new app from MyWeather, LLC, hopes to reduce that number by providing push notifications of lightning strikes within 30 miles of your present location within seconds of a strike.

This app only provides lightning strike data for the USA and Canada, with information coming from the National Lightning Detection Network in the 50 states, and from Environment Canada in the Great White North. The strike data used by PinPoint Lightning is rather expensive, which explains the rather high cost of the app. For hikers, bikers, golfers, and anyone else who spends time working or playing outside, $5.99 is a small cost to pay for advance warning of nearby lightning activity.

TUAW received a review copy of the software, and PinPoint Lightning is an extremely well-done and functional app that does precisely what it is designed for. Read on for a full review of PinPoint Lightning.

Continue reading TUAW Review: PinPoint Lightning wants to keep you alive

TUAW Review: PinPoint Lightning wants to keep you alive originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW Review: PinPoint Lightning wants to keep you alive originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/16/tuaw-review-pinpoint-lightning-wants-to-keep-you-alive/feed/ 0 Flight Control coming to PS3 on September 15 http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/16/flight-control-coming-to-ps3-on-september-15/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/16/flight-control-coming-to-ps3-on-september-15/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:30:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/16/flight-control-coming-to-ps3-on-september-15/

There have been a lot of console adaptations brought to the iPhone, but sending games the other way hasn't been as common. Firemint is changing that, however -- they've announced that they'll be bringing iPhone superhit Flight Control to the PlayStation 3 as a downloadable title, and the game will even support the new Move controller, so you'll be able to draw flight paths in the air with a motion control wand (or you can use a regular dual stick controller if you'd rather do that). The game will also bring 1080p support, as well as a four-player drop-in/out mode and an exclusive map named "Metropolis." Flight Control HD will be available on the PSN on September 15th.

I'd be interested to see some other iPhone-specific titles make the jump to major consoles as well -- with the onset of Kinect and Move, translating the iPhone's touch controls to the television should get a little easier. We'll likely see a few more big iPhone titles (Angry Birds? Doodle Jump?) head across from Apple's platforms to more traditional gaming outlets in the future.

Flight Control coming to PS3 on September 15 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Flight Control coming to PS3 on September 15 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/16/flight-control-coming-to-ps3-on-september-15/feed/ 0 Camera+ pulled from App Store for ‘volume button as camera shutter’ workaround http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/12/camera-pulled-from-app-store-for-volume-button-as-camera-shutter-workaround/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/12/camera-pulled-from-app-store-for-volume-button-as-camera-shutter-workaround/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0000 Chris Rawson http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/12/camera-pulled-from-app-store-for-volume-button-as-camera-shutt/ From the "It Was Only a Matter of Time Department" comes news that Camera+, the top-rated photography app from developer tap tap tap, has been pulled from the App Store, most likely for violating Apple's developer agreement. Apple previously rejected an update to the Camera+ app which would have allowed users to use one of the iPhone's volume buttons as a mechanical shutter button while using Camera+. This is a feature many iPhone photographers have wished for -- tapping the screen to take a picture is far less stable than pressing a physical button -- but Apple cited "user confusion" in rejecting the Camera+ update which included the feature.

tap tap tap posted (and later deleted) instructions on Twitter that allowed users to enable the "volume button as shutter" functionality via a back door workaround. This is most likely what got Camera+ kicked off the App Store; other apps with "hidden features" or "easter eggs" like this have been banished from the App Store before, like a flashlight app that allowed users to stealthily enable internet tethering.

Apple's well within its rights to react in this manner when developers put "hidden" features in their apps. On the other side of the mobile pond, Android users are currently getting hit by a trojan posing as a media player app which then sends unauthorized SMS messages to premium-rate numbers. While Apple's "user confusion" excuse for not letting Camera+ use the volume buttons as a shutter doesn't necessarily fly (how often are you going to mess with the iPhone's volume while taking a picture?), tap tap tap's "workaround" was out of line, at least in principle -- if Apple's not going to let a flashlight app secretly enable internet tethering or allow apps with blatant malware on the App Store, then it shouldn't come as a surprise that "hidden" functionality, however innocuous, will get your app banished.

Hopefully this ban is only temporary until Camera+ gets updated without the "workaround" in place -- or, better still, Apple could recognize that many users have triple-digit IQs and stop citing "user confusion" as an excuse for denying useful functionality. Either way, I hope Camera+ comes back eventually.

Camera+ pulled from App Store for 'volume button as camera shutter' workaround originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Camera+ pulled from App Store for 'volume button as camera shutter' workaround originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/12/camera-pulled-from-app-store-for-volume-button-as-camera-shutter-workaround/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Dimensions http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/10/tuaws-daily-app-dimensions/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/10/tuaws-daily-app-dimensions/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/10/tuaws-daily-app-dimensions/ Dimensions is a pretty interesting idea for an iPhone app. It's a set of 3D tools that you can actually use in real life, all put together by making use of the iPhone's hardware in various ways. There's a caliper, a ruler, a couple of tape measures for various sizes, a measuring wheel for even longer distances, and a pedometer. There are a few other surprises, too, including a lightning distance calculator, and a level, both likely included just for fun.

