11/20, 4:20pm
Coders must be careful to avoid tripping flags
A new automatic screening technique Apple is using for the App Store appears to be backfiring, claims developer Rogue Sheep. The screening is believed to be aimed at catching unauthorized APIs, blocked under Apple's submission rules. A number of the apps trapped so far are allegedly ones using Three20, an Objective-C library. Rogue Sheep's Postage has in the past relied on some Three20 code, and so private API calls were removed from the software before submitting a recent update.
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11/19, 5:55pm
Twitter apps get location awareness
Twitter today added its promised geolocation feature for tweets. The addition gives any app using the API, but not the Twitter site itself, the option of tagging posts with a location as well as to automatically draw on the location for position-based features, such as finding tweets in a certain area. It isn't exclusive to GPS-equipped devices and will work with Wi-Fi and other methods that can generate the relevant data.
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11/19, 4:15pm
Should aid in common store tasks
Apple Store workers will soon have more apps for their iPod touch-based EasyPay handhelds, a source claims. The devices are currently meant to run Easy Touch, an app which handles roaming checkouts in tandem with an attached card reader and barcode scanner. Apple is gradually retiring an assortment of Windows CE-based checkout units, which have been criticized as slow and unreliable.
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11/19, 3:10pm
Launch comes after extended delay
Cerulean has released an iPhone version of Trillian, its normally Windows-based instant messaging client. The app syncs with both web and desktop clients, and supports several different messaging networks, including AIM, ICQ, Google, Jabber, MSN and Yahoo. Users can correspondingly login with multiple accounts, and switch between chats via tabs.
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11/19, 11:50am
Also adds lane guidance, text-to-speech
As promised, TomTom has released an updated GPS app for the iPhone. A previously unannounced feature is support for the iPod touch, which normally lacks a GPS receiver. As with the recent Magellan app however, Touch support can only be enabled by docking with a first-party car kit.
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11/18, 6:15pm
Wired ready for Apple tablet next year
Magazine publisher Condé Nast today revealed that it's taking the unusual step of optimizing its publications with Apple's rumored tablet in mind. The agency doesn't claim to MediaMemo that it's privy to Apple's design but expects Wired, and later its 17 other magazines, to be ready in a format that works with the device by mid-2010. It will allow both actual-size and optimized formats and should include both mixed media and hooks for social networking.
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11/17, 9:30pm
Auditorium, Surviving High School iPhone games
EA Mobile has launched two new games for the iPhone and iPod touch, Auditorium and Surviving High School. Auditorium is an audio-visual puzzle game where players must guide a “Flow” of particles into audio containers. The game features five acts with up to 7 levels in each, and has variety of different ways for users to win each level. Players control the “Flow” via the touchscreen, where they can attract, repel or deflect the light stream, while avoiding obstacles that can disrupt it. Users can also go to the in-game store and buy additional movement features such as new acts, concepts, colors and themes.
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11/17, 5:45pm
App taked advantage of camera auto-focus
Big In Japan's popular Android app ShopSavvy has finally been ported to the iPhone platform. The software utilizes the phone's integrated camera to scan barcodes, enabling users to quickly view information such as local and online prices and inventory availability. The app was believed to be awaiting the auto-focus capabilities of the latest iPhone 3GS, however the developer claims it is compatible with the full range of iPhone generations.
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11/17, 5:00pm
Piracy, device limitations hamper potential
The App Store is doing fairly well in China, in spite of obstacles to its adoption, says the Wall Street Journal. Over $1 million in sales are said to have been made so far, a significant amount given the short space of time in which the store has been open. Some popular apps include the instant messaging title QQ, and the real-time strategy game Command & Conquer: Red Alert.
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11/17, 3:10pm
Car kit to support iPod touch
GPS maker Magellan has launched a new iPhone GPS application, RoadMate 2010. Like most such apps, the software provides turn-by-turn navigation, with features like bookmarks, lane guidance and spoken navigation cues. Aspects separating RoadMate include a pedestrian mode, and an associated "find your car" option, which marks a parking place for later return.
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11/17, 12:35pm
Update also adds interface improvements
Google has released v2.0 of Google Earth for the iPhone, its portable 3D mapping software. Users navigate a graphic representation of the Earth, on which various places, businesses, photos and Wikipedia articles can be located. The second edition is a major update, allowing users to import Google Maps content from the web. After logging into a Maps account, the app can impose route information on terrain.
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11/16, 6:45pm
Apps rejected for using private APIs
Apple has allegedly expanded its iPhone app review process to include computerized filtering of submissions, according to Daring Fireball blogger John Gruber. The new "static analysis tools" are designed to catch developers trying to use Apple's private APIs, which the iPhone SDK terms explicitly prohibits.
