Posts Tagged ‘apple’

Last night while you were probably sleeping Apple released their latest iPhone upgrade.  Firmware 2.2 has been highly anticipated ever since developers leaked new features such as Google Street View and the ability to email locations.  

We have reported the new features as we discovered them, and here is Apple’s official list of what’s included in the latest and greatest:

Enhancements to Maps.app

• Google Street View
• public transit and walking diretions
• display address of dropped pins
• share location via email

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Are low priced apps really as good as they sound? In an editorial by Tracy Erickson, from Pocket Gamers.Co.Uk , she claims that the unstable market at the App Store may be hurting developers.

The prices of popular apps, and those that aren’t so popular, are being reduced in the App Store, which may lead to an alarming trend.

There are thousands of apps for sale, or for free at the App Store, and it’s becoming more difficult for a developer to come up with an idea that stands out amongst the crowd. Even when a developer has a good idea they are challenged with how to market it. More importantly, how do they convince consumers that their app is better than their competitors.

This is the problem that many developers are facing. How do they compete? Well, some developers compromise quality and produce cheap knock offs of the more popular titles like Super Monkey Ball and Tetris. Other developers, who might have quality software are forced to drop their prices in order to stimulate sales and get their app noticed.

The short sale might gain some exposure but it causes anger amongst consumers. Price fluxuations can be an obvious ploy to get the app on the top 25 list in the App Store. Even when developers try the price dropping trick, there is no guarantee that the app will even come close to making it on the coveted list. Now, apps that are packed with quality are forced to lower their prices in order to compete with their own knock offs.
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If you’re one of those who spent the extra bucks to have a theatre-like experience in your living room, then you’ll love this.

Apple has taken out a patent for an, “automatically adjusting media display in a personal display system.” So what does that mean? Well, basically Apple has requested a patent for a virtual reality headset, with the goal of making the “theatre experience” come to life.

The headset works through the use of eye tracking software. The software builit into the goggles will give the user the impression of sitting in a stadium, theatre or any venue and feel like they are actually there. And for all you nature nuts out there, you should also be able to go for a walk in a park, or a stroll on the beach.

Of course it’s not true virtual reality without the surround sound… well don’t worry, because Apple has incorporated real life sounds for each environment as part of the design.

Now, the virtual reality viewer isn’t exactly a fashion accessory, in fact they look a lot like goggles, but hey, when you’re imagining you’re by yourself anyway, does it really matter?

Dodger stadium isn’t the only place you can get a bobble head, now you can order one of your very own, and without sitting through nine innings. The best part… they come personalized.

These aren’t just bobble heads, they’re also iPhone holders.

To get one of these bouncy Apple accessories, just send in three photos of your face or a friends. Those photos are then recieved and analyzed and only a few months later you’ll receive the freakish replica.

So how much are these bobbly photo doubles going for? A whopping $89! And it doesn’t stop there. If you want a name painted on it - which would make it truly personal, add another $5. Want a voice recorder that will be another $15.

So if you go for the full package you’ll be looking at a total of $109. I don’t know, sitting through nine innings is starting to look pretty good. If you’re looking to purchase one on these personal iPhone holders make sure to do it in advance because shipping takes a while, but hey, good things are worth the wait. But, I’m not so sure if they’re worth the price.

[via Gizmodo]

Yesterday Apple announced history (yet again) … the App Store will top 200 million downloads sometime today, just 102 days after it opened for business.

The App Store’s success has been huge - and in regards to the outstanding number of downloads, CEO Steve Jobs says, “We’ve never seen anything like this in our careers.”

Developers are submitting apps as quickly as people are downloading them, working hard to get their new apps submitted and approved for retail… and ultimately get added to the long list of 5,500+ that are already available.

With the outstanding number of downloads being recorded, the sea of apps continues to expand, and developers aren’t as happy as the big dogs on top. In fact developers seem to be getting frustrated with the way Apple communicates… or lack there of. After developers submit an app there is an undetermined amount of time before it will actually be posted. Another frustration is the worry that Apple may pull an application at will and without any explanation.

But despite these small frustrations the downpour of apps from developers continues to flood the decision makers at Apple… and trust me, it won’t stop soon.

As of yesterday, the future of iTune’s precarious existence seemed in doubt.

The National Music Publisher’s Association pushed to raise royalty fees. Apple responded, vowing to shut down iTunes if that happened. And so the fate of the world’s largest music distributor came to hang in the balance.

But that was yesterday and today, well, things are different — the Copyright Royalty Board deciding against an increase in royalty fees earlier this afternoon.

Though Apple had actually called for a lowering of royalty fees, currently at 9.1 cents per song, the lack of change should allow iTunes to remain alive (and profitable).

Seeing Apple’s stock plummet as of late, the good news is surely much welcomed by Jobs & Co.

Apple has announced, on their developer connection page, their decision to drop the iPhone’s non-disclosure agreement (NDA):

We have decided to drop the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for released iPhone software.

We put the NDA in place because the iPhone OS includes many Apple inventions and innovations that we would like to protect, so that others don’t steal our work. It has happened before. While we have filed for hundreds of patents on iPhone technology, the NDA added yet another level of protection. We put it in place as one more way to help protect the iPhone from being ripped off by others.

However, the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success, so we are dropping it for released software. Developers will receive a new agreement without an NDA covering released software within a week or so. Please note that unreleased software and features will remain under NDA until they are released.

Thanks to everyone who provided us constructive feedback on this matter.

You’ll notice this newfound freedom only covers “released software,” meaning Apple will still maintain an iron grip on apps in development, and subsequently apps that never get “released” — sorta helpful when they control that release process, right?

We guess Apple is still tired of problem apps causing a ruckus, as evidenced by their extension of the NDA to cover rejection letters just last week. But hey, we’re not here to be a killjoy — this is progress for the Cupertino Co., so feel free to indulge in those warm fuzzy feelings, and let the “collaboration” begin!