Unfortunately, while the tools work well, the app doesn't actually provide any instruction on how to use them. If you don't know how to use a caliper or a level already, you're going to be on your own -- the app doesn't have a lot of polish or documentation, which is too bad. It'd be great to have a Tapbots-level version of an app like this, with as much thought given to the interface as to the functionality.

Still, Dimensions will provide a serviceable ruler, measuring tape, or any of the other tools when called upon. It's available in the App Store right now for US $1.99.

TUAW's Daily App: Dimensions originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Dimensions originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/10/tuaws-daily-app-dimensions/feed/ 0 Schools: Get your discount at the App Store (some day) http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/09/schools-get-your-discount-at-the-app-store-some-day/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/09/schools-get-your-discount-at-the-app-store-some-day/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:00:00 +0000 Steven Sande http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/09/schools-get-your-discount-at-the-app-store-some-day/ Students and educational institutions already get some nice perks from Apple in the form of hardware discounts, and from some development firms (such as Microsoft) in software discounts. Imagine being able to get an educational discount when you buy an iOS app in the App Store.

Developers are informing us today that when they log into iTunes Connect, they're being prompted to accept a new paid application contract. The contract includes an amendment that gives developers the opportunity to offer educational discounts when multiple copies of the same program are purchased. Developers must accept the new amendment in order to continue placing their apps in the App Store, and they can turn discounts on and off in the app management area of iTunes Connect.

The amendment enables developers to offer a 50% discount to educational institutions on multiple copies of apps. They can apply it to individual app titles, or to all apps that they currently offer in the App Store.

As of yet, Apple hasn't noted when the discounts will be available for educational institutions, but this could be a nice treat for budget-strapped school systems in the near future.

Schools: Get your discount at the App Store (some day) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Schools: Get your discount at the App Store (some day) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/09/schools-get-your-discount-at-the-app-store-some-day/feed/ 0 Zendesk for iPhone hits 50K downloads in 4 months http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/09/zendesk-for-iphone-hits-50k-downloads-in-4-months/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/09/zendesk-for-iphone-hits-50k-downloads-in-4-months/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:00 +0000 Dave Caolo http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/09/zendesk-for-iphone-hits-50k-downloads-in-4-months/ Zendesk is a help desk ticketing system for both small and large businesses. Their developers recently updated the Zendesk iPhone app (free) with iOS 4 compatibility. Incredibly, the company boasts 50,000 downloads of their app within 4 months.

That's a lot of help tickets.

Using the iOS app will be familiar to anyone whose used Zendesk. Just fire it up for real-time access to tickets in the system. You can create and edit tickets, leave comments and more while out in the field addressing those very issues. You can even create a ticket via Twitter (what they call a "Twicket") and reply to the customer either publicly or via direct message. That's a great idea since many users -- happy and not -- take to Twitter with their praises and gripes.

Back in the day, I worked for a medium-sized company (who shall remain nameless) that tested and eventually rolled out Zendesk. This was before the iPhone app was available, of course, but both the IT Department and the users loved the service. I can see how putting it in your pocket would make the experience even better.

Congratulations to Zendesk on the 50,000 mark.

Zendesk for iPhone hits 50K downloads in 4 months originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Zendesk for iPhone hits 50K downloads in 4 months originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/09/zendesk-for-iphone-hits-50k-downloads-in-4-months/feed/ 1 Why Apple’s patents might show screens from third-party apps http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/07/why-apples-patents-might-show-screens-from-third-party-apps/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/07/why-apples-patents-might-show-screens-from-third-party-apps/#comments Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/07/why-apples-patents-might-show-screens-from-third-party-apps/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/07/why-apples-patents-might-show-screens-from-third-party-apps/feed/ 0 iPad app store gains genius section http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/ipad-app-store-gains-genius-section/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/ipad-app-store-gains-genius-section/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:00:00 +0000 Keith M http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/06/ipad-app-store-gains-genius-section/ Sometime early this morning, Apple quietly unleashed the genius section of the iPad app store, something that's been in the iPhone app store for quite some time. It's interesting how Apple is always "quietly" releasing new things, while making a big to-do about others. What's also interesting is how a new feature in the app store can be made without a software update.

Not only does the new genius section of the iPad app store provide the same type of recommendations as with the iPhone, there's a new tab titled "iPad Upgrades," which shows you all of the iPad (aka, "HD") versions of the iPhone apps you already have. This is a great new feature for both consumers and app developers because, previously, there was no easy way to know.