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11/16, 1:40pm
App would tie into Apple Store services
Apple is planning to launch a new iPhone app for visitors to its retail stores, several sources claim. So far dubbed "Concierge," the app is expected to mimic the company's web-based reservations system, which lets users schedule Genius Bar and One to One appointments. Users should also be able to monitor various types of membership subscriptions. No date for the app's release has so far been leaked.
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11/12, 5:50pm
Full US base map for $30 lifetime license
NDrive Navigation Systems has released its self-titled iPhone app on the US App Store. The GPS utility provides full map coverage for the US, including 3D representations of important buildings or other landmarks. Users can take advantage of a large keyboard for quick entry, while the interface supports multi-touch input for zoom, tilt and shortcuts.
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11/12, 12:55pm
Part of free software update
The TomTom navigation app for the iPhone will soon receive a major software update, the company says. Some planned changes include the addition of text-to-speech, a feature common to most dedicated GPS devices, providing an audio description of directions for busy drivers. Also new is lane guidance, showing necessary switches at difficult intersections.
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11/11, 4:30pm
Handles high-level business transactions
Banking institution Wells Fargo has released CEO Mobile, a new iPhone application. Separate from the company's regular banking app, CEO Mobile is designed to handle corporate and commercial transactions. Users can monitor balances, approve payments and view ongoing account activity.
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11/11, 10:50am
Currently supports handful of movies
Film studio Universal has released a free iPhone application, pocket BLU. The software communicates via Wi-Fi with network-connected Blu-ray players, allowing more advanced control over menus and playback. Users can for instance take advantage of a virtual keyboard, and tilt an Apple handheld into widescreen mode to access a graphical timeline.
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11/10, 12:15pm
Authors tackle Snow Leopard quirks
MacNN has produced two new reviews, the first covering Readdle's Scanner Pro for iPhone. The app uses an iPhone's camera as a document capture tool, transforming photos into PDFs which can then be uploaded to several destinations or copied back to a Mac or PC. After capturing an image, users can rely on default processing, switch to grayscale, or make tweaks to contrast and brightness.
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11/09, 9:05pm
Utility works to shorten routes
NAVIGON has announced that its Traffic Live service is now available for users of the MobileNavigator iPhone app. The feature is designed to help users cut time from routes by avoiding congestion. Users can receive on-screen alerts showing icons for accidents, construction, or other obstructions. The interface also presents detailed information such as the severity of the accident or the speed of traffic flow.
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11/09, 3:45pm
Developer claims representations are in good taste
Apple has rejected an iPhone app for containing caricatures of politicians, frustrating yet another developer. The app, Bobble Rep, provides a database with the members of Congress, enabling users to navigate through list of politicians and view contact information. Representatives can be located using a zip code or GPS information.
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11/09, 12:35pm
Aimed at simplifying, promoting bookings
Hilton Worldwide has announced plans to launch several free iPhone applications, supporting the company's various hotel chains. When arriving in a particular city, users will be able to locate the nearest Hilton-owned hotels, and make, cancel or alter reservations. Other planned options include room service, and the ability to check loyalty points.
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11/07, 6:45pm
Sonos' 1st speaker-equipped hub reviewed
Venturing into Sonos' world has historically been expensive and partly redundant: listeners have usually needed at least two pieces of equipment, and it isn't at all uncommon to see setups that cost over $1,000. The ZonePlayer S5 aims to fix this with a single-piece $399 speaker and receiver that relies on what you already have -- such as a computer or an iPod touch -- to provide its multi-room audio. Our full S5 review will let you know whether the drop in cost is a better bargain.
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11/06, 5:40pm
App works with company's ZonePlayer S5
Sonos has released an update to its Controller app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Version 3.1 adds the ability to send Twitter updates with information regarding the current track. The interface has been refined, with new icons and logos on the Music Menu and a simplified layout. Users are also able to control the company's latest ZonePlayer S5 all-in-one device.
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11/06, 3:50pm
Highlights discrepancy in standards
A Spanish translation of Mein Kampf has been launched at the App Store, observers note. Written in the 1920s by Adolf Hitler, the book is both an autobiography and a charter of the fascist, anti-Semitic policies that would come to guide the Third Reich. No other version of the book is available as a standalone app, and its icon is the Nazi Party emblem, complete with swastika.
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11/06, 1:50pm
App torn apart by one reviewer, OK'd by another
Apple has been criticized once again for its App Store review policies, as Macworld.com complains of frustrating inconsistencies between different members of the review team. The company has worked to publish its first book, the "iPhone & iPod touch Superguide," as both a PDF version and an app available on Apple's portable devices.
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11/06, 9:55am
Raises iPhone privacy issues
A California iPhone developer, Storm8, has been accused of spying on iPhone owners, according to court documents. A lawsuit was recently submitted on behalf of Washington resident Michael Turner, charging Storm8 with several violations including breaches of contract, the California Computer Crime Law and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. On August 26th, says Turner, the company openly admitted that its games had been illicitly collecting phone numbers.
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11/05, 1:35pm
Concept includes new iPhone apps
Apple may be working on an easier and more comprehensive method of syncing data between devices, a new patent application hints. Even the company's current technology, built into iTunes and iSync, is described as too complex. "Though a user may have access to two similarly capable electronic devices, sharing data between the two devices may involve a number of steps," the application reads.
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11/05, 9:40am
France may outdo US in store openings
As foreshadowed in late October, Apple today revealed its first Parisian Apple Store, located in the Carrousel du Louvre. The shop is situated within close range of the famous Louvre art museum, and uses an elaborate two-floor design, with unique touches such as diamond-shaped windows. Coinciding with the store launch is the release of a free Musée du Louvre iPhone app, which showcases various exhibitions, such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
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11/04, 7:05am
Sonos S5 enables wireless control via iPhone
Sonos has begun shipping its all-in-one wireless music system controlled by iPhone or iPod touch, Sonos ZonePlayer S5. The device is designed for those who only need the player and provides two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a subwoofer. Users can wirelessly stream music from either iTunes or the Internet and control what music is playing using the company’s free iPhone app (App Store).
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11/03, 10:45am
NBA Live, FIFA 10, Mystery Mania, Boggle
EA Mobile has released four new iPhone and iPod touch applications on Apple's App Store: NBA Live, EA Sports FIFA 10, Mystery Mania, and Boggle. NBA Live is a basketball game where players take control and play against authentic NBA teams in a variety of modes. Features include the ability to unlock and add legendary characters to a team, fifteen different music tracks to choose from, and the ability to control the players via the virtual analog stick or accelerometer. Different game modes include an 82-game Season mode, an Exhibition, and a Playoff mode.
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11/02, 7:55pm
App expected to hit beta stage by end of week
Following the recent release of Tweetie 2.0, developer Loren Brichter is almost ready to launch the next update, v2.1, which adds a variety of bug fixes and several new features. The app will support the new-style retweets, along with geolocation information, according to a preview posted by TechCrunch. Both features will only work with the select accounts Twitter has enabled for the additional functionality.
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11/02, 12:05pm
Modifies gameplay for handhelds
EA has launched an iPhone version of Command & Conquer: Red Alert, its real-time strategy game originally developed for Windows. The title is set in an alternate universe where Adolf Hitler has been assassinated by a time-traveling Albert Einstein, paving the way for the Soviet Union to become the world's dominant military threat. Unusual weapons come to the fore as well, such as combat airships.
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11/02, 10:15am
Recreates original gameplay mechanics
id Software has released Doom Classic for the iPhone and iPod touch. A new version of the company's signature first-person shooter, the app recreates all of the original game's episodes, as well as the later fourth episode, Thy Flesh Consumed. Also brought back are the original gameplay mechanics, here controlled through one of three different schemes.
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11/02, 7:20am
Sirius XM ships satellite radio for Apple
Sirius XM today began shipping its promised XM SkyDock. The cradle gives any iPhone or iPod touch a satellite radio tuner that plays all of XM's channels, including the Best of Sirius package and others normally kept out of the Internet streams. A companion XM SkyDock app (free, App Store) ties directly into the tuner and provides both the main interface as well as support for iTunes song tagging.
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10/29, 4:05pm
Video streaming carries restrictions
The NBA has released a new app for the iPhone and iPod touch, NBA League Pass Mobile. Users can watch live TV coverage of over 40 basketball games per week, while optionally viewing overlay information such as the current score and live player stats. Games can be replayed up to 48 hours after their original broadcast.
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10/29, 1:05pm
Exploits iPhone 3GS features
A company called Jibbigo has released a new bilingual translation app for the iPhone and iPod touch, capable of translating a user's speech directly into another spoken phrase. Users record one sentence of English or Spanish at a time, which the app then translates into a synthesized counterpart. A vocabulary of 40,000 words is included, generally skewed towards travelers and doctors.
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10/28, 1:00pm
Tech made possible through app/router combo
Third-party GPS support for the iPod touch is coming soon, an announcement claims. GeoLife says it has submitted a new version of Navmii to the App Store, which -- in tandem with a PosiMotion G-Fi router -- should allow a Touch to access turn-by-turn car navigation. The Touch lacks both the GPS and 3G receivers found in the iPhone, normally rendering it incapable of handling directions while driving.
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10/27, 11:35pm
Apimac dictionaries translate to Spanish, Italian
Apimac has introduced a new line of translation dictionaries for the iPhone and iPod touch. The Apimac apps come in three different versions, English - German, English - Spanish, and English – Italian. Each app provides necessary tools for searching both words and phrases, while delivering an up-to-date dictionary with grammatical notes and a phrase book holding thousands of English phrases and translations.