Thanks for everyone who sent this in!

iPad app store gains genius section originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPad app store gains genius section originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/ipad-app-store-gains-genius-section/feed/ 0 Don’t get too excited about the App Store’s “Try Before You Buy” http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/dont-get-too-excited-about-the-app-stores-try-before-you-buy/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/dont-get-too-excited-about-the-app-stores-try-before-you-buy/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000 TJ Luoma http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/06/dont-get-too-excited-about-the-app-stores-try-before-you-buy/
9to5Mac spotted a new section in the App Store called Try Before You Buy, but don't get too excited about the idea of demos finally coming to the App Store. As of right now, this is only an index of "Lite" or free versions of apps. If you were hoping to try OmniFocus for iPad without shelling out $40, you're out of luck. What you'll find are about 100 apps that developers purposefully made because the App Store doesn't have demo versions.

This oversight has been my biggest complaint about the App Store since it opened, and I consider it a big reason for the low pricing on most iOS apps. Almost every piece of Mac software lets you download it and try it before you buy it. Some are feature limited, but most are time-limited, which means that you are given full access to the app for a limited amount of time. If you download it and love it, you can buy it. But if you download it and hate it, you can simply delete it.

Continue reading Don't get too excited about the App Store's "Try Before You Buy"

Don't get too excited about the App Store's "Try Before You Buy" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Don't get too excited about the App Store's "Try Before You Buy" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/dont-get-too-excited-about-the-app-stores-try-before-you-buy/feed/ 0 New section of the App Store lets you Try Before You Buy http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/new-section-of-the-app-store-lets-you-try-before-you-buy/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/new-section-of-the-app-store-lets-you-try-before-you-buy/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Steven Sande http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/06/new-section-of-the-app-store-lets-you-try-before-you-buy/ Apple seems to be taking a step towards trying to combat app piracy, while making App Store customers happier about their purchases.

A new section in the App Store touts the free, "Lite" versions of many popular apps. These versions have been around for a while and have always been free, but this is the first time that Apple has marketed the apps directly. Not only is there a whole new section called "Free on the App Store," but the Lite versions of popular are now listed in a "Try Before You Buy" area. The idea is that if you try out an app and like it, you'll be more likely to purchase the app, and once it's purchased, less likely to try to get a refund from Apple and the developer.

There are 98 free titles listed in the new section, including Lite versions of Angry Birds, Labyrinth 2, CoPilot Live Directions, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, and DigiDrummer.

[via 9to5Mac]

New section of the App Store lets you Try Before You Buy originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)New section of the App Store lets you Try Before You Buy originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/06/new-section-of-the-app-store-lets-you-try-before-you-buy/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Chuck Gnome http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/05/tuaws-daily-app-chuck-gnome/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/05/tuaws-daily-app-chuck-gnome/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/05/tuaws-daily-app-chuck-gnome/ At first glance, I thought Chuck Gnome was kind of gimmicky -- haven't we had enough of doodles and birds and cute little characters? But it is a fun little arcade game (I would say try the lite version before you jump in for the full US$1.99). The game has you slingshotting a gnome at various moving targets; it's kind of like a reverse Skee-ball. The twist comes in when you tilt the iPhone. You can move the field of view in a kind of false 3D vision that allows you to see outside of the normal playing field and hit some shots that wouldn't be possible otherwise.

It's fun! The free version only has one full level and one mini level, but in the main game, you can unlock a few other stages to play with. The game is very casual. You can use a rapid-fire technique to toss as many gnomes as possible, or you can go with a little more accuracy and try to build up a bonus. It's cute and fun, but it's not a hugely complicated title. It's a simple distraction with some excellent production values.

Tomorrow, we'll have to highlight something a little less casual. So, stay tuned for that one.

TUAW's Daily App: Chuck Gnome originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Chuck Gnome originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/05/tuaws-daily-app-chuck-gnome/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Seconds http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/03/tuaws-daily-app-seconds/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/03/tuaws-daily-app-seconds/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/03/tuaws-daily-app-seconds/ Filed under:

I've been getting more and more into running lately, and while I've been tending towards long distance running, one of the best ways to beef up your running expertise is by doing what's called HIIT -- high intensity interval training. You sprint at a certain speed for a period of a few minutes in length, rest for another interval a few minutes in length, and then sprint all out again. It's interesting (and effective, I hear), but you've really got to track times and make sure you're moving when you're supposed to be.

Enter Seconds, an app designed to either track and run HIIT workouts or any other timed workout periods (boxing and MMA are also fitness pastimes which usually depend on rigidly defined periods of endurance training). With a clean and simple interface, the app comes with a few preset interval-based workouts, or you can set your own intervals. You can even program music and playlists to go along with whatever you're doing.

It's definitely not an all-purpose app for working out or anything else -- even with HIIT, odds are that you're combining this type of training with other exercise in some way. Seconds isn't meant to track calories burned or just work as a standard stopwatch. It's specifically designed to work as an interval timer. For that specific purpose, it serves the role well. Rather than fumbling around with a stopwatch and doing the math as you sprint around a track, Seconds makes it really easy to just let your iPhone handle the timing, so you can focus on getting the most of your HIIT workout. It's available for an introductory price of $1.99 in the App Store right now.

TUAW's Daily App: Seconds originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Seconds originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/03/tuaws-daily-app-seconds/feed/ 0