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10/27, 5:35pm
Songs can be streamed forever for 10 cents each
Lala is readying an iPhone app that will serve as a portal for the company's music services, according to the Associated Press. The app will allow users to purchase the right to stream songs for $0.10 each, which pays for an unlimited number of plays. The sound quality, however, is lower than standard iTunes MP3s.
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10/27, 1:10am
SecretBox 2 improves interface, adds features
App4mac has released a major upgrade to its data protection program for both the Mac and iPhone: SecretBox 2 is designed to create a database which can be used to store information such as credit card numbers, software registrations, and e-mail logins. New features in the Mac version include an upgraded user interface, additional support for syncing with the iPhone or iPod touch, and improved stability. Approximately 60 percent of the code s also said to be re-written to help enhance performance and security.
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10/21, 10:15pm
How Am I Feeling? – The Mood Analyzer for iPhone
Sinecure Industries has launched its first iPhone app, How Am I Feeling? – The Mood Analyzer. The program allegedly uses a mood algorithm based on the "war-era Mooreefocical Bafflegab prototype", which is designed to pinpoint and display the user’s current emotion. The developer claims the app works by analyzing physical contact with the mobile device, preferably with the finger or nose, and then presents an animated punch-card machine until a result is displayed.
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10/21, 1:10pm
Figure goes unmentioned in Apple Q4 results
Apple has almost reached another important psychological milestone when it comes to the App Store, a tracking website claims. The store is said to be nearing over 100,000 active titles, scattered across a number of different categories. During its fourth-quarter results call, Apple cited only a figure of more than 85,000 apps; the current tally is already over 91,000, but Apple may be holding back in order to make a more dramatic announcement.
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10/19, 3:30pm
Useful app still limited
MacNN has reviewed Photoshop.com Mobile, a free Adobe application for the iPhone and iPod touch. The app ties into the company's Photoshop.com website, but lets users make a variety of offline edits. These include the addition of filters, and adjustments to elements like hue, exposure and saturation.
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10/19, 8:50am
Minor update to precede
The next major version of the official Facebook iPhone app, v3.1, will add push notifications, says developer Joe Hewitt. The title lets users view and update news feeds, as well manage photos, and browse profiles and other content. It is not known when v3.1 will become available; coming "soon" however should be v3.03, a minor update providing only bugfixes.
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10/16, 11:35am
Comics by comiXology app now free on App Store
In brief: An issue with the integration of the iPhoto and Flickr libraries has developed, which can result in users being able to accidentally wipe out entire sets of photos on Flickr. comiXology has meanwhile announced a change in the price of its Comics by comiXology iPhone app, a consequence of Apple now allowing in-app purchases for free iPhone apps.
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10/16, 9:20am
Supports PIXMA hardware
Canon has released Easy-PhotoPrint, a new dedicated printing app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Users can send photos to a nearby PIXMA printer when connected via local Wi-Fi. Several photos can be queued for printing at a time, with a maximum of 20 copies.
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10/15, 11:15pm
Magic Printer prints pages from an iPhone
Wellala has released a remote printing app for the iPhone and iPod touch, Print Magic. The app allows users to print content from the mobile device via Wi-Fi, without the need to first sync to a computer. It can print directly to network printers that support the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), along with any printer capable of sharing from a Mac via Printer Sharing. In order to print content, users simply copy the data into the application or, when printing web pages, copy the URL.
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10/15, 12:50pm
Links with HAVA hardware
Monsoon Multimedia has launched HAVA Mobile Player for the iPhone and iPod touch, allowing users to remotely watch and control cable, satellite, DVD and TiVo video sources. Users must have a Wi-Fi connection and a HAVA box, which enables people to remotely control and channel any TV source in their home. App users can additionally browse program guides in order to see schedules and content descriptions.
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10/15, 12:15pm
Over two months in Apple queue
Cerulean Studios has complained that a new Trillian instant messaging app, for the iPhone and iPod touch, has yet to be approved. The app was submitted over 60 days ago according to the company, but at last check is still winding its way through Apple evaluation. A steady stream of e-mails is said to have been sent, but met only with generic form letters, giving no indication on whether changes are needed or how much longer the company may expect to wait.
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10/14, 1:45pm
Most pirates located outside of US
Piracy is a minor but still important problem for iPhone app developers, says analytics firm Pinch Media. The company notes that shortly after the launch of the App Store in 2008, it began receiving complaints that Pinch tallies of new users were exceeding official figures displayed by iTunes Connect. The discrepancy is now believed to be attributable to piracy, tracked by Pinch since May of 2009.